Innholdsfortegnelse for 2022-01-10 i Star

Bang Showbiz Julia Fox has detailed her dates with Kanye West and revealed they shared “an instant connection”. After several sightings of the pair, the Uncut Gems actress has penned an essay on her time with the 44-year-old rapper – who has legally changed his name to Ye – since they met on New Year’s Eve in Miami. The pair recently attended the ‘Save Play’ show in New York City and went on a dinner date to Julia’s “favourite” restaurant, Carbone, and Ye had a big surprise up his sleeve afterward. Speaking for the first time about their time together, Julia told InterviewMagazine.com: “I met Ye in Miami on New Year’s Eve and it was an instant connection. His energy is so fun to be around. He had me and…

Chulumanco Mahamba THE National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) has extended the deadline for applications for student financial aid, a move welcomed by education activists. NSFAS has announced to all learners, out of school youth and non-funded students that after consulting with various stakeholders that the deadline for applications for student financial aid has been extended to Friday, January 21. The previous deadline was this past Friday. The funding scheme said since the application process opened on November 2 last year and to date, more than 600 000 applications have been received from applicants who intend to further their post-school education at any of South Africa’s 50 TVET colleges and 26 public universities. NSFAS said at least 505 820 applications came from first-time applicants. “NSFAS chairperson Ernest Khosa briefed the…

Marsha Dean marsha.dean@inl.co.za THIS year is set to be an exciting one for 6-year-old child golf prodigy Kian Adonis from Somerset West, who has been invited to compete in three international tournaments this year. Kian, a member of SA Kids golf organisation, was a runner-up at the Junior Africa challenge in San Lameer, KwaZulu-Natal last year. This landed him opportunities to play abroad and he was invited to play his first tournament in Australia in April, then his second and third tournament in the US and Northern Ireland in July. “I am excited to play in overseas tournaments and to make new friends,” said Kian, whose favourite golf player is Hideki Matsuyama from Japan. His father, Jerome Adonis, said as parents they tried to incorporate different activities apart from golf,…

Anita Nkonki THERE is nothing more fascinating for South Africans than having to see one of their own dominate the world stage and raise the SA flag high. The buzz was the same when news made it to social media that more South African actresses have been added to the star-studded casting of the most-anticipated African movie Woman Is King, which is set to hit theatres in September this year. Entertainment commentator Phil Mphela has been keeping movie fanatics in the loop, particularly with more local actors forming part of this upcoming big movie. Mphela revealed that The Noughts & Crosses actress Masali Baduza, former Muvhango actress Onika Makgotso Monyemorathoe and Oprah Leadership Academy for Girls alumni Thando Dlomo were cast to work alongside the renowned US actress Viola Davis…

Beverly Tsitsi Mutandiro | Human Rights Activist, London I AM disgruntled by the lack of empathy that the Zimbabwean government has towards people who are blind, deaf or deaf-blind. Since independence 42 years ago, they have been highly disadvantaged with limited access to text information via the Braille system. Sign language interpreters, subtitles and audio solutions are not widely accessible to all, which creates communication problems and exposes them to different types of abuse, diseases and viruses. People living with these disabilities, not as a choice, are not receiving acknowledgement, support or attention to daily needs and there is a lack of creative awareness to tackle the challenges faced. President Emmerson Mnangagwa should accept his responsibility by providing life-sustaining support and avoid overburdening others with his responsibility. If…

Shabir A. Madhi, Fareed Abdullah and Jonny Myers IN THE final days of 2021 the government eased its Covid regulations. On December 30, the government scrapped a curfew that had been in place since March 2020. It also initially announced an easing around quarantines and contact tracing but subsequently reversed these plans. Nevertheless, its approach sets a new trend in how countries are choosing to manage the pandemic. Shabir Madhi and colleagues reflect here on the boldness and the risks. What are the main elements of its new approach? The government has decided to take a more pragmatic approach while keeping an eye on severe Covid cases and whether or not health systems are imminently under threat. This reflects acceptance that governments will increasingly be looking for ways to…

Herman Gibbs herman.gibbs@gmail.com Cameroon football legend Roger Milla launched a scathing attack on north African countries Egypt and Morocco for supporting moves to postpone the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations which kicked off in Cameroon yesterday. Milla, who famously owns the record for being the oldest player to score a goal in a World Cup match, was speaking on French network TV5 Monde, commenting on Fifa-driven attempts last month to postpone Afcon 2022. Fifa president Gianni Infantino, backed by several European countries, spoke about the need to postpone the tournament, presumably because of the rapid spread of the new Omicron variant of Covid-19. There are more than 40 English Premier League players in action in Cameroon and many European clubs will be without their African players for up to a…

The steady flow of players migrating from Africa to Europe over the last few decades means there is now a larger pool of talent available for African national teams, and many will be dipping into this pool at the Africa Cup of Nations finals in Cameroon. Over the last 15 editions of the tournament there has been a steady increase in the number of Europe-based players representing African countries. At the 1992 Afcon finals in Senegal, only three players among the 12 participating countries were born in Europe: two in France, who represented Algeria, and Nigerian international Reuben Agboola, born in London to a Nigerian father and English mother. At the 2021 edition, which has 24 teams and got underway yesterday, just over 30% of the players were born in…

Liam Karabo Joyce liam.joyce@inl.co.za The biggest question of 2022 – so far, of course – is whether you’d be willing to pay R100 000 to have Mampintsha feature on your song. Musician Mandla “Mampintsha” Maphumulo got tongues wagging this week after he revealed that he charged R100K for those who wanted him featured on a song. Taking to Instagram, he posted a video saying he wanted to make it clear how much he charges, as so many people have asked him. “It’s 100k. I come with the song, the direction of the song, I’ll teach you how to sing if you don’t know how, then we shoot the video and do the promotion as well. It’s a package. I do everything,” he said in the video. The gqom star then…

Chulumanco Mahamba chulumanco.mahamba@inl.co.za THE GAUTENG Education Department has strongly condemned a fake letter that has gone viral regarding the imminent matric results. With the 2021 matric results set to be announced soon, the anxiety of the class of 2021 runs high. Adding to this, is a letter circulating on social media at the weekend claiming that only 32% of Gauteng matriculants have passed. “Upon conclusion, calculations and severe adjustments only 32% of matriculants seem to have passed. “Amapiano (a style of house music) is the reason behind these kids failing,” Education MEC Panyaza Lesufi said, according to the letter. The department has, however, hit back at the “fake letter”, calling it a scam. “The department strongly condemns a fake letter regarding the impending matric results, as it undermines our…

Dad’s bid to protect kids from more trauma could see copycat kidnappings Bongani Nkosi bongani.nkosi@inl.co.za THE MOTI brothers’ kidnapping case has taken another turn, with the boys’ father interdicting the police from obtaining statements from the boys, and questions are now being asked whether he is hiding something. Forensic experts have warned that the inability of the police to crack the Moti brothers’ kidnapping case will have serious implications for the country. These would include the emboldening of kidnappers and cause an increase in this type of organised crime. Also, a possible kidnappers’ syndicate would remain untouched. News emerged over the weekend that police battled to make headway in the Moti brothers’ case because their father had obtained an interdict. Nazim Moti, the father of the four boys who were…

Anita Nkonki AS A WAY of marking 20 years in the South African entertainment industry as a king in television talk shows and an actor, Aaron Moloisi has decided to expand his empire. The media personality is counting the days to the launch of his international digital radio station, Legend Radio which is set to go live on January 15 broadcasting in 12 countries around the globe. The statement released on social media unpacked that the station will engage in everyday conversations that will empower and equip the streamers with all the tools they need to make legendary moves. The station is not a categorised content genre; they engage in a wider array of subject matters in all aspects. Founder of the station Moloisi revealed that the majority of the…

FAROUK ARAIE | Gauteng The fire that almost consumed Parliament bears an uncanny resemblance to the fire that engulfed the German Reichstag on February 27, 1933. That event increased the popularity of the Nazis, who were lagging at 33% compared to the ANC, whose popularity is at its lowest at 46% since the advent of our democracy. Many aspects of the fire defy logic and a rational explanation of the chain of events. What followed could be classified as a comedy of errors, or it could be an enactment of a sophisticated conspiracy to strike at the heart of our parliamentary democracy. If it involves a conspiracy, then multiple factors and players are involved. The message is sinister and clear: any attempt to dislodge the ANC will be…

THE indigenous people of South Africa are continuing to lose the battle for the return of land to its rightful owners, from those who stole it around 1652. The land was taken by the barrel of a gun, forcefully, and that is how black people came to be conquered. Our traditional leadership did not fold their arms and watch as our people were raped, maimed and killed by the colonial master. They fought back and defended the tiny piece of land which we today own and refer to as communal land. Who can believe that black people make up 75% of the population but own less than 4% of the land used for farming and agriculture? White people, the beneficiaries of colonialism and apartheid, make up less than 13% of…

Security forces fired tear gas yesterday as thousands rallied in Sudan’s capital Khartoum and a neighbouring city, witnesses said, keeping up pressure on the military following a coup 11 weeks ago. The coup, led by army chief General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan on October 25, derailed a power-sharing transition between the military and civilians that had been painstakingly established in the wake of long-time autocrat Omar-al-Bashir’s ouster in 2019. Security forces fired tear gas as pro-democracy protesters headed towards the presidential palace, witnesses said, amid roadblocks seeking to prevent people converging there and at army headquarters -- the epicentre of mass demonstrations that forced Bashir out. Protesters also rallied in Omdurman, Khartoum’s twin city, as well as northern Khartoum. “No, no to military rule,” the demonstrators chanted as they waved the…

Bang Showbiz Selena Gomez used to have a “really dangerous” relationship with social media. The 29-year-old singer and actress previously took a break from Instagram for the sake of her mental health and has now said she developed a negative relationship with the it because it impacted her self-esteem. She said: “At one point Instagram became my whole world, and it was really dangerous. In my early twentiess, I felt like I wasn’t pretty enough. There was a whole period in my life when I thought I needed make-up and never wanted to be seen without it. “The older I got, the more I evolved and realised that I needed to take control of what I was feeling. I wanted to be able to look in the mirror and feel…

Tarryn-Leigh Solomons tarryn-leigh.solomons@inl.co.za THE country has seen 3 123 sex offenders registered on the National Register for Sex Offenders (NRSO) for the period from January 2017 to November 2021. In figures provided by Justice and Correctional Services Minister Ronald Lamola, it was revealed that KwaZulu-Natal is the leading province with 640 cases, followed by the Western Cape at 561 offenders registered. In a written Parliamentary reply to DA MP Désirée van der Walt – who enquired about the total number of offenders registered on the NRSO in each province – figures indicate that the Eastern Cape saw 478 offenders registered, followed by the Free State with 422. Gauteng’s figures stood at 283 and Mpumalanga with 252. Limpopo has 224 registered offenders, North West 197 and the Northern Cape 66 offenders…

Anita Nkonki anita.nkonki@inl.co.za THE public has responded with enthralment after American multi-award-winning singer India Arie complimented former Idols SA contestant Lloyiso Gijana for his pure singing aptitudes. The 46-year-old music sensation spoke candidly on a Tik Tok video about how she once listened to Lloyiso’s videos and was particularly impressed at how he poured his heart out when singing. “He sings with so much heart and depth that it is striking. He is striking because a lot of people can sing notes but it's a rare thing to see people go to this place when they sing and he goes to this place. I just watched a bunch of his videos one night,” she said. The Steady Love hitmaker added that she tried reaching out to him one night letting…

Concerns have been raised about the state of Durban’s beaches following the closure of six beaches on Friday due to high levels of the bacteria e-coli. The eThekwini Municipality announced on Friday that six beaches along the Durban beachfront would be closed which included South Beach, North Beach, Bay of Plenty Beach, Suncoast Beach, Country Club Beach and Umgeni Beaches. EThekwini Municipality spokesperson Msawakhe Mayisela said the decision to close the beaches was informed by “unacceptable levels of e-coli in the aforesaid beaches”. Mayisela said the level of bacteria had been compounded by the “inceasing vandalism of one of the city’s sewerage pump stations and abnormal heavy rains that are unceasingly washing waste from multitudes of informal settlements along the Umgeni river to the river”. He said they were doing…

JOHN Whitlock | Germiston I WAS glad to read that Naomi Osaka is returning to tennis after her bout of depression and other mental health problems. I’m sure Snooky Stevens is just as delighted. According to Naomi, she just wants to “have fun” when she steps onto the court. Unfortunately, professional tennis is extremely tough and competitive and having fun doesn’t pay the bills. Losing is also not good for the ego or one’s mental health. Nevertheless, I wish her well for her future “fun time”. Another query: What has happened to the other two superstars, legends in their own lifetime? I’m referring here to superteen Coco Gauff (the new Serena Williams) and Britain’s golden girl of tennis (after winning one major). Are Coco and Serena still playing…

Hussein Solomon SPECTATORS to the 110th anniversary celebrations of the ANC’s, South Africa’s governing party, looked bored. The dancers roped in to entertain its dwindling faithful were lacklustre. Indeed, even during the singing of the national anthem, some in the audience could not even be bothered to stand up. Then a tired-looking President Cyril Ramaphosa provided an unconvincing statement focusing on unity, renewal and defending democratic gains to an already sceptical South African public. If ever one needed a reason to ditch the ANC, this January 8 statement, which sets out the party’s agenda for the year, was it. It deliberately misdiagnosed the problems confronting the country, it provided no new vision and there- fore little hope to long-suffering citizens. Ramaphosa admitted that the National Executive Committee (NEC)…

Herman Gibbs herman.gibbs@gmail.com DSTV Premiership basement dwellers TS Galaxy have signed Cape Town City central midfielder Shane Roberts on a six-month loan deal. The 23-year-old Roberts, who broke into City’s first XI in 2018 with great fanfare, has not been able to command a regular starting berth this season with most of his 43 appearances since 2018 having been off the bench. He has also been capped for the South Africa Under-23 team. Galaxy are marooned at the bottom of the standings, along with Baroka FC. Both have 13 points after 17 games, but Baroka have a slightly better goal difference and hence are one place above Galaxy. Galaxy president Tim Sukazi believes Roberts will help the club to steer clear of the relegation zone. “We are delighted to have…