Innholdsfortegnelse for 2022-03-08 i Star

Bongani Nkosi bongani.nkosi@inl.co.za UNFAIR treatment of public servants across government departments was so pervasive there was now a need to deal with its root causes, said the Public Service Commission (PSC). It said it had received a high number of grievances from public servants in the last financial year related to unfair treatment. Unfair treatment grievances also comprised the highest number of cases reported to the PSC in 2019/20, followed by performance management and alary problems. Cases that constituted unfair treatment included victimisation, bullying, discrimination, intimidation, harassment, cyberbullying and sexual harassment in the workplace. The PSC handled 677 grievances in the 2020/21 financial year. Public servants referred these cases to the public service watchdog after failure by departments to resolve them. “Out of a total of 677 grievances referred to…

Itumeleng Mafisa itumeleng.mafisa@inl.co.za MYSTERY surrounds the death of one of Soweto’s youngest ANC councillors, Mpho Mofokeng, who was found dead in his bedroom with gunshot wounds at the weekend. Mofokeng was found by his mother in his bedroom with a gun lying next to him. He was known for showing zero tolerance to corruption and his steadfastness in community work. The Star spoke to Mofokeng’s family at their Green Village home in Soweto. It was not clear what the motive for Mofokeng’s murder was, but some family members believe that his death was politically motivated. Mofokeng’s cousin, Amos Mathabathe, said his cousin was passionate about the ANC and issues of service delivery. He had only been in office for a few months at the time of his death. “His priority…

MOHAMED SAEED | Pietermaritzburg I REMAIN deeply concerned about the growing violence between Ukraine and Russia. What is even more disturbing is the racist media coverage by some Western journalists. It seems parts of the media feel it is fine to use bigotry language and statements to cover Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The narrative being manufactured by these racist individuals is that wars belong to “uncivilised” places like Palestine, Afghanistan, Iraq, Middle East or Africa and not in civilised places like Europe and North America. What kind of reporting or analysis is this where European or Western lives are considered more important than others? Palestinians defending their homes and land from the Zionist occupiers are labelled as terrorists and Ukrainians defending their country are called heroes. Moreover, why…

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi yesterday said that the friendship between Beijing and Moscow was still very strong, despite Russia’s ongoing invasion of Ukraine, as he said China was open to helping mediate peace. Beijing has refused to condemn its close ally Moscow after only last month touting a “no limits” strategic partnership between the two countries. He said their relationship was “the world’s most crucial bilateral relationship conducive to world peace, stability and development”. | AFP…

MANY nations have reacted with alarm as the Ukrainian government seeks an “international legion” of mercenaries in its fight against Russian troops. On February 24, Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered a special military operation in Ukraine to protect the Donetsk and Lugansk People’s Republics from Kyiv’s forces following their request for assistance amid growing attacks by the Ukrainian Army on their positions and infrastructure. Nearly 20 000 foreign mercenaries are looking to fight alongside the rapidly diminishing ranks of Ukraine’s military, according to Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba. The Ukrainian government has announced the opening of a website for mercenaries hoping to “help Ukraine”, the latest move in a growing campaign to turn to foreign fighters for what they call a “defence of the motherland”. It’s unclear how many, if…

Rapula Moatshe rapula.moatshe@inl.co.za THE Competition Tribunal yesterday heard how some of South Africa’s major banks embarked on a systematic closure of accounts belonging to the Sekunjalo Group of companies. The hearing is being held after Sekunjalo – comprising 36 applicants – lodged an urgent application seeking interim relief not to have their banking facilities closed, as well as for the reinstatement of those that had been. Among the respondents in the case are Nedbank, Investec Bank, Sasfin Bank, Absa, First National Bank, Mercantile Bank and Bidvest. Companies linked to Sekunjalo had been the subject of negative reporting by the media, a factor previously cited by banks as one of the reasons they concluded that a relationship with Sekunjalo posed a “reputational risk” to them, it was said. Advocate Vuyani Ngalwana…

Farouk Araie | Johannesburg FROM 1300 BCE to now every nation at war has violated every aspect of warfare. Current wars are acts of savagery; they show no respect for human life. The grave situation in conflict zones is spiralling out of control. The gods of war are mercilessly executing a strategy of extermination, decimating the areas beyond recognition. This is not a civil war, it is an uncivil exercise in extreme brutality. Nations are being destroyed and their sacred lands are being annexed in the name of tribe, religion and politics, their history and heritage desecrated, and its people disembowelled. Nearly all 193 members of the UN are guilty of crimes against humanity, more specifically the five members of the UN Security Council Their crimes against…

As the world marks International Women’s Day to celebrate women’s achievements and to raise awareness on critical and sensitive issues that are still affecting women, there is very little to celebrate today. There are few women across the world, and even in South Africa, enjoying human rights, as many still face various issues such as gender inequality, discrimination, gender-based violence, economic exclusion, poverty, and limited participation in political and public life. The Covid-19 pandemic also worsened women’s struggles. We have seen many in various sectors losing their livelihoods and had their salaries cut while many had been retrenched. This pandemic continues to have a negative impact on women’s finances as most women are breadwinners taking care of the livelihoods of their families. Women want to be financially independent. Most women…

Cricket superstar Shane Warne, 52, died of natural causes, Thai police said yesterday, as his family lamented a “tragedy we will never come to terms with”. The legendary Australian leg-spinner died on the Thai holiday island of Koh Samui on Friday after being found unresponsive at a luxury villa. Initial reports suggested Warne suffered a heart attack and autopsy results confirmed he died of natural causes. His body would be repatriated to Australia, where he is to be honoured with a state funeral. | AFP…

We’re way past the point of having to ask when we will be able to see more than 2 000 fans at rugby matches. Last October, rugby’s governing body in South Africa announced that fully vaccinated supporters would be allowed to attend club and professional games while observing Covid-19 health guidelines. Since then, 2 000 fans have been allowed at matches, but some five months later we’re still sitting on the same number, and for the bigger part of the last two years fans weren’t allowed at stadiums. So, what gives? With an exciting Test season coming up, one can only hope that things change from what seems to be nothing more than an arbitrary number barring more fans from live games in open air. When ticket sales were announced…

Jurgen Klopp said Inter Milan were not coming to Liverpool as tourists this week, even though they are trailing 2-0 after the first leg of their Champions League last-16 tie. Liverpool are well placed to qualify for the quarter-finals ahead of tonight’s second leg at Anfield after Roberto Firmino and Mohamed Salah scored in Italy last month. But Klopp is taking nothing for granted as his side seek to stay on track for an unprecedented quadruple of trophies after beating Chelsea on penalties to win the League Cup last week. “The danger everybody knows about; it’s 2-0,” Klopp said yesterday. “I think it’s the lead which got turned over most often in the history of football. “If you get to half-time 2-0 up and you have a team who thinks…

Herman Gibbs herman.gibbs@gmail.com After their Premiership title drive hit a bit of a swerve, the Nedbank Cup will allow Mamelodi Sundowns to return to winning ways. On Saturday, lowly Maritzburg United sent shockwaves through the local ootball fraternity after they defeated Sundowns 2-1 in a league match at Harry Gwala Stadium in Pietermaritzburg. Today, Sundowns will be home at Lucas Moripe Stadium to host ABC Motsepe League side Mathaithai FC in a last-16 cup match (kick-off 6pm). Free State-based Mathaithai defeated NC Professionals in the opening round of the competition. As usual, Sundowns will be well prepared for the match, and co-coach Rulani Mokwena said the players are looking to bounce back to winning ways. “We’re looking forward to it (playing Mathaithai). We have tried to collect as much information…

Dr Baptiste Dungu and Lindiwe Mabena. SEVERAL false statements have been made by the current Board of Onderstepoort Biological Products (OBP) on the reasons and outcome of my and Lindiwe Mabena’s suspension, disciplinary process and outcome that led to the termination of our contracts as chief executive (CEO) and the manager in the office of the CEO, respectively. During the debate on the State of the Nation 2022, the Minister of the Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development, the Honourable Thoko Didiza, stated that my departure at OBP was linked to the GMP project, which is the facility upgrade project at OBP, for which the organisation received in 2014 close to R500 million. (The Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP), is a certification that will allow it to enter…

Alyssia Birjalal alyssia.birjalal@inl.co.za South African music lovers are still coming to terms with the recent death of local rapper Riky Rick, now, just days later, they need to deal with another great loss. Award-winning hip hop DJ, Dimplez, real name, Tumi Mooi, unexpectedly died on Sunday from a brain haemorrhage. His family has asked for space and respect while they process the loss. “It is with deep sadness that the Mooi family announces the untimely death of Boitumelo Athiel Mooi, popularly known as DJ Dimplez. “He passed away (on) 6 March from a sudden brain haemorrhage. We ask for space and respect as we process Tumi’s tragic passing,” read a statement issued by the family. The popular DJ, who worked in the music industry for many years, had made a…

Sonri Naidoo CONCERNS have been raised about the reopening of the Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Academic Hospital (CMJAH) after yet another major theft. According to Professor Adam Mahomed, the head of internal medicine at the hospital, there was an “ongoing sabotage” of efforts to get more sections of the hospital up and running. Parts of the facility were gutted when a fire broke out on April 16 last year. Damage was estimated at R40 million. In recent days, despite the presence of security employed by the hospital and Solidarity Fund in different parts of the facility, there has been theft of copper piping and more than 500m of electrical cables and new electrical distribution boards from inside the hospital. This has further delayed the reopening of the critical casualty section which…

Staff Reporter STAFF at Netcare Linmed Hospital in Benoni say that Theda Swanepoel has an almost telepathic sense for when teddy stocks are running low in the emergency department and appears like a fairy godmother to remedy the need. The pensioner has since her retirement in 2015 made 700 teddy bears for children, generously donating close to 500 of them to the emergency department at Netcare Linmed Hospital. “When I retired, I didn’t know what to do with myself. I joined a knitting club at the Rynpark Old Age Home and that’s where I began knitting teddies,” Swanepoel said. “A friend introduced me to Alan Stroud (unit manager of the emergency department) in 2018, and I wanted to donate my teddies for children who may be hurt or ill.”…

Anita Nkonki anita.nkonki@inl.co.za Fans love to see their favourite celebrities use their talents to help underprivileged communities and those in need. While internationally acclaimed and Grammy-nominated DJ Nkosinathi “Black Coffee” Maphumulo is not new to demonstrating humanitarian acts, he pulled out all the stops to organise his 46th birthday celebration with the aim of to giving back to those in need. Profits from ticket sales for the night went to his charity, the Black Coffee Foundation. The event was held at Altitude Beach in Fourways last weekend. The event was graced by entertainment industry VIPs such as Caiiro, DBN Gogo, Killamo, Zane Gulston, DJ Nel, DJ Toy and his son Esona. The Black Coffee Foundation focuses on uplifting underprivileged and differently-abled people through long-term, education-focused initiatives geared towards fostering self-reliance,…

Phumzile Malatswane | Boksburg World Obesity Day highlights the relationship one has with food. Obesity often results from taking in more calories than are burnt by exercise and daily activities. Common specific causes of obesity include genetics, which can affect how your body processes food into energy and how fat is stored; growing older, which can lead to less muscle mass and a slower metabolic rate; and not sleeping enough, which can lead to hormonal changes that make one feel hungrier and crave high-calorie foods. Obesity can increase the risk of health problems. If you are obese, you may be more likely to suffer from a mental health condition like depression or anxiety. It is important that we, as a nation, learn how to cook food that will…

“We have set out on a quest for true humanity, and somewhere on the horizon, we can see the glittering prize. Let us march forth with courage and determination, drawing strength from our common plight. In time, we shall be in a position to bestow on South Africa the greatest possible gift – a more human face.” These were words uttered by Steve Bantu Biko before his death at the hands of SA’s Security Police in 1977. Nothing has been more elusive than true humanity in our 27 years of our democracy. But, as Biko implied, it was not going to be easy to achieve. He encouraged us to march forth with courage and determination, drawing strength from our common plight, even in the darkest hour when institutions of government…

The United Arab Emirates said it flew 30 tons of aid and medical supplies to Poland for transportation to war-torn Ukraine yesterday, to help relieve the “deteriorating humanitarian situation” after Russia’s invasion. More than 1.5 million people have fled across Ukraine’s borders in over a week of attacks, said the UN. The UAE said the aid was part of its commitment to essential humanitarian needs in conflicts. It has also contributed 18.36 dirhams (R76.4 million) to UN appeals for the refugees. | AFP…

Morgan Bolton morgan.bolton@inl.co.za Last week, while speaking to Independent Media, Brad Binder extolled only confidence ahead of the start of the new MotoGP season, but he couldn’t have predicted the rip-roaring start he would enjoy at the Grand Prix of Qatar. Starting from seventh place on the grid after an improved qualifying performance, which was one of his failings last season, the 26-year-old launched off the line into third, and would eventually capture a spectacular second-place finish and a third career podium in the elite MotoGP class. “Ja, the start was insane,” said Binder on the MotoGP website after the race. “I knew that we got good starts all of last year but (Sunday) was a little bit extra. When I started shifting the gears and started to jump the…