Indholdsfortegnelse for 2024-08-25 i Sunday Tribune

The cost of groceries is widely expected to be the biggest increase in consumers’ spending over the next six months, but this is set to be usurped by the monthly electricity bill, if the proposed National Energy Regulator of South Africa (Nersa)–approved 40% electricity tariff increase is widely implemented – placing South Africans in the impossible position of having to choose between keeping the lights on and feeding their families. The outcry against the outrageous tariff increase, set to take effect from April 1, 2025, should come as no surprise, with thousands across the country signing a petition against it. With the disappearance of load shedding, this begs the question whether citizens are now being asked to pay the price for “fixing” the crisis. South Africans are at breaking point…

Historically, on August 9, 1956, some 20 000 South African women of all races staged a march to the Union Buildings in Pretoria to protest against the proposed amendments to the Urban Areas Act. In the modern world, it seems that millions of women, especially those from rural areas, in 2024 still have to march in very difficult circumstances to make a living and attain prosperity. When I started primary school two decades ago, I went to a school where all teachers were women. The Gauteng farm school was built of mud bricks and had just four classrooms. To place it in context, Grade 1 had its own classroom and teacher. Grades 2 and 3 were in the same classroom sharing a single teacher, while grade 4 and 5 also…

Most of us have certain foods that are our “guilty pleasures” – foods we love to eat even though we know they are not great for us. Ice cream, for one. Potato chips, for another. But if your doctor has told you that you have high cholesterol or other heart disease risk factors, there are other foods you also need to limit due to their high saturated fat or high cholesterol content. What is cholesterol? Many people are familiar with the term “cholesterol” and have heard that high cholesterol is dangerous. But to truly grasp the value of healthy cholesterol levels it is important to understand what the word means. Cholesterol is a particle in the blood that all humans and animals need to live. But in this day and…

Jenna Ortega believes season two of Wednesday will be even more ambitious than the first. The 21-year-old actress plays Wednesday Addams on the hit Netflix show, and Jenna has teased what fans can expect from season two of the series. Ortega told Extra: “I have really incredible set pieces. We’ve done four episodes so far, but every episode has one strong, outstanding scene or factor. “This season just feels like we’re getting a little bit more of an opportunity to do the things that we wanted to accomplish in the first one, maybe just didn’t have the resources or faith. We have a lot more trust this season.” The first season of the show saw Ortega perform a dance routine that went viral on TikTok. But at the moment,…

AT NO time in the history of mankind has the scramble for human talent and ingenuity been so brazen, with South Africa and other African countries unfortunately losing their best brains and skills to the world. The interest by the West – in particular, by the US and US multinationals – in India and skilled Indian workers remains an under-appreciated phenomenon in South Africa and Africa, which we have been observing with interest. While the dynamics between African countries and India are different, there are similarities that require investigating, bearing in mind that India is also a developing and former colonised economy. There are a range of factors, but we will stick to those of interest to other developing economies. The world economic superpowers are earnestly courting India, as Africa…

Scrolling through videos on TikTok or YouTube to avert boredom may have a decidedly unintended consequence: it can make people feel more bored, according to the paradoxical findings of a recent study published in the “Journal of Experimental Psychology: General”. Researchers from the University of Toronto Scarborough conducted experiments to investigate the psychological effects of “digital switching” – the algorithmically enabled, quintessentially modern-day habit of flicking by and fast-forwarding through online videos during moments of downtime. Katy YY Tam, a post-doctoral psychology researcher and boredom expert, launched the study after she noticed herself – and pretty much everyone else – swiping through videos on YouTube or fast-forwarding dramas on Netflix. This behaviour resonated with a theory she and colleagues had published in 2021, the “Boredom Feedback Model”. Boredom, they proposed,…

TELKOM has called off an auction of prime redevelopment land in Greyville after it emerged that there were pending land claims on the property. The claims were lodged by former residents who lost their homes and land during apartheid’s forced removals and have been fighting to have their property returned, under the banner of a community group known as the Block AK Action Committee. This week Telkom’s chief corporate affairs officer, Mpho McNamee, said it was standard procedure to check with the Land Claims Commission if any of their land or properties were subject to claims and twice the commission had confirmed in writing that there were no claims. “We then heard that Block AK Action had gone to the auctioneers to inform them that actually this land was under…

Dube TradePort has seen a hive of activities this week as major automotive companies pledged investments to set up shop in KwaZulu-Natal’s TradeZone. Mahindra South Africa and Auto Investment Holdings Group (AIH Group) celebrated 20 years since its establishment in the country, while revealing the start of the next phase of their journey by producing in a new assembly facility. At the celebrations, a special Pik Up S6 4x4 shared the stage with dignitaries. This was the 20 000th model to be produced in the South African plant. Mahindra first started producing single cab models at the plant. Over time, it added its double cab and special edition models, such as the popular Karoo Editions to the line-up and today all Pik Up models are assembled here. “The Mahindra facility…

In2assets’ latest Telkom property portfolio is attracting strong interest before the auction on Thursday. The auction features 17 prime Telkom properties situated across five provinces. The properties have not been available on the marketplace before, says Hein Hattingh, the managing director of In2assets, the national property specialists mandated to sell on behalf of Telkom. The auction offers investors the opportunity to acquire high-profile assets that have significant potential for development, commercial use or investment. The portfolio includes a diverse range of properties – from strategically located commercial buildings to valuable industrial sites – in Cape Town’s CBD, Johannesburg, Pretoria, Durban, Port Elizabeth and Welkom in the Free State. The strong interest in the auction proves that investors and developers recognise the value of acquiring assets that were once integral…

EXAMINING the two-pot retirement system, starting on September 1, reveals the necessity of great thought to grasp its goals, advantages, disadvantages, and who stands to benefit the most. In his budget speech, Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana declared that withdrawals from retirement funds are projected to yield a R5 billion tax windfall for the government in the 2024/25 fiscal year, therefore alleviating fiscal difficulties. The two-pot arrangement, however, begs questions about long-term financial security even if it is meant to inspire savings. Regular withdrawals could drastically lower the amount accessible for retirement, hence raising reliance on government support. These withdrawals’ compounding effect emphasises the need of giving such decisions much thought. Head of advising services at Everest Wealth Riaan Grobler underlines the need of knowing the two-pot system, its alternatives, long-term…

THE answers to the country’s societal challenges lie in early childhood. This was the finding of the latest Child Gauge 2024, released last week, as it said that was the direction to go in for South Africa’s complex challenges. “With nurturing care and the proactive support of families, communities, and the whole of society we can protect young children from harm, enable them to thrive and build a strong foundation for national development,” said the annual report, the 17th produced by the University of Cape Town’s Children’s Institute. The report, published to monitor progress towards realising children’s rights, this year focused attention on early childhood development and reflected on progress since the adoption of the National Integrated Early Childhood Development Policy in 2015. It also looked towards setting an agenda…

FOLLOWING months of investigation by the Sunday Independent into activities at the City of Matlosana (formerly Klerksdorp) Local Municipality, the police arrested another senior official and a service provider for R2.9 million of “ghost electrical equipment that was never delivered”. Matlosana Local Municipality in North West was not in the news until the arrest of chief financial officer Mercy Phetla, who is facing charges of corruption and is currently out on bail. On January 17 last year, Phetla and the wife of a service provider were arrested after it emerged that Phetla allegedly had been receiving gifts from a service provider who, among other gifts, bought her a vehicle valued at R1.4m. According to the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (the Hawks), Phetla received a VW Amarok bakkie from…

THERE is an erroneous perception that the Springboks are almost unbeatable at Ellis Park in Johannesburg and this is backed up by the All Blacks’ record at the spiritual home of the game in this country. The Kiwis have won four of the last seven games played between the sides at Ellis Park, the venue for Saturday’s Rugby Championship match before the teams move to the Cape Town Stadium next week. Most of the All Blacks squad that is on tour played in their 2022 victory over the Boks. They had been given no chance after being outplayed in the Lowveld the week before but were sprung into action while the Boks lapsed into indifference and were humbled. All Blacks coach Ian Foster was on the point of being fired,…

MANCHESTER United crashed to a last-gasp 2-1 defeat against Brighton and an Erling Haaland’s hat-trick fired Premier League champions Manchester City to a 4-1 win against Ipswich yesterday. Erik ten Hag’s side were left shell-shocked by Joao Pedro’s winner five minutes into stoppage time at the Amex Stadium. United fell behind to a 32nd-minute goal from Danny Welbeck, who poked in Kaoru Mitoma’s cross for his sixth goal in 16 appearances against his former club. Amad Diallo equalised for United after an hour, cutting inside for a shot that deflected in off Brighton defender Jan Paul van Hecke. Joshua Zirkzee prevented Alejandro Garnacho from putting the visitors ahead in the closing stages when the United forward touched home his teammate’s finish on the line. Zirkzee, a close-season signing from Bologna,…

WHILE the Rugby Championship title would be nice to win, Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus has made it pretty clear that developing the team’s play and depth is at least as important, if not more so. If the trophy was the main goal, Erasmus could easily have stuck with the side that beat the Wallabies 33-7 in Brisbane for the second Australian encounter in Perth. In fact, he could even have reverted to a more World Cup-style match-23 by reinstalling Handré Pollard at flyhalf and sticking with Cobus Reinach, Damian de Allende and Willie le Roux for the rest of the backline. The pack could also have maintained the core of Siya Kolisi, Eben Etzebeth, Frans Malherbe, Bongi Mbonambi and Ox Nche, but that was not the case in Perth either.…

Stellenbosch FC (2) 5 Mojela 9’ Phili 26’ De Jong 52’ Mdaka 86’ Boji 89’ Nsingizini Hotspurs (0) 0 Betway Premiership side Stellenbosch FC ran through Eswatini side Nsingizini Hotspurs 5-0 (8-0 on aggregate) in their preliminary first round match in the CAF Confederation Cup at the Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban yesterday. Stellies will face Congolese side AS Vita Club in the next stage of the competition. Despite going into this game with a comfortable three-goal buffer, Stellies coach Steve Barker resisted the urge to rest his core team with MTN8 duties on the horizon. The hosts made just three changes from the team that turned up last time as youngsters Langelihle Phili and Liam De Kock joined Genino Palace in the places of Devin Titus, Athenkosi Mcaba and…

ENZO Maresca has backed Joao Felix to learn the lessons of his disappointing first spell at Chelsea, with the Portugal forward possibly set to play in today’s match with Wolves. Felix rejoined Chelsea from Atletico Madrid this week in a permanent deal after spending six months on loan at Stamford Bridge during the 2022/23 season. The 24-year-old made 20 appearances for Chelsea between February and May 2023, during a troubled period for the Premier League club. It was also an inconsistent spell for Felix, who was sent off on his debut against Fulham and subsequently missed three matches of his loan spell. Felix did show his quality in the team’s 2-0 victory against Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League, and Maresca believes the forward will be smoother as he now…

Women comprise half of tourism’s current workforce, with 37% earning more than their peers in other industries – and tourism is projected to contribute 10.4% to South Africa’s GDP and create 2.23 million jobs by 2030. Given tourism’s significant role in advancing women, Sandra Kneubuhler, country sales director and district director for South Africa at Radisson Hotel Group, urges women to consider careers in tourism, especially in light of the unemployment challenges many face. Here are 3 reasons why Kneubuhler believes women should take up this space. Progress in gender parity According to Kneubuhler, the industry is leading other sectors in achieving gender parity. She said women in hospitality hold 54% of low to middle management positions, which is higher than the national average in both the private and public…

We are finally headed for the spring and summer season. Spring and summer bring warmer weather, extended daylight, and the craving for cold beverages. This is the perfect time to get your restaurant hot weather ready. From transforming your space into an outdoor retreat to making the most of occasions, there are several ways to elevate your dining experience, attract new guests, and boost your bottom line this season. Use these tips to prepare your restaurant for the spring and summer vibes. Spring cleaning comes first Spring cleaning highly differs from winter cleaning. Spring means more dust and more dirt left on tables and chairs, even the decorative setting that you have. Make sure you throw your restaurant a deep cleaning service and open the outdoor area. You won’t…

The Bridgerton franchise has taken on a life of its own, with fans swooning every time a new season drops. Season three was more of an underdog love story, based on Julia Quinn’s Romancing Mister Bridgerton novel. It centred on the unlikely romance between Colin Bridgerton (Luke Newton), the third Bridgerton son, and Penelope Featherington (Nicola Coughlan), the youngest Featherington daughter. This new instalment ushered in a few new faces, too. Sam Phillips, as Lord Debling, was a potential, albeit practical match, for Penelope. The other new faces were Hannah New as Lady Tilley Arnold, an enigmatic, badass widow who shows Benedict Bridgerton (Luke Thompson) a whole new world, and Daniel Francis as Lady Danbury’s (Adjoa Andoh) womaniser brother, Lord Marcus Anderson. Suave and charming, Lord Marcus is drawn to…

As someone who was not a fan of The Mommy Club seasons one and two, I wasn’t holding out much hope for the spinoff series, The Mommy Club: Sugar & Spice. Three episodes in, I’m hooked on the series. Aside from The Real Housewives of Durban, there is a dearth of reality television programmes centred on the Indian community. As such, I hope this series paves the way for more content in a similar vein. And kudos to POP24 for not playing into stereotypes and capturing the true nature of the cast of affluent mothers, who are powerhouses in their own right. There are several favourites in the show. Resh Naidoo tops the list. Married to Prevan Naidoo, who is the owner of Baking Pan, the 45-year-old is proud of…

UNDETERRED by losing his deputy and his most trusted right-hand man, Julius Malema spent the weekend in KwaZulu-Natal on a fact-finding mission to establish “scientific evidence” from branches on why the EFF lost substantial support in the province, ultimately costing it seats in the provincial and national parliaments. Malema arrived in the province with a strong contingent of the party’s Central Command Team (CCT) on Friday, minus his long-time lieutenant, Floyd Shivambu, who joined the uMkhonto weSizwe Party (MKP) last week. He began with a meeting with the EFF’s provincial leadership before engaging with branches yesterday. In eThekwini he held his first regional general assembly with branches at the Durban Exhibition Centre yesterday. This engagement, scheduled to have started at 10am, eventually happened at 1pm, and was held in camera…

THREE years after the assassination of Babita Deokaran, there is still no sign that the government is committed to the protection of whistle-blowers, says Tebogo Khaas, the chairperson of Public Interest South Africa. On Friday, friends and family commemorated the death of Deokaran, who was murdered for exposing corruption in the Gauteng Department of Health. Khaas said that although whistle-blowers had gained prominence of late, there were no material changes in the way that the government supported them. Many of them still lost their jobs and didn’t receive government assistance. “Last year there was an introduction of a discussion document on reforming the whistle-blower legislation. We’re still waiting for a bill to be introduced to put into effect such rights. “If anything, one can draw inference from such conduct…

Charley the elephant has been freed, and is the first captive elephant to be released back into nature. Charley was said to be responding well to his transitional programme that he was moved to on Monday. He had been in the National Zoological Garden in Pretoria for the past 23 years,after having spent about 20 years in a circus. The Elizabeth Margaret Steyn (EMS) Foundation announced this week that Charley was now at the Shambala Private Game Reserve in Limpopo. In a statement, the foundation said Charley, was the last elephant in South Africa’s only national zoo, and the first to be released back into nature. “This historic event is a result of years of negotiation with the South African government after the EMS Foundation (through its Towards Freedom Programme)…

THE rise of mpox cases in Africa has the continent under the World Health Organization’s (WHO) microscope, after it recently declared the disease a “public health emergency”. A panel of experts assembled by the Global Virus Network discussed the surge of mpox cases around the world this week. The panel included UKZN’s Dr Abdool Salim Karim During the webinar, the public’s concerns were tabled by the WHO’s Dr Lorenzo Subissi. Subissi said the July stats showed a spike in infections, mainly in the DRC, which accounted for 90% of the cases. “The overall number of cases in Africa is low but rising. However, confirmed cases may not reflect the true number. In all countries, there is a need to promote active surveillance and encourage reporting of case data. According to…

Ian Wyles will be hosting the liquidation auction of a residential property in Umhlanga Rocks on Wednesday at 11am. The property, at 16 Campbell Drive, Herrwood Park, is centrally located in this popular residential suburb and is in proximity to Herrwood Medical Centre, education facilities and other amenities. The corner property enjoys two road frontages – Kingston Drive and Campbell Drive – and comprises: Kitchen Dining room Study Entrance/lounge (with built-in bar) Main bedroom, en-suite with a dressing room, and access to entertainment area Two bedrooms Guest bathroom Entertainment room Hobby room, with en-suite Large double garage Staff quarters Swimming pool Timber wendy house Viewing is by appointment only. For more information, please contact Ian Wyles on 082 490 3517 or 031 579 4403 or visit www.ianwyles.co.za. The auctions will…

STAKEHOLDERS have expressed concern about the increasing rate of teenage and child pregnancies in South Africa. According to a recent survey 20% of girls in the study admitted to having had an adolescent pregnancy, and 6% of men admitted to having impregnated a girl during their adolescent years. About 16%, aged from 10 to 19 years, said they had had unwanted pregnancies, while about 6.7% had ever terminated a pregnancy. Among the organisations that have expressed concern at the numbers is Ubuntu Rural Women and Youth, which said: “We are shocked to learn that a total of 2 716 girls between the ages of 10-14 years, and 119 586 girls between 15-19 years became mothers between April 2023 and March 2024.” Saying it was clear that many were the result…

LUKE Baartman was full of optimism when he previewed the season and year that lies ahead for him at Cape Town Spurs and as a matric learner. The next few months are set to test Baartman’s character as he must adapt to helping the team return to the top flight, while focusing on his final matric exams. Spurs will start their campaign today (3pm) against University of Pretoria (UP) in their NFD season opener at Tuks Stadium. Following an impressive outing in the 2023 U17 African Youth Championship in Algeria, the top flight was earmarked as a stepping stone for Baartman’s career. And it got off to a flyer, with the 18-year-old showing signs of brilliance with his pace, tricky feet and eye for goals. He was also part of…

YOU might think that after an eight-match unbeaten run, the Blue Bulls can’t get any better in the Currie Cup. But after being put under intense pressure by Griquas to trail 14-0 in the opening quarter, the manner in which the Pretoria side roared back to claim a 47-24 triumph spoke wonders about the spirit in the side. Captain Nizaam Carr’s charges looked like headless chickens early in the match as they conceded two tries and made several errors, but once Jaco van der Walt dotted down for the first of seven touchdowns, the Bulls got into their groove. Coach Phiwe Nomlomo’s outfit played some enterprising rugby, with some silky touches from Carr, scrumhalf Keagan Johannes and fullback Devon Williams mixed with powerful surges by Player-of-the-Match Mpilo Gumede, centres Chris…

STRIKER Simon van Duivenbooden, provided he makes the final cut, is set to join an elite list of players who have been capped for South Africa’s national football team although they were born in other countries. Van Duivenbooden, a 22-year-old who plies his trade at the mid-table Dutch club Vitesse Arnhem, was named in Bafana Bafana’s 38-man preliminary squad for the upcoming 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers. Bafana coach Hugo Broos will next week name the final squad to take on Uganda at Orlando Stadium next Friday (September 6) before travelling to South Sudan four days later. If selected Van Duivenbooden will become the second Dutch-born player to be capped for South Africa. Lars Veldwijk was the other Dutch-born player who played for Bafana. Several foreign-born players have earned…

LINDELANI Mbanjwa is intent on following in the footsteps of his role model and homeboy – the legendary Bongmusa Mthembu – by winning the Comrades Marathon in the not too distance future. In a country where many a young runner have made similarly bold pronouncements only to disappear into oblivion faster than they came into the picture, the initial reaction is to laugh Mbanjwa off. After all, to win the Ultimate Human Race is no child’s play. It is a feat achieved by a mere 11 black male South African runners in the close on 50 years since they were allowed to participate. And with less than a handful of completed standard marathons to his name, surely Mbanjwa has a very long way to go before he can have his…

Boost to SA, India ties THE India South Africa Chamber of Commerce (Isacc), a private sector initiative, has been launched to promote the South African business sector to the Indian market in a bid to grow the local economy. The Isacc is a crucial formal platform to facilitate greater involvement from the private sector in both South Africa and India, to co-operate with each other in addressing the vast opportunities as well as challenges for the mutual benefit of both countries. Parks Tau, Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition, launched the Isacc at Emperors Palace in Gauteng last Sunday. This year, India and South Africa celebrate 30 years of diplomatic relations, marking decades of deep-rooted historical ties and co-operation. This milestone year has also seen a significant economic achievement. Bilateral…

Affordability is important when choosing a destination to travel to. One of the best ways to determine whether a destination is affordable is by looking at the desired location’s exchange rate to the rand. Bearing this in mind, here are some destinations to avoid if you’re planning on exploring without breaking the bank. Kuwait The country is cradled between Saudi Arabia and Iraq in one of the most ancient and contested corners of the world. Along with being famous for being oil-rich, Kuwait is also known for having several tourist attractions. People from all over the world love the ethnicity, culture and cuisine of the country. When it comes to the exchange rate, 1 Kuwaiti Dinar equals R58.63. Bahrain The Kingdom of Bahrain is known for its rich history,…

South Africa has seen a surge of investor confidence and Capitec chief executive Gerrie Fourie says things are improving for the better. Talking at a media briefing last week, Fourie said: “What has happened in South Africa in the last six months has been overall very positive. The coalition government has been very impactful. We’ve seen changes taking place. “One can definitely see that the CEO initiative between the private sector and the government is starting to bear fruit and a lot of initiatives are taking place. Overall the economy should be in a much better place than it’s been for quite a long period,” he said. Fourie reflected on how during the Covid-19 pandemic many central banks printed money globally, which led to high inflation and a lot of…

It’s been a while since Mzansi was gripped by a good legal drama, but that could soon change with Showmax’s upcoming legal series, Law, Love and Betrayal. The trailer showcases a successful black-owned law firm as it gives a glimpse into the characters portrayed by the strong cast that features Nimrod Nkosi, Dineo Rasedile and Pearl Modiadie. Nkosi stars as Gatsha Gumede, the founder of Gumede & Associates, where a succession battle is brewing. Over his lengthy career, Nkosi has captivated audiences as the host of iconic TV shows like Jam Alley and had stand-out acting roles in series such as Isibaya. Nkosi describes his character, Gumede, as a man who has achieved a lot in life and an expert in constitutional law. “He came from a difficult background but…

THE International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) will have to drop everything and rush to the battlefield in Russia’s Kursk region, where thousands of Ukrainian soldiers are wreaking havoc and reportedly posing a grave threat to a nuclear power facility. Russia’s President Vladimir Putin revealed during a cabinet meeting in Moscow last week that his army had repelled an attempted attack on the Kursk nuclear power plant (NPP) by marauding Ukrainian forces. The incursion by thousands of Ukrainian soldiers – which enters a fourth week – has sent shivers through the border region and resulted in more than 100 000 citizens being evacuated and moved to temporary safe zones. “Last night,” Putin told his concerned cabinet, “the enemy attempted to strike the atomic power plant. The IAEA has been informed. They…

Excitement is building for KZN’s biggest outdoor show, the Sunday Tribune Great Outdoors Expo that is set to take place on Saturday, August 31 and Sunday, September 1, at the Durban Exhibition Centre The two-day show brings together outdoor enthusiasts, adventurers and families, ready to start their next adventure. The event promises to go all out, with freestyle motocross jumping shows on both days, a free kids entertainment area and an opportunity to experience the 4x4 course inside the expo. Other attractions include drone flying experiences, by Drone Gear, and live music by Tatum Tides, Tyler Di Dominico and Gavin Ferguson. There will also be demonstrations by Scouts SA inside the Hey Halfway Arena, as well as an opportunity to show off your skills in a tyre-changing competition. Visitors…

Nonhlanhla Joye still remembers being without food and being diagnosed with cancer in 2014. That unfortunate circumstance prompted her to look at agriculture as a means to feed her child and herself. Joye needed healthy food to enable her to cope with the disease. Her early attempts which involved planting seedlings in her yard at a township in Durban did not work out because the neighbours’ chickens reduced the vegetable patch to nothing. It was a setback that taught her the importance of being able to adapt and also deepened her love for agriculture. She grew the vegetables using plastic containers and sacks as a form of protection against the chickens, thus ensuring that she and her son enjoyed freshly picked vegetables. Today, Joye runs a successful farming…

The South African Cabin Crew Association celebrated their fifth National Aviation Gender Summit on Wednesday, with this year being the first in KwaZulu-Natal. The summit celebrated their success at driving forward the narrative of women being present in the aviation field. Among those at the event, was 35-year-old pilot and instructor Kaela Okafor, who is also the owner of Paramount Aviation Academy in Mahikeng in the North West province. She said that her dream of becoming a pilot was formed as a child during a traumatic event. “When I was 10, I was involved in a car accident with my mum and I was airlifted from the rural area that I lived in to the hospital. It’s something that stuck with me, because I thought, wow you can do this?…

Professor Carolyn McKinney's recent inaugural lecture at the University of Cape Town (UCT) looked at “How are we failing our children? Language and exclusion in schooling”. The lecture, on August 14, heard that pupils should be taught in their native language to grasp the subject matter more efficiently compared to the current situation where English is used as a language of instruction. It also focused on how pupils must continue with African language instruction in Grade four, with English added to the instruction, to be more proficient in the language, as opposed to the current system where African language instruction ends at Grade three. Her talk covered three different research projects conducted over 20 years in very different spaces, from under-resourced to elite schools and in informal learning spaces. “What…

BUSINESS chambers in KwaZulu-Natal have warned that a proposed 40 percent electricity price increase next year could see many enterprises close down. President of the Minara Chamber of Commerce, Solly Suleman, said increases over the past few years had crippled businesses, consumers and civil society, and there shouldn’t be any increase at all. “I don’t think the powers that be really understand what’s going on, on the ground. Businesses are closing, businesses are suffering, consumers are suffering. People can’t make ends meet and unfortunately the corruption, mismanagement and maintenance issues in Eskom are now having an impact on the people on the ground.” Suleman said people and businesses were “soft targets”; many could not service their bonds, people were resigning to access their provident funds, while others were exiting their…

If you are looking for an industrial property in Marburg, Aucor has an investment opportunity for you. The live on-site and online property auction will take place at the corner of Commercial Drive and Ordinance Road, with pre-bidding starting on Wednesday at noon. The auction will go live on site on September 2 at 11am. The property, which is being auc tioned in a legal matter instructed by a provisional appointed liquidator, is in an industrial node with easy access to a freeway. It has a land extent of 3 389m² and comprises various units plus an outbuilding at the rear of the property. The units have pre-paid electricity meters and some feature roller shutter doors and an open-plan set-up, comprising offices, kitchenettes and ablutions. There is plenty of on-site…

Celebrating 20 years of muddy puddles, everyone’s favourite pink superstar, Peppa Pig, will jump onto stage at the Globe, Suncoast, from September 13 to 15. Presented in association with East Coast Radio, Peppa, George, Mummy and Daddy Pig are returning to Durban in a live show designed for young fans. Peppa fans are invited to join in the very special “pink carpet premiere” on September 13 in Durban. Thanks to LIFT airline, young guests who attend the opening performance save up to 30% per ticket. Since the announcement of Peppa Pig’s shows across South Africa later this year, fans and their families have been clamouring for tickets. Soon Peppa’s Durban and KZN fans can enjoy Bing Bong singalongs as they dance, sing and jump in muddy puddles… just like Peppa.…

THE appointment of Ashmar Ranthekeng Khuduge as the municipal manager of the Rustenburg Local Municipality is being challenged in court, with the litigant asking that the appointment be declared “unlawful, irrational and invalid.” In an application lodged in November last year in the Mahikeng High Court, former councillor Ratanang Nke sought to have the appointment of Khuduge set aside on the grounds of grave irregularities in the process. “Upon the declaration of the vacancy in November 2022, (Khuduge) applied for the post ... The position was re-advertised in March and April 2023 and what followed was a process which completely disregarded the Systems Act and the regulations thereto in a desperate attempt by ... some of the members of the Council to appoint the 6th Respondent (Khuduge). Nke said that…

ORLANDO Pirates coach Jose Riveiro concedes that his team cannot shy away from the spotlight they are getting right now, hence they need to use it to their advantage. Pirates reached the second round of the CAF Champions League’s preliminary qualifiers on Friday night after hammering Disciples FC 4-0 on aggregate. All the Pirates goals were scored in the return leg in Orlando two days ago following a 0-0 draw away from home in the first leg. Pirates were 3-0 up by the 30th minute, thanks to an own goal from Andoniaina Andrianavalona and strikes from Relebohile Mofokeng and Patrick Maswanganyi. Karim Kimvuidi came off the bench to wrap up the win for the Bucs. This was Pirates’ third game of the season – before the first leg they beat…

NETBALL South Africa will be led by stalwart and new captain Khanyisa Chawane as they embark on a journey towards World Cup glory in Sydney, Australia in 2027. Under the guidance of recently appointed coaches Jenny van Dyk and Zanele Mdodana, the Spar Proteas have set their sights on improving on their sixth place finish in their home World Cup which was won by Australia in Cape Town last year. South Africa have been among the top-five ranked sides in the world, but are yet to win a world title, having lost against Australia in the 1995 played a few semi-finals along the way and finished third in Perth at the 1967 World Netball Championships. The Spar Proteas have seen a series of retirements in recent times, including that of…

THE dismal performance of Orlando Pirates in their match against the lowly Madagascan amateurs Disciples FC in the first leg of the Caf Confederation Cup last week was not lost on Cape Town City coach Eric Tinkler. Despite playing away from home, the Madagascans pulled off the football upset for the ages by holding the former CAF Champions League champions to a goalless draw. The Madagascans do not have a CAF-approved home venue and play on a neighbouring island and that denies them the home ground advantage. Tinkler has been keeping an eye on Pirates because they clash on Tuesday in an MTN8 semi-final in Cape Town. “We saw them drawing away against the team from Madagascar, so they do have frailties,” said Tinkler. “We have to go out there…

MCLAREN drew first blood in their battle with Red Bull ahead of today’s Dutch Grand Prix as they continued their charge to the top with another impressive showing during qualifying at the Zandvoort circuit yesterday. The Dutch faithful came out in their numbers in their orange colours to cheer on local hero Max Verstappen. However, it was the papaya and anthracite McLaren of Lando Norris that showed control and composure to secure pole position for the Dutch Grand Prix by a margin of more than three-tenths of a second. Drivers had to navigate tricky weather conditions with rain and strong winds prior and during the qualifying session. Logan Sargeant of the Williams team paid the heaviest price as his heavy crash in the third free practice session ended his day…

DJ captivates his listeners DJ Shabster is among the best DJs in the world. His path from celebrated DJ to dominating the global Bollywood music scene has been on a constant, upwards trajectory leading him to be one of the most loved DJs in the world. The exhilarating and addictive tempo of his music instantly captivates the listeners to get on their feet. Independent Media Lifestyle caught up with the DJ, who gave us an insight into who he is, his love for Bollywood music, how his music journey started and more. Shabster is a Bollywood DJ, composer and producer originally from Chatsworth, Durban. Currently living in Musgrave with his wife and three children, he describes his DJing career thus far as a “musical experience when playing out at gigs”.…

With peak travel season approaching, finding smart ways to navigating the world of fluctuating airfares, hidden costs, and countless travel options can be overwhelming. To make the journey smoother, there are plenty of tips and tricks to guide a successful trip. Being a savvy traveller is all about find ways to cut costs, beat the crowds and taking advantage of discounts and deals in the world of travel. If you want to become a savvy traveller and plan your way to unforgettable experiences without the hefty price tag, here are practical tips to help you travel smart and stress-free on your next adventure. Book in advance When it comes to travel, spontaneity is exciting but planning can save you serious cash. Flights and accommodations tend to be cheaper the earlier…