WEEKLY SA Mirror 104th ED

‘DON’T RR RUSSIA FORGET LAUNCHES OWN THE BOYS’ ‘OLYMPICS’ 4page 14page D E Q L www.weeklysamirror.news Friday 23 June 2023 MIRRORWEEKLY SA Insight to connect the dots... ‘RACISM DRIVES VICTIMS TO DRINK’ p2 RACIAL DISCRIMINATION INDUCES INCREASED CRAVING FOR ALCOHOL TO COPE WITH ‘RACIAL STRESS’ — US STUDY INSIGHT INTO TWO BOOKS ON DASHING LIVES OF WINNIE & MANDELA 10 12p &

2 WEEKLY SA MIRROR NEWS Friday 23 June 2023 STRESS COCKTAIL – RACE, BOOZE AND DISCRIMINATION SAMPLE: Black individuals reported higher average levels of alcohol craving across a 17-day assessment window compared to their White counterparts… By WSAM Correspondent in identifying influences of inequities in alcohol- related problems and, given prior research showing Racial discrimination contributes to increases associations between general stress and craving, we in alcohol craving to cope with racial stress, a new wanted to understand how specific experiences of study has revealed. discrimination may increase alcohol craving.” The research is the first to examine how dis- Alcohol craving is ordinarily associated with tinct experiences of interpersonal racial discrimina- relapse following alcohol use disorder (AUD) treat- tion contribute to elevated alcohol craving. It was ment. conducted by Sarah L Pedersen, associate professor of psychiatry and psychology at the University of Pedersen believes that experiences of interper- Pittsburgh in the United States, and a team of re- sonal racial discrimination contribute to increases searchers. in craving alcohol to cope with racial stress. “These results have treatment implications related to pro- She is scheduled to share their full findings at moting the development of emotion regulation the 46th annual scientific meeting of the Research skills and strategies after experiencing racial dis- Society on Alcoholism (RSA) conference in Wash- crimination, and policy and training implications ington this weekend. The RSA starts tomorrow and regarding the deleterious effects of exposure to in- ends on Wednesday. terpersonal racial discrimination,” she said. Data for this study were drawn from a larger Additional analyses by Pedersen’s team will ongoing alcohol administration study: 140 young integrate momentary experiences of discrimination adults (44 of whom self-identified as Black or Af- and subsequent alcohol craving in a naturalistic en- rican American, 56 percent self-identified as White vironment. or European-American) who consume alcohol at least weekly completed a survey and a 17-day as- “My team uses a community-engaged approach sessment of acute alcohol craving as well as experi- and we have worked closely with community mem- enced microaggressions. bers to understand their needs, experiences, and ideas for research,” added Pedersen. “Our commu- “The Racial and Ethnic Microaggressions nity partners are centred in our research and have Scale is a 28-item self-report measure examining been incredible contributors to this study; including five domains of racial discrimination experiences the interpretation and presentation of these results.” during the previous six months,” explained Ped- ersen. “Examples include: ‘Someone told me that Based in the United States, the RSA provides a they don’t see colour,’ ‘I was ignored at school or forum for communication among researchers who work because of my race,’ and ‘someone assumed I share common interests in understanding the dis- was poor because of my race.’” ease of alcoholism and alcohol’s various effects, both positive and negative, on the body and behav- Black individuals reported higher average lev- iour. els of alcohol craving across the 17-day assessment window compared to their White counterparts. It describes its purpose as to promote research that can lead the way toward prevention and treat- “Cravings can be intense and challenging to not ment of alcoholism, and a reduction in the harmful act on,” said Pedersen. “Research has also shown effects of alcohol in society. It is the leading inter- that stress increases craving for alcohol and can national society of research scientists working on precipitate a lapse or relapse following alcohol use alcohol problems, with over 1 500 members in the disorder (AUD) treatment. My team is invested US and around the world. GLOBAL PRESSURE By WSAM Correspondent non-communicable diseases was poor nutrition, TO REIN IN especially in the earliest stages of life, World ‘UNWIELDY’ Delegates from more than 130 countries met Health Organization director-general Tedros in Geneva over three days this week to devise Ghebreyesus warned. BABY FORMULA strategies to counter what they termed harm- MILK ful marketing of baby formula milk by manu- Speaking during his weekly media briefings, facturers. Ghebreyesus said noncommunicable diseases COMPANIES (NCD) such as cardiovascular disease, cancer The delegates met at the World Health Or- and diabetes are responsible for more than 70 STRATEGY: Countries convene to tackle ganisation headquarters in Geneva from Tues- percent of all deaths globally. questionable marketing placing commercial day until yesterday, for the first global congress interests ahead of health of children and families... on the implementation of the International Code “Nowhere is the threat of NCDs felt more of Marketing of Breast-milk Substitutes. acutely than in small island developing states,” he said, adding poor nutrition, particularly earli- During the three-day Congress, countries est stages of life, and inadequate breastfeeding shared their experiences on the challenges they increased the risks of childhood obesity, sudden face in fully implementing the Code; develop unexplained infant death, leukaemia, and mater- national work plans to strengthen legislation, nal diabetes and cancers. monitoring and enforcement relating to its pro- visions; and build regional networks to share in- WHO recommended exclusive breastfeed- formation and support national action. ing for the first six months of life, and continued breastfeeding for two years or beyond. While a majority of countries had enacted at least some provisions of the Code in national “In the decades following the Second World laws and regulations, gaps and loopholes often War, aggressive marketing of breastmilk sub- remain in the legislation, allowing violations of stitutes led to significant reductions in rates of the Code to persist. Most countries did not have exclusive breastfeeding,” he said. “To respond systems to monitor marketing practices, and en- to this threat, in 1981, WHO Member States forcement provisions were typically weak. adopted the International Code of Marketing of Breast-milk Substitutes. The Code helps to In the last few years, many countries had protect health, nutrition, and development in the strengthened their protections against inappro- first years of life, so that parents and caregivers priate marketing of breast-milk substitutes. receive sound medical advice, untainted by com- mercial interests”. Meanwhile, one of the main risk factors for

Friday 23 June 2023 NEWS 3WEEKLY SA MIRROR Zabu Molekedi with Thozamile Botha Nana Magomola,Gen Bantu Holomisa with Nomsa Zinhle Mtshatsha,Futhi Mtoba with Sibongiseni Malakoane FORMER PRES THABO MBEKI CELEBRATED Friends and family of former President Thabo Mbeki attended a gala dinner to celebrate An outgoing Sabc GCEO Madoda Mxakwe Nomvula Mokonyane with Fikile Mbalula his 80th birthday at the Sandton Convention Centre, North of Johannesburg midweek. The event was to also celebrate Mbeki’s life and leadership. Born in 1942 in the former homelands of Transkei in the Eastern Cape, the young Mbeki rose to become president of South Africa in 1998. PICS BY SIPHO MALUKA LandryBigirimana with Nina Sedumedi Chairperson for CMMI Thulasizwe Makhathini Reshoketshwe Mosuwe with Rev Chief Prof Bonang Mohale with Zengeziwe with Former Metro FM Head Koos Radebe Dipholo Msimang

4 WEEKLY SA MIRROR NEWS Friday 23 June 2023 ‘LETT’SHNEOWBFOOCYUSS’ON By Mpikeleni Duma PARADIGM-SHIFT: Former president Professor Bonang Mohale challenged the The focus must now shift to the boy child, who Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka echoes sentiment guests to think deep of how the resources of the have experienced years of neglect, while the na- from other leaders and government that national country were distributed. tional push focused on empowering young girls. development efforts should target male youths after years of neglect… “It is witchcraft after 29 years we gained our This was the unanimous view from different freedom that black people are still leaving in the speakers expressed during the launch of “What PLEA: Former Deputy President Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka ghettos in majority. It is witchcraft that the econo- About The Boys” programme in Sandton yester- my of the country is still in the control of the minor- day. The event was organised by PRIMESTARS ity”. Mohale also challenged the corporate world and Nelson Mandela Children’s Fund at the Radis- and companies listed on the Johannesburg Stock son Blu Gautrain Hotel. Exchange to meet the South African government in closing a historical debt totalling R16 billion Dr Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, former deputy owed to universities to help students who are still president of South Africa and main patron of What in limbo because of fees owned to the institution of About The Boys campaign, told about 500 guests high learning. that research showed that the boy-child lagged be- hind the girl child. “If there is good leadership, our country could prosper and the level of poverty could be reduced,” “Girls have been pushed and many have gradu- Minister Lindiwe Zulu said, calling on PRIMES- ated. However, boys are unable to finish high TARS and organisers to also engage with the Min- school. They need a shock therapy to realise their ister of Police, Bheki Cele. “SAPS Crime Stats dreams,” says Phumzile-Ngcuka. show the rise of crimes committed by boys against their loved ones. Mlambo-Ngcuka said young boys should be discouraged from being involved in violence It is in this area where PRIMESTARS could against women and girls. Mlambo Foundation, her be involved. It is not only the Department of So- own institution, would work hand-in-hand with cial Development that can be involved. Different PRIMESTARS and the Nelson Mandela Children’s departments of like education, health, economic Fund to realise this big dream to empower boys. development must be involved to tackle the prob- lem. Just like the fight against apartheid, everybody “In the Limpopo province, we would intro- must be involved against GBV violence and the duce the What About The Boys campaign to the cause of the boys.” 15 schools where my foundation is operating. This campaign must be nationally. Boys and girls have Zulu said even President Cyril Ramaphosa was many challenges in this era of nano technology, in- happy with the What About The Boys programme formation technology and artificial intelligence. If and revealed as much in his State of the Nation of they want to use their iPad or phones to study or do Address early this year. their homework there is no electricity and water.” In his vote of thanks, Sweet said many schools Dr Linda Nkomo, CEO of Nelson Mandela in the Gauteng province had been reached through Children’s Fund, said the What About The Boys this campaign. concept started after Martin Sweet approached her and requested R15 million to kick-start the project. Fast Food giant Mac Donald announced that it will join the campaign. Nicol Rademeyer of “We must reach out to boys in refugee camps Markham clothes showed the guests a T-Shirt de- and those who don’t have uncles, sisters and family, signed to support the campaign to be available in in general. They need our support in all directions. stores country wide later in the year. He said prof- It has been established that boys suffer abuse from its from the sale of the merchandise will go to the their coaches and trainers in sports. These abuse campaign. Among the dignitaries was former First against the boys must come to an end. We will Lady Mr Zanele Mbeki and CEOs of the corporate continue to work with PRIMESTARS the drivers world that sponsored the event. Songstress Brenda behind this campaign,” said Nkomo. “A Phase Two Mtambo serenaded the guests with a few of her of the programme must be activity in all schools.’’ heart-warmers. NO Lesufi instructed that the bulk of hand-delivered JOBSEEKERS’ CVs should not be captured and be dumped. The CVS DUMPED CVs belong to thousands of job seekers who came to the Nasrec centre on Youth Day to apply for – GAUTENG many of the provincial government jobs advertised PREMIER under Lesufi’s Nasi Ispani (Here’s work) drive, which has come under public criticism following PROBE: But ActionSA wants Scopa to take dumping allegations. action against Panyaza Lesufi… According to ActionSA Gauteng Spokesper- By Robert Tlapu for the province’s Nasi iSpani programme were son James de Villiers, “We welcomes the initiative UNDER FIRE: Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi Gauteng ActionSA has written to the provincial dumped. aimed at addressing the crisis of youth unemploy- ment which is currently stand at 63.9%. However, Standing Committee on Public Accounts (SCOPA) “Nasi Ispani is a strategic recruitment drive we cannot stand by and allow state resources to be chairperson Sochayile Khanyile to investigate aimed at addressing unemployment and promot- used as electioneering gimmicks by Premier Lesufi Premier Panyaza Lesufi’s Nasi’ Ispani initiative ing access to job opportunities available within the and the ANC to induce votes in next year’s national launched on Youth Day. Gauteng Provincial Government. The programme and provincial governments’ elections. All resi- was launched on June 16. The programme saw dents of Gauteng should have equal access to the The call follows allegations that most of the thousands of vacancies advertised,” Lesufi was re- jobs offered”. CVs submitted by job seekers were dumped soon ported as saying by IOL. Lesufi said all the CVs after they were submitted by hundreds at Nasrec that were received via the jobs and at the 22 walk-in “We are equally concerned by allegations that Centre, Johannesburg south. centres, would be accounted for. the hundreds of paper-based applications submit- ted by countless youth on June 16 have been ir- But Gauteng premier Panyaza Lesufi has de- The allegations have been doing rounds on so- regularly discarded, and they therefore will not find nied that hundreds of CVs which were submitted cial platforms, claiming that the Gauteng Premier consideration for the job opportunities said to be on offer”, said De Villiers. He continued that they had written to the Gaut- eng Scopa to investigate the allegations. ActionSA Gauteng Youth Forum has made a call that all the government job applications should be accessible online to avoid barriers to entry and to remove pos- sible abuse by government officials. ActionSA says it awaits Gauteng Scopa’s re- sponse and will monitor Nasi’Ispani related devel- opments and hold Lesufi’s government account- able. Vuyo Mhaga, Gauteng Premier ’s office spokesperson dismissed the allegations of the dump CVs, “All the submitted CVs are captured on our database, and all the people who are qualified for positions they applied for will be considered and would go through the process”. Mhaga further said anyone around Gauteng is encouraged to apply for the positions they are qualified for, irrespective of age. The Nasi’Ispani job applications can be done online on www.pro- fessionaljobcentre.gpg.gov.za and deadline is 14 July 2023.

Friday 23 June 2023 ENTERTAINMENT 5WEEKLY SA MIRROR A NEW CURTAIN Leleti stars in the Sarafina! RAISES FOR film which captured events leading to the ‘76 uprisings, SARAFINA! lest we forget EPIC: Three decades into the game, the film with a storyline based on the 1976 student uprisings, has gotten a new lease on life… By Gugu Sibiya ward to working with them on theatrical and other pick up the spear to fight the injustice of using Af- Leleti Khumalo, South Africa’s deputy ambassador to France, Nthabiseng Makuwa and most of the media. That encompasses generating revenue and rikaans as a medium of instruction, the film relates people who were in the audience at the inaugural Sarafina! made history at the Cannes Classi- viewership across the territories of the world,” he the story of an inferior education rammed down screening of Sarafina! at the media junket, in 1992. cal Official Selection screening when it was an- said. their throats by the apartheid system. During this showing, 31-years later, the popular nounced that French media and entertainment Sarafina! is written by brilliant and globally Confiding to her domestic mom (Makeba) at screenplay got a five-minute standing ovation, an giant at TF1 Studio/Newen Studios, will repre- respected playwright Mbongeni Ngema, the thes- her place of work, like most parents, she is con- excited Singh revealed. sent the epic film’s sales internationally. pian is widely well-known for other award-winning cerned for her daughter and other students, and The great news was delivered from the film productions under his belt. Willian Nicholson co- begs Leleti to desist from getting involved since Savouring that moment Singh adds, “It was Mecca by the celebrated Anant Singh. Comment- wrote the screenplay with him. Directed by Darrel she risked being murdered by the trigger-happy wonderful presenting Sarafina! together with Leleti ing on the deal, the elated Sarafina! producer said James Roodt, its stellar cast is made up of Grammy apartheid police. in Cannes, 31- years after its first screening. The “It is great to continue the relationship which be- award winning Miriam Makeba, Academy award The beauty of the film is the hope burning audience included people who were at the screen- gan through our 1992 partnership with Les Films winner Whoopi Goldberg, Tony award winner John among these young brave-hearts. Resolute in their ing in 1992, but I was delighted by the reaction of Ariane which is now part of TF1 Studio, a Newen Kani, Somizi Mhlongo and the main man himself, conviction to change the status quo, they take to the people who saw the film for the first time and were Studios subsidiary. The film is now distributed by Ngema. streets, propelled by the belief that FREEDOM is visibly moved. It’s a testament to our film and the Newen Connect. Sarafina! is about students revolting against an coming tomorrow, as the struggle song goes. The many creative partnerships involved, that it engag- “Today, there are many opportunities to release oppressive regime. Predictably, the police who’d music is as gripping as the narration, enacting the es a younger audience three decades later.” the film, including in IMAX, and also among stu- been harassing students and the teachers, arrested lived experience of black people before 1994, in dents and schools. This gives us access to a whole mam’ Masombuka (Goldberg) who was subse- 1976. Besides the brilliant story-telling carried by a new generation of audiences. Both studios are quently murdered. Starring Leleti Khumalo, who Joining Singh in the Cannes Classic screening vibrant cast, alongside clips and documentaries on equally passionate about the film, and we look for- was overwhelmed by the incident but determined to was the significantly mature star of Sarafina!, pretty June 76, Sarafina! captures moments in history that TV SOAPIE HEART-THROB were spearheaded by young people. MULLS OVER SKEEM SAAM DEBUT PRIME-TIME: Back with a bang, Hungani Ndlovu takes the baton from Cornet Mamabolo… If Romeo is anything to judge by, Hungani Ndlovu is going to kill it on Skeem Saam By Gugu Sibiya 11 years of the show’s existence. It’s unfair to ex- Ever since news of Hungani Ndlovu’s getting pect otherwise. It’s the same thing, soccer coaches back on prime-time television broke out, legions go through, being compared to their predecessors of his fans have been on tenterhooks, waiting for when they join new clubs,” he points out. him to do what he does best on the silver. After studying at the USA’s Film Academy, The phenomenal actor, who is debuting on Memoir of an Honest Voice was among his first act- Skeem Saam on July 3, is facing what nay-sayers ing gigs. He rose to prominence at Scandal, where assume should be an insurmountable task, referring his exceptional talent shone through. A marvel to to his take-over of the formidable role of Thabo watch, he lived and breathed the character. Cred- (Cornet Mamabolo), son to Professor John Maput- ible. His integrity lay in representing the character la and his businesswoman wife, Meiki. of Romeo Medupe with everything he had, totally breathtaking. It’s this versatility and God-given tal- Totally unphased, the smooth, laidback actor ent he’s bringing to Skeem Saam. concedes that while there are concerns, he’s ready for this new chapter in his life and looking forward While Ndlovu’s fans were heartbroken when to it, adding: “Preceding my excitement is a tinge he quit Scandal, he was intentional about not rest- of nerves borne from the fact that viewers grew to ing on his laurels. “I wasn’t on prime-time TV, then like Thabo‘s character in the 10 solid years he was but I was working on shows like UBethina Wethu on Skeem Saam. It’s scary in that it comes with from SABC1 now on etv. I shot a movie called Our pressure and expectation of what I’m bringing to Love (Uthando Lwethu) before working on a stage the role. production that had a great run at the Johannesburg Theatre for two months. “Communicating with the director and produc- er, made it better for me to understand the charac- Catching his breath, he states that, through ter. It enabled me to create a new role with nuances Sans Group Talent Agency, a partnership with his that makes it easy to grow into the role though it’s a wife, referring to the beautiful actress Stephanie continuation from Thabo,” says Ndlovu, reflecting Sandows, they train actors and give dance lessons. on the pros and cons of starting out with a new role Through their blog, the loving couple inspire other versus taking over from another actor. couples besides their podcast on YouTube. “Looking at it from that perspective, it makes “We are really hoping to grow our Ndlovu Em- it less scary. Luckily, as time goes by, audiences pire in a big way” says the proud multi-talented will adjust to my offering. At first, understandably, actor. there’ll be comparisons and judgment. But then people have watched Thabo for 10 years out of the “Stephanie and I shot a movie together that will be premiering in the not-so-distant future” he says, giving his fans a heads-up.

6 WEEKLY SA MIRROR SKILLS Friday 23 June 2023 UNLOCKING HUMAN POTENTIAL TEAM LEADERSHIP: Achieving success By Isaac Moledi collaboration, facilitate regular team meetings in all organisations requires a combination of How do you unlock success in your team leader- and establish a supportive environment where strong communication skills, EI and the ability ship skills to enhance the advancement of your everyone’s contributions are valued. to motivate and inspire team members organisation? It is no doubt that effective team - Skill development: A good leader invests leadership is crucial for achieving success in in the growth and development of their team all organisations. It requires a combination of members. strong communication skills, emotional intel- As a team leader, monitor whether your team ligence and the ability to motivate and inspire members have access to training and develop- team members. ment opportunities. Regularly assess their skill sets and identify areas where additional sup- However, gauging your effectiveness as a team port or resources are needed. Provide construc- leader can be challenging, according to Jacqueline tive feedback and encourage continuous learn- van Rooijen, Business Strategist and Leadership ing. Coach. - Performance evaluation: Regular perfor- mance evaluations help track progress and To help evaluate one’s leadership skills, Van identify areas for improvement. Implement a Rooijen has compiled a list of eight key indica- system for your team if an official one does not tors. “By monitoring these indicators, you can exist in your organization. Set clear expecta- identify areas where improvement is required and tions, establish performance metrics and pro- take corrective action to lead your team(s) more vide timely feedback to your team members. effectively.” Recognise their achievements and offer guid- - Clear communication: Effective leaders ance for areas that require development. - Decision-making and problem-solving: communicate clearly and consistently. If team Analyse your team’s ability to make informed members are frequently confused about expec- decisions and solve problems effectively. Do tations or tasks, it indicates a breakdown in they make decisions collaboratively, based on communication. To address this, Van Rooijen data and analysis, and are problems addressed urges for the establishment of open lines of promptly? communication, provide regular updates and Critical thinking needs to be encouraged, guid- encouraging team members to ask questions ance provided when needed and team mem- and share concerns. bers must be empowered to takeownership of - Goal alignment: An essential indicator of ef- their decisions. fective leadership is ensuring that team mem- Rooijen provides the following strategies to bers are aligned with the overall goals of the beemployed to course correct, if you find you are organisation. Regularly assess whether your not on track with some of the above indicators: team understands and supports its mission, vi- • Improve communication channels and ensure sion and objectives. If there is a lack of align- clarity in expectations. ment, take the time to explain the purpose • Invest in team-building activities and encour- behind each team member’s work and how it age open dialogue. contributes to the bigger picture. • Offer opportunities for professional develop- - Employee engagement: Engaged employees ment and training. are more productive and committed to their • Address conflicts promptly and foster a culture work. Monitor indicators such as enthusiasm, of trust and respect. motivation and job satisfaction within your • Re-evaluate workload distribution and seek team. If you notice a decline in engagement ways to alleviate stress. levels, try to identify the underlying causes • Encourage work-life balance and implement such as workload or lack of recognition, and flexible working arrangements. take steps to address them. • Foster a culture of learning from failures and - Trust and respect: Trust and respect are the embracing change. foundation of effective team leadership. Evalu- Effectively leading teams require constant ate the level of trust within your team by ob- evaluation and adjustment. “By monitoring these serving the dynamics and the way team mem- eight key indicators, you can assess your leader- bers interact. ship effectiveness and identify areas for improve- Encourage open and honest communication, ment. lead by example and foster a culture of mutual Remember, effective leadership is a continu- respect. Address any conflicts promptly and ous journey of growth and learning and with dedi- ensure fair treatment of all team members. cation and effort, you can enhance your leadership - Team collaboration: Effective leaders pro- skills and achieve remarkable results.” mote collaboration and teamwork. Determine whether your team members are working to- gether, sharing knowledge and leveraging each other’s strengths. Encourage cross-functional

Friday 23 June 2023 PERSONAL FINANCE/BUSINESS 7WEEKLY SA MIRROR ‘EMPLOYEES CAN MAKE OR BREAK CEOS’ By WSAM Correspondent INFLUENCE: Top bosses’ job New research from the University of Washing- security could hinge on keeping ton finds that Employee approval greatly influ- workers positively engaged ences whether a board of directors will retain or and appreciative of leadership, dismiss a chief executive officer. according a research study… This is according to a new research from the University of Washington, whose findings suggest that a CEO’s job security could hinge on keeping workers positively engaged and appreciative of leadership. Financial performance, analyst recommenda- tions and the level of CEO power within the organ- isation are among the most well-known predictive factors. But the study, recently published in Strate- gic Management Journal, shows that employee ap- proval also has an impact on this consequential de- cision made by boards of directors. Employees can offer an inside perspective on CEO performance, which was the premise behind the research. This was important because the workers were primar- ily responsible for implementing the organisation’s strategies. “The bottom line is, employees matter – both to CEO success and organisations,” said Bruce Avolio, co-author and professor of management in the UW Foster School of Business. “That’s a group of stakeholders that’s been underrepresented in strategic leadership research. Employee approval does have a significant impact on the most conse- quential decision a board can make — the invol- untary turnover and dismissal of the CEO. Based on our findings, you can predict, with some degree of accuracy, the risk of a CEO being dismissed. “ The authors gathered data from Glassdoor. com, an online platform where current and former employees can share information anonymously about their leaders and organisations. Their analy- sis revealed that employee approval or disapproval was predictive of a board’s dismissal decision. This was particularly true when the CEO had less power than the board, because powerful CEOs had more influence over decisions and become further en- trenched in their position. Employee opinion also carried more weight when a firm was performing well financially and had positive recommendations from security analysts. “If a firm is performing poorly, then you know there is a problem,” Avolio said. “But if they’re doing well, and your employees don’t value your leadership, something is going on that may not seem as obvious. There’s also been a lot of atten- tion in the news recently about the importance of employee sentiment and their well-being. Employ- ee morale has also been rising to the top in terms of the factors that can impact an organization’s success. Employee sentiment, just like consumers, is going to matter more and more. Leadership is going to have to pay attention.” Researchers used data from 338 firms and 1 252 firm-year observations between 2010 and 2018. To make sure reviews reflected an organi- sation’s current situation, the researchers analysed data only from current employees. And they used only the years — where Glassdoor.com had data — that had input from at least 60 employees. The researchers also dropped all years in which CEO succession occurred. Separately, via one-on-one interviews, re- searchers found that board members were paying attention to employees’ opinions. “I interviewed about 20 members of major boards,” Avolio said. “Almost all were certainly aware of social media. Many were aware of Glass- door, and a proportion of them said that they regu- larly get briefings on that kind of data.” When approval of a CEO was high, Avolio said it showed that employees were confident in their leadership and were supportive of their strategies. If a board removed that CEO, it could upset em- ployees and potentially hurt future organisational success. Conversely, low approval ratings sig- nalled employees weren’t confident in a CEO and were less likely to implement their strategies. In this case, replacing a CEO could help a firm regain employee confidence. “Employee satisfaction covers so many things, including the quality of management,” Avolio said. ““The most common source of stress for employ- ees, which is bad for you physically and mentally, is a bad supervisor. All of us have worked for peo- ple who kind of suck the energy out of units and organisations. I think there’s a real thing growing around the importance of health and well-being of employees tied to effective leadership and organi- zational performance.”

8 WEEKLY SA MIRROR OPINION/ANALYSIS Friday 23 June 2023 Comment CAMPAIGN TO EMPOWER BOYS WELCOME With the youth now being the most vulner- UKRAINIAN able group in the South African labour market due to the ever soaring unemployment rate, COUNTER-OFFENSIVE’S male teenagers have been identified as the most SECOND WEEK ENDS IN neglected with many unable to complete high school studies. FAILURE Efforts to stem the spiralling number of un- FLAWED ASSUMPTIONS: One of the many military can pay even the most rudimentary divi- employed youths should not only be the gov- tragedies of the ongoing Ukrainian-Russian conflict dends. For this reason, NATO will continue to pres- ernment’s responsibility. The private sector must is the fact that much of what Ukraine does on the sure Ukraine to double down on defeat, pressing the also join hands to help our future leaders. It is battlefield is dictated not by military necessity but Russians offensively even though any gains, if in therefore heartening that the challenge to help rather political imperative fact any can be had, would be pyrrhic in nature and our children has also received serious attention unsustainable over the long run. from South Africa’s former Deputy President, By Scott Ritter cient to the task of breaching the Russian obstacle Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka who has joined forc- As we enter the second week of Ukraine’s long- barriers in any meaningful manner, dooming the The reality is that when NATO gathers in Vil- es with the Nelson Mandela Children’s Fund and attacking forces to be destroyed piecemeal by Rus- nius on July 11, the Russians will be well into the Primestars in the launch last week of ‘’ What awaited and highly touted counteroffensive, some sian artillery and air strikes, as well as local coun- process of destroying the third Ukrainian army built About The Boys Campaign’’. basic conclusions can be drawn even though the terattacks mounted by Russian special forces. by NATO. The first was assembled during the buff- fighting continues, and will continue to rage, for er provided by the diplomatic “sham” of the Minsk The objective is to target male youths who some time to come. Besides the poor tactics and equipment defi- Accords, from 2015-2022. Some 260,000 strong, had been neglected for years due to a number ciencies (yes, the Leopard tanks and Bradley fight- this force was largely destroyed by June of 2022. of reasons that includes neglect, loss of parental First and foremost, the counteroffensive gambit ing vehicles were not the miracle weapons Ukraine The second army, consisting of some 80,000 newly guidance, poverty and abuse. Ngcuka a is pa- has failed. While there is still considerable combat and its Western supporters had hyped them up to trained and equipped Ukrainian soldiers backed by tron of this campaign. Her own institution, the strength left in the Ukrainian military, including be), the Ukrainians are paying the price for Rus- thousands of foreign mercenaries, the direct result Mlambo Foundation, would work with the two more than 75% of the NATO-trained and -equipped sia’s impressive suppression of enemy air defense of tens of billions of dollars of military aid pro- organizations to help the male teenagers realize 60,000-strong cohort Ukraine had assembled in (SEAD) campaign that has been ongoing for many vided by NATO, was able to launch the successful their dreams especially after research established the past eight months, fundamentally flawed as- weeks now. Ukrainian counterattack in the fall of 2022, before that boy-children were always lagging behind sumptions about the quality of the force on which being decimated in the positional war that followed the girls. Most boys were unable to finish school Ukraine and its NATO allies had placed their col- Russia has not only neutralized Ukraine’s abil- (including the Bakhmut slaughter). while girls were pushed to finish school and even lective hopes for victory over Russia have been ex- ity to defend strategic targets far beyond the front graduated at universities. posed. In short, Ukraine lacks the military capacity lines, but also to project any meaningful air defense NATO is politically committed to waging a to overcome Russian defenses. capability into the actual zone of conflict. This, proxy conflict with Russia “to the last Ukrainian.” The launch of the ‘’ What About The Boys combined with the lack of any viable air force, This tragic reality means that, regardless of the bat- Campaign’’ should therefore be welcomed. Male Ukraine’s most elite assault brigades, equipped leaves the attacking Ukrainian ground forces ex- tlefield reality that exists in Ukraine, NATO will teenagers are always vulnerable to violence and with the latest Western military technology, failed posed to the full weight of Russian air power. continue to push Ukraine to sacrifice its manpower other criminal activities including robberies and to advance out of what Russian defensive doctrine in a fruitless struggle against Russia for the simple rapes. They are also exposed to drug lords who calls the “cover” line of defense—the buffer that is One of the many tragedies of the ongoing fact that NATO is unwilling to willingly lose politi- lure them to these deadly products. These boys designed to channel and disrupt an attacking force Ukrainian-Russian conflict is the fact that much of cal face at home and abroad. end up being serious drug addicts and leaving prior to reaching the “main” line of defense. what Ukraine does on the battlefield is dictated not school before completion of matric. The conse- by military necessity, but rather political impera- In Vilnius, NATO will be confronted with the quences of these actions are that they start steal- Ukrainian casualties were extremely heavy, tive. The recently concluded months-long Battle reality of its impotency as a military alliance when ing even from their own homes so they can af- with Russia achieving a 10:1 kill ratio in terms of for Artemovsk (Bakhmut) is a case in point, where it comes to countering Russia in Ukraine. Any mili- ford to buy the drugs and they end up in jail. manpower, which is unsustainable from the Ukrain- Ukrainian President Zelensky insisted on pouring tary analyst of any competence will know that, as ian perspective. The reasons for the Ukrainian fail- manpower and equipment into a battle for a town things currently stand, Ukraine simply cannot pre- The newly- launched campaign should be ure are fundamental in nature, meaning that they that most military experts believed to hold minimal vail over Russia. embraced by government, business and mem- cannot be overcome as things currently stand and, strategic military value. The geography, however, bers of society in an effort to protect our young as such, the Ukrainian military has zero chance of did not dictate the scope and scale of the battle, but NATO illusions of a “frozen conflict” that seem boys from becoming hobos instead of future success, no matter how hard they press subsequent rather the perception of Ukrainian defensive tenac- to drive their insane desire to arm Ukraine to infin- leaders of our communities. With the youth un- attacks. ity, and as a result between 60-75.000 Ukrainian ity and beyond, moreover, are driven by fundamen- employment rate having reached almost 45 per- soldiers lost their lives in what was a losing effort. tally flawed assessments regarding Russian eco- cent in the first quarter of this year, this is now First and foremost is the quality of the Russian nomic competence and capacity, Russian military the time for all responsible members of society defenses, especially in terms of the barrier network Similarly, the Ukrainian army is being asked proficiency, and the will of the Russian people to to work together to resolve this crisis. Failure (minefields, obstacles, and trenches) which, when to make what amounts to a suicide attack against sustain this conflict. to resolve this calamity will spell doom for the combined with the tenacity of the Russian defender well-prepared Russian defenses under conditions country and its future generation. and the overwhelming superiority Russia enjoys which, as detailed earlier, can only result in a deci- This short-sighted posture will result in the in terms of fire support (both artillery and air-de- sive Ukrainian defeat. inevitable military collapse of Ukraine, probably The dawn of democracy in this country in livered), is the reason the Ukrainians are unable to sometime between late summer/early fall of this 1994 was expected to relieve Black people from advance beyond the “cover” layer of the Russian This time, the culprit is Ukraine’s NATO allies year. When this happens, NATO will be left scram- the shackles of apartheid and for the Black child defenses. who, on the eve of their annual summit, are desper- bling to construct some sort of face-saving mecha- to at last be able to acquire the best education ate for any sign that the multi-billion-dollar invest- nism to salvage its weakened geopolitical position which they were denied by the apartheid regime. Ukrainian equipment and tactics are insuffi- ment they have collectively made in the Ukrainian vis-à-vis Russia. It is unfortunate that some of those who were elected into power failed to seize this opportu- What that will look like is unknown at this time. nity. Instead they resorted to looting State coffers But one thing is for certain—because NATO refuses meant to improve the lives of those who suffered to consider an off-ramp from the Ukrainian conflict so much at the hands of the Nationalist govern- today, there will be no future for Ukraine tomor- ment. row. NATO political pride will be the downfall and destruction of the Ukrainian nation, its military, and The drive to empower our boys should be its people. supported as it is also a good move to build a re- Originally published: Internationalist 360° on sponsible nation of good leaders and not morons. June 17, 2023 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] MIRRORWEEKLY SA Insight to connect the dots... Weekly SA Mirror subscribes to the Press Code of Ethics and Conduct for South Af- rican Print and Online Media. As a sub- scriber 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 complaints pro- cedures.

Friday 23 June 2023 OPINION/ANALYSIS 9WEEKLY SA MIRROR AFRICA – THE CHALLENGE TO SECURE ADEQUATE FOOD SUPPLIES STAPLE: A holistic approach to addressing food security on the continent imperative… By Ansa Heyl nomic and climatic factors to ensure food security rice productivity and the capacity of the model they necessity of adopting a holistic approach to model- The African continent faces a multitude of chal- and resilience in Africa. used to account for management adaptations. The ling future food systems, especially with a view on lenges, and food security is among the most shift observed from rainfed to irrigated systems un- meeting the targets of the Sustainable Development pressing. New research by an international team “We wanted to explore how African rice pro- der climate change indicates that shifting to irriga- Goals (SDGs) - in particular SDG 2, which is about of researchers sheds light on the challenges and duction and consumption dynamics will develop tion is an efficient adaptation strategy. creating a world free of hunger by 2030. opportunities facing the African continent in se- under future socioeconomic and climatic futures curing sufficient food supplies with a particular when also considering year-to-year effects and the The researchers caution against relying solely They highlight the importance of integrating focus on rice. strong import-dependency of the continent. Al- on rice self-sufficiency measures as a robust so- socioeconomic developments and climatic chang- though we restricted ourselves to rice, this frame- lution to enhance resilience against consumption es within the context of global change, and urge Africa has seen a significant increase in the work could also be applied in different contexts,” shocks. The persistence of local climatic anomalies policymakers and stakeholders to consider these consumption of rice as a staple food. The demand explains study lead author Koen De Vos, a guest makes it imperative to diversify supply sources and insights to inform future assessments and policy- for rice has – in fact – experienced a fourfold in- researcher in the IIASA Biodiversity and Natural improve storage capacities. Moreover, the authors making efforts. crease, rising from approximately 10 million met- Resources Program who is also associated with the advocate for agricultural development, emphasiz- * The article is sourced from the International ric tons (Mt) to 40 Mt between 1990 and 2018. This University of Leuven (KU Leuven) in Belgium. ing the efficiency of shifting from rainfed to irrigat- surge in demand can be attributed to rapid popula- ed systems to enhance resilience to climate change Institute for Applied Systems Analysis (IIA- tion growth and changes in dietary preferences. “Apart from our results, it is particularly the and climatic shocks such as droughts. However, SA), of which Heyl is their communications. methodology we used that is novel. Our study pre- this transformation must be undertaken sustainably The scientific institute conducts research into Despite some progress in improving yields, sents an innovative methodological framework that and accompanied by improved access to credit and the critical issues of global environmental, Africa’s rice production has not kept pace with allows for the assessment of consumer responses water resources. economic, technological, and social change the rising demand, leading to a growing reliance to year-to-year climatic anomalies, including those that we face in the twenty-first century. on imports for meeting the continent’s rice needs. occurring in providing regions,” adds IIASA Bio- In conclusion, the researchers emphasize the Consequently, African nations have been adopt- diversity and Natural Resources Program Director, ing rice self-sufficiency policies and development Petr Havlík, one of the study’s coauthors. strategies to mitigate related vulnerabilities. The results show that socioeconomic develop- While there is a general agreement that an in- ments have a more substantial influence on rice crease in extreme weather events or climatic anom- availability in Africa compared to gradual climate alies is a much bigger threat to future food security change. However, climatic anomalies pose a sig- than gradual climate changes, the majority of stud- nificant threat to the stability of rice consumption. ies to date have focused on the latter. This hinders Consumer responses to anomalies are of much their utility in policymaking and does not provide a larger magnitude than those to gradual changes. full picture of the issues at stake. For instance, in the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) region, gradual climate Meanwhile, the vulnerability of Africa to local change leads to a maximum 2 percent increase or external supply shocks – and how this is chal- in rice prices, while negative climatic anomalies lenged in the future is rarely mapped out, even could result in price increases of up to 30 percent. though this has been detrimental in the past. In addition, the findings indicate that rainfed To address these issues, researchers developed production systems are more vulnerable to climatic a unique modelling framework that allows a con- anomalies than irrigated production systems, and sistent way to analyse the effects of gradual climate that regions relying on self-production are not im- change and the corresponding year-to-year anoma- mune to consumption shocks, as they are more sus- lies on future rice consumption, thereby account- ceptible to local climatic variations. Conversely, ing for the specific import-dependent context of the regions dependent on imports are vulnerable to African continent, where climatic anomalies are foreign climate variability. also propagated through trade. The resulting study, published in Nature Food today, unveiled critical The research also revealed unexpected results, insights into the future of the African rice system as the minor effects of gradual climate change and the challenges it faces, highlighting the urgent were initially surprising. However, the researchers need for robust policies that consider socioeco- explain that these findings can likely be attributed to CO2 fertilisation offsetting negative effects on ?Just CAN WE KEEP UP WITH THE PACE Thinking OF TECHNOLOGICAL CHANGE? CONUNDRUM: Technology must support human agency, not replace it… via digital tools – efficiency, convenience and su- perior pattern recognition, data storage, and search- By S’phiwe Motha powerful – thanks to developments in machine operations are all dependent upon networked AI of and-find capabilities. We need to be aware of the fact that autono- learning and natural language processing and ad- one type or another. vances in materials science, networking, energy- The impact of AI in our lives - whether AI will mous systems can reduce or eliminate the need for storage and hardware capabilities. In all of this one big question remains: what make our lives better depends on how it is imple- human involvement in some tasks. is the future of humans in an age of accelerating mented. Many current AI systems (including adap- ANI is machine intelligence that equals or technological change? tive content-presentation systems and so-called Today’s ever-advancing artificial narrow intel- exceeds people’s abilities or efficiency at a spe- recommender systems) try to avoid information ligence (ANI) tools – for instance, search engines cific task. For years, code-based tools in robots and Many experts in this canvassing said that as AI and choice overload by replacing our decision- and digital “agents” such as Siri are not close to other systems have performed repetitive tasks like advances human autonomy and agency are at risk. making processes with algorithmic predictions. reaching the goal of human-like artificial general factory-floor assembly activities. They note that decision-making on key aspects of intelligence (AGI). life is ceded to code-driven tools. Individuals who True empowerment will come from these Today, these tools are quickly evolving to mas- function in this digital world sacrifice, to varying systems supporting rather than replacing our de- They are, however, continually becoming more ter human traits such as reason, logic, learning, degrees, their independence, right to privacy and cision-making practices. This is the only way we task-performance and creativity. Today’s smart, power over choice. can overcome choice/information overload and at networked, software-equipped devices, cars, digital the same time avoid so-called ‘filter bubbles.’ For assistants and platforms, such as Google search and Many of the experts who worry about this say example, Facebook’s current post ranking systems Facebook social mapping, accomplish extremely humans accede to this in order to stay competi- will eventually turn us all into cat video watching complex tasks. The systems underpinning today’s tive, to participate socially and professionally in zombies, because they follow our behavioural pat- global financial markets, businesses, militaries, the world, to be entertained and to get things done. terns, which may not be aligned with our prefer- police forces, and medical, energy and industrial They say people hand over some control of their ences. The algorithms behind these tools need to lives because of the perceived advantages they gain support human agency, not replace it. It is up to us how we utilise AI, as it can have a negative and positive impact on our lives. *Motha is the manager of Bop Radio

10 WEEKLY SA MIRROR BOOK REVIEWS Friday 23 June 2023 MANDELA’S BLACK MARXISM RESISTANCE: Nelson Mandela is deified On that last point, I was dela and his comrades looked to for inspiration in everywhere. But typically missing is an account these early days? of his early years, when he insisted that Marxism surprised to read about be responsive to South African conditions. In PSL: In the 1940s and 50s, Mandela’s sen- the following question-and-answer interview the role that MI6 played iors in the ANC had organised connections to researcher and writer Chris Webb interviews Caribbean and American Black leaders—these author the book Spear, Paul S Landau… in Botswana, essentially were cut off by government in the 1960s. In the turn to organised violent resistance, Man- By Chris Webb Youth League days to becoming a high-ranking helping to organize dela was following the lead of Lenin, Mao, member of the Communist Party. He challenges Che, Castro, and to some extent, the Irgun, the In the extensive mythologising of Nelson Man- the non-violent principles of then ANC-president passage for many Jewish extremist resistance against the British dela’s life, we frequently encounter a flattened po- Albert Lutuli, undergoes military training in Ethio- in Palestine. The immediate example of Ma- litical figure without nuance or contradiction. In a pia, and seeks aid from the Soviet Union and Chi- revolutionaries to leave laysia, the Philippines, Cuba, and especially memorial following his death, then US President na. What emerges is the complexity of Mandela’s China occupied Mandela’s attention as a reader Barack Obama described him as an heir to Gandhi thought, his insistence that Marxism be responsive the country and be of revolutionary writings. China’s influence and Abraham Lincoln, a figure who defeated apart- to South African conditions, and his shrewd organi- came through early leaders’ training in China, heid through moral courage alone. Then there is zational skills. trained abroad in China and Mandela’s (and Moses Kotane’s and OR the Mandela of T-shirts and television specials, the Tambo’s) interest in rural rebellion. At the smiling grandfather, the Mandela of reconciliation Landau engages in a careful reconstruction, or the Soviet Bloc. same time, the Pan Africanist Congress (PAC) and compromise. piecing together Mandela’s readings, debates, anti-apartheid fighters paid attention to Congo movements, and friendships during this period. It is At the same time, Don and the rise of Patrice Lumumba and looked to These interpretations serve a variety of politi- rich in detail, at times almost dizzying, yet provides Ghana’s pan-African leadership. The point is to cal purposes, but they all neglect the fact that Man- a sense of what was at stake in a period when revo- Rickard, the CIA’s man recognise that Mandela operated at the conflu- dela’s intellectual and political development un- lution seemed possible. ence of local understandings and internation- derwent a series of transformations over the course in Durban, admitted to ally espoused revolutionary practices. of his life. In Paul S Landau’s latest book, Spear: CHRIS WEBB (CW): I wanted to start by ask- CW: Many of the historical accounts of MK sug- Mandela and the Revolutionaries, we encounter ing you about the photo on the cover of your tipping off the police gest it was either the creation of the South African an altogether different Mandela, one who is very book. Taken in Ethiopia in 1962, we see a young, Communist Party or a result of the ANC’s retreat much made by the company he keeps, the places he bearded Mandela flanked by two individuals, one leading to Mandela’s underground and rejection of non-violence. Can travels, and the books he reads. This is the Mandela of them wearing a military officer’s uniform. Can you tell us how your book complicates these con- of the anti-colonial era, preoccupied with military you provide some of the context for this photo. arrest. How can we ventional readings? Where did the decision to en- strategy, who makes marginal notes on Mao, and Who are the two men in this photo and what was gage in violent resistance come from? who debates the success of the Cuban revolution Mandela doing in Ethiopia? understand the complex, PSL: The shift in the movement toward vio- with his comrades. lence came on two fronts. First, many young PAUL S LANDAU: The USA and world edi- and at times seemingly people wished to fight the apartheid govern- Spear covers the period, roughly, from the tion cover shows Mandela beside Tadesse Biru ment, full stop. This fed instances of public vio- Sharpeville massacre of 1960 to the Rivonia trial of and Fekadu Wondemu, two members of the contradictory, roles of lence, and Mandela recognised the dangers of 1963-1964. It marks a critical period in the history Ethiopian emperor’s special guard unit called unorganised violence. Whenever he, or Walter of the anti-apartheid movement, as state repres- the Fetno Derash. Tadesse was the superior of- intelligence services Sisulu, toured the country in secret, they can- sion intensifies and as the space for aboveground ficer and they had both received special mili- vased youth. A similar push was responsible for political opposition diminishes. It tells the story of tary training in Israel. His son, Musie Tadesse, during this time? the early formation of Poqo units in and around how Mandela, alongside other activists in the ANC works in Washington DC as the managing the PAC, and that also accelerated Mandela’s and Communist Party, sought to channel popular doorman and receptionist in a big Washington represent one pole of revolutionary logic to thinking. The second front came out of initial anger into organized violence against the apartheid DC apartment building lobby. He showed me Mandela, if you will. They were part of a sur- discussions among men in jail in Johannesburg state, and in doing so perhaps create the possibili- the original photograph. These men are with viving 18th-19th century African empire reso- and elsewhere during the early “state of emer- ties for revolution. This is a period of significant Mandela because they trained him for over nant of African heritage and power, with roots gency” declared by [Hendrik] Verwoerd after personal and political turbulence in Mandela’s life. three weeks in military basics, including weap- in ancient Aksum. the 1960 Sharpeville killings. They decided He moves from the anti-communism of his ANC- onry, in 1962, and they became friends. They The South African cover is different, and shows they no longer wanted to limit the ANC and Mandela in an undated, unprovenanced pho- SACP to non-violence. Their discussions did tograph. It is from Morocco from January or not contain details, but they informed Man- February or March 1962. I made inquiries in dela’s organisation of MK, and his role in the Algeria, but it can only roughly be dated. Man- ANC “Action Group.” dela is looking up from some papers with two But an important thing Spear explores is how unnamed Algerians, likely Front de Libération the PAC’s Poqo and MK (then from 1962 Nationale (FLN) or Armée de libération nation- ANC-MK) influenced and modelled one an- ale (the FLN’s military wing) officials. Right other. Historians have treated their trajectories behind Mandela’s left shoulder is Jacques Ver- as separate and distinct even though some of gés, the famous French-Thai lawyer who later defended Carlos “the Jackal.” CONTINUED TO PAGE 11 CW: Your book does an incredible job of situat- ing the emergence of MK within the broader cur- rents of anti-colonial struggle that characterised the early 1960s. Could you describe where Man-

Friday 23 June 2023 BOOK REVIEWS 11WEEKLY SA MIRROR their protagonists knew one another and even tion, too. The second centre was in Dar-es-Sa- speak to Chief Albert Luthuli, president of the figureheads but aren’t taken seriously as political worked with each other and had similar origi- laam, where Julius Nyerere had a looser vision ANC, about this. The whole underground ANC thinkers and strategists. What method does the nal affiliations. So, I would say, the abstraction of confederate or community order. Mandela was to be made part of immediate revolution- book employ to try and address this? of a very particular ANC and MK history, that attended a Pan African Freedom Movement of ary activity, Black and class liberation. is what I’d like to open up to doubt. Eastern and Central Africa (a precursor to the No coincidence perhaps that around this time, PSL: It’s based overwhelmingly (but not ex- CW: I was struck by how this turn to violence AU) in Addis Ababa with OR Tambo. It was at the local CIA man fingered Mandela to the clusively) on the remembrances, in interviews had such a transformative impact on those in- this point, when Mandela returned from abroad Special Branch cops. transcribed, edited into books, or (sometimes) volved—even as it didn’t have much of a material in 1962, that we see his revolutionary national- CW: On that last point, I was surprised to read in raw audio, with Black men and women in- impact on the apartheid economy. How were acts ism, influenced by Castro for one, but also by about the role that MI6 played in Botswana, es- volved in MK from 1960–1963. I had to fight of sabotage understood in the broader context of world African and Black anti-colonialism. sentially helping to organize passage for many against the grain of archival and source avail- the struggle? Were they seen as weakening apart- Why did a possibly transformative unity fail? revolutionaries to leave the country and be ability, because it is mostly white leaders and heid’s infrastructure, or were they symbolic acts We do not have a lot of real evidence to put in trained abroad in China or the Soviet Bloc. At comrades who have left telling, personal, con- that would spark greater resistance? between two covers. I would suggest that the the same time, Don Rickard, the CIA’s man in fessional memoirs, or attracted admiring and PSL: That is a question I struggled with. The CIA’s archives and the SIS (British MI6 intel- Durban, admitted to tipping off the police leading yet penetrating biographers. But there are audio meaning of downing a pylon was smeared ligence) cables be fully investigated, first, be- to Mandela’s arrest. How can we understand the and transcribed records, left by my colleagues, across the representational and the transforma- cause the full story of who was compromised complex, and at times seemingly contradictory, whom I thank (and got permissions from), and tive (as an action), in unpredictable ways. One and when in the PAC ranks (and the ANC’s) roles of intelligence services during this time? they are in no way responsible for what I make could point to the effect, if effective, or the has not (in my opinion) been fully illuminated. PSL: Perfidious Albion, on one level. But, on of their interviews or mistakes I make. But that noise and momentary inconvenience as a sign, But surely Mandela’s capture was a real blow. another, in the retiring colonial service at this is what allowed me to get to know many of the if ineffective. This bifurcation of standards, And the use of torture and isolation cells broke intersection were a lot of strangely somewhat protagonists around Mandela. where two emphases could tag-team, ensured a lot of MK just as unity would have needed sympathetic and interesting persons. It is un- that for every delay or underwhelming action, a boost. popular to say this, no doubt. But if you were But there is a certain discourse: The real com- the suffering through striving in any form was CW: Mandela was a member of the Communist devoted to the tenor of the times and were part munists are imagined to be the white ones, which still valourised. It won’t do to understand MK Party, but he was hardly an orthodox Marxist; He of the imperial edifice, and looked at the state- is and was wrongheaded. Now, true, there was no as entirely a strategic operation with a fixed wasn’t following a party line from Moscow. What ments of the Labour Party and saw the Union more stable a party member than “Rusty” Bern- political target. Mandela understood that the sort of a communist was Mandela and how was Jacks coming down, and understood your func- stein, for instance, a relatively unknown Jewish state would respond in such a fashion that only his Marxism refracted through South African tion as working toward that end, well… But in British-born South African, and no more critical a escalation into new forms of chaos were pos- conditions? the end, times were changing, and new con- lynchpin in MK, than Jack Hodgson, a former for- sible. He well understood the future trajectory PSL: For Mandela, the ongoing tension in nections were being made. One finds the Fetno tune-hunting machinery operator in central African in which armed actions initiated further disrup- communist thinking was this: between want- Derash and the Irgun model side by side with a mining. But Edwin Mofutsanyana, Yusuf Dadoo, tion, and in which ordinary civilian life was to ing to follow the “people,” and wanting, or long-term Maoist focus in MK, securing some Moses Kotane, and others broke that barrier. From be impaired. needing, to lead the “people” when violence Soviet money, but with British SIS-funded bor- 1955, Duma Nokwe, Joe Matthews, Walter Sisulu, But what was being explored at the time was loomed. Mandela was interested operationally der intelligence abetting them. Everything was and Nelson Mandela among other African ANC something that could not (as it turned out) be in durable chains of command resilient to dis- in motion. members were also all inside the SACP. The transi- in South Africa, an urban and rural simultane- ruption. He and a small committee would be It was different for the CIA. They may have tion in the Party was that the old guard was moved ity using weapons and explosives and snipers, in charge, because no above-board democratic had a narrower view. As you say, CIA man Don to accept revolutionary strategic action, first in leading to the establishment of several simulta- process was possible, in their organisation, Rickard said he did it, and then told John Irvin’s Mandela’s participation in Alfred Xuma’s removal neous liberated centres, including in Johannes- given state repression. film crew and James Sanders, “I did it,” again. as ANC president, and then later, in the decision to burg, in which, under a Unity Front, MK would But I think Mandela was also a communist in I’m also aware of someone who told Rickard change tactics and use violence. offer safe harbour to fighters. This however that he espoused recognition of contradictions that Mandela was at the soiree he attended be- came apart under pressure just as aspects were that could not be resolved, except by challeng- fore being arrested, but I’ve buried that name *The author and interviewee, Paul S Landau, is begun, and it fractured along different lines in ing production and distribution in their existing because no intel is foolproof and there is no a professor of history at the University of Mary- different parts of South Africa. forms. So, the interest in the vast spaces of the point making a person or family a target. land, College Park, and a fellow of the History CW: I want to ask about how this period of in- African and farm-labour tenantry countryside CW: I want to ask about method. You write Centre of the University of Johannesburg. The tense political activity shaped and reshaped Man- as areas of organisation was real. Second, there that many books both on Mandela and this pe- Interviewer, Chris Webb, is a South African writer dela’s political thinking. He was schooled in the is a connection to surviving traditional (but riod “adopt a perspective of world Whiteness,” and researcher based in Toronto. He is writing a radical program of the ANC-Youth League in transformed) chiefly structures, some of which in which Mandela, Sisulu, Tambo and others are book on the meaning and practice of solidarity in the previous decade, but his thinking around Mandela well-knew were on the ANC’s side. the Canadian anti-apartheid movement Pan Africanism, communism, and non-racialism But none of that was done, and the urban side goes through some mutations during the period of spatial liberation was premised entirely on you cover in the book. Could you describe these secrecy. changes and their influence? CW: I wanted to ask about the influence of what PSL: Mandela was a rather high-born fellow, you call “Black Marxism” on the SACP. How educated and worldly, who emerged as a leader did figures like JB Marks, Moses Kotane, Dan from within the core Youth League in Johan- Tloome, Nelson Mandela and Walter Sisulu nesburg. The principle of African leadership of shape the political and theoretical orientation of African organisations is something Mandela the party during this period? cherished. From his first experiences as a law- PSL: One vein of Black Marxism is in the yer, Mandela had white friends, and sought out self-narration of the movement; the ideology of urban, non-provincial interactions with people anti-apartheid being explicitly tied to a project of all races. Everyone around him was join- of revealing British complicity and other capi- ing the illegal South African Communist Party talist mechanisms in the long dispossession of (SACP), and when he did so, almost certainly Africans from the land. But there was also the in 1955, he carried with him the reputation of intersection between global Black thinkers and being the leading activist leader of the ANC. At activists, instantiated by great Caribbean lead- the same time, Mandela and his close comrades ers and thinkers and communist parties, which sought out world pan-Africanists and worked is Black Marxism, and Mandela found himself very hard to achieve a united front with the within these currents. PAC—something that failed to materialise. As to the second part of the question, in Spear,I In 1962, after seven years, Mandela counte- spend time sketching out biographies just brief- nanced a total end of SACP activity per se, for ly enough to allow the reader to know many of MK and the ANC, such that after that—not these men and women, Sisulu, Marks, Moses entirely successfully, especially as the Party Kotane, Dan Tloome, and lesser-known peo- was unimpeded in London—Moses Kotane ple who were in fact quite important. These pursued a zero-party policy for all MK camps. and dozens of other men and women populate My suggestion, in Spear, is that this demotion Spear because they were the colleagues in lead- of the Party was the prelude to a renewed effort ership and some in middling positions around to ignite a South African Unity Front (SAUF) Mandela without which nothing would have with other organisations, including the remains happened. There is, in the book trade more of the PAC in South Africa and abroad. The generally, a lack of toleration with naming a popularity and persistence of the PAC-Poqo, as lot of Black people interacting with each other. an interlocutor with the ANC-MK and a target So, in a sense, it’s partly to restore Mandela’s for making a functioning unity coalition in ’62, affiliation to a Black liberationist project with is an argument of the book. others, that I use the term “Black Marxist.” CW: I think many people associate United Fronts That being said, he walked a narrow path, and with the United Democratic Front of the 1980s. had to dodge around a lot to keep the focus on Could you talk a bit about this idea for a South building a vanguard military force, his plan; African United Front (SAUF) of the 1960s, where building a broad coalition among ANC and it came from and why it failed at this juncture? PAC, seeking anonymity sometimes and not PSL: From a foreign point of view, there others, cooperating, if with doubts, toward pre- should only be one African liberationist or- senting a united front (SAUF or otherwise) out- ganisation, and subsidiaries, in one country. side and potentially within South Africa. Kwame Nkrumah ran a special fund for libera- Mandela wanted to operate in a durable chain tion movements and kept funds for the initial of command at first without tapping the re- iteration of SAUF abroad, involving the ANC, organised, residentially based ANC. His last PAC, a Namibian organisation, and repeatedly move came in July 1962, when he demoted brought ANC and PAC representatives togeth- the Communist Party after conversations with er. A real unity would entail internal coopera- his peers (I found this document) and went to

12 WEEKLY SA MIRROR BOOKS REVIEW Friday 23 June 2023 WINNIE & NELSON – PORTRAIT OF TEMPESTUOUS MARRIAGE BESOTTED: Intimate tracks of romantic sparks If your man is a wizard, middle of the street by a buoyant and barefooted between South Africa’s foremost struggle couple… you must become Winnie who had been watering the garden! They a witch! hadn’t seen each other for five months! By Jacob Mawela for Native Girls by being the only resident to ap- Steinberg’s extensively researched book also The title of two-times Sunday Times Alan Pa- “Such an intimidating and seductive beauty pear in the Bantu World newspaper, not once but touches on Nelson Mandela’s own flirtations – a ton Award recipient, author Jonny Steinberg’s does not go with a revolutionary!” a comrade, twice in a given year! side of South Africa’s future president which put most recent tome, Winnie & Nelson: Portrait of Moses Kotane, once remarked to Mandela upon paid to his first marriage. “Nelly was a ladies’ man”, a Marriage, might mislead the reader to be of beholding Winnie. The content recounts a couple The duo attending Sunday lunches at Joe Slo- associates from the mid-1950s pointed out. In one the impression that it is solely about the relation- being the toast of both Black, White, Jewish and vo and Ruth First’s Whites-only suburban home, incident, an ANC colleague, described as being a ship between the late South African revolution- Indian society. Mandela, not only standing out by where a Black man would be seen nonchalantly famously beautiful widow, who had earned the ire aries, Winifred Madikizela and Nelson Mandela virtue of being one of a few practising Black at- laying alongside a White girl poolside –defying of Mandela, retaliated, “How can I be against Mr – when actually it goes beyond their union in its torneys at the time – but also by his bespoke and a apartheid’s verboten statutes. Mandela when he left his hat in my house?” quest to shed new light about the lives of the uni- certain two-tone Oldsmobile car he owned. versally acclaimed couple. Another canvas depicts dances at the Bantu At times, he would be seen paying Winnie, the For her part, Madikizela, was renowned for be- Men’s Social Centre with Nelson waxing poetically impressionable social worker, visits at Baragwa- In keeping with the hint in the title, I decided to ing so fashion-conscious that she’d be seen with about Winnie convulsing her body with a Hawaiian nath hospital whilst still married to Evelyn Mase, glean salient excerpts from the book that resonate fashion magazines from which she adopted the dance whilst he stood ready to embrace her. Dates the devout Jehovah’s Witness who happened to be with romantic episodes from their courtship, inter- trending styles of the era. In fact, Winnie made at the Donaldson Orlando Community Centre, a nurse at the same institution. rupted marriage and mutual sacrifice toward reliev- waves amongst her peers at the Helping Hand Club where she watched him punching a bag and skip- ing South Africans of varying hues from the yoke ping and doing push-ups. Ye Gods, even ANC Women’s League leader of grand apartheid. Lillian Ngoyi didn’t escape his attention – an inti- Other vignettes describe a name-dropping life- mation the author alluded to Mandela’s authorised Picture the scenario of two vehicles belonging style embellished by the frequenting of prominent biographer! So much so that fellow activist, Helen to vying suitors spotted parked on opposite ends of venues such as the Odin and Harlem cinemas in So- Joseph wondered in her memoir why the two didn’t a female hostel and a young ‘beautiful, flirtatious phiatown – as well as the place’s vibrant jazz scene; end up marrying! When his union with Mase be- woman’ jumping out of the other and immediately awareness of magazine page models ranging from came untenable, Mandela decided to pool his lot dashing across to jump into another! the American dimple-cheeked beauty, Lena Horne with Madikizela –much to the chagrin of her dad, to Black South Africa’s own celebrity, Dolly Rath- Columbus, who, at their wedding intoned: “If your A pre-revolutionary and verily unmarried Win- ebe, et cetera! man is a wizard, you must become a witch!” nie Madikizela would attend to the besotted whims of two rivals, namely, Barney Sampson – described Their romantic destiny, let alone the political An urbane patriarch protective of his prog- as stylish and good-looking – and the then wom- one, had sparked one rainy afternoon in March eny, the elderly headmaster’s misgiving about his anising and pioneering lawyer, Nelson Mandela. 1957 when Mandela’s law practice partner, Oliver daughter’s choice stemmed from her marrying a ‘Twas the 1950s and both future husband and wife Tambo, spotted him inside a roadside delicatessen man already married to the struggle. had arrived in Johannesburg from the rural Transkei whilst giving his fiancée, Adelaide Tshukudu, and to stake their respective claims to professional ca- Winnie a ride back home from work. Introducing Featuring a monochromatic image depicting reers during an era when Blacks were deliberately the shy young lady from Bizana, Tambo exclaimed the post-1990 re-united couple snuggling to each relegated to menial roles in society by the prevail- to Nelson, “Don’t you know Winnie?” “She is al- other pending a social event, the book also includes ing apartheid bureaucracy! ways dancing up and down the newspapers.” another showing Winnie in the beauty of her youth during a ball at the Jan Hofmeyr School of Social Sampson was to later attempt suicide from Fifteen months after that rendezvous, they got Work, in which she is wearing a white dress com- the heartbreak of losing Winnie to Nelson and married, with their union interrupted by spells in plemented by a ring of pearls around her neck. She the Thembu aristocrat ultimately claimed her as prison by either of them. A scene describes how appears majestically photogenic, as if in keeping his wife! In Steinberg’s account, Mandela comes Nelson once footed it home to Orlando West upon with her stated intention of, “I had to become a city across as having been tolerant of Madikizela’s being released from a jail stint – to be met in the girl, acquire glamour!” flirtatious conduct during their courtship – which extended to his being conscious of the presence of Offered a prominent figure of Winnie’s gen- rivals competing for her affection. eration, “If a woman was ambitious, you look for somebody powerful, you choose a man like Man- dela.” Winnie & Nelson: Portrait of a Marriage, is published in South Africa by Jonathan Ball Pub- lishers and is available at leading bookstores coun- trywide. NEW BOOK MARKS 10th ANNIVERSARY OF POPE’S PONTIFICATE By ACI Africa FAITH: Walking with Pope Francis - The Official be found in all PPA bookshops in Kenya, Tanza- Documents in Everyday Language focuses on nia, Uganda, Zambia, Malawi, South Sudan, and Readers of the newly co-published book, “Walk- themes that dominate Pope Francis’ teachings in Sudan. It can also be purchased online from paul- ing with Pope Francis - The Official Documents the last 10 years… inesafrica.org. in Everyday Language”, do not require a back- ground in theology or Church teachings to un- “love in the family”, the March 2018 Gaudete et for the African audience. derstand its content, Catholic nun and author Exsultate on the “call to holiness in today’s world”, “His request was timely because it fell under Sister Mary Wangui Mutahi has said. Christus Vivit on Christ who is alive, and the Feb- ruary 2020 Querida Amazonia that was addressed our priorities at that time, to publish the writings In an interview with ACI Africa about the 216- to the people of God in the Amazon region, and all of Pope Francis as we mark the tenth anniversary page book that was first published by Orbis Books, persons of goodwill. of his pontificate,” Sister Wangui said about Father Sister WanguI said: “The book is suitable for all Kroeger, a long-time professor of Mission The- categories of people even those without basic foun- The author, who holds a doctorate in Missiol- ology at the Loyola School of Theology and the dation in theology and teachings of the Church,” ogy from Rome, synthesises two Apostolic Let- Jesuits’ East Asian Pastoral Institute in Manila, the she added about the book published to mark the ters, which include the April 2015 Misericordiae Philippines. 10th anniversary of the Pontificate of Pope Francis Vultus that declared an extraordinary jubilee year as “a helpful and reader-friendly digest of 10 of his of mercy to commemorate the 15th anniversary of She said the co-published book offers “a quick most important documents”. the closing of the Second Vatican Council, and the reference for one who would like to know what June 2022 Desiderio Desideravi on the “Liturgical Pope Francis says about a certain topic since it in- The Kenyan-born member of the Pious Society formation of the people of God”. cludes both the major topics and sub-topics found of the Daughters of St Paul (FSP) said that in syn- in each of these documents.” thesising the 10 Papal documents, the book focuses In the June 15 interview, Sister Wangui re- on the themes that dominate the teachings of Pope called the initial stages of the book, saying Father “Reading this book also arouses in one the de- Francis in the last 10 years, and include faith, joy, Kroeger, who had published the book with US- sire to read more on the writings of the Pope,” the mercy, care for the environment, love, fraternity, based Orbis Books, requested that it be republished native of Kenya’s Nyeri Archdiocese said. the liturgy, and refugees and migrants, among other themes. Going for US$10 (about R180),the book can Sister Wangui explains five Apostolic Exhor- tations, including the November 2013 Evangelii Gaudium on the “proclamation of the Gospel in today’s world”, the March 2016 Amoris Laetitia on

Friday 23 June 2023 HEALTH 13WEEKLY SA MIRROR FEWER MEALS MAY PREVENT TYPE 2 DIABETES,OBESITY TIME-RESTRICTED EATING: This type of fasting means having regular but fewer meals, cutting out late-night snacks and not eating for 12 to 14 hours By WSAM Reporter the body’s insulin receptors. That leads to insulin for healthy fats and protein, like eggs, and avoid the snacks became popular decades ago, and it’s a hard resistance and often Type 2 diabetes. sugar-filled breakfast cereals and pastries. pattern to break. “But our gut-brain signaling is not When intermittent fasting became all the rage designed for this type of eating,” Czaja said. among Hollywood celebrities, skeptics balked at “That’s why it’s so hard to lose body fat,” Czaja Although time-restricted eating appeared to the idea of skipping meals. But new research from said. “We are not giving our bodies a chance to use improve health, the researchers found that other The researchers caution that eating is not a one the University of Georgia suggests the celebs might it. Having fewer meals a day will allow these fat types of restricted eating, such as fasting for days size fits all situation. Smaller, less active people not have been that far off. deposits to be used as an energy source rather than on end, provided few benefits. Regular but fewer need fewer calories on average than taller athletes, the sugar we keep consuming.” meals can stave off obesity and metabolic disorders for example. So for some, one meal of nutrient-rich The review found that a specific type of re- food might be another while others may need more. stricted eating may reduce the chances of devel- Modern eating approach disrupts body’s bio- More than four in 10 Americans are clinically oping Type 2 diabetes and improve your overall logical clock. obese, meaning their weight is higher than what is But one thing was very clear from the literature health. Known as time-restricted eating, this type considered a healthy range for their height. Almost they reviewed: Fewer meals of high-quality food is of fasting means having regular but fewer meals, The researchers found that time-restricted eat- 10% are severely obese, according to the Centers a good guideline for individuals at risk of develop- cutting out late-night snacks and not eating for 12 ing allows the body to relax and lower insulin and for Disease Control and Prevention. ing Type 2 diabetes and obesity. to 14 hours (often overnight). glucose levels, which in turn can improve insulin resistance, brain health and glycemic control. It can Obesity may lead to a variety of health condi- “Also definitely avoid late-night eating,” Czaja After a comprehensive review of published, also reduce calorie intake by around 550 calories tions, including Type 2 diabetes, heart disease and said. “Our midnight snacks spike insulin, so instead peer-reviewed studies, the researchers found a con- per day without the stress of calorie counting. even some cancers. of us going into a resting state when we sleep, our nection between number of meals and obesity and GI is working on digestion. That’s why we wake up Type 2 diabetes. Previous studies have shown disruptions to “Obesity is an epidemic right now, especially in in the morning tired -- because we don’t get enough sleep and meal schedules can change both the type the United States,” Czaja said. “It is a preventable resting sleep.” “What we’ve been taught for many decades is and amount of bacteria and other microorganisms disease. When we started looking at the research, that we should eat three meals a day plus snack- in the digestive tract. But fasting may positively we found that ancient humans didn’t eat every day. Published in Nutrients, the study was co-au- ing in between,” said Krzysztof Czaja, an associate alter the gut microbiome, potentially staving off That means our body evolved not needing food thored by Carlee Harris, an undergraduate biology professor of biomedical sciences in UGA’s College inflammation and a variety of metabolic disorders. every day.” major in UGA’s Franklin College of Arts and Sci- of Veterinary Medicine. “Unfortunately, this ap- ences. pears to be one of the causes of obesity.” Additionally, the review suggests time-restrict- The modern approach of three meals plus ed eating can help regulate hormones responsible The three meals and snacks style of eating pre- for appetite regulation and energy levels. vents insulin levels from going down during the day, and, with the amount of calories and sugars Regular meal schedules, eating breakfast and Americans consume on average, that can overload decreasing meals and snacks can help guard against obesity and Type 2 diabetes, according to the publi- cation. And all breakfasts aren’t created equal. Aim EXERCISE COULD HELP TREAT CHILDREN WITH AUTISM PROACTIVE: Those interested in teaching individuals with this developmental disorder will need to be taught specific skills and be equipped with the right resources to successfully create an effective plan By Nonhlanhla Makhajane with autism are much more focused on “what can years, the same is true for those with autism. You can simply begin to introduce exercise by help my child, now?” Instead of simply asking them to walk or run showing a large (8.5 inches × 11 inches) picture of Exercise is healthy for everyone, but it can the exercise you want them to perform. And do this have a major positive impact on the quality of life There are numerous treatments and therapies on the treadmill, you may first need to show them in combination with modeling the exercise to them, for those on the autism spectrum. Exercise doesn’t for autism, but they do not have sufficient empirical a picture of the treadmill (a visual support) rather to which most of you are accustomed. As they pro- just help the child or adult with autism, it also has a support to be considered evidence based. than simply telling them what to do. Next to the gress and their relationship with exercises builds, profound impact on his or her family. picture, you also would want to show them the you can gradually add more exercises. Exercise is an evidence-based practice, but un- amount of time you want them to be on the tread- According to the latest edition of Health and fortunately, it is often overlooked as a therapy. Per- mill. As this happens, think of visually structuring Fitness Journal, Autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) haps because exercise is not perceived as a quick their routine much like a daily to-do list. Write the are the fastest growing developmental disability in fix or as a magic pill. Even with all the dedicated When you set the amount of time to walk or run name of the exercise and the amount (time/reps) the world, and according to the U.S. Centers for and tireless research efforts that have shown exer- on a treadmill, you should not expect them to be on you want them to perform. To the left of the written Disease Control and Prevention, 1 in 68 children cise has a positive impact on autism, most parents, it for the entire time. Remember, this is a new expe- name of each exercise, you should have the picture are diagnosed. educators, and even autism professionals are una- rience for their sensory system and for their minds. of the exercise. In the case that you may be working ware of its benefits. Exercising is a lot to process. If you set expecta- with someone who has a higher cognitive ability, ASD is approximately 4.5 times more common tions that he or she will exercise for 60 consecu- you may not have to use pictures. However, still in boys (1 in 42) than in girls (1 in 189). Currently, Those interested in teaching exercise to indi- tive minutes, you are setting yourself and everyone having a written daily exercise routine provides there is no cure for autism, although with early in- viduals with autism will need to be taught specific else up for failure. You need to remind the families expectations (beginning, middle, and end) of the tervention, a child’s prognosis can improve greatly. skills and be equipped with the right resources to that you are building a relationship based on suc- exercise session and also allows for better goal set- successfully create an effective exercise plan. cess and trust. You want to make exercise a part of ting while adhering to the principles of a qualified Although many groups, organizations, and their lifestyle, and this takes time. Most parents will exercise professional. researchers are focused on finding the underlying The journal states that just as you would con- understand and appreciate this approach. causes as well as a cure, parents who have a child duct an evaluation and develop an action plan for people who are injured, obese, or in their senior

14 WEEKLY SA MIRROR INTERNATIONAL NEWS Friday 23 June 2023 RUSSIA TO HOST BRICS GAMES NEXT YEAR BRICS: Members Brazil, Russia, India, China SCO is another intergovernmental organisation and South Africa are expected to compete in the which comprises of Russia, China, India and Pa- multi-sport event in Kazan in June 2024… kistan as well as the Central Asian former Soviet states of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and By Geoff Berkeley “Under the current conditions, the role of any “very contentious” plans to stage rebel events Uzbekistan. BRICS in helping to resolve global issues, includ- outside of the Olympic Movement The Russian Sports Ministry has revealed that ing in sports, is growing,” said Matytsin. Rebel events competing with the Olympic the BRICS Games will be staged in June next year According to TASS, Matytsin stressed that the Games is a nightmare scenario for the International - just one month before the start of the Olympics “Our association remains an example of true BRICS Games were not alternative competitions Olympic Committee IOC, especially if global su- in Paris. Russian city Kazan has been chosen as multilateralism and respect for each other. “We and would not unsettle the global sporting calendar. perpowers like Russia and China are involved. host of the event that is expected to be participated consistently stand for the comprehensive strength- by member nations of BRICS - a political alliance ening of friendly sports ties with the BRICS coun- The Russian Sports Minister also backed plans Discussions over hosting events outside of the comprising of Brazil, Russia, India, China and tries - based on the principles of equality, lack of by South Africa to create a “BRICS Sports Charter” Olympic Movement were regularly on the agenda South Africa. discrimination, mutual respect and equal admission and said there were also proposals to stage other in Russia when the country’s athletes were largely of athletes to competitions. BRICS events. “The BRICS Sports Charter will frozen out of international sport in response to the A tentative programme featuring 22 sports has set out the basic principles for the development of full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February last year. also been approved by the Russian Sports Ministry, Russian President Vladimir Putin proposed the sports in the area of association,” said Matytsin. with competition due to be staged across 12 venues idea of staging the BRICS Games “Now more than The IOC recommended in March that Russian in Kazan, but details on the disciplines have yet to ever it is important to strengthen our cooperation “Cooperation in individual sports opens up and Belarusian athletes should be allowed to return be revealed. in the BRICS, to develop new formats of interstate broad prospects. “To this end, we propose to con- to international competition as neutrals, provided sports events.” sider the possibility of establishing BRICS cham- they do not support the war in Ukraine and are not The plans for the Games were announced in a pionships and professional leagues.” Russia has affiliated with the military. report by Russia’s official state news agency TASS Russian President Vladimir Putin instructed his previously spoke about plans to hold the Shanghai after the country’s Sports Minister Oleg Matytsin Government in May to submit proposals for organ- Cooperation Organisation Games. A decision on participation for Paris 2024 has participated in a meeting with his counterparts from ising the multi-sport event. Association of Sum- yet to be made but International Federations have BRICS members in South Africa. mer Olympic International Federations President been divided in their response to the IOC’s change Francesco Ricci Bitti has warned Russia against in stance. Russia has already held a Beijing 2022 Winter Paralympics replacement event in Khanty- Mansiysk, attended by five countries. A multi-sport event known as the Friendship Games was organised by the Soviet Union and eight of its allies in 1984 after the country boycotted the Los Angeles 1984 Olympics. – Inside the Games ‘UN ADDS RUSSIA TO LIST OF SHAME’ CONFLICT ZONES: Israel conspicuously absent in citation - a big mistake, Palestinian ambassador protests... By AFP and WSAM Reporter killed in Ukraine last year, including 136 deaths at- over the killing of dozens of Palestinian children. Palestinian Ambassador to the UN Riyad Man- UNITED NATIONS: The United Nations has tributed to Russian forces and affiliated groups and Guterres noted a “meaningful decrease in the sour called Guterres’ decision to leave Israel off the put Russian military forces and proxy armed 80 to Ukrainian armed forces. A further 909 chil- list a “big mistake”. groups on its “list of shame” over the killing dren were maimed, 518 of them by Russian forces number of children killed by Israeli forces, includ- and maiming of hundreds of children in its war and proxy groups and 175 by Ukrainian forces, the ing by air strikes” last year compared to the pre- Becker of Human Rights Watch also criticised against Ukraine, according to a document seen report said. vious report. According to the report, 42 children it. “His unwillingness year after year to hold Is- by AFP yesterday. were killed in 2022 by Israeli forces, compared to raeli forces accountable for their grave violations The report will be released publicly next week. 78 in 2021. against children has backfired, only emboldening In an annual report on the treatment of children Human Rights Watch welcomed the UN’s decision Israeli forces to use unlawful lethal force against in conflict zones, UN Secretary-General Antonio to call out Russia. “Nevertheless, I remain deeply concerned by Palestinian children,” Becker said. Guterres said he was “appalled by the high num- the number of children killed and maimed by Israe- ber of grave violations against children in Ukraine” “By adding Russia’s forces to his list of shame, li forces during hostilities,” Guterres added, “and The report also condemned violence against committed in 2022. the Secretary-General is holding them to account through the use of live ammunition during law en- children in the Democratic Republic of Congo, So- for horrific violations against children,” said Jo forcement operations, and by the persistent lack of malia, Syria, Haiti and other countries. “I am particularly shocked by the high number Becker, the group’s advocacy director for chil- accountability for these violations. of attacks on schools and hospitals and protected dren’s rights. Source: AFP/ec personnel, and by the high number of children killed and maimed attributed to the Russian forces “Hundreds of Ukrainian children have been and affiliated armed groups,” Guterres said in the killed in apparently indiscriminate Russian attacks report, which was distributed to members of the on apartment buildings and other civilian struc- Security Council on Thursday and seen by an AFP tures,” she added. reporter. ISRAEL NOT ON LIST According to the document, 477 children were Despite repeated requests from human rights organisations, Israel was not added to the shame list

Friday 23 June 2023 FOOD AND WINE 15WEEKLY SA MIRROR WINE JUDGE: Pat Mathonsi SA’S CHARDONNAY HITS THE RIGHT NOTES By Len Maseko STANDOUT: Talented winemaker Pierre STUNNER: Survi- Wahl’s double-trophy-winning wine proves the vor Cellar Master At the recent judging of one of South Africa’s grape variety is a real tribute for the country… Series Chardonnay premier wine shows, renowned British wine writer and master of wine Jancis Robinson 2022 particularly reserved her most complimentary remarks for one of the country’s most popular the best wines while at the Tulbagh winery. His Pi- vision and expertise, a talented trail-blazer who varietals – Chardonnay. notage wines were regular Top 10 winners – a dis- skilfully sourced Chardonnay from Wine of Ori- tinction that no doubt catapulted him to the crème gin Tradauw, and showcased this lesser-known re- Of this Trophy Wine Show category, Robinson de la crème ranks of the Cape Winemakers Guild. gion’s exceptional potential. gushed: “There is no doubt South African Chardon- nay is a real attribute for the country. I get the sense So, it was no coincidence that out of the three For his part, Wahl expressed his elation, par- South African winemakers are very confident mak- Trophy Wine Show medal-winning wines there ticularly with the inaugural Chardonnay release in ing Chardonnay.” was a Chenin – Survivor Reserve Chenin Blanc the Cellar Master Series having caught internation- 2021 (bronze). Though, in the order of accolades, al attention – thanks to the unique terroir of Tradau, Warming Robinson’s cockles of the heart ulti- Survivor Cabernet Sauvignon 2020 was Wahl’s a hidden trove in the arid Karoo that Wahl and his mately was Survivor Cellar Master Series Chardon- second biggest winner, scooping the gold medal at team have unveiled. nay 2022 – a wine that scooped the Best Chardon- the show. Yet, his previous home, Rijk’s, scooped nay and Best White Wine, emerging as a standout a bronze medal at the same show with their Rijk’s He remarked, “These trophies affirm the ex- performer, and secured two trophies at one of the Private Cellar Chenin Blanc Barrel Fermented ceptional quality that this terroir can produce. It is most rigorous wine competitions worldwide. 2021 – an indisputable highlight and testimony of gratifying to see our direction with the Cellar Mas- Wahl’s legacy. ter Series rewarded so early on. Still, fortunately, No mean feat for Survivor Winery, one of I have experience working with shale soils in Tul- the acclaimed producers nestling out in the Cape Recounting back in Britain her experience as bagh, and the diurnal temperature differences in winelands’ Swartland region, whose 2022 Master Trophy Wine Show judge, Robinson still had high Tradauw are even more prominent. Series Chardonnay had to parry off a formidable praise for Survivor Cellar Master Series Chardon- challenge from gold-worthy winners like Ben- nay 2022, several weeks later, writing in her col- The combination of soil and significant differ- guela Cove Estate Chardonnay 2022, Delaire Graff umn; “The most intriguing appellation of all was ences between night and day temperatures playing Banghoek Reserve Chardonnay 2022, Hartenberg Tradouw, in the Klein Karoo region, on Survivor a crucial role in fruit development contribute to the Woolworths Reserve Collection Chardonnay 2022, winery’s delicious Cellar Master Series 2022 Char- elegance and longevity of this exceptional Char- Bon Courage Chardonnay Unwooded 2022. donnay. The wine had slightly more residual sugar donnay.” than most (3.7 g/l) but that was well compensated Notably, the judging panel at the Trophy Wine for by the persistence and potential of this very Tasting the wine at the recent Trophy Wine Show was led by respected wine authority Michael well-made wine. The fruit apparently comes from Show in Sandton, Survivor Cellar Master Series Fridjhon; Anne Krebiehl MW, a London-based 15-year-old vines on the Tradouw-Joubert farm on Chardonnay 2022 turned out to be a show-stopper. wine writer and lecturer; Benjamin Roffet, wine the south-western edge of the Klein Karoo, a hot, Thanks to its meticulous crafting, which has trans- director of the Jules Verne Restaurant on the Eif- dry region long associated with fortified wines but lated into a truly delicious wine, graced by a lightly fel Tower in Paris; including influential wine critic these vines are at 700 m (2,300 ft) and benefit from oaked style, creaminess, opulence, fruit purity, tex- Robinson. relatively good rainfall”. ture, intensity, while displaying an exquisite bal- ance between freshness and fullness. Particularly For Survivor cellarmaster Pierre Wahl, the A true success story and testament to Wahl’s enamouring is the wine’s x-factor, which must journey with Chardonnay has undeniably been an come from the expression of its peculiar terroir. expedition of love and adventure. From his previ- ous stint at Rijk’s, Chardonnay was always among three varietals – Chenin Blanc and Pinotage – that became his forte, from which he produced some of EVENTS CWG WINE TASTINGS graced by the presence of winemaker Hagen Viljoen on in six exquisite South African brandy tastings brought to The countdown to the annual Nedbank Cape Winemakers Monday. you by SA Brandy Foundation and the Cocktail Kitchen at Guild Auction has officially started, with ticket sales for The evening will be spent tasting some of the most mouth- Morgenhof Estate Stellenbosch. pre-auction events now available for purchase. watering offerings from the Zevenwacht Wine Estate.Meet The Cape Winemakers Guild (CWG) will be hosting two fellow wine lovers and complete your experience by shop- FORTIFIED WINE FIESTA showcases – in Cape Town and Johannesburg – in August. ping all your favourite wines in-store. The Muratie Flavours of Winter Festival invites wine These informal, walk-around tasting events, will give To find out more, email us: [email protected]. Tasting takes lovers to head out to Stellenbosch for a mellow fireside wine lovers the opportunity to sample the 2023 Nedbank between 17h30 and 20h00. Norman Goodfellows Four- celebration of Cape “Port” and fortified style wines – on CWG Auction wines while interacting with the winemak- ways is situated on Fourways Crossing, corner William July 1. ers. Also available for tasting will be past auction wines Nicol Drive & Sunrise Boulevard, Lone Hill, Sandton. The Muratie Farm Kitchen will be serving a delicious ar- and flagship wines from guild Members. Tickets cost R100 a person. ray of traditional & rustic meals suited to the wintertime. The showcase will feature a silent auction of past CWG The evening at one of the Cape’s oldest wineries will start and flagship wines to raise funds for the Guild’s Protégé MINI BRANDY FEST with a glass of a luscious fortified wine to warm the cock- Programme. Light snacks will be served. Join fellow brandy enthusiasts and savour some of the fin- les of your heart, with live music in the background and Tickets cost from R500 and are now available for purchase est selection of brandies the Cape winelands has to offer at some warm treats to enjoy. on Quicket for the August 24 Cape Town Showcase; and the Mini Brandy Festival Stellenbosch, which will be held The evening will be warmly hosted by the winemakers the August 30 Johannesburg Showcase. at Morgenhof Estate tomorrow and Sunday. from Muratie, Allesverloren, Axe Hill, Delaire Graff, Bo- Event times are from 15h00 to 20h00 tomorrow and Sun- plaas, The Fledge and Peter Bayly. ZEVENWACHT AT GOODFELLOWS day (12h00 - 18h00). Only 100 Earlybird tickets available All the wines on show will be available for purchase at An exclusive wine tasting of Zevenwacht wines will be for just R150 per person. cellar door prices. Tickets cost R195 (children free). hosted at the Norman Goodfellows Fourways store and What to expect? Experience two cocktails and indulge Due to limited space, book in advance (021) 865 2330.

16 WEEKLY SA MIRROR MOTORING Friday 23 June 2023 MOTORING: Briefs FLYING CARS CLOSER THAN A DIFFERENT KETTLE EVER OF FISH: The new Suzuki Grand Vitara Japan’s Suzuki, one of the country’s big- makes a compelling gest car makers, said today (20 June) that it has case for itself reached an agreement with SkyDrive to start pro- ducing flying cars from a Suzuki factory as early BIGGER: A multi-level grille, elongated 3-point daytime running lamps at NOT JUST FOR THE BUNDU BASHER: Tthe slick touchscreen (with as spring 2024. Based in the Japanese city of the top and jewel-effect headlamps below, with a sculpted lower bumper wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto), chrome brightwork, and Toyota, SkyDrive will establish a wholly owned at the bottom. glossy piano black bits that the new GV is aimed at everyone subsidiary to make the aircraft, according to a Re- uters report, while Suzuki will help with prepara- INNOVATIVE: Viewed from the side, the tions for the manufacturing. profile looks quite boxy which is useful when designers need to carve out interior The two have been collaborating since at space. GLX models have stylish roof rails least March last year. Hyundai, the South Korean and alloy wheels, and GL models have carmaker, told TopGear.com last month that it ex- painted alloys. pects to have flying cars in the skies by the end of this decade. “We could see some intra-city type SUZUKI GOES GRAND application with the Urban Air Mobility for car- WITH VITARA go, but maybe for passengers. But that’s towards the end of this decade and obviously smaller TRENDY DESIGN: The 2023 Suzuki Grand mild-hybrid electric power. You might say the GV, scale,” said Michael Cole, Hyundai’s UK boss. Vitara is a good option for SUV enthusiasts looking as its enthusiasts refer to it, has not sacrificed safety for an affordable, versatile and reliable vehicle for its decent looks. GHOSN SUES NISSAN By Ali Mphaki Grand Vitara, which was also Autocar’s Midsize Besides six airbags, TPMS, Hill Descent Con- The man once feted as a corporate superhero It takes a truly special effort to win an Autocar SUV of the Year, from getting to the top of the pile. trol and Hill-Hold Assist, it also comes with a 360 is now suing his former employer for over US$1 India Award. Contenders face intense competi- View Camera with multiple view modes that make billion. Yes, Carlos Ghosn is back in the head- tion once they put their hat into the ring for the Back home South Africans now have a chance getting out of sticky situations a cinch. It’s also the lines, and he’s hoping to clear his name and hit country’s most coveted awards. And, then, there to sample the 2023 Suzuki Grand Vitara which re- only one in its segment to have four-wheel drive, Nissan where it hurts. is the highly demanding jury that puts objectiv- cently went on sale. which caters to enthusiasts. Those who have already ity above all else. Some really stellar cars lined sampled the 2023 GV can only enthuse, among oth- Overnight Ghosn filed a lawsuit in Lebanon up on the starting grid in 2023, but despite their The new Grand Vitara offers a choice of two ers, about its impressive fuel economy. seeking US$588 million ($865 million) in lost strengths, on the big night they lost out to the Su- drivetrain options, including the first-ever mild hy- earnings and costs, and US$500 million ($735 zuki Grand Vitara, an automobile that has quite brid petrol-electric powertrain from Suzuki Auto “It’s also got a sense of fun about it It drives in million) in punitive damages. In the lawsuit literally taken the game forward. South Africa. Customers can also choose between an extremely agile, sporty manner, not at all like a Ghosn alleges “the serious and sensitive accusa- two- and four-wheel drive and three-gearbox op- big, floppy SUV,” says AutoCar. The new GV was tions” made against the former CEO “will linger So begins an article in India’s leading car maga- tions, a four-speed automatic or five-speed manual developed by Suzuki but it rolls off the production in people’s minds for years”. As a result Ghosn zine Autocar which further alludes Grand Vitara’s transmission. The range-topping GLX Hybrid All- line at the Toyota Kirloskar factory in India. “will suffer from them for the remainder of his victory gains special significance because they were grip is fitted with a six-speed automatic transmis- life, as they have persistent and lingering impacts, other formidable contenders in the extremely popu- sion, making it a versatile vehicle for any driving Overall, the all-new Suzuki Grand Vitara is an even if based on mere suspicion”. lar and intensely competitive midsize SUV segment. style. impressive vehicle, with a sleek exterior design and decent technology features, making it a good option A judge has set the first hearing date for But there clearly was no stopping the Suzuki There is one engine with two flavours available for SUV enthusiasts who are looking for an afford- Ghosn’s suit for September this year. It’s possi- in the new Grand Vitara range: The K15B (petrol) able, versatile and reliable vehicle. ble Lebanese authorities will seek help from their which is also in the Jimny, and the new K15C with Japanese counterparts, but it’s unclear whether Pricing for the Suzuki Grand Vitara is as fol- that will be forthcoming. Ghosn is a fugitive from lows: Japanese law, and Lebanon doesn’t have an extra- dition treaty with Japan.-CAR EXPERT 1.5 GL manual – R339 900 1.5 GL auto – R359 900 CLEAN EV - DIRTY SECRET 1.6 GLX manual – R397 900 1.5 GLX auto – R417 900 Ford’s F-150 Lightning electric truck spews 1.5 GLX auto Hybrid Allgrip – R529 900 no nasty tailpipe gases into the air, meaning it should help create a healthier environment for your family and your local community. But min- ing the aluminum used in that truck is allegedly causing serious health problems for another com- munity thousands of miles away in Brazil. Now a class-action lawsuit representing 11,000 people living near the Hydro Alunorte re- finery in Barcarena hopes to hold the plant and its owners accountable for the consequences of the toxic waste the plaintiffs say is contaminating the region’s water supply. The suit alleges that the refinery – the world’s biggest outside China, ac- cording to the company’s website – has released trace amounts of aluminum and other metals into the local environment leading to people develop- ing various illnesses including cancers and birth defects. Ford doesn’t own the refinery; it belongs to the Norwegian company Norsk Hydro. But a Bloomberg investigation traced aluminum used in the F-150 back to the Brazilian plant via a con- voluted path that includes a parts manufacturer in Pennsylvania and a smelter in Canada. The story is an unfortunate black mark on the green credentials of Ford’s EV truck, and a re- minder that there’s more to calculating a vehicle’s impact on the planet than simply looking at its tailpipe emissions. “Ford is committed to a sup- ply chain that exceeds minimum regulatory com- pliance requirements and respects human rights, including the right to clean air and clean water,” a spokesperson for the automaker told Bloomberg when contacted for a comment.-CAR SCOOPS FAST AND FURIOUS The Land Rover is the UK’s most stolen car as professional thieves use key fobs to make off in the £100k SUVs in under 90 seconds. The lat- est figures show one in every hundred Land Rov- ers were stolen in the year ending March 2023. Criminals are using technology to simply drive the cars away while the owners are tucked up in bed. Land Rovers have a rate of 924 thefts per 100,000, according to the latest figures obtained by Confused.com.Mercedes-Benz were the sec- ond most popular target for thieves, with 323 cars stolen per 100,000. After Mercedes the most targeted cars were Ford, BMW and then Audi. The same data re- vealed that black cars were more likely to be sto- len than any other colour.-The Sun UK

Friday 23 June 2023 SPORT 17WEEKLY SA MIRROR NETBALL WORLD CUP 2023 VITAL FOR AFRICA IMPACT: Showcasing all the best netballers in the world on African soil will help grow the sport SWAN SONG: England defender Geva Mentor,38, will take to the court for one final tour- on the continent theirs. “So, I guess in a nutshell it’s the opportu- nament before retiring from the sport. She believes African netball is on the rise nity.” By Sports Reporter ing – representing the UK as a junior – she soon fell in love with the camaraderie in netball. Clearly As for her predictions for the Vitality Netball England defender Geva Mentor believes the fact one final tournament before retiring from the sport. a natural, Mentor joined her first team at the age of World Cup 2023, where England will be eager to The 38-year-old recently confirmed her plans to 13 and by 14 she’d been called up to the England finally make the breakthrough and challenge for a that the Vitality Netball World Cup 2023 will call time on her career at the end of the tournament. Under 17s, then earning her first senior cap at the first title, Mentor reckoned: “Anything is possible, age of 16. right? All the Netball World Cups I’ve been part take place on African soil for the first time will “It still doesn’t feel real, or perhaps like the of I believe the standard of competition is getting right decision, but it’s something I felt I had to do,” In a career that’s spanned more than two dec- tougher, the physicality more intense and the cali- have a great impact on the growth of the sport she explained. “A big part of who I am is often put- ades, she’s solidified her place as one of netball’s bre of skill on display awe-inspiring. ting others before me and, compelled by the fact all-time greats, claiming Commonwealth Games on the continent. that I want to leave a place better off, it was time I gold with England at Gold Coast 2018 and three “So, it’ll come down to the tactics and who not step aside and allow others to have the opportunity Netball World Cup bronze medals, while also ex- only shows up on the day, but who is consistent Speaking ahead of what will be a remarkable to develop and gain experience so the Roses can go celling in Australia’s Suncorp Super Netball. and improves with every outing.” Asked what the sixth Netball World Cup appearance for the Eng- on to carve a strong legacy.” secret has been to her longevity, Mentor simply land icon, Mentor said: “The African nations are Looking back on her career, it’s the opportuni- says: “No secret, just take each day and moment as on the rise, we’re seeing the impact they’re having Mentor started playing netball as a teenager. ties that it has provided for which she is most grate- it comes and find the fun in all you do.” in the top domestic leagues and in turn the perfor- Her mother hails from Bournemouth, where she ful and what she loves about the sport. mances they’re putting out against other nations. grew up, and her father from St Lucia in the Carib- England begin their Vitality Netball World Cup bean. While her first love as a child was trampolin- “It would be easy to say the camaraderie, the 2023 campaign against Barbados on July 28 with “To be able to showcase all the best netballers successes, the people and while, yes, that’s right up their two other initial group games against Malawi in the world on African soil is another opportunity there, when I think about it more deeply, it’s the on July 29 and neighbours Scotland on July 30. to keep growing the sport and we all know the Af- opportunity. ricans will create a vibrant, loud and entertaining Details on tickets and travel packages and more event.” “To ride the highs and lows with an exceptional information are all available on the official tourna- number of humans, the opportunity to travel and ment website (www.nwc2023.org.za) with a range The energy levels are certainly expected to be experience different cultures, the opportunity to of tickets and packages still available. raised when the Vitality Netball World Cup 2023 dedicate my time to making me the best version takes place at the Cape Town International Conven- of myself and to empower those around me to find tion Centre from 28 July to 6 August. The tournament will bring with it a bittersweet moment for Mentor as she takes to the court for DANCE AFRICA: NSA pres Cecilia Molokowane in black pants MASCOT: Letsatsi NWC 2023 - ALMOST 30 DAYS TO GO The Vitality Netball World Cup 2023 Trophy Tour continues around South Africa ahead of the big event in FEVER: Mpumalanga schoolchildren lining up the streets Cape Town from July 28. Here are some images taken from Friday as the trophy bus was spotted in Mpuma- langa, with the official mascot Letsatsi and Netball SA president Cecilia Molokwane and many dignitaries, schoolchildren and members of the public. It is almost 30 days to go before the event

18 WEEKLY SA MIRROR SPORT Friday 23 June 2023 CHILDBIRTH; Bowie, left, died in May trhis year seen with her three winning team members who nearly died while giving birth CALLS FOR BETTER MATERNITY CARE FOR BLACK WOMEN HEALTH CRISIS: Of the four Americans who teamed up to win 4x100m relay gold at the Rio 2016 Olympics, three have nearly died or died while giving birth By Sports Reporter which states the maternity mortality rate for black COMPLICATIONS: Tennis great Serena Williams had a history of blood clots and suf- Olympic great Allyson Felix has called for bet- women in the United States is 2.6 times higher than fered from a pulmonary embolism, a blockage in the lungs, after giving birth to her the rate for white women. daughter via C-section ter maternity care for black women to ensure the death of team-mate Tori Bowie is “not in vain”. In the UK, data published by the University of Bowie died at the age of 32 in May from complica- Oxford in 2021 showed black women were four tions in childbirth. times more likely than white women to die in preg- nancy and childbirth. Of the four Americans who teamed up to win 4x100m relay gold at the Rio 2016 Olympics, three Felix said: “That needs to change, now, espe- have nearly died or died while giving birth. cially in light of Tori’s tragic passing. Felix gave birth at 32 weeks in 2018, having de- “Awareness is huge. Serena Williams had near- veloped pre-eclampsia, and was “unsure if she was death complications during her pregnancy. Beyonce going to make it”. developed pre-eclampsia [a condition that causes high blood pressure during pregnancy and after la- Her and Bowie’s team-mate Tianna Madison bour]. (formerly Bartoletta) said she nearly died during childbirth after going into labour at 26 weeks. “I hate that it takes Tori’s situation to put this back on the map and to get people to pay attention Writing for Time magazine, seven-time Olym- to it. But oftentimes, we need that wake-up call.” pic champion Felix said: “Three gold medallists from that 4x100m relay team in Rio set out to be- Felix, 37, added she has a “very real concern” come mothers. All three of us - all Black women about having more children and called for the medi- - had serious complications. “Tori passed away. cal community to “do its part” and “hear the pain of We’re dealing with a black maternal health crisis. black women”. Here you have three Olympic champions and we’re still at risk.” “I’m hopeful that things can get better,” she added. Felix, the most decorated US track and field athlete of all time, pointed to CDC data from 2021 “I’m hopeful that Tori, who stood on the po- dium at Rio, gold around her neck and sweetness in her soul, won’t die in vain.”

Friday 23 June 2023 SPORT 19WEEKLY SA MIRROR SPORTS: Briefs ‘SMASH’ 2023 SOWETO MARATHON EYEING TO ON REACH FOR THE This year’s Soweto Marathon has not been WBC SKY cancelled, officials have confirmed, following claims that the event had been called off. A CUT ABOVE THE REST: Smangele “Smash” Radebe, left, determined to After some controversy which arose last make a mark in women’s boxing year regarding broadcast rights, three members of the Soweto Marathon Trust were suspended TARGET: Hadebe wants to be Mzansi’s first “ I would like to make history by becoming the by Athletics South Africa (ASA). They included first lady here in Mzansi to win the WBC crown. chairman Sello Khunou, Ishe Sadiki and Pamela I am quite happy with the manner in which my Tainton. female boxer to win big crown manger Colleen McAusland and the entire camp have been keeping me in shape to win fights,” said A media statement released this week claim- the boxer who comes from KwaThema in Springs, ing the race had been scratched had been issued Gauteng and now based in Walkerville, also in by the suspended individuals. By Pule Mokhine Gauteng. ever to ascend this throne. Hadebe feels being the number pugilist in Af- The 28th edition of the Soweto Marathon Only two local pugilists namely Thulani “Sug- will be held on 5 November, starting and finish- In an era in which there is a scarcity of local fe- arboy” Malinga and Dingaan “Rose” Thobela have rica has given her sense of respectability on the ing at Nasrec. male World Boxing Council (WBC) champions, so far managed to do the country proud by win- continent to be able to make a mark in boxing. one fighter by the name of Smangele “Smash” ning WBC championship belts during their illus- “Winning a WBC title is upper most in my mind. I ROYAL AM COULD FACE FIFA Radebe has set herself a target of being a cut trious careers in the ring before their retirement. am working very hard to win each bout that comes BAN above the rest by becoming the country’s first They both captured their diadems as super middle- my way to improve my ratings, and ultimately go pugilist to capture such a title. weights. for the big fish, which is to lift the WBC belt. This DStv Premiership side Royal AM are in hot Now Hadebe has set her sights on emulating will be the cherry on top of my boxing career.” water and face a hefty FIFA sanction after miss- The WBC is widely regarded as being the most By her own admission, Hadebe has a great deal ing the deadline to pay striker Samir Nurkovic prestigious sanctioning body globally by virtue of her idols - Malinga and Thobela - in a unique man- and his representatives – a sum understood to be the caliber of its champions that are being referred ner by becoming the country’s first female to lift of admiration for both Malinga and Thobela, say- around R12-million. to as being the cream of crop worldwide. The or- the championship of the WBC. “Smash” who is ing winning the WBC belt will also earn her a great ganisation’s crown - also deemed as being the real the current SA flyweight champion and the African deal of admiration in the boxing scene by putting SABC Sport reported last week the Durban- deal - has never been captured by any South Afri- Boxing Union (ABU) titlist, beat Tanzanian Stu- Mzansi on the map as the WBC kingpin. based outfit was given until this past Monday to can female pugilist since its inception. The organi- mai Muki on points in an ABU defense at Galleria Her trainer McAusland said they were gun- settle the debt enforced by the world governing ning to fight for the newly established WBC body for terminating the player’s contract pre- zation whose headquarters are based in Mexico, Centre in Sandton in September last year. maturely. towers sanctioning counterparts such as World Three weeks ago, Hadebe was at her element Ubuntu championship belt. The belt was awarded Boxing Association (WBA), International Boxing when she exposed the limitation of Asian champi- to Hekkie Budler in a recent fight which he won. Nurkovic had initially joined Royal AM in Federation (IBF) and World Boxing Organization on Phannaluk Kongsang of Thailand by an impres- “Look, winning this belt will obviously strengthen July 2022 on a free transfer from Kaizer Chiefs (WBO) who are also top controlling boxing enti- sive unanimous points decision over eight rounds her chances of earning a shot at the main crown for two seasons. ties. However, it is the WBC which takes the cake at Nasrec. Now Hadebe, who is ranked 15th in the which is the WBC. But we will take each fight as it in as far as top-class champions throughout the WBC and third in the Commonwealth. believes comes. The girl is in a class of her own to conquer But the club owned by businesswoman Shau- world are concerned. It’s against this background she is good enough to win all her upcoming fights the world,” says McAusland. wn Mkhize failed to pay the first three months that Radebe wants to see herself having the WBC and move up the ranking and ultimately have a The boxing fraternity is waiting with bated of his salary and subsequently claimed Nurkovic belt strapped around her waist in the not-too- dis- crack at the WBC championship belt and become breath to see whether “Smash” will ever reach for had been injured, moving quickly to try to termi- tant future and become the first local female boxer the country’s first lady to win it. the skies to earn her dream WBC bout. nate the agreement within 30 days. BOXERS VIE FOR TOP HONOURS AT THE AWARDS WHO IS GOAT - FEDERER OR DJOKOVIC? GLOVES ASIDE: The gala will showcase local cess of Hadebe’s boxing career so far. boxing’s cream of the crop Mukondeleli has admirably overseen the suc- Roger Federer described Novak Djokovic’s record-breaking 23rd Grand Slam title achieve- By Pule Mokhine the male section is comprised of Sivenathi Nontsh- cess of his protégé Thato “Captain Charisma” Bo- ment as “unbelievable” on Wednesday but avoid- It will be all systems go when the 2023 Box- inga, John Bopape and Phumelela Cafu, who all nokoane whose World Boxing Federation (WBF) ed anointing his old rival as the greatest player fought their hearts out in the ring in their section. title triumph over Diego Alberto Ruiz in March, of all time. ing SA awards are held at Durban’s ICC Hall in saw the Kagiso, West Rand pugilist win WBF Box- KwaZulu-Natal on Friday night. The females nominated for the coveted acco- er of the Year. “I think what Novak has done is unbeliev- lades in the same category are: Bukiwe Nonina; able,” said Federer, who racked up 20 Grand As usual, boxers will spare their fists and shove Hedda Wolmarans and Smangele Hadebe. But the Other nominations: Slams before he retired last year. Djokovic edged aside their gloves as they will be resplendent in spotlight for the winner is likely to fall on Hadebe, KO of the Year – Xolisani Ndongeni vs Apinun ahead of 22-time major winner Rafael Nadal suits and black ties to be rewarded for their efforts nicknamed “Smash”, to win the coveted award of when he won his third French Open in Paris ear- in the ring in the previous year’s boxing run. All in top boxer. She exposed her foes with ease so far to Khongsong; Phumelela Cafu vs Tinashe Ma- lier this month. all, 11 categories have been nominated for those earn a great deal of respect from the boxing fra- joni; Bongani Mahlangu vs Ayabonga Sonjica. that will be honored for various sections during the ternity. Male Fight of the Year – Sinethemba Blom vs Federer, 41, speaking at the Halle grass-court proceeding marking the highlights of the sport of Kaine Fourie; Brandon Thysse vs Roarke tournament on Wednesday, admitted however the fisticuffs during the previous calendar. When it comes to picking the best manager, Knapp; Nhlanhla Tyira vs Esneth Domingo. it was “hard to say” who was best player of all it will not come as a surprise when Charrit Mu- Male Boxer of the Year - Sivenathi Nontshinga; time. As usual, all eyes will firmly focus on who will kondeleli is mentioned. He is contesting the spot John Bopape; Phumelela Cafu be voted the country’s best boxer in the male and alongside Colleen McAusland and Colin Nathan. Female Boxer of the Year: Bukiwe Nonina; Hed- BOKS READY TO UNLEASH female categories respectively. Nominations for McAusland has contributed immensely to the suc- da Wolmarans; Smangele Hadebe “MONSTER” KLEYN Promoter of the Year: TLB Promotions; Jackie Brice Promotions; ESPN Africa Promotions. Rassie Erasmus and Jacques Nienaber are rel- Female Prospect of the Year: Nomusa Ngema; ishing the opportunity to deploy South African- Thobela Nyanda; Simamkele Tutsheni. born Ireland lock Jean Kleyn for the Springboks. Male Prospect of the Year: Donjuan van Heerden; Kleyn was a surprise inclusion in a Bok training Cayden Truter; Keanu Koopman squad that assembled in Pretoria for a three-week training camp until Thursday, 29 June. The 29-year-old played five Tests for Ireland after qualifying on residency grounds in Septem- ber 2019, but the former DHL Stormers forward last played for Ireland on 12 October, 2019. Addressing Kleyn’s selection this week in a Bok media conference, SA’s director rugby Eras- mus told reporters: “He is a monster player who has played alongside RG [Snyman]. We often lose locks at the business end of campaigns due to the physical effort we request from them. “We therefore felt our lock stocks weren’t sufficient. Jean’s inclusion strengthens our squad nicely. CHELSEA LEADS IN MULTI- CLUB MODEL Chelsea have bought a stake in Ligue 1 club Strasbourg, as owner Todd Boehly seeks to develop a multi-club model. Reports emerged earlier this year that Chel- sea had begun discussions with Strasbourg over a ‘full or partial takeover’ of the French side. BlueCo, Chelsea’s parent owners, have con- firmed the ‘strategic investment’ in Strasbourg, which they claim will ‘create huge opportunities’ for both clubs. ‘It is an honour for us to be part of this his- toric club,’ a BlueCo statement read. ‘We are committed to preserving the heritage of Racing and are focused on working closely with Marc and his management team to continue the excel- lent work they have been doing

MIRROR SPORTWEEKLY SA Insight to connect the dots... PELE’S EQUAL: Neymar Jnr PROLIFIC: Kylan Mbappe DECISIVE: Vinicius Jnr RECORDS TUMBLER: Erling Haarland THE WHO WILL WIN 2024 BALLON d’OR? NEW ERA: CHANGE OF GUARD ABOUT second player in English top-flight history - and An integral part of France’s World Cup tri- TO HAPPEN AT SUMMIT OF MEN’S the first in 95 years - to net more than 50 times umph in 2018, Mbappe has also registered 38 FOOTBALL in all competitions. goals in 88 appearances for Les Blues, placing him fifth in their all-time scorer’s list - and a By Sports Reporter He was unable to guide the Bundesliga club Already on 229 career goals for club and mere 15 goals behind current record holder Ol- Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi, who to a first league title in 11 years but excelled in country, he could well smash Ronaldo’s all-time ivier Giroud. have held a stranglehold on the coveted Bal- his final season in Germany, making history in record of 837. lon d’Or trophy for the vast majority of the October last year when he was made the club’s VINICIUS Jr (Real Madrid) He was denied back-to-back World Cup vic- past 15 years, are set to play in Saudi Arabia youngest captain at just 19 years of age. tories by Messi-inspired Argentina, despite scor- and the USA respectively next season. The prodigious playerregistered 44 goal in- ing the first final hat-trick since England’s Geoff Bellingham, who left Birmingham City for volvements for Real Madrid in 2022-23. In the Hurst in 1966. Karim Benzema, winner of the world’s best Dortmund for £25m in 2020, registered 14 goals aftermath of Madrid’s demolition of Liverpool player award in 2022, has followed in Ronaldo’s and seven assists in 42 appearances in 2022-23. in the last 16 of the Champions League back in Having informed PSG he will not be renew- footsteps by moving to Saudi Arabia, while the March, head coach Carlo Ancelotti called Vin- ing his contract beyond 2024, there will be no only other winner in that period - 37-year-old Having turned down a host of Europe’s top icius the “most decisive player anywhere in the shortage of suitors if the French champions de- Luka Modric - is reaching the end of his illustri- clubs in favour of the 14-time European cham- world - the one who determines matches most cide to cash in on the striker this summer. ous career despite reportedly agreeing to stay at pions, the midfielder is looking to maintain his on a consistent basis”. NEYMAR(Paris St-Germain) Real Madrid next season. remarkable career trajectory in the Spanish capi- tal. The Brazilian, who terrorised the Manches- At 31, Neymar is hardly the new kid on the Messi is widely expected to win the 2023 ERLING HAALAND (Manchester City) ter City defence with his pace and trickery in the block but the Brazilian’s status as one of the Ballon d’Or after guiding Argentina to a first 2021-22 semi-finals before scoring the winner game’s biggest stars remains undisputed. World Cup crown since 1986 last winter, but In his first season in English football The in the final against Liverpool, had 23 goals and who will pick up the mantle in 2024? BBC Sport first player to win the Premier League player and 21 assists in all competitions in 22-23 - the third The winger registered 35 goal involvements takes a look… young player of the year awards in the same sea- most across Europe’s top-flight leagues behind across all competitions last season, despite miss- JUDE BELLINGHAM (Real Madrid) son, the prolific Norwegian is perhaps the most Haaland and Kylian Mbappe. ing the final three months of the campaign with obvious heir apparent to Ronaldo, Messi and co. ankle ligament damage. One of the top performers at last year’s The target of racist abuse on multiple occa- World Cup in Qatar, Bellingham became the Haaland sent records tumbling in his debut sions last season, one particular incident involv- Last November, Neymar equalled Pele’s third-most expensive teenager in history - and campaign in England’s top flight, his 36-goal ing Vinicius in Valencia sparked outrage in both ‘official’ men’s goalscoring record oymar (Paris the second-most expensive English player of all tally breaking the previous best mark shared Spain and Brazil. St-Germain) time - when he joined Real Madrid for an initial by Alan Shearer and Andy Cole (34) for nearly 103m euros (£88.5). three decades. Seven people were subsequently punished At 31, Neymar is hardly the new kid on the for acts of racism, Valencia were sanctioned block but the Brazilian’s status as one of the The 22-year-old ended the season on 52 with a partial stadium closure and Vinicius him- game’s biggest stars remains undisputed. goals in 53 appearances, making him only the self was recruited by Fifa to be part of a new anti-racism task force. The winger registered 35 goal involvements KYLIAN MBAPPE (Paris St-Germain) across all competitions last season, despite miss- ing the final three months of the campaign with The prolific Frenchman has scored 212 ankle ligament damage. goals and contributed 98 assists in 260 games since joining Paris St-Germain from Monaco in Last November, Neymar equalled Pele’s ‘of- 2017, contributing to 13 domestic trophies with ficial’ men’s goalscoring record of 77 for Brazil the Qatari-owned club. with his World Cup quarter-final goal against Croatia. It is only a matter of time before the outright record is his.