Innholdsfortegnelse for 2021-05-10 i Star

NET1 UEPS TECHNOLOGIES’ share price leapt by more than 12 percent on the JSE on Friday despite the group reporting an operating loss of $14.29 million (about R200.7m) for the third-quarter to end-March, slightly up by 1 percent compared to the same quarter last year. The group is confident about its prospects after a difficult 2020 due to the Covid-19 outbreak. However, the South African-focused financial technology company with a presence in Africa and Asia, said the pandemic did not impact its South African operations as severely during the three and nine months to end-March compared to the last four months of the year to end-June 2020. South Africa was moved by the government to adjusted level 1 of the national lockdown after coming out of the second wave of…

Jesse Williams has bowed out of ABC medical drama Grey’s Anatomy after 12 seasons. The 40-year-old actor has announced that his character Dr Jackson Avery is officially retiring from Seattle Grace Hospital, after it was revealed on the latest episode of the hit ABC medical drama titled Look Up Child. In a statement to E! News, Williams said: “I will forever be grateful for the boundless opportunities provided me by Shonda (Rhimes), the network, studio, fellow cast mates, our incredible crew, Krista, Ellen and Debbie [Allen]. “As an actor, director and person, I have been obscenely lucky to learn so much from so many and I thank our beautiful fans, who breathe so much energy and appreciation into our shared worlds. “The experience and endurance born of creating nearly 300…

Mads Mikkelsen has praised the script for the upcoming Indiana Jones 5, describing the screenplay as “everything I wished it to be”. The actor, 55, will star in the latest movie in the action franchise in an undisclosed role and was full of praise for the screenplay and also took the opportunity to re-watch Steven Spielberg’s first movie in the series, Raiders of the Lost Ark. Quizzed on his reaction to joining the “Indiana Jones” franchise, he said: “I’m very, very excited about it … I re-watched Raiders of the Lost Ark the other day, it is so well-done and so charming, and it’s such great storytelling. “So yes, it’s a great honour to be part of that franchise that I grew up with … I’m in a lucky position…

Moves to have him reinstated on the cards Baldwin Ndaba and Zintle Mahlati THE ANC under President Cyril Ramaphosa faces a major backlash for its decision to suspend secretary-general Ace Magashule, from the biggest party region in KwaZulu-Natal and supporters of North West suspended ANC MP and former premier, Supra Mahumapelo. Yesterday, Mahumapelo lodged a veiled attack against the ANC top brass for its decision to suspend Magashule, saying the move was in conflict with the Constitution, which stated you were innocent until proven guilty. Magashule was served with a suspension letter on Monday last week, after having charges of fraud and corruption laid against him in the Bloemfontein Magistrate’s Court in November last year. In March this year, the ANC national executive council urged all those senior members…

THE SA Transport and Allied Workers Union (Satawu) has threatened a strike at Transnet should a planned conciliation process fail. Wage negotiations between the unions and Transnet deadlocked with the state-owned enterprise refusing to take its wage offer beyond 0%. Satawu was initially asking for 16% but dropped the offer to 10% across the board. “We have deadlocked and the matter has been referred to the Transnet bargaining council for mediation. And we will be sitting for conciliation,” said the union’s deputy secretary Anele Kiet. The union, which represents about 9 000 employees, said it would also be asking for an increase in medical aid contributions, among other benefits. The union has threatened to go on strike should all attempts to resolve the impasse fail. It says Transnet was…

Bongani Nkosi bongani.nkosi@inl.co.za A LAWYER faces sanctions from the Legal Practice Council for representing her fraud-accused client while admitting to be “very drunk”. Judge Francis Kganyago has ruled at the Polokwane High Court that the Legal Practice Council should probe the conduct and behaviour of the lawyer he named as Ms Maloko in his scathing judgment. Not only was Maloko in a drunken stupor during proceedings in the magistrate’s court on December 1 last year, she also admitted that she did not know what she was doing in court because she was a conveyancer, not a criminal lawyer. Judge Kganyago’s ruling followed a special application by the magistrate to have the fraud trial that started in August last year reviewed and set aside. The magistrate wanted the trial to start…

Farmworkers are central to the food system and the economy of this country, but they are often subjected to massive exploitation. Trade unions are not visible to fight for the rights of these poor workers – farmworkers are on their own. We should remember we would not have food without these hard-working men and women. I regularly visit farms around the North West province, and engage farmworkers, especially on their appalling working conditions. I have established there is no political will to improve the fortunes of farmworkers around the province – these conditions may not be immune to only the North West province. While visiting these productive farms worked by devoted men and women, I have come to realise the people who ensured the country received nutritious food were neglected…

JR Whitlock | Germiston To smack or not smack a child is a hotly debated question. In fact, even researchers differ in their opinions. Nowhere do studies state conclusively that smacking a child leads to violence or abuse of others in later life, or affected brain development. Physical abuse of a child such as slapping, kicking, punching, beating with a strap, hurling a kid to the ground will, no doubt, damage a child’s well-being. A one-off smack on the bottom does not qualify. Dr Ashley Frawley, senior lecturer at Swansea University, states: “If it was true that smacking causes brain damage, then most of humanity throughout all of human history would have been severely damaged.” Dr Elizabeth Gershoff, of the University of Texas, states: “It is the…

SOUTH Africa’s mining industry has long been an important part of the country’s economy. In 2020 alone, despite Covid-19, mining contributed R361.6 billion towards South Africa’s gross domestic product, a share of more than 8%. The industry employs 451 000 people. But despite its value and the regulations in place to protect workers, the industry has been criticised for a poor record of health and safety. The Constitution guarantees workers’ right to an environment that is not harmful to their health or well-being. Employers must provide a reasonably practicable working environment that is safe and without risk to the health of employees. The mining sector has been accused of neglecting the fundamental rights of most mineworkers. It has failed to implement adequate occupational health and safety regulations on a number…

India is to recruit hundreds of former army medics to support its overwhelmed healthcare system, the defence ministry said yesterday, as the country grapples with record Covid-19 infections and deaths amid angry calls for a complete nationwide lockdown. Some 400 medical officers are expected to serve on contract for a maximum of 11 months, the ministry said, adding that other defence doctors had also been roped in for online consultations. Covid-19 cases and deaths have been hitting records every two or three days. Deaths rose by more than 4 000 for a second consecutive day yesterday. Many Indian states have imposed strict lockdowns over the past month while others have announced restrictions on public movement and shut down cinemas, restaurants, pubs and shopping malls. But pressure is mounting on Prime…

MOSCOW: Attempts to use many aspects of the Nazi ideology have renewed across the world, Russian President Vladimir Putin said yesterday. “History requires (us) to make conclusions and draw lessons. But, unfortunately, those who were obsessed by the delusional theory of their exclusivity, are again trying to use many (aspects) of the ideology of the Nazis,” Putin said during his address at the Victory Parade in Moscow. Those left unpunished and their followers try to rewrite history today, justify traitors and criminals. Putin went on to say that though Russia had always stood up for international law, the country would firmly defend its national interests and ensure the security of its people.…

MANGOCHI: Malawian fishermen have started returning to Lake Malawi for fishing after a few days’ break due to the presence of greener water in the lake which ecological experts described as toxic. Natural Resources Minister Nancy Tembo said the greening of the lake water was caused by the phytoplankton bloom of the cyanobacteria which can lead to health complications if consumed in large quantities, she said. The fisheries department warned fishermen against fishing in the lake. The water has started returning to normal. Despite the warnings, a lot of fishermen are resuming fishing. “We’ve been following the issue of toxic substances found in our lake. We’re not sure if it is safe to start buying again,” said Alice Njima from Blantyre.…

Zaahier Adams zaahier.adams@inl.co.za TS Galaxy 0 Mamelodi Sundowns (1) 1 Shalulile 17th min Peter Shalulile’s 11th goal of the season enabled Sundowns to take a giant step closer to retaining their league crown at Mbombela Stadium in Nelspruit yesterday. The defending champions, who are aiming for a fourth straight championship, have stretched their lead to seven points and the Brazilians now need just two more wins from their final four games of the season to secure the title. The home side were well aware of the danger Sundowns posed in attack, particularly the central figure of their former teammate Shalulile, who has been in superb form since transferring to Chloorkop at the beginning of the season. Promise Mkhuma delivered a scorching ball into the box from a corner, which…

Chelsea manager Thomas Tuchel praised his team’s performance and said they were high on confidence following Saturday’s dramatic 2-1 Premier League win at Manchester City which delayed the Etihad club’s title celebrations. Raheem Sterling put City ahead in the 44th minute but Chelsea’s Hakim Ziyech equalised in the 63rd minute before Marcos Alonso completed their comeback with an injury-time winner. It was Chelsea’s second victory over City in three weeks following last month’s FA Cup semi-final win and the London club are unbeaten in their last seven games in all competitions. “It’s best to have consecutive good performances that lead to results,” said Tuchel, whose side are third in the league on 64 points after 35 games. “The group and the players do everything to force the luck on our…

Eshlin Vedan eshlin.vedan@inl.co.za The Premiership title race is probably over, barring a dramatic decline in form from table toppers Mamelodi Sundowns. Masandawana have a seven-point advantage at the top of the table and with their experience and class, it will be the biggest upset in PSL history if they had to lose the league title from the position that they are currently in. Nevertheless, the battle for second and third places, as well as the relegation battle, will now start to intensify. Second place, currently occupied by AmaZulu, assures a team of entry into next season’s CAF Champions League, which provides teams with the chance to test themselves against the top teams in Africa while also bringing in a welcome financial injection. Ambitious AmaZulu coach Benni McCarthy, who has done…

Kedibone Modise kedibone.modise@inl.co.za Kwesta has admitted to not paying royalties to the artists featured in his third studio album DaKAR II. Taking to Twitter on Thursday, the award-winning hip hop star admitted that he has not paid what’s due to some of the contributors of his hit single, Ngud, from his 2016 album, DaKAR II. The heated social media conversation started when DJ Maphorisa took to his Instagram Live on Wednesday, to spill the tea on what transpired eight years ago, after producing the multiplatinum selling single. During the chat on IG the Lorch hitmaker told his fans that after working with Kwesta on the Ngud project, he never received a cent. “When someone does something good for you, you have to acknowledge them ... show them you appreciate them,”…

Itumeleng Mafisa Floating power plant operator Karpowership has hit back at allegations made against its Lebanese branch after a Lebanese media outlet claimed that two power ships had been banned from leaving Lebanon pending an investigation into questionable commissions related to the business. Karpowership SA spokesperson Kay Sexwale said Karpowership had been powering Lebanon’s grid for more than eight years and that the company had acted in good faith, continuing to supply electricity despite not receiving payments for the past 18 months. Karpowership SA, a subsidiary of Karpowership, plans to produce an additional 1 220MW of much needed electricity via power ships to add to the severely strained electricity grid in South Africa. The company will be based at three coastal sites using cleaner energy than what is now…

Chulumanco Mahamba chulumanco.mahamba@inl.co.za HEALTH experts call on South Africa to not be lax about Covid-19 preventative measures following the detection of two variants in South Africa. Health Minister Dr Zweli Mkhize announced on Saturday evening that the Network for Genomic Surveillance in South Africa (NGS-SA) confirmed that two variants of concern were detected, the B.1.617.2 variant first detected in India and B.1.1.7 variant first detected in the UK. The minister said four cases of B.1.617.2 were detected in Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal, while 11 cases of the B.1.1.7 variant were found in South Africa. National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD) acting executive director Professor Adrian Puren said yeserday that it was not surprising that new variants have been detected in South Africa. “We would like to assure the public that the…

Chulumanco Mahamba THE FAMILY of the Northriding Secondary School learner who was allegedly hit, sprayed with sanitiser and called the K-word by an Afrikaans educator have vowed to get justice. An Afrikaans teacher at Northriding Secondary School was suspended on Thursday following an alleged racist incident in which the female educator allegedly hit a Grade 8 learner and called other learners “baboons, drug dealers and k*****s”. Education Department spokesperson Steve Mabona told the media at the school on Friday that initial investigations indicated that an altercation over noise-making occurred on Thursday morning between a Grade 8 learner and a teacher. “The educator is then alleged to have sprayed the learner with sanitiser after he left the classroom to report the matter to another teacher in the neighbouring class. “It is…

RAPULA MOATSHE rapula.moatshe@inl.co.za THE DEPARTMENT of Justice and Constitutional Development has warned against calls to make public the national register for sex offenders. It is believed making the register public would curb sexual offences against children, but according to the department, this would fuel mob justice against perpetrators. The department was responding to a campaign called #unmaskthemonsters launched by a civil rights organisation Action Society last month. The group spokesperson, Dr Rineé Pretorius said the idea behind the campaign was to pressure the government to declare child pornography a priority crime and request double life sentences for offenders found guilty of the possession or production of child pornography. She urged all South Africans to rally behind the campaign by demanding that government create legislation to reduce and ultimately eradicate the…

Mashudu Sadike THE family of a Limpopo woman, who was shot dead – allegedly by her boyfriend – have blamed themselves for her death, saying they ignored her warnings and pleas for help. They said before Tshepo Rakoma was sprayed with bullets, in the parking lot of a shopping centre in Polokwane, on Thursday last week, she had pleaded for their intervention. Warning that the father of her three children had allegedly made threats against her over her decision to end their relationship, she told them the suspect was “stalking her”. The 32-year-old bank employee was killed while sitting in her car, during her lunch break, sparking a public outcry and again bringing gender-based violence in the country into the spotlight. Narrating their ordeal to Pretoria News yesterday, at…

THE battle for the throne of the Zulu Kingdom can be traced back to the times of the powerful King Shaka kaSenzangakhona. Friday’s dramatic scenes at KwaKhangelamankengane royal palace are not new to Zulu royalty. In late 1828, Dingane kaSenzangakhona, his half-brother Mhlangana, and Zulu King Shaka kaSenzangakhona’s personal attendant Mbopha kaSithayi surprised Shaka at his KwaDukuza homestead and stabbed him to death. Legend suggests Shaka’s last prophetic words were: “Are you stabbing me, kings of the Earth? You will come to an end through killing one another.” Born the illegitimate son of King Senzangakhona kaJama of the Zulu nation and Nandi of the Langeni community and rejected by the former, young Shaka and his mother Nandi sought refuge with a paternal uncle living with the Mthethwa people, who were…

HOOLO ’NYANE LESOTHO’S Judicial Service Commission has started a process to recruit seven judges of the high court through a merit-based process. In February 2021, the commission issued a public advertisement announcing the vacancies and spelling out the competencies required. The vacancies follow a slew of deaths and retirement of judges. The high court is the second highest court in Lesotho; after the Court of Appeal. But, the high court is more important as it is the highest court with unlimited original jurisdiction to hear and determine any civil or criminal proceedings, and the power to review the decisions or proceedings of any subordinate court or tribunal. Since 2000, the court has sat as a constitutional court when it decides on constitutional matters. The constitution provides that the high…

The Afghan foreign minister and prosecutors from the International Criminal Court have met in The Hague to discuss the ICC’s war crimes investigation in Afghanistan, both sides said in a joint statement yesterday. The ICC is investigating alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity committed in Afghanistan since 2003 by all sides in the conflict, including by government forces, the Taliban, other armed groups, and US-led forces. After the ICC announced its investigation in March 2020, the Afghan government said it was conducting its own probe into some of the same alleged crimes and asked the international court to defer its investigation. “We have made encouraging progress … to ensure that no crime goes unpunished,” said Afghan Foreign Minister Mohammad Haneef Atmar and the ICC’s Office of the Prosecutor. Under…

MILAN: Five boats carrying hundreds of migrants landed in Lampedusa after being intercepted by Italian authorities off the coast of the Mediterranean island, it was reported yesterday. Lampedusa is one of the main landing points on the route for migrants departing mostly from Tunisia and Libya to reach Europe. “Migrants arrivals are resuming alongside good weather”, said Lampedusa mayor Toto Martello. “We need to restart discussions about the immigration issue,” he said. One of the boats, carrying 325 people, was intercepted 12.8km off Lampedusa. An Italian tax police vessel escorted a second boat with 90 people to the island. Three more boats carrying 98, 16 and 400 migrants of various nationalities docked yesterday.…

Eshlin Vedan eshlin.vedan@inl.co.za A thrilled Tshakhuma Tsha Madzivhandila coach Dylan Kerr hailed his troops for their organised and polished display in their 1-0 Nedbank Cup final win over Chippa United at Free State Stadium in Bloemfontein on Saturday night. Ndabayithethwa Ndlondlo’s long-range shot in the 27th minute proved to be the only goal of the game as TTM secured their first major trophy, which earned them the right to play in the CAF Confederation Cup next season. “We did make mistakes in the second half which gave them a chance, but we defended like heroes. Credit to Mpho Maleka and David Mathebula as they have been brilliant. We’ve got our reward,” Kerr enthused. The win would have been a relief and confidence booster for TTM, who have had a roller-coaster…

Dineo Faku dineo.faku@inl.co.za JSE-listed Orion Minerals has obtained an urgent interdict from the Northern Cape High Court in Kimberley to prevent disruption at its Prieska copper-zinc mine following several violent protests, the company said on Friday. Orion approached the court after gun-wielding protesters demanded that the company appoint a specific contractor, which failed to win a competitive bid for a construction management contract adjudicated by Orion in a fair and commercial manner. Chief executive Errol Smart said on Friday that the company respected the constitutional right to protest but this did not extend to armed threats and the possibility of behaviour that would put lives as well as livelihoods at risk. “These protests are ill-conceived and self-defeating: they will not create more local jobs or opportunities, rather the protesters will…

Alyssia Birjalal alyssia.birjalal@inl.co.za Vibrant actress and entrepreneur Thandy Matlaila made her debut on SABC2’s month-old telenovela, Die Sentrum on May 6. Matlaila has been cast as Bapsi Mahola, big sister to Buhle and a character who’s full of drama. The show is centred on a group of eight diverse counsellors who work at a helpline call centre, helping callers with their personal issues. However, each one of them has their own challenges to overcome. It explores compelling social realism scenarios against the present times in South Africa. Alcoholism, domestic violence, a desperate search for love, and secret lifestyles, are some of the subjects the counsellors need to deal with. Matlaila took to Instagram to announce the news. She wrote: “NEW ROLE ALERT –️ Tonight I’d like you to meet Bapsi…

Itumeleng Mafisa THE NATIONAL Union of Mineworkers (NUM) says it will not take anything below 15% in the current gold sector wage talks. Mining companies will engage with unions on the gold sector talks. The Star understands there won’t be much activity in the platinum sector as most mining companies in that sector have three-year agreements in place. NUM’s general secretary, William Mabapa, said unions will be negotiating with individual mines instead of at the Chamber of Mines. Mining companies expected to be involved with wage talks include Sibanye Gold and Harmony Gold, among others. “We have started with the negotiations at South Deep. In terms of the bargaining conference, we have minimum demands that we have been mandated and it depends. But we have settled on 15% on…

Botho Molosankwe botho.molosankwe@inl.co.za On December 19, 2018, it was a hot day in Thaga Di a Ipela, Northern Cape, when Botshelo Ramolemogi, 48, decided to leave his rented room and walk to a nearby tuckshop to buy a cigarette and get some air. He was lost in his thoughts when he saw two pitbulls and a boerboel, bolt out the open gate of a nearby house and head for him. Terrified, he tried to run but he was not fast enough for the vicious dogs baying for blood. Everything happened very fast. Suddenly he was on the ground screaming in pain as the dogs sunk their teeth into his flesh, savagely mauling him. Alerted by his screams, people rushed to where Ramolemogi was and tried to get the dogs off…

Kudzai Chikowore | A defender of human rights It is tearful that, in Zimbabwe, there is one set of laws and law enforcement agents for those who actively oppose the Zanu-PF regime and corruption; and another set of laws and law agents for those who don’t. The rule of law is an alien concept in Zimbabwe. The government of Zimbabwe violates the rights to shelter, food, freedom of movement and residence, freedom of assembly, and the protection of the law. Government agents of Zimbabwe continued to perpetrate physical and psychological torture. The constitution and law prohibit arbitrary arrest and detention, although other sections of the law weaken these prohibitions. The government enforces security laws, in conflict with the constitution. Security forces arbitrarily arrested and detained persons – particularly…

THE celebration of the adoption of the Constitution on Saturday, May 8, 1996, was an affirmation of efforts to address the question of equity and the allocation of scarce water resources for transformation to deal with poverty and promote sustainable socio-economic development. Twenty-five years after adoption the of the Constitution, the Department of Water and Sanitation has proven to be one of the quintessential advocates of the Constitution by providing the basic necessities of water and sanitation as one of the basic human rights. This is in the context that equitable access to water and the benefits derived from it are central to transformation and extracting previously disadvantaged people – from the periphery of the economy to the mainstream economy. The department is of the view that the denial of…

Adnan, a Palestinian from east Jerusalem, vowed that rubber bullets fired by Israeli police would not deter him: “Silence is not an option” in defence of Arabs in the Holy City, he said. East Jerusalem, the majority Palestinian part of the city annexed by Israel in 1967, has been hit by some of its worst unrest in years. Hundreds of Palestinians have been wounded and dozens arrested in confrontations with police who have been hit with stones and other projectiles hurled by mainly young and male Palestinian protesters, who have also torched cars and dumpsters. Friday night saw violent clashes following evening Ramadaan prayers at the Al-Aqsa mosque compound, Islam’s third holiest site, a flashpoint area also sacred to Jews – who call it the Temple Mount – where tensions…

London: Incumbent London Mayor Sadiq Khan has won a second term in office, beating his Conservative rival Shaun Bailey following the local elections held last week, the media reported. “I will always be a mayor for all Londoners, working to improve the lives of every single person in this city,” the BBC quoted the 51-year-old Labour Party member as saying. Khan was first elected as mayor in 2016. He said after the results were declared on Saturday night that the UK is deeply divided. | IANS…

Malé: A third man has been arrested following the attempted assassination of Maldives’ former president Mohamed Nasheed, police said yesterday, as they renewed an appeal for more information about another suspect. The democracy pioneer and climate activist was seriously hurt after a bomb attack in the capital Male on Thursday night that also injured a British national and two others, which police have blamed on “religious extremists”. “We can confirm that a third individual has been arrested in connection with the May 6 attack early today,” police said in a statement. No further details about the man were released.…

Ashfak Mohamed ashfak.mohamed@inl.co.za IT has been a long road over the last few years, but Wenda Nel has finally made it to the Tokyo Olympics. The ace 400m hurdles star has been battling with injuries over the last few years, and even on her return to the track in 2021, it just looked like she wasn’t going to break through the qualifying mark of 55.40 seconds. Nel ran 55.58sec in the heats at the South African championships in Pretoria last month, and won her ninth national title in the final, but was again short of the required time as she finished in 55.60. “My biggest goal today was to run an Olympic qualification time, but like I said on Thursday, in hurdling, you can’t afford to make any mistakes. Unfortunately,…

Manchester United recovered to beat Aston Villa 3-1 away in the Premier League yesterday as Bruno Fernandes, Mason Greenwood and Edinson Cavani scored in the second half to put on hold the title celebrations of Manchester City. The result left United second on 70 points from 34 games, 10 behind City, who have played a game more and missed a chance to secure the title on Saturday after they suffered a 2-1 home defeat by Chelsea. It also stretched United's unbeaten away league run to 25 games, but came at a cost as manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer said captain Harry Maguire may miss the Europa League final against Spanish side Villarreal on May 26. "It might be a few weeks or a month, we don't know," Solskjaer was quoted as…