WIN!!! AFCON FALLE WALALA WA DROPS DJ ZINHLE’S SALAAH 3NEW ALBUM 11NEW BUBBLY page page back page Friday 04 February 2022 D E Q L www.weeklysamirror.news MIRRORWEEKLY SA Insight to connect the dots... JOBURG’S WASTE DUMP KILLING FIELDS • RAKE UP 20 BODIES, HARBOUR ILLEGAL FOREIGNERS AND GANGS LINKED TO SERIES OF MURDERS, MUGGINGS, STRIPPING p2 OF STATE INFRASTRUCTURE, PROSTITUTION RINGS...
2 WEEKLY SA MIRROR NEWS Friday 04 February 2022 SQUALOR: Johannesburg municipality’s dangerous waste-dump and informal settlement, situated about five kilometres south of the city, is the subject of public outrage over the high-incidence of crime involving murder, muggings, electricity cable thefts, prostitution and health hazard. Photo: Mohau Mofokeng By Vusi Xaba WASTE-DUMP my bedroom window. These people are danger- ARMED BANDITS ous. They are well-armed. When the police came, Bodies of five people killed within a week follow- they walked up the hill and nearby bushes. They ing shooting incidents at the notoriously crime- TERRORISE launched their attack from there. I have seen people infested Goudkoppies waste-dump site near JOBURG SOUTH having a quarrel. One pulled out what I thought was Eldorado Park, south of Johannesburg, remain a pen, he shot the other with it. The sound that came unidentified. RESIDENTS from it was so loud. These people are armed with AK-47s and all other dangerous weapons. We can- The bodies, believed to be those of undocu- SPREE: Camp a haven for thieves who strip not continue living like this. We are so scared,” she mented African immigrants, have been lying un- state infrastructure to sell as scrap metal, said. Her sentiments were confirmed by a neigh- claimed by relatives in the government mortuary linked to muggings, murders, illicit businesses bour who said the landfill site also brought them since January 18 – the day of series of gun battles such as prostitution… problems such as people in the neighbourhood who between AK-wielding squatters living on the waste- stole from them to sell at a scrap metal facility on dump site and police, which left six people dead. DUMP: Jobless youths collect plastic for recycling at the notoriously dangerous Goud- the site. koppies landfill near Eldorado Park.. Photo: Mohau Mofokeng A fortnight ago, residents of Eldorado Park Ex- The landfill site has been a subject of long- tension2 woke up to the sounds of gunfire reverber- discovery of bodies in the vicinity of the informal shootings, either. standing consternation between residents and au- ating through the township from the waste-dump settlement and nearby Klipspruit River stream and “The investigations are ongoing and currently thorities, with the local community wanting it shut site Union Road. The municipality-owned waste- a dam was a common occurrence. In one instance, down urgently and be handed to it for empower- dump or landfill site, from which the gun battle they said, 10 bodies were retrieved from the dam. the SAPS cannot confirm allegations that those ment projects. To that effect, they have signed a erupted, is partly home to hordes of highly armed victims are illegal foreigners pending the forensic petition, calling for the closure of the site while de- undocumented Basotho nationals living in an illegal Police spokesperson Colonel Dimakatso Sello results,” Sello said. nouncing it as a breeding ground for criminals and informal settlement nestling on the site,commonly confirmed this week that the bodies of five people environmental health hazard festooned with toxic known as Goudkoppies. killed in the shooting among the residents of the A resident, who asked not to be named in fear chemicals polluting the air and the water natural informal settlement had not been identified. But. of victimisation, alleged that a group of armed Ba- resources in the area. They added that the stench On the night of January 18, three incidents she could neither confirm the nationality of the in- sotho nationals were brazenly killing people in the coming from it was unbearable. of gun battles played out within 24 hours on the formal settlement’s residents, nor their legal status area, stealing electricity cables and running other site, according to Eldorado Park residents living in in the country. She could not comment on the four illicit businesses such as prostitution and manufac- Hilton Dawson, chairman and director of the homes neighbouring Goudkoppies. The first was security guards killed a week before January 18 turing of counterfeit goods. Community Service Delivery Committee (Cosdec), a gun battle inside the informal settlement on the a social justice and environmental activist organi- waste-dump site overnight, which prompted the po- “I see everything that happens there from sation, said they had addressed the issues of crime lice to rush in to restore order. and environmental health emanating from Goud- koppies with the authorities as far back as 2015, On arrival, a police contingent was reportedly but were apparently ignored. He said they had even greeted by gunfire. And, returning fire in a fierce escalated the matter to the SA Human Rights Com- exchange with AK-47-armed gang, according to mission of South Africa, which apparently is yet to witnesses, the outgunned police were forced to re- intervene. treat back to Kliptown Police Station several kilo- metres away, amid a hail of bullets, to beef up and He said of the shootings of January 18: “There bring in reinforcements. were three shooting scenes within 24 hours be- tween Wednesday evening and Thursday morn- On their return, police bombarded the camp ing. These criminals were so armed that in the first with greater firepower, forcing the gunmen to back round of gunfire with the police at around 7am on off and arresting some of them, ending with six peo- Thursday that police ran out of ammunition and had ple dead. The skirmish raised the death toll to 10, to go back to the police station to get more (am- including four security guards employed by Johan- munition). They came back and fire continued until police were able to execute arrests,” Dawson said. These gangs are armed with AK-47s Police said at the time that they arrested 27 for- eign nationals who could not produce documents and all other permitting them to be in the country. They also said dangerous weapons. that they had discovered two stolen vehicles and We cannot continue seven engines. However, when asked about this this week, Sello pleaded ignorance. She could not living like this. confirm if those arrested appeared in court, either. We are so scared,” an She could only say: “Every week each district Eldorado Park (police) conducts operations. and on 20 January resident said 2022, the provincial commissioner led the one in Eldorado Park to address the issues of undocu- nesburg Municipality’s Pikitup waste-management mented persons, unlicensed firearms and crime in division, which manages the dump site, ambushed general”. and gunned down prior to January 18 gun battles. Two of the security guards sustained serious inju- The incident drew the attention of the Gauteng ries during the incident. police top brass, including provincial commissioner Elias Mawela, who led a law enforcement drive on Residents, who live in close proximity to the the day of the alleged shooting between residents landfill site, have been complaining for years about of the informal settlement and the police. The City Goudkoppies being a haven for illegal Basotho na- of Johannesburg’s Environment and Infrastructure tionals who conduct a reign of terror in the nearby Services MMC Michael Sun, whose political ad- townships of Eldorado Park and Freedom Park with ministration of Pikitup falls within his office and impunity. An estimated 20 000 illegal foreigners are speaker of council Vasco da Gama, also conducted believed to be occupying the illegal informal settle- a site visit in the area. ment, which has been around for about 20 years. Pikitup spokesman Muzi Mkhwanazi said some The residents told Weekly SA Mirror that crim- of the issues involved were a responsibility of vari- inals blatantly mugged people, committed murders, ous organs of the metro council and the state. Asked stripped state infrastructure such as electric and why the landfill site was established in very close copper cables, manufactured counterfeit goods proximity with the community he said: “Pikitup is and ran prostitution rings from the site. They said complying with the permit conditions as set out by the national department of environmental affairs that stipulate that a landfill site must be at least 500 meters away from a residential area as is the case with the areas that you refer to in the question”.
Friday 04 February 2022 NEWS 3WEEKLY SA MIRROR FALLE POISED FOR BIG BREAK DEBUT: He has taken a long way to the centre-stage but now Falle is eyeing the big one… By Gugu Sibiya at Coffee’s in Joburg, at DJ Choice’s gig. I had a GROOVE: Calvin Falle is setting the music scene ablaze with his brand of amapiano Like a hunter patiently following his prey be- blast. My music was well-received.” If you’re not fore moving in for the kill, Calvin Falle has an amapiano fan, you’re unlikely to be familiar bided his time before dropping his debut album with his name, but Pretoria-born Falle is well- offering. known in the genre circles. “I’ve been on this mu- sical journey for a long time. At first, I was into Years of unleashing sizzling hot singles, play- Bacardi, widely known as the sound of Pretoria. ing at clubs and events, he’s ready to release his long-awaited album, Viano. “Boasting 29-tracks “We played at taxi ranks, parks and resorts, and a free download, it’s a compilation of all the amassing a huge following in the process. The songs I’ve been working on. I’m not generous media didn’t accept it. Since then, they’ve come but the game has changed. Artists are no longer around. It’s widely accepted that currently there’s dropping 14-tracks but 20. Because I enjoy being a documentary entitled Tsa ko Pitori, airing on unique, I’m adding a couple more,” he says con- MTV base. It’s about the history of Bacardi. I’m fidently. one of the voices chronicling this journey,” he discloses proudly. “At 18, I turned to broken “Ever since I first laid eyes on this magnificent beats for three years. It was great while it lasted car, I haven’t stopped dreaming about driving it but I knew there was something on the horizon. one day. For a while I’ve been working towards It wasn’t long before amapiano bug bit me. I’m its acquisition. It’s a bit pricey but a man deserves enjoying this, its big. to reward himself for the hard work.” “When amapiano started, the sound was dif- Turning to a serious issue plaguing the coun- ferent. Since then its matured. It’s popularity has try, Faller who was born Calvin Mashile, says spread far and wide, creating excitement wherever Viano is a tribute to a lady who became a victim of it finds an audience. The beauty about this is that gender-based violence. it’s an authentic South African sound by the youth. I’ve added a couple of twists to my tracks for that “In December, I was horrified to see how a exclusive signature,” he says preening like a pea- young woman with her future ahead of her, was cock. Enthusing about the support he’s gotten so thrown from a speeding Viano to her death. The far, he says his gratitude goes to Metro, Motswed- story was all over social media. I was touched, ing, Thobela and YFMs, as well as Capricorn Ra- the cruel manner in which women continue to be dio and MTVbase, who’ve been there from the killed, it’s horrendous. “The more people speak beginning. against it, the worse it gets. I really feel for our mothers, sisters and girls. Viano will be a free “When the album drops, the sky’s going to be download,” he says concern etched on his face. the limit and the world my oyster! Not to mention how my loyal and appreciated fans being spoilt for “I was supposed to drop two tracks in Decem- choice. I’m where I am because of the love I get ber but ended up featuring on Louis Lunsh and from music lovers,” he gushes, imploring fans to Skulz‘s albums. I even broke my rule of not tak- keep on buying his music. ing gigs on Christmas and New Year. I performed
4 WEEKLY SA MIRROR NEWS Friday 04 February 2022 MASONDO TAKES TIME OFF PARLIAMENT TO VISIT SOWETO SCHOOLS National Council of Provinces (NCOP) He presented the school’s leadership chairperson Amos Masondo (left) pre- with a two-page checklist of facilities sents Moletsane High School student that are mandatory to run a school suc- Rakgabo Selemela with a book by cessfully, which must be returned to him best-selling international motivational so he could share it with the Gauteng author John Maxwell for obtaining six provincial government and the NCPO. distinctions in the recent matric exams. Looking on is teacher Elliot Mashinini. Masondo’s entourage took a guided tour of the school to inspect the state of The veteran parliamentarian visited its facilities. Moletsane High was one the school as part of his constituency of several schools visited by the NCOP work as head of Soweto’s Zola-Jabula- chairperson in the past two weeks. ni-Emdeni-Moletsane-Tladi-Naledi (Zo- Jaze-Motlana) Parliamentary Constitu- Masondo is a former mayor of Jo- ency. Such visits are primarily aimed hannesburg, having grown in Soweto at deepening the working relationship and honed his political activism in the between government and communities. dusty streets of the sprawling metropolis during the apartheid era. MAYOR’S COMMITS MSAA TMEOUZRANS’S TO SPEED UP PASSING SERVICE DELIVERY VERSATILE: His regular TENURE: : Several unfinished community projects column in WSAM earmarked for speedy completion… goaded previously segregated sporting By Frank Maponya was nearly complete and would soon be ready for public codes to do the right A Limpopo mayor has committed herself to ensure use. thing… incomplete projects within her municipal jurisdic- tion as part of celebrating her 100 days in office are “It is my pleasure to announce that my 100 days By WSAM Reporter which later became Boxing South Africa. concluded speedily. in office as mayor of Ba-Phalaborwa municipality co- Weekly SA Mirror joins fellow South Af- In a statement announcing Mateza’s incides with my birthday. And I thought it would be an ricans in mourning the passing of one of Meriam Malatji, mayor of the Ba-Phalaborwa mu- opportune time to make important announcements with the country’s best-known sports commen- passing, his family said his passing brought nicipality, knuckled down to do to dirty her hands as regards to some of the projects that had remained unfin- tators, Dumile Mateza, who succumbed to “an end to a remarkable career in sports, she assisted in the work to complete the Mashishimale ished for a very long time,” said Malatji. cancer on February 1. news actuality and magazine broadcasting. Sports Complex during her birthday celebration on Dumile will be sorely missed by his wife, Thursday. The complex is to be handed over to the com- Among the projects Malatji had identified were the Mateza, 62, was a regular sports col- children and extended family”. munity on February 25. refurbishment of the Lulekani Stadium, Ward 14 stream umnist in this publication, focusing on the de-bushing rehabilitation of the Chris Hani Street, re- burning issues affecting previously segregat- Weekly SA Mirror co-editor Thuli Zun- During the inspection visit as part of 100 days in pair of water leakages in Phalaborwa, Lulekani and ed South African sporting codes like rugby gu said Mateza would be sorely missed by office, Malatji announced that various community pro- Namakgale townships, upgrading and repairs of Hon- and cricket. He stopped penning his incisive both the publication’s staff and readers who jects under construction would be completed. She took eyville culverts, completion and handover of Mashishi- fortnightly column soon after taking ill and enjoyed reading his hard-hitting column, office after the local government elections in November male Stadium as well as the Selwane Stadium. being admitted to hospital late last year. in which he spared no holy cows, fiercely last year. spoke out against sports racism and dis- “Intervention, finalisation and handover of Phase 2 His tenure as sports commentator at played a deep knowledge of the topics he Her walk-about coincided with her birthday on of the Tambo Street, maintenance and repairs of Nam- SABC spanned more than three decades, wrote about. Thursday. akgale and Lulekani town halls, grading of all soccer during which he proved to valuable member fields in the villages, grading of all cemeteries, con- of the state broadcaster’s sportscasting team, “Legends like Mateza never die, they According to Malatji, the Selwane Sports Complex struction of the Benfarm Road, construction of Kanana being able to commentate in IsiXhosa, Eng- live on through our memory of the country’s culverts and rehabilitation of Palesa Road are top of my lish and Afrikaans. great sporting moments, which he and oth- HANDS-ON: Meriam Malatji, Ba-Phalaborwa munici- agenda,” she said. ers enlivened through pulsating broadcast,” pality mayor, knuckles down to some manual work Boxing had a special place in Mateza’s Zungu said. Malatji was accompanied by the speaker of the mu- heart, something that earned him an appoint- nicipality, Oliver Mabunda, the chairperson of the tech- ment as the acting chief executive officer of Mateza, a former teacher, was born in nical services portfolio Victor Rapatsa, chairperson of the National Boxing Control Commission, Kareedouw in the Eastern Cape. His fam- the finance portfolio Richard Makasela, chairperson for ily is expected to announce funeral arrange- planning and development Danise Bayana, chairperson ments in the next few days. for corporate services Thompson Nkuna, as well as sen- ior manager for technical services Wisani Baloyi. Several protests by the local community were held in the area recently, demanding the completion of the unfinished projects. Community leader Edmund Mbetse said they were convinced that Malatji was the right per- son to lead them and also to ensure that sanity prevailed in the area. “Our communities have suffered for a very long time with a lot of incomplete projects seen all over. And I have no doubt that Malatji will heed the call to com- plete those projects, taking into account what she has already embarked on. We also wish our mayor many more years to live as she strives to improve the lives of our people,” said Mbetse.
Friday 04 February 2022 CONSUMER & LEGAL MATTERS 5WEEKLY SA MIRROR Consumer Eye AWARD-WINNING CONSUMER EDITOR LOOKS 060 936 2673 INTO YOUR COMPLAINTS By WSAM reporter TAX OMBUD in other countries. However, taxpayers’ rights and Taxpayers will no longer feel intimidated, over- JUDGE BERNARD obligations are contained in various documents whelmed and helpless when dealing with the NGOEPE RELEASES and pieces of legislation, including the Constitu- South African Revenue Services. This follows DRAFT BILL ON tion and the Tax Administration Act.” the draft bill released by Tax Ombuds, Judge TAXPAYERS’ RIGHTS Bernard Ngoepe this week which explains the “The challenge is that these documents are rights of taxpayers. Interested parties have IMPROVE: The taxpayer bill of rights will technical and often difficult to understand. The been requested to comment on the draft bill by improve the level of accountability by SARS Compendium is a summary of these rights and ob- March 18, 2022. ligations; it can easily be used as a reference tool to guide a person towards the information they The draft indicates that all taxpayers have need”. Ngoepe said governments across the globe, rights even when you were dealing with a smooth- including South Africa, had given their revenue talking telemarketer or a SARS official. authorities drastic powers to ensure they were ef- fective in collecting taxes required for economic In fact most of the people have more rights growth, build infrastructure and generally provide than they realise and quite often they unwittingly social services required by their citizens. allow their rights to be taken away from them. If approved, the draft bill could help taxpayers to no “Taxpayers may feel overwhelmed, intimi- longer feel helpless or intimidated when dealing dated and helpless when dealing with revenue au- with SARS officials. Ngoepe said although the thorities. Therefore, it is important for taxpayers Taxpayer Bill of Rights might still be far-fetched, to know their rights,” Ngoepe said. the draft Compendium of Taxpayer Rights, Enti- tlements and Obligations bill was now a reality. Some of the rights and entitlements listed in the compendium include access to information, This week the Office of the Tax Ombud (OTO) a fair, unbiased and just tax system, confidential- released a draft of South Africa’s first Compen- ity and representation in dispute assessments or dium of Taxpayer Rights, Entitlements and Obli- decisions. It also states that taxpayers are enti- gations bill which informs taxpayers about their tled to, amongst others complain without fear of rights, entitlements and obligations concerning victimisation, make certain requests, proposals their tax affairs and engagements with the SARS or applications to SARS, finality, receive quality and the OTO. Ngoepe said the draft publication and timely service from SARS, and not to pay of the Compendium was compiled by the OTO anything more than the correct amount of tax after years of repeated calls for the country to due to SARS. Ngoepe reiterated his call for the have a Taxpayer Bill of Rights. Ngoepe said that publication of a Taxpayer Bill of Rights “sooner although the Compendium was not an enforceable rather than later”. He added that the long-overdue Taxpayer Bill of Rights but a consolidation of nu- Taxpayer Bill of Rights would help strengthen merous principles contained in the Constitution, constitutional democracy, improve the level of ac- tax legislation and other government documents, countability by SARS and support an improved it was nonetheless important towards improving tax administration system and thus help create the South African tax administration system and confidence in the revenue collector. “The Com- accountability by SARS. pendium will go a long way towards empower- ing taxpayers with knowledge about their tax “The Compendium of Taxpayer Rights, Enti- rights and obligations and to understand the level tlement and Obligations is not a replacement of of service they are entitled to from SARS. It is the taxpayer Bill of Rights - which I still believe important to note that whilst the OTO champions is necessary - but a step in the right direction,” taxpayer rights, we also promote tax compliance; Ngoepe said. It would help millions of taxpay- all we want is to ensure that taxpayers pay what is ers understand what their rights are as guaranteed due, not a cent less or more,” Ngoepe said. in the Constitution and legislation in what their obligations are. Deadline for the submission of inputs and comments on the Compendium of Taxpayer “Regrettably, our country does not have an Rights, Entitlements and Obligations is March enforceable Taxpayer Bill of Rights as is the case 18, 2022. MIRRORWEEKLY SA Insight to connect the dots... For more information on Mirror advertising Contact: ROSLYN OLIFANT on 068 578 0162 or call office: 060 936 2673
6 WEEKLY SA MIRROR SKILLS DEVELOPMENT Friday 04 February 2022 IKUSASA SKILLS DEVELOPMENT CAREER GUIDE INMATES NOTCH REMARKABLE MATRIC PASS-RATE FEAT: Eight of the 17 registered schools under the correctional services achieve 100-percent pass-rate… PROGRESS: Justice and Correctional Services Minister Ronald Lamola congratulates an in- By Robert Tlapu gion. mate who has passed matric after sitting for the 2021 exams at Barberton Maximum Prison They say crime doesn’t pay. Indeed. This is what Limpopo, Mpumalanga and North West region in Mpumalanga.. Photo: Robert Tlapu many offenders tend to discover painfully once apprehended, sentenced and put behind the led with the highest number of bachelor passes of bars. 21, followed by KwaZulu Natal. Yet all is not lost, as some inmates have shown Minister of Correctional Services Ronald by turning a new chapter, proving that life and par- Lamola congratulated those who did well in the ticularly the Department of Correctional Services 2021 matric exams. “We achieved 77 bachelors, do present offenders with a second chance. For 47 diplomas and 23 higher certificate passes. This some prisoners, no sooner had they have they re- means that for the 2022 academic year, 82% of our flected on their misdeeds, made a choice to turn a learners qualify to register at a university or col- new leaf, than things actually changed once they lege. We therefore appeal to the families and rela- set out to improve their lives by acquiring educa- tives of inmates who have means, to pay for their tion. tuition fees so that they can pursue their studies with institutions of higher learning. I want to reit- This much was aptly underscored by the recent erate that the Department of Correctional Services matric results, which show that many inmates who does not pay for university fees for inmates”. sat for matric exams across the country achieved an impressive 89.83% pass-rate – an improvement of A total of 147 inmates out of the 191 who wrote 3,53% over last year. their national senior certificate exams passed. A to- tal of 84 distinctions were achieved, 23 on Life Ori- Another remarkable feat was a 100% pass-rate entation, 16 in Tourism and 10 in Business Studies. attained in eight of the 17 registered schools under TOP 10 MATRIC INMATES the Department of Correctional Services. 1. Edgar Mthimunye – Johannesburg Correction- Khanyile Faba, an inmate held at Brandvlei al Centre, Gauteng Correctional facility in the Western Cape, became 2. Sheldon Wienand – Thuto Centre in Rusten- the toast of the moment when passing with seven distinctions in all his 7 subjects he wrote, with an burg, North West average of 88.7% pass. He is serving a 10-year sen- 3. Sfundo Gumede – Durban Youth Centre, KZN tence since 2018. 4. Ndumiso Stemela – Brandvlei Youth, Western Correctional service inmates achieved 77 Cape bachelor passes, with 47 diploma passes and 5. Khanyile Faba – Brandvlei Youth, Western only attained 23 higher certificates. The Durban Westville’s Usethubeni school kept its record of Cape 100% pass-rate since 2016. It is among the eight 6. Nhlakanipho Luthuli – Durban Youth Centre, schools that achieved a 100% pass rate. The other schools are Cradock - Eastern Cape; Bokamoso – KZN FS/NC; Baviansport – GP; Qalakabusha – KZN; 7. Thabiso Molaetsi – Tswelelopele, Free State/ Usethubeni – KZN; Umlalati – LP/MP/NW; Thuto Kitso – LP/MP/NW and Tswelelopele – FS/NC re- Northern Cape 8. Sfiso Sibanyoni – Barbeton Maximum, Mpu- malanga 9. Malindi Malungana – Thusano, Limpopo 10. Vuyo Daba at Brandvlei Youth – Western Cape TRAVEL AND TOURISM OFFER EXCITING CAREER PROSPECTS FULFILLING: Matriculants can pursue relevant courses at colleges and universities By Victor Mecoamere ince or even a country’s legacy. sional, college or university courses if they wish to CATHSETA is also responsible for the monitoring YOUNGSTERS, who love working with peo- The Government Communication and Infor- work as hotel managers, travel agents, tour opera- of education and training as outlined in the Na- ple, enjoy adventure and the outdoors, should tors, tourism administrators, guest relations offic- tional Skills Development Strategy (NSDS). choose a career in travel and tourism for six mation System (GCIS) says tourism contributes ers or front-desk operators, convention coordina- special reasons. about nine percent to South Africa’s gross domes- tors, recreation directors, executive housekeepers, The SETA facilitates skills development tic product (GDP) and remains a key driver of the or recreation centre directors. Or if the candidates within the sub-sectors like arts, culture and her- According to the university of Potomac in country’s national economy and major contributor wish to work as accommodation service manag- itage Conservation through the disbursement of Washington in the United States, for the adven- to the South African economy and employment of ers, food services managers, tourism development grants for learning programmes, including learn- turous youths choosing tourism as a career, will citizens. officers, transportation managers or travel and erships, internships, Work Integrated Learning discover that no day is the same, there is the ben- tourism services trainers. Programmes, apprenticeships skills programmes efit of a flexible schedule, and can work locally or Youngsters who have recently matriculated and bursaries. internationally. are able to find jobs requiring no tertiary qualifi- Meanwhile youth interested in careers in con- cations, and these include guest services, house- servation and culture field can contact the Culture, It operates in sub-sectors including arts, cul- Opportunities are endless and someone work- keeping, working as a tour guide or an attendant at Art, Tourism, Hospitality, and Sport Sector Educa- ture and heritage conservation, gaming and Lot- ing in the tourism can become part of a city, prov- a tourism facility like a game holiday resort. tion and Training Authority (CATHSSETA). The teries, hospitality, sport, recreation, and Fitness; and travel and tourism. Candidates are expected to complete profes-
Friday 04 February 2022 FOOD AND WINE 7WEEKLY SA MIRROR A TOUCH OF by the estate – led by the Cabernet Sauvignon driv- TOKARA FROM en flagship Tokara Director’s Reserve Red. Also in THE KINGDOM OF the mix is the Tokara Reserve Collection Cabernet Sauvignon 2019, regarded as a classic expression CABERNET of Stellenbosch Cabernet Sauvignon. TALENTED: Tokara winemaker Stuart Botha STATURE: Family-owned estate consistently Recent evidence is the Tokara Director’s Re- By Len Maseko produces wines graced with refinement, serve Red 2018 vintage scooping top honours in the Stellenbosch’s pedigree as “the kingdom of Cab- balance and elegance… Bordeaux Blend class at the 2021 Global Fine Wine ernet” is undeniable, actually unrivalled. Challenge three months ago. At the same competi- tion, the Tokara Reserve Collection Cabernet Sau- What with the Stellenbosch wine route – the vignon 2018 scored a double gold. most famous and biggest in the Cape winelands – festooned with premier estates producing super- Reacting to estate’s international haul at the lative wines out of this classic grape, much to the time, Tokara general manager Karl Lambour said envy of other wine-producing nations. “Cabernet Sauvignon is an important Tokara focus variety. With this unrivalled reputation behind it, Stel- lenbosch is home to top-performing Tokara, a These remarkable achievements of our Caber- family-owned wine and olive estate situated on net-driven flagship Director’s Reserve blend and the foothills of Simonsberg. Tokara recently made Reserve Collection Cabernet Sauvignon, show us headlines – as it has intermittently done in the re- yet again that we are on the right track. Cabernet cent past – with a string of accolades garnered by Sauvignon is king in Stellenbosch and it is here on its elegant wines both local and internationally. the slopes of the Simonsberg that it all comes to- gether and the magic happens’’. Not a rare exploit for an award-winning estate whose mission is to produce “wines that capture the To cap the feat, both wines were given a five- imagination with their profound sense of place’’, star rating in the recently released 2022 Platter’s and, which reflect refinement, elegance and bal- South African Wine Guide. Wines adjudged “su- ance, complementing its new mantra: ‘We make perlative, a South African classic” are given the wine that moves mountains’. highest ranking of five stars, equal to 95 points or better on the 100-point rating scale. Inevitably, Cabernet Sauvignon features prom- inently among the tranche of wines newly released Apart from Cab, Tokara’s other principal grape is Sauvignon Blanc. In fact, the estate’s positioning statement, Tokara proudly reflect this by proclaim- ing that their focus is “two of the greatest grape varieties in the world, Cabernet Sauvignon and Sauvignon Blanc”. Lambour adds: “It has taken two decades to develop a framework for Tokara’s future. We have essentially interpreted messages from our sites and our people, allowing us to hone in on these two grape varieties matched seamlessly to our estate. It is from this foundation that we hope to capture the imagination of our visitors from all over the world with wines of distinction and wines with a vivid link to the magnificent geography that surrounds us”. The newly released vintages include: • The Cabernet Sauvignon-dominated Tokara Director’s Reserve Red 2019, a blend of Petit Verdot, Merlot and Cabernet Franc, showcas- ing absolute fruit purity and focus. • Tokara Reserve Collection Cabernet Sauvignon 2019, described as another classic expression of Stellenbosch Cabernet Sauvignon; vibrant, “richly textured with balance between fruit pu- rity and tannin weight on the well-poised pal- ate”. • The Tokara Reserve Collection Elgin Sauvi- gnon Blanc 2021. • Tokara XO Potstill Brandy, which boasts a five- star rating in Platter’s 2022 South African Wine Guide, matured in oak casks for up to 17 years. Tokara offers visitors sumptuous wine, food, olive oil and art in a spectacular setting of vine- yards and olive groves against the backdrop of mountain views. A VALENTINE’S spice or a 28-day prime aged beef fillet, Butter with multiple dedicated spaces that appeal to a va- DAY SPELL milk chicken supreme or vegetable lasagna. Guests riety of consumers. TO KINDLE will be pampered at tables draped in a white linen ROMANCE tablecloth, bathed in candlelight while being ser- Co.fi Midrand comprises three bar areas- the enaded by sedative sounds of live entertainment. most out of all its locations- and a fusion of new, COSTY: Dinner for two amid splendour and as well as elements from its other locations. They sedative ambience…. “And when it comes to love and romance, this have struck a balance between maintaining their opulence always extends to dessert, so we took signature look and blended this with offerings that By Len Maseko For those eyeing Sandton’s four-star garden special care to make the sweet treats in the final cater to their upmarket clientele such as the intro- Valentine’s Day is just around the corner and oasis hotel, The Maslow, in-house executive chef course extra special,” Menhouk said. “Think a red duction of a ‘Pink Room’, which is their first ever already hordes of lovers are teeming with ideas Omar Menhouk and staff are already rolling up velvet ‘Valentine kiss’ cake served with Ferrero wine cellar and sushi to their appetising menu. of how to spoil their partners with exotic ro- their sleeves to create magic dishes to wow Valen- Rocher, nuts and ice cream, or a chocolate tart with mantic gestures. tine’s Day incurable romantics who will be choos- Turkish delight, or fresh strawberries, whipped It however has not been without its challenges ing the place for their dining rendezvous. cream, ice-cream, nougat and shortbread”. to create this dedicated space in the gateway to Jo- As usual, couples are spoilt for a choice of hannesburg. The pandemic has had a huge impact myriad venues promising all-frills dining experi- Their menu, costing R990 a couple, includes Still, the romance-filled dining experience can on the restaurant and entertainment industry and ence to dazzle and heighten their romance. A mos- a welcome drink by Martini, an amuse bouche of be extended to a more intimate overnight time- sustainability has been a core focus of businesses quito in a nudist camp could not have had a more prawn tempura or spanakopita, a Springbok car- together by booking a date-night package from such as Co.fi. This involves being flexible while confusing glut of dining options. paccio, butternut pea risotto or salmon poke bowl R3902, inclusive of accommodation, bespoke fa- retaining the brand’s well recognised identity and starter and for mains, line fish with Chinese seven cials or herbal oil massage, or a luxury picnic on bringing a fresh product to an ever-changing mar- the Maslow lawns with a bottle of sparkling wine, ket. three-course dinner in a choice of romantic venues and breakfast in the Lacuna Bistro. This is reflected in the interior design which consists of the traditional Co.fi colour scheme Booking is essential on lacuna.bistro@sunin- (grey, gold, black and white) and the introduction ternational.com or call (010) 226 4815 of green, pink and blue to create an exquisite sen- sory experience. The director of Co.fi stated that, The past two years in isolation has made many “we are able to adapt to the changes that have yearn for the normalcy they once enjoyed. Break- taken place in the past two years in the restaurant fast with your friends, lunches with the family, industry, what we did a few years back is not hap- dinner with your significant other and a night out pening now, we are actually changing with time”. on the town every now and then- not at home! We want to reclaim our freedom to associate and so- Co.fi continues to solidify its foothold in the cialise, let our hair loose and unwind in the spaces restaurant and entertainment industry. Its latest lo- we choose with the company of our liking. cation promises to cater to the needs of a diverse clientele and become a hub where good food and The cosmopolitan dining and upmarket lounge great company meet. A larger location means that of Co.fi promises this and more, and will be open- there is more space for those who want to escape ing the doors of its fourth branch in Carlswald the hustle and bustle of the city life, to do so with- Midrand on 28 January 2022. They have created out worrying about social distancing and focus an atmosphere that tailors to the need for people to more on appreciating the ambiance Co.fi has to express themselves casually, socially and profes- offer. sionally, in an aesthetically appealing environment
8 WEEKLY SA MIRROR OPINION/ANALYSIS Friday 04 February 2022 Comment UNSPENT POLICE BUDGETS TACKLE SCOURGE RENDER SA UNSAFE OF UNSPENT GOVT There can be no justification – whatsoever – for BUDGETS the government’s perennial tolerance for the un- mitigated disaster of unspent budgets in some INJUSTICE: Not to utilise available financial resources to better the departments. lives of and protect citizens shows total lack of concern for the poor… Raising the issue in one of this publication’s By Russel Morena columns, Russel Morena, chief executive of the South African Institute of Government Auditors South Africa is not a poor country. The above CONCERNED: Russel Morena, chief executive of the SA Institute of Government Auditors (SAIGA), decries the fact that the South African statement was once uttered by the first demo- Police Services failed to spend a total R2665 billion cratically elected South African president, Nel- The visibility of police in communities and were told where resources are allocated and used in the last financial year which – he rightly points son Mandela. It was a valid observation by the spaces mentioned above could have possibly de- the lives of people got made better. In his pres- out – could have been used to improve visible po- father of South African democracy made during terred perpetrators from performing their acts of entation of the Quarter Two Crime Statistics for licing. Another R997 million was underspent on a stimulating 1994 pre-election debate with the crime and even saved lives. Underspending and 2021/2022, minister Cele attributed the Western detective services. This is outrageous. This, when then-president FW De Klerk. budget cuts negatively impact service delivery as Cape’s decrease in the incidence of crime to the the country is in desperate need of boosting of far as safety and security are concerned. resourcing of policing through more personnel and crime prevention, border security as well as spe- Mandela went further. He pointed out that the vehicles deployed at identified hotspots. cialised interventions against the backdrop of lack government administration nightmare to the people Directly impacted by failure to spend is the po- of resources, rampant crime and uncontrolled im- - corruption and or lack of efficacy in managing the rous borders from which a security threat towers - Those failing to spend for public benefit should migration. resources of the nation. While corruption got much the proliferation of undocumented foreign nationals get treated the same as corrupt officials. Police of the spotlight over the years, a recurring matter in SA. management that does not utilise resources to re- This problem comes at a time when the SAPS that has attracted scant outrage is the underspending alise the SAPS vision to create a safe and secure is under severe strain to maintain law and order in of allocated budgets meant to deliver services that Failure by the SAPS management to spend environment for all people in South Africa abet and a country plagued by rampant crime. And pretty improve the quality of living for citizens. available resources to sweep clean our households fertilises the grounds of criminality. Such manage- much when the SAPS management recently an- and streets of culprits is tantamount to spitting on ment work against the purported purpose of the nounced budget cuts of R26 billion over three years Inefficiency in asset management, not lack of the face of victims of crime and those living in fear Visible Policing Division to discourage all crime by – a move expected, among other things, to remove resources such as finance, continue to spook the na- of criminal operators. providing a proactive and responsive policing ser- nearly 11 000 police officers and 2 000 detectives tion. A case in point in recent news reports points to vice that instils community confidence in the SAPS. off the streets. Needless to say, failure by the an R2 665 billion underspending on visible policing Not spending allocated resources goes against SAPS management to spend their allocated budgets and R997 million on detective services by the South Section 205 of the South African Constitution. The The public should not continue to suffer be- impact negatively on the safety of South Africa’s African Police Service (SAPS.) section speaks, among others, about the SAPS’s re- cause of the non-utilisation of available resources populace in the end. sponsibility to protect and secure the inhabitants of to alleviate their discomfort. Not long ago, headlines screamed about sweep- South Africa and their property. *Morena is the chief executive officer of the SA High police visibility, especially at crime hot- ing budget cuts of R26 billion over three years for Institute of Government Auditors (SAIGA) spots, is a key crime-fighting strategy. Police Min- the SA Police Service. As a result of the cuts, esti- Police management failing to spend allocated ister Bheki Cele recently announced that violent mations were that 11 000 police officers and 2 000 resources to serve the public, negate the National Those in the SAPS crime levels, especially rape and murder, had in- detectives were to get off the streets. Development Plan that ‘envisages a South African management responsible creased in the past year – no doubt again mainly society that is safe at home, at school, at work and due to lack of visibility. This is of grave concern. To the South African public, fewer boots in the enjoying a life free of fear.’ for failing to spend communities owing to non-spending on the essen- allocated resources Therefore, it boggles the mind that – amid such tial public service of safety and security signify the For the longest time, crime has hung like a for the benefit of the extreme difficulties – the SAPS management still continuation of a nightmare that is terrorism mete monkey on the back of communities. Villainy is a public must be brought to deems fit to not to utilise funds appropriately. Such out by gangs of miscreants waiting for opportuni- pandemic troubling the social fibre of South Africa. account and penalised ineptitude happening at a time when our borders ties to pounce. Thus, to not utilise available financial resources to are dismally porous, owing – again - to poor police better the lives of and protect citizens shows a total visibility. This in addition to the country already The reduction of resources in visible policing lack of concern for the affected. experiencing massive manpower shortages. Ac- means there is no hope for the end to the horror ex- cording to Cele, the SAPS currently has about 182 perience for victims of housebreaking or burglary Those in the SAPS management responsible for 000 police officers – less than 18 000 it had dur- - a crime the government admits has consistently failing to spend allocated resources for the benefit ing South Africa’s hosting of the FIFA World Cup become the most common offence experienced by of the public must be brought to account and pe- in 2010, obviously putting a strain on the current households in South Africa. nalised. men and women in blue. Which brings to mind the recurring issue of poor policing in the rural areas, In 2019-2020 there were an estimated 1,2 mil- Such accounting should happen because we something that troubled farming communities for lion incidences of housebreaking affecting 891 000 decades, some of whom do not even have a satel- homes. Presenting Quarter Two Crime Statistics for lite police station in their areas. Some travel long 2021/2022 Police Minister General Bheki Cele ta- distances to visit a police station – evidence that bled more shocking numbers. there is stark shortage, not only of police, but also of police stations in both urban and rural areas. The crime figures from July 1 2021 to Septem- ber 30 2021-2022 financial year showed an increase Yet, no day passes without an uproar over of 7.1% in rape, 9 556 victims. There was a 20.7 % poor service delivery protest in South Africa – a increase in murders - that is 6 163 people killed in dubious distinction the government countenances three months. Cele noted that from a sample of 5 without so much as batting an eyelid. This unac- 176 cases, a total of 2 424 people got murdered in ceptable state of affairs will persist – just as long public places such as streets, open fields, parking as it does nothing about the red flags raised even areas and abandoned buildings. by the Auditor-General about the lack of capacity and corruption negatively impacting on the qual- According to the SAPS, its Visible Policing Pro- ity of service delivery. With the spotlight already gramme comprises crime prevention, border secu- cast on SAPS head Khehla Sithole’s qualifications rity and specialised interventions sub-programmes. being unequal to the enormous task of effectively running a critical organisation like the police force, this matter begs serious discomforting questions. Which is also an indictment against President Cyril Ramaphosa’s own public pronouncements, that performance management policy relating to minis- ters is a non-negotiable cornerstone of his adminis- tration – something evidently amiss, and to which unfortunately he has paid lip-service so far. Yet, without vision and capacity, Ramaphosa’s administration is inevitably doomed to fail as it buckles under the weight of widespread incompe- tence, corruption and inertia. v 060 936 2673 [email protected] Weekly SA Mirror is published by Weekly SA Mirror Pty Ltd. Correspondence to be directed to: PostNet Suite 230, Private Bag X 9, Melville 2109. Website: www.weeklysamirror.news Contact: 060 936 2673 Letters to be sent to: [email protected] Weekly SA Mirror subscribes to the Press Code of Ethics and Conduct for South African Print and Online Media. As a subscriber publication and member of the Press Council of SA, the publication is thus subject to the Press Code and to the jurisdiction of the PCSA’s com- plaints procedures.
Friday 04 February 2022 OPINION/ANALYSIS 9WEEKLY SA MIRROR AFRICA’S says countries should use the AfCFTA’s political ognition of professional qualifications across LONG-TERM momentum to look beyond trade and markets to national borders. DEVELOPMENT advance integration in other areas. Greater region- • Setting up regional training centres for skills REMAINS AT al collaboration - especially through the delivery with an important regional dimension, such as RISK – REPORT of regional public goods such as transport corri- leatherworking. dors and digital connectivity - will help remove “Digital technologies have already trans- FALTERING: Countries must increase barriers that have slowed progress in the past. formed many aspects of life, and they are rapidly collaboration to ensure the continent’s economic Collaborating to provide regional public goods transforming commerce and finance. With the development agenda is not lost, says the African will also build experience and trust to pursue right policies, they can transform entire econo- Centre for Economic Transformation… deeper economic integration under the AfCFTA, mies,” the report states. the organisation adds. For this to happened, Africa must fix its frag- By Isaac Moledi The 2021 report observes that, after a prom- mented digital markets and address other road- The solution to Africa’s ailing economic devel- ising start in the 2000s, Africa’s growth began In particular, reframing regional collaboration blocks, including expensive taxes, regulatory gaps opment agenda lies in the countries of the con- to falter in the 2010s. “Around the same time, as a mechanism for addressing national problems and the world’s highest data prices. Priorities for tinent coming closely to each other and work- continental organisations coalesced around eco- will be key to working across borders to jointly action include formulating strategies and estab- ing together. This is according to the African nomic transformation as the defining framework tackle issues that pose significant long-term chal- lishing policy frameworks to ensure that different Transformation Report 2021, a flagship of the for long-term development. But countries are not lenges to transformation. According to the report, sectors and value chains reinforce each other and African Centre for Economic Transformation transforming, and Growth with DEPTH remains integrating to transform focuses on three of the lead to multiplier effects and boosting investments (ACET). elusive,” the report explains. following challenges: in digital infrastructure and skills development by • Ensuring productive employment for the crowding in donor and private funding. In its third edition published recently, the In fact, according to ACET research, trends According to the report, many African coun- ACET report says although economic transfor- are moving in the wrong direction - made worse world’s youngest and fastest growing labour tries are already experiencing climate-related mation has been placed at the centre of Africa’s by the damaging impacts of COVID-19. “As a re- force by imparting skills for work in 21st cen- stresses such as droughts, floods and variable development agenda, progress has become slow sult, Africa’s long-term development success - and tury agriculture, manufacturing and services. rainfall — and most remain highly vulnerable to with many countries working in isolation. its future security - remains at risk,” it observes. • Supporting digital innovation by enabling the climate impacts. But by applying technological private sector to deliver the many benefits innovations to manage key climate-sensitive sec- The third edition, dubbed “Integrating to To ensure the transformation agenda is not from digital technologies in creating jobs, tors such as agriculture, ecosystems and energy, Transform”, explores the critical need for African lost, ACET’s 2021 report suggests that countries boosting productivity and reducing poverty. countries can turn risks into opportunities. countries to work together beyond trade to tackle must increase collaboration on policies and issues • Managing climate risks by promoting climate- The promotion of climate-smart agriculture shared challenges, harness regional opportunities that, as with COVID-19, are national priorities in smart agriculture, protecting green and blue to help African farmers increase productivity and and enable economies to scale – and in turn, ac- need of regional solutions. ecosystems, and exploiting renewable energy. build resilience, as well as developing and scaling celerate the continent’s economic transformation. According to the report, Africa’s working- up renewable energy by strengthening policy and According to the organisation, regional inte- age population is set to surpass one billion before regulatory frameworks to increase investment, The ACET’s first report was published in 2014 gration has long eluded the continent but remains 2030. “If these new entrants to the labour force are broadening access to renewable technologies, and described why growth alone was not enough critical for Growth with DEPTH. It believes that equipped with necessary skills and access to more reducing costs, and increasing access, are some to sustain development. In doing so, it defined the African Continental Free Trade Area (Af- productive work, they will start to generate an of the actions the report suggests to countries to what successful transformation means for Africa: CFTA), which came into effect in early 2021, economic surplus that can improve human capital manage climate risks. growth with diversified products, export competi- gives new impetus to African integration. It also and increase productivity,” it says. But the ACET 2021 report stresses the need tiveness, productivity increases, and technology offers a pathway for accelerated transformation. Given this scenario, ACET argues that, to for visionary leadership. “Integrating to transform upgrades – all aimed at improving human well- In essence, ACET’s argument is that the AfCFTA deliver a demographic dividend, priorities for ac- will take dedicated leadership at all levels, includ- being. In short, it called the exercise “Growth with establishes a free trade area that progressively tion must include - among other things - scaling ing the private sector, academia and civil society. DEPTH”. eliminates tariff and non-tariff barriers to trade up education and skills training, particularly for Africa’s leaders need to promote visions that go among the member states, the mechanism that girls, to ensure that each year’s 18–20 million new beyond their national interest and to pursue col- The organisation believes that measuring eco- will help countries boost growth, diversify their entrants to the labour force are well equipped and lective action for the common good. nomic performance against these attributes can exports beyond unprocessed commodities and at- productive. “National coalitions can bring together gov- determine how quickly - or slowly - countries are tract more foreign and domestic investment. Other pre-requisites include creating oppor- ernment officials, business leaders, think tanks, transforming. tunities for productive employment in labour- academics, and civic advocates to formulate smart But, to achieve Growth with DEPTH, ACET intensive sectors by encouraging investment to policies and solve problems. Cross-border and re- serve regional and continental markets under the gional institutions can coordinate and manage the AfCFTA. Also, accelerating the demographic provision of regional public goods and the sup- transition to further realise the demographic divi- pression of regional public bads such as pandem- dends of having more workers than dependents, ics, conflicts and illicit financial flows,” it says. is imperative. The report calls on African leaders to seize the The ACET report believes however that the moment to work with the private sector, civil so- priorities for regional collaboration on job crea- ciety, and, most importantly, each other to deepen tion must include: integration and tackle shared challenges such as • Enabling more cross-border movement of jobs, innovation and climate in ways that support people and labour by ratifying the Protocol on Growth with DEPTH. the Free Movement of People. • Ensuring cross-border integration of profes- sional services by facilitating the mutual rec-
10 WEEKLY SA MIRROR OBITUARIES Friday 04 February 2022 LARGER-THAN-LIFE: Veteran TV cameraman IT SHALL TAKE ‘topple’ the South African crew, eventually making Sanku Molaoli TIME, THE MASTER the local productions’ creative crew fully Kenyan By Ustadh Okello Kimathi HAS BEEN CALLED or run by “the natives”, as he frequently quipped There are ordinary teachers whose relation- when referring to us. ship with their students end immediately they HOME step out of class, and there are special ones with At first, I thought he was spying on us, using whom you can have deeply personal conver- HERALDED: Mentor par excellence left me (the most vocal one). He would then open up sations away from classwork, I call them life and indelible footprint in South Africa, Zambia, jokingly saying; “If you don’t seize the moment, coaches. And he was nothing short of that! Kenya, Zimbabwe and Nigeria... you will wait for eons, or even for one’s death be- fore you can touch a camera...” very sobering that Over the weekend, the new generation of Sports people, and had sworn never to allow even traces of question; “... who will promote you if there’s clear- was. Indeed we were up against a seasoned team of Outside Broadcast Camera Operators in Subsaha- it anywhere he worked pos-apartheid. ly nobody to fill up your gap?” operators with so many years of experience under ran Africa received some devastating news, the tree their belt. The more they worked, the more they from whose branches we all sprung up had fallen; His resolve, coupled with my upbringing and The above question alone got me thinking, could only get better, while our “rustiness” per- Sanku Molaoli had rested, a few hours after com- the resultant personal conviction would eventually considering I have always been ambitious in every- sisted. plaining of chest pains - It could only be something make us good friends and comrades in arms. thing I do. I constantly reminded him my goal was else, but lack of happiness. Having entered South to be among the best ten operators on the continent Our takeover was therefore as necessary as it Africa’s then white-dominated television industry If you know yourself as vocal and open-mind- in soccer, that whenever a random list is made, my was timely. We had to grab the positions, make under the discriminative apartheid regime, he had ed, try to be so good at what you do, for the latter name should feature, regardless of the camera posi- mistakes on the fly, get the flak for it, but most to do more, including joining his industry’s shop can be used to overlook the former on decision- tion assigned and, or the order. importantly make sure we learned so much from stewardship just to help improve the terms and making tables; what Sanku simply meant was that the “hairdryer experience” that would follow. And conditions of service for his fellow disenfranchised authoritarian powers in any sphere of life are not How did you meet him? You could be ask- since repetition confirms and strengthens habits, Black Operators. They all had to compete for the known to be fond of principled persons, they will ing. Sanku and I first met when Supersport came look at us today! same training and attention as well as the right to only deal with them if they cannot avoid, so make to Kenya. He was among the veteran operators the and at work, with the then system’s blue-eyed boys. yourself unavoidable - And not necessarily their South African broadcasting giant sent to help mark He read a lot, listened to mythologies on the lapdog. their footprints on the Kenyan territory after they sidelines of productions and therefore Sanku was During my many discussions with him, Sanku signed a long-term deal to beam live the KPL 2008 very knowledgeable and with a great sense of hu- came out as someone who knew exactly how much As few as they are on the continent, Sanku season. mor. Whenever we ran to him with a problem, and of an impediment human subjugation, especially was therefore a known great golf ball follower. He we seemed so frustrated, he would, in jest say; “... at places of work meant to the empowerment of a was also a teacher, mentor, and counselor to me The South African-born Senior Camera Opera- relax Mau Mau, relax, take a deep breath, compose and many more, considering the countless tributes tor turned a resident of world would later transition yourself and explain the issue to me like you were streaming in till today. into training, with our class of 2009 being the first doing so to a toddler...” he groomed to take over from his countrymen lo- Sanku was a tough but very fair leader. He cally (in Kenya). “...you are not successful until Sanku was an extremely funny character, no- would repeatedly tell me; that as a trainer, one your successor succeeds.” He often repeated, as a body could resist laughter for as long they sat or should always praise in public and reprimand in sign that he had nothing to gain from dimming our worked near him. So unhappiness could not have private. And that that way, you stand a big chance lights for their continued stay in Kenya, and there- killed him, I repeat. His possessed a rare ability to of building character, commanding respect, and in- fore badly wanted us up and running. relax or loosen a more tense situations or meetings. stilling confidence in whoever you are training. He spoke to us like the father figure we so looked Behind his compatriots, Sanku called me aside up to professionally. He took time to understand He made me appreciate knowledge sharing, for at the beginning of 2010 and hatched a strategy to our upbringing, thus looking beyond our flaws to he would every so often ask this thought-provoking help us find the best from within ourselves. A dark cloud has since engulfed every place Sanku traversed in his homeland South Africa and beyond; I know Zambia is crying, Kenya, Zimba- bwe, and Nigeria only to mention a few. We have lost a colossal figure in the industry. We have lost a father in Sanku. His absence is an avalanche we cannot pretend to hide and shall require extra effort to fill up, insha Allah. May God see us through. Lala ngoxolo ntate Sanku, your legendary work and spirit of liberation through the transfer of skills shall forever live on. Say hello to Ntate Justin Nca- nana. We shall miss you greatly. Ustadh Okello Kimathi is a world “Live”” sports broadcaster who lives in Nairobi, Kenya. TRIBUTE TO WINNIE MAHLANGU - DOYENNE OF BLACK RADIO UNFORGETTABLE: Veteran presenter’s name synonymous with history of Ukhozi Radio and preceding appellations from which it evolved... Winnie Mahlangu has left a rich legacy for female By Gugu Sibiya of young listeners through the story telling were huge. While the word celebrity was broadcasters to emulate Ukhozi FM’s pioneer and first lady of the sessions she hosted on her Saturday show. not used in relation to personalities, she was airwaves Winnie Mahlangu(88)’s passing When they heard that signature intro “am- “it”. over the weekend, sent shock ripples all dokwe, avuthiwe, ehlanzeni, sondelani over the country as the news spread. sizoxoxa, sizohleka” They knew it was She was mentioned in the same breath time.Women were not left out. They were a as women like MaHotela Queems, Abigail Affectionately called Mafungwase, the big deal of who she was. Like faithful dis- Kubheka, Thandie Klaasen, Thoko Mgcina, silky-honey voiced broadcaster first sat be- ciples, they congregated around their radios Daisy Dumakude, Patience Africa, later hind the mic in 1962. She was to hang it for at 3pm, to listen to her women’s programme Cynthia Shange among many others. Miri- the last time in 1993, 30-years after making and the pearls of wisdom she so generously am Makeba and Letta Mbuli were in Ameri- history. dished. ca but they were still role models too. Back then Ukhozi was Radio Bantu, The lovely voice of Mafungwase along- It was refreshing to see TV dramas like before being known as Radio Zulu. These side that of guests like Anne Makhanya, em- Uzalo pay home to her while she was still days they are flying high as Ukhozi, earn- powered women. alive. In the storyline young girls inspired ing bragging rights for boasting the highest by Mahlangu, had to send tapes to Ukhozi listenership. When Bawinile came in, they They helped them enhance their cooking for an audition and shot at a career on radio. were the only station for black people. One skills following the mouth-watering recipes of the notables she worked alongside, was they were given. They learnt about hygiene, There’s no doubt that she inspired the the notorious K.E. Masinga. their rights, finances, health, self-care, and likes of Lindiwe Ntuli and Mary Nontol- many other developing and empowering as- wane. Many radio stations later and throngs The man’s programmes dealt with rela- pects of their lives. of capable female broadcasters later, we tionships and he was notorious for encour- know it’s thanks to the dignified and talented aging men to dump their women. She was widely appreciated for the mu- Bawinile’s inspiration and pioneering spirit. sic of she was playing. At the time mbaqan- Bawinile endeared herself to throngs ga, scathamiya, a bit of marabi and kwela Mahlangu wa buried on Thursday, in Pretoria. May her soul rest in peace.
Friday 04 February 2022 FASHION/LIFESTYLE 11WEEKLY SA MIRROR DJ ZINHLE RAISES BAR FOR BUBBLY - LAUNCHES NEW EDITION ERTS’ LIMITED: Newly released edition elegantly ULI ROB creamy and perfectly-balanced... ORLD By WSAM reporter DJ ZINHLE K W SHARES HER After a powerful business merger in Octo- ber 2020, DJ Zinhle announces another hit PERFECT for herself – the new BLVD Luxury Nectar VALENTINE’S DAY MCC Signature Edition, an extension to her bubbly label. What’s your favourite Valentine’s Day gift? This comes after the success of the widely hailed BLVD Nectar Rosé MCC. Luxury Nec- I love a thoughtful gift, maybe a beau- tar is the latest addition to the Boulevard range. tifully arranged bouquet or a nice fra- grance that I can be reminded of when “I absolutely love the new iconic white I wear it :) bottle it oozes luxury and class. Our packag- What’s your worst Valentine’s Day? ing, like our superior taste, is of the utmost im- Probably working and not spending it portance to me. My vision is to deliver an ex- with my loved one. ceptional drinking experience. The new BLVD What’s your recommended drink and Luxury Nectar MCC is going to shake up the what is perfect with it? MCC market,” DJ Zinhle gushes. BLVD lux with strawberries. What’s the best way to enjoy it? The packaging is a popping bright white, Chilled with fruits. mirroring the city lights that lead so many of Any other products you are working on us to dream big. BLVD Luxury Nectar Signa- besides, wigs, watches, furniture, books? ture Edition MCC dares you to be bold and find Definitely growing my jewellery col- your bubble of inspiration. This polished MCC lection on Era by DJ Zinhle. is a carefully crafted blend of handpicked Char- What’s a perfect Valentine’s Day for you? donnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier grapes. A beautiful dinner for two, followed by To add complexity, a portion of the Chardon- romantic comedy and some Boulevard nay is fermented in older French Oak barrel, to celebrate love. and matured for a minimum of 9 months. The result is an elegantly creamy, and perfectly bal- anced bubbly COMPETITION To celebrate the month of love we are giving away 3 bottles of Boulevard by Dj Zinhle to THREE lucky winners. To stand in line to win, simply tell us the name of DJ Zinhle’s new launched bubbly. Send your answer to [email protected]
12 WEEKLY SA MIRROR MOTORING Friday 04 February 2022 HYUNDAI STARIA MOTORING:Briefs MULTIPLIES FIKS ANNOUNCES NEW MULTICAB: The newcomer follows just a few months after the DRIVING LICENCE CARD launch of the futuristic MPV Transport Minister Fikile Mbalula has announced that the department plans to in- troduce a new driving licence card in South Africa from October 2023. “The new card will have advanced se- curity features and meet international stand- ards, which means it can also be used as an alternative form of identification,” Mbalula said. Speaking at a media briefing on Thurs- day, the Minister said that the current licence card would be phased out over a five-year period, meaning motorists would not need to scramble to renew their cards. The most wel- come news, however, is that the department is at least considering extending the validity period of the new licence cards from five to 10 years. According to the Minister, the RTMC has appointed a panel of researchers to look into the matter and a decision on whether or not to extend the validity period will be based on the findings of this study. PRACTICAL: The new Staria Multicab can afford to load three bicycles in reason- SERIOUS CRASHES NOT able cargo space. SOLELY DUE TO DRIVER EQUIPPED: Modern touchscreen infotainment sys- ERROR tem with smartphone-mirroring technology which comes standard WASHINGTON: With traffic fatalities spiking higher, the nation’s top safety inves- EXPANDED: The Staria Staria Multicab is longer, wider and gains some 96 mm in tigator says a widely cited government sta- height tistic that 94% of serious crashes are solely due to driver error is misleading and that the ISOLATED: Load bay is isolated from cabin By Ali Mphaki well equipped with comfort, safety and con- Transportation Department should stop us- Hyundai is on a roll. What in township par- venient items like front and rear parking sensor, ing it. lance can be described as doing the iminwe blind-spot collision warning, a reverse-view phezulu. camera, electronic handbrake etc. Jennifer Homendy, the chair of the Na- tional Transportation Safety Board, told The For just as were still starry eyed about their But more than anything else, what makes Associated Press on Tuesday that she’s sur- futuristic Staria MPV launched in South Africa the Staria Multicab a multicab is that, wait for prised the wording remains on the depart- late last year, in comes the new Staria Multicab. it, it accommodates five adults in ala Gomma ment’s website even as the Biden administra- Gomma sofas. tion pledges to embark on a broader strategy Word is also out that a panel-van derivative to stave off crashes through better road de- is due during the second quarter. So if a panel- Unlike in the MPV where you can lower sign, auto safety features and other measures. van is on the cards, what exactly is the Staria the rear seats for more cargo space, the load bay Multicab and who is it really trying to impress. is isolated from the cabin and only accessible Auto safety advocates have been calling via the split rear seats. on the department for years to stop using the For starters, nothing on the outside read- statistic, including requests by Homendy in ily distinguishes it from its MPV sibling, even Luggage space is 2 890 litres, Under the recent months as well as a letter from auto though it is slightly longer, wider and higher. bonnet is a 130kW/430 Nm 2.2-litre 4-cylinder safety groups to Transportation Secretary turbodiesel mated to an 8-speed gearbox. Pete Buttigieg last month. Wearing size 17-inch alloys and with its daytime running lights, the Staria Multicab It comes with Hyundai’s 6-year/69 000km They call the figure an unacceptable continues its futuristic look inside, where it is service plan. “excuse” for surging crashes. In a section touting the safety potential of automated ve- Prepare to part with R759 000. hicles, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s website states “94% of se- rious crashes are due to human error.” PORSCHE EXPANDS ONLINE SALES CAPACITY BERLIN -- Porsche received 5,800 on- line orders worldwide in 2021, three times as many as the previous year, as the brand continues to expand its online sales capacity. Porsche has made online marketplaces available across 100 markets globally, with direct web sales possible in 26 markets. The automaker launched online vehicle sales in Germany in 2019 and has made online ve- hicle sales available to customers in all its major markets since 2021. While the in-stock vehicles can be or- dered online, the contract and delivery pro- cesses still take place through a dealership. Around 1.1 million users use the redesigned Porsche vehicle search site each month, the brand said in a statement. WHY JAY LENO DOES NOT OWN A FERRARI Ferrari just set a new sales record by delivering 11,155 cars in 2021, and that’s before adding the Purosangue SUV to its portfolio. Technically, it means cars carry- ing the Prancing Horse are becoming less and less exclusive, but the admiration for the Maranello brand is nevertheless at un- precedented levels. Comedian and car nut Jay Leon speaks highly of cars carrying the Prancing Horse. Still, he doesn’t have one in his vast fleet. How come? Speaking dur- ing a podcast with Jason Stein, the 71-year- old American TV host explained he is not exactly fond of having to deal with Ferrari dealers. So much so that he associates enter- ing a showroom with “rich guys going to a dominatrix. Oh, she kicked the crap out of me, it was fantastic. That’s great, some guys like that. I don’t.”
Friday 04 February 2022 PERSONAL FINANCE/BUSINESS 13WEEKLY SA MIRROR By Isaac Moledi CONSUMERS MONEY market As South Africa and other countries worldwide STILL TRAPPED IN begin to recover and reopening their economies A VICIOUS CIRCLE into the stock market – but before you do, consider after the more than two - year ravages of the OF DEBT DUE TO the expert insights about investing during a down Covid-19 pandemic, there are large numbers of market.” Also, speak to an expert financial planner consumers who are still trying to scramble to re- THE COVID-19 before you make decisions so you make the best gain their financial footing. moves possible. SAVE: Building an accessible emergency While the conventional wisdom is to sock away savings fund will help weather the storm ‘’Where before we knew in the back of our six to 12 months worth of savings, that became a minds we could easily save up to R500 a month for pipe dream for many during the Covid19 pandemic mortality probably didn’t cross our mind that often. our future income when we really don’t know what something we needed, the company says thanks to as millions of people lost their jobs while scores of “The devastating health impact of the pan- tomorrow (or the next year) holds. “Form healthy lockdown, this along with other reductions in our small and big businesses were forced to shut down, money habits to help you shake off the indulgence disposable income spend, has pushed us to truly leaving individuals’ day-today living expenses to demic has not only left some families grieving the of maintaining your lifestyle on credit. realise the savings we can create if we apply a bit pile up. Although there were some governments loss of a loved one, but sadly also impacted them of discipline. Cash in hand doesn’t necessary mean that introduced some stimulus to weigh in against financially, as happens when a household income ‘’This includes trying, where best you can, to cash to spend. Instead of finding other things to the pandemic, these were not enough as more and earner passes away. This has changed the way we pay cash for low-cost items instead of racking up spend on, use the unique opportunity to take ad- more consumers faltered and became trapped in fi- think about what happens to our loved ones if we retail credit. Put smart credit purchases such as vantage of the drop in the repo rate by knocking nancial distress. were to pass on.” property, student loans and vehicle finance ahead down your debt and getting closer towards finan- of smaller whim purchases that you can do without. cial freedom.” But for all the uncertainty and tragedy the pan- The key lesson, Sanlam says, is that it is im- Utilise lower interest rates provided for by the gov- demic has caused, financial experts are in agree- portant to think the unthinkable and ask ourselves: ernment cutting repo rates to pay down your exist- Sanlam says there is never a bad time to review ment that Covid-19 has taught us some valuable What happens if I pass away? “It’s a bitter pill to ing debt as quickly as possible.” our financial plan, but in times of indefinite uncer- lessons when it comes to our money and planning swallow, but Covid-19 reminded us that the likeli- tainty, meeting with our financial planner to discuss for life’s unexpected events. hood of us getting sick or passing on isn’t as low as The company reminds us to look at how the our cover and savings priorities is even more im- we think it is.” pandemic had put many businesses’ operations on portant. “A qualified financial planner is equipped One of the major lessons to these effects, ac- hold, leaving millions of people uncertain about to help tailor a plan to help you reach your unique cording to Sanlam is that we should not put all Sanlam’s advice is that we should be prepared whether or when they’d see their next salary. “The investment and savings goals, while ensuring your our capital in the same basket. If you did not have for this by making sure our estate is up to date by legal principle of ‘no work, no pay’ became a pain- cover needs are met.” an emergency fund before the economic crisis of drawing up a will, or reviewing it if we already have ful reality for so many, but this also shone light on COVID-19 hit, or your balance was not enough one. The company advises us to discuss changes the value a passive income can add to your cash The company says if we were lax about our to tide your family over, the crunch highlighted the with our financial planner to ensure the right people flow in the long term, if you have the means to cre- income and spending as long as our rent or bond importance of balancing your investments between are cared for when anybody dies. ate a passive income.” was covered and our lights stayed on, the financial tax-effective, long-term retirement vehicles versus impact of Covid-19 has probably turned that on accessible cash savings. If you’ve suffered a pay cut or job loss as a result It advises that “passive income” and property its head. It says that during a time when it feels as of Covid-19, you probably wish you could go back investing may be some of the avenues we can pur- though very little is within our control, budgeting “Long-term investments and savings designed in time and think twice about your credit purchases, sue to earn an income ‘passively’. “If you’re in- is a skill and tool that puts the power back in our for goals like retirement not only aren’t easily ac- especially retail credit. Sanlam says the pandemic terested in investing, look at getting your money hands. “It’s an empowering monthly activity every- cessible if you’re in need of cash, but they also has taught us to think twice before signing away one in your household can get involved in, whether aren’t recommended to dip into if you’re struggling it’s to save up to cover additional purchases that with cash flow,” according to Sanlam Reality. everyone will use. The company says while investing should be an important part of our long-term wealth plan, we should not underestimate the value or necessity of building an easily accessible emergency savings fund for when life dishes us a harsh, unexpected blow. “Whether it’s a short-term inconvenience, such as car repairs, or a longer-term difficulty such as retrenchment, you’ll thank yourself for having put away cash regularly for a rainy day. Our sav- ings calculator is just the tool you need to get on track to your savings goals. Use it to find out how much you need to put away monthly to be prepared for life’s surprises.” According to the company, before coronavi- rus and its related health and safety precautions became part of our new normal, severe illness and ACCELERATING DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION IN THE BUSINESS SECTOR IS A WAY OF SURVIVAL CHANGE: Covid -19 pandemic has changed the consumer buying behaviour By Isaac Moledi immediately and effectively, and digital transfor- it right there. On the other hand, social commerce SURVIVAL: Robbie Kearns, senior regional Consumer purchasing behaviour has changed, mation became a matter of survival,” he says. also provides brands with useful data on things vice president at Salesforce and as a result, businesses’ strategies for pro- like customer preferences and their social habits but it is also important to not force new technolo- viding personalised customer experiences have Kearns believes that one of these new chan- more generally,” says Kok. gies on to customers,” says Sibbald. shifted. nels for shoppers in both a business to commerce and business to business world is social media According to him, significantly, social com- He argues that rather, we must establish how With changing consumer buying behaviour, because that is where shoppers are spending their merce allows brands access to data such as cus- and where they wish to connect and communi- experts say in-store and online purchasing experi- time. “In addition, social media is usually the first tomer’s social profiles (with their consent, of cate. “eCommerce and email are really coming ences are merging, and more companies are ex- place people go to when they pick up their mobile course, adding to the dataset that enables brands into their stride and are already widely used and ploring social commerce and including it as a key device during the ‘micro-moments’ that they have to craft more personalised online experiences for welcomed by shoppers, and I don’t see that going strategy in their commerce plans. between their own daily routines, and it’s easy to their audiences. anytime soon,” according to Sibbald. anticipate this across the social networks.” According to the fourth edition of Salesforce’s “It is the manifestation of the seamless, As retailers crop up in the metaverse, it’s Connected Customer Report, 25% of shopping According to Kearns, Salesforce Commerce platform-neutral shopping experience that we’ve apparent that consumers are prepared to make will occur outside of a retailer or brand’s website, Cloud customers reported a staggering 66% in- been anticipating for years now. And it’s happen- transactions through novel methods. “Retailers app, or physical store by 2023. During the 2021 crease in visitor traffic to their digital sites shortly ing in a way that’s creative, relevant, entertaining are witnessing the emergence of a new business Christmas season, social media apps accounted after COVID hit, which resulted in a 127 % in- and set to ultimately revolutionise how we shop model in which physical and digital realities co- for 4% of global mobile digital sales, while indi- crease in cart size. “This ultimately resulted in a online.” exist and stores remain open 24 hours a day.” viduals browsing social media accounted for 10% staggering 146 percent rise in year-over-year rev- A multi-channel approach is key to ecommerce of mobile traffic. Industry experts share their enue,” Kearns says. success. views on social commerce and whether this is a Social commerce brings brands up close and necessary strategy for success in 2022. personal with customers. Ross Sibbald, commercial director of Striata Consumers spend their time on social media Africa, however, warns businesses that although during micro-moments. Reagen Kok, Hoorah Digital CEO, believes the metaverse may be the latest and greatest shiny that the brands that ignore the impact and influ- ‘thing’ it is crucial that businesses focus on devel- According to Robbie Kearns, senior region- ence of social commerce today do so at their peril. oping a relationship and loyalty with their clients. al vice president at Salesforce, over the past 15 years, commerce has been moving towards new “It’s well understood that social media has “A multi-channel approach is still incredibly and disruptive digital channels with increasing revolutionised the way businesses connect with useful now and in the future. speed. This all accelerated further when the their customers and now social commerce el- evates that interaction into a transactional one that It is extremely likely that an increasing num- COVID-19 pandemic hit. “Seemingly, over- offers both parties great value. Social commerce ber of shoppers would abandon traditional brick night, every business had to operate digitally — brings the product to the customer at the exact and mortar stores in favour of alternate channels point where it piques their interest - see it, shop where the experience is less obtrusive, smoother, and ultimately more convenient for the shopper,
14 WEEKLY SA MIRROR SPORT Friday 04 February 2022 WARRIORS CROWNED DSTV COMPACT CUP CHAMPS INAUGURAL: Orlando Pirates captain Happy Jele led his charges to victory WiNNERS: Joy is celebrating winning the inaugural DStv cup. Photos: Tladi Khuele By Sports Reporter just seconds after kick-off. It was a dream start fielder Mpho Makola which seemed destined for quarter of the encounter and got to work immedi- Orlando Pirates Captain Happy Jele hoisted for United when Ashley du Preez found himself the top corner. The rest of the first half did not live ately, firing towards goal with his last foot to draw aloft the DStv Compact Cup trophy, as the War- free down the left, and capitalised from disjointed up to the opening minutes in terms of activity, but another save from Masuluke. riors claimed a 2-1 win over Coastal United in defence to smash one past Itumeleng Khune into could have ended in more drama had Du Preez’ the final to become the competition’s inaugural the net 48 seconds into the encounter. However, pass from inside the box found teammate Evidence The breakthrough would however come from champions. it wasn’t too long before things were back level as Makgopa instead of Khune’s hands. Gamildien, who completed his brace when he was Ruzaigh Gamildien drew the Warriors level after he located by a pin-point cross from Njabulo Ngcobo Featuring three Orlando Pirates players in the too found himself with acres of space before slot- Thembinkosi Lorch could have gotten the sec- and made no mistake in pulling the Warriors ahead starting XI named for the showpiece, the Warriors - ting home to make it 1-1 just five minutes in. ond half to a flyer, when he got on the end of a with seven minutes remaining on the clock. led by the Bucs skipper - had pipped AmaButho in pass from second half sub Nkosingiphile Ngcobo, their semifinal and were up against a side that had Swallows youngster Siphesihle Mbhele could but his shot lacked the necessary power to trouble Pirates striker Tshegofatso Mabasa could have dominated their own last-four fixture in the compe- have edged the Warriors ahead before the 15th min- United goalkeeper Oscarine Masuluke. placed the result beyond doubt when he got on tition’s opening weekend. With a hefty cheque at ute mark when he received the ball just inside the the end of a cross from fellow Bucs player Wayde stake on the afternoon, both teams were quick off penalty area, but placed a little too much behind his Ngcobo went on his own moments later with a Jooste, but his first touch tipped the ball straight the blocks, with the coastal outfit perhaps a split shot to send the ball just over the crossbar. low shot from range, which forced the Baroka shot- into Masuluke’s gloves. A tight finish ensued as second quicker as they affected the scoreboard stopper on his left to make a good save. United sought to regain parity, but the Warriors Khune was called upon in the 25th minute to were able to hang on to their lead to become the stop a curling free-kick from former Pirates mid- Monnapule Saleng - the hero for the Warriors first ever winners of the DStv Compact Cup. in their semifinal - was introduced around the last
Friday 04 February 2022 SPORT 15WEEKLY SA MIRROR SPORTS: Briefs LERENA RIN GSIDE VIEW PUNCHES WAY HELLO ADSALES TEAMS UP TO HEAVYWEIGHT PULE WITH BOTSWANA PREMIER MOKHINE LEAGUE DIVISION HISTORY: Kevin Lerena wants Brands will be the real winners in Botswana FORMER CRUISERWEIGHT: Romanian to engrave his name as the IBF Premier League’s decision to sub-contract the opponent in for tough fight come March 26 heavyweight champion management of its stadium advertising to Hello and I would like to become the best world heavy- Adsales Botswana (PTY) LTD from January By Pule Mokhine rican boxing history. weight champion to come from South Africa. Cor- 2021. If there is any local boxer who harbors any Since then, it has been 19 solid years that rie Sanders, who was a left- hander like me, was lingering hopes of adding his name to a distin- the best fighter and I would like to achieve a lot Talking about the 12-month renewable con- guished list of the country’s fighters that have not a single local fighter has ever managed to be in the ring, just like him when he was still alive ,” tract, Solomon Ramochotlhwane, sporting head at won world heavyweight titles, it is none other crowned world heavyweight title holder. Sanders said Sanders. Botswana Football League, said: ‘The Botswana than Kevin Lerena. vacated his WBO belt and subsequently lost to It remains to be seen if Lerena will be one of Premier League is looking forward to this sta- Klitschko’s twin brother Vitali for the then vacant the finest heavyweight exports. dium advertising project alongside Hello Adsales The man who goes by the moniker “ The KO World Boxing Council championship. He is inspired by the masterclass delivered by Botswana. We have wonderful sporting facilities, Kid” because of his amazing punching power that fellow southpaw and erstwhile undisuted cham- which brands could benefit from.’ has enable him to knockout 13 of his 27 opponents, Sadly, Sanders died in hospital on 12 Septem- pion Oleksandr Usyk when he relieved Anthony has been campaigning in the cruiserweight class – ber 2012 after being shot in an armed robbery. Joshua of his world heavyweight titles recently The decision to choose Hello Adsales Bot- a division that is slightly below the heavies. “ Fighting in the heavyweight class will also swana was made after careful consideration that Before then, the other local slugger who lifted enable me to be just like my retired heavyweight proved the company was well suited to execut- Lerena has made a bold move to punch his way the world heavyweight belts was Francois “White idol Evander Holyfield who accomplished a lot ing the League’s mandate as well as being able into the big league of big men where his name is Buffalo” Botha. He took the International Boxing in boxing. to attract brands and other stakeholders to the now ranked 25th in that weight class. He has been Federation crown against the German Alex Schultz With enough dedication, nothing will stop me League’s sporting facilities. ruling the roost as International Boxing Organisa- in 1995, but was later stripped of his belt after fail- from making a mark in the heavyweight class,” tion (IBO) cruiserweight where he made seven ing a drug test. says Lerena. Gerald Mzwinila, the MD Hello Adsales Bot- successful defenses of his crown before relinquish- About his next opponent, Lerena believes the swana, said: ‘As an advertising organisation, we ing crown and weight class to move up to the big Gerrie “Bionic Hand” Coetzee remains the man from Romania who comes with a resume of live for moments like these, creating value-driven league. first-ever African heavyweight to lift the world 20 knockout wins and three defeats, will be beat- synergies and partnerships with reputable entities diadem, having knocked American Michael Dokes en to the punch. like the Botswana Premier League. We aim to pro- The last local boxer to hold the global heavy- for the World Boxing Association championship in “ His record suggests that he is a good boxers vide the Botswana and international market with weight diadem was the late Corrie Sanders , who Ohio, USA in 1983. But Lerena is determined to who will be here to give me a good fight. I will brand exposure and unique positioning.’ captured the World Boxing Organization (WBO) emulate the feat of Sanders by becoming the coun- knock him out and prove that I’m the best heavy- crown in 2003 after his sensational second-round try’s next world heavyweight kingpin. weight in the country,” said Lerena Hello Adsales has its head office in Johannes- knockout victory over the fancied Ukranian burg, from which group managing director Anto- Wladimir Klitschko. This was one of the biggest Lerena’s debut in the heavyweight bout will nio Diogo runs the business. The media profes- upsets and the brightest moments for the South Af- be for the WBA Inter-Continental heavyweight sional, who has more than 20 years’ experience title against Bogdan Dinu at Emperors Palace on in TV, print, digital and outdoor platforms, be- March 26. lieves advertising in the League’s stadiums offers companies a powerful way to build their brands.- “The country is lacking in this big division NEXMEDIA LET THE BEIJING GAMES BE- GIN The Beijing Winter Olympics and Paralym- pics take place from February 4 to February 20, with about 3,000 athletes competing in 109 dif- ferent events. The Winter Paralympics run from 4 March to 13 March, with about 750 competitors across 78 events. China’s government and businesses are spending $3.9bn (£2.95bn) on the Games, which are taking place in and around Beijing: · Indoor ice events take place in stadiums in Beijing · Yanqing, 75 km from Beijing, hosts alpine skiing, bobsled and the luge · Zhangjiakou, 180 km from Beijing, hosts most skiing and snowboarding events About 1.2 million cubic metres of artificial snow is being used because so little falls in the region. China has been criticised over the envi- ronmental impact DJOKOVIC TO PRESENT OWN VERSION OF AO Novak Djokovic on Thursday said he plans to provide his “version” of what happened during the fiasco that led to his deportation ahead of the Australian Open in the coming days. The world number one’s visa was cancelled last month ahead of the season-opening Grand Slam over his Covid-19 vaccination status, and he has kept a relatively low profile since returning to Serbia – making just a handful of brief appear- ances “I plead for patience and in the next seven to 10 days I will seak to the media more thoroughly abiut my version of the story,” said Djokovic dur- ing a joint press conference with Serbian presi- dent Aleksandar Vucic in Belgrade. The 34-year-old offered no other details on his future plans, while he thanked Vucic and his Serbian fans for their support during the ordeal. JOINING BARCA A LIFETIME OPPORTUNITY - AUBAMEYANG Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang called join- ing Barcelona the opportunity of his lifetime on Thursday and backed the club to regain its place among Europe’s elite. Aubemayang was officially presented at Camp Nou after his signing was confirmed on Wednesday, the 32-year-old allowed to move in a free transfer after Arsenal terminated his contract. His deal at Barca runs until 2025 although there is a break clause in June 2023 and a buy-out clause set at 100 million eurs. I have always dreamt of playing in La Liga, Aubemayeng said,
MIRROR SPORTWEEKLY SA Insight to connect the dots... AfCON FINAL SHOWDOWN TENSION: A COMBINATION OF LUCK, PERSEVERANCE AND DETERMINATION WILL WIN THE DAY OPPONENTS; Liverpool team mates Mohamed By Ali Mphaki geria but bounced back to finish second in their Salah and Sadio Mane will be representing The Bibliical injunction “many are called, group. their respective countries at the Afcon final but a few are chosen” could never have been Sunday night more apt as we head to the final match of Af- In their semi final game, Egypt won on pen- con 2021 in Camerroon on Sunday night. alties beating host Camerroon, with Senegal dusting off their Burkina Faso opponents 3-1, in After a month of pulsating football in a tour- regular time. But if there is one thing to be learnt nament with all its attendant thrills, flips and from Afcon 2021, is never to underestimate the flops, only two teams out of a new record of 24 Pharaohs, Another crucial lesson learnt is that participating countries will face each other for “it is not how you start, but how you finish”. that elusive star and the almost R70-million first prize money. Sinilarly, statistics can also be deceiving, meant to reveal little but hide so.much, as one It was perhaps predictable that both Egypt wise man once observed, in trying to predict and Senegal will make it to the finals, what Sunday’s outcome. The last game between with both teams boasting arguably the current the two countries was in Afcon 2014, Senegal best players on the continent in Sadio Mane, for emerging 1-nil victors. the Lions of Terenga, as the Senegal team are known, and Mohamed Salah, for the Pharaohs In the last 12 games. however, Egypt won of Egypt. 6, and there were four draws. As the moment of truth draws ever so near, tensions among sup- Adding a twist to the tale is that both players porters in both countries have reached frenetic are teammates at club level, plying their trade levels. Will there be weeping in Dakar, or the at Liverpool FC. But with their country’s hopes gnashing of teeth in Cairo? resting on their shoulders, there will be no love lost come 9pm kickoff time. Will it be third time lucky for Senegal which has never won the competition, but is in the final The road to the finals for both teams may for the third time and in two editions in row hav- have been contrasting, which technically gives ing lost to Algeria in the 2019 Afcon final. Senegal an edge over Egypt. Or should we brace ourselves for an eighth Senegal finished top of their group and went time wonder from Egypt? on to dominate their opponents in the knockout rounds, while Egypt lost their first match to Ni- Whichever way, this contest looks set to be decided by the two Liverpoolians in the field of play.
Search
Read the Text Version
- 1 - 16
Pages:
