Indholdsfortegnelse for 2024-09-08 i Sunday Tribune

In2assets will be auctioning a five-storey industrial facility in Clairwood on September 19 at 11am. The property, at 146-152 Archary Road, is in an advantageous location, which features a blend of industrial and commercial properties and convenient access to key amenities and transportation links. The property is conveniently accessible via the M7 (Edwin Swales Drive), which connects to the M4 Main Road and the N2 national freeway. Clairwood is in proximity to the Durban Port, and is about 10km from the Durban CBD. Each floor of the well-positioned industrial building offers clear-span warehouse space and mezzanine levels that can be used as offices or for changing rooms/ablutions. The ground floor is occupied by a supermarket and includes an attached guardhouse with ablution facilities. Externally, the property features a tarred yard…

Following the end of the relationship between Pick n Pay and Discovery Vitality earlier this year, the retailer has announced its Smart Shopper loyalty programme that is a new benefit to encourage healthier eating habits among its more than 11 million active members. The free-to-join Pick n Pay Live Well Club will give customers triple Smart Shopper points on over 1 000 Live Well Club-approved products and 15% off discount vouchers to redeem on the items they buy most often. “Consumers are increasingly looking to lead healthier lives without breaking the bank. This allows our customers to be rewarded for making healthier choices just by swiping their Smart Shopper card,” Tessa Chamberlain, Marketing Director at Pick n Pay said. The approved products are from the retailer’s affordable PnP private label…

The rollout of the two-pot retirement system had led to a surge in activity for Sanlam Corporate, which received more than 20 000 savings component claims via its portal and app on just the first two working days of September. This volume far exceeds the monthly average of 7 000 to 8 000 retirement, withdrawal, or retrenchment claims that is usually processed by Sanlam Corporate. The average claim amount remained steady at R20 000 over the two days. From the beginning of September, retirement fund holders could make a once-off withdrawal of 10% from their existing pension savings, up to a maximum of R30 000, immediately. South Africa’s biggest retirement funding groups – Old Mutual, Sanlam and Momentum – have, according to reports, seen big interest so far. Old Mutual,…

Africa’s culinary landscape is transforming, with chefs showcasing the diversity of African cuisine. From traditional ingredients to innovative techniques, South African chefs are reshaping the continent’s culinary identity. Below, Independent Media Lifestyle caught up with some of SA’s best chefs to talk about what heritage means to them. Kyron Bierman Since he was a young boy, chef Bierman from Capsicum Culinary Studio has always had a passion for pastry. “Desserts gave me the ability to make people happy. Having a guest or customer gives you positive feedback from a meal makes me proud of what I have accomplished,” he said. Bierman said as much as he loves desserts, unfortunately, his culture doesn’t come with many desserts or dishes that are very complex. “They are basic desserts and a lot of…

The first season of Married at First Sight Mzansi first season has wrapped up, leaving viewers wondering whether these matches are meant for each other. Eight singles got married at first sight to strangers, trusting four relationship experts to pair them with their ideal spouse. The four couples were married for six weeks and had time to get to know each other on and off the screen. The reality show, which followed the couples closely, aired on Showmax and Mzansi Magic (DStv channel 161). Here are five moments that stood out from the 12 episodes of watching the couples navigate life in marriage. Viewers are still waiting to hear about the tell-all reunion show, which will give curious viewers the inside scoop on what has happened since decision day. Out…

ANC KwaZulu-Natal chairperson Siboniso Duma has apologised to Zulu King Misuzulu kaZwelithini over the incident in KwaCeza earlier this year in which he snatched a microphone from Traditional Minister Thulasizwe Buthelezi. At an event, the traditional prime minister, who was on the verge of introducing the king, commented on remarks that had reportedly been made by ANC KZN secretary Bheki Mtolo, prompting Transport and Human Settlements MEC Duma to get up from his seat and snatch the microphone from Buthelezi, who he accused of spoiling the ceremony. The incident, which happened in the presence of senior government officials and traditional leaders, including Amabutho (warriors), caused a stir in traditional circles, with some accusing Duma, who was then Economic Development MEC and leader of Government Business, of ridiculing Zulu protocol. Buthelezi,…

There’s hope for men with advanced prostate cancer who have run out of treatment options. Actinium-225 is a drug that has been administered to about 40 patients at Inkosi Albert Luthuli Central Hospital since last year, and it has made a huge difference in their lives without the side effects that come with other forms of treatment like chemotherapy. But due to costs, the treatment is no longer available and doctors find this heartbreaking. Nuclear medicine physician Dr Mariza Vorster says Actinium-225 is a powerful and effective form of treatment which prevents the cancer from quickly regrowing. “It’s an outpatient therapy, which you can imagine for patients is wonderful. They come as an outpatient, it’s an injection that takes less than a minute and then they only come back in…

It’s been a year since the passing of IFP founder and leader and the traditional prime minister of the Zulu nation, Prince Mangosuthu Buthelezi, but his impact will live forever. So says his son, Prince Zuzifa Buthelezi, who has become the leader of the Buthelezi clan. Speaking to the Sunday Tribune after they had performed Ihlambo, which is a cleansing ceremony, the prince said it was difficult to come to terms with the fact that a year had passed since the death of the longest-serving traditional prime minister of the Zulu nation. He acknowledged that as much as his father was liked by many, he was not always popular and some individuals had even wished him harm. “We have come to expect that there will be a section that does…

The persistent water crisis affecting the South Coast, from Pumula Beach to Port Edward and surrounding villages, has impacted both tourism and local residents, with no sustainable solution in sight for the greater Ugu District. Pauline Lee, general manager of The Waffle House Ramsgate, shared her frustrations with the Sunday Tribune. She said the restaurant had been forced to spend significantly on alternative water sources, diverting funds away from service improvements. “Over the years, we have struggled with water shortages to the point where we had to call a water tanker every two days during off-peak times,” Lee said. “During the holiday season, it becomes even more challenging.” The Waffle House Ramsgate consumes over 10 000 litres every two days during off-peak times, and up to 80 000 litres during…

On a Sunday morning in late August, nine-year-old Eli-zé du Toit was sitting on her grandparents’ porch near a small town in the Eastern Cape, when she heard a long rumble and then a rustling in a nearby fig tree. As she watched, a rock fell out of the tree. When Eli-zé picked it up, she noticed that the rock had a black crust and a grey interior “like concrete”. The crust was warm and the inside cold. Elsewhere in the Eastern Cape, videos and photographs on social media, of a bright light in the sky, tipped scientists off to the possibility that a meteorite (a piece of rocky space debris that survives after colliding with the Earth) had fallen in the area. On August 26, a day after the…

THREE sisters from Newlands East in Durban are at the forefront of eradicating poverty and spreading the joy of learning through their non-profit organisation (NPO), 4thLaine. The organisation, founded by the Laine sisters, offers tutoring and educational programmes, provides learning materials for the youth and donates food items for those in need in Durban. The Laines hold different positions in the organisation. Dakota Storm, 27, is the director, treasurer and public relations officer, Cheyenne Sky, 30, is the educator and chairperson, and Arizona Rain, 28, the secretary. They are this week’s Unsung Heroes. Storm has a diploma in Public Relations Management and Sky has a Bachelor’s degree in Intermediate and Senior Education. Rain is in her final year of a law degree. Storm said that they wanted the youth…

The staggering salaries of South Africa’s top banking CEOs have sparked outrage and disbelief, especially as millions of ordinary South Africans continue to face deepening poverty, unemployment, and financial hardship. Leading this pack is Investec’s CEO, Fani Titi, who earned an astronomical R175 million in the 2023 financial year — a jaw-dropping R475,452 per day. In a country where many citizens are struggling to make ends meet, this level of compensation raises serious ethical questions about inequality and corporate responsibility. The average South African worker earns just R26,894 per month, according to the latest StatsSA quarterly employment survey. This equates to R322,728 annually — an amount Fani Titi earns in just one day. The absurdity is that Titi made more in 24 hours than the average worker earns in a…

With the lifespan of people with albinism already under threat from nature, disease and the elements, an abundance of love and care is what is needed to ease life’s harshness towards them. This is the message being spread during this month’s Albinism Awareness Month, to encourage parents, caregivers and the public to remove the stigma attached to people living with the condition and to accept them for who they are. Said one mother: “Love a child with albinism in abundance and build their self-esteem and confidence, because a cruel and judgemental society filled with stigmatisation awaits them.” Margaret Stevens, the mother of Megan Stevens, said she wanted to raise awareness about the stigma suffered by those with this rare genetic condition. She said about the birth of her child: “At…

ESKOM has conceded that in spite of its claim to have suspended load shedding and saved billions of rand burning diesel, hundreds of thousands of its customers are still experiencing familiar patterns of load shedding. On August 30 the power utility celebrated 156 days of “constant energy supply and an R11.08 billion reduction in diesel expenditure”. Last weekend, Eskom said while it had suspended load shedding, it was implementing load reduction to protect its infrastructure and prevent public safety hazards. It said this was because the constant overloading of the electricity network had caused extensive damage to its infrastructure, which led to costly repairs and extended outages. The utility said: “Load reduction is a last-resort measure implemented to save Eskom’s equipment and ensure that customers continue to receive electricity. Various…

VISITING China for the very first time this week, DA leader John Steenhuisen was “blown away” by the extraordinary infrastructural and technological development of the world’s second biggest economy. In a reflective media briefing at the end of his state visit to China, which Steenhuisen was a part of, President Cyril Ramaphosa said: “In the past they may well have had their own illusions about China. And when they got here they saw for themselves. Their minds were blown. They said ‘we didn’t know this country is as capable as this’. For them the penny dropped, as they say.” In the immediate aftermath of trip to China, Steenhuisen must be caught between a rock and a hard place. He leads a party that, until recently at least, held the People’s…

The revelations of white supremacist ultra-right-wing paramilitary training camps operating across our country are deeply disconcerting. The latest disturbing revelation came when the Hawks announced that such a training camp was raided outside Modimolle in the Limpopo Province recently. According to the media statement issued by the Hawks twelve rifles and twelve pistols were confiscated during the raid on notorious white right-winger Laurens Steytler, and his equally notorious so-called “Phoenix Project”, which is a project of the right-wing “Suidlander” defence organisation. The “Suidlanders” are led by an equally notorious white supremacist; the so-called “colonel” Wynand du Toit, who continues to illegally use the officer title of “colonel”, which he had during the Apartheid Regime, when he was a former senior Special Forces officer (commonly known as “Recces”). During the apartheid…

IN James Bond parlance, Bafana Bafana manager Hugo Broos was shaken but not stirred after goalkeeper Veli Mothwa’s howlers ruined his best-laid plans in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Uganda at Orlando Stadium on Friday night. Debutant Thalente Mbatha rescued Bafana with an injury-time equaliser after Mothwa conceded two quick goals for the visitors. The 2-2 result was not what Broos had envisaged from this opening Group K clash. After Lyle Foster’s early goal it seemed the South Africans were headed for a victorious opening gambit. However, early in the second stanza, Mothwa failed to deal with two long-range shots and Uganda turned the match on its head. Mothwa, the AmaZulu first choice keeper, would have been one of the players in the national squad who had…

The Boks were nervous at halftime yesterday evening because they weren’t in a good position against the All Blacks, but they knew who and what they were playing for and the end goal of claiming the Freedom Cup. After waiting 15 long years, the Springboks finally completed a clean sweep over New Zealand in the Rugby Championship, completing an 18-12 victory to reclaim the Freedom Cup – a trophy they last held in 2009. It was a tense affair in a packed DHL Stadium in the Mother City. Still, thanks to a late try by replacement hooker Malcolm Marx and some dogged defence, the South Africans created another bit of history under Bok coach Rassie Erasmus. They defeated New Zealand for the fourth time in a row, but according to…

TAYLOR Fritz became the first American man since 2009 to reach a Grand Slam final on Friday, setting up a US Open title showdown against world number one Jannik Sinner. Fritz, the world number 12, twice fought back to defeat compatriot Frances Tiafoe 4-6, 7-5, 4-6, 6-4, 6-1 in his semi-final. Australian Open champion Sinner became the first Italian man to make the New York final with a 7-5, 7-6 (7/3), 6-2 win over an ailing Jack Draper of Britain. “He overwhelmed me at the start and I was freaking out a little,” said 26-year-old Fritz after securing victory with a 16th ace. “I just told myself to stay in it, hold serve and apply scoreboard pressure. I did all I could to stay in it. If I hadn’t have…

Ian Wyles would like to feature two properties that will go under the hammer on September 25 at 11am. The first is a commercial property – Victoria Park 1, 4 Sasswood Road, Glen Anil. It is a sectional title mini factory in a small complex with four units, in proximity to main roads and the freeway. It features excellent security, shared parking and good roof height and consists of: Three-phase electricity (150amps) One roller shutter door Small office Ablution facilities Double-volume mini factory Unit is situated in the corner of the complex (338m²) Ample parking space for the units Quick access to Old North Coast Road Viewing is by appointment only. For more information, please contact Cheryl Lee Bose at 083 582 4779. You can also call 031 579 4403…

Consumers in South Africa will be able to stretch their rands a little further this month after the fuel price decreases were announced this past week. The Department of Mineral Resources and Energy (DMRE) dropped the prices of both grades of petrol by 92 cents per litre, while diesel came down by between 79 cents (500ppm) and R1.05 (50ppm). This means that a litre of 95 Unleaded petrol costs R21.40 at the coast and R22.19 in Gauteng, and the cheaper 93 Unleaded is retailing at R21.79. This is the lowest level of petrol prices since February 2023. The DMRE said September’s petrol and diesel price decreases come mostly as a result of lower international fuel prices, while a slightly stronger South African rand added around 11 cents to the equation.…

Why would Mark Wahlberg and an Oscar-winning Halle Berry, who have both earned critical acclaim for their work in some of the biggest Hollywood films, agree to do The Union? These heavyweight talents are wasted in the spy action thriller, along with JK Simmons and Mike Colter. Directed by Julian Farino Entourage fame), the story centres around a secret government agency losing crucial information, placing the lives of many in danger during a covert operation that goes pear-shaped. Roxanne Hall (Berry) heads the operation on the ground while her boss Tom Brennan (Simmons) is the team’s eyes and ears from their headquarters. Aside from losing members of her team, Roxanne is determined to recover the sensitive information before it goes to the highest bidder. Meanwhile, Mike McKenna (Wahlberg), who was…

South Africa, 6 September 2024: the rollout of the two-pot retirement system has led to a surge in activity for Sanlam Corporate, which received over 20 000 savings component claims via its portal and app on just the first two working days of September. This volume far exceeds the monthly average of 7 000 to 8 000 retirement, withdrawal, or retrenchment claims usually processed by Sanlam Corporate. The average claim amount remained steady at R20 000 over the two days. “Most claims were processed through Sanlam’s straight-through processing capabilities, requiring minimal manual intervention,” said Nzwa Shoniwa, managing executive at Sanlam Corporate. “This indicates effective communication with our clients prior to two-pot implementation and the success of the preparation measures put in place.” The high demand on the Sanlam Corporate Portal…

Party warned that retaining such questionable characters could kill GNU THE future of the DA’s public support could hinge on how it deals with two men accused of making racist public statements. While party leader John Steenhuisen posted Facebook updates of his government trip to China, back home a storm brewed over the party’s lack of decisive action against suspended MP Renaldo Gouws, and Roman Cabanac’s appointment as Steenhuisen’s Chief of Staff in the Ministry of Agriculture. Steenhuisen’s spokesperson said he was not taking calls from the media while overseas. Both Gouws and Cabanac have been accused of publishing allegedly racist, homophobic and divisive social media posts and then attempting to delete them following a public outcry. Helen Zille, chairperson of the DA’s Federal Council, told the Sunday Tribune…

THE true story of a small-town South African girl with physical limitations - abandoned as a baby to bravely build her life, creating a love story that crosses continents through letters - is being told in a cinematic production. The movie Greytown Girl, an empowering and cinematic true story of love and resilience, written by Rani Sitaram and co-produced by Sitaram and Asgar Mahomed and directed by Oscar-nominated Darrell Roodt, will be released at all Cinecentre, NuMetro and Ster-Kinekor cinemas on Friday. Meena, played by Sanam Sitaram, will take movie goers on an inspirational true-life journey that begins in 1960s South Africa. Meena is born disabled through a forceps delivery. Believing she was abandoned, little Meena bravely creates a life for herself at an orphanage. Only when Meena is able…

School governing bodies and parents associations have welcomed the announcement that the Department of Sport, Arts and Culture (DSAC) and Department of Basic Education (DBE), have signed an agreement to reintroduce physical education in public schools. Minister of Basic Education, Siviwe Gwarube and the Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture Minister, Gayton McKenzie, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to revitalise sports and arts in public schools this week. Gwarube said she was excited to implement such a pivotal protocol. “I am committed to strengthening inter-governmental collaboration for basic education and I foresee a very fruitful and supportive partnership with DSAC. “I am glad that the signing of the Implementation Protocol (IP) will not only promote the essence of school sport, but also to support the importance of co-curricular activities…

Sfiso Qwabe, a suspect in the murder of the husband of a National Freedom Party (NFP) councillor, has in the meantime been found guilty of illegal possession of a firearm and ammunition. The Ntuzuma Magistrate’s Court handed down the verdict this week, acquitting Qwabe of the attempted murder of police officers. Qwabe is yet to stand trial for the 2023 murder of Bongani Zulu, the husband of Nongoma NFP councillor Senzeni Zulu, in Newcastle. The councillor is believed to have been the intended victim. Magistrate Mohamed Motala sentenced Qwabe to 15 years’ imprisonment for the illegal possession of a firearm and ammunition. The charges stem from an incident in May 2022, where Qwabe was allegedly part of a funeral procession of about 100 people. According to…

RESEARCHERS have warned that healthcare workers are at high risk of mental health issues due to moral distress in their working environment. Unless real support is provided for healthcare workers whose moral suffering is already reaching epidemic proportions, the “disease of burden” will be fatal, argue UCT Professor Jackie Hoare and Dr Heidi Matisonn in a commentary published in the South African Journal of Science. Hoare, the head of the Division of Consultation-Liaison Psychiatry and a senior consultant psychiatrist at Groote Schuur Hospital, and Dr Matisonn, a moral philosopher based at the EthicsLab in the Department of Medicine at UCT’s Neuroscience Institute – say in their commentary, titled “From the burden of disease to the disease of burden”, that moral distress in healthcare occurs when healthcare workers are constrained from…

THE Eastern Cape provincial Department of Education has expressed concerns about the lack of compliance with the requirement to vet teachers and non-teaching staff for possible sexual offences against children. Acting head of department Sharon Maasdorp last month indicated that vetting forms had been sent to all special schools including public ordinary schools in the province’s 12 education districts for them to complete and return to the head office’s security management section in Zwelitsha, Qonce (formerly King William’s Town). She complained that only one district complied with her request. ”In terms of the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences and Related Matters) Amendment Act 13 of 2021, persons previously convicted of sexual offences against children and persons with mental disabilities are prohibited from working or being placed in circumstances where they have…

THE Government of National Unity (GNU) has redistributed the powers previously assigned by officials of the Department of Public Enterprises, which was not retained following the May 29 national and provincial polls. Most of the powers previously held by former public enterprises minister Pravin Gordhan have been shared by several ministers. Electricity and Energy Minister Dr Kgosientsho Ramokgopa will now be responsible for the Eskom Conversion Act, which provides for the conversion of the power utility into a public company, having a share capital incorporated in terms of the Companies Act. Ramokgopa also assumes power for various strategic government-owned entities such as the Central Energy Fund and National Nuclear Regulator, while Mineral and Petroleum Resources Minister Gwede Mantashe will remain in charge of the National Energy Regulator of SA. State-owned…

Did you know that bringing two engineering graduates from two universities to work together has helped to resolve the load-shedding problem? I am not saying this because I happen to be a former academic and an alumnus of both the University of Durban-Westville and the University of KwaZulu-Natal; but because it is true that both Dr Kgosientsho Sputla Ramokgopa, the Minister of Electricity, and Mteto Nyathi, the chairperson of Eskom, got their engineering undergraduate degrees in KwaZulu-Natal; Dr Ramokgopa got his undergraduate engineering degree at the erstwhile University of Durban-Westville (UDW), and Mteto Nyathi “iBhele”, as his clan say, got his undergraduate BSc degree at the erstwhile University of Natal. Both universities merged in 2003 to form the University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN). Eskom strengthened their policy oversight by having more…

The Springboks nudged over the line in Cape Town to win the Freedom Cup but it was a struggle and some players fared better than others. Mike Greenaway rates the players out of 10. 15 Willie le Roux — He looked to counter-attack at every opportunity. The veteran was full of running and showed he is not done yet. He was unlucky to be adjudged to have deliberately knocked on to incur his yellow card. (7) 14 Canan Moodie — He tried his best with what he was offered and looked dangerous, but this was a tight game where the wings were mostly unemployed. (6) 13 Jesse Kriel — He did not have too many chances on attack but was busy all over the field. He organises the defence…

IF SOUTH African football had its way, Ramahlwe Mphahlele should be put out to pasture. He will be 35 by the end of the upcoming season. Too old, many would say. It is a local football status quo that saddens the AmaZulu rightback, a status quo that he believes is robbing South Africa of the experience that would see the game being played at a higher level. Mphahlele lamented the view held by most clubs that players are too old once they reach 32. “It’s not nice,” Mphahlele said during an interview at an event where Usuthu received new vehicles from their sponsors Mitsubishi Motors. “As a player, you know very well that as you grow older you feel more comfortable. You have more experience and you feel you can…

THIS week, the UKZN Centre for Creative Arts’ JOMBA! Contemporary Dance Experience presented Deepak Kurki Shivaswamy at the Elizabeth Sneddon Theatre in Durban, with the support of the Consulate General of India (Durban and Johannesburg), and the Swami Vivekananda Cultural Centre of the Indian Council for Cultural Relations, Government of India. The performances were part of a larger contemporary dance programme that included workshops, panel discussions and virtual screen dance presentations. There will be performances at the Market Theatre in Johannesburg on September 11 and 12. Shivaswamy, who is from Bangalore in India, is trained in yoga and the Indian martial art, Kalaripayattu. He has been developing pedagogy for contemporary dance since 2004. Shivaswamy is a significant figure in contemporary dance, exploring modern Indian identities and its evolving concept…

South Africa is a Rainbow Nation due to its diverse and multicultural society. Also colloquially known as the land of milk and honey, South Africa is home to a rich tapestry of cultures, languages and ethnicities as the country’s population comprises various ethnic groups. Heritage Day, September 24, commemorates this rich culture, and celebrations are ongoing throughout the month, coinciding with Tourism Month celebrations. Though our democracy may be young, we have a rich timeline of history waiting to be celebrated. This history has forged the country we know today regardless of our DNA. Each place you go has a story to tell and heritage to be celebrated, so here’s where you can go to commemorate our rich heritage. Mapungubwe National Park Mapungubwe National Park is a national park in…

After closing its doors for close to three years due to the adverse effects of the Covid-19 pandemic on travel, tourism and hospitality, the Hilton Hotel in Durban has made a comeback. The hotel, which opened in 1997 by former president Nelson Mandela, is going through a phased reopening and welcoming guests back to the iconic hotel in the city’s central business district. It is also undergoing renovations to the business centre from September 1 to November 30. The hotel is conveniently located in Durban’s city centre, right next to the Inkosi Albert Luthuli International Convention Centre (ICC), and within a short drive to the sands of North Beach, the Dairy Beach’s New Pier, and the Hollywoodbets Kingsmead Stadium making it a great choice for leisure and business…

Prominent businessman Reuel Khoza in his latest book, The Spirit Of Leadership, examines the role of spirituality in transformational leadership. In 2023, Khoza unsealed a letter to the future, which he had written in 1999 when he was chair of Eskom, at the time recognised as the best power utility in the world. It was an optimistic letter, expressing hope. At the time he wrote, “This (2023) should be a time when all the exemplary qualities embodied in our philosophy of ubuntu reach their fulfilment...The challenges facing us must surely have been met and overcome by the time you read this - challenges such as crime, poverty, unemployment, illiteracy and disease.” Those hopes have since been dashed by corruption and maladministration – by a failure of ethical leadership amidst State…

Mzansi has always been known for its top-tier party vibes, so it’s no surprise that Showmax’s latest reality show, Shebeen Queens, is already a massive hit. The show gives viewers a first-hand look at what it’s like to run a shebeen as a woman in South Africa. Since its debut, Shebeen Queens has already left social media buzzing with commentary. The show, directed by Mpho Lengane (Isencane Lengane), follows the bold women behind three of Soweto’s most iconic shebeens: Alina’s Place, Big Mama’s Tavern and Rams Tavern. These larger-than-life entrepreneurs – Alina Sishange, Emily Thabang Leeuw (aka Big Mama) and Xoliswa Shwayimba – juggle parenting and running their businesses in a male-dominated industry filled with liquor, laughter and a whole lot of hustle. As such, it’s no wonder viewers are…

“Blossoms in Spring turn into fruit in autumn, and a bumper harvest is the reward of hard work,” Chinese President Xi Jinping said during his key address to the Forum on Africa-China Cooperation (FOCAC), held in the capital, Beijing this week. Coming from a leader who has overseen one of history’s miracle-filled economic prosperity, the words carried literal and figurative weight as some 50 African heads of state sat in an attentive spell inside the majestic Great Hall of the People. In added significance to the far-reaching geopolitical implications of the moment, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres sat quietly next to the Chinese President during the world-wide broadcast of the event. The Chair of the AU Commission, Moussa Amahat, also sat in attendance. It was impossible to miss the figurative wind…

WORKING on a tip-off, police were able to free a kidnapping victim who was being held hostage by suspects in a unit they had rented in a well-known gated complex in Escombe, Queensburgh, last week. A 42-year-old Nigerian man who was reported missing was found bound with tape when members of a specialised police unit stormed the home where he was being kept, on the back of extensive investigative work. KwaZulu-Natal provincial spokesperson Colonel Robert Netshiunda confirmed that the man was kidnapped while shopping in Umbilo, before being moved by suspects into the St James at Queens gated community. There, the hostage was forced to transfer money into his captors’ bank accounts. “His vehicle was later found abandoned in New Germany. An intensive investigation led to the arrest of the…

THE Meyiwa family say they are confident that the truth will out about how former Pirates goalkeeper and Bafana Bafana captain Senzo Meyiwa died. He was shot while at the home of his girlfriend and singer Kelly Khumalo in Vosloorus, Gauteng, in 2014. Five men – Muzikawukhulelwa Sibiya, Bongani Sandiso Ntanzi, Mthobisi Prince Mncube, Mthokoziseni Maphisa and Fisokuhle Nkani Ntuli – are on trial in connection with the murder. Meyiwa’s brother, Sifiso, said they believed the truth would finally be revealed as the State was “failing” to place the five accused at the crime scene. He said Senzo’s eldest daughter did not follow the trial because it upset her. “We don’t talk about this case with her because she is upset about what is happening,” Sifiso said. He said his…

In the wake of the recent ruling by the Constitutional Court (Concourt) on an interdict, which is an interim order to keep Sekunjalo’s accounts open, it is important to note that the court has not yet ruled on the main case against Nedbank, which still needs to be heard. The Sekunjalo Group, a black-owned conglomerate committed to transformation, remains resolute in its fight for justice against the discriminatory practices of South African banks, particularly Nedbank. Despite the media spin, propagated by journalists like Karyn Maughan, the Concourt ruling is not the final chapter in this ongoing legal battle. Sekunjalo remains confident that the real fight, which is yet to take place in the Equality Court, will vindicate them and expose the deeply ingrained racial and economic prejudices at play. It…

FORMER Group CEO of the Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (Prasa) Lucky Montana has expressed sadness at the jailing of the agency’s former head engineer, Daniel Mthimkhulu, and has committed to “stand with him till the end”. Mthimkhulu, who joined Prasa in 2000, was sentenced to 15 years’ imprisonment for faking his qualifications. He was sentenced in the Johannesburg Specialised Commercial Crime Court on Tuesday after being convicted in January 2022 on three counts of fraud. He was found guilty of misrepresenting his qualifications to Prasa and submitting a fraudulent job offer letter he claimed to have received from a German engineering firm, making way for a R2.8 million per annum salary. However, Montana, his former boss and now a member of the uMkhonto weSizwe Party (MKP) in the…

THE Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (Prasa) has asked a court to grant it access to put back into operation the AFRO4000 locomotives that were reportedly “too tall” to run on large portions of South Africa’s long-distance rail network. In recent court documents seen by the Sunday Independent, the acting CEO of Prasa, Nathaniel Roesch, argued that Prasa had considered and concluded that the locomotives were “capable of being safely operated for a narrower purpose” than initially intended. This comes after the Gauteng High Court, Johannesburg, ruled in favour of Prasa after it had argued the locomotives were acquired for a particular purpose and, as repeatedly stated by Prasa in a review application, were not fit and could not be safely operated for that purpose. Swifambo was appointed in…

Every so often, the brutality of our past returns to haunt us. A harrowing example of the barbarism of the apartheid security forces that has recently resurfaced is the assassination of the Cradock Four. In 1985, anti-apartheid activists Matthew Goniwe, Sparrow Mkonto, Fort Calata and Sicelo Mhlauli – collectively called the Cradock Four – were abducted and murdered. Their mutilated, charred bodies were found days later, scattered in various locations along the Eastern Cape coastline. It is distressing that the unmasking of the details of their murders is being postponed due to the quibbling over legal costs. Exposing the truth and upholding justice appear complementary yet have been rendered complicated within the legal system of South Africa. Unravelling the exact sequence of events leading to the murders of the four…

AFTER more than a decade of going without the trophy, the Springboks clinched the second Rugby Championship Test against the All Blacks in Cape Town yesterday evening, winning 18-12 in front of about 57 000 raucous supporters in the DHL Stadium. A late maul, after New Zealand prop Tyrel Lomax received a yellow card for tackling Cheslin Kolbe without the ball, Bok replacement hooker Malcolm Marx went over in the corner to secure South Africa’s fourth straight win over the Kiwis. The world champions took one step closer to winning the Rugby Championship with the win, and only need one more victory over Argentina (who played Australia late last night) to seal the deal. It wasn’t the prettiest and free-flowing games, but that shows the pressure both sides were under…

It’s hard to believe that Damian de Allende is talking about his “age” and his future in the Springbok team. It feels like just the other day that the strapping midfielder made his Western Province and Stormers debuts, followed by his first Test against Argentina in Pretoria in 2014. His good looks, calm demeanour and abrasive style of play could see him being portrayed as a superhero of sorts. But “Milnerton’s finest” has been operating for 11 years at the highest level already, and the 32-year-old is now enjoying onsens (hot spring baths) in Japan, where he plays his club rugby for the Saitama Wild Knights. “In Japan, I’m only away for one night at most, and I am back home that same day of the game. To wake up…

THE epic line in the movie Sarafina, “Freedom is coming tomorrow”, came a day early for the Springboks last night as they finally claimed the Freedom Cup at the Cape Town Stadium. Captain Siya Kolisi spoke on Friday about how determined the world champions were to add the sizeable trophy to the cabinet, having last won it in 2009. Despite having hoisted the Webb Ellis Cup in 2019 and 2023, the Boks wanted to end their All Black bogey once and for all, and did so in fine style in front of a jam-packed Cape Town crowd in a thrilling 18-12 victory. The Rugby Championship trophy may be on its way soon, too, if they can get past Argentina home and away in the coming weeks. But on a clear…

‘Beacon of hope’ mourned Local crime-fighter and activist, Nazir Sadack, was remembered this week with a special event to honour and pay tribute to him. Sadack, a Tongaat community police forum (CPF) member, and founder and chairperson of the Cert (community emergency response team) passed away last week at the age of 52 after suffering a stroke. This week, the Tongaat police and CPF paid tribute to Sadack with a special event at the Tongaat Town Hall. The tribute event, attended by about 200 people, was to show their gratitude for Sadack’s hard work and dedication for the last 10 years as a volunteer. Tributes were paid by members of the Tongaat CPF, as well as emergency service members and crime-fighters which included the IPSS, Netcare 911, security companies, child…

South Africa saw 3.8 million tourists from January to May 2024 and while it is heartening to see that tourism is recovering, this number is 561 000 less than the number of tourists who visited the country in the first five months of 2019. According to BDO South Africa’s director Lee-Anne Bac, with the sector not progressing according to plan, it is at risk of not achieving a full rebound by the end of 2024 and the country still has a lot of work to do to get the industry back on its feet. With more than half the year gone by, Bac shares insights into key trends the sector is witnessing, as well as the implication of these trends for tourism in South Africa. Foreign tourism Bac highlighted that…

The Cape Winelands Airport plans to start operating local and international flights by 2027. Situated 13km north-east of Durbanville, the airport is strategically located to serve the Cape Town aviation and tourism sector. The development plans for the airport incorporate the region’s wine heritage into its design, with vineyards forming part of the landscape. The site will also include open spaces with a plaza, a hotel, a conference centre, a wine-tasting experience, an outdoor amphitheatre for events, an aviation museum, and parking. Within the controlled airside area, a portion of the land will be dedicated to a botanical garden showcasing a diverse collection of fynbos. Additional developments on the site will include cargo terminals, aircraft hangars, a hotel, a heliport, and warehousing and logistics facilities. Plans also include a commercial…

Travelling can be exciting but finding healthy snacks on the go can be challenging. Whether you are on a road trip, flying to a new destination, or exploring the great outdoors, having nutritious and delicious snacks can make your journey more enjoyable. Below are some of the best snacks that will keep you energised and satisfied throughout your trip. Sandwich A sandwich is a classic snack that is easy to pack and can be customised to your liking. Choose whole-grain bread and fillings like chicken, cheese and vegetables for a healthy filling option. Biltong This long-lasting travel snack is packed full of protein, which is one of the best ways to satisfy your hunger. However, do not opt for biltong from the petrol station that comes loaded with preservatives, and…