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ST_Main Body_27122015
News ST Mainbody, 27-Dec-2015-Page 1, Cyan ST Mainbody, 27-Dec-2015- Page 1, Magenta ST Mainbody, 27-Dec-2015-Page 1, Yellow ST Mainbody, 27-Dec-2015- Page 1, Black N-1 JDCP 05215 9 770039 533008 SA’s BOOZE NIGHTMARE Shocked health minister ’depressed’ by extent of drunken behaviour Peak Paddling Season NASHIRA DAVIDS and AARTI J NARSEE ALCOHOL is bringing South Africa to its knees, and Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi says he agrees with experts who accuse the government of spending decades dragging its feet in passing laws in response to the crisis. Problems caused by heavy drinking spike over the festive period, the prime time for substance-fuelled violence, road crashes and child neglect. Motsoaledi said yesterday that he was shocked when he drove through Limpopo late on Christmas Day to see groups of drunken young people in almost every village. “I was deep in depression about where our country is heading to. I even stopped and said: ‘My God.’ That was during the night! They were just there to drink alcohol — young girls and young boys,” said Motsoaledi. South Africans are among the world’s biggest boozers, with one in four adults classified as heavy drinkers, and the problem is getting worse. On average, more than 100 people die every day due to alcohol abuse — as a result of drink-driving, violence or heart disease — but steps to tackle the problem are mired in bureaucracy, according to scientists and activists. Among the shock details of South Africa’s love affair with booze are: ý The volume of alcohol sold increased 12.4% between 2006-2007 and 2013-2014; ý Some 65 000 retail alcohol licences were granted in 2011, compared with 35 000 in 2003; and DRUNKS: Health Minister Dr Aaron Motsoaledi was shocked by public drunkenness in Limpopo TASCHICA PILLAY MATERNITY wards throughout South Africa were kept busy on Christmas Day welcoming more than 480 bundles of joy. Gauteng recorded most births at provincial hospitals, with 213 new arrivals — of 110 boys and 103 girls. Chris Hani Baragwanath had the highest number of deliveries — 51 — followed Rahima Moosa Mother and Child Hospital in Picture: ESA ALEXANDER Holidaymakers enjoy the beach, sunshine and Atlantic surf at Camps Bay in Cape Town yesterday ý The World Health Organisation’s alcohol consumption forecast for 2015 was 21% higher than a decade ago. Research in 2014 put the economic cost of alcohol abuse at between 10% and 12% of GDP — or more than R300-billion. In spite of this, six out of nine provinces still apply the apartheidera Liquor Act of 1989. Its successor, passed in 2003 after a Constitutional Court tussle, applies only in the Western Cape, KwaZulu-Natal and the Northern Cape because they have promulgated their own legislation in line with the act. But even the 2003 act is no longer considered fit for purpose, and in May, Trade and Industry Minister Rob Davies published a draft national liquor policy, which is intended to lead to a new Liquor Act, a process that could take years. Proposals in the draft included raising the minimum legal drinking age from 18 to 21; holding manufacturers, suppliers and retailers liable for harm caused by the intoxicated; and banning liquor outlets within 500m of schools. A proposed law to curb alcoholrelated advertising and sponsorships, the Control of Marketing of Alcoholic Beverages Bill, was discussed by the cabinet in 2013. Motsoaledi denied this was a bid to ban alcohol, as many seem to suggest. “Remember, we are among the top 10 in the world of drunken nations. The aim of the bill is to reduce the attraction of alcohol to young people — to the new generation. And we believe it is in line with the National Development Plan,” he said. He emphasised that he was “extremely passionate” about the bill. But he noted that there was opposition from the alcohol industry and even “cabinet colleagues”. ❛ The aim of the bill is to reduce the attraction of alcohol to young people — to the new generation “I agree with civil society on this one 100% that we delayed . . . if it was not for all this procrastination we would have moved on . . . Civil society must also wake up but they must not just complain to the papers. They must act . . . They must stand up on the side of government this time and say enough is enough — we want this law to pass for our benefit. I will be happy, I will join them if they do so,” he said. He said that as health minister, he sees the impact of alcohol abuse and the suffering it brings. “We are not moving quickly enough. We have been working on this for 10 years,” said Sue Goldstein, programme director for health and development at the Soul City Institute and a senior public health lecturer at the University of the Witwatersrand. “The sense of urgency seems to have fallen off and I am not quite sure why. With legislation, problems eventually translate into change, but unfortunately it is going to take a lot of lives in the meantime.” At least 1 542 motorists were arrested countrywide for drunk driving between December 1 and 23. Road Traffic Management Corporation spokesman Simon Zwane said yesterday that 786 000 vehicles had been stopped at roadblocks and 147 000 drivers tested for alcohol consumption. Disregard for road safety was illustrated by a driver who hurled an empty beer can out of his minibus taxi while weaving recklessly among pedestrians and red traffic lights in Johannesburg on Christmas Eve. EMPTY CHAIR AT CHRISTMAS — Page 2 Upon being pulled over, he offered traffic police a R630 bribe. He spent Christmas behind bars. Drunk drivers, pedestrians and people injured while under the influence of alcohol put additional strain on emergency treatment centres over the festive season. “Alcohol is a major contributor to serious and sometimes fatal injuries — from car crashes to domestic violence,” said Western Cape health spokesman Mark van der Heever. ❛ One of the big stumbling blocks is the sports ministry. They get a lot of money from sponsorships Statistician-general Pali Lehohla said this week that alcohol abuse was one of the main factors contributing to high suicide rates in the Northern Cape and Western Cape. Charles Parry, director of the Alcohol, Tobacco and Other Drug Research Unit at the Medical Research Council, said binge drinking was a large part of the problem. “While many people do not drink, a lot of people that do drink, drink ● Continued on Page 2 Bundles of Christmas joy, but teen moms worry MEC Coronationville with 28, which included the province’s only twins. Rob Ferreira Hospital in Mbombela in Mpumalanga welcomed 37 babies. The Western Cape saw the arrival of 160 babies — 81 boys and 79 girls. The hospital with the highest number of deliveries was Mowbray Maternity Hospital, where 11 boys and 15 girls were born. In KwaZulu-Natal, provincial hospital health workers had their hands full delivering 76 babies — 11 of whom were born to teenage girls. KwaZulu-Natal health MEC Dr Sibongiseni Dhlomo visited one hospital in Chatsworth, delivering gifts of clothing and nappies to the mothers — along with a sexeducation lecture. He said he was excited to welcome the newborns, but concerned about the number of teenage mothers. They included a 14-year-old who gave birth at St Appolonaris; two 15year-olds who gave birth at Lower Umfolozi War Memorial and Murchison Hospitals respectively; and a 16-year-old whose baby was born at Mosvold Hospital. Dhlomo said the government encouraged people to abstain from sex for as long as possible, until they were physically and psychologically ready to deal with its consequences. Hlaudi plays Santa in SABC bonus row SABELO SKITI A GROUP of mid-level SABC managers ruined Christmas for their bosses when their protest against a “once-off” 13th cheque for 22 senior executives led to the exclusive payment being halted. But if the mid-level managers were the Grinch that stole Christmas from the top executives, it was controversial SABC chief operating officer Hlaudi Motsoeneng who became their Santa Claus by announcing this week they would still get their 13th cheques, albeit only early next year. The bonuses were meant to be paid this month. The row once again brings into sharp focus the allegation that executives are using the board to rubber stamp decisions by powerful managers. The trouble began when mid-level managers — among them news editors, output editors and producers — learned that top executives, such as Motsoeneng, the head of human resources and the company secretary, were going to be paid a 13th cheque. Angry managers demanded that the bonuses be scrapped and threatened to go to court if this was not done. They took the matter up with Motsoeneng, who had been reinstated in his post a few days earlier following a contentious disciplinary process. Motsoeneng then stopped the payments, scheduled for the end of this week. Motsoeneng insisted the cheques for top executives had not been stopped, but were “delayed” to give him time to resolve “the misunderstanding” with middle managers. He said the disgruntled managers viewed the payments as bonuses, but they were merely 13th cheques that everyone except the senior managers had already received this year. But the middle managers are having none of that — with one insisting that a possible solution would be for the broadcaster to pay all its staff similar once-off payments. SABC group executive for human resources Jabulani Mabaso said senior managers had “sacrificed” their 13th cheques since 2009 as part of austerity measures at the public broadcaster. It was incorrect, he added, to say the executives had paid themselves, saying the board resolved the “once-off” payment while it weighed the permanent reinstatement of a 13th cheque. SABC company secretary Theresa ❛ There was no way we’d allow them to pay bonuses right under our noses Geldenhuys said the board decision was taken on November 26. It is likely hostilities will resume when the two groups meet again as middle managers had believed the decision to stop payment was final. “There was no way we would allow them to pay themselves once-off bonuses right under our noses,” said an unhappy middle manager. SABC spokesman Kaizer Kganyago said the payment would be between R6million and R7-million, and would be shared between 22 group executives as well as 68 general managers. The SABC’s latest figures show the 18 permanent senior managers earned R1.3-million to R3.7-million each. News ST Mainbody, 27-Dec-2015-Page 2, Cyan ST Mainbody, 27-Dec-2015- Page 2, Magenta ST Mainbody, 27-Dec-2015-Page 2, Yellow ST Mainbody, 27-Dec-2015- Page 2, Black N-1 JDCP Sunday Times 2 | NEWS Former minister gives his word on nuclear deal | December 27 2015 Santa’s Special Delivery Ben Martins explains his signature after notice in gazette sparks storm of accusations on social media SIBUSISO NGALWA and JAN-JAN JOUBERT THE government has not gone behind the backs of South Africans to sign any nuclear deal over the Christmas season. So says the man whose signature is attached to this week’s Government Gazette notice that sent social media into a frenzy of accusations that President Jacob Zuma and his cabinet waited until the holidays to sneak in the controversial R1-trillion nuclear deal. But former energy minister Ben Martins — dropped from the Zuma cabinet last year — said that all that was published this week was a “ministerial determination”, which was the first step of the process. The tendering process was yet to start, said Martins. “The note with [the National Energy Regulator of South Africa] is . . . looking at the beginning of a process [to say] is this viable or is it not viable? Then Nersa has to look at what the energy needs of the country are and . . . sign off,” he said. Martins said his understanding was that although the document was signed on November 11 2013, it was only gazetted this week because it first had to go through a cabinet subcommittee made up of about eight departments. It then had to go to the cabinet for approval. It still had to go through a parliamentary process, and then would go out on public tender. “There are a number of countries with expertise on nuclear. For instance, Russia is very good with infrastructure . . . France is the best in instrumentation, and other countries like [South] Korea, they all have their specialities. There isn’t a single country that can deliver on all aspects . . . when you build a house you have a major contractor, somebody else might be good on carpentry Picture: GALLO IMAGES NOTHING SNEAKY: Ben Martins . . . so you call in all those issues. But the country still has to decide. “Even if you read the document itself . . . it says there must be an open tender process,” he said. The Treasury would still have “to come in to say, ‘Can the country afford this?’,” said Martins. His views were backed up yesterday in a statement released by Thabane Zulu, director-general of the Department of Energy. Zulu said they had delayed gazetting the agreement between Nersa and Martins signed in 2013, and the department “accepts this should have been made clear when the determination was gazetted on 21 December”. He said cabinet had made a decision to develop nuclear power plants in June. More recently, at a cabinet meeting on December 9, they heard report backs from the Department of Energy and the Treasury about the financing of such a programme. They were now going to develop a final funding model. “The Department of Energy is com- mitted to cost effectiveness and full transparency,” said Zulu. “We will ensure that the integrity of the process is safeguarded at all times.” The notice in the gazette said the Department of Energy will be the procurement agency for any nuclear deal, and that the tendering process will be “fair, equitable, transparent, competitive and cost-effective”. It states all the nuclear power generated would be sold to Eskom unless the energy minister decided that it could be sold to additional buyers. In the October supplementary budget, the only amount set aside for nuclear was R200-million, which senior Treasury officials said would be spent on global research into the best funding models for nuclear new build. Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan recently gave the assurance that the nuclear procurement process would go ahead only if the country could afford it. [email protected] [email protected] A Palestinian wearing a Santa Claus costume hurls stones at Israeli soldiers during a protest against the construction of Jewish settlement housing and the separation wall in Ramallah, West Bank, on Christmas Day Picture: GETTY IMAGES Stephan Welz, doyen of SA art auctioneers, dies in Joburg ANDRÉ JURGENS RENOWNED auctioneer and art connoisseur Stephan Aage Welz died on Christmas Day at his home in Johannesburg after a brief illness. Welz, born in Worcester in the Cape in 1943, was introduced to art at an early age. His father Jean was a renowned artist and the young Stephan assisted in his mother Inger’s art and antique gallery. Early in his career, Welz worked in financial and administrative posts, assisting Professor Walter Battiss in the Department of Fine Arts at the University of South Africa. He was appointed a director of Sotheby’s London in 1983. The com- AFRICANA: Stephan Welz pany’s South African interests were bought out four years later, leading to the formation of Stephan Welz & Co, which conducted auctions as the Call for steps to address SA’s booze nightmare ● Continued from Page 1 How to contact us December 26 2015 PO Box 1742, Saxonwold, 2132 e-mail Editorial: [email protected] Advertising: [email protected] Website: www.sundaytimes.co.za Telephone Johannesburg: (011) 280 3000 Fax: (011) 280 5150/1 Cape Town office: (021) 488 1777 Durban office: (031) 250 8500 East London office: (043) 702 2027 9 24 40 41 42 45 32 0 1 54 135 3 705 3 727 55 061 Copyright The copyright in all material in this newspaper and its supplements is expressly reserved. Published by Times Media Group Ltd. Accuracy If you spot mistakes in our stories, please point them out to us so that we can fix them. Phone (011) 280 3253 fax (011) 280 5150/1 or e-mail [email protected] Letters to the Editor Write to PO Box 1742, Saxonwold, 2132 fax (011) 280 5150/1 SMS 33971 or e-mail [email protected] or [email protected] Sunday Times subscribes to the South African Press Code that prescribes news that is truthful, accurate, fair and balanced. If we don’t live up to the Code please contact the Press Ombudsman at: Tel: 011 484 3612/8 Fax: 011 4843619 Website: presscouncil.org.za 10 14 NEWS TIPOFFS If you have a story you would like us to investigate or report, send an e-mail with your contact details and phone number to newstipoff @sundaytimes.co.za R0 R223 957.40 R9 331.60 R2 073.70 R253.10 R165.20 R36.60 27 32 33 45 [email protected] [email protected] “You don’t know me. I walk into your house with a little piece of paper and I walk out with R15-million of your property. “How often don’t I walk out of a house with a painting under my arm that’s worth more than the house,” he said. Welz was a sought-after public speaker on the arts — both fine and decorative — and presented a TV series for more than six years on the evaluation of works of art. He also wrote what is considered the definitive book about Cape silver. He is survived by his wife Carmen, daughter Tanya, son Konrad and two grandchildren. Son’s chair empty at Xmas lunch NASHIRA DAVIDS JAKE Wootton saved lives, even after he drew his last breath. But no one could save the 18-year-old head boy from Cape Town when he was hit by a car three years ago. The driver Schalk Lubbe, allegedly drunk at the time, was found guilty of culpable homicide this month in the Strand Regional Court. While the family is grateful for the measure of justice, the pain of losing Jake intensifies. He would have turned 22 this month and started working with his father. On Friday the Woottons and their friends set the table and left a chair open for Jake when they had Christmas lunch. They have been doing so every year since his death. Jake was in matric at Milnerton High, a member of Big Bay Lifesaving Club, and someone who cared deeply for others, his father said. He was on holiday in Hermanus when Lubbe’s car hit him on April 4 2012. He sustained serious head injuries and was declared brain dead three days later. Jake’s organs were donated to others. “One of his friends LIFESAVER: Jake Wootton died after he was hit by a car in 2012 told us that it was what Jake wanted to do,” Jake’s father said. He said Lubbe, who was initially charged with drink-driving but whose blood was not drawn after the accident, had shown no remorse. Sentencing is set for next month. Matter of fact THIS month the Sunday Times received complaints for the first time in four years about stories we published about the Cato Manor “death squad”. After conducting a review of 28 articles and more than 20 pictures published since 2011, covering 20 incidents resulting in 30 deaths, we would like to correct two errors. In a graphic, “The bloody trail of the killer cops” (December 11 2011), we published a picture depicting people shot by the dog unit and metro police. Although neither the head- lines nor caption said they were killed by the Cato Manor unit, the story conveyed this impression. In “Cop says bribe charge is bid to shut him up over KZN hit squads” (December 11 2011), we also incorrectly stated that Colonel Navin Madhoe said in a sworn statement that his discs of Cato Manor shootings had not been handed in as evidence. In fact, Madhoe said they ought to have been handed in and if they were not, this would signal a cover-up. We regret the errors. 28 Subscriptions E-mail: subscriptions @sundaytimes.co.za New subscriptions: Call 0860 946 946 or go to www.timeslive.co.za Enquiries and problems: 0860 5252 00 heavily, especially at this time of year,” he said. Unpublished MRC research reveals public support for more stringent laws to deal with alcohol abuse. Statistics on alcohol abuse by South Africans are alarming: ý We have the highest number of drink-driving accidents in the world, according to the WHO. Around 58% of road deaths are linked to alcohol; ý We drink 53% more than the rest of Africa, according to Southern African Development Community research; ý The WHO ranks South Africa fourth highest internationally when it comes to the riskiest drinking patterns; and ý Research last year found that alcohol is the third largest contributor to premature death and disability, after unsafe sex and violence, both of which are influenced by drinking. Savera Kalideen, advocacy manager at Phuza Wize, said the tangible and intangible annual costs of alcohol harm totalled R37.5-billion. “We only make R16-billion to R17billion per annum in terms of taxes and excise duty . . . we are not gaining much out of the alcohol industry,” she said. In June Zodwa Ntuli, then the Department of Trade and Industry’s deputy director-general for consumer and corporate regulation, told parliament alcohol abuse was “draining the state”. DTI spokesman Sidwell Medupe said the draft liquor policy was awaiting cabinet approval and was likely to be considered before the end of the financial year. The 90 responses received might be included in the final policy. He denied the government was dragging its feet. “The criticism may be attributable to the lack of appreciation of the processes of consultation,” he said. As for the bill on alcohol advertising, little progress has been made. Parry said soon after the bill received the cabinet’s stamp of approval, an independent regulatory impact assessment was done to evaluate its effect on sectors such as sport and tourism. “One of the big stumbling blocks is the Sports Ministry. They get a lot of money from sports sponsorships in order to function,” said Parry. For close to a year, the bill has been with the ministerial committee on combating alcohol and substance abuse, which includes the ministers of health, social development and trade and industry. Lumka Oliphant, spokesman for the Department of Social Development, said the implications of the bill were complex. “Government does not want to go ahead with legislation until it has been very carefully considered and the impacts scrutinised. “We know, for example, that sporting codes, the arts, the media, advertising agencies and so on will all be impacted should this legislation go ahead.” The committee has yet to make a recommendation to the cabinet, but Oliphant said it believed the legislation would help alleviate the scourge. — Additional reporting by Andre Jurgens sole local representative for Sotheby’s. Although the company still bears his name, Welz sold the business in 2006 and joined Strauss & Co. His vast knowledge of South African art and antiques earned him many accolades. In an interview last month with the Sunday Times, Welz shared fond memories of the decades he spent immersed in the art and auctioneering world. Softly spoken and a towering presence, he was described by associates as a formidable storyteller and, in his spare time, a passionate farmer. Trust, Welz told the Sunday Times, was everything in the art business. Blue-light crash victim adds to holiday death toll STAFF REPORTERS STATE Security Minister David Mahlobo will tomorrow visit the family of an elderly man killed in a car crash involving his blue-light detail near Amsterdam in Mpumalanga. The crash occurred on Wednesday afternoon on the R33 near the Swaziland border. Authorities said it was a head-on collision between Mahlobo’s back-up vehicle and a private vehicle. Media reports identified the dead man as Herman van Schalkwyk, but authorities could not confirm this. It was reported that the Amsterdam resident was on his way home to see his family for Christmas. Mahlobo said he did not wish to divulge details of the accident, saying that he preferred to allow police investigators to conclude their investigation. “He [the deceased] has been identified and we are planning to visit the family on Monday morning to express our condolences on behalf of my protector, myself and the government. “An accident is an accident and when this happens government has a duty to see the family and apologise, even if you were not in that particular vehicle. The department and the family will then issue a statement.” Mpumalanga police spokesman Brigadier Selvy Mohlala said a case of culpable homicide was being investigated. About 600 people have been killed in almost 700 traffic accidents this month, the Road Traffic Management Corporation said yesterday. Two employees of the City of Cape Town’s safety and security department died in a head-on collision with each other on Christmas Day. Bulalekile Ganta and Zindiswa Canca were driving home after work when the crash happened just before 7pm on Old Faure Road in Mfuleni. Three people were killed yesterday morning on the R74 in KwaZulu-Natal when the bakkie in which they were travelling overturned at Middelrus, provincial traffic officials said. Two BMW drivers spent Christmas Day in Free State jails after being caught driving at speeds of 195km/h and 162km/h in 120km/h zones. ý Eight Capetonians died in four fires in the early hours yesterday and nearly 200 people were left homeless. A woman and a five-year-old girl died in a shack fire in Elsie’s River. Four adults and a child died in fires in Delft and Mfuleni. In Overcome Heights, Lavender Hill, a man died in a blaze that destroyed 13 structures. ý A lifeguard rescued a 13-year-old girl who was found face down in the sea at Wilderness in the southern Cape on Christmas Day. Lifeguards and paramedics resuscitated the teen, who was admitted to hospital in stable condition. ý Paramedics, the National Sea Rescue Institute, the Mountain Club of South Africa and Nelson Mandela Bay fire and rescue services worked together to save two dachshunds trapped in a collapsed tunnel at a quarry in Port Elizabeth. The dogs, Brody and Levi, bolted down a hole after a dassie while on a Christmas evening walk. ý A second humpback whale carcass washed up on a beach in Cape Town in three days. The 9m young male was removed from Kommetjie beach by the city council’s solid waste department yesterday after it beached on Christmas Day. Last Wednesday, a female humpback was removed from Strand beach. Authorities do not know why the animals died. “Our speculation is that the female found in Strand died from old age,” said Gregg Oelofse of the council’s environmental resource management department. “It was a fully grown adult and there were no signs of damage to the whale,” he said. News ST Mainbody, 27-Dec-2015-Page 3, Cyan ST Mainbody, 27-Dec-2015- Page 3, Magenta ST Mainbody, 27-Dec-2015-Page 3, Yellow ST Mainbody, 27-Dec-2015- Page 3, Black N-1 JDCP Sunday Times | December 27 2015 NEWS | 3 End the Trend | Social media helped reshape South Africa this year, playing a massive role in keeping those in power accountable to those they are supposed to serve. But the digital generation also showed its forgettable, silly side #2015 The year of the brainless hashtag BABALWA SHOTA WE spent 2015 glued to our cellphones with cramped thumbs as we rushed to keep up with the avalanche of hashtags on social media, from reality TV shows to political gaffes and everything in between. In the new year we look forward to even more inventive hashtags to keep us informed, opinionated and entertained. Of course, some hashtags we will never forget because they brought South Africa to a standstill and persuaded the government to listen. Among these were #FeesMustFall, the student-led protest movement that began in mid-October in response to an increase in fees at South African universities, and #RhodesMustFall, which put old-regime statues in the spotlight. But there are others that have run us ragged and these simply #MustFall. #AllWhiteParty — The year 2015 saw virgin white tumble out of the bridal closet and onto the mainstream party scene. The colour usually reserved for weddings and Catholic first holy communions became THE event dress theme for any gathering, from premium champagne A-list parties to kasi picnic festivals. Closets across Mzansi were suddenly bursting with white pants, shirts, dresses and — heaven forbid — shoes. For months we’ve been blinded by Facebook and Instagram pictures that look like a 1980s ad for washing powder, and we deserve a reprieve from this trend. Event organisers, please, I beg of you, do not subject us to any more of this torture. Perusing pictures of men in white skinny pants that leave PG13 imprints all over my timeline has been punishment enough. #MyCousinIsBetterThanYours It’s wonderful that people seem to have rediscovered family bonds, even if it is just for picture opportunities at the open-air market on a Saturday SO BEYOND THE PALE: The All White Pool Party hosted by hip-hop artist DJ L.E.S. in January UNFUNNY: The sexist hashtag #Ziright’igirls blew up in a very bad way the time and the presence of mind to pose philosophical questions as deep as Socrates’s? Could she? Really? MONROE DOCTRINE: Marilyn Monroe, seen here in 1953, was surely too busy to philosophise Picture: GETTY IMAGES afternoon, but it’s a given that a lot of relationships in the time of Instagram are as sincere as the Valencia photo filter, so we really should check ourselves before making such rash declarations. oversized designer shades hiding eyes puffy from crying the entire night while your man was popping bottles at the club with IG (Instagram) “models”. You don’t have to be smug just because he’s “put a ring on it”. #Proverbs31Woman — Congratulations on being wifed, darling, but you’re showing your ugly insecure colours by sub-tweeting your husband’s side chicks with this scripture. Save your holier-than-thou attitude for your charismatic church selfies on Sunday, so we can oohhh and aaahhh at your #QuotesFromCelebrities — Before you post that selfaffirming quote from Marilyn Monroe, ask yourself this: could this gorgeous bombshell really have taken time out of her busy life of presidential affairs, reading scripts, numbing herself with pills and potions . . . could she really have had #Ziright’igirls — A curious thing happened around about the time South Africa was observing the annual 16 Days of Activism for No Violence ❛ Against Women and Children. This hashtag blew up in such a big way that even Nando’s made a parody of it. Until then, this sexist wisecrack, which means “Are the girls OK?”, had been an inner-circle joke among political fat cats and business movers and shakers when they gathered in the dark confines of clubs like Cubana and Taboo with a posse of “models” meant to make them look good. Like most patriarchal sentiments that come cloaked in the guise of a joke, it went from funny to insulting in a blink. The chicken franchise should have stayed away from this flaming mess. #Balling (living the good life) — Because you are sitting in the VIP section taking pics with sponsored bottles of booze? Phuleeze! #AKAvsCassper — Stop, just stop. It’s enough now; you’ve both milked it dry. Between the twars (Twitter wars) and the nightclub bitchslap that rapper AKA served to his musical nemesis Cassper, this beef gave us something to cackle about during world event lulls. But even the tabloids have got bored with this infantile, never-ending fight. AKA, you’re making your mark around the African continent and recently cracked the UK radio market; and Cassper, you made history by being the first local artist to fill a 20 000-capacity venue for his own show. Enjoy your success and leave the beef — manufactured or not — behind in 2015. Remember, it didn’t end well for 2Pac and Biggie. PLAY NICELY: Rappers AKA and Cassper’s boring vendetta has run out of steam and interest Picture: LUCKY NXUMALO Heady cocktails of fire, ice and colour Asanda trips the starlight fantastic Shake it, stir it, drink it — the cocktail has been given several new twists, and the main ingredient is imagination SUTHENTIRA GOVENDER FEW teenagers can brag about performing for Antonio Banderas, Lindsay Lohan, Eva Longoria, Nicole Scherzinger and Victoria Beckham. Nor can they boast of sharing a stage with The Beach Boys, David Foster and Alexander Burke. But 14-year-old Asanda Jezile can do just that. Asanda, who was born in the UK to South African couple Luyanda and Prudence Jezile, has taken the international music scene by storm after featuring on Britain’s Got Talent two years ago. She shot to fame in the UK, after she wowed the judges of the talent show, including hardto-please Simon Cowell. But Asanda’s rendition of Rihanna’s Diamonds also provoked an outcry, with some Brits dismissing her dance moves as too provocative. Becoming a finalist and earning praise from Cowell, who told her she had “amazing stage presence”, opened doors for the southeast London schoolgirl. While she is recording her own album, Asanda’s cover versions of Beyoncé and Rihanna tracks have earned her a following, particularly on YouTube, where videos of her performances have clocked up more than 55 million hits. Her most recent feat was performing at the Friends of Israel Defence Forces fundraiser in LA, which was attended by Hollywood stars such as Banderas. She said one of her most memorable performances was at the Global Gift gala at the Four Seasons Hotel in London last year, where the teen met #20Sweet16 — every year, just after Christmas, we are subjected to these inane, kitschy declarations tinged with a dose of desperate wishful thinking. In 2014 we had #20ForMe. This year was supposed to be #20FitMeIn and now we have #20Sweet16. They are all accompanied by equally futile challenges, like #100DaysOfBeingNice to others. This coming year, can we please stop embarrassing ourselves by jumping on to every New Year hashtag trend, then posting passive-aggressive quotes when people call us out on it two months down the line? OKthanksbye. Event organisers, please, I beg of you, do not subject us to any more of this torture JEROME CORNELIUS and FARREN COLLINS SOUL SISTERS: Asanda Jezile with Nicole Scherzinger Scherzinger, Longoria and the Beckhams. “Nicole came up to me after my performance and hugged and squeezed me. So did Ricky Martin and Eva Longoria. I performed Diamonds and Halo at the gala event,” said the teen. Asanda, who arrived in South Africa this week with her family, said she was always excited to return to her parents’ birthplace, East London. “I started singing when I was very young, around the age of three. I could sing before I could talk,” she said. Her parents left the Eastern Cape 17 years ago and settled in London. Luyanda featured in the acclaimed stage production of The Lion King, and now man- ages his daughter’s career. He and his wife have also prepared her for the hardship of the entertainment industry. “We’ve told her not everyone will always love you,” he said. Asanda’s ritual of saying a “little prayer” before taking the stage helps to soothe her nerves. She is very much in touch with her Xhosa roots. “Even though I’m in London, all of our friends are South African. I never feel that the culture is gone. We still eat pap in London, we still have traditional Xhosa dishes like umfino [spinach].” Asanda’s plan for the new year is to finish her album and focus on her education. NEW Year’s Eve would not be complete without a drink to savour. These are some of the hottest cool cocktails coastal revellers will be sipping as the sun sets on the year. The Icy Hot, prepared by bartender Luke Whearty at Outrage of Modesty, the Cape Town CBD’s newest trendy hangout, contains green apple, honey, vinegar, coconut and lavender. It gets its punch from tequila. “The idea is to choose a drink based on flavours you enjoy, not a preconceived idea of what gin or whisky taste like,” said Whearty. “The Icy Hot is a twolayered cocktail: one icy cold; the other warm and frothy.” Dom de Lorenzo, named South Africa’s best bartender in this year’s “World Class” showdown, serves The Hex of La Lorana at his mobile Molecular Bars. It includes Ron Zacapa 23year-old rum, coffee, orgeat (almond) syrup, pineapple purée and a dash of grapefruit juice. “It is a bit out there due to its flaming garnish, which is a granadilla half-filled with absinthe and set on fire and dusted with cinnamon,” said De Lorenzo. The Deep Blue cocktail served at Cafè Manhattan in De Waterkant, Cape Town, is an orange and pineapple drink topped with a twisted Long Island mix: vodka, gin, tequila, rum, blue curaçao and triple sec. Manager Taswell Heubner COLOUR ME BOOZY: From left, The Deep Blue served at Cafè Manhattan in De Waterkant, Cape Town, includes six different spirits; champion bartender Dom de Lorenzo’s The Hex of La Lorana; and bartender David Simon White preparing an Old Fashioned at Tjing Tjing rooftop bar in Cape Town said: “Stick to one drink and have a bottle of still or sparkling water accompany you for in between. Go on your barman’s recommendations as he knows what works.” The Old Fashioned prepared by bartender David Simon White is the most popular cocktail at Tjing Tjing rooftop bar in Longmarket Street, Cape Town, according to manager Faye Winters. A double shot of bourbon goes into a glass with ice, Angostura bitters and a dash of sugar syrup. “Four to five rinds are cut off an orange and then squeezed over the glass to release their natural oils,” said Winters. “While squeezing the rinds David holds a lighter flame close to the rind, and the oils ignite. This adds a smoky, citrus flavour to the drink.” For the aspirational Durbanite looking for a bit of escapism, The Chairman on the city’s waterfront offers a drink worthy of its name. The Surrender Your Booty is a martini with a twist. It comes shaken with a mix of Gordon’s gin, Cointreau, fresh ginger and extra-dry vermouth. ❛ The idea is to choose a drink based on flavours you enjoy “This drink describes the idea we had for this area,” said Mayo Ndlovu, The Chairman’s manager. “There is a lot of energy here, but not the right kind of energy so we wanted to convert it, and Surrender Your Booty symbolises that.” For budding mixologists, The March Hare in Wynberg, Johannesburg, offers cocktailmaking classes that promise to turn the most amateur of mixers into pros in just five hours. “People with bars at home and plenty of stock love this,” said co-founder Alicia Bulter. “We teach them how to mix their own cocktails, balance them and blend them with different flavours,” she said. “Then we go into the different methods like shaken or stirred, and even down to the type of glass you should use.” News ST Mainbody, 27-Dec-2015-Page 4, Cyan ST Mainbody, 27-Dec-2015- Page 4, Magenta ST Mainbody, 27-Dec-2015-Page 4, Yellow ST Mainbody, 27-Dec-2015- Page 4, Black N-1 JDCP Sunday Times 4 | NEWS Student funds body rejected R1bn loan aid | December 27 2015 Home for Christmas Middle-class students the losers as PIC solution snubbed for covering too few students overall PREGA GOVENDER THE government has seemingly snubbed a R1-billion financial aid package from the Public Investment Corporation that could have helped 3 300 students from middle-class families secure a place at university. This emerged amid a warning by a task team — appointed by President Jacob Zuma to investigate short-term funding challenges experienced by middleclass students — that protests could be triggered on campuses early next year. The PIC’s proposal made to the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS), was meant to assist between 275 and 350 students a year over seven years, as part of an attempt to provide loans to as many as 350 000 financially needy students from upper-working-class and lower-middle-class families. About 186 000 poor students, whose families earn up to R122 000 per annum, are covered by loans and bursaries from the student aid scheme. Diane Parker, deputy director-general for university education in the Department of Higher Education, said that the PIC’s R1-billion proposal “covered too few students” and “it wasn’t the sort of solution that could be put in place for the wider problem”. “That’s why there was a decision that there needed to be further work to look at what are the full range of options, and can we put in place something that will really cover the ‘missing middle’ [the upper working class and lower middle class] more effectively,” said Parker. “We want to look at something that’s much broader than [the R1-billion] that can really make a big dent in this process around providing funding for students.” She denied the department had turned down the PIC proposal, saying Higher Education Minister Blade Nzimande “hasn’t made any kind of particular determination around it”. “But he did request that we look to see whether or not there were other possibilities and that’s part of what led towards looking at broadening the net. “It’s not to say that the PIC couldn’t be part of the fund that becomes available.” However, a senior source within the department said that a report prepared by officials from the NSFAS, which Nzimande is studying, had found NO GO: Diane Parker of the Higher Education Department OPTIONS: Minister of Higher Education Blade Nzimande MODEL: Sizwe Nxasana, chairman of the NSFAS board that the PIC proposal “was not a viable option because they are not going to take us out of the problem with what they put on the table”. The source said the preferred route after engagements with the PIC was to negotiate with the banks “because they have a lot of money”. According to the source, the “first route” of the officials from ❛ The issue is we dish out money as loans but you can’t recover it so it’s a bottomless pit the NSFAS was to meet with the PIC, because it was the largest fund manager in Africa and was responsible for the Government Employees Pension Fund. However, the source said, the PIC had expressed reservations about the NSFAS’s capacity to collect monies owed by students who had graduated and found employment. “The issue is, we dish out money as loans but you can’t recover it so it’s a bottomless pit,” said the source. Sizwe Nxasana, chairman of the NSFAS board, said it was not true that his board or Nzimande had turned down the PIC’s offer. “The offer has simply been overtaken by events given the student protests which started in October 2015, and the appointment of the presidential task team on student fees.” He said the proposed product was being considered in the context of a broader and more comprehensive funding model for poor and “missing middle” students. But the proposal was not very attractive because it required the NSFAS to underwrite the default losses on the loans and parents would have to start servicing the interest and capital before students completed their studies. Nxasana said the financing model he was working on sought to fund poor university students and the “missing middle” students. It was a public-private partnership involving members of the Banking Association, the Association of Savings and Investments and Business Leadership South Africa. “The model envisages raising adequate funding from various sources including the public and private sectors to fund poor and missing middle students.” PIC spokesman Deon Botha said an amount of R1-billion had been mentioned during the preliminary discussions “but there was no indication from NSFAS that they do not agree with this amount”. “As no official response was received from NSFAS, no final amount for the PIC’s participation could be confirmed.” Botha said the PIC managed pension fund monies and had an obligation to manage its credit risk exposure. [email protected] Comment on this: write to [email protected] or SMS us at 33971 www.sundaytimes.co.za Cape Town mayor Patricia de Lille handed out gifts to children in the Sea Views development in Hangberg, Hout Bay, on Christmas Day. Recently the city transferred four residential units to the community as part of Cape Town’s integrated development plan Picture: ESA ALEXANDER If it’s a good Friday, it must be Easter STEVE Harvey, the man who famously gave the Miss Universe crown to the wrong contestant, has now offered the world Easter greetings — on Christmas Day. “Merry Easter, y’all!” ran the caption to a picture of a smiling Harvey, smoking a cigar and flashing a “V” sign. The picture was posted on Friday on Harvey’s social media accounts. Harvey poked fun at himself — and his gaffes — in his first public appearance since the high-profile fiasco. Harvey, a 58-year-old comedian and talkshow host, misread his cue card in front of a global TV audience at the Miss Universe pageant on December 20 and announced that Miss Colombia, Ariadna Gutierrez, had triumphed. He apologised moments later, saying Miss Philippines, Pia Alonzo Wurtzbach, was actually the winner. Harvey apologised on Twitter for what he called “an TONGUE IN CHEEK: Steve Harvey’s Christmas card on Facebook honest mistake”, but identified the women as “Miss Philippians and Miss Columbia”. He quickly corrected the spelling mistakes and deleted the tweet. Viewers can expect to see a lot more of him. “Steve Harvey Signs Multi-Year Deal to Host Miss Universe,” ran the headline on Comedyhype.com website. Harvey posted a link to the site on his Facebook page. The brief text, quoting an ET Online story, said the contract, signed just before the pageant aired, “is for at least three years, possibly even as many as six or seven”. After the pageant mix-up several people claimed on Twitter it was a publicity stunt to boost the sagging TV ratings of Harvey and the event. “I generally don’t buy into conspiracy theories, but this is the most attention the Miss Universe pageant has gotten since, well, ever,” said sports writer Les East. Another tweet said: “Steve Harvey’s mistake was all a conspiracy created for two purposes: make Miss Universe relevant again. Make Steve Harvey relevant again.” Online magazine Salon called doubters “Miss Universe truthers” — a US term for conspiracy theory devotees — that “show how paranoid we’ve become”. — AFP Journalist faces China expulsion CHINA confirmed the imminent expulsion of a French journalist in the first such case since 2012, accusing her of “championing” terrorist acts. Ursula Gauthier, a Beijingbased correspondent for French news magazine L’Obs, must issue a public apology for an article she wrote last month or China’s Foreign Ministry will not renew her press credentials, officials told Gauthier on Christmas Day. Gauthier’s article spoke of China’s anti-terrorism policies in the western region of Xinjiang, where many members of the Muslim Uighur ethnic minority complain of discrimination. Chinese media is strictly controlled, but foreign media are free to publish on any topic. However, foreign journalists frequently complain of harassment. — AFP Zuma’s Christmas cheer lifts grateful gogos NATHI OLIFANT PRESIDENT Jacob Zuma’s support in the business sector and academia and among the country’s politicos and middle class may have plummeted, but there was no sign of that when he played Father Christmas in Durban on Wednesday. Zuma used the first leg of his annual senior citizens Christmas party, in Savannah Park, Durban, to address the criticism he faced this year. Zuma’s off-the cuff speech drew a lot of applause, ululating and giggling from the crowd as he recounted events from his rural life. Accompanied by his director-general Cassius Lubisi and Arts and Culture Minister Nathi Mthethwa, Zuma said the elderly were there to guide society and instil values and respect. He said they were the backbone of families and should be protected. “I respect people. I have much respect for everyone. I respect children and I even respect opposition parties and I do not even point fingers at them,” he said. Zuma has had a rough ride from opposition parties this year, with the leader of the DA, Mmusi Maimane, calling him a broken man presiding over a broken society. The EFF criticised his giggling as he refused to answer questions about his NATHI OLIFANT SHE may have clashed with Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma in the past, but newly elected ANC eThekwini chairwoman Zandile Gumede has given the clearest indication yet that the powerful region will back the African Union head as South Africa’s next president. “Woman premier, woman president — whatever the challenge, we are ready,” she told the Sunday Times. Gumede is aligned with the faction led by ANC KwaZulu-Natal chairman Sihle Zikalala, which is supporting Dlamini-Zuma’s campaign. Early in 2013, Dlamini-Zuma sub- SHOULDER TO LEAN ON: President Jacob Zuma with one of the senior citizens who received a food parcel at his annual senior citizens Christmas party in Savannah Park, Durban, this week Picture: ROGAN WARD presidency, including those relating to his Nkandla home and the economy. “I respect them all, yes I respect them,” he said this week — with a chuckle. “I do not get angry; in fact, I hardly get angry. If you are angry, your judgment gets cloudy and you end up taking irrational decisions. “That’s why I have lived this long and surpassed my age limit. I am now living in a grace period,” said the 73-year-old. Zuma lamented the destruction of family structure and values, which he said was bleeding morals from society. “Family life and values had been replaced by the pursuit of individual interests,” he said. “These are often selfish and to the detriment of the greater good.” Later, an isicathamiya group of prisoners who entertained guests at the event had Zuma in stitches when they sang songs with lyrics such as: “Mmusi Maimane and Helen Zille, leave Zuma alone and stop asking about the multimillion-rands house . . . you Julius, you should stop, and Thuli Madonsela, please protect the president of the republic.” From time to time the group leader took the microphone to impersonate Zuma’s now infamous cry of “Nkaaandlaaaa”. Clementine Khena, 77, said she did not care who Zuma appointed as the minister of finance as long as that person did not cut the social welfare grant. Khena was referring to Zuma’s controversial decision to axe finance minister Nhlanhla Nene and replace him with the unknown David van Rooyen, only to sack him four days later and appoint Pravin Gordhan. “Every employer has a right to employ whoever they like. uMsholozi bahlale bemsukela nje [they are always accusing Zuma],” she said. Zuma will today preside over the second leg of the senior citizens Christmas party, at Mnyakanya High School sports ground in Nkandla. Zuma donated two cows for the parties. Dlamini-Zuma wins Durban support mitted a report into events leading up to the 2011 local government elections in which she recommended that Gumede, among others, be removed as a councillor. This followed serious allegations including murder, meddling in the list process and her election as a councillor in an area in which she did not live. Gumede said a subsequent ANC team led by provincial deputy chair Willies Mchunu and national executive committee member Joe Phaahla later found that the allegations against her were unfounded. “I must admit that a long time ago I had fled Maoti, my ward, and rented a flat in Phoenix,” said Gumede. “I was extremely victimised and was nearly killed but people elected me and said they wanted me . . . Yes, there were challenges but I was later exonerated from all the allegations in the Nkosazana report.” Gumede is now in charge of the ANC’s biggest and most influential re- gion. She replaced her rival, mayor James Nxumalo, who withdrew from the leadership race two weeks ago. His supporters alleged that the process had been manipulated to favour her. Gumede is a veteran councillor in eThekwini, with a seat on the powerful executive committee. She also chairs the health, safety and social services committee. Her election makes her eligible to become the Metro’s mayor after next year’s local government election. News ST Mainbody, 27-Dec-2015-Page 5, Cyan ST Mainbody, 27-Dec-2015- Page 5, Magenta ST Mainbody, 27-Dec-2015-Page 5, Yellow ST Mainbody, 27-Dec-2015- Page 5, Black N-1 JDCP Sunday Times | December 27 2015 NEWS | 5 Holiday dreams dashed by Home Affairs red tape Government’s on-off visa rules leave a trail of misery as travellers are ensnared in confusion SUTHENTIRA GOVENDER, TASCHICA PILLAY and SHELLEY SEID GIFTS intended for eight-yearold Riley Fernandez and his twoyear-old sister Emmie lie unopened under a Christmas tree in Boksburg. Riley and Emmie, from Blackburn, England, didn’t get to spend Christmas with their ailing South African grandparents after their 17-day dream holiday to South Africa was ruined last Saturday. Turkish Airlines refused to allow Riley to board the Johannesburg flight because he and his mother Rachelle Stassen have different surnames. This is because Rachelle remarried and took the name of her new husband, former South African Martin Stassen. The family are casualties of confusion over the government’s visa regulations, which require anyone flying in and out of South Africa with a child to have a full unabridged birth certificate. Lone adults flying with their children must provide written consent from the other parent. The ruling, introduced in June last year to prevent child trafficking, has caused confusion at international immigration desks and resulted in a number of travellers being banned from flying to South Africa for the holidays. Former South African accountant Grant Hughes almost missed his Umhlanga wedding on Wednesday because his children Keagan and Caitlin did not ❛ My dad has cancer . . . I’m not sure if I’ll see him again. We can’t afford to travel again have their unabridged birth certificates. The family were due to travel to South Africa last week but were turned away by Ethiopian Airlines at Heathrow Airport. The family were refunded their flight fares and arrived in Durban on Tuesday night, just in time for the beach wedding. Tourism operators say con- fusion over the visa requirements has cost South Africa many millions of rands in revenue and plenty of bad publicity, but home affairs spokesman Mayihlome Tshwete said thousands of travellers from the UK had arrived without complication because they had complied with the regulations. “On December 18 we recorded the highest number of people, 29 000, who moved in and out of our borders. Last year at the same time, 24 000 people were recorded,” Tshwete said. “We have requirements for people coming to South Africa and if they did not meet them they weren’t allowed to come to the country.” He said the department had set a schedule for amending aspects of the visa regulations. “That requires legislative change. Until January all the regulations remain the same. “We have made concessions. We have given timelines for those concessions . . . [but] until we have created the legal instrument that makes it possible, the same requirements will still apply,” said Tshwete. He said airlines had informed FLIGHT RISKS: Eight-year-old Riley Fernandez and his sister Emmie, left, at Manchester Airport before their holiday to South Africa was cancelled. Right, Grant Hughes and his kids Caitlin and Keagan almost did not make it to his wedding to Nadine, left, in Umhlanga travellers of the requirements. In the case of the Stassens the airline refused to budge even after South African immigration authorities gave a written assurance that the family would be allowed into the country. Turkish Airlines stood its ground, claiming the Stassens did not have written permission, drawn up by a lawyer, from Riley’s father to allow him to fly to South Africa. This is despite the fact that the boy’s father went to Manchester Airport to tell the airline he was aware the child was travelling abroad. Martin Stassen said his family ❛ Instead of positive words about SA, tourists say it is too difficult to get there were devastated their R80 000 holiday was ruined. “My dad has cancer. This was a holiday planned in detail so we could spend quality time together. I’m not sure if I’ll see him again. We can’t afford to travel again and we’ve used our leave.” The airline has promised to refund two-fifths of the price of their tickets. Southern African Tourism Services Association chief executive David Frost said the onus was on home affairs to keep the international tourism sector abreast of new requirements. “They did nothing until 13 days before it was due to be implemented, and even then there were six changes during this period. The requirements are complex and onerous,” he said. “There is no standard way of notarising a document. While in South Africa we can go to the local police station, in the UK you have to pay a lawyer and the costs can be onerous.” Although his association had communicated the requirements to the inbound market, there were limitations. “We have briefed all the overseas tour operators, but there is very little we can do regarding direct bookings through the internet. People go online and trawl through websites looking for the cheapest deals and the regulations won’t pop up there.” Mavuso Msimang, chairman of the Tourism Business Council of South Africa, said an intermin- isterial committee agreed people from countries that do not need visas to visit South Africa would be exempt from the birth certificate requirement. “[But] communication has been a problem. International media write about the problems that people experience. Not only are we losing tourists but we are also losing a public relations battle,” Msimang said. “The more problems are identified which really could be resolved, the more everybody loses.” Flight Centre’s marketing specialist Sharmila Ragunanan said the regulation was “illadvised”. “We have appealed to the government to work with the tourism and travel sector to find more workable, less damaging ways to manage child smuggling and national security concerns,” she said. SAA said it conducted awareness campaigns, but the onus was on travellers to ensure they “meet and comply with all travel and/or entry requirements of countries they travel to”. [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] Comment on this: write to [email protected] or SMS us at 33971 www.sundaytimes.co.za Closing time for parly’s genial, discreet Barney JAN-JAN JOUBERT BARMAN Barney Barnard would rock the house if he ever revealed the political secrets of South Africa’s parliamentarians. Barnard, who this week hung up his apron after 40 years in the parliamentary bar in Cape Town, certainly has some stories to tell. For years “I’ll meet you at Barney’s” or “We’ll sort it out over a drink at Barney’s” was a byword for political intrigue, friendship, betrayal and manoeuvring. Barnard — who has retired to his home in Bellville with his wife Juliana and his children — was parliament’s barman extraordinaire. He saw much but told little. He witnessed political ambitions being realised and hopes being dashed. He served the celebratory drinks for the successes, and provided liquid solace for the failures. He saw the powerful triumph, and many a great man cry. He saw it all. His career in parliament’s bar began on January 16 1975 when John Vorster was prime minister and apartheid was in full force. A few defence force conscripts were asked to help at the grand opening of the parliamentary session, which in those days took place in January. CHECK THIS: Chess champ Naseem Essa Picture: ROGAN WARD SA kids king of castle at chess tournament TASCHICA PILLAY SOUTH African chess whizz kids have bagged 13 medals at the African Youth Chess Championship in Zambia. Naseem Essa, 12, and Talia Govender, 7, both brought home gold for their first spots in the under-12 boys and under-8 girls divisions respectively two weeks ago. Naseem, a Grade 6 pupil at Glenwood Preparatory School in Durban, said: “I was familiar with many of the others I played against, but it is always nice playing people you have never met before and interacting with people from different cultures.” The straight-A pupil starts his day at 4am, playing chess, reading up on chess programs and learning and analysing the game online. “Chess has helped me with my maths, science and history, especially memorising dates and events in history,” he said. “Chess involves a lot of thinking of the moves in your head and calculating before playing it on the board. “When at home I play against computer programs or online against a friend in Namibia, who I met at the championship.” Naseem is working to become a grandmaster — the highest level a chess player can attain. He started playing chess at the age of six when he received a chess board for his birthday. “Grade 3 was my best year in chess, representing South Africa and the year I beat a Grade 7 pupil who was a top player in school. I then started taking chess seriously,” he said. Apart from chess, he enjoys playing table tennis and cricket. He has thus far spent his holidays learning computer programming and has been for cricket coaching. Talia’s mother, Sandra Govender, said her daughter was elated when she won because she played and beat girls older than her. “Although she won in the under-8 category, she played girls from the under-10 division,” said Govender. The Grade 2 Crawford College Pretoria pupil, who started playing chess in Grade 1, participated this year for the first time at an international level when she went to the Commonwealth Chess Games in India in July. “We are very proud of her achievement. This year she also won an award for participating in the most number of tournaments in her division,” said Govender. Talia, who is ranked No 1 in South Africa in the under-8 division, and Naseem are due to head to Cape Town next week for the junior national championships. ❛ We were not allowed to have anything to do with Mugabe’s food, and his people were not allowed anywhere near us. Mutual fear of poisoning abounded One of Barnard’s first big tasks was to accompany a train to Victoria Falls in August that year. The train was parked on the bridge spanning the falls, and the democratisation of Rhodesia/Zimbabwe was negotiated. “They were all there — [Rhodesian leader] Ian Smith, [future Zimbabwean president] Robert Mugabe, Vorster, [Zambian leader Kenneth] Kaunda, [defence minister] PW Botha. We were not allowed to have anything to do with Mugabe’s food, and his people were not allowed anywhere near us. Mutual fear of poisoning abounded,” Barnard recalled. During the parliamentary recess, Barnard worked on the railways and in 1978 became the first waiter to serve a black passenger on the Blue Train. All the other waiters refused. Barnard bore the brunt of cruel racist comments by colleagues long afterwards. He was to see much more of Botha, who became prime minister and then state president, and whose wife, Tannie Elize, took a liking to Barnard. He worked at the Botha home in Wilderness, an undertaking marked by contradictions. “If I were to use two doilies, she would admonish me for wasting taxpayers’ money,” said Barnard. In those days, waiters like Barnard Picture: DAVID HARRISON AS PW BOTHA ONCE SAID: Parliamentary barman Barney Barnard at his home in Bellville, Cape Town WHAT’LL IT BE? Barnard with President Jacob Zuma, IFP leader Mangosuthu Buthelezi (‘always a gentleman’) and as a young barman on the railways were expected to wait, motionless, in the corner of the room until required. The Bothas’ teenage son Rossouw took pleasure in taking pot shots at Barnard with nuts, who was not allowed to move but was scolded by Tannie Elize about the nutty mess her little angel made. After FW de Klerk took over in 1989, things became more relaxed. Overseas and black visitors became ❛ If I were to use two doilies, she would admonish me for wasting taxpayers’ money commonplace. Barnard helped with the catering at Tuynhuys on the day Nelson Mandela’s release was announced, and on the day of his presidential inauguration. In the democratic dispensation, he proved equally valuable, and no less a personage than the then Speaker Frene Ginwala put her foot down when there were moves to place him elsewhere. US president Bill Clinton, Britain’s Queen Elizabeth, cabinet minister Blade Nzimande, EFF leader Julius Malema . . . he has seen them come and go, and has a tale about each. Visit him at home in Bellville and you will hear a host of stories about South Africa. For Barnard, a much-loved institution at parliament, last rounds have not quite been served. Oh Christmas tree, gay and bright, but better outside NOT INSIDE: The Vatican’s tree in the square outside St Peter’s Basilica Picture: GETTY IMAGES SRI Lanka’s Catholic cardinal has told priests not to put up Christmas trees in their churches, saying they have no religious significance — and are instead symbols of parties and shopping centres. Malcolm Ranjith, the archbishop of Colombo, issued a statement telling clergymen to “try to avoid putting up Christmas trees inside the churches”. “These do not belong to the sacred significance of Christmas but are more connected to social and family celebrations . . . They have also become symbols of Christmas in malls and public squares,” he said. Sri Lanka is a mainly Buddhist country, but around 1.2 million of its 21 million people are Catholic. December 25 is a national holiday in Sri Lanka and shops and streets are often festooned with Christmas decorations and lights during the festive period. Speaking to the BBC, the Rev Ignatius Varnakulasingam, a priest in Colombo, said the church was not opposed to the Christmas tree entirely — which he acknowledged was “fun” — but simply its installation in places of worship. “The Christmas tree is not a liturgical symbol,” he said. “It cannot be put in the sanctuary of the church.” Although the Vatican has a Christmas tree, it is not installed in St Peter’s Basilica but outside, in the square, the priest said. The origins of the Christmas tree are somewhat disputed. Historians say trees first began ❛ These do not belong to the sacred significance of Christmas to appear in homes as part of the pagan tradition, with evergreen boughs put above windows and doors to ward off evil spirits and illness, or as a symbol of everlasting life. The Christmas tree as it is now known is generally traced to Germany, where Christians began bringing them into their homes in the 16th century. Some say the Protestant reformer Martin Luther was the first to do so; others say it first began to be used in nativity plays as a symbol of the Garden of Eden. For his part, Varnakulasingam said the Christmas tree originated in Europe, par- ticularly in Germany, where people suffered from a lack of greenery in the winter. He also took aim at Father Christmas, saying the church would like to return to his more religious predecessor, Saint Nicolas. However, he acknowledged that it would be difficult because “all the shops, they all have Santa Claus”. In general, the concept of Christmas was being degraded, the priest said. “Sad to say now in the US they don’t say ‘happy Christmas’ but they say ‘[happy] holidays’.” — © The Daily Telegraph, London News ST Mainbody, 27-Dec-2015-Page 6, Cyan ST Mainbody, 27-Dec-2015- Page 6, Magenta ST Mainbody, 27-Dec-2015-Page 6, Yellow ST Mainbody, 27-Dec-2015- Page 6, Black N-1 JDCP Sunday Times 6 | NEWS Pregnant women warned as ‘rogue’ drug is recalled | December 27 2015 Beach Boep Bottles of folic acid tablets found to contain a potentially dangerous anti-inflammatory SHELLEY SEID and SUTHENTIRA GOVENDER THE discovery of potentially dangerous “rogue” pills mixed in with harmless over-thecounter vitamins has led to the recall of more than 18 000 containers of folic acid tablets from around South Africa. A complaint to Ranbaxy Pharmaceuticals (SA) (Pty) Ltd last week that its Be-Tabs Folic Acid product included a Schedule 3 prescription capsule called Betacin led to the company issuing a recall notice on Wednesday. Folic acid, or vitamin B9, is routinely prescribed for women who are planning to fall pregnant, or who are in their first trimester. Folic acid has been found to prevent birth defects such as spina bifida and hemolytic disease. The supplement is also used to prevent and treat anaemia, colon or cervical cancer, heart disease and strokes. But Betacin is an anti-inflammatory drug with the active ingredient indomethacin. It has a range of side effects in pregnant women, including delayed labour. And indomethacin may be passed on to babies through breast milk. A pharmacist at a leading pharmacy chain, who did not want to be identified, warned that Betacin was potentially dangerous for pregnant women. “The Be-Tab Folic Acid that has been recalled is a very popular brand. It is a big concern to us that rogue Betacin is con- RED ALERT: The little yellow pills that contain folic acid. Betacin capsules have been mixed in by mistake Picture: ROGAN WARD tained in the same bottle,” the pharmacist said. “Betacin is a yellow capsule, while folic acid is a small yellow tablet. “An ordinary person taking it can see the difference between a capsule and a tablet, but if a ❛ Betacin . . . has a range of side effects in pregnant women, including delayed labour pregnant woman takes it, there could be serious repercussions; there could be birth defects and it could cause an abortion.” The pharmacist said a pregnant woman would have to take a week’s supply of Betacin for it to cause “substantial damage”. “It causes gastrointestinal bleeding, and if people taking it don’t suffer with any inflammation problems, an ulcer will result almost immediately.” The pharmacist said that by declaring Betacin a Schedule 3 drug, the authorities were warning that it had serious side effects, and could therefore only be prescribed by a doctor and not sold over the counter. Keiso Mofokeng, a quality control manager at Ranbaxy, said the As thousands of families flocked to the coast for their annual seaside holidays, children played in the sand on a Durban beach company had issued the recall because of Betacin’s side effects. The affected Be-Tabs product was made at the company’s Roodepoort, Johannesburg, plant in 2014 and was sent to two national suppliers. Mofokeng said: “At this stage we don’t know how widespread this is, and we are in the process of doing an investigation.” He was unable to comment on possible legal implications. “Only once we have done an internal investigation can we make a statement on possible implications. “When we hit a quality control issue we recall, and then evaluate. Upfront, we can’t speculate on who may or may not have taken the pills,” Mofokeng said. “We know over 18 000 units of that particular batch have been released,” he said. “We don’t know how many contain the incorrect medication, and we don’t know how many are in the supply chain.” He said the company was appealing to those who had inadvertently taken pills from batch 2651410 to do three things: “Firstly, cease taking the pills; secondly, return the used container to the pharmacy, clinic or wherever it was obtained; and, thirdly, contact the company.” Ranbaxy South Africa — owned by Sun Pharma, the world’s fifth-largest generic pharmaceutical company — makes Picture: ROGAN WARD generic and original medicines and sells them in South Africa and neighbouring countries. [email protected] [email protected] Comment on this: write to [email protected] or SMS us at 33971 www.sundaytimes.co.za YEARNING: Mantombi Magagula and Busi Magagula, family of Kenny Motsamai, an Apla member who has been in jail for 26 years, are waiting for his release Picture: SIMPHIWE NKWALI Jailed Apla commander says no to ‘unreasonable’ parole THANDUXOLO JIKA FORMER Azanian People’s Liberation Army commander Kenny Motsamai, who was initially granted parole last week, will not be released next month as initially scheduled. He has already spent 26 years behind bars after being convicted of murder. But in a surprise announcement, Justice Minister Michael Masutha has put the parole on hold pending an “investigation”. The minister’s spokesman, Mthunzi Mhaga, said that on December 1 Masutha had approved parole for Motsamai, 52, after the National Council of Correctional Services had recommended his release. Motsamai had been due for release on January 18. “However, subsequent to the minister’s approval, new development necessitated an investigation by the Department of Correctional Services. We are not at liberty to give details of those internal investigations until they have been finalised,” Mhaga said. But Motsamai’s lawyer Luleka Flatela said one of the parole conditions was that her client be electronically tagged, and he refused to accept this. “One condition is that he should be given a day parole and that a tracking device be attached to him. His stance is that the conditions are unfair and unreasonable,” said Flatela. Motsamai’s family had hoped that he would spend Christmas with them. Instead, his daughter Busi Magagula, 25, was not allowed into the Boksburg Prison to spend Christmas with her fa- MONITORING: Kenny Motsamai refuses to be tagged ther — an annual ritual since she was 12. He is reported to be on a hunger strike and is in solitary confinement. Motsamai was jailed for the murder of a white traffic officer in what he claimed was a politically motivated killing. He was denied the blanket amnesty he sought from the Truth and Reconciliation Commission. His parole came as a result of a court battle at the High Court in Johannesburg that ended with Motsamai’s lawyers reaching an agreement with Masutha’s legal team that he be recommended for parole. Said Magagula: “Today I am still as sad as I have been over the past few years because my father has been denied freedom. I had hoped that he would be out so that we can be a family again, at least for him to see his grandson who is already four now. “I just want him home but I am confused now about what is going on. We are not getting any answers anymore.” The murdered traffic officer had witnessed Motsamai and three members of his Apla unit rob a supermarket in Rustenburg. They were later arrested and Motsamai was sentenced to death, which was converted to life imprisonment. Prisoners serving life terms become eligible for parole after 25 years. Magagula said her father had done his time and should freed. “He has served his time and there have been countless visits by correctional services officers to our house to verify if he will live here. It is heartbreaking that for so many years I have only seen him in prison clothes every Christmas,” she said. Her mother, Mantombi, who was also a member of Apla and was pregnant with her at the time of Motsamai’s arrest, said she longed for a proper family. “I have been waiting for so long, I see people walking in malls at this time of the year with their spouses and children and I always wonder when will that day be for me,” said Mantombi. According to Mantombi, Motsamai counsels new prisoners, works as a handyman and has converted to Islam in prison. Motsamai’s case has again put the spotlight on political prisoners denied amnesty by the TRC. The Presidency has received requests for presidential pardons from 926 such prisoners. Former Apla commander Chris Sankara said Motsamai had been carrying out orders from the Pan Africanist Congress. News ST Mainbody, 27-Dec-2015-Page 7, Cyan ST Mainbody, 27-Dec-2015- Page 7, Magenta ST Mainbody, 27-Dec-2015-Page 7, Yellow ST Mainbody, 27-Dec-2015- Page 7, Black N-1 JDCP Sunday Times | December 27 2015 NEWS | 7 Fishermen left high and dry by bungle over fishing rights Claimants who say they were wrongly denied quotas are now taking the government to the Human Rights Commission BOBBY JORDAN Harvest of success for former farmworker Labourer becomes board member as a black-owned farming company uplifts beneficiaries of a state land reform project SHANAAZ EGGINGTON FIVE years ago, Stemmer Hendriks was a farmworker in the mountains above Piketberg in the Western Cape. Today he is a senior manager and board member at the farm, and this month he banked R30 000 in dividends. Hendriks, 49, is a beneficiary at Mont Piquet farm, bought by the government in 2011 and managed by a successful blackowned farming company, Bono. Mont Piquet produces table grapes and citrus varieties that are exported to more than 50 countries. The farm, and its neighbour Rietkloof — also run by Bono — provide jobs for more than 1 000 people. Last week Bono, which manages eight other farms in five provinces, became a member of the prestigious Fresh Produce Exporters Forum, which exports 90% of South Africa’s fruit. It’s a dream come true for 45year-old Malokisa “Evans” Nevondo, who founded Bono to turn around the high failure rate of black farmers. “Bono is a Venda word that means ‘vision’. To be a successful farmer, you need to have a long-term vision,” he said. “We are an agricultural-empowerment company that brings together resources from government and the private sector to improve the lives of South Africans who make a living out of farming.” To meet its National Development Plan target, the government needs to transfer 8.9 million hectares of agricultural land to black people by 2030. “Other farms have already been successfully transferred, and, along with the beneficiaries, we run these farms, providing production capital, farming equipment and, most of all, skills,” said Nevondo. ❛ I got R30 000. You do not mind the hard work when you can share in the spoils The 34 Mont Piquet beneficiaries lease the farm from the government at a nominal fee. In return, besides earning a salary, the beneficiaries share in the dividends. Hendriks, now manager of the table-grapes section, said: “If someone had told me a few years ago I would be sitting on the board of a farm, as well as being one of the most senior managers, I would not have believed them. “This month I received R30 000 in dividends, with more coming in the new year. You do not mind the hard work when you can share in the spoils.” Rupert Persens, 39, was another worker who showed such enthusiasm he was promoted to assistant manager in 2011 — then to production manager. “I am responsible for one of the two pack houses on the farm. It’s been really exciting, because usually your position in the farm hierarchy depended on being a ‘COF’, otherwise known as a ‘child of the farmer’,” he said. “Now there is a future in farming for young people such as myself other than being a worker. I will be able to pay for an education for my kids.” Nevondo said that when farmworkers were rioting about wages in 2013, workers at Mont Piquet told him that outsiders were encouraging them to join the protests. “I asked them if they had a problem with the salaries, or the way the farm was run. They said ‘no’. So I said, ‘It is up to you. Think about your situation and decide for yourself.’ “Nobody rioted here. And those people who were bussed in to disrupt the farm were chased away by the workers and the security that they asked me to provide.” Nevondo said training a new generation of farm managers and workers is a big part of what they do. “I believe in life-long education. Apart from a lack of patience, a lot of black farms fail because the new owners do not empower themselves with knowledge. They don’t want to read. They don’t understand policies and systems. “They see farming as a dirty job and they think all they have to do is employ someone. They will fail with an attitude like that.” Hendriks said beneficiaries at Mont Piquet had decided not to take dividends for the next couple of years. “We’ve had four years of good money. It is time to put back into the farm. The dividends coming thereafter will be much sweeter,” he said. NO REPLY: Naaim Jacobs, 37, a traditional line fisherman, was barred from fishing ment of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries in Cape Town to fetch his scoresheet but was told it could not be found. When it eventually surfaced, it showed he easily qualified for a fishing right. “I believe that they withheld the scoresheet on purpose from me and I want the right allocated and action taken against them,” Jacob said in his complaint. His case is one of several anomalies in piles of fisheries scoresheets which have raised the ire of people controversially excluded from the industry in the 2013 fishing rights application process. The flawed process prompted various investigations — including one by the Hawks — and high-court action by the country’s line-fish association. Despite findings that scoring was manipulated due to political interference, officials responsible still hold key management positions in the department. Scoresheets seen by the Sunday Times reveal several blatant contraventions by fisheries officials of their own policies. These included line-fish rights being granted to applicants in the off-shore commercial sectors (precluded by the policy), that applicants had full-time employment elsewhere (also precluded), or had not submitted key information, such as boat certification. Successful candidates included a husband and wife from the Cape Agulhas area. The husband has a commercial right in another fishery and his wife works full-time for a munici- South African Commercial Line Fish Association chairman Wally Croome said the “missing” scoresheets confirmed the fishermen’s perception that the department had “screwed up” the 2013 rights process. “The thing that is hard to swallow is that the people responsible are sitting earning a massive salary and just laughing at everybody,” Croome said. The Sunday Times was unable to reach former deputy director-general Desmond Stevens, who was redeployed within the department after overseeing the 2013 rights allocation. The department did not respond to queries about the missing scoresheets. [email protected] Comment on this: write to [email protected] or SMS us at 33971 www.sundaytimes.co.za CONNECTING TO CHINA AND BEYOND JUST GOT EASIER WITH SAA [email protected] Babes in the bush carry new hope for Cape’s rhinos China is one of Africa’s largest trading partners, and connecting to China and beyond is even easier with SAA’s new code share partner, Air China. Book now with SAA and travel on Air China from Johannesburg to Beijing, with seamless connections to Shanghai, Hangzhou, Chengdu and Chongqing. ANDRÉ JURGENS THE birth of two white rhino calves is being celebrated in the Cape after a grim year for the species due to rampant poaching. The youngest is 11 days old today, suckling and being guarded by a fiercely protective mother at Aquila private game reserve, near Touws River in the Western Cape. The second calf, a male, is 75 days old and playfully finding his feet at the same reserve, which suffered a devastating setback four years ago when poachers attacked three rhinos and used a chainsaw to remove one horn. Two died from their injuries and the reserve was left without a male rhino to continue its breeding programme until the arrival of a new bull early last year. Both calves are expected to remain with their mothers for the next three to four years. Rangers are still unsure of the gender of the latest arrival. Rhinos are born weighing around 30kg. The older calf has already integrated with his crash, a group of rhino, and will soon start eating grass on his own. Reserve owner Searl Derman launched an anti-poaching training scheme in response to the poaching incident in 2011.The programme which is called Saving Private Rhino, is for the benefit of all ❛ Visit flysaa.com, call 011 978 1111, or visit your travel agent to book. BRINGING THE WORLD TO AFRICA. TAKING AFRICA TO THE WORLD. RARE BREED: The latest white rhino calf at Aquila private game reserve, which was born on December 16, sticks close to mom as it explores its new fynbos world Picture: ESA ALEXANDER private game reserves. “People need to understand that this is a real war that private game reserve owners are fighting on the ground and losing,” he said. Rangers are schooled in the latest tactics to combat poaching, in intelligence gathering, crime scene management and effective patrolling. Environmental Affairs Minister Edna Molewa said 749 rhino had been poached in South Africa between January 1 and August 27. Updated figures will be released early next year and could surpass the 1 215 rhinos killed by poachers in 2014. Two rhino horns worth an estimated R3-million were seized by customs officials at OR Tambo International Airport on Wednesday. A diplomat from North Korea was expelled from South Africa this month for using a diplomatic bag to smuggle rhino horn out of the country. There is a booming market for rhino horn in Asia, where many people believe it has medicinal value. I believe that they withheld the scoresheet on purpose from me HAVASWW13166/E RAISIN HIS GAME: Evans Nevondo, founder of farming company Bono, says long-term vision and knowledge are essential ingredients for agricultural projects like Mont Piquet in the Swartland Picture: ESA ALEXANDER FREAK waves, ghost ships and “submarine sharks” — Kalk Bay fisherman Naaim Jacobs thought he’d seen it all in the lonely hours on the far side of the horizon. But the mystery that led to his undoing was waiting for him on land, in the form of the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries. Not only has the department stopped him fishing, it “lost” the scoresheet of his fishing right application, only to find it again nearly two years later. When Jacobs finally saw it, he realised he had easily qualified for a linefish fishing right. For two years he has been sitting without a right, while some successful rights holders do not even live at the coast and have full-time jobs in other industries. Now Jacobs is fighting back. He and a fellow skipper have lodged a complaint against senior fisheries officials with the Human Rights Commission. They say it is their last resort after numerous complaints fell on deaf ears. In the interim he has literally been chased off the sea despite being skipper of one of Kalk Bay’s best-known boats. It services Kalky’s restaurant, a popular tourist destination at the historic harbour. “We are the guys who keep this harbour going, and yet there’s no place for us in the system,” Jacobs told the Sunday Times this week. “Two years down the line and we’ve been suffering.” In documents submitted to the HRC, Jacobs said he visited the head office of the Depart- pality. Theirs was one of several questionable allocations that are now back in the spotlight as scoresheets become available. The issue of undeserving quota holders was addressed last week by Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Minister Senzeni Zokwana at a press briefing in parliament. Zokwana said the department would if necessary disqualify rights holders and readmit others found to be deserving. powered by News ST Mainbody, 27-Dec-2015-Page 8, Cyan ST Mainbody, 27-Dec-2015- Page 8, Magenta ST Mainbody, 27-Dec-2015-Page 8, Yellow ST Mainbody, 27-Dec-2015- Page 8, Black N-1 JDCP 2015: QUOTES “Gogo, thank you very much. Without you, I would not be anywhere near where God has taken me. I owe all that I am to you.” — Desmond Tutu, speaking to his wife, Leah, when they renewed their wedding vows on their 60th wedding anniversary, July 2 Picture: AFP PHOTO “Every year the problems are getting worse. We are at the limits. If I may use a strong word, I would say that we are at the limits of suicide.” — Pope Francis, referring to the issue of climate change, November 30 “Thanks to some crafty journalism my family and I have spent the whole day trying to figure out if one of us died. #awkward.”— Trevor Noah, tweeting in reaction to a Sunday Times report that one of his cousins had died, May 24 | December 27 2015 Picture: GETTY IMAGES Sunday Times Picture: AFP PHOTO Picture: SIMPHIWE NKWALI 8 “I am calling for a total and complete shutdown of Muslims entering the US until our country’s representatives can figure out what is going on.” — Donald Trump, campaign statement, December 7 Of bloodshed, anger, protest and hope From the sublime (think Pope Francis) to the ridiculous (step forward, Donald Trump), the ups and downs of 2015 were captured in the quotes of people from around the world “When foreigners look at them, they say ‘let us exploit the nation of idiots’ . . . We ask that the immigrants must take their bags and go where they came from.” — King Goodwill Zwelithini, in his Pongola speech, March 15. “Our freedom cannot be given to us — we must take it. We want to be clear that our only regret is that we did not take the statue down ourselves.” — Kealeboga Ramaru, member of the #RhodesMustFall movement, after the Cecil John Rhodes statue was removed from UCT campus, April 9. “No, there is not a race war coming. The reason is simple: the overwhelming majority of South Africans, black and white, believe in a middle path somewhere between reconciliation and social justice.” — Jonathan Jansen, on the Rhodes controversy, April 10. “In every white person there’s an element of Adolf Hitler . . . I love Adolf Hitler.” — Mcebo Dlamini, the then president of the Wits SRC, in a Facebook post, April 25. Picture: TREVOR SAMSON “Let us now all get on with our lives. I’m sure she’ll [Reeva] be able to rest now, as well.” — Barry Steenkamp, reacting to the Supreme Court ruling on Pistorius, December 3. “It is a commission that has decided nothing. It is inconclusive, no one is held responsible.” —Advocate Dumisa Ntsebeza, on the Farlam inquiry into Marikana, June 28. “If [Riah] Phiyega’s hands are dripping with the workers’ blood, so are those of the president who employed her, very well aware that she had neither experience nor skills to head police operations.” — Zwelinzima Vavi, on the Farlam report, June 28. “You could see there was blood coming out of her eyes, blood coming out of her . . . wherever.” — Donald Trump, referring to Fox News’s Megyn Kelly, who moderated a debate between candidates for the Republican nomination, August 7. ❛ I don’t know how to stop my laughter. Is it hurting?” In the National Assembly, November 19 ❛ I argued one time with someone who said the country comes first and I said as much as I understand that, I think my organisation, the ANC, comes first.” — Jacob Zuma, in a speech at the ANC KwaZulu-Natal elective conference, November 7 “It absolutely questions what makes us human. And I don’t think we know any more what does. This is like opening up Tutankhamen’s tomb.” — Lee Berger, discussing the discovery of Homo naledi fossils, September 10. “ ‘Guys, why is there no agricultural activity taking place?’ So their response was: ‘The white people have left, there’s no jobs.’ I said: ‘OK . . . “No one will dig old monkey bones to back up a theory that I was once a baboon.” — Zwelinzima Vavi, tweeting in response to the discovery of Homo naledi, September 12 “Nelson Mandela was no sell-out. These peacetime revolutionaries who were never in the trenches have the temerity to open their mouths about him.” — Cyril Ramaphosa, on Julius Malema’s comments about Mandela, December 5. “I certainly believe that if ANC members are worth their salt, they have to start looking very carefully and introspectively . . . about our roles in this organisation and what we are giving consent to by allowing this president to operate as though he is completely unaccountable. This is the final straw.” — Barbara Hogan, on the sacking of Nene in a speech on December 11. “No one goes into your face and says, ‘You’re not welcome here.’ No one says that you don’t belong here. But it’s just that the structure, and the environment itself, says that I’m not welcome here.” Lindokuhle Patiwe, a UCT student, in remarks to the New York Times, September 8. “The culture of the place [UCT] feels white. The architecture is a European, Oxbridge architecture. Obviously, the language of instruction is English. The culture of what’s held up to be excellent universities and excellent science, and what we emulate and aspire to be, are the Ivy League universities and European universities.” — Max Price, UCT vice-chancellor, on student protests in the New York Times, September 8. “You ain’t no Muslim, bruv.” Remark shouted by an unidentified bystander at the man who stabbed a commuter in a London underground station, December 5. “In the current challenging economic environment, the decision to change a successful minister of finance is difficult to understand.” Maria Ramos, Barclays Africa CEO, reacting to the sacking of Nhlanhla Nene, December 9. “From every land may a single voice be raised: no to war, no to violence and yes to dialogue, yes to peace. With war, you always lose. The only way to win a war is to not make it.” — Pope Francis, in his speech on the 70th anniversaries of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, August 9. “What actually came out in court is not the truth. He got angry, she went off to the toilet, locked herself inside, and then him pulling out the gun and shooting.” — Barry Steenkamp, in an interview with Australian TV, August 24 but we gave this land back to you, the community.’ They said: ‘No, you are misunderstanding the situation. The white people have left!’ ” — Tito Mboweni, describing a land reform project in a lecture at the Wits School of Economics and Business Sciences, October 13. “Women are questioning why it is when they speak in their feminine pitch that there isn’t as big an uproar “This case involves a human tragedy of Shakespearean proportions.” — Judge Eric Leach, handing down the Supreme Court of Appeal decision that Oscar Pistorius is guilty of murder, not culpable homicide, December 3 [of support] as when a man speaks in his masculine voice.” — Nompendulo Mkatshwa, incoming president of the Wits SRC, in an interview with Destiny.com during the #FeesMustFall protests, October 21. “The ground has shifted significantly in the last few days, and there is great excitement about what it means; what kind of a new order we can build out of this.” — Max du Preez, on the student protests, Picture: ESA ALEXANDER Picture: ROBERT TSHABALALA “I did not say we’re not going to address this issue. I’m saying this is not the forum . . . There is no problem by the way. No problem.” — Danny Jordaan, at a news conference after his election as mayor of “The conduct of the respondents to the extent that they have failed to take steps to arrest and detain the president of Sudan, Omar al-Bashir, is inconsistent with the constitution of the Republic of South Africa.” — Judge President Dunstan Mlambo, in the Pretoria High Court, June 24. “We all need to work . . . because if we don’t, we will continue to have the cockroaches like the Malemas.” — Baleka Mbete, when she was addressing an ANC rally in Mafikeng, February 14 “Her [Dudu Myeni’s] relationship with the president is purely professional, and is based on the running of the foundation . . . Rumours about a romance and a child are baseless and are designed to cast aspersions on the president.” — A statement from The Presidency, December 12. “I believe this moment can be a turning point for the world. [This is] the best chance we have to save the one planet we’ve got.” — Barack Obama, on the climate deal reached in Paris, December 13. “We see you. Out in your numbers. The ‘rainbow nation’ rearing its ugly head and chanting ‘Zoomer must fall’.” — Shaeera Kalla, former Wits SRC president, in a tweet accompanied by picture of mainly white marchers taking part in a ZumaMustFall protest, December 16. “The Turks decided to lick the Americans in a certain place.” — Vladimir Putin, on the downing of a Russian military jet by Turkey at a news conference, December 17. — Compiled by Anton Ferreira “We have seen that we are part of a police state.” — Julius Malema, after white shirts forced him and other EFF MPs out of parliament during the state of the nation address, February 12 Picture: EPA “I apologise unconditionally, to South Africans, to parliament and Honourable Julius Malema for any hurt or harm I may have caused.” — Baleka Mbete, in a statement on her “cockroach” speech, February 18. “I’m going to lose, that’s for sure.” — Barry Roux, to Gerrie Nel at the end of the Oscar Pistorius appeal, November 3. Picture: AFP PHOTO “I pray that those whom he hurt, those from whom he took loved ones, will find the power within them to forgive him. Forgiving is empowering for the forgiver and the forgiven — and for all the people around them. But we can’t be glib about it; it’s not easy.” — Desmond Tutu, on De Kock’s parole, January 30. Port Elizabeth, during which he refused to discuss the Fifa bribery scandal, May 28. Picture: DAVID HARRISON “I think it will actually close a chapter in our history because we’ve come a long way and I think his release will just once again help with the reconciliation process because there’s still a lot of things that we need to do as a country.” — Sandra Mama, on the release on parole of Eugene de Kock, who in 1992 killed her husband Glenack Mama, January 30. “My reading is that there is no alliance; there is one organisation existing inside the integuments of erstwhile independent organisations, but today to talk about Cosatu as an independent organisation from the ANC or the SACP I think is a delusion.” — Kgalema Motlanthe, in a Business Day interview, November 2. Picture: ALON SKUY “The problem with South Africa is that it’s too free. Thugs do as they please. They walk into our shops wielding guns and knives.” — Johiy Khan, a Bangladeshi shopowner in Emdeni, Soweto, after the death of Siphiwe Mahori, 14, who was killed in Snake Park on January 19 by a foreign shopowner, January 22. October 24. “So we are looking after the corpse and you have the statue. I don’t know what you think we should do. Dig him up?” — Robert Mugabe, referring to Cecil John Rhodes during a visit to SA, April 8 News ST Mainbody, 27-Dec-2015-Page 9, Cyan ST Mainbody, 27-Dec-2015- Page 9, Magenta ST Mainbody, 27-Dec-2015-Page 9, Yellow ST Mainbody, 27-Dec-2015- Page 9, Black Sunday Times N-1 JDCP 2015: BY THE NUMBERS | December 27 2015 NEWS | 9 Taking Stock | There was nought for our comfort amid drought, protests and sackings, writes Gareth van Onselen From zero to R1.7-trillion in 365 days 0: Convictions secured against Julius Malema by the National Prosecuting Authority, after its racketeering case against the leader of the EFF was struck from the roll in August. The case had been ongoing for three years. 1: Doctorates that Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa chief engineer Daniel Mtimkulu claimed to have from a German university. A Prasa spokesman said: “He could not present the qualifications he claims to have and . . . he has been suspended pending an inquiry.” 1.5: Percentage economic growth forecast by the Reserve Bank for South Africa in 2016. The International Monetary Fund forecasts 1.3%. Ratings agency Moody’s predicts South Africa will only achieve a 3% growth rate by the year 2020. DUST BOWL: Farmer Molemi Modise contemplates the impact of the drought in the North West Picture: PUXLEY MAKGATHO FENCE MUST FALL: University students march on the Union Buildings on October 23 as part of a nationwide protest against a tuition fee increase and to demand that tertiary education be free. Police fired rubber bullets to disperse the crowd Picture: THULANI MBELE 2: Warrants issued by the International Criminal Court for the arrest of Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir. Despite the warrants — and an order by the High Court in Pretoria that the Sudanese leader be detained in South Africa while attending an African Union summit — Bashir was allowed to leave the country. 2.33: Billions of rands of the shortfall in university funding as a result of the fees freeze that was agreed after the #FeesMustFall campaign. The Department of Higher Education stated it would cover R1.9-billion of the total; universities would have to find the additional R400-million. 2.82: Millions of rands spent on 13 private flights for Zulu King Goodwill Zwelithini in the past two years. In one instance he decided to spend nearly R28 000 to fly, rather than drive, 115km from Ulundi to attend the unveiling of a statue. In 2014 the king requested a R10-million bailout after he exhausted his R50million annual budget. 4: Medals awarded to national police commissioner Riah Phiyega. Among others, she was presented with the South African Police Service Gold Medal for Outstanding Service. Phiyega was later suspended following several reports on her conduct during the Marikana tragedy. 4.2: Amount in billions of rands it is estimated a new jet for President Jacob Zuma will cost. The tender, advertised by Armscor in November, specified the plane must be able to seat at least 30 people and have a range of 13 800km. 5: Number of Airbus A330300 aircraft that SAA will lease after the controversy between the Treasury and the chairwoman of the SAA board, Dudu Myeni, was resolved. Myeni had tried to change the lease agreement and buy 10 different Airbus models instead. The standoff has been blamed for Nhlanhla Nene’s dismissal as the minister of finance. 6: Finance ministers South Africa has had since 1994. However, it had three in just four days in early December, as President Jacob Zuma fired Nene, replaced him with backbencher David “Des” van Rooyen — and then brought back former finance minister Pravin Gordhan following a massive public backlash and an economic meltdown. WHO’S THE BOSS: Former finance minister Nhlanhla Nene and SAA chairwoman Dudu Myeni during the media briefing announcing the carrier’s results for the 2013-14 financial year Picture: VELI NHLAPO total, residents of Soweto alone owe some R4-billion. In June Eskom suggested it would renegotiate the individual bills of residents, should they allow pre-paid meters to be installed. 10: Amount in millions of dollars that South African football officials are alleged to have paid in bribes to host the 2010 Fifa Soccer World Cup. The figure appeared in documents made public during the indictment of 18 senior Fifa officials in the US. 20: Years since personal income tax was last hiked. At adoption of the Freedom Charter in 1955. The ANC spent much of this year celebrating the anniversary and, at the same time, arguing with the EFF as to which party was the proper contemporary custodian of its values. 66: Percentage of wins achieved by former Springbok coach Heyneke Meyer. He resigned in November after the Springboks were knocked out of the Rugby World Cup in the semifinal. Meyer lost seven of eight matches against New Zealand, not to mention that one match against Japan, the beginning of the year the minister of finance increased the marginal personal income rate by 1%, across all brackets. 31: Balls it took cricketer AB de Villiers to score 100 runs against the West Indies in a one-day international in January, a new world record. De Villiers, who hit 16 sixes during his innings, was eventually out for 149. He holds the world records for the fastest 50, 100 and 150 in ODI cricket, with the last being scored off 64 balls, once more against the hapless West Indians, in Australia in February. 40: Members of the SABC choir — 25 freelancers and 15 permanent members. The choir cost R3-million to run this year and caused controversy when it was filmed singing the praises of the SABC’s controversial chief operating officer, Hlaudi Motsoeneng. 60: Years since the 8: Amount in billions owed by South Africans in unpaid electricity bills to Eskom. Of the during his tenure. 72: Position of Bafana Bafana in the Fifa world rankings. In May the soccer team had been ranked 59th. 76: Deaths in 2015, as a result of traditional initiation 74 .6: The penalty, in billions of rands, imposed on ceremonies gone wrong. Thirty-three initiates died during the winter initiation season, and to date 43 have died in the summer season. Most deaths are the result of dehydration and botched circumcisions. cellphone operator MTN by the Nigerian Communications Commission in October, for 89: Percentage of the vote Mmusi Maimane won at the DA’s federal congress in May in becoming the party’s new leader. He beat Wilmot James for the position and succeeded Western Cape premier Helen Zille. Of the 1 244 delegates who voted, 1 106 chose Maimane. A total of 1 425 delegates were registered. 169: Amount in billions of rands the JSE estimates the decision by Zuma to fire Nene as finance minister in December cost the economy in the days following the decision. The rand lost almost 10% against the dollar (down to R15.89) and euro (down to R17.45). 204: Number of national key points identified on a list released by the minister of police in January. The list had been at the heart of a court case launched by the Right2Know campaign and the South African History Archive. The minister had dropped his opposition to the case without explanation. Commission of Inquiry ran to. The commission cost R153million. It sat for 300 days and the transcript ran to 39 719 pages. 1 000: Megawatts cut from the national grid by RAY OF HOPE: AB de Villiers busy scoring 100 runs off 31 balls against the West Indies Picture: GETTY IMAGES AGE-OLD STORY: Initiates at a circumcision school in Mthatha in the Eastern Cape. To reduce the annual death toll at these schools, the government has deployed more than 100 health professionals to monitor them Picture: GALLO IMAGES failing to disconnect millions of unregistered sim cards. In December the fine was reduced to R55.9-billion. 600: Pages the final report of the Marikana 7: Percentage wage increase agreed to in May for 1.3 million public service employees over three years. This increase (backdated from April) excluded an increase of inflation plus 1% for 2016 and 2017. The deal puts massive pressure on the Treasury. In October it was forced to raid South Africa’s reserves to find the necessary funding, about R64-billion in total — R12billion for the 2015-16 financial year alone. HAPPIER DAYS: National police commissioner Riah Phiyega won four medals — including one for outstanding service. She is now on suspension Picture: ALON SKUY RELIVING THE HORROR: Relatives of one of the slain Marikana miners break down at the hearings of the Farlam commission of inquiry. After sitting for 300 days, the commission eventually produced a 600-page report Picture: VATHISWA RUSELO a drought as severe as this one. The drought, blamed on the el Niño weather pattern, has seen the government set aside R450million to help commercial and subsistence farmers. 2 000: Complaints on the customer watchdog website Hello Peter at the height of the Post Office strike in March. Thousands of packages were delayed after postal workers went on strike, creating a backlog that would take months to overcome, because the delivery hubs were overwhelmed. 2029: Year used as the cornerstone of the DA’s vision statement, after Maimane’s election. By 2029, the DA predicts, it will have been in national power for 10 years and would have transformed South Africa. 9 300: The number of jobs business consultancy group Grant Thornton estimated would be placed in jeopardy by stringent new visa regulations introduced in September. After much public pressure, the government eventually agreed in October to a series of amendments. Eskom during stage one of loadshedding, the phrase that dominated South Africa in the early part of the year. There were four stages, running from 1 000MW to 4 000MW. Eskom was accused of not sticking to schedules but, in November, managed to reach 100 days without load shedding. 1 700 000: Amount in millions of rands 1982: The last year in which South Africa experienced Anheuser-Busch InBev bought SABMiller for in October, giving it a 28% share of the global beer market. BAWLING BLOSSOM: Former Bok coach Heyneke Meyer during his team’s historic defeat by Japan Picture: GETTY IMAGES News ST Mainbody, 27-Dec-2015-Page 10, Cyan ST Mainbody, 27-Dec-2015- Page 10, Magenta ST Mainbody, 27-Dec-2015-Page 10, Yellow ST Mainbody, 27-Dec-2015- Page 10, Black N-1 JDCP Sunday Times 10 | NEWS | December 27 2015 Fat chance of staying in New Zealand TASCHICA PILLAY Pictures: DAVID HARRISON POO IN PARADISE: White sand, blue sea, azure sky — and grey-green muck. Local residents have raised the alarm about the Bokramspruit which flows across Long Beach Surf ’s up — and so is the sewage High levels of potentially dangerous bacteria pollute river flowing across popular Kommetjie beach SHANAAZ EGGINGTON RAW sewage from Ocean View, a suburb in Cape Town’s south peninsula, is flowing into the sea at an iconic surf spot, Long Beach in Kommetjie. This was confirmed by tests after residents were alarmed at the physical appearance and foul odour of the Bokramspruit river that flows across the beach. Bernard Jacobs, who runs waternews.co.za, a website dedicated to water issues, was contacted by a resident who complained about a “terrible stench”. “He stopped to investigate the river where it flows underneath Kommetjie Road,” said Jacobs. “He could tell by looking at it, and by the unmistakable smell of untreated sewage, that there was something wrong. We followed the river upstream, and in Ocean View we found a shocking situation: raw sewage flowing from manholes into nearby stormwater drains, and then into the river. “One of the local residents explained that this occurs every few days.” Jacobs contacted an accredited water analysis laboratory which took samples last week from the Ocean View stormwater system and from points along the river, including at the beach. Jacobs said the tests showed high levels of Escherichia coli, a bacteria that can cause serious illness. “The results are shock- THE SOURCE: Bernard Jacobs inspects the manhole that Ocean View residents say has been disgorging sewage into the Bokramspruit ing,” he said. “On both days we collected samples, these levels exceeded quality guidelines set by the Department of Water Affairs for recreational water quality. “This is worrying as it poses a significant health risk to swimmers, surfers and animals using the beach and the river. “Not all E.coli is harmful, but certain strains of it can make people very sick, causing severe stomach cramps, diarrhoea and vomiting. In extreme cases it can lead to ❛ Who cares? I’ve been surfing here since I was nine and haven’t gotten sick yet kidney failure,” Jacobs said. They also tested for coliforms, a broad class of bacteria found in the environment and in human and animal faeces. The presence of coliform bacteria in drinking water indicates harmful, diseasecausing organisms. In addition, the laboratory ran a heterotrophic plate count, a procedure to test the level of organisms like bacteria and yeasts, which is used to assess the safety of drinking water. “In both cases the results were off the charts. Bokramspruit and Long Beach are very sick and need serious intervention,” Jacobs said. Residents of Gail Place, Ocean View, said the sewage system overflowed every week. “We’ve had problems before, but ever since people moved into the new Mountain View development it happens more often,” said Carol Sanders. “We phone the council and they come and unblock the system. But it only lasts a few days and then it overflows again. It starts with one manhole and then one by one the others start overflowing. After a while it all flows into the river.” James Steward, a surfer from Paarl, said: “Who cares? I’ve been surfing here since I was nine and haven’t gotten sick yet. Besides, it’s filtered by the reeds in the river.” But Errol and Bets Kotze of Fish Hoek, who are regular visitors to the beach, were more concerned. “Our dogs play in the stream where it runs into the sea. This is very upsetting. I am going home to take a long shower,” said Errol. Steve Pike, director of the conservation-oriented Wavescape Film Festival, said pollution spilling into the ocean was a massive problem in Cape Town. “We are surrounded by water on three sides, and pollution is flowing into our oceans. It’s an infrastructure problem that the city has to deal with as soon as possible,” he said. A SOUTH African chef whom New Zealand authorities found to be too obese to stay in the country, has failed in his bid to become a Kiwi. Albert Buitenhuis and his wife, Marthie, who moved to Christchurch in 2007, will return to South Africa this week. In 2013 Buitenhuis made headlines around the world when he claimed his application for permanent residence status had been rejected because he was “too fat”. He weighed 130kg when he entered New Zealand. Even though he lost 31kg in the first six years, Immigration New Zealand’s medical assessors still considered him to be clinically obese for his height of 1.78m. Earlier this month Buitenhuis tweeted: “#thefatcheff has to leave NZ. We’ll be flying back to SA on 29/12. Sad to leave NZ, happy that we’ll see family and friends again . . . soon.” Buitenhuis and his wife have been fighting to stay in New Zealand for two years after an application to renew their work visas was first rejected because of his weight. They won a 23-month reprieve — only to be denied again. In an interview with the New Zealand Herald, Buitenhuis said their visa was finally declined and they had to stop working at the end of October. “Their reasons for declining us this time were [that] I’m not seen as a bona fide worker and the employer did not do enough to get a Kiwi in the job,” said Buitenhuis. In 2013 Immigration New Zealand cited the demands Buitenhuis’s obesity could place on the country’s health services and said medical assessors found he no longer “had an acceptable standard of health”. In August 2013 Marthie wrote on her blog: “No one just packs up and leaves their home country without good reason, and if you were basically settled and made your intentions of staying permanently clear, it leaves a bitter taste in the mouth to be told after 5+ years of working and paying tax, that you are not so important that New Zealand needs to treat you like a human being or show any form of humanity or compassion for you or what their decisions or actions mean to the applicant. “In New Zealand we have jobs and lived fairly comfortably on not major incomes . . . We feel personally safe and don’t live in fear of crime or violence. We are expected to return to the very situation we wanted to escape. While South Africa is not seen as a war zone or in a situation that calls for asylum, I doubt the actual situation there is unknown to the authorities here. “No country loses so many citizens as South Africa has done for no good reason. After being totally settled we are now expected to sell off what we have to return to a country that has swopped one discriminatory policy for another while the world is congratulating itself on dismantling the former . . .” have to put serious work into problem prevention, compliance and education,” Dowling said. “That includes higher standards of water literacy for the whole population.” Simon Maytham, media liaison officer for the City of Cape Town, said the official with information about capital projects for the next few years was on leave. “Finding out whether any kind of sewerage upgrade is planned . . . will be very difficult without him . . . [so] the city will be unlikely to comment until after Christmas.” Patrick Dowling, a local resident and head of education at the Wildlife and Environment Society of South Africa, said the water test results were “seriously disturbing”. “Occurrences may be more frequent now, but certainly predate the latest Ocean View developments, which have all been connected to the formal sewerage system. “Given the increasingly stressed state of South Africa’s waterways and the necessity of making every drop count, municipalities and government, working with NGOs like Wessa, will [email protected] AMAZING HOLIDAY OFFERS FROM R14,999PP ‘ESCAPE’ FOILED: Albert and Marthie Buitenhuis are on their way back to South Africa Hunt for victims as new landslide hits Myanmar 9 NIGHTS FROM 10 NIGHTS FROM 9 NIGHTS FROM R15,999PP R14,999PP R17,999PP ROME, FLORENCE & VENICE DUBAI & PHUKET ITALY TRIO ADORE DUBAI & LOVE PHUKET 9 nights departing February - October 2016 10 nights departing February - October 2016 9 nights departing February - September 2016 Savour all the Ίavours of la bella Italia with this incredible nine-night holiday of a lifetime to Rome, Venice and Florence that will have you dreaming of Italy for years to come. 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Z A SUNDAY 10AM - 4PM ALL PRICES ARE BASED ON 2 ADULTS SHARING, FLIGHTS ARE FROM JOHANNESBURG BUT OTHER OPTIONS ARE AVAILABLE AT A SUPPLEMENT. RESCUERS are searching for workers feared buried in the second landslide in a month in a jade-mining area in northern Myanmar. The landslide happened on Christmas Day in Kachin state, the war-torn region that is the epicentre of Myanmar’s secretive billion-dollar jade industry. “We are searching for bodies, but we can’t tell the numbers yet,” said Nilar Myint, an official of the Hpakant district administrative office. Mechanical diggers are being used to search through the huge pile of mud and rock that slid down a steep hill. One source said that up to 50 workers could be missing. But a second Hpakant official, Myo Thet Aung, said officials in villages in the area had reported that only three or four people were known to be missing. Officials said yesterday that by mid-afternoon they had still not found any bodies. This area was hit by a massive landslide last month, when more than 100 people were killed. Locals said that dozens of others had been killed during the year in smaller accidents. The region is remote, with little phone coverage and poor roads, making it hard to get accurate information quickly after such incidents. Landslide victims are usually the itinerant workers who scratch out a living picking through piles of waste left by large-scale mining in the hope of finding overlooked pieces of jade that can deliver them from poverty. Myanmar is the source of nearly all of the world’s finest jadeite, a near-translucent green stone that is greatly prized in neighbouring China, where it is known as the “stone of heaven”. The Hpakant landscape has been turned into a moonscape of environmental destruction as mining groups use ever-larger diggers to claw the precious stone from the ground. While these groups — many linked to the juntaera military elite — are thought to be raking in huge sums, local people complain that they are kept out of sharing the bounty. — AFP News ST Mainbody, 27-Dec-2015-Page 11, Cyan ST Mainbody, 27-Dec-2015- Page 11, Magenta ST Mainbody, 27-Dec-2015-Page 11, Yellow ST Mainbody, 27-Dec-2015- Page 11, Black Sunday Times | December 27 2015 NEWS | 11 Traumatised by sex crimes, SA’s doctors shun victims Report finds attitude of some medical professionals contributes to rape crisis AARTI J NARSEE TARGETS OF BRUTALITY: School children protest outside the Queenstown Magistrate’s Court during the appearance of a suspect in the rape of a seven-year-old girl. A new report says doctors, especially if they are fathers, can find treating child victims too disturbing Picture TEMBILE SGQOLANA NASHIRA DAVIDS CRIME is no laughing matter. But, although many criminals outsmart the authorities, some crooks put their vocation to shame. This year’s balaclava for the dumbest criminal is shared by two Free State felons, Thabang Maqelepo and Sefiso Chauke. They used a panga to attack a strolling couple in Ladybrand on February 21, but the male victim wrestled the weapon from his attackers and wounded Maqelepo. Maqelepo and Chauke ran off with clothing they had stolen from the couple, then made their schoolboy error: calling the police to report being attacked, and asking for an ambulance. Meanwhile their victims MANY doctors are reluctant to take on rape cases because they fear the courtroom and are horrified by the brutality of the crime, thus contributing to South Africa’s dismal conviction rate for sexual offences. Overstretched health workers and police also fail to prioritise sexual assault — with some male doctors refusing to treat rape patients. These are among the findings of research conducted by the Tshwaranang Legal Advocacy Centre, an NGO fighting violence against women. Rape convictions are heavily dependent on medico-legal evidence, collected by doctors or forensic nurses, which includes DNA, blood on clothing, hair samples and signs of violence. South Africa seems to be fighting a losing battle against sexual offences. Of the 62 649 cases reported to the police in 2013-14, only 5 484 — less than 9% — resulted in convictions. While most rapes occur at night, the Tshwaranang research released this month ❛ Of the 62 649 cases reported . . . only 5 484 resulted in convictions found that victims are met by locked doors at medical facilities or have to wait hours to be examined. One nurse who asked a male doctor to see a rape patient reported being told: “No, I hate it. I hate to examine where another man has been.” The reluctance extends to female medics as well. Dr Genine Josias, medical co-ordinator at a one-stop rape centre in Khayelitsha, has seen many colleagues quit rape care over the years. “You can walk away from a broken arm case but here there are little girls, boys or women being raped,” she said. “Some people expect you to work as if it doesn’t touch you. If you don’t have empathy they say you have no feelings. “Something I see with my male doctors is the minute they fathered a child, especially if it was a girl, they stopped working in the field. They fear it all the time. It starts to affect their family, their relationship with their partners. The minute it touches them in the home they move on to another field.” Doctors also find the prospect of giving evidence in court daunting. “I have another doctor who comes from North West and his life was threatened by a perpetrator. He had to leave his job and relocate to the Western Cape,” said Josias. ❛ You can walk away from a broken arm but here little girls are being raped A GP told the Sunday Times about being called to testify in a rape case three years after examining the patient. “I found it disturbing because I didn’t even know that this was my function,” she said. Doctors avoided going to court “like the plague”, she said. Part of the problem doctors face is that hospitals lack specialist staff, so all practitioners are asked to assist. Professor Ames Dhai, director of the Steve Biko Centre for Bioethics at the Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, believes every student doctor should be trained in rape care. “Doctors are bound by the oath. Not wanting to go to court because it is going to erode their time is not in line with their principles,” she said. Dhai said the Health Professions Council of South Africa should make rape care part of professional training. The Department of Health did not respond to requests for comment. [email protected] Crime 101: how to make sure you’re caught had also been taken to hospital. While they were being interviewed by two police officers, who should appear? Maqelepo — with an injured arm. In August, Maqelepo was sentenced to 20 years behind bars for armed robbery. Chauke got 15 years. Another case involved Mputi Joseph Lothane, who broke into a Ladybrand bar at 6am in April last year and was later found asleep on the premises. “He allegedly drank liquor until he could not even run away as he was too drunk and just wanted to sleep,” said Sergeant Martin Xuma. Liquor worth R1 700 disappeared, and Lothane was sentenced to three years for business burglary. Another headline burglary came courtesy of two robbers in Kempton Park, Gauteng, who mistook a panic button for the gate remote. Captain Jethro Mtshali said the case against Mongezi Vincent Mabhena was yet to be finalised and the second suspect was still at large. This year police were on the hunt for unusual characters with serious street cred, including a 25-year-old Northern Cape man who broke into the same business in Upington three times to steal Tupperware, which he then sold — much like women around the country do over a cup of tea and milk tart. When the thief was caught in July, police recovered Tupperware worth R19 000. Meanwhile, three skelms from Madadeni, KwaZuluNatal, were caught lugging around an enormous plastic bag bursting with hairpieces, valued at thousands of rands. Captain Shooz Magudulela said hair — especially dreadlocks — was a lucrative business. Then there are the die-hard partygoers. In June, a Khayelitsha man reported robbers had taken his company vehicle at gunpoint during a house robbery. An investigation by Detective-Sergeant Nceba Gojo unearthed the prosaic truth. “The man went on a drinking spree with a company vehicle . . . when he got robbed,” a police statement said. The man was charged with perjury. Oupas and oumas also get in on the act. In the Free State, an 85-year-old was arrested by Zastron police for his part in a planned robbery. The grandfather had allegedly provided a group of would-be robbers with a gun. In King William’s Town, Eastern Cape, a 63-year-old granny was arrested for possession of an unlicensed firearm and 10 rounds of ammunition. Brought to you by Vodacom News ST Mainbody, 27-Dec-2015-Page 12, Cyan ST Mainbody, 27-Dec-2015- Page 12, Magenta ST Mainbody, 27-Dec-2015-Page 12, Yellow ST Mainbody, 27-Dec-2015- Page 12, Black Sunday Times 12 | NEWS | December 27 2015 Festive dinner (and dishes) for 300 SHELLEY SEID ON Christmas Eve, 82-year-old Eleanor Bremner washed more than 300 plates, an assortment of cutlery and the considerable pile of pots and pans used to feed the homeless of Durban’s inner city. This was nothing out of the ordinary for the long-serving volunteer, who has been part of the Nkosinathi Project, an initiative of Emmanuel Cathedral, since its inception 12 years ago. To prepare and serve food for approximately 300 people four times a week, the centre relies on 10 to 12 committed volunteers; some come from the ranks of the homeless and others from local religious communities. Early this year the project relocated next door to the new Denis Hurley Centre. “Once we moved the feeding of the homeless into the centre, we were able to upscale both in terms of numbers and in regard to the quality of the food,” said the centre’s director Raymond Perrier. The Nkosinathi Project also FULL PLATE: Eleanor Bremner dishes up meals for the homeless at Durban’s Denis Hurley Centre Picture: THULI DLAMINI offers shower and laundry facilities, a counselling service and drug rehabilitation. Bremner has been a parishioner at Emmanuel Cathedral since she moved to Durban from Johannesburg more than 50 years ago. “In the beginning I would come every day to help. Now I come two or three times a week, usually a Tuesday and a Thursday. I don’t come on a Sunday,” said Bremner. For the past couple of years Bremner has been the official dishwasher. “I can’t move fast but I can stand and wash, I can do the job. Before I did the dishes I did the tidying up and the cleaning, never the cooking. Come to think of it,” said the mother of two sons, beaming, “I have been a cleaner all my life.” The former seamstress is very proud of her commitment to getting things spic-and-span. She was, she said, given an award by the late Durban mayor Mike Lipschitz for cleaning up the suburb of Wentworth. “You see the dirt all around here?” she said, pointing to the littered streets in front of the centre. “Me and a team, we went around cleaning Wentworth when it was as bad as this. We also took part in ‘Adopt a Spot’. My children always said I spent more time on the street than in my home.” Bremner has no plans to stop working for the needy. “I will carry on for as long I want to. I always tell my sons, ‘I am still your mother and you can’t tell me what to do.’ I don’t mince my words with anyone. I say to the ladies here, ‘We are here to serve, these people sit for hours in the rain or in the sun and they deserve a big plate of food.’ ” DOWN TO EARTH: Toasting marshmallows the old-fashioned way is no longer to all campers’ tastes SALE GET UP TO % 50OFF SELECTED PRODUCTS IN ALL DEPARTMENTS #BLFXBSFt#BSXBSFt%SJOLXBSFt$SPDLFSZ $VUMFSZt%JOOFSXBSFt'PPE1SFQBSBUJPO ,JUDIFO4UPSBHFt4FSWFXBSFt)PNF%ÏDPS 3330_080_HE STARTS TUESDAY 29 DECEMBER 2015 WESTERN CAPE: Longbeach Mall, Noordhoek - (021) 785 6431 | Canal Walk, Century City - (021) 551 3311 Open an Edgars Account 00 & GET 1000 IN VOUCHERS TERMS & CONDITIONS APPLY. * * Picture: THINKSTOCK Trendy gear that puts the camp back into camping It’s non-essential equipment, but can you really do without it? TANYA FARBER CAMPSITES throughout South Africa are packed at this time of year with families determined to keep up with the Joneses sharing their ablution block. So what do the campers who have everything, pack into their trailers this year? The camping biltong maker is apparently a must-have, a snip at R700, and the same goes for the camping spice box (R50), a cut above those small Tupperware bits that spend the rest of the year stuffed in a cupboard. Equally alarming is the camper’s apple-coring device (R50) . . . for when you’re out in nature and incapable of munching around the core or cutting the apple into pieces. And don’t forget a waterproof notepad (R100) — which, in a nod to roughing it, isn’t an electronic device, but requires oldfashioned handwriting skills. It’s all beyond the ken of Sandy Biggs, from the South African Camping Club. “You sometimes walk past people who are sitting and watching soapies at their campsites,” said Briggs, who goes camping with her husband at least once a month. “If they want to spend half their weekend setting up gadgets, then so be it. For us, as long as you can sleep comfortably and have a comfy chair, that’s enough. You want it to be simple while still being able to do what you need. You don’t want to have to rub together two sticks.” Biggs’s version of back-to-nature camping does not involve putting up a gazebo to protect that other symbol of conspicuous consumption, the vehicle, or a two-man tent for the family dog. Such pampered pooches are the envy of the less fortunate, a few of whom are tethered by a leash especially designed to slide along the length of a rope between two trees. Then there are those who believe that “good fences make good neighbours”. Why enjoy the views when you can hem yourself in with collapsible fences that required a trailer to carry them? The manager of Camp and Climb in Cape Town, Charmaine Kritzinger, said camping wasn’t like it used to be: now people were prepared to break the bank to be comfortable. She said that canvas tents and dining shelters were some of the more popular items. “They take the whole house SOLVE IT: A R770 Leatherman Leap from Packrat.co.za will put a gleam in a nine-yearold’s eyes CAMPGROUND GOURMAND: A trendy R50 spice box may come in handy at the gasfuelled camp fire ON-TREND TORCH: When things go bump in the night , whip out a R2 519 LED flashlight from PackRat.co.za FRUITY FIND: How could you possibly eat an apple if you didn’t have a R50 apple-coring device? BET AGAINST WET: A R100 waterproof notebook is ideal for keeping your ’roughing-it’ diary TALL ORDER: High-heel hiking shoes have been voted among the top 10 most useless pieces of camping equipment with them. It’s not like it used to be when people just went in to the bush with hardly anything. Some people spend up to R20 000 on camping gear.” Jackie Glover, who works in the sales department at hardcore Johannesburg camping re- GMS0141 tailer PackRat.co.za, said multipurpose tools such as Leathermans had been among the season’s biggest sellers, even though prices reached R3 000. Torches were another item on which people splurged, with the “Jedi knight” models ex- ceeding R3 000. Various overseas manufacturers have thought of everything that could earn them a quick buck — until the customers realise that it’s actually just easier to stay home (and save your reputation in the process). Perhaps some of the surplus stock is on its way to South Africa? Most likely to be ridiculed in this category is the marshmallow roaster — a stainless-steel electric heater that allows you to toast these sweets without having to light a fire. No selfrespecting camper in South Africa would use anything but the braai to ensure that a black crust of sweetness forms on the marshmallow. The family that does fall for the marshmallow roaster is also most likely to be in the market for the “mattress with the builtin speaker” or the “camping icecream maker”. This sorry gadget was listed by retailer Go Camping Australia as one of the “top 10 most useless pieces of camping equipment”, as were “high-heel hiking shoes” . . . for obvious reasons. — Additional reporting by Farren Collins News ST Mainbody, 27-Dec-2015-Page 13, Cyan ST Mainbody, 27-Dec-2015- Page 13, Magenta ST Mainbody, 27-Dec-2015-Page 13, Yellow ST Mainbody, 27-Dec-2015- Page 13, Black N-1 JDCP Sunday Times | December 27 2015 13 R16.95 FROM 26 DECEMBER 2015 COLOURS LIMITED EXCLUSIVE TO FOSCHINI FOR BEAUTY NEW R29.95 R14.95 SKIN CARE 3 FOR 2 FROM 33%OFF GREAT GIFTS BUY ANY 3 OF THE SAME SELECTED BRAND & GET THE CHEAPEST FREE Elvive, Dark & Lovely, Pond’s, Nivea, Eucerin, Neutrogena, L’Oréal, Garnier, Oatmeal, Olay, Maybelline, Charlie, Black Opal, CYO, Essie, Revlon nails, Impress, Kiss, Broadway, Studio Basics, 150ml Revlon and Charlie deos and 275ml Revlon men’s deos. Excludes special offers. Valid from 26 Dec ‘15 to 18 Jan ‘16 IMPRESS BL ACK OPAL YARDLEY *valid till 18 January ‘16 LENTHÉRIC HAIR DEOS R9.95 COLOUR R100 OFF 50%OFF CELEBRITY FRAGRANCES Rihanna 50ml or larger fragrances, Kim Kardashian 50ml or larger fragrances, Mariah Carey M 100ml, Nicky Minaj 50ml fragrances, Katy Perry 50ml or larger fragrances, Ferrari 125ml fragrances, David Beckham 60ml or larger fragrances,& Enrique Iglesias 75ml or larger fragrances valid from 26 December ‘15 - 18 January ‘16 For a limited time only, while stocks last. One Direction fragrances valid from 26 December ‘15 - 18 January ‘16, selected Almay makeup, all Revlon mascaras, selected Foschini For Beauty eye quads, selected Revlon skincare & Yardley Supermoist Lipstick *Valid till 18 January ‘16. PRICE OFFS L’ORÉAL HAIRCARE SAVE R40 YARDLEY GEL LAC NAILS R49.95 RIMMEL NAILS R39.95 OGX HAIRCARE SAVE R30 www.foschini.co.za Your 6 months’ interest-free (if your account payments are up to date) account card gives you access to a world of shopping at any of the 17 TFG brand stores: Foschini, @home, @homelivingspace, American Swiss, Charles & Keith, DonnaClaire, DueSouth, Exact!, Fabiani, Fashion Express, G-Star Raw, Hi, Markham, Mat & May, sportscene, Sterns, Totalsports. Merchandise only available at selected Foschini stores while stocks last. Account queries: 0860 576 576 or 021 938 7666. Cosmetics information: 021 938 1662. E&OE. News ST Mainbody, 27-Dec-2015-Page 14, Cyan ST Mainbody, 27-Dec-2015- Page 14, Magenta ST Mainbody, 27-Dec-2015-Page 14, Yellow ST Mainbody, 27-Dec-2015- Page 14, Black N-1 JDCP 2015: THE WORLD 14 | NEWS Sunday Times | December 27 2015 Terror, exodus and Donald the chump Turmoil gripped the world in 2015, but the attacks and protests had to share the headlines with a coiffure W ILL we remember 2015 most for its grisly succession of terrorist attacks, or for the ceaseless flow of refugees out of the Middle East and North Africa? The two phenomena — linked at source in the mutating form of Islamic State — were constant themes in the year. Here are some of most significant: JE SUIS CHARLIE Terror struck Paris just one week into 2015 when two French brothers, Saïd and Chérif Kouachi, burst into the offices of Charlie Hebdo, the satirical weekly newspaper, killing 11 people inside, including some of France’s best-known cartoonists, and a passing policeman. Terrorism was to return to the French capital with a vengeance. On November 13, Paris was the scene of slaughter as gunmen swearing allegiance to Islamic State shot dead 40 people in bars and restaurants and another 90 at a concert in the Bataclan concert hall, in France’s worst terrorist atrocity since 1945. GREECE: SYRIZA RISES AND FALLS In January, the radical-left Greek party Syriza burst on to the European political scene promising to roll back Brussels-imposed austerity. But by July, the grandiose promises of Greece’s fresh-faced prime minister, Alexis Tsipras, and his motorbike-riding finance minister, Yanis Varoufakis, had been crushed by German fiscal rectitude and the cold realities of Greece’s debt burden. After imposing capital controls, Tsipras was forced into a climbdown, signing a harsh memorandum of understanding with Greece’s creditors. TERROR BEYOND THE WEST One of the bloodiest massacres in recent history took place in the first week of January 2015 when Boko Haram raided two Nigerian towns beside Lake Chad. The Islamist gunmen massacred the inhabitants of Baga and Doron Baga, killing hundreds — perhaps thousands — of defenceless people. The final death toll remains unknown; what is certain is that large all. Almost immediately, Putin’s allies broke the deal. Russian-backed separatist rebels — spearheaded by elite Russian troops, supported by Russian artillery and commanded by Russian generals — mounted a new offensive, completing a textbook encirclement of the Ukrainian-held town of Debaltseve. NO MORE: A series of killings of young black men by police officers prompted protests in cities across the US Picture: GETTY IMAGES areas of both towns were razed to the ground. Satellite pictures released by Oxfam showed the blackened ruins of 3 720 structures. This was the worst in a series of incidents that made 2015 a year of terrorism in Africa. While Boko Haram tormented northern Nigeria, the gunmen of al-Shabaab did the same in Somalia and Kenya. Their worst outrage came on April 2 when al-Shabaab took over Garissa University in Kenya, calmly murdering 148 staff and students. THE BATTLE OF DEBALTSEVE On February 12, Vladimir Putin joined Angela Merkel and their French and Ukrainian counterparts to announce a second Minsk ceasefire agreement, designed to end the war in eastern Ukraine once and for BLACK LIVES MATTER The US saw a new wave of controversial police shootings of young black men, leading to renewed protests as the Black Lives Matter activist group used social media to galvanise people into action. Perhaps the most high-profile death was that of Freddie Gray, 25, a young black man who was arrested for carrying a knife in Baltimore. While in a police van, he fell into a coma and died a week later. There were renewed protests in Ferguson, Missouri, where black teenager Michael Brown was shot dead by a white police officer in 2014. In November, police in Chicago released a video which showed black teenager Laquan McDonald, 17, being shot dead by a white police officer, Jason Van Dyke. The officer was charged with murder and there were large-scale protests. On June 17, nine black people were killed at the Emanuel African A M A Z I N G C R U I S E & S TAY D E A L S F R O M R 2 3 , 9 9 9 P P PRICES FROM SAD END: The death of three-year-old Aylan Kurdi near Bodrum, southern Turkey, highlighted the plight of migrants Picture: AFP PHOTO I S TA N B U L S TAY & M E D I T E R R A N E A N C R U I S E R23,999pp 15 NIGHTS DEPARTING APRIL - OCTOBER 2016 Methodist Episcopal Church in Charleston, South Carolina, by white gunman Dylann Roof, who had hoped to start a race war. FREE 1 NIGHT HOTEL STAY IN ISTANBUL FREE OUTSIDE FREE TO BALCONY OUTSIDE TO UPGRADE BALCONY UPGRADE YOUR HOLIDAY INCLUDES: Your journey begins in Istanbul, a city crammed full of UNESCO World Heritage Sites and endless enthralling sights: from the grandeur of the lavish Topkapi Palace to the soaring minarets of the majestic Hagia Sophia. Browse some of the 5,000 stalls at the bustling Grand Bazaar and be sure to sample the Ίavoursome apple tea and decadent Turkish delight. Following an overnight hotel stay here, you’ll board the Costa neoRiviera and cruise to sunsoaked Mykonos, a glamourous island of idyllic beaches, thatched windmills, designer boutiques and photogenic towns. Afterwards, two nights docked in Venice gives you plenty of time to admire this extraordinary city of winding canals and astounding architecture. Then it’s off to Split, home of the impressive UNESCO-listed Diocletians Palace, before docking at the olive groves, sandy beaches and a historic old town of Corfu. Santorini’s iconic blue and white villas follow and the pretty village of Oia, with its pastel tinted buildings, great restaurants, craft shops and black sand beaches, is well wor th a visit. Then cruise on to Argostoli on the mountainous Greek island of Kefalonia where you can stroll the cobblestone promenade and try some ouzo and meze. This is followed by the oldworld splendour of Dubrovnik, a stunning cliff-top destination of stone houses, baroque churches and terracotta rooftops. Youll have another day to enjoy Santorini’s charm and then the historical intrigues of Athens. Finally, there’s another night docked in Istanbul, a great oppor tunity to pick up some souvenirs before your Ίight home. ON BOARD COSTA NEORIVIERA The Costa neoRiviera offers the comforts and luxury facilities of larger ships with the ability to call at many fascinating ports. This is a beautiful ship that has all the luxury facilities to make your cruise holiday extra special, yet with a welcoming and friendly feel. 1-night hotel stay in Istanbul 14-night full-board cruise on board Costa neoRiviera Return flights & taxes 15 NIGHTS DEPARTING APR - OCT 2016 CRUISE ITINERARY: Istanbul • Mykonos • Santorini • Argostoli • Dubrovnik • Venice • Split • Corfu • Athens PRICES FROM INSIDE OUTSIDE R23,999pp R27,999pp SOLD OUT SOLD OUT BALCONY SUITE RETURN FLIGHTS & TAXES INCLUDED *Price based on 23 October 2016 PRICES FROM R32,999pp G R A N D VOYAG E F R O M V E N I C E TO S O U T H A F R I CA 26 NIGHTS DEPARTING 6 OCTOBER 2016 FREE 2 NIGHT HOTEL STAY IN VENICE FREE OUTSIDE FREE TO BALCONY OUTSIDE TO UPGRADE BALCONY UPGRADE YOUR HOLIDAY INCLUDES: Begin your adventure in Venice where you’ll spend two nights at leisure before boarding the MSC Sinfonia. After setting sail, your first por t of call is the gateway to Olympus - Katakolon in Greece, one of the Seven Wonders of the World with the original Olympic Stadium. Journey on to Egyptian waters where you’ll dock at Por t Said before cruising through the intriguing Suez Canal. Following this you’ll call at Safaga’s black sand dune CALL NOW ON beaches on the coast of Egypt’s Red Sea. Youll then travel on to Aqaba in Jordan, renowned for its scuba diving and kaleidoscope of coral reef. After seven leisurely days at sea, you’ll be mesmerised as you cruise in to the Seychelles calling at Por t Victoria. Heading on to your next tropical paradise – Mauritius, you’ll dock overnight here in Por t Louis, giving you plenty of time to explore. Possession on the volcanic Reunion Island which is covered in lush forests, sandy beaches and the Piton de la Fournaise volcano. With 26 nights of incredible destinations under your belt, we’re sure you’ll be going back in to Durban with extremely fond memories of a magnificent cruise holiday. Sailing back towards South Africa, youll stop off at La SATURDAY 9AM - 4PM MSC Sinfonia may be a small cruise ship by today’s leviathan standards but she still manages to encompass a lot of comfort, quality and choice for her guests. From active to relaxing holidays, the MSC Sinfonia manages to provide a setting for both. 2-night hotel stay in Venice 24-night full-board cruise on board MSC Sinfonia Outbound flight & taxes 26 NIGHTS DEPARTING 6 OCTOBER 2016 CRUISE ITINERARY: Venice • Katakolon • Port Said Suez Canal • Safaga • Aqaba • Port Victoria • Port Louis • La Possession • Durban THE DONALD It was a candid-camera parody of a presidential announcement. Donald Trump, his bouffant blond hair perfectly coiffed, descending an escalator to the tune of Rockin’ in the Free World by Neil Young. He would Make America Great Again, the real estate mogul told the audience inside his shimmering Trump Tower in New York. But immigrants had to stop coming to the country; especially Mexicans, who were largely “drug dealers” and “rapists”, he said. And so the most controversial candidate in recent US history burst into the race to the White House. He has since attacked women, mocking the looks of Carly Fiorina, his Republican rival, and insulted the US war hero John McCain. He has proposed banning Muslims from entering the US. Trump has broken every rule in the electoral book, and still rises inexorably in the polls. US, IRELAND OK GAY MARRIAGE When the US Supreme Court ruled that gay marriage was legal across the nation in June, President Barack Obama called it justice that “arrives like a thunderbolt”. In Ireland, gay marriage arrived even more suddenly. Within the course of a generation, public opinion had turned from overwhelmingly against, to strongly in favour. That shift was borne out by a referendum in May, in which 62% of voters cast their ballot in support of gay marriage. One month later, it was a bitterly contested 5-4 court decision that brought the same result in the US. PLANES KEPT FALLING It was a year in which we all scoured the scene, via our screens, for wreckage. Last year was a disastrous year for aviation — the worst in the history of the industry, with the shooting down of MH17 over Ukraine and the disappearance of MH370. But 2015 scarcely felt any better. In March, the world was shaken to the core when Andreas Lubitz, a 27year-old pilot with GermanWings, committed suicide by crashing a plane with 150 people on board into the French Alps. And in November, tragedy struck once more when a plane full of Russian tourists returning from an Egyptian holiday exploded over the Sinai desert, killing all 224 people on board. Investigators now widely believe it was the result of a bomb smuggled on to the plane. President Vladimir Putin vowed revenge. Then Russia was hit again — this time on a military mission, when Turkey shot down one of its jets heading to Syria. Yet more wreckage for our weary eyes. . . . AND SOME CRISES AVERTED In December, the US and Britain formally accepted a report from the International Atomic Energy Agency that Iran was no longer researching technology related to nuclear weapons. The agency concluded that all such research ended in 2009. Other developments also reduced the risk of conflict. At the start of 2015, it seemed possible China and Japan would come to blows over a disputed island chain in the North China Sea. By the middle of the year, however, China had switched its focus to other territorial disputes with smaller neighbours. The Paris climate change conference in December produced a global agreement to limit the rise in average temperatures to two degrees. In a bloodsoaked year, the world acted to reduce a few significant risks. — © The Daily Telegraph, London PRICES FROM INSIDE OUTSIDE R32,999pp R36,999pp R59,999pp R69,999pp BALCONY SUITE OUTBOUND FLIGHT & TAXES INCLUDED 0861 500 600 OPENING HOURS: MONDAY - FRIDAY 9AM - 7PM ON BOARD MSC SINFONIA MIDDLE EAST TURMOIL Fighting radical Islamists has been described as like playing whack-amole: you hit them in one place, and they crop up in another. The alliance of forces combating Islamic State began 2015 on a positive note, when US-led air strikes in northern Syria helped the Kurds push the terrorists out of the town of Kobane. But Islamic State managed to reverse that momentum with two advances in the space of a week — and to do so in their usual eyecatching way. First they took the city of Ramadi, in central Iraq, after a long siege. A series of 37 suicide bombs delivered in armoured trucks and diggers finally broke the defenders’ resistance. Then in Syria they drove Assad regime forces out of the city of Palmyra, with its glorious classical ruins. They put their new conquest to — literally — dramatic use. They lined up captive soldiers on the stage of the Roman theatre and filmed them being executed with a bullet in the back of the head. Later in the year, they followed up their destruction of various ruins in Iraq with their most wanton attack on Middle Eastern history to date, blowing up Palmyra’s Triumphal Arch and the Temple of Baal. THE YEAR OF THE MIGRANT It was the picture that awoke Europe to the human horrors of the migration crisis that had been breaking on its shores all year: the lifeless body of three-year-old Aylan Kurdi, lying face-down on a Mediterranean beach. For a few weeks in September, at least, that pitiful image opened Europe’s hearts to the million or more migrants sweeping into the continent, many driven from Syria and Iraq as the international community failed to deal with Islamic State and the escalating Syrian civil war. Not everyone was so welcoming, however. Hungary’s right-wing leader Viktor Orban put up a barbed-wire fence instead of a welcome sign. German chancellor Angela Merkel threw open the gates of Germany and was initially applauded for her generosity of spirit. But as the year wore on, and other European nations flatly refused to take EU-imposed quotas of migrants, the public’s patience ran out and Merkel faced a political backlash at home, with Germany struggling to absorb some 800 000 migrants. OR VISIT IMAGINECRUISING. CO.ZA SUNDAY 10AM - 4PM. ALL PRICES ARE BASED ON 2 ADULTS SHARING, FLIGHTS ARE FROM JOHANNESBURG BUT OTHER OPTIONS ARE AVAILABLE AT A SUPPLEMENT. TALES OF TERROR: The Nigerian army seized some areas in the city of Yola in Adamawa province from Boko Haram Picture: GETTY IMAGES News ST Mainbody, 27-Dec-2015-Page 15, Cyan ST Mainbody, 27-Dec-2015- Page 15, Magenta ST Mainbody, 27-Dec-2015-Page 15, Yellow ST Mainbody, 27-Dec-2015- Page 15, Black N-1 JDCP Festive Fun | Trapped in Gauteng with only the latest gadgetry and DVDs to entertain them, Ndumiso Ngcobo’s young ones have no idea what they’re missing -- from spitting contests to boxing with beer-carton gloves When a township holiday was the last resort T HE kids are having their first taste of a proper township Christmas holiday this year. By “township Christmas holiday”, I don’t mean they’ll be physically based in a township, even though I can see a hint of Mamelodi and Atteridgeville in their not-so-distant future when I perform some crystal-ball gazing. What I’m referring to is how most of us used to spend our holidays every year; just idling around the township for two months. As I write this, these coconuts, who are used to whizzing to and from holiday destinations in December, are in the TV lounge with their tablets, Nintendo Wii, their Minions and The Lego Movie DVDs. You see, their mom served divorce papers on her employer and is being subjected to that sentence called a “notice period” until early January. This means none of us is going anywhere until her release. It’s a solidarity thing in the mould of the Free Mandela Campaign. The midgets are only a week or two into their Gauteng “incarceration” but they’re already borderline suicidal with boredom. Growing up, I had no such challenges. This is because December holidays were like any other time of the year for me. Well, except for the part where I didn’t have to put on my school uniform and spend my days using my buttocks as the last line of defence against blows delivered by my teachers with a piece of hosepipe. Due to a combination of all the legislation restricting our movements back then, and our folks’ notoriously shallow pockets, we’d spend those long summer days swimming in the nondescript stream called the Mnqadodo — on the periphery of my Hammarsdale neighbourhood — collecting bilharzia infestations and taking part in other fun activities. We’d participate in spitting contests, catch catfish using sharpened tree branches as makeshift fishing spears, play four-hour football matches, hold boxing tournaments in which Ijuba sorghum beer cartons served as gloves, and commit genocide on avian life using rubber slings. It got so bad that, contrary to regular migratory patterns, birds would fly northward, away from my hood, to avoid untimely meetings with IFOs (identified flying objects, namely pebbles). Raiding the orchards of our less vigilant neighbours was also a popular December holiday distraction. So it boggles the mind how, every January, we’d get to school and the first thing our English teachers would ask for was an essay entitled “My Christmas vacation”. In the words of the Twitter generation: WTF? It took restraint not to retort, “Hawu! Ma’am Mkhize, you live three S UGARY pink, ’70s and boho are some of the major trends we’ve seen on the catwalks and in shop windows this year, but look at the corner of a bag or the back of a denim jacket and you’ll spy 2015’s real hit. Personalisation might not be as immediately striking as fringing or florals, but the subtle statement of initials or a bespoke colour combination is the hottest way to show your fashion nous. The concept of making anything — from a bracelet to a pair of heels or trophy knit — unique to the wearer has been adapted to every price point and taste, spawning countless pop-ups and limited editions. The act of engraving, monogramming, stamping or embroidering a sign, letters or motifs has long been a strategy used by designers to strengthen our bond with their brand. British stationers Smythson were among the first to get in on the act, and have been creating personalised luxury leather diaries, notebooks and handbags since 1887. The option to add an element of individuality has always been integral to its brand, with choices of colours and fonts allowing a dash of personality to shine through every time a diary was opened or a letter written. So, what’s triggered the current flurry of personalisation projects? I would have a decent story to share, because my mother had organised for us to spend about a week with my maternal granny in Verulam, north of Durban. Until that point my brothers and I had never been on a long-distance train ride, so we looked forward to that bit almost as much as the holiday itself. Yes, I said travelling by train from Hammarsdale to Verulam was a “long-distance train ride”. Thirty-odd years ago it felt as if we spent at least six hours on that train ride, munching mangoes, apricots and litchis we bought from vendors throughout the journey. The stay in Verulam itself was also quite a refreshing change of scenery from the ho-hum, languid shape of previous holidays. Immersion in bilharzia-infested ponds was replaced by afternoons spent watching movies in an actual cinema, with seats. And the highlight of my summer was my very first kiss on the lips from a girl called Desiree. All previous attempts at kissing girls had culminated in my being punched in the solar plexus or kicked in the shins. ❛ Illustration: PIET GROBLER houses from me. You know I was at home the entire time raiding your orchard. What vacation?” My guess is that some sadistic education department official made this a compulsory annual essay in the Bantu Education curriculum for no reason other than to have a cheap giggle at all the essays detailing December holidays spent herding cattle, milking petulant cows and swimming in crocodile-infested rivers. One year, a classmate called Patrick disappeared all December and returned in January three shades darker than his usual Kiwi black shoe-polish complexion. And then he wrote a beautiful essay about the wonderful time he’d spent in a paradise called Sun City, gliding down water slides, twirling around on merry-go-rounds and taking part in all manner of exotic activities. We were greener than the Incredible Hulk with envy. Patrick would have got away with his fantastic tale. But he messed it up with an amateurish mistake. He used the word “scintillating” in the essay. No Bantu Education sixth grader could possibly know that word. His younger sister was called as a witness in the ensuing tribunal and she sang like a canary. Patrick had actually spent December with his maternal uncle in Mthwalume village, south of Durban, herding goats and geese. The bulk of the essay had been lifted from a Sun International brochure that had come as an insert in this very newspaper. I don’t know what became of Patrick, but I won’t be surprised if he becomes chairman of the SABC board one of these days. I had a keen personal interest in the outcome of the Patrick case. I had spent about two weeks of my December holiday at my paternal granny’s house in the Valley of a Thousand Hills, a mere half an hour from my township. A portion of that time had been spent hunting red duikers, cane rats and rock badgers with the Duma brothers. This presented me with a conun- drum. Had I or had I not spent my December holidays in a game reserve? This is the debate I was having with my conscience. In the end I utilised my Catholic sensibilities and opted to go with the game-reserve fib, making a mental note to offload my technical “sin” inside Father McKinney’s confession booth the following Sunday. Three Our Fathers and five Hail Marys seemed a small price to pay for a 90% score in the English essay. But at least the following January Immersion in bilharzia-infested ponds was replaced by afternoons spent watching movies in an actual cinema, with seats Fast forward 33 years and I can at least claim to have found my own peculiar rituals that make me a part of the pageantry that comes with that rotund, bearded fellow in red pyjamas. I read somewhere that the origin of the word “holiday” is an ancient Mayan word, olid, whose literal translation is “time of year when one can open one’s first beer at 8am without being judged by spouse”. Even if that’s a hocus pocus definition, that’s my story and I’m sticking to it. And it doesn’t matter whether we’re in St Lucia, Jeffreys Bay, the Cape winelands, Maputo or home in Gauteng, at some point I will always find myself in a T-shirt two sizes too small — à la Gwede Mantashe playing football in recent pictures — proving those ancient Mayans right with an amber liquid in my right hand at eight in the morning. But this season I’m particularly looking forward to reading my offsprings’ “My December holiday” essays in January. That should be fun. Fashionistas make year’s trend all their own The personalisation of every stylish detail, from monogrammed jeans to design-your-own argyle jerseys, was the way to stand out from the crowd in 2015, writes Bethan Holt Thanks to the quick turnaround of trends, anything that feels special or comes with a thoughtful touch is hugely appealing. “We are bombarded with constant newness and retail promotions,” said Katie Smith, senior fashion and retail specialist for fashion analysts Edited. ❛ Anything that feels special or comes with a thoughtful touch is hugely appealing “Customisation puts control back in our hands. It’s a fantastic differentiator and a way to delight loyal customers.” If you’ve ever had that sinking feeling after seeing three people wearing the top you’ve just bought, the option to personalise a purchase adds a reassuring sense of exclusivity. Celebrities and fashion influencers are undoubtedly fuelling the phenomenon, piquing interest with public appearances and Instagram posts featuring their personalised favourites. At Burberry’s spring/summer 2016 show, every model received a rucksack inscribed with their initials. French designer Vanessa Seward has created jeans with names embroidered on the back pockets that have been worn by model Caroline de Maigret and streetstyle star Alexandra Golovanoff, while Olivia von Halle’s monogrammed silk pyjamas are beloved of fashion editors and bloggers alike. At the premiere of Pitch Perfect 2, Rebel Wilson carried an Edie Parker bag with “#Pitch” scribbled on the front, and at the Billboard Music Awards, Taylor Swift toted one inscribed with “Bad Blood” — the name of her latest song. Designers are also using customisation to reach younger shoppers who don’t necessarily have the cash to spend on a big purchase. Launched a year ago and developed with uberstylist Charlotte Stockdale, Anya Hindmarch’s enormous range of £50 (R1 135) stickers — comprising letters, road signs, emojis and more — have made her humorous take on luxury available to a new set of devotees, with sales already reaching £12-million. “I have always been obsessed by personalisation, and stickers were my schoolgirl version of it,” said Hindmarch. “My idea is that you can sticker up your handbag, phone or notebook and make it into your own personal art work.” While having your name written across the pocket of your T-shirt or embossed on the side of your handbag will remain a fun novelty, our shopping options are adapting so that we can be designers ourselves. Think of it as couture for the masses. Pringle of Scotland has recently launched pringledeconstructed.com, which it calls the first bespoke online cashmere service. Each piece is still imbued with the classic Pringle aesthetic, with the option to create your own take on the famous argyle jerseys and demure twinsets. Massimo Nicosia, Pringle’s head of design, said that “it was important to show that a 200-year-old heritage brand can also embrace innovation and touchscreen technology for our digitally savvy consumers”. The nine-step process — which can even be carried out on your phone — allows shoppers to create a jersey in a colour combination they can’t find on the shelf. Personalisation has even extended to the hallowed echelons of the designer bag, probably still the biggest single fashion investment a woman is likely to make. Fendi has created “Strap you”, which offers nine different straps that can be swapped around to give an individual and ever-changing character to a number of Fendi bags. With the technology that allows for these personalisation projects to become more and more slick, expect your future wardrobe to be filled with pieces that represent your own de- ❛ I have always been obsessed by personalisation. Stickers were my schoolgirl version sign and colour choices. But be warned, with great freedom comes great responsibility. Customisation demands time and consideration. After all, it’s much trickier to sell on eBay when it’s got your name emblazoned across the front. — © The Daily Telegraph, London BAG BLOOD: Taylor Swift and personalised bag Picture: FILMMAGIC News ST Mainbody, 27-Dec-2015-Page 16, Cyan ST Mainbody, 27-Dec-2015- Page 16, Magenta ST Mainbody, 27-Dec-2015-Page 16, Yellow ST Mainbody, 27-Dec-2015- Page 16, Black 16 Sunday Times OPINION Sunday Times Mampara of the Year ESTABLISHED 1906 Not all bad news in a year of turbulence W | December 27 2015 E laughed, cried, took to the streets to celebrate and to protest. Some of our compatriots did things that made us angry and others left us beaming with pride. Given the events of the past few weeks, it is easy to remember only what was bad about 2015. We close the year with the nation in a collective state of shock and depression following President Jacob Zuma’s irrational decision to fire a highly regarded finance minister, replacing him with an unknown parliamentary backbencher before eventually settling on Pravin Gordhan, who had held the post before, as the new finance minister. The drama put into sharp focus the leadership crisis we have at the very top, with a president who often seems oblivious to the devastating consequences of the decisions he makes. But the firing of Nhlanhla Nene had very welcome unintended consequences for our country. South Africans spoke out in their numbers — in the streets, on social media, on radio and in newspapers — to express their displeasure at the decision. The government had no option but to listen. This taught us that civil society is very much alive in South Africa and its voice is growing stronger in opposing wrongdoing. The movement is largely led by the youth — a stratum of our society that has often been assumed to be politically apathetic and self-absorbed. With campaigns such as #RhodesMustFall and #FeesMustFall, young South Africans forced the nation to come to terms with its unresolved past and to critically engage with the present state of affairs — especially in relation to poverty and inequality. Although politics, as always, is the source of much conflict and division, it also provided us with much needed comic relief. For instance, soon after his election as new DA leader, Mmusi Maimane took to Twitter to hold a virtual town hall meeting at which people could ask him any question they wanted. The experience proved to be full of fun as people asked him anything from who killed JR in the 1980s TV series Dallas to whether it irks him that the DA’s largely white constituency pronounces his surname “My Money”. Outside of politics, young people have also been taking the lead, pioneering new paths. Who can forget comedian Trevor Noah’s amazing achievement, becoming the host of one of the US’s most successful late-night TV shows? On the sporting front, major progress was achieved. The Proteas may not have been able to bring home the Cricket World Cup trophy, and the Springboks may have succumbed to eventual winners the All Blacks in the semifinals of the Rugby World Cup, but on the whole it was a good year on the sporting front. Banyana Banyana, our women’s national soccer team, and the men’s Under-23 team, qualified to represent South Africa at the Olympics in Brazil next year. Even Bafana Bafana, for many years a source of disappointment for our soccer-mad nation, look to be on track to qualify for the next Soccer World Cup tournament, scheduled for Russia in 2018. As we reach the end of a hectic year, the Sunday Times wishes all its readers happy holidays. May you all enjoy peace and happiness as you share this period with your families and loved ones. The new year promises to be filled with as much drama as the passing one. Fifa’s rot runs deep T HE eight-year ban on Fifa boss Sepp Blatter and vice-president Michel Platini deals with the syndrome instead of excising the cancer eating into the football body. The scale of corruption, the shady deals and the arrogant culture of impunity are rooted so deep at the core of the organisation that banning Blatter and Platini cannot be the end of the matter. The commendable investigation by the FBI only dealt with the conduct of individuals and not the institutional and systemic failures. The root cause of the rot in Fifa is the collapse of good governance, and the institutional impunity that has elevated the football monster above international and national laws. A virtual absence of the rule of law has proved a breeding ground for the likes of Blatter, Platini and former Fifa vicepresident Jack Warner (who was banned for life for his complicity in corruption). The first step to fixing Fifa is to change the accountability system. Fifa must account to the 209 affiliated national associations — not the other way round. Its workings must be transparent to the billions of fans who love the game. The primary cause of corruption is the selection of countries to host the World Cup, the biggest and most expensive sporting event in the world. The intensity of the competition and the publicity benefits tempt countries — including South Africa — to ingratiate themselves with Fifa leaders. The selection process needs a surgical overhaul, to be made as open as possible in order to curb bribery and arbitrary decisions. Lastly, the sponsors — who have the power to stop the rot — have stoked Fifa’s greed and power in the battle for marketing rights. Sponsorship needs to be regulated and infractions must be exposed so the fans can reject unethical sponsors. Looking Back From the Sunday Times 50 years ago WEARY cleaners cleaned away the last clouds of confetti in the Johannesburg Magistrate’s Court on Christmas Eve when the last couple had left arm-in-arm shortly after the 4.30pm deadline. This year’s Christmas marriage rush was unprecedented in the court’s history. A call was sent out for help for the overworked magistrates on Monday when 51 couples jammed the corridors. “We’re always busy during the Christmas holidays . . . probably because the factories close down . . . and most young couples have the benefit of a Christmas bonus to start them off on their new life together.” — December 26 1965 From the Sunday Times 25 years ago A FORMER maid who now holds a top job at the UN has written a harrowing account of the hardship and indignity of life as a poorly paid domestic servant in South Africa. In To My Children’s Children, Sindiwe Magona, a press officer . . . in New York, tells of working long hours and being sexually harassed by visitors at cosy suburban dinner parties. Employers took advantage of the law to “dehumanise” their servants. “We were not seen as people,” she said. Married white “medems” conducted affairs with men in front of their servants, as if they did not exist. — December 30 1990 GLEEFUL GIGGLER: President Jacob Zuma Zuma, defending champ of mamparadom, does it again I Zapiro is on leave. This cartoon first appeared in The Times on December 2 2014 LETTERS TO THE EDITOR When hospitals add to the ordeal of rape R EDI Tlhabi’s “Not all men are rapists, sure, but almost all rapists are men” (December 20) refers. I would like her to shine some light on private service providers who also seem loath to demonstrate concern, and assist rape victims. I was raped by two men, in my house, early in October. They also stabbed me and inflicted seconddegree burns with an iron on my breast and torso. My face was a mass of bruises. My eardrum burst from their blows. They threatened to kill me, and I believed that they would. This attack lasted from about 4pm to 7.30pm. When they left and I managed to escape, I thought my problems were over. Fat chance! I arrived at [Lenmed Health’s La Verna Private Hospital] in Ladysmith by ambulance. In casualty the two sisters informed me that a rape kit had to be taken within hours of the rape. I insisted that I wanted one. They said it could only be administered at the provincial hospital and the rape crisis centre only worked office hours. I asked if they could assist in treating my other wounds. We waited for a doctor, who refused, without examining me. He said he would be tampering with evidence. They didn’t even offer a painkiller. The provincial hospital opened the rape crisis centre and a kind sister was allocated to me. The district surgeon on call didn’t respond to her calls. Hours later, she got authority to give me a painkiller, and later still, an intern treated my wounds. The district surgeon arrived at 6.30am. I have since contacted La Verna and Lenmed. They say this is their protocol. If a rape victim’s life is in immediate danger they would assist, but otherwise they do not. I understand that most of the staff at the provincial hospital probably did as much as they could do given the lack of resources at their disposal. But the staff at the private hospital traumatised me even more. Putting up with all this to get rapists (hopefully) convicted makes South Africa safer for all of us, but the price is high. — Anonymous, Harrismith Zuma needs to join the dots “BEHIND Zuma’s U-turn: ‘SA will go bust’ ” (December 20) refers. As an ordinary citizen I feel strongly that Zuma must explain how it came to be that a critical institution like the National Treasury gets destabilised at such a negative time in our economy. Along with the monies paid for Nkandla, Zuma must pay back the billions the country lost in the wake of the axing of Nhlanhla Nene. The issue here is not Nene or David van Rooyen or Pravin Gordhan, but a president who seems not to understand how connected we are to the rest of the world economically. — Moetlo, by e-mail Tokyo not owed Fifa job “TOKYO: Africa’s time has come at Fifa” (December 20) refers. Tokyo Sexwale is basically demanding to be Fifa president. True to form, he is going to play the race card. Just because you are African does not mean you have the right to be the Fifa president. What credentials has Tokyo got in football management? Has he even managed a local football team? Someone should let him know Fifa is not the SABC; you actually have to be qualified for the job. We need someone who is the most qualified for the job, whichever continent they may come from. — Keith Chipiwa, Randburg The right team for rugby “SA rugby ‘must discover its own route’ into the future” (December 20) refers. Rugby is now a professional and evolving game, which requires coaches to be intelligent, tactically astute, innovative and assisted by competent specialists. Arrogance, antiquated and rigid ideas, let alone hysterical behaviour, are simply not good enough. One hopes, therefore, that the South African Rugby Union will not rush to appoint simply the best local coach — as the Stormers have done — to steer the Boks, when an international-calibre coach and assistants are clearly needed if the Boks are to evolve tactically, skilfully and racially. Given these criteria, I propose that Saru sounds out a John Mitchell-Gert Smal combination. Both have international playing and coaching experience, both were prepared to work together at the Stormers, both can be paid in rands, and having an uitlander and a ware South African A ticket in Dudu’s Xmas sock Leave her looks out of it WELL done on showcasing the inspirational young talent that South Africa has leading the way across sports, arts and politics in “The young guns who took 2015 by storm” (December 20). I thoroughly enjoyed reading about the work of these young leaders. How disappointing for Nompendulo Mkatshwa, however, that journalist Pearl Boshomane described her as “synonymous with a new wave of feminism” but then chose to call her “photogenic” and describe her “lithe frame and signature head-wrap”. I would hope that Ulo’s achievements would be judged purely on their merits and that her looks would not be commented on in an article telling us about her leadership and vision. I note that the men in the article ARTICULATE: Wits student leader Nompendulo Mkatshwa were not subject to the same shallow assessments. — Gill Victor, by e-mail T The worst for some was the immediate and continued tumbling of the markets and near annihilation of our currency. For others, the appointment of little-known David van Rooyen to this crucial post and his first speech about “demystifying the Treasury’’ were the lowest points. For me, the nadir came a few hours before Zuma announced the shifting of Pravin Gordhan back to finance from co-operative governance. It confirmed once and for all that our president simply does not understand what is going on. It would be slightly comforting if he had grasped the unfolding events, but he had chosen to ignore them in pursuit of his ambitions. But the situation is worse because it is a combination of ambition, impetuousness and lack of ability. On that Sunday, before announcing Gordhan’s reappointment to the LIKE Dudu Myeni . . . the maverick SAA chairwoman who was so offended by a minister telling her that she could not buy new planes with money the airline did not have that she got No 1 to show the said minister, Nhlanhla Nene, the door. As the year comes to an end, we can only hope that this candidate’s role in getting Nene ousted was a step too far and that the new finance minister, Pravin Gordhan, will give her a free one-way air ticket out of SAA. Preferably, this would be a one-way ticket to Nkandla where, as ONE WAY: chairwoman of No 1’s foundation, she can oversee Dudu Myeni the million-rand cattle kraal and chicken run that keep the president’s livestock sleeping and living in comfort. Spreading little Goodwill fits the bill. — Rob Haswell, Pietermaritzburg Rally to stop extinction THANK you for your incredibly important article “The ugly truth behind the plunder of nature” (December 13). We humans are part of the web of life. As that is ripped apart, our own wellbeing, and that of all life, is threatened. All people should rally to stop extinction, and in particular all who worship a creator God should see it as a priority to stop the extinction of God’s creation. — Bishop Geoff Davies, Kalk Bay We can take country back “FRIENDS, advisers and a few rogues” (December 20) refers. How can a relatively unknown family come from India and tell the president how to run our country? We the people are now going to take responsibility. If we in our numbers could change the pattern of our country 21 years ago, we can stand together in peace to reclaim this land of ours. To be led by the best person. To put people in place who want this country to work for all its people. No to corruption, nepotism and freebies. We all have to work for our slice of bread. It is so simple. — Roshan Mahomed, by e-mail Reading signs every Sunday IT’S another year gone by and, as a pensioner, I cannot afford the Sunday Times. But it’s my fix, call it a compass to the South African problem and solutions. Peter Bruce, in “Let’s try a rational executives committee” (December 20), has given the men and women protecting Zuma a path to tread towards a better 2016. I wish these politicians would read your and other serious newspapers to get a feel for the trouble we are in. It seems they read tabloids, as we are in “soapie” mode. Having had the privilege of visiting Zimbabwe in its heyday and later witnessing its free fall, I was smug in thinking this will never happen here. Hells bells, it is. Zuma has turned me, an SA optimist, into a pessimist who fears the next trick up his sleeve. Thanks for the good and the bad this year and telling your readers the way it is. — June Baatjes, Athlone Treasury, a smug president addressed a gathering in Mpumalanga where he told people to ignore those who “talk too much on television”. This complicates the argument of Lindiwe Zulu, minister of small business development, that business does not communicate. Business, civil society and academia amplified their voice — but Zuma was not listening. Instead, he told his audience to also switch off. And there are many business leaders who have been roasted for daring to criticise the government, but that is a conversation for another day. Instead of listening to the four days of discontent, Zuma idiotically stuck to his guns and said ministers were never removed or appointed for no reason. He missed the fact that his reasons had been costly and Nene’s yet-to-be-defined role at a Brics bank counted for less than the market stability and economic growth for which South Africa is desperate. As the tremors were still being felt, he was the only one who still did not get it. That is depressing. A lot has happened since — the governing party intervened, denied intervening, admitted intervening, blamed business for Zuma’s tardy management of the country and criticised the media — but failed to put the spotlight on the main protagonist. ALSO associated with the Nkandla Crooner is Zulu King Goodwill Zwelithini. Even in a republic like ours, the status of a monarch is supposed to be respected. After all, a king is there to play a unifying role for the nation. But King Zwelithini has failed in this role and, through his silly comments, at times acted as a force of destruction. His foolish remarks about the need to send African foreigners back to their countries of origin helped fuel xenophobic violence earlier this year. When the Human Rights Commission summonsed him to explain his utterances, he chose not to fully co-operate. To add insult to injury, this candidate — who receives millions of rands from the taxpayer for his and his family’s upkeep — used a ceremony to brag to his subjects about how well the apartheid government had looked after him. So not a naughty girl, then? ALTHOUGH not associated with No 1, the next candidate sure has something in common with the Zulu king when it comes to having fond memories of our dark and evil past. Dianne Kohler Barnard, who learnt this week that she will keep her seat as a DA MP after initially being kicked out of the party, makes it to the list for sharing a Facebook post that favourably compared apartheid president PW Botha to the current democratic government. The former SABC staffer insulted millions of South Africans who suffered under apartheid, embarrassing her party in the process. As long as Baba loves you! Impetuous president fails to put SA first HE sun is about to set on what has been a very turbulent year. Our business-as-usual atmosphere has been shaken up by the mayhem caused by President Jacob Zuma when he changed finance ministers twice in four days. We will never forget that. It was dramatic, outrageous and an epic failure of leadership whose impact continues to be felt. Although the capricious markets have slowly settled, there is no doubt that South Africa bled. Those in denial have concocted political conspiracy theories, pitting capitalists and the West against our poor nation. Regardless of the stark evidence, they have refused to see the simple truth that we suffered because of our president’s ineptitude. In firing former finance minister Nhlanhla Nene, Zuma indeed used his prerogative — as if that was ever the debate — but he did not use it to put South Africa first. South Africans all have their own views about the worst moments of that disorderly week. For some the worst was when Nene was fired by a dull president whose communication skills need serious intervention. At that point, Zuma did not think that he owed anyone an explanation for this extraordinary decision. Two days later, three press statements were issued in one day. N the weeks leading up to the vote for Mampara of the Year, the Sunday Times had hoped against hope the results of this year’s poll would have a different outcome. It is no easy matter naming one’s president as a mampara of the week, not to mention conferring the status on him for a year. It becomes even worse when the award is given to him several years in a row. It is not like South Africa has run out of prominent people who do and say silly things. There are plenty of them: just read the pages of any local newspaper and you will see a number of possible candidates. But clearly, none comes anywhere near our Mampara and, judging by our online poll, those who make it as runners-up often happen to have a NO 2: Hlaudi relationship of some sort Motsoeneng with our Mampara . . . We are entering a crucial year of local government elections. This tier of government is closest to the people and is the coal face of service delivery. And we know that service delivery is the bedrock of any nation’s development. It requires skills, expertise, compassion and adroitness. In South Africa, protests about delivery have been explosive and persistent. Everyone seemed to breathe a sigh of relief that Van Rooyen was removed from the Treasury, but is anyone asking what makes him suitable for the critical cooperative governance and traditional affairs portfolio? I do not know much about him, except what those who have worked with him in Merafong and parliament have had to say. At best they merely acknowledge him. Many can barely remember him. No one has said he is a trailblazer. I am deeply concerned that the ANC and the government seem to be suggesting that if Van Rooyen is not suitable for the Treasury, he will automatically be suitable for local government. Maybe, but dare we experiment at such a critical time? I think not. Comment on this: write to [email protected] or SMS us at 33971 www.sundaytimes.co.za ONE of her former SABC colleagues, who is still very much at the broadcaster, also makes it onto the shortlist. Hlaudi Motsoeneng, he of “I am an adacemic (sic) intellectual” fame, had the second highest number of votes for his many blunders during the past year. The public protector and the courts have all found him unsuitable to run the SABC given his lack of formal post-matric education. Yet this deputy Mampara of the Year keeps finding new tricks he can use to stay on at the public broadcaster. To understand his power, one has to be mindful of what miscommunications minister Faith Muthambi once told an SABC board member of him: “But Baba loves him.” Ho ho ho, what a fine mess BY “Baba”, Muthambi meant the No 1 Mampara himself. He has been called so many things this year — the Wrecking Ball; the Teflon President; Ultimate Survivor. But none of his nicknames can fully describe the damage he has done to society at large. Just when you think we have reached the very bottom and the Zuma presidency can sink no further, No 1 takes us to a new low. At the start of December, just as everybody thought the political year was over, this Mampara thought he would shake things up a bit by firing the finance minister. As the rand tumbled and the markets went into turmoil, he probably sat in his office and giggled, giggled, giggled. ý Write to [email protected] News ST Mainbody, 27-Dec-2015-Page 17, Cyan ST Mainbody, 27-Dec-2015- Page 17, Magenta ST Mainbody, 27-Dec-2015-Page 17, Yellow ST Mainbody, 27-Dec-2015- Page 17, Black Sunday Times | December 27 2015 17 OPINION Last laugh for Malema as Zuma and Maimane stumble in 2015 A JOKE is often told in government circles of how the seat of government has relocated from Pretoria to Nkandla in December ever since Jacob Zuma became president. Except it’s not really a joke. The president — while on leave — does spend the festive season at his rural homestead in KwaZulu-Natal where he kisses babies, dishes out blankets to the elderly and offers pep talks to amateur sports teams who participate in tournaments organised by his foundation. Sometimes these events resemble a government imbizo, judging by the number of ministers and hangers-on who flock to Nkandla to be seen to be closer to the president. This year will be no different, except that the queues that usually snake across the fields of Nkandla may be shorter; it is clear to all that the president is at his weakest. It has been a tumultuous year for him — for the first time since his election, he saw the presidency slipping through his fingers, especially with the clumsy firing of Nhlanhla Nene as finance minister. But I don’t expect Pravin Gordhan — who returned as finance minister last week — to be among the ministers who will gather at Nkandla. He does not need to ingratiate himself with his boss. The president would never dare touch him. He is like a Survivor contestant who has won the immunity challenge for the rest of this term. The backlash that forced Zuma to remove David van Rooyen from the Finance Ministry, a mere four days after his appointment, has rendered the president weak. This makes Gordhan the most powerful minister in the country. He can do as he pleases. The signing of the swap deal between SAA and Airbus is a case in point. It was also a slap in the face for the president’s friend Dudu Myeni, the overly confident SAA board chairwoman, who always comes out tops in her fights with ministers. Well, until last week. Unfortunately the downside of a spooked Zuma is that he will be scared to fire even an incompetent member of cabinet such as Communications Minister Faith Muthambi. Zuma ended the year with trouble brewing on all fronts. He sent a minister to eject his second wife, MaNtuli, from Nkandla in January, on allegations of her being part of a plot to poison him. It went downhill from there. He faced a constitutional storm when ❛ He is a Survivor contestant who has won the immunity challenge for the rest of this term Pretoria, despite a court order, allowed Sudanese despot Omar alBashir to leave the country, he suspended his police commissioner, and he parted ways with his national director of public prosecutions. Students also took their grievances to his doorstep, demanding that #FeesMustFall. But if you think Zuma had a tough year, spare a thought for Mmusi Maimane who took over the DA leadership from Helen Zille. His election in May — an achievement considering the young leader’s age — was overshadowed when veteran journalist Allister Sparks, in a speech at the DA congress, described apartheid architect Hendrik Verwoerd as a “smart politician”. The ghost of apartheid haunted the DA again when the brash Dianne Kohler Barnard shared an offensive Facebook post that hankered after the dark days of apartheid. But Kohler Barnard has bounced back and managed to keep her parliamentary position after successfully appealing her DA expulsion. Tackling gender stereotypes — and then confirming them Statements by two of the most celebrated gender transition spokeswomen of 2015 raise prickly questions about beliefs regarded as central to feminism, writes Rebecca Davis O NE of the women who attracted the most media attention in 2015 was born a man. And not just any man. Bruce Jenner was a college football player who would go on to win the title of “world’s greatest athlete” after claiming gold in the 1976 Olympic decathlon, the notoriously gruelling event that demands mastery of 10 track and field categories. Very little about Caitlyn Jenner’s story has been typical of transgender experience. Jenner’s personal wealth has afforded her the best possible medical treatment, including “facial feminisation” surgery that cost a reported $70 000 (about R1-million). The response from the media to Jenner’s transformation was one of fascination, but by and large it was respectful. It’s interesting to compare Jenner’s reception with that of Chelsea Manning, the US whistleblower previously known as Bradley Manning. A number of US news outlets have simply refused to acknowledge Manning’s gender transition, persisting in referring to her as Bradley. Jenner, by contrast, has been showered with mostly supportive media coverage, including the now famous edition of Vanity Fair in which she posed for the cover as a Marilyn Monroe-esque vamp. It was in a TV interview with Diane Sawyer around the same time that Jenner made comments that feminists found disquieting. ❛ Why are they still sitting in Pretoria? Who said they are sitting in Pretoria? When were they deployed? For months already. What are they doing? Different things. Project managers, technical support. Depending on their capacity. BRAIN GAMES: Caitlyn Jenner at a fashion show in New York. She has been welcomed as a woman in most media, but by saying her brain is ’more female’, has worried feminists Picture: KEVIN MAZUR/WIREIMAGE kett — an academic and Oscarwinning documentarist — wrote a piece in the New York Times in which she said that she had fought her entire life against these stereotypes about women. “Suddenly, I find that many of the people I think of as being on my side — people who proudly call themselves progressive and fervently support the human need for selfdetermination — are buying into the notion that minor differences in male and female brains lead to major forks in the road and that some sort of gendered destiny is encoded in us,” wrote Burkett. The reason feminists have fought hard to say that most gender differences are the result of social conditioning rather than innate bi- ological difference, is not hard to see. If women are “biologically” more emotional than men, maybe they can’t be relied upon to serve effectively as judges, for example. If a female brain is “biologically” less technical than a male’s, perhaps women should leave flying planes to men. One of the unfortunate and unintended consequences of statements such as those made by Jenner and Manning is that they reinforce potentially destructive notions of innate gender difference. This is why some feminists — who one might consider in other respects natural allies of the transgender movement — have voiced concern this year. Regrettably, they have sometimes done so in deeply offensive and stigmatising ways. Pioneering feminist Germaine Greer attracted fury in October after suggesting that Caitlyn Jenner had transitioned in order to steal the limelight of the Kardashian women. Author Julie Bindel was banned from a debate in the same month due to a past piece in which she wrote: “Call me old-fashioned, but I thought the one battle we feminists won fair and square was to convince at least those left of centre that gender roles are made up. They are not real.” These feminists have been heavily criticised for placing their ideologies ahead of the often traumatic lived experience of transgender individuals. In 2016, it’s to be hoped that more discussion, more theorising and more civilised debate will foster greater understanding. Perhaps, too, a more articulate spokeswoman for transgender experience than Caitlyn Jenner will succeed in capturing the media’s attention. Comment on this: write to [email protected] or SMS us at 33971 www.sundaytimes.co.za Comment on this: write to [email protected] or SMS us at 33971 www.sundaytimes.co.za According to recent reports, 35 Cuban engineers, costing the Department of Water Affairs R50-million a year, have been sitting in Pretoria since February. Chris Barron asked spokesman Sputnik Ratau . . . How many have been deployed? All of them. MISSING OUT: Bradley Manning, now Chelsea, is not regarded in US media as a woman Picture: GETTY IMAGES/AFP have put Malema on a pedestal. His recent tour to London — even addressing the prestigious Oxford Union debating society — was a coup. He also led thousands through the streets of Johannesburg calling for economic transformation. Not a bad year for a man who, at the height of his political tribulations, likened himself to a leper. If 2015 was a tough political year. Brace yourself for 2016 — with #FeesMustFall protests expected to resume in January and the hotly contested local government elections later in the year. ý Barney Mthombothi is on leave. Ngalwa is political editor So Many Questions Officials from your own department. Let them tell you the correct thing. These guys are all over the country. What does a female soul look like? How is a female brain different from a male brain? “I am a woman,” Jenner told Sawyer. “I have the soul of a female and my brain is much more female than it is male.” What does a female soul look like? How is a female brain different from a male brain? This latter question is deeply contested: in a wellreceived 2010 book called Delusions of Gender, scientist Cordelia Fine argued that claims about biological difference between the brains of men and women are drastically overstated. But here Jenner was, telling the world that she felt, on some essential level, that her brain had always been “female”. Chelsea Manning followed up with a similar statement on Twitter: now that she was a woman, she wrote, she was “so much more aware of my emotions; much more sensitive emotionally (and physically)”. It didn’t take long for sceptical opeds to appear. In June, Elinor Bur- Clearly Maimane had no choice — many in the party thought her “mistake” was minuscule. Good luck to Maimane and his attempts to convince black voters to support the DA. The reality is that the likes of Kohler Barnard and Sparks are entrenched in the DA. Strangely enough though, it is the EFF’s Julius Malema whose political fortunes seem to have turned out for the better. The political gods are smiling on the tempestuous Malema who had his fraud and corruption case struck off the roll. Even attempts by the South African Revenue Service to have him sequestrated failed. He may have endured a bruised cheek and a sore neck after his altercation with parliament security in February when he and his MPs demanded that Zuma “pay back the money”, but the campaign seems to Are they exempt from the standards set by the Engineering Council of South Africa? No. You must remember that when they were recruited we sent a team to Cuba because they needed to be at a certain level of employment. We couldn’t just take anybody from the street. There was a stringent selection process working together with the Cuban government . . . Who were the people who went to Cuba to select them? Hold on, can I finish? A lot of people don’t want to accept that even with the blockade Cuba has been in the forefront of a lot of technical development, including in engineering. So this thing of trying to downgrade Cubans simply because they’ve not been part of the bigger Western picture is incorrect. There are certain international standards that have to be met though, surely? We have got to have people who come and work here who satisfy our own standards as a country. Was there a needs analysis before deciding we needed these Cubans? We didn’t just walk out of here and say, “Give us 10 people.” It was [to satisfy] the needs of the country that we went there. And we cannot know the needs of the country without a proper needs analysis. Who did the needs analysis? You’re interrupting, you’re not allowing me to answer. Obviously the department has an interest in how the sector performs. And obviously the department has a responsibility to ensure that we have what is required. So it was our responsibility to do a needs analysis. This is not the first time we have said there are shortages of skills, especially at municipalities which cannot attract the necessary skills. Why not? Because they don’t have the money to pay these guys. So you’re using the Cubans because they’re cheaper? Not because they’re cheaper, because they’re willing to go where our own engineers have not been willing to go. Have you spoken to Consulting Engineers South Africa? They say they have engineers with internationally recognised qualifications ready and willing to go anywhere. They won’t go to a municipality that doesn’t have the capacity to pay them at the same level as the city of Cape Town. So is it a fact that the Cuban engineers are cheaper? They are not cheaper, because they have come at a certain level. Those are the skills that we have bought. Are these skills recognised by the engineering council? I can’t answer for the engineering council but from where we are sitting as a department we are confident of their skills. But the council is a statutory body. Doesn’t that mean its standards have to be met? Please don’t ask me to answer for the engineering council. I don’t speak for them. I will not speak for them. I want you to speak for your department. Do the Cubans have the necessary qualifications? Are their qualifications recognised? They are recognised according to the standards that we require. Shouldn’t they be recognised according to the standards required by the engineering council? That is why I am saying the statutory body can make their own pronouncements, but according to the recruitment process we underwent, which was very rigorous, we are happy with the skills we got. You may well be, but they are not recognised internationally or by the relevant local body, are they? That’s your own position, it’s not fact. Is Cuba part of the Washington Accord that governs international engineering qualifications? You can’t bring the Washington Accord in when Washington has barred people from being recognised. Isn’t South Africa a signatory of the Washington Accord? South Africa signed the Washington Accord, but are you saying the Washington Accord is different from what we are able to garner from the Cubans in the medical field? I’m talking about the engineering field. The Washington Accord governs international engineering qualifications. Shouldn’t South Africa, as a signatory, adhere to those standards? I think you are looking for a debate and I am not going to debate with you. I can check that. I don’t have the answer on my fingertips right now. fiell li a touch of distinction 4 Pce Divani - 1+2+4+Coffee Table - Full Leather *Bloemfontein - 051 430 7071 *Canal Walk,Cape Town - 021 552 3119 *Springeld,Durban - 031 263 2820 *Stanger,KZN - 032 437 5700/3 *Woodmead,Johannesburg - 011 656 1885 *All major credit cards accepted. E&OE. www.elli.co.za STOCKIST OF News ST Mainbody, 27-Dec-2015-Page 18, Cyan ST Mainbody, 27-Dec-2015- Page 18, Magenta ST Mainbody, 27-Dec-2015-Page 18, Yellow ST Mainbody, 27-Dec-2015- Page 18, Black Sunday Times 18 | OBITUARIES | December 27 2015 Jeremy Rose: Obsessive, acclaimed architect 1963-2015 JEREMY Rose, who has died in Johannesburg at the age of 52, was the architect behind some of South Africa’s most famous museum, heritage and public-art projects commemorating the struggle against apartheid. These include Freedom Park, the Mandela House Visitors Centre, the Hector Pieterson Memorial and Museum, the Apartheid Museum, the Liliesleaf Liberation Centre in Rivonia and the Mandela Capture Site public sculpture. He was also principal architect for parts of the Newtown cultural precinct in Johannesburg, the Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy for Girls and the Origins Centre at the University of the Witwatersrand. Rose was born in Johannesburg on May 24 1963. He matriculated at the private Anglican school of St Martin’s and studied architecture at Wits. He was treasurer of the National Union of South African Students, and an active member of the End Conscription Campaign. Rose went into exile in Botswana in 1989 to avoid conscription into the South African Defence Force and jail time for refusing the call-up. While there he worked with Osmond Lange Architects and then in association with Colin Savage. He returned to South Africa in 1995 and formed Mashabane Rose Associates with Phill Mashabane. Rose was very driven, very ambitious and very true to a specific architectural vision. He had clear ideas about the type of aesthetic he wished to create. He was not as client-orientated as many architects. He considered himself a visionary and thought he knew better than anybody else, including his colleagues and clients, with whom he had many robust arguments. He was very stubborn, determined to execute his own aesthetic, down to the smallest detail. He knew precisely how he wanted things to look, and how he wanted space to operate. He had a profound understanding of inside-outside space relationships. All of this, including his obsessive focus on detail, can be seen to good ❛ At the Apartheid Museum, the demarcation from one exhibit to the next is clear, and the resultant experience all the more stark and harrowing for it effect in the Apartheid Museum, which, along with others of his designs, won international praise and was written about in several books and papers. A striking feature of the Apartheid Museum is the clean acoustics, which allow an unusually neat and clear experience. Other museums are marred by a profusion of sounds overflowing from adjacent exhibits. At the Apartheid Museum, the demarcation from one PERSONAL VISION: The details on the major projects architect Jeremy Rose worked on were, for him, non-negotiable exhibit to the next is clear, and the resultant experience all the more stark and harrowing for it. Rose was a very good painter, draughtsman and sculptor, talents he used to great effect in his designs. He had a natural flair for materials and was exquisitely selective about which ones he used. While his detailing was admired by other architects, it was not always appreciated by his colleagues. For him the details were non-negotiable. He wanted them correct and this made him a bit of a control freak. He was so obsessed with his personal vision of how things should look that some of the architects who worked under him found him overbearing and not respectful of their vision. Rose lost some good staff over the years for failing to incorporate, acknowledge or credit their ideas. Because he worked with government stakeholders a lot of the time, he had to tolerate committee-type deliberations and consensus decisions. He found this way of doing things frustrating and became increasingly impatient with it. As he stamped his mark over time, his impatience and dominance became more respected, which in turn made him even less tolerant of challenges to his vision. Rose died of genetically inherited pulmonary fibrosis, which also killed his father Eric, who died in 1987 at a similar age. He is survived by his estranged wife Ellen Papciak-Rose, their daughter Maya and his partner Picture: GALLO IMAGES Mary Wafer. He met Papciak in Botswana where she was a Peace Corps volunteer art teacher. She returned to the US five years ago with their daughter. Having carved a name for himself as the maker of cultural and historical museums in the South African context, Rose felt he could not leave. He went to the US every six months to see Maya. — Chris Barron Dave Hazelhurst: Master journalist who helped lift lid on the ‘Info scandal’ 1938- 2015 Starts 31st December 2015 While stocks last. Discount off original selling price. Applicable to selected marked items only. Management reserves the right at their discretion to end this promotion at any time. IN CINE MA S 31 DECE MBER DAVE Hazelhurst, who has died in Johannesburg at the age of 77, was probably the greatest all-round journalist South Africa ever had, and handled one of the biggest news stories in the country’s history. Although he could write brilliantly, it was as a production specialist that he made his mark on the industry and commanded such huge respect in the newsrooms of the country’s most famous newspapers. He was a master of design, layout and headlines. He had a visceral understanding of news, what stories were important, how they should be covered, what weight they should be given and how they should be presented. As chief assistant editor of the Rand Daily Mail, he played a typically behind-the-scenes but pivotal role in its coverage of the information scandal in 1977 and 1978. Also known as “Hazy”, he wrote one of the most momentous headlines in the country’s history — “IT’S ALL TRUE” — which finally destroyed all the denials by the Vorster and PW Botha governments. That headline, on Friday November 3 1978, was the culmination of two years of painstaking, dangerous work, most of it contained in memos by investigative reporters Mervyn Rees and Chris Day and locked up in a safe waiting for the right moment to be unleashed. Hazelhurst led the team that collated this mountain of material and prepared it for publication — one bombshell after another, until on November 2 1978 Judge Anton Mostert defied the instructions of then prime minister PW Botha and exploded the biggest bombshell of the lot. He released an avalanche of evidence from a commission of inquiry he had led in which the main players came clean on the abuse of taxpayers’ money, never dreaming it would be made public. Hazelhurst had about six hours to ready the evidence for publication. When the Rand Daily Mail came out the next morning, there was enough copy to fill a book. In their account of the scandal — Muldergate — Rees and Day called Hazelhurst’s achievement the greatest production exercise in the newspaper’s history. Hazelhurst was born in Barberton on January 31 1938. He matriculated at age 16 from Jeppe Boys High School and enrolled at the University of the Witwatersrand. He passed his first year but dropped out in his second after being so absorbed as a stage designer for the Wits operatic society that he failed his midyear exams. He joined the Mail in 1956 as crime reporter on the night shift. After being suspended for being drunk and insubordinate, he resigned and spent what was in his pension fund on second-hand books, including those by his favourite authors, John Steinbeck, Ernest Hemingway and John dos Passos, which he still had when he moved home in 2013. After a stint at Golden City Post, he became, in 1963 at the age of 25, the IT’S ALL TRUE: Dave Hazelhurst Picture: THE STAR youngest editor of Drum magazine. He had an uneasy relationship with the owner, Jim Bailey, who was irritated by his battle with deadlines. He remarked that Drum under previous editors was pedestrian, but made the deadline. Under Hazelhurst, he said, it was brilliant but always a cliffhanger. After two years, Hazelhurst said he could not take Bailey any more and resigned. His close friend Hugh Lewin, a subeditor on Drum and the Post, and member of the African Resistance Movement, stayed with him briefly after serving a seven-year sentence for sabotage. As a result, Hazelhurst found himself the object of close surveillance by the security branch. Sunday Times editor Joel Mervis asked him to build the newspaper’s township edition, called Sunday Times Extra, which he did so successfully that its black readership boomed to the extent that people joked that it was the white edition of the Sunday Times that would soon have to be called the Extra. From the Sunday Times, he rejoined the Rand Daily Mail and was chief subeditor under editor Raymond Louw. It was during this period in the early ’70s that he started becoming a legend in the industry. When Allister Sparks became editor of the Sunday Express, he asked Hazelhurst to be his deputy editor. When Sparks became editor of the Rand Daily Mail, he asked Hazelhurst to follow him there too. He became managing editor. When the Mail closed in 1985, he joined the Sunday Star as deputy to “Buller” Hildyard. The two became inseparable. When Hildyard resigned for health reasons in 1991, Hazelhurst became editor and converted it into a short-lived tabloid. He spent the rest of his career as creative director for The Star. He attached great importance to photography and his expertise was recognised when he was asked to serve seven consecutive terms on the then Ilford Press Photographer of the Year judging panel. He had Alzheimer’s but was killed by cancer of the oesophagus. He is survived by his wife, Ethel, a former financial journalist who he met when she was a librarian for SA Associated Newspapers, and two children. — Chris Barron News ST Mainbody, 27-Dec-2015-Page 19, Cyan ST Mainbody, 27-Dec-2015- Page 19, Magenta ST Mainbody, 27-Dec-2015-Page 19, Yellow ST Mainbody, 27-Dec-2015- Page 19, Black If you can’t feed a team with two pizzas, it’s too large. — Jeff Bezos, Amazon founder and CEO Sadder, wiser markets emerge from wild ride Flying Into Turbulence President’s jolt to investors settles into wariness as year draws to close ANDRIES MAHLANGU A RELATIVE sense of calm and stability has returned to South African markets near the end of what has been a roller-coaster ride for investors this month and, indeed, this year. The JSE All Share index is relatively flat in rand terms so far after a buoyant start to 2015. In dollar terms, the picture looks uglier after the benchmark dropped 24% because of a weaker rand. Since peaking at 55 188.34 points in April, the R10.38-trillion domestic market has struggled to make headway. Other global stock markets, such as the US, have displayed a similar pattern. There were many variables along the way that thrust most equity markets this year into correction territory — defined as a drop of more than 10% from recent highs. These variables included the Greek crisis, low commodity prices and jitters over an interest rate hike in the US, which was announced after months of speculation. The most important feature, though — from the viewpoint of South African markets — was the unceremonious sacking of finance minister Nhlanhla Nene. Banks and financial shares — which were the hardest hit in the immediate aftermath of President Jacob Zuma’s surprise decision to appoint little-known David van Rooyen to the position before subsequently backtracking — have yet to fully recover from the drama, which ended with the appointment of Pravin Gordhan as the new head of the finance portfolio. “We end the year close to where we started, but in between were some scary moves, not fun at all,” said Gerhard Lampen, head of online trading at Sanlam Private Wealth. The rand, which has hit record lows to the dollar, euro and British pound in the past two weeks, has perked up a little, as has the bond market, after Gordhan sought to reassure markets that the country would stick to a viable fiscal path. The All Share index again hit the 50 000-point mark this week, driven by some bargain hunting in the financial and resource sectors. Still, some analysts believe it will take a while before investor confidence returns to South African markets, given that the country has recently been handed the lowest investment grade rating by some credit-ratings agencies and therefore faces the threat of a credit downgrade. “In the short term, I believe that South African investors will be apprehensive to invest fresh capital into local equities as uncertainty and risk perceptions have increased,” said Grant Gilburt, stockbroking portfolio manager at Nedbank Private Wealth. “The recent events have highlighted the importance of diversifying your portfolio across industries and geographies and have reminded investors of the impact of unforeseen risks.” With only a few days to go before the end of what has been a ❛ We end the year close to where we started, but in between were some scary moves, not fun at all generally trying year for JSElisted stocks, investors will be hoping for a better season ahead. The resources sector in particular has endured another torrid year, underperforming the broader market. Impala Platinum, Kumba Iron Ore and AngloGold Ashanti lost their Top 40 status this year, leaving just a handful of mining companies in the bluechip index once dominated by the resources sector. The struggling resource 10 index has been reconstituted as of this week, with Mondi Plc and Sappi now forming part of the index, replacing Sibanye and Northam Platinum. Mining shares are largely victims of per- sistently weak commodity prices. Stock winners have been few and far between this year and are mostly concentrated in the industrial sector, which, together with financials, now dominates the 64-member All Share index. Brewing giant SABMiller, the target of a takeover bid by AnheuserBusch InBev, leads the charge in the industrial index after gaining 50% in value this year. Media and internet company Naspers and British American Tobacco also contributed significantly as they gained 39% and 31% respectively, partly as the result of a weaker rand. The industrial 25 index itself has gained about 14% since January. Unsecured lender Capitec Holdings has bucked the muted market trend, making its way into the Top 40 and rallying a sturdy 62% in value this year. It has been tough going for some erstwhile market darlings, such as Aspen Pharmacare and Coronation Fund Managers, whose shares are mostly likely to end the year weaker after outperforming in recent years. Lampen said share valuations on the local market were a lot cheaper than a year ago, so there was potential for a healthy increase in share prices if a few things worked out. These include foreign investors’ confidence in South Africa growing — something that, according to Lampen, was now down to Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa — and preventing a downgrade by ratings agencies. “If not, it will be hard to call the bottom in a junk status market.” The overall picture on the global stock market has turned out to be a lot better than initially feared, especially in August, when major indices took a dive after China devalued its currency, leading to a sharp drop in metals prices. Despite the wobble in recent months, global stock markets have generally fared well since the 2008-09 crisis, almost tripling. Excluding dividends, the All Share index has surged 183% in rand terms since hitting its lows in November 2008. This translates into a 96% rally in dollar terms. Virgin Atlantic crew based in Hong Kong, recently sacked by the airline, protest at the Hong Kong Airport in China this week, complaining they have not received fair compensation. One of the protesters is wearing a mask depicting Virgin Group founder Richard Branson Picture: REUTERS Business 27-Dec-2015-Page 20, Cyan 27-Dec-2015- Page 20, Magenta 27-Dec-2015-Page 20, Yellow 27-Dec-2015- Page 20, Black 20 | N-1 JDCP Careers DECEMBER 27 2015 | Sunday Times RADIO FREQUENCY SPECIALIST HELPDESK ADMINISTRATOR MANAGER: RETAIL SERVICES MANAGER: COST MODELLING LEAD STATISTICIAN MANAGER: BROADCASTING FREQUENCY CO-ORDINATION RADIO FREQUENCY SPECIALIST LICENSING RISK AND COMPLIANCE MANAGEMENT SPECIALIST These positions are based in Gauteng. Closing date: 10 January 2016. To apply for these positions, please visit https://www.icasa.org.za/Careers INVITATION TO SERVE ON THE AUDIT AND RISK COMMITTEE OF THE INDEPENDENT COMMUNICATIONS AUTHORITY OF SOUTH AFRICA: FOUR (4) POSITIONS The Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (ICASA) is a public entity responsible for the regulation of the electronic communications, broadcasting and postal industries in South Africa, as mandated by the ICASA Act, No 13 of 2000, and Electronic Communications Act, No 36 of 2005. ICASA hereby invites applications from À À ! "# $ #%% % # safeguarding of assets, the operation of adequate systems, internal controls and & À % # % & % % # management of ICASA. ' #% # À %& ( )% or Auditing, prospective candidates must have a good understanding of internal audit, %& %& %& '" % % * ! # # À ! To apply for these positions, please visit https://www.icasa.org.za/Careers Closing date: 10 January 2016. # # # + # % & application unsuccessful. DIRECTOR: SUPPLY CHAIN MANAGEMENT (Performance-based: 5 Year Fixed-Term Employment Contract) DIRECTORATE: Office of the Chief Financial Officer REF. NO: SMS2015/02 SALARY: R864 177 per annum (All Inclusive Remuneration Salary Package) CENTRE: Johannesburg REQUIREMENTS: Matric/Grade 12 plus a Bachelors’ Degree or equivalent qualification in Supply Chain Management or Commerce. Further qualifications will be regarded as added advantage to the candidate. Consideration will be given to candidates with 7-10 years’ experience, 5 of which are in a Supply Chain Management environment. DUTIES: Demand Management. Understanding future needs, identifying critical delivery dates, identifying the frequency of needs, linking the requirements to the budget, analyzing expenditure based on past spend patterns and future needs, determining the specifications, conducting commodity analysis and checking for alternatives of strategic purchases, and conducting industry analysis of strategic purchases. Acquisition management. Identifying preferential policy objectives, determining market strategy, applying total cost of ownership of life cycle costing principles of strategic purchases, compiling bid documentation (including general and specific conditions), determining bid evaluation criteria, evaluating bids, tabling recommendations and obtaining approval to award a contract, compiling and signing contract documents with the approved successful bidder, undertaking contract administration and gathering performance information. ENQUIRIES: Mr. Erol Ogle. Tel. No: (011) 689 6861 DIRECTOR: ASSETS AND LOGISTICS INVITATION TO SERVE ON THE HUMAN RESOURCES AND REMUNERATION COMMITTEE OF THE INDEPENDENT COMMUNICATIONS AUTHORITY OF SOUTH AFRICA: FOUR (4) POSITIONS The Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (ICASA) is a public entity responsible for the regulation of the electronic communications, broadcasting and postal industries in South Africa, as mandated by the ICASA Act, No 13 of 2000, and Electronic Communications Act, No 36 of 2005. ICASA hereby invites applications from suitably À À !"# $ % on remuneration policies and practices that support the strategic mandate of ICASA, ""&& "$ "'((#%$) ' " % " % À % *$ & " understanding of best practice methodology in human resources in both the private $& + %,- " + % % % & have an understanding of the King III code, its principles and related practice notes on remuneration. Vacancies Position: Senior Executive: External Relations and Partnerships Department: Location: Level: Reporting to: External Relations and Partnerships Head Office F1 Managing Director To apply for these positions, please visit https://www.icasa.org.za/careers Closing date: 10 January 2016. " "" .+" %& application unsuccessful. The purpose of this role is to identify, develop, nurture and maintain partnerships, relationships and agreements that will advance PIKITUP’s agenda, as well as build, maintain and protect the PIKITUP brand. In addition, he/she will effectively manage both the internal and external communications function of the company and protect PIKITUP’s reputation, as well as build public education and awareness around waste minimisation and environmental management strategies of PIKITUP through interactive and impactful campaigns. Key responsibilities: The key responsibilities of this position include: Protecting the Pikitup Brand and working to build an increasingly positive brand image Conceptualising and concluding agreements with stakeholders that will assist PIKITUP in implementing its resource recovery and logistics plan, whether they are partners that assist with behavioural change, actual clean up, in furthering knowledge and research or are private operators with common coals Spearheading strategic direction initiatives and planning, coordinating and managing PIKITUPs integrated marketing, public relations and strategic communications strategy Designing and implementing a robust, interactive and popular system of internal communications Designing and implementing campaigns that will advance the implementation of the PIKITUP resource recovery and logistics plan Managing all PIKITUP events Shaping PIKITUPs operations to realise the vision and strategic direction of a transformed waste management company in line with the City of Johannesburg (CoJ) GDS 2040 goals Developing and implementing optimal organisational structures. Key performance areas: Brand management and advertising Partnership and stakeholder management External communications Internal communications Campaigns Events management Transformation HR management. Requirements and experience: A relevant degree in Communications/Public Relations Management/Waste Management 8-10 years relevant experience at Senior Management level An in-depth understanding of the City of Johannesburgs general and PIKITUPs specific stakeholders Proven experience in communications and stakeholder management. Additional competencies: Integrity Commercial focus Analysis and problem-solving Judgement and decision-making Strategic thinking Networking Organising and prioritising Impact Proactive communication Developing relationships Influencing others. Particulars of advertiser: E-mail: [email protected] Position: Senior Executive: Governance, Risk and Compliance Department: Location: Level: Reporting to: Governance, Risk and Compliance Head Office F1 Managing Director Senior Executive: Research, Strategy and Planning Department: Location: Level: Reporting to: Research, Strategy and Planning Head Office F1 Managing Director We make a point of recognising success SHAFT VENTILATION ENGINEER, PLATINUM, TUMELA MINE, The purpose of this position is to provide strategic direction and support to the organisation regarding compliance, governance practices, risk management, legal services and safety. The role strives to ensure support in all of these areas so that PIKITUP can deliver on its mandate and comply with the law at all times. Key responsibilities: The key responsibilities of this position include: Participating fully in the business planning cycle of Pikitup Delivering objectives in the business plan Providing general legal advice to the MD and Exco Setting the strategic risk management vision and delivering that strategy to the company Initiating the development, implementation and monitoring of PIKITUP Environmental and Waste Management Systems, based on ISO 14001 Monitoring and advising on compliance with policies adopted by PIKITUP within the Group Assisting the Executive in all aspects of governance Overseeing development, implementation and review of good governance control systems, policies and procedures As an Executive, taking responsibility for shaping Pikitup operations to realise the vision and strategic direction of a transformed waste management company in line with the City of Johannesburg (CoJ) GDS 2040 goals Ensuring contract implementation and performance reporting to Management Setting human capital targets and manage staffing levels accordingly. Key performance areas: Legal advice, litigation, drafting, vetting Compliance management A focus on environmental compliance A focus on health and safety compliance Project management Contract management Human Resource management. Requirements and experience: An LLB degree/Environmental or Commercial Law specialisation preferable 8-10 years experience in a legal management environment in a public sector organisation, of which at least 5 years must have been at senior managerial/strategic level Experience in risk management, contract management, labour law, environmental and waste management, legislative compliance and in-depth understanding of legislation governing local government Forensic environmental investigations and technologies will be advantageous. Additional competencies: Integrity Commercial focus Analysis and problem-solving Judgement and decision-making Strategic thinking Building a vision Influencing others Networking Organising and prioritising Impact Proactive communication Developing relationships. Particulars of advertiser: E-mail: [email protected] Position: PICKING OUT PERFORMANCE The Research Unit has to set a research agenda that builds PIKITUP into a strong data-based organisation that provides detailed and accurate analysis for strategic decision-making; and to maintain the integrity of all PIKITUPs research; to conduct strategic planning (including capital planning) based on sound research and develop business plans for the organisation, accordingly. The unit is also responsible for reporting, monitoring and evaluation of delivery. The role includes the conceptualising of large-scale programmes and testing of new innovations through operations. The Executive will be a key driver to ensure the entire business shifts its paradigm from a company that currently delivers 93% of the waste that it collects to landfill sites, to a company that will separate at source, reuse, recycle and radically reduce waste to landfill. Key responsibilities: The key responsibilities of this position include: The research agenda of Pikitup informs a clear strategy for waste transformation and includes setting of baseline data as well as determining new waste value chains Acting as research custodian to ensure a high quality of research across the organisation Ensuring the CoJ and PIKITUP Corporate and Strategic Planning process (long-, medium and short-term) are accurately informed by PIKITUPs realties and are aligned Engaging in piloting and testing as a robust part of the business, since it is the engine room driving the shift in paradigm at PIKITUP to a fully fledge integrated waste management company Seeking, testing and implementing business improvements on a continuous basis Ensuring the environmental management strategy and actions place Pikitup as an African and global leader in environmental management strategies. Key performance areas: Research, development and innovation Strategic planning Capital planning and execution Programmes: Piloting and testing Business improvements Environmental management Transformation Project management Contract management HR management. Requirements and experience: A relevant degree in Science Engineering/Business Management/Waste Management/General Management or Commerce 10 years relevant experience An in-depth understanding of research and planning environments with demonstration of managing larger research projects At least 5 years experience in the senior management of large core service of a city or large municipality. Additional competencies: Integrity Commercial focus Analysis and problem-solving Judgement and decision-making Strategic thinking Building vision Networking Organising and prioritising Impact Proactive communication Developing relationships. Particulars of advertiser: E-mail: [email protected] Closing date for applications: 8 January 2016 This is a re-advertisement following the advert published on 22 November 2015. Please quote the relevant position title in all correspondence relating to this circular/advert Pikitup reserves the right not to fill these vacancies Correspondence will only be entered into with shortlisted applicants. Should you not hear from us within 30 days of the closing date of the advert, please consider your application unsuccessful These positions are 5-year fixed-term contracts PIKITUP IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER COMMITTED TO EMPLOYMENT EQUITY PRINCIPLES AND REDRESSING THE IMBALANCES OF THE PAST. PREFERENCE WILL BE GIVEN TO SUITABLE CANDIDATES FROM DESIGNATED GROUPS. LIMPOPO Band 6 Salary scale: R800 000 As the world’s leading primary producer of platinum group metals, we produce 40% of the world’s newly mined platinum. Our mining, smelting and refining operations are based in South Africa, while we’re developing Unki Platinum Mine in Zimbabwe and actively exploring in Brazil. We have exploration partners in Canada, Russia and China, and a number of joint ventures with several historically disadvantaged South African consortia as part of our commitment to the transformation of the mining industry. A part of Anglo American, we are helping to build the leading global mining company. You will be responsible for managing and coordinating the overall Ventilation and Occupational Hygiene systems, programmes and department, which will include designing, implementing and managing hygiene strategies and systems, managing risk assessment and auditing processes and supervising lamp room and gas detection equipment. Further key activities involve managing fire prevention and control systems and procedures, etc, ensuring safety programme compliance and managing specialist training for relevant personnel, all with the goal to ensure a safe and healthy work environment and minimise pure risk, litigation and adverse publicity. To qualify, you will need an Elementary Certificate in Mine Environmental Control and a Chamber of Mines (COM) Certificate in Mine Environmental Control, as well as training, via courses, formal training or practical experience in, among others, Occupational Health legislation, hazard identification and risk assessment, and extensive computer literacy in MS Office and SAP. You must be qualified as a ventilation professional and occupational hygienist with 5 years’ post-qualification experience in ventilation and be declared competent as a 5.1(1), 9.2(2), 16.1(1) (MHSA) and chapter 12.1 (MHSA) Occupational Hygiene Practitioner. A Certificate of Fitness is essential. Ref: 713948 Ensure a quality career with Anglo Platinum Ltd. Visit www.angloamerican.com before 4 January 2016 and click on “Careers”, then on “Current Vacancies”, and then search for the relevant reference number/job title (internal candidates can apply via Eureka). Appointments will be made in line with Employment Equity considerations. a world class African city JOHANNESBURG SOC LIMITED Kone Solutions K26150 www.humanjobs.co.za Human Communications 123642 (Performance-based: 5 Year Fixed-Term Employment Contract) DIRECTORATE: Office of the Chief Financial Officer REF. NO: SMS2015/03 SALARY: R864 177 per annum (All Inclusive Remuneration Salary Package) CENTRE: Johannesburg REQUIREMENTS: Matric/Grade 12 plus a Bachelors’ Degree or equivalent qualification in Assets and Logistics Management or Commerce. Further qualifications in relevant fields will be regarded as added advantage to the candidate. Consideration will be given to candidates with 7-10 years’ experience, 5 of which were in Assets and Logistics Management environment. DUTIES: Asset Management. Take full responsibility and ensure that proper control systems exist for assets, and that preventative mechanisms are in place to eliminate theft, losses, wastage and misuse, tock levels are at an optimum and economical levels. Ensure that processes and procedures are in place for the effective, efficient, economical and transparent use of the department’s assets. Logistics Management. Coding of items, setting of inventory levels, placing of orders against term contracts, receiving and distribution of materials, stores or warehouse management, expediting orders, transport management, supplier performance management. Disposal management duties. Obsolescence planning or calculating of depreciation rates, keeping database of redundant materials, inspecting materials for potential re-use, determining strategy on how to dispose of obsolete items, carrying out the physical disposal of obsolete items. ENQUIRIES: Mr. Erol Ogle. Tel. No: (011) 689 6861 DIRECTOR: STRATEGIC PLANNING (Performance-based: 5 Year Fixed-Term Employment Contract) DIRECTORATE: Strategic Management REF. NO: SMS2015/01 SALARY: R864 177 per annum (All Inclusive Remuneration Salary Package) CENTRE: Johannesburg REQUIREMENTS: Matric plus a Bachelor of Administration/Bachelor of Public Administration/Bachelor of Commerce (NQF 7 qualification) with modules in public administration, public services, public policy, strategic planning and performance management or any other relevant qualification with the prescribed modules. 5 years relevant experience in strategic planning at a middle management level. 3 to 5 years management experience.A valid driver’s license. Computer literate (Microsoft Office: Word, PowerPoint, Excel) applications. KNOWLEDGE: Knowledge of the Public Finance Management Act, Treasury Regulations, Public Service Regulations, Supply Chain Management Regulations, Risk Management Framework and all other relevant prescripts in relation to strategic planning and management. A good understanding of institutional governance systems and performance management and reporting. A good understanding of demand management planning and its relationship to strategic planning and management. DUTIES: Coordinate and facilitate the development of the strategic,annual performance and operational plans in line with the relevant legislation for the department of e-Government.Coordinate and facilitate the development of branch and chief directorates’ annual performance and operational plans in line with the relevant legislation. Align the strategic, annual performance and operational plans to the planning, budgeting and reporting cycles for the department of e-Government. Communicate the strategic planning process and its importance to senior managers. Coordinate and facilitate the risk assessment of the strategic, annual performance and operational plans to develop the risk mitigation plans of the department of e-Government. Develop and implement a strategic planning policy and governance framework.Formulate strategies, policies and action plans. Facilitate and coordinate research, seminars and presentations relevant to the mandate of the department of e-Government, service delivery agreements and government plans nationally, provincially and locally. ENQUIRIES: Mr. Erol Ogle. Tel. No: (011) 689 6861 CLOSING DATE: 15 January 2016 The Provincial Government of Gauteng is committed to the achievement and maintenance of diversity and equity in employment, especially of race, gender and disability. Applications must submitted on a Z83 form obtainable from any Public Service Department or on the internet at www.dpsa.gov.za/documents. The completed and signed form should be accompanied by a recently Updated CV and original certified copies of qualifications with a SA ID document, (certification should not be more than 6 months old). Failure to submit all requested documents will result in the application being disqualified. APPLICATIONS: The successful candidate shall be subjected to a competency assessment, security vetting to Top Secret and background checks. The Gauteng Department of e-Goverment is guided by the principles of Employment equity. People with disabilities and women are encouraged to apply. Applicants must apply online at: www.gautengonline.gov.za or you can hand deliver your applications at 75 Fox Street, Imbumba House, Johannesburg. Please do not post, fax or e-mail your applications. Due to the large number of applications we envisage to receive, applications will not be acknowledged. If you do not receive any response within 3 months, please accept that your application was unsuccessful. Business 27-Dec-2015-Page 21, Cyan , 27-Dec-2015- Page 21, Magenta 27-Dec-2015-Page 21, Yellow 27-Dec-2015- Page 21, Black Careers | 21 DECEMBER 27 2015 | Sunday Times Description Bid Number Non-refundable Bid document fee Compulsory briefing meeting date and time Compulsory briefing meeting venue Closing date and time for submission of bids Bid Validity Period CALLING OF PROPOSALS FOR SERVICE PROVIDERS TO DEVELOP CONCEPT, CONDUCT FEASIBILITY STUDY/ RESEARCH, DESIGN CURRICULUM, ARCHITECTURAL CONCEPT AND DRAWINGS FOR THE ARTS AND CULTURE ACADEMY DAC014/1516 R300.00 per document 28 December 2015 at 11:30 Language Services Building, 116 Jabu Ndlovu Street, Pietermaritzburg 06 January 2016 at 12h00 120 Calendar days ERRATUM NDT00010/15 - REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS FROM ENGINEERING, PROCUREMENT AND CONSTRUCTION (EPC) CONTRACTOR/S FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF TURNKEY SOLAR PHOTOVOLTAlC ENERGY SOLUTIONS AT ROBBEN ISLAND MUSEUM (RIM) IN CAPE TOWN. PLEASE NOTE: THE CLOSING TIME AND DATE FOR THIS BID HAS BEEN CHANGED. THE NEW TIME AND DATE IS 11H00 ON 27 JANUARY 2016. Technical Enquiries: Mr Bernhard Meyer, tel. (012) 444 6580 or email: [email protected] Bid Enquiries: Mr Mothomone Mohlabeng, tel. (012) 444 6223 or email: [email protected] Bid Number Non-refundable Bid document fee Compulsory briefing meeting date and time Compulsory briefing meeting venue Closing date and time for submission of bids Bid Validity Period REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS FOR A SERVICE PROVIDER TO COORDINATE THE ARTS AND CULTURE AWARDS 2016 DAC015/1516 R300.00 per document 28 December 2015 at 14h00 Language Services Building, 116 Jabu Ndlovu Street, Pietermaritzburg 07 January 2016 at 12h00 120 Calendar days Intention to Award Tender Number: 2016/004 (advertised on 4 September 2015 on the National Treasury e-portal, Umgeni Water website and notice board) Tender Description: Provision of Medical Practitioner for Occupational Health Services Intention to award to: Hlombe Investments Solutions Note: Persons aggrieved by decisions or actions taken by Umgeni Water, may lodge an appeal within 7 days of the date of the intention to award advertisement. The appeal (clearly stating reasons for appeal) and queries with regard to the decision of award are to be directed, in writing only, to the Supply Chain Management Office, attention: Supply Chain Management at e-mail: [email protected] Note that appeals not addressed to the abovementioned e-mail address will not be considered. Call for Project Proposals GEF Small Grants Programme The UNDP Global Environment Facility’s (GEF) Small Grants Programme (SGP) in South Africa is pleased to announce a call for proposals under the 6th Operational Phase (2015-2018). The SGP supports communitybased initiatives which aim at securing global environmental benefits through community - level actions in the areas of biodiversity conservation, climate change mitigation & adaptation, protection of international waters, phasing out of persistent organic pollutants, prevention of land degradation and sustainable forest management. The projects must meet environmental objectives while at the same time also supporting poverty reduction and local empowerment objectives. During the 6th Operational Phase, SGP grant-making will prioritise the following multi-focal initiatives: 1. Climate-smart innovative agroecology; 2. Low-carbon energy access; 3. Community-based land and water conservation; 4. Local to global chemicals management; and 5. Supporting CSO-government dialogue platforms. Applications are invited from registered NGOs/community-based organisations (CBOs)/civil society organisations (CSOs) based in South Africa. Detailed application guidelines and forms, evaluation criteria, as well as the project typologies that will be considered under the above-mentioned multi-focal initiatives are available on the following link: http://www.za.undp.org/content/south_africa/en/home/operations/jobs/ Deadline for submission of proposals is: 15 February 2016. www.ayandambanga.co.za 125903 Commissioner General: Lesotho Revenue Authority (LRA) This opportunity requires a strategic thinker to develop an integrated and multidisciplined strategy that contributes to the long term achievement and sustainability of its broader mandate of funding Lesotho’s economic development. The position reports to Lesotho Revenue Authority Board of Directors. The purpose of the job: • Provide advice to Lesotho Government on development and administration of tax policy and laws • Capacitate the organization and provide oversight for its mandate’s achievement • Create support for stakeholders. QualiƤcations Ƭ experienceǣ • Master’s degree in Economics, Taxation, Commerce, Public Administration, Law, Financial Management, Business Administration or Chartered Accountant plus 8 years of demonstrable and progressive experience at a Senior Management level Masters at a relevant and equivalent qualication shall also be considered ORȈ Honours Degree in the above qualications plus ͕͔ years of experience at a Senior Management level OR Ȉ A rst degree in the above qualications and a minimum of ͕͖ years senior management experience Core competencies: • Lesotho citizen • Strategic leadership • Analytical & visionary • Innovative Ȉ Agile Ȉ Behavioural change and inuence Ȉ Persuasion Ȉ SelfǦmastery Ȉ Execution excellence. Key performance outputsǣ • Ensure that the Authority delivers on its mandate of revenue collection tax policy advice and managing trade ow across Lesothos borders • Administer and implement provision of Lesotho Revenue Authority • Advise government on revenue laws and policies • Formulate and implement strategic plans that will facilitate systematic attainment of the organization’s strategic objectives in line with its mission and vision • Develop and maintain productive relationships with all local and international stakeholders, also accountability on diverse stakeholders • Management of day to day operations to achieve set revenue targets and other strategic goals Ȉ Prepare tax policy proposals that support scal strategies of Lesotho government which widens the country’s tax base • Project a positive image of LRA and ensure sustained and systematic taxpayer education so as to encourage voluntary compliance and deter tax evasion Ȉ Be the Chief Accounting Ocer for the Authority • Maintain successful links with the Ministry of Finance to ensure that LRA attains an acknowledged role in the process of determining and revising tax legislation • Capacity building for excelling service to the taxpayers and stakeholders so that they voluntarily comply with their tax obligations • Successfully negotiate with Finance Ministry on adequate funding to enable LRA to nance its operations and development plans • Develop and implement policies and tools for budgetary management • Monthly reporting to the Board of Directors and to Finance Minister • Inculcate organizational values and high performance culture. Applications and enquiries: Should you reckon this is an opportunity you have been waiting forǡ please forward your application toǣ pa̷͕lumkarǤcoǤzaȀpa̷͖lumkarǤcoǤza The closing date for applications is Fridayǡ ͕͙th January ͖͔͕͚Ǥ Lateǡ incomplete and hard copy applications will not be consideredǤ Only shortlisted candidates will be contactedǤ Tel number ͔͕͕ ͖͛͜ ͔͖͛͛Ǥ JobVest JD62773 Description News ST Mainbody, 27-Dec-2015-Page 22, Cyan ST Mainbody, 27-Dec-2015- Page 22, Magenta ST Mainbody, 27-Dec-2015-Page 22, Yellow ST Mainbody, 27-Dec-2015- Page 22, Black Sunday Times 22 | NEWS DEATHS SALE IN EXECUTION NOTICE OF SALE IN EXECUTION IN THE HIGH COURT OF SOUTH AFRICA (GAUTENG DIVISION, PRETORIA) 18-07-1939 ± 17-12-2015 CASE NUMBER:58047/2014 We mourn the sudden and In the matter between: unexpected loss of our FIRST RAND BANK much-loved husband, LIMITED (formerly known brother, father and as FIRST NATIONAL BANK grandfather, who passed OF SOUTHERN AFRICA away peacefully at his LIMITED) Plaintiff home in Bryanston on 17 December. Taken from us and too soon, with so much life JAN BENJAMIN PRETORIUS left to live, he was always Defendant there for his family and A sale in Execution of the friends, and we will sorely miss his humour, wisdom, undermentioned property is to be held without reserve at strength and enthusiasm. the offices of the Sheriff of All our love, Barbara, Steve the High Court Ermelo, GF & Di, Louella & Leigh, Carren Botha & Van Dyk Building, & Ed, Kyle & Sam, Rourke & Cnr Church & Joubert Nicola, James and Kate. Streets, Ermelo on 12th January, 2016 at 10H00. In loving memory of my Full conditions of sale can be dearest husband, John. inspected at the offices of the I miss you already and will Sheriff of the High Court until we meet again. Ermelo, GF Botha & Van Dyk Building, Cnr Church & My thoughts are with you Joubert Streets, Ermelo and always. Your ever loving will also be read out by the wife, Barbara Ann. Sheriff prior to the sale in execution. Dad, my heart is broken. The Execution Creditor, Love you forever, Lou. 6KHULII DQGRU 3ODLQWLIIV 0\GDUOLQJ3SD<RXDUHRXU Attorneys do not give any warranties with regard to the world, our strength and description and/or improvemainstay. The missing is ments. unimaginable. I know you Property: Portion 1 of Erf are now with Blayne and 9918 Ermelo Township together you will continue to Registration Division: IT ZDWFKRYHUXV,WVMXVW Province of Mpumalanga another au revoir dearest Measuring: 183 sqaure father. I love you, Carren. metres Known as: 70 Oosthuizen Sadly missed by your sister- Street, Ermelo in-law and good friend, Dee. Improvements: lounge, kitchen, 2 bedrooms, bathroom, shower, toilet, In loving memory of John, garage the leader of our pack. Love from Choya, Nevada, HACK STUPEL & ROSS Attorneys for Plaintiff Cindy, River and Chloe, PO Box 2000, Pretoria your fur-babies. Tel: 012 325 4185 REFERENCE: FUNERAL NOTICE DU PLOOY/LVDM/GP12055 027UBZ Funeral to be held at JOHN PHILLIP LLEWELLYN MORGAN Fourways Memorial Park, 1 Memorial Lane (Off Campbell/ Inchanga) on 6 January 2016 at 2pm. LEGAL SERVICES www.LAWYER.co.za EMPLOYMENT STYLIST POSITION AVAILABLE For busy, well established salon in Dubai. We are looking for a hard-working, passionate hairdresser to join our team. Minimum experience: 3 years after qualifying. Flights, visa and accommodation provided. 2 year contract with flight home and 30 days leave each year. Basic salary plus commission. PLEASE EMAIL CV TO: [email protected] PERSONAL AKHONA MAKANDA, last seen in Eastern Cape area. Please can you contact Social Worker, Marietjie Bezuidenhout on 082 339 8988 regarding a family matter Leslie Venter last known address 4 Stamford Street Forest Hill Johannesburg, please contact social worker Melanie van Emmenes on mobile 082 786 5297 regarding a family matter. SALE IN EXECUTION NOTICE OF SALE IN EXECUTION IN THE HIGH COURT OF SOUTH AFRICA (GAUTENG DIVISION, PRETORIA) CASE NUMBER:47646/2013 In the matter between: FIRST RAND BANK LIMITED (formerly known as FIRST NATIONAL BANK OF SOUTHERN AFRICA LIMITED) Plaintiff JOAS REIKANTSE PHALA 1st Defendant AND MABLE MMETI PHALA 2nd Defendant A sale in Execution of the undermentioned property is to be held without reserve at ODI Magistrate's Court on 13th January, 2016 at 10H00. Full conditions of sale can be inspected at the Sheriff of the High Court ODI at Magistrates Court Road, 5881 Zone 5, Ga Rankuwa and will also be read out by the Sheriff prior to the sale in execution. The Execution Creditor, Sheriff and/or Plaintiff's Attorneys do not give any warranties with regard to the description and/or improvements. Property: Erf 1361 Mabopane Unit X Township Registration Division JR Province of the North West Measuring: 280 square metres Known as: 1361 Unit X Mabopane Improvements: lounge, kitchen, 3 bedrooms, bathroom, toilet HACK STUPEL & ROSS Attorneys for Plaintiff PO Box 2000, Pretoria Tel: 012 325 4185 REFERENCE: DU PLOOY/GP11812 027YOY NOTICE OF SALE IN EXECUTION IN THE HIGH COURT OF SOUTH AFRICA GAUTENG DIVISON, PRETORIA Case Number: 2013/40811 In the matter between: THE STANDARD BANK OF SOUTH AFRICA LIMITED Plaintiff and NAKEDI: KHASI DAVID First Defendant NAKEDI: NOMASONTO SHARON Second Defendant This is a sale in execution pursuant to a judgement obtained in the above Honourable Court dated the 02 September 2013 in terms of which the following property will be sold in execution on 14th January 2016 at 10H00 at the Sheriff Johannesburg East at 69 Juta Street, Braamfontein to the highest bidder without reserve: Certain: Erf 2519 Pimville Zone 2 Township, Registration division I.Q., Province of Gauteng, Measuring 258 (two hundred and fifty eight) square metres, held under deed of transfer no. T25222/2011 Subject to the conditions therein contained Situated at Stand 2519 Zone 2 Pimville Zoning: general residential (nothing is guaranteed) The following information is furnished but not guaranteed: Main building: lounge, 1 x bathroom, 2 x bedrooms, kitchen and a w/c (The nature, extent, condition and existence of the improvements are not guaranteed, and are sold "voetstoots") The Purchaser shall in addition to the Auctioneer's commission, pay a deposit of 10% of the purchase price in cash or bank guarantee cheque on the day of the sale and the balance against transfer which shall be secured by a Bank or Building Society guarantee in a form acceptable to Plaintiff's conveyancers, which guarantee shall be delivered by the Purchaser to the Sheriff within twenty one (21) days from the date of the sale and shall provide for the payment of the full balance and any such interest payable as provided for hereunder. The Rules of this auction are available 24 hours before the auction at the office of the Sheriff of the High Court, Soweto East. The office of the Sheriff for Soweto East will conduct the sale. Advertising costs at current publication rates and sale costs according to court rules, apply. Registration as a buyer is a prerequisite subject to conditions, inter alia: A) Directive of the Consumer Protection Act 68 of 2008. (URLhttp://www.info.gov.za/ view/DownloadFileAction?id =99961) B) FICA - legislation i.r.o. proof of identity and address particulars. C) Payment of a Registration Fee of R10 000.00 in cash D) Registration conditions. The aforesaid sale shall be subject to the Conditions of Sale which may be inspected at the office of the Sheriff of the High Court, 21 Hubert Street, Westgate. Dated at Sandton this 1st day of December 2015. STRAUSS DALY INC. 3ODLQWLIIV$WWRUQH\ 10th Floor World Trade Centre, Green Park Cnr Lower Road & West Road South, SANDTON Tel: (010) 201-8600 REF: S1663/4943 C/O STRAUSS DALY ATTORNEYS 38 Ingersol Street, Centaur House, Lynnwood Glen, PRETORIA 0282QL SALE IN EXECUTION NOTICE OF SALE IN EXECUTION IN THE HIGH COURT OF SOUTH AFRICA GAUTENG DIVISON, PRETORIA Case Number: 2015/66688 In the matter between: STANDARD BANK OF SOUTH AFRICA LIMITED Plaintiff and MATSILE: ASEGAI PHILLIMON First Defendant MAJAFE KELEBOGILE DAISY Second Defendant This is a sale in execution pursuant to a judgement obtained in the above Honourable Court dated the 18 September 2015 terms of which the following property will be sold in execution on 14th January 2016 at 10H00 at the Sheriff Johannesburg East at 69 Juta Street, Braamfontein to the highest bidder without reserve: Certain: Erf 24869 Diepkloof Extension 10 Township, Registration Division I.Q., Province of Gauteng, measuring 200 (two hundred) square metres, Held Under Deed of Transfer No. T46262/2008 subject to the conditions therein contained Situated at 24869 Diepkloof Extension 10 Zoning: General Residential (Nothing Guaranteed) The following information is furnished but not guaranteed: Main Building: Lounge, 1 X Bathroom, 3 X Bedrooms and a Kitchen (The nature, extent, condition and existence of the improvements are not guaranteed, and are sold "voetstoots") The Purchaser shall in addition to the Auctioneer's commission, pay a deposit of 10% of the purchase price in cash or bank guarantee cheque on the day of the sale and the balance against transfer which shall be secured by a Bank or Building Society guarantee in a form acceptable to Plaintiff's conveyancers, which guarantee shall be delivered by the Purchaser to the Sheriff within twenty one (21) days from the date of the sale and shall provide for the payment of the full balance and any such interest payable as provided for hereunder. The Rules of this auction are available 24 hours before the auction at the office of the Sheriff of the High Court, Soweto East. The office of the Sheriff for Soweto East will conduct the sale. Advertising costs at current publication rates and sale costs according to court rules, apply. Registration as a buyer is a pre-requisite subject to conditions, inter alia: A) Directive of the Consumer Protection Act 68 of 2008. (URLhttp://www.info.gov.za/v iew/DownloadFileAction?id= 99961) B) FICA - legislation i.r.o. proof of identity and address particulars. C) Payment of a Registration Fee of R10 000.00 in cash D) Registration conditions. The aforesaid sale shall be subject to the Conditions of Sale which may be inspected at the office of the Sheriff of the High Court, 21 Hubert Street, Westgate. Dated at Sandton this 30th day of November 2015. STRAUSS DALY INC. 3ODLQWLIIV$WWRUQH\ 10th Floor World Trade Centre, Green Park Cnr Lower Road & West Road South, SANDTON Tel: (010) 201-8600 REF: S1663/6680 C/O STRAUSS DALY ATTORNEYS 38 Ingersol Street, Centaur House, Lynnwood Glen, PRETORIA 0286IS CAPE TOWN DURBAN SLEEP EASY HOTEL DURBAN BEACHFRONT SELF CATERING FLATS R899 - R1299 2-4-6 Sleepers 27 MARINE PARADE / FRONTLINE Groups/ Schools Churches Welcome PHN 031 207 4584 084 353 5902 Golden Mile !!! | December 27 2015 School tours LEGALS IN THE HIGH COURT OF SOUTH AFRICA KWAZULU-NATAL DIVISION, DURBAN (Exercising its Admiralty Jurisdiction) CASE NO: A 107 /2015 Name of vessels: mv "ZEYNEP K" In the matter between: UNICREDIT BANK AG Applicant and PY³=(<1(3. First Respondent and ACE NAVIGATION LTD Second Respondent and ESER DENIZCILIK VE TIVARET A.S Third Respondent Application for leave to sell the Respondent vessels, their equipment, furniture, stores bunkers and lubricating oils in terms of section 9 of the Admiralty Jurisdiction Regulation Act,1983. JUDICIAL SALE OF MV ³=(<1(3.´$1'$332,17 MENT OF REFEREE TO DETERMINE CLAIMS AND REPORT TO COURT TAKE NOTICE THAT on 18 December 2015 a rule nisi was issued calling upon all persons interested to show cause before this Court, at Masonic Grove, Durban on 12 January 2016 at 09h30 or so soon thereafter as the matter may be heard, why an Order should not be made: 1.That in terms of section 9 of Act 105 of 1983, as DPHQGHG WKH PY k=(<1(3 .y kWKH 9HVVHOy WRJHWKHU with her equipment, furniture, stores, bunkers and lubricating oils be sold on the prescribed conditions by public auction with Clear Asset (Pty) Ltd acting on behalf of the Court in respect of the sale. 2.That the proceeds of the sale shall constitute a Fund to be held by the Registrar to be dealt with in accordance with the provisions of the order. 3.That Advocate Darryl Cooke, 2nd Floor, Bank Chambers, corner Keerom and Bloem Streets, Cape Town, is appointed as Referee to receive, examine and report to the Court on the validity and ranking of claims in respect of the Fund, which claims must be filed with the Referee within 10 (ten) days of the date of sale or date that the sale is confirmed by this Honourable Court, as applicable. 4.A full text of the Order of Court and Conditions of Sale may be obtained by requesting same from Bowman Gilfillan Inc, 22 Bree Street, Cape Town Ref : Craig Cunningham; Tel: 021 480 7801; [email protected] 1.5km to V&A Waterfront. • Double & Family Rooms • Secure Parking • Kitchen & Dining Facility • Air Conditioned • Group Prices From R400 per night www.sleepeasy.co.za Tel 021 439 9011 157 Main Road, Green Point, Cape Town Accom. Beachfront APTS Villa Paradores.Bantry Bay Tel/Fax : 021 434 7806 *** www.villa-paradores.net CAPE TOWN BLOUBERGSTRAND Beachfront holiday apartments Tel : (021) 554-3484 www.castle-estates.co.za Camps Bay Apartments Walk to beach Tel: 021 438 5560 www.campsbayresort.com HOUT BAY COTTAGES Across the road from 0DULQHUV:KDUIDQG%HDFK STAR HOLIDAY APARTMENTS Luxury Accommodation 5 minutes to Waterfront [email protected] 083 786 8434 HERMANUS 2 Bdr Serviced apartment with braai, sea views and pool Tel: 028 312 1799 leparadis.co.za CAPE WEST COAST LANGEBAAN STUDIOS On the beach, kitesurf Tel: 022 772 2062 www.speelhuis.co.za BY ORDER OF THE COURT REGISTRAR OF THE HIGH COURT IN THE HIGH COURT OF SOUTH AFRICA KWAZULU-NATAL DIVISION, DURBAN (Exercising its Admiralty Jurisdiction) CASE NO: A 108 /2015 PIETERMARITZBURG ASCOT INN Tel : 033 386 2226 DURBAN Name of vessels: mv "SADAN K" In the matter between: UNICREDIT BANK AG Applicant 28 Currie Road- Durban [email protected] 031 201 1145 Fully equipped, serviced, S/C apartments suitable for holiday or business. Near Ushaka Marina World. 031 368 4948 Email: [email protected] www.wheretostay.co.za/valleyview R FROM R SPACE AVAILABLE FOR THE FESTIVE SEASON * * R420 t per Ŷa t h ig n f per Out on o s sea m ished, nd furn fro ipped a parking. u q e y ll Fu , TV, servicedI in Reception! IF W e e r F GROUP BOOKINGS AVAIL Tel 031-337-3817 Fax 031-332-2157 Email: [email protected] NATAL NORTH COAST QUAESTOR Spacious Self catering units for an ideal family holiday Umdloti & St. Lucia 031 572 2800 LICORNA BEACH UMHLANGA ROCKS Luxury Seafront Holiday Apartments, only 20km north of DURBAN, Fully equipped, Air conditioning,Satelite TV, Serviced, Security. Pool Laundromat. Bookings : Tel (031) 561 2344 Fax (031) 561 2974. Email: [email protected] 7 3192 (031) 3p3alaŶats.co.za : x a F @im 056 32 ) 332 32 a Email: info rine Parade, 4 001 Tel: (03w1ww.impalaŶatsre.c:oP.zO Box 108sp08ie, MStra eet, Durban, 4 : Website ch Free Bro u 40 Gille PORT OWEN MARINA DRIF WESTERN CAPE - VELD 22 JANUARY - 11 MARCH 2016 From R999 per unit per night sleeping 2 CALL OR BOOK ONLINE Terms & Conditions can be viewed at www.funholidays.co.za ST LUCIA — Stokkiesdraai accommodation 0355901216 www.stokkiesdraai.com ST LUCIA-FLAMINGO GAUTENG Budget Accommodation R250.00 p/n sleeps 2 people 011 394 7358 www.ecomotel.co.za Now opening in Marlboro Sandton : Affordable Guest House & S/C from R599 pd Call : 011 802 4436 ❛ Wheels Wheels WWW.TIMESLIVE.CO.ZA Ahead of the test series, Kevin Pietersen analyses SA and England’s relative strengths on and off the field T ST LUCIA For the latest models and reviews, get into the driving seat at www.timeslive.co.za/motoring Key test for SA as Barmy Army comes to town HERE is a lot at stake for South Africa in the test series against England. The public were very disappointed with performances in India recently, where they lost 3-0 and would have been whitewashed had it not rained in Bangalore, but the issues go deeper than one series defeat. There is a lot of discussion within South African sport about the impact of transformation. Quota systems in rugby and cricket have caused a lot of soul-searching, with some questioning whether these have taken precedence over talent. In domestic cricket, teams have to pick at least six non-white players, including three black Africans. At international level, the aim is for South Africa to have at least four non-white players in the team. Clearly something has to be done to promote the sport. Only seven of the 87 players picked by South Africa since readmission have been black Africans. The game has to be made attractive and open to all. But if South Africa lose this series to England there will be lots of questions about whether they are on the right path. Crowds are down in South Africa. Cricket needs the national team to win at home, so there are a few issues that England can use to their advantage and why I say this is a huge series for cricket in South Africa. The great news for England is that they are starting in Durban. England have not lost a test at Kingsmead since 1928 and we won there by an innings in 2009. South Africa have never enjoyed the Boxing Day test experience in Durban and have shifted the fixture in recent years, but RAMSGATE Villa Del Peche.A.A Highly Recommended ***National grading.S/C Beachfront Villas (039)314 4751 (8-1pm) www.villa-delpeche.co.za Wheels TOUCH OF THE SUN: England’s barmy army below the players’ balcony after England’s victory over South Africa by an innings and 98 runs on day five of the second test at Kingsmead Stadium in 2009 Picture: GETTY IMAGES Call 086 111 2170 / 039 312 8190 or email: [email protected] www.funholidays.co.za NATAL SOUTH COAST [email protected] REGISTRAR OF THE HIGH COURT FROM * 32 South Beach Avenue Self catering serviced units 2, 4, 6 & 8 sleepers available 4.A full text of the Order of Court and Conditions of Sale may be obtained by requesting same from Bowman Gilfillan Inc, 22 Bree Street, Cape Town Ref: Craig Cunningham; Tel: 021 480 7801; BY ORDER OF THE COURT FROM R *ALL PRICES OFF PEAK ONLY - TERMS & CONDITIONS APPLY 2.That the proceeds of the sale shall constitute a Fund to be held by the Registrar to be dealt with in accordance with the provisions of the order. 3.That Advocate Darryl Cooke, 2nd Floor, Bank Chambers, corner Keerom and Bloem Streets, Cape Town, is appointed as Referee to receive, examine and report to the Court on the validity and ranking of claims in respect of the Fund, which claims must be filed with the Referee within 10 (ten) days of the date of sale or date that the sale is confirmed by this Honourable Court, as applicable. Select Durban Hotels sharing B&B Tel: 031 332 4485 465 ppwww.belairesuites.co.za sharing B&B Tel: 031 327 7000 397 ppwww.bluewatershotel.co.za pp sharing B&B Tel: 031 337 4565 210 393 210 www.paradehotel.co.za 210 Isando-Primrose-Kempton Park JUDICIAL SALE OF MV ³6$'$1 .´ $1' $332,17 MENT OF REFEREE TO DETERMINE CLAIMS AND REPORT TO COURT 1.That in terms of section 9 of Act 105 of 1983, as DPHQGHGWKHPYk6$'$1.y kWKH 9HVVHOy WRJHWKHU ZLWK her equipment, furniture, stores, bunkers and lubricating oils be sold on the prescribed conditions by public auction with Clear Asset (Pty) Ltd acting on behalf of the Court in respect of the sale. Email: [email protected] HOLIDAY APARTMENTS Tel: 035 590 1155 Application for leave to sell the Respondent vessels, their equipment, furniture, stores bunkers and lubricating oils in terms of section 9 of the Admiralty Jurisdiction Regulation Act,1983. December 2015 a rule nisi was issued calling upon all persons interested to show cause before this Court, at Masonic Grove, Durban on 12 January 2016 at 09h30 or so soon thereafter as the matter may be heard, why an Order should not be made: Tel 031 465 -1711/2 Fax 031 465 8882 www.flamingoholidayflats.co.za and PY³6$'$1. First Respondent and QUEEN MARITIME LTD Second Respondent and ESER DENIZCILIK VE TIVARET A.S Third Respondent TAKE NOTICE THAT on 18 Valley View Holiday Apartments www.starapartments.co.za V&A Waterfront apartments Tel: 021 421 5040 www.waterfrontvillage.com 522 SOUTH COAST RD CLAIRWOOD - DURBAN www.holidayflatsdbn.co.za [email protected] RON 083 283 3234 Mouille Point Apartments Sea facing, walk promenade Tel: 021 430 9160 www.mouillepoint.com Adult tours 15 Dec ‘15 - 4 Jan ‘16 R185 pp 9am - 4h30pm (Mon-Fri) 10am - 1pm (Sat) ' BELLVILLE CBD Private Room Safe & Secure R300 Per Night 0834387707 1st -14 Dec ‘15 R110pp This South African series will feel like playing in Barbados, where the majority of the fans are English it is back to cash in on the holiday crowds and the many England fans who will be travelling to watch the series. They have a big role to play. This series will feel like playing in Barbados, where the majority of the fans are English. It is a home game for Alastair Cook’s team. The rand is very weak to the pound. A friend of mine works for South African Breweries and they are laying on extra drink at the grounds and the Barmy Army pubs in anticipation of the English being in town. England fans will feel like they are eating and drinking for free so the atmosphere should be very good for the England players, which will help ease some of the intensity they will feel on the field. Not that long ago I feared we would lose easily. But now it is too close to call. The two teams mirror each other. South Africa will rely on two big fish in Hashim Amla and AB de Villiers. The rest of the batters have much to prove. But it is the same for England. Their big fish are Cook and Joe Root. Nick Compton is back in the side trying to rebuild a career, Alex Hales is untried in test cricket and James Taylor has never played in such bouncy, quick conditions. It could go either way because one good spell of bowling to that South African top order from Stuart Broad or James Anderson could win a test in a session. But so could Dale Steyn against England’s fragile line-up. It is going to be a tale of the bowlers. The lengths to bowl are shorter in South Africa than in England. England bowlers look to pitch it up and get it swinging but in South Africa hitting the top of the stumps is key. Reverse swing is massive. Looking after the ball is key, as is building pressure by not letting them score. Frustrate South Africa. STEADY DOES IT: Hashim Amla quietly reaches 40 without you noticing, says Kevin Pietersen Picture: MARK WESSELS CRICKET WHITES: The Durban test ‘will be a home game for England’s Alastair Cook’ Picture: GETTY IMAGES Losing stalwarts Graeme Smith and Jacques Kallis has put pressure on De Villiers and Amla. The way they have handled it has been amazing. AB is in a league of his own, the best batsman in the series. He is a freak. He plays 360° of the field and knows where he wants to score. Most importantly, he plays situations well. In Delhi he faced 297 balls and batted for nearly six hours for 43 runs. So he can play defensively when he wants but can also turn it on and destroy a team very quickly. Amla is a quiet guy and unassuming at the wicket. He is the kind of batsman who somehow reaches 40 without you noticing. Then a bit later he is on 70. He never gets tired. He bats at one pace and is just a cool and calm presence. The heat of battle can grind you down, but not Hash. If he bats for a long time, South Africa will win. Outright pace is not a big thing in international cricket anymore. It is the different types of fast bowling that make it hard. Steyn bowls full away swing while Morne Morkel just constantly bangs out the right length. You know with the new ball Steyn will try to bowl full but I think he is quicker and better with the older ball. He bowls faster and tries to get it reverse swinging with a lot of fire and oomph. The red mist can come down. Steyn is always fired up and has a competitive edge. A lot of South Africans wish Morkel had half Steyn’s aggression. Not many of Morkel’s balls hit the stumps so you can afford to leave him a lot more than Steyn. Touring South Africa is an easy job. The time zone is pretty similar to the UK’s so there are never any issues with jetlag or keeping in touch with home. Your travel days are simple, the airlines and hotels are well run. The food and hospitality are amazing, but the hard part is on the field. — © The Daily Telegraph, London News ST Mainbody, 27-Dec-2015-Page 23, Cyan ST Mainbody, 27-Dec-2015- Page 23, Magenta ST Mainbody, 27-Dec-2015-Page 23, Yellow ST Mainbody, 27-Dec-2015- Page 23, Black Sunday Times | December 27 2015 Sunday 27 DECEMBER SABC1 06:00 Siyakholwa 06:30 Bonisanani 07:00 Transformers 07:30 YoTV Ntunjambili 08:00 YoTV Furry Tales 08:15 YoTV Zenzele 08:30 Matt Hatter Chronicles 9:00 Mzansi Insider 10:00 Gospel Gold 11:00 i-DENTIT Y 11:30 Chatroom 12:00 Big Up 12:30 Roots 13:00 Sunday Chillas 14:00 The Real Goboza 14:30 FILM: Mars Needs Moms 16:00 FILM: Nothing for Mahala (2013) (PG) Comedy 17:30 Kulcha Kwest: Reality show 18:00 Sistaz With Soul: Music show 19:00 News 19:30 Sunday Live: Music show 20:00 FILM: The Fast and the Furious (2001) (16) Okay action with hot cars. With Vin Diesel, Paul Walker and Michelle Rodriguez 22:00 Family Bonds: Reality show SABC2 06:00 Thabang Thabong 06:30 Siyaya: Come Wild With Us 07:00 Morning Live 08:30 Simcha 09:00 Issues of Faith 10:00 Music and the Spoken Word 10:30 Life 24/7 11:00 Saath Phere (two episodes) 11:30 Mela 13:00 Wipeout USA 14:00 Voetspore 14:30 Musiek Roulette 15:30 7de Laan (five episodes) 18:00 Ntokozo Mbambo: Music special 19:00 Nuus 19:30 News 20:00 Moferefere Lenyalong: Comedy series 20:30 Interface: Current affairs 21:00 Christina Aguilera: Music special 22:00 Person of Interest: Documentary SABC3 09:30 10:00 17:30 18:30 19:00 20:00 20:30 21:00 22:00 23:00 06:00 Arthur 06:30 Mickey Mouse Clubhouse 07:00 I Am a Work of Art 07:30 Imagination Movers 08:00 Creature Club 08:30 Jakkals Jol 09:00 Young Designers Cricket build-up South Africa v England: 1st Test. Live Wild Caribbean: Documentary News @ 6:30 Fokus: Current affairs Durban Beach Rescue: Documentary. Double bill Special Assignment: Current affairs Louis Theroux: Documentary Arrow: Comic-based action series Extreme Makeover: Home Edition: Reality show e.tv 06:00 Die Woord 06:30 The Tyrannus Apostolic Church 07:00 Grassroots 07:30 Hillsong 08:00 Quiz Time 08:05 Cool Catz 08:30 The Fairly Odd Parents 09:00 NFL Rush Zone: Season of the Guardians 09:30 Shiz Niz 10:00 Behind the Gospel 11:00 Braxton Family Values 12:00 Masters of Illusion 12:55 FILM: Gulliver’s Travels 14:35 The Planet’s Funniest Animals 15:00 America’s Got Talent 16:00 Mary Mary: Reality show 17:00 WWE Raw: (PG) Wrestling 18:00 eNews Early Edition 18:05 I Shouldn’t Be Alive: Reality show 19:00 eNews Prime Time 19:30 How I Met Your Mother: Comedy series 20:00 FILM: Tropic Thunder (2008) (16) Hilarious action comedy. With Ben Stiller, Jack Black and Robert Downey jnr 22:05 FILM: Amelia (2009) (13) Biographical drama about the life of pilot Amelia Earhart. With Hilary Swank, Richard Gere and Ewan McGregor M-Net 16:00 17:00 18:00 19:00 20:25 22:25 22:55 07:00 The Ellen DeGeneres Show (five episodes) 11:00 FILM: Frozen 13:00 Sarah Graham’s Food Safari 14:00 The Astronaut Wives Club 15:00 Made in Hollywood Zoo: Sci-fi series My Story: Reality show Sarah Graham’s Food Safari: Cooking show Carte Blanche: Investigative magazine show FILM: The Hobbit: The Battle of Five Armies (2014) (13) Oscar-nominated fantasy epic. Five armies descend on Lonely Mountain to claim its treasure, but Thorin Oakenshield has no intention of giving it up. With Ian McKellen, Martin Freeman and Richard Armitage Writers’ Room: Drama series Agent X: Action drama series TELEVISION | 23 Monday 28 DECEMBER Tuesday 29 DECEMBER Wednesday 30 DECEMBER Thursday 31 DECEMBER SABC1 SABC1 SABC1 SABC1 09:00 Generations: The Legacy 09:30 Muvhango 10:00 Skeem Saam 10:30 Emzini Wezinsizwa 11:00 Shift 12:00 100% Youth 13:00 FILM: The Jungle Book 15:00 YoTV Live 16:00 Teenagers on a Mission: Science and technology 16:30 Shift: Youth motivational show 17:28 Izwi La Bantu: Devotion 17:30 News 18:00 Nyan’ Nyan: Relationship advice show 18:26 Vodacom Yebo Millionaires: Game show 18:30 Skeem Saam: Drama series 19:00 News 19:30 Selimathunzi: Variety show 20:00 Generations: The Legacy: Drama series 20:30 Uzalo: Drama series 21:00 Friends Like These: Game show 22:00 Making Moves: Educational show 09:00 Generations: The Legacy 09:30 Muvhango 10:00 Skeem Saam 10:30 Emzini Wezinsizwa 11:00 Nyan’ Nyan 11:30 Selimathunzi 12:00 Khumbul’ekhaya 13:00 FILM: Oliver Twist 15:00 YoTV Live 16:00 Bona Retsang: Youth magazine show 16:30 My World: Reality documentary series 17:28 Listen for a Moment: Devotion 17:30 News 18:00 Phola: Music show 18:30 Skeem Saam: Drama series 19:00 News 19:30 Him, Her and the Guys: Comedy series 20:00 Generations: The Legacy: Drama series 20:30 Uzalo: Drama series 21:00 Khumbul’ekhaya: Drama series 22:00 Gospel Gold: Music show 09:00 Generations: The Legacy 09:30 Muvhango 10:00 Skeem Saam 10:30 Emzini Wezinsizwa 11:00 The Chatroom 11:30 100% Youth (double bill) 13:00 FILM: Winter Stallion 15:00 YoTV Live 16:00 Bona Retsang: Youth magazine show 16:30 My World: Reality documentary series 17:28 Journeys of Inspiration: Devotion 17:30 News 18:00 100% Youth: Youth magazine show 18:30 Skeem Saam: Drama series 19:00 News 19:30 Zaziwa: Music show 20:00 Generations: The Legacy: Drama series 20:30 Ihawu: Thriller drama series 21:30 Come Duze: Music special 16:00 16:30 17:28 17:30 18:00 18:30 19:00 19:30 20:00 20:30 21:00 22:00 23:00 09:00 Generations: The Legacy 09:30 Muvhango 10:00 Skeem Saam 10:30 Emzini Wezinsizwa 11:00 Shift 12:00 Yilungelo Lakho 13:00 FILM: The Little Unicorn 15:00 YoTV Live Teenagers on a Mission: Science and tech show Shift: Youth motivational show Aum: Hindu devotion News Mi Kasi Su Kasi: Youth magazine show Skeem Saam: Drama series News My Perfect Family: Comedy series Generations: The Legacy: Drama series Uzalo: Drama series Gospel Gold: Music show Sistaz with Soul: Music show Shift: Youth motivational show SABC2 SABC2 09:00 The Magical World of Luna Belle 09:30 Tree Fu Tom 10:00 Takalani Sesame 10:30 Rivoningo 11:00 Supernanny 12:00 Rands with Sense 13:00 The Dr Phil Show 14:00 7de Laan 14:30 Uzalo 15:00 Skeem Saam 15:30 Muvhango 16:00 Hectic Nine-9: Interactive variety show for kids 17:00 Dragonball GT: Action cartoon from Japan 17:30 News 18:00 Our Moments: Documentary show 18:30 7de Laan: Soapie 19:00 Nuus 19:30 News 20:00 The Secret Circle: Fantasy horror series 21:00 Muvhango: Drama series 21:30 The Soil: Reflections: Live in Joburg: Music special 22:00 FILM: Mystery Alaska (1999) (16) Sports comedy. With Russell Crowe and Burt Reynolds 00:30 Mali: Drama series 09:00 Inside the Baobab Tree 09:30 Tree Fu Tom 10:00 Takalani Sesame 10:30 Rivoningo 11:00 Words and Numbers 11:30 My Night 12:00 Our Moments 12:30 Golden Years 13:00 Gwen Stefani: Harajuku Lovers: Live 14:00 7de Laan 14:30 Mali 15:00 Skeem Saam 15:30 Muvhango 16:00 Hectic Nine-9: Interactive variety show for kids 17:00 Dragonball GT: Action cartoon from Japan 17:30 News 18:00 Ngula Ya Vutivi/Zwa Maramani: Current affairs 18:30 7de Laan: Soapie 19:00 Nuus 19:30 News 20:00 All of Us: Comedy series 20:30 Visionaries: Talkshow 21:00 Muvhango: Drama series 21:30 Gospel Classics: Music show 22:30 Psalted: Christian magazine show SABC3 09:30 10:00 18:00 18:30 19:00 19:30 20:00 20:30 23:00 06:00 FILM: A Study in Scarlet 07:00 FILM: The Sign of Four 08:00 Avatar 08:30 Wild Caribbean Cricket build-up South Africa v England: 1st Test. Live The Bold and the Beautiful: Soapie News @ 6:30 Isidingo: Soapie High Rollers: Drama series The Office: Comedy series Survivor Caramoan: Reality contest. Double bill Louis Theroux: Documentary SABC3 06:00 FILM: The Baskerville Curse 07:00 FILM: The Valley of Fear 08:00 Avatar 08:30 The Real 09:30 Cricket build-up 10:00 South Africa v England: 1st Test. Live 18:00 The Bold and the Beautiful: Soapie 18:30 News @ 6:30 19:00 Isidingo: Soapie 19:30 High Rollers: Drama series 20:00 The Mentalist: Crime drama series 21:00 Nikita: Action drama series 22:00 The Kaiser Chiefs: Live at the Elland Road, Leeds: Music special e.tv e.tv 08:30 Infomercials 09:00 Rhythm City 09:30 Scandal! 10:00 Katch it with Khanyi 10:30 The Young and the Restless 11:30 Great Expectations 12:00 Checkpoint 12:30 Ashes to Ashes 13:00 News Day 13:30 WWE Superstars 14:30 Quiz Time 14:35 Cool Catz 15:00 Everything’s Rosie 15:15 Fireman Sam 15:30 Power Rangers: Megaforce 16:00 Sistahood: Talkshow for girls 16:30 The Steve Harvey Show: Comedy series 17:30 Katch it with Khanyi: Local talkshow 18:00 Shikisha: Music game show 18:30 eNews Prime Time 19:00 Rhythm City: Soapie 19:30 Scandal!: Soapie 20:00 Gold Diggers: Drama series 20:30 Just for Laughs: Candid camera show 21:00 Ekasi: Our Stories: Drama series 22:00 FILM: The Big Slice (1991) (13) Crime comedy. With Casey Siemaszko, Leslie Hope and Louis Ferreira 08:30 Infomercials 09:00 Rhythm City 09:30 Scandal! 10:00 Shikisha 10:30 The Young and the Restless 11:30 Great Expectations 12:30 Ashes to Ashes 13:00 News Day 13:30 WWE Experience 14:30 Quiz Time 14:35 Cool Catz 15:00 Dora the Explorer 15:30 Pokémon 16:00 Craz-e Shiz Niz: Youth entertainment show 16:30 The Steve Harvey Show: Comedy series 17:30 Just Shoot Me: Comedy series 18:00 Turn Up and Dance: Dance reality show 18:30 eNews Prime Time 19:00 Rhythm City: Soapie 19:30 Scandal!: Soapie 20:00 Gold Diggers: Drama series 20:30 Just Kidding: Comedy show 21:00 Powerball 21:05 Traffic!: Drama series 21:35 B&B: Comedy series 22:05 Checkpoint: Current affairs 22:35 FILM: Bond of Silence (2010) (PG) Drama M-Net 08:30 My Story 09:30 FILM: The Muppets: Most Wanted 11:30 Mom 12:00 The Ellen DeGeneres Show 13:00 The Great Christmas Light Fight 14:00 Revenge 15:00 FILM: The Hunger Games: Mockingjay: Part One 17:00 The Ellen DeGeneres Show: Comedic talkshow 18:00 The Goldbergs: Comedy series 18:30 The Great Christmas Light Fight: Reality show 19:30 The Astronaut Wives Club: Drama series 20:30 Agent X: Action drama series 21:30 Cirque du Soleil: La Nouba: Artsy circus special 22:30 Carte Blanche: Investigative magazine show 23:15 Blindspot: Crime drama series M-Net 08:30 Sarah Graham’s Food Safari 09:30 Revenge 10:15 FILM: Sophie Grace and Rosie’s Royal Adventure 11:30 The Middle 12:00 The Ellen DeGeneres Show 13:00 The Great Christmas Light Fight 14:00 Chicago PD 15:00 CSI Cyber 16:00 The Astronaut Wives Club: Drama series 17:00 The Ellen DeGeneres Show: Comedic talkshow 18:00 Mom: Comedy series 18:30 The Great Christmas Light Fight: Reality show 19:30 Cirque du Soliel: Amaluna: Artsy circus special 20:30 Zoo: Sci-fi series 21:30 Chicago PD: Crime drama series 22:30 Agent X: Action drama series 09:00 Generations: The Legacy 09:30 Muvhango 10:00 Skeem Saam 10:30 Emzini Wezinsizwa 11:00 Cutting Edge 11:30 Phola 12:00 Friends Like These 13:00 FILM: Teen Knight 15:00 YoTV Live 16:00 Bona Retsang: Youth magazine show 16:30 Ba Kae: Magazine show 17:00 Centre Stage: Magazine show 17:28 Reflections of Faith: Devotion 17:30 News 18:00 Fan Base: Music show 18:30 Skeem Saam: Drama series 19:00 News 19:30 Jika Majika: Music show 20:00 Generations: The Legacy: Drama series 20:30 Forced Love: Drama series 21:00 Live Amp: Music show 22:00 FILM: Hostage (2005) (16) Decent crime drama about a failed hostage negotiator-cum-small-town cop who finds himself having to deal with a dangerous hostage taker. With Bruce Willis, Kevin Pollak and Serena Scott Thomas SABC2 08:30 Infomercials 09:00 Circus of the World 11:00 Kgotso 12:00 FILM: Nothing for Mahala 14:00 Il Divo: Live at the Greek Theatre 16:00 Hectic Nine-9: Interactive variety show for kids 17:00 Disney’s A.N.T. Farm: Kids’ show 17:30 News 18:00 Voetspore: Magazine show 18:30 7de Laan: Soapie 19:00 Nuus 19:30 News 20:00 Musiek Roulette: Music game show 21:00 Muvhango: Drama series 21:30 Loyiso Bala Special: Music show 22:30 Boxing magazine show 23:00 The 4400: Sci-fi mystery series 21:30 22:30 16:00 17:00 17:30 18:00 18:30 19:00 19:30 20:00 20:30 21:00 21:30 22:00 23:00 SABC3 06:00 FILM: A Tale of Two Cities 08:00 Avatar 08:30 The Real 09:30 Cricket build-up 10:00 South Africa v England: 1st Test. Live 18:00 The Bold and the Beautiful: Soapie 18:30 News @ 6:30 19:00 Isidingo: Soapie 19:30 High Rollers: Drama series 20:00 Roer Jou Voete: Drama series 21:00 Arrow: Comic-based action series 22:00 The Mentalist: Crime drama series 22:30 Special Assignment: Current affairs e.tv 08:30 Infomercials 09:00 Rhythm City 09:30 Scandal! 10:00 Turn Up and Dance 10:30 The Young and the Restless 11:30 Great Expectations 12:30 Ashes to Ashes 13:00 News Day 13:30 WWE: Smackdown 14:30 Peppa Pig 14:35 Cool Catz 15:00 Monsters vs Aliens 15:30 Frenzy 16:00 Supa Strikas: Soccer cartoon 16:30 The Steve Harvey Show: Comedy series 17:30 Just Shoot Me: Comedy series 18:00 MVP Jam: Game show 18:30 eNews Prime Time 19:00 Rhythm City: Soapie 19:30 Scandal!: Soapie 20:00 Gold Diggers: Drama series 20:30 Lip Sync Battle: Reality show 21:00 WWE Main Event: (PG) Wrestling 22:00 FILM: Stranger Than Fiction (2006) (13) Comedy about a man who hears a mysterious narrator commenting on his life. With Will Ferrell, Emma Thompson and Dustin Hoffman M-Net 08:30 The Astronaut Wives Club 09:30 FILM: Like Sunday, Like Rain 11:30 Kevin From Work 12:00 The Ellen DeGeneres Show 13:00 I Can Do That 14:00 My Story 15:00 Sarah Graham’s Food Safari 16:00 Made in Hollywood: Magazine show 17:00 The Ellen DeGeneres Show: Comedic talkshow 18:00 The Middle: Comedy series 18:30 I Can Do That: Reality dance show 19:30 The Muppets: Puppet documentary. Two episodes 20:30 Matt Franco’s Got Magic: Reality show 21:30 FILM: Shotgun Garfunkel (2013) (16) Local comedy drama. With Bryan van Niekerk, Asher Mikkel Stoltz and Eduan van Jaarsveldt 22:55 Chicago PD: Crime drama series SABC1 Club Culture: Music show Nikita: Action drama series e.tv 08:30 Infomercials 09:00 Rhythm City 09:30 Scandal! 10:00 The Close Up 10:30 The Young and the Restless 11:30 Step Up or Step Out 12:30 Backstage 13:00 News Day 13:30 WWE NXT 14:30 FILM: Home Alone 3 16:30 The Steve Harvey Show: Comedy series 17:30 Just Shoot Me: Comedy series 18:00 Club 808: Make Some Noise: Music show 18:30 eNews Prime Time 19:00 Rhythm City: Soapie 19:30 Scandal!: Soapie 20:00 Gold Diggers: Drama series 20:30 FILM: The Other Guys (2010) (13) Comedy about two bungling cops trying to become supercops. With Will Ferrell and Mark Wahlberg 22:55 FILM: Shottas (2002) (16) Crime drama about Jamaican drug dealers. With Ky-Mani Marley 09:00 Inside the Baobab Tree 09:30 Tree Fu Tom 10:00 Takalani Sesame 10:30 Rivoningo 11:00 Southern Rhythms 12:00 Love That Girl! 12:30 Mampodi 13:00 Jessie J: Live at the O2 Arena 14:00 7de Laan 14:30 Mali 15:00 Skeem Saam 15:30 Muvhango Hectic Nine-9: Interactive variety show for kids Snake Park: Drama series News Leihlo La Sechaba: Investigative news 7de Laan: Soapie Nuus News Keke Music Special Vusaseki: Talkshow Muvhango: Drama series Benjamin Dube: Music special Cold Blood: Crime documentary series FILM: Daughter of a King (2014) (16) Crime drama about a young woman trying to rebuild her messed-up life. With Debra Van Gaalen, Tiffany Blom and Florin Marksteiner SABC3 06:00 FILM: The Black Tulip 07:00 FILM: The Corsican Brothers 08:00 Avatar 08:30 The Real 09:30 Cricket build-up 10:00 South Africa v England: 1st Test. Live 18:00 The Bold and the Beautiful: Soapie 18:30 News @ 6:30 19:00 Isidingo: Soapie 19:30 Top Billing: Entertainment magazine show 21:30 Supernatural: Fantasy action drama series 22:30 Durban Beach Rescue: Documentary 23:30 Hot in Cleveland: Comedy series e.tv 08:30 Infomercials 09:00 Rhythm City 09:30 Scandal! 10:00 MVP Jam 10:30 The Young and the Restless 11:30 Checkpoint 12:00 Against All Odds with Mpho Lakaje 12:30 Ashes to Ashes 13:00 News Day 13:30 WWE Raw 14:30 Quiz Time 14:35 Cool Catz 15:00 Yo Gabba Gabba 15:30 Storm Hawks 16:00 Craz-e World Live: Magazine show 16:30 The Steve Harvey Show: Comedy series 17:30 Just Shoot Me: Comedy series 18:00 The Close Up: Talkshow 18:30 eNews Prime Time 19:00 Rhythm City: Soapie 19:30 Scandal!: Soapie 20:00 Gold Diggers: Drama series 20:30 Stevie Wonder: Songs in the Key of Life — An All-Star Grammy Salute: Music special 22:20 The South African Hip Hop Awards 2015: Music awards show 23:20 Lip Sync Battle: Game show M-Net 07:30 Sarah Graham’s Food Safari 08:30 Made in Hollywood 09:30 FILM: Despicable Me 2 11:30 The Goldbergs 12:00 The Ellen DeGeneres Show 13:00 I Can Do That 14:00 Carte Blanche 15:00 Made in Hollywood 16:00 The Muppets: Puppet documentary. Two episodes 17:00 The Ellen DeGeneres Show: Comedic talkshow 18:00 Kevin from Work: Comedy series 18:30 I Can Do That: Reality dance show 19:30 My Story: Reality show 20:30 Blue Bloods: Crime drama series 21:30 The Royal Variety Show 23:45 CSI Cyber: Crime drama series M-Net 07:30 Made in Hollywood 08:30 Chicago PD 09:30 FILM: Tyler Perry’s A Madea Christmas 11:30 The Muppets 12:00 The Ellen DeGeneres Show 13:00 I Can Do That 14:00 Blue Bloods 15:00 Entertainment Now 16:00 My Story: Reality show 17:00 The Ellen DeGeneres Show: Comedic talkshow 18:00 Mom: Comedy series 18:30 I Can Do That: Reality dance contest 19:30 Rizzoli and Isles: Crime drama series 20:30 Public Morals: Crime drama series 21:30 NCIS New Orleans: Crime drama series 22:30 FILM: From the Rough (2013) (PG) Sports. Catana Starks made history as the first woman to coach a men’s college golf team 16:00 17:00 18:00 19:00 19:30 SABC2 21:20 SABC3 MUCH TO WATCH: Emily VanCamp in ’Revenge’, above, ’Dracula Untold’, left, and ’Frankenweenie’, right e.tv 06:00 Imani 06:30 Siyakholwa 07:00 Transformers 07:30 YoTV Big Breakfast 08:30 Matt Hatter Chronicles 09:00 Mzansi Insider 10:00 Generations: The Legacy (five episodes) 12:30 Imizwilili 13:30 FILM: TBC 15:00 FILM: Nothing for Mahala (2013) (PG) Good local comedy. With Thapelo Mokoena, Marius Weyers and Mmabatho Montsho 17:30 Roots: Music show 18:00 Friends Like These: Game show 19:00 News 19:30 The Real Goboza: Magazine show 20:00 FILM: Frankenweenie (2012) (PG) Animation 22:00 Skyroom Live: Music show 07:00 Morning Live 08:30 Housecall 09:30 Sports magazine show 10:00 Athletics Alive 10:30 Sportsview 11:00 One Piece (four episodes) 13:00 Love That Girl! 14:00 Muvhango (five episodes) 16:00 FILM: Dog Lover’s Symphony (2006) (PG) 18:00 Wipeout USA: Game show 19:00 Nuus 19:30 News 20:00 Emeli Sandé: Music special 21:00 Live Lotto Draw 21:04 The Bantu Hour: Sketch comedy show 22:00 FILM: Dracula Untold (2014) (13) Dark fantasy action drama based loosely on the Bram Stoker novel. With his kingdom threatened by the Turks, Vlad Tepes will stop at nothing to protect his homeland — even becoming a monster. With Luke Evans, Dominic Cooper and Sarah Gadon 00:00 Afro Café: Music show SABC3 06:00 Expresso 08:30 Avatar 09:30 Days of Our Lives 10:30 Those Who Can’t 11:00 Isidingo 11:30 7de Laan 12:00 Starsky and Hutch 13:00 The Kaiser Chiefs: Live at the Elland Road, Leeds 15:00 The Real 16:00 Afternoon Express: Talkshow 17:00 Days of Our Lives: Soapie 18:00 The Bold and the Beautiful: Soapie 18:30 News @ 6:30 19:00 Isidingo: Soapie 19:30 Total Blackout: Game show. Double bill 20:30 Minute to Win It: Game show 09:00 Inside the Baobab Tree 09:30 Tree Fu Tom 10:00 Takalani Sesame 10:30 Rivoningo 11:00 Sports Lifestyle Show 11:30 Roughing It Out 12:00 It’s For Life 12:30 48 Hours 13:00 The Dr Phil Show 14:00 7de Laan 14:30 Uzalo 15:00 Skeem Saam 15:30 Muvhango 16:00 Hectic Nine-9: Interactive variety show for kids 17:00 Dragon Ball GT: Action cartoon from Japan 17:30 News 18:00 Motswako: Talkshow 18:30 7de Laan: Soapie 19:00 Nuus 19:30 News 20:00 Love That Girl: Comedy series 20:30 Family Time: Comedy series 21:00 Live Lotto Draw 21:05 Muvhango: Drama series 21:30 90 Plein Street: Drama series 22:00 Afro Café: Music show SABC2 Saturday 2 JANUARY Friday 1 JANUARY SABC1 SABC2 06:00 Magic Cellar 06:30 Fun Factory 07:00 Disney’s Phineas and Ferb (double bill) 08:00 The Wizards of Waverly Place 08:30 Garbage Gallery 09:00 Challenge SOS 09:30 Cricket build-up 10:00 South Africa v England: 1st Test. Live 18:30 News @ 6:30 19:00 Magic With Mo: Reality show 19:30 FILM: Cerro Torre: A Snowball’s Chance in Hell (2013) (PG) Action documentary about the world’s youngest climbing champion taking on the difficult Cerro Torre climb. Featuring David Lama, Peter Ortner and Jim Bridwell 21:30 FILM: The Fast and the Furious (2001) (16) Okay action with hot cars. With Vin Diesel, Paul Walker and Michelle Rodriguez 23:30 Club Culture: Music show 07:30 Everything’s Rosie 07:45 Fireman Sam 08:00 Dora the Explorer 08:30 Transformers: Robots in Disguise 09:00 Sistahood 09:30 Scandal! (five episodes) 11:30 Paternity Court 12:00 Against All Odds with Mpho Lakaje 12:30 The Close Up 13:00 Club 808: Make Some Noise 13:30 The Planet’s Funniest Animals 14:00 FILM: Home Alone 3 WWE Total Divas: (PG) Wrestling reality show WWE Smackdown: (PG) Wrestling Wipeout USA: Game show eNews Prime Time FILM: Jumper (2008) (PG) Sci-fi. With Hayden Christensen, Samuel L Jackson and Jamie Bell FILM: Get Shorty (1995) (16) Crime comedy. With Gene Hackman, Rene Russo and Danny DeVito M-Net 06:00 FILM: Saving Santa 07:30 Hollywood’s 10 Best 08:00 The Great Christmas Light Fight (double bill) 11:00 I Can Do That (triple bill) 13:00 Astronaut Wives Club 14:00 Blue Bloods 15:00 FILM: Tarzan 17:00 Zoo: Sci-fi series 18:00 The Goldbergs: Comedy series 18:30 Mom: Comedy series 19:00 The Middle: Comedy series 19:30 Kevin From Work: Comedy series 20:00 Revenge: Drama series with Emily VanCamp 21:00 Rizzoli and Isles: Crime drama series 22:00 Agent X: Action drama series 22:55 FILM: Brick Mansions (2014) (13) Average crime drama about an undercover cop and an ex-con teaming up to take down a kingpin. With Paul Walker, David Belle and RZA News ST Mainbody, 27-Dec-2015-Page 24, Cyan ST Mainbody, 27-Dec-2015- Page 24, Magenta ST Mainbody, 27-Dec-2015-Page 24, Yellow ST Mainbody, 27-Dec-2015- Page 24, Black December 27 2015 24 Sunday Times WH crossword ACROSS 1 Winger bringing angry charge (9) 9 Using wrong name, one makes a bloomer (7) 10 Leave to play for the town (7) 11 Explosive grandee in trouble (7) 12 Anxious and sickened by a needle (3, 2, 4) 14 Berkshire supporters (8) 15 Walk some way — go on! (8) 17 Batting, given time, will be strong (7) 20 Standard directions to endorse (6) 23 Apply tax without hesitation (8) 25 Cautioned on working out — training (9) 26 Duck coop put on display out-of-doors (4, 3) 27 Save about a hundred pounds by intent (7) 28 Figure having no mount on (7) 29 A cracking treat for youngsters in spring! (6-3) 8 Soldiers’ surrender — retreat (9) 13 Deletes error when so encouraged (7) 15 They’re of basic personal help in the squeeze (9) 16 Underworld bid for exoneration (9) 18 The main trunk (3-5) 19 Daughter men see managing the estate (7) 21 Letters must be translated for an immigrant (7) 22 Note contention is increasing (7) 24 View round about noon undisturbed (6) Everyone’s crossword LAST WEEK’S SOLUTION DOWN 2 Part of the plant that’s to let — or otherwise (7) 3 The women scored highly (7) 4 Pushers using some craft? (8) 5 Rex has got in the beer, and made more of it! (6) 6 Almost adult, so interviewed about an incident (9) 7 Old lady securing fare pledge (7) 2-Speed crossword CRYPTIC CLUES ACROSS 1 Snips away while old Bob listens (6) 4 March past line of shops (6) 7 Medium has no age to state (4) 8 Great big beating (8) 9 Winners at Crufts? (3, 4) 12 Plant making beer for dance (3) 14 Chance to watch TV (4, 2) 15 Tom’s initial mistake with troublesome child (6) 16 Semi-farewell to extra at Lord’s (3) 18 Its card may become powerful in action (7) 22 Soothing number (8) 23 Clubs for example involved in legal action (4) 24 A fellow at the university is a good-looking chap (6) 25 Post for landlord (6) ACROSS: 1 Rampart 5 Solid 8 Virgo 9 Pounces 10 Lucifer 11 Actor 12 Preach 14 Versus 17 Exams 19 Arrived 22 Earlier 23 Germs 24 Steer 25 Totally DOWN: 1 Ravel 2 Miracle 3 Aloof 4 Topers 5 Sausage 6 Licit 7 Deserts 12 Poetess 13 Cashier 15 Several 16 Parrot 18 Agree 20 Right 21 Dishy DOWN 1 Group making regular contributions toward raising the roof? (5, 4) Bridge This deal occurred in a regional pair championship in Los Angeles many years ago. The hand was played at many tables, of course, but our story concerns itself solely with the table where Kelsey Petterson held the South cards. When she first looked at her extraordinary hand, Petterson wondered whether it would be better to open the bidding with two spades (strong) or two clubs when it was her turn to bid. However, the problem became altogether academic when Codeword COFFEE-TIME ACROSS LAST WEEK’S SOLUTION East dealer Both sides vulnerable 2 Chosen few went by bus with conductor (9) 3 Like this we would broadcast (5) 4 What’s the point of a garden fork? (5) 5 Intent on being parcelled up we hear (4) 6 Ring a bell round wild dog (5) 10 Looked inquisitively into sound of arrogance (5) 11 Posted around 3rd-class trail for hounds to follow (5) 12 Firm trying place as tennis arena (4, 5) 13 Never-say-die character according to senior nurse (9) 17 Give up interest in shares (5) 19 Horse controller restraining toddler (5) 20 Fine one of the nobs (5) 21 Catspaw takes pledge (4) Petterson thought she heard the player on her right open bidding with seven diamonds! Undaunted by this totally unexpected development, Petterson bid seven spades. East doubled, and, after three passes, West led the jack of hearts. There was nothing much to the play. Declarer ruffed the heart and drew four rounds of trumps, the jack obligingly falling on the second round. When she then cashed the A-K of clubs, the missing queen also fell, so the upshot was that she made seven spades doubled for a score of 2 470 points. East-West were understandably nonplussed by this dreadful result. They realised they would get a very bad score on the deal, especially since East had elected to double the grand slam, giving North-South an optimal result that was unlikely to be duplicated at the other tables. As the East-West pair were disconsolately putting their cards back into the duplicate board, 9 Victors (3, 4) 12 Jump on one foot (3) 14 Pay a visit (4, 2) 15 Great fright (6) 16 Cricket extra (3) 18 Severe (7) 22 Tranquiliser (8) 23 Set of clothes (4) 24 Handsome young man (6) 25 Communication (6) DOWN 1 Mutual benefit society (5, 4) 2 Battery terminal (9) 3 Scattered seed (5) 4 Tine of fork (5) 5 Absorbed (4) 6 Australian dog (5) 10 Snooped (5) 11 Perfume (5) 12 Venue for tennis (4, 5 ) 13 One who perseveres (9) 17 Give way (5) 19 Straps restraining horse (5) 20 Grow bigger (5) 21 Chess piece (4) 1 Clippers (6) 4 Military display (6) 7 Declare (4) 8 Very large (8) Elimination HOW TO PLAY Each of the clues eliminates two words from the list of 37. Find the words that match the clues, cross them off the list and you’ll be left with one word. You can confirm the accuracy of your answer next week. (a) Emotional communication! (b) Two linked with master (c) Obsolete sum (d) Two associated with work (e) But not a tree house! (f) Two words with number (g) Period in hand? (h) Two become annoying (i) For multinational shine? (j) Two synonyms (k) Political footballer? (l) Two anagrams (m) He looks wrong! (n) Two joined with bottle (o) Rough, for smoothing (p) Two suggesting hot (q) Make a desolation! (r) Two with rule 1. Lay 2. Red 3. Tom 4. Log 5. Shy 6. Old 7. Some 8. Left 9. Time 10. Huge 11. Neck 12. Love 13. Plate 14. Paper 15. Slide 16. Cakes 17. Waste 18. Grand 19. Cabin 20. Three 21. Spare 22. Lucky 23. Poker 24. Emery 25. Polish 26. Simper 27. Letter 28. Golden 29. Washer 30. Winger 31. French 32. Primes 33. Fooled 34. Peeping 35. Trouble 36. Gigantic 37. Farthings (a) 2-35 (b) 5-18 (c) 29-10 (d) 6-28 (e) 36-8 (f) 22-32 (g) 4-20 (h) 7-19 (i) 31-17 (j) 9-37 (k) 27-11 (l) 16-21 (m) 12-26 (n) 3-15 (o) 34-24 (p) 13-23 (q) 30-1 (r) 25-33 Sunday Sudoku Petterson turned to her righthand opponent and asked: “May I please see what an opening seven-diamond bid looks like?” “I opened the bidding with one diamond,” East sadly replied. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 1W, 2U, 3O, 4E, 5D, 6I, 7S, 8T, 9A, 10F, 11H, 12R, 13N, 14C, 15P, 16L, 17M, 18G, 19B, 20Y, 21V Pink: FRETSAW Yellow: HUMUS Blue: LOLLARD 1 Doctor moving fuel outside will not pick it up cleanly (6) 2 Bird has part of a dainty meal (6) 3 Breeze to subside during landing by parachutist (3-4) 4 Many people make a noise in the Civil Defence (5) 6 Monkey featured in double mural (5) 7 Ready with cheerful alacrity (7) 8 Peter to endeavour to find room (6) 9 Bothers about losing direction but beats This week’s theme is: 2015 multiple choice 1. Which vehicle manufacturer was embroiled in rigging diesel emissions tests in 2015? A) BMW, B) Renault, C) VW, D) Chevrolet 2. Sepp Blatter was the former leader of which troubled sporting body? A) IRB, B) ICC, C) IAAF, D) Fifa 3. In 2015 who became the new host of “The Daily Show”? A) John Vlismas, B) David Kau, C) David Kabuuka, D) Trevor Noah 4. In September a stampede caused the death of more than 2 000 in which city? A) Kathmandu, B) Medina, C) Mecca, D) Baghdad 5. The discovery of “Homo naledi” was announced in 2015. What does “naledi” mean? A) Star, B) Early, C) Sacred; D) Entrance 6. Which team won the Cricket World Cup? A) Australia, B) New Zealand, C) India, D) South Africa 7. Who painted “Nafea Faa Ipoipo” — the most expensive painting ever sold? A) Gauguin, B) Cezanne, C) Picasso, D) Van Gogh 8. In which film franchise did Christopher Lee (d. 2015) not star? Samurai Sudoku LAST WEEK’S SOLUTION BRAIN TEST ANSWERS LAST WEEK’S SOLUTION 1 Conversely it means there is only a slim hope (3, 6) 5 River vessel used by a gardener (9) 11 Duller warning device on the mountain (10) 12 Hatter or collier unwell inside (8) 13 Having plenty of free time was certain I had followed the French round (8) 14 A solitary crustacean (6-4) 15 Well-liked arsonist on stage? (7, 6) 23 Not a middleman! (9) 24 Plenty Lou distributed in a rich way (9) 25 Beware conflict therein (3) 26 Felspar, a rock from space? (9) 27 Coda found at the end of a chapter (9) 28 Miserly girl stealing (5-8) 36 Worker at eastern port transferred (6, 4) 38 Cross the road for an easy victory (4-4) 39 Girl, we hear, got learner included as a multilinguist (8) 40 Stake found by hollow containing engineers earlier (10) 41 Mean to be pullin’ back before second half of July (9) 42 From town he set out to find a sharpener (9) DOWN LAST WEEK’S SOLUTION The remaining word is “Lake” Codeword has only one clue – the three letters that are printed in it. Where the same numbers appear on the grid, fill in the known letters, then work out the remainder. Dotted lines indicate hyphens or linked words. Find the words that appear in the blue, yellow and pink blocks. ACROSS 1. C) VW 2. D) Fifa 3. D) Trevor Noah 4. C) Mecca 5. A) Star 6. A) Australia 7. A) Gauguin 8. D) “Harry Potter” 9. C) “Birdman” 10. D) Jack Black 11. B) Yemen 12. C) Terry Pratchett 13. D) Charlotte 14. A) Belarussian (Svetlana Alexievich) 15 .C) Andre Brink 16. D) Bill Withers A) Taylor Swift 18. B) Rubella 19. C) Pluto 20. A) Tunisia more strongly (6) 10 It’s dropped when needed and weighed afterwards (6) 15 Father reportedly will cut the vegetable (7) 16 Is this whale a mythical beast? (7) 17 An idiot in Belgium (7) 18 Ron’s the eccentric to check (7) 19 Support during hours in trouble (7) 20 In a hurry hoping to be elected? (7) 21 Was endlessly told to praise enthusiastically (5) 22 Oh dear, there is a shortage (5) 29 With little rounded humps developing around 50 (7) 30 Make a hostile incursion in a way (6) 31 Not allowed till ICI reorganise (7) 32 Work in feature by a composer (6) 33 A French stopper to remove from the socket (6) 34 Does not start the film again in Spain (6) 35 He, after court order, will squirm (6) 37 Essential statistics? (5) 38 Timekeeper’s constant attention (5) LAST WEEK’S SOLUTION ACROSS: 9 Beachcomber 10 Cousin 11 Route-march 12 Oversell 13 Fiend 14 Operate 15 Views 18 Fourth of January 21 Disregard 22 Chastened 24 Kitchen cupboard 27 Scene 28 Riptide 29 Voter 32 Linesman 33 Innkeepers 34 Beaver 35 Church-mouse DOWN: 1 Begonia 2 Acetone 3 Scamp 4 Improper fraction 5 Recherche 6 Ached 7 Substituted 8 Fieldworker 12 Out of the ordinary 16 Mongrel 17 Hansard 19 Disinclined 20 Preconceive 23 Spotlight 25 Soap-box 26 Depress 30 Smart 31 Meths B) Victoria, C) Elizabeth, D) Charlotte Brain test 14. What nationality was this Trivia Tom year’s literature Nobel laureate? [email protected]. Twitter: @maydont A) Belarussian, B) Nigerian, C) Chilean, D) Vietnamese 15. Which anti-apartheid author A) “Star Wars”, B) “Lord of the died this year? A) Breytenbach, Rings”, C) “James Bond”, B) Gordimer, C) Brink, D) Serote D) “Harry Potter” 16. Which of these musicians did 9. Which film won the Best not pass away in 2015? A) Percy Picture Academy Award? Sledge, B) Ben E King, C) BB A) “Boyhood”, B) “Selma”, King, D) Bill Withers C) “Birdman”, D) “12 Years a 17. Who had a No 1 hit with Slave” “Blank Space”? A) Taylor Swift, 10. Who plays the role of Mr B) Justin Bieber, C) The Weeknd, Shivers in the film “Goosebumps”? D) Will Pharrell A) Bradley Cooper, B) Chris Pratt, 18. The WHO announced that C) Jeremy Renner, D) Jack Black which disease was eradicated 11. Military action was escalated from the Americas? A) Measles, against the Houthis, in which B) Rubella, C) Mumps, country? A) Burundi, D) Polio B) Yemen, C) Thailand, 19. Nasa’s New Horizons was D) Indonesia involved in a fly-by of what? 12. 2015 was the last year for A) Mars, B) Ceres, C) Pluto, which fantasy writer? A) Douglas D) Alpha Centauri Adams, B) George R R Martin, 20. From which country were the C) Terry Pratchett, D) Frank winners of the Nobel Peace Herbert Prize? A) Tunisia, B) Germany, C) Vatican, D) DRC 13. Name the British princess born in May 2015. A) Diana, Answers on this page Solution on Page 12 News ST Mainbody, 27-Dec-2015-Page 25, Cyan ST Mainbody, 27-Dec-2015- Page 25, Magenta ST Mainbody, 27-Dec-2015-Page 25, Yellow ST Mainbody, 27-Dec-2015- Page 25, Black Sunday Times | December 27 2015 SPORT | 25 Strangest, weirdest ways clubs, coaches part ways in the PSL An Olympic medal is Shange’s focus in 2016 SBU MJIKELISO PRESIDENT Jacob Zuma’s dodgy record when it comes to hiring and firing finance ministers for no particular reason is matched only by the Premier Soccer League (PSL) clubs and their coaches. To do this, both club and coach have had to make some of the strangest excuses to part ways. From Orange Farm, where life is cheap, to competing on world stage DAVID ISAACSON WALKER Lebogang Shange spent a quiet Christmas on Friday, preferring to train on his own in Pretoria than return home to Orange Farm in the south of Johannesburg. “I will celebrate Christmas after the [2016 Rio] Olympics,” smiled Shange, who finished 11th in the 20km walk at this year’s world championships in Beijing, China. His focus is the Rio Games, where he is aiming for a top-three finish. If all goes according to plan, Shange will spend most of 2016 outside the country preparing for the Brazil showpiece, starting with a two-month training camp in Canberra, Australia, at the invitation of Jared Tallent, an Olympic medallist in both the 20km and 50km events. Shange’s 50km teammate, Marc Mundell, was on the same camp recently and he capped it off with a new national record this month. Shange departs on January 4. Competing on the world stage is a far cry from Orange Farm township, where life is cheap, says Shange, who grew up in Soweto before moving south as a teenager. The 25-year-old was at a club with friends soon after his Africa Games victory in Brazzaville, Republic of Congo, in September when a gang of youths attacked for no apparent reason. One of them struck a woman on the head with a panga, killing her. “There are different gangs there. There’s one called the Vampires, and they kill people they find outside on the streets after 10pm. “You go there [to Orange Farm] and you’ll see somebody get stabbed right in front of you. “Grade nine and 10 pupils are wearing pangas in their belts to school,” he says, adding he would like to change things in the township when he has the fame and money to make a difference. Already he has started the Team Shange club in Soweto, and would like to do something similar in Orange Farm to motivate youngsters. Shange is fortunate to have a friend, based in Switzerland, who has been his benefactor, paying for him to get to competitions and camps in Europe. He is also sponsored by the High Performance Centre at the University of Pretoria, and has a clothing contract with sports apparel giant Nike. But cold cash is hard to come by; in Europe a good pay cheque for him is à2 000 (about R32 500). “I need to earn money from races. I want to save up because I need to get my own home by the time I’m 30,” said Shange. “I can’t stay here [in Orange Farm] all the time,” he added with a smile. Shange is also a breadwinner. “When I go home, that’s the challenge. They expect me to bring food. “That’s when you feel our government is not supporting us,” says Shange, who broke five national records last year — twice in the 20km and on the track in the 3 000m, 5 000m ❛ HERE ARE THE FIVE MOST MEMORABLE EXCUSES: Owen da Gama — Platinum Stars, 2011-12 season The PSL has seen all sorts of baffling incidents over its 19year history but the “pay-toplay” scandal that rocked Platinum Stars in 2012 is up there with the weirdest. Da Gama was cleared, of course, but the stink of being accused of soliciting payments from players for them to play didn’t quite leave the dressing room. He and the club parted ways by “mutual consent” not long after the internal investigation cleared him. Serame Letsoaka — Lamontville Golden Arrows, 2015-16 season Letsoaka almost had us with a teary-eyed resignation letter leaked to social media by Arrows. In it he claimed that he was leaving a club where he did so well to be closer to his family — who were based in Johannesburg. But then the former Bafana Bafana assistant coach took up the vacant Bloemfontein Celtic job days after quitting Arrows. Letsoaka is now a whopping 167.9km closer to Johannesburg than before. Given that there are seven toll gates on the N3 to Durban, as opposed to three on the N1 to Bloemfontein, Letsoaka could have done it to save a massive R188.50 (each way) in toll fees. People think that because I’m on television I’m getting paid, that I’m loaded. I’m earning nothing and 20 000m. His performance in China wasn’t good enough to get on to the Operation Excellence funding programme of the South African Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee. “People think because I’m on TV I’m getting paid, that I’m loaded. I’m earning nothing,” says the talkative athlete, who refers to his 20-year-old car as “my old wreck”. Shange believes the biggest change he needs to make to reach the podium in Rio is mental. “At [Beijing] world championships I was scared to go out fast,” he said. “At the 2012 World Cup in Russia I went fast and hit the wall and the last 6km were bad.” Shange is famous for his fast finishes, and has clocked 3min 40sec per kilometre — or 22 seconds per 100m. He is now working with a psychologist to overcome this: “I must be fearless.” Jean Yves Kerjean — Black Leopards, 2005-06 season The Frenchman has the dubious honour of lasting one PSL match before being fired by Lidoda Duvha boss David Thidiela. His offence was declaring that six senior players were not PSL material. The sacking seemed a bit harsh, considering that their only game was against FAST FINISHER: Walker Lebogang Shange is hard at work preparing for the 2016 Olympics in Brazil. He finished 11th in the 20km race in Beijing in August Picture: GALLO IMAGES Orlando Pirates away, where Leopards lost to a late Lucky Lekgwathi strike. Clive Barker — Maritzburg United, 2015-16 season “He’s too old,” the Team of Choice claimed after sacking Clive “The Dog” Barker following a 1-1 draw at home with Kaizer Chiefs. Barker was 71 years and 64 days old when United appointed him on September 25 and he had aged a mammoth 67 days by the time he was fired on December 1 — five Absa Premiership matches later. In that period Barker led them to their only win of this campaign, against University of Pretoria, and drew the game against Chiefs in the 96th minute. Talk about two months being a lifetime in football. ❛ CLEARED: Owen da Gama THRIFTY: Serame Letsoaka Barker was 71 years and 64 days when he was appointed — he had aged a mammoth 67 days when he was fired FRENCH: Jean-Yves Kerjean Ernst Middendorp — Free State Stars, 2015-16 season Having coached Ea Lla Koto to five wins, three draws and two defeats (one of them to red-hot Mamelodi Sundowns) after replacing Belgian Tom Saintfiet, the man formerly known as Middendraws dropped a bombshell by e-mail, quitting the club just a couple of days after leading them to a win over Jomo Cosmos. The excuse, err, reason, given for the decision was that Stars had a “severe limitation of PSL-qualified players in the team”. The said limited players include Belgian striker Andrea Fileccia, whose six league goals put him second on the top goal-scorer’s list. The rumour doing the rounds is that Middendorp is keen on returning to coachless Maritzburg United for a third stint. But they, too, should be wary, given that they fired him in 2011 after dramatically asking the team bosses to sack him on live television. HAS SEEN IT ALL: Clive Barker TRAVELLER: Ernst Middendorp A young generation of skilled canoeists is cropping up DAVID ISAACSON SHAUN Maphanga is the face of the Florida Lake Canoe Club. Literally. A beer advert featuring a photograph of him competing in the iconic Dusi marathon — where in 2015 he ended third in the sub-veteran category and claimed a silver medal overall — is plastered around the club house. That’s pretty impressive for a former yacht caretaker at the lake who was invited to try his hand at kayaking. But his impact behind the scenes is equally critical, helping this marginal club to punch well above its weight, at least at school level. Maphanga trains the coaches, MacDonald Nkosi and Malusi Nxumalo, who, in turn, mentor the children, where the next generation of gold is to be found. They include sisters Kamillah and Ameerah Hank, who have both won medals at South African championship level, in sprint and marathon races. The pair have amassed so many points from races that on their own they have pushed their school, Curro Aurora, into the top three of canoeing rankings in Gauteng. Kamillah, 11, prefers the marathon, while nine-year-old Ameerah favours the sprints, the Olympic discipline. “My toughest event is the marathon,” said Ameerah, to which dad Rowshaan retorted with a smile: “When she’s been out there too long she starts looking for someone to chat to.” Canoeing has captured their attention more than the many other sports they do, such as netball, tennis, swimming and ballet and dancing, from hip-hop to tap. ❛ Coaches make it sound easy, they let us swim in the lake after training “The coaches make it sound easy, even if it’s hard,” said Kamillah. “And they let us swim in the lake after training,” added Ameerah. Both girls are capable swimmers and are keen to do the Midmar Mile next year. Development at the Florida Lake club started more than a decade ago when club captain Jennie Dallas, who has 12 straight Fish River marathons under her belt, was asked by the Gauteng Canoe Union to train new canoeists in exchange for some boats, paddles and life jackets. “The first kids couldn’t swim at all and were panicking stupid when they fell in the water.” It takes time for learners to get the balance right, Dallas explained. “We have a lot of kids starting, but many give up after a few attempts.” Every Sunday is open to newcomers at the club, as long as they bring their parents to sign indemnity. “We’ve got talent here,” said Maphanga. “They started not so long ago and look where they are now. We just need help financially.” Nxumalo, who was brought into canoeing when he was staying at an orphanage, said lack of money could be an issue. He said: “If you can’t afford to go on the trips to compete, you lose interest.” Dallas said Bridgitte Hartley’s Olympic bronze medal in the women’s K1 500m sprint at London 2012 had sparked an interest in the sport. “There is definitely more interest. And we’ve got more support from the department of sport and Lotto, who gave us R200 000 to buy boats,” she said. “We have some small sponsorships too, but there are always costs. The travel is expensive.” SHOULDER TO SHOULDER: Sisters Ameerah and Kamillah Hank training at the Florida Lake Canoe Club. Both girls are capable swimmers as well Picture: SIMPHIWE NKWALI RESULTS BASKETBALL NBA GAMES Miami 94 New Orleans 88; Chicago 105 Oklahoma City 96; Golden State 89 Cleveland 83; Houston 88 San Antonio 84; LA Clippers 94 LA Lakers 84. CRICKET BASIL D'OLIVEIRA TROPHY SOUTH AFRICA v ENGLAND Kingsmead, Durban 1st test Stumps, day 1 ENGLAND 1st innings A Cook c Elgar b Steyn . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0 A Hales c de Villiers b Steyn . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 N Compton not out . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 63 J Root lbw b Piedt . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24 J Taylo c de Villiers b Steyn . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 70 B Stokes not out . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 Extras (1b 2lb 1w 3nb) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 TOTAL: (for 4 wkts) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 179 FALLS: 1/3 2/12 3/49 4/174 BOWLING: D Steyn 15.1-3-29-3, K Abbott 16-2-40-0 (1nb), M Morkel 15-1-44-0 (2nb 1w), D Piedt 11-2-39-1, S van Zyl 2-1-20, D Elgar 6-1-22-0. THE FRANK WORRELL TROPHY AUSTRALIA v WEST INDIES Melbourne Cricket Ground, Australia 2nd test Stumps, day 1 AUSTRALIA 1st innings J Burns st Ramdin b K Brathwaite . . . . . . . . . . . . . . D Warner c Samuels b Taylor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . U Khawaja c Ramdin b Taylor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . S Smith not out . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A Voges not out . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Extras (3lb 3w 2nb) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 128 23 144 32 10 . 8 TOTAL: (for 3 wkts) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 345 FALLS: 1/29 2/287 3/328 BOWLING: J Taylor 18-2-83-2, K Roach 10-1-53-0, J Holder 176-33-0 (2nb), C Brathwaite 20-1-71-0 (3w), J Warrican 16-1-710, K Brathwaite 9-1-31-1. ODI SERIES NEW ZEALAND v SRI LANKA Christchurch, New Zealand SRI LANKA D Gunathilaka c Ronchi b Milne . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 T Dilshan c Nicholls b Henry . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 L Thirimanne lbw b Henry . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 D Chandimal c Taylor b Henry . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 A Mathews c Latham b Henry . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0 M Siriwardana c B McCullum b Bracewell . . . . . . . . . . 66 C Kapugedera c Santner b Bracewell . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 N Kulasekara c Ronchi b McClenaghan . . . . . . . . . . . 58 A Mendis c Ronchi b McClenaghan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 D Chameera not out . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 S Lakmal c Latham b Bracewell . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 Extras (8w) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 TOTAL: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 188 FALLS: 1/13 2/20 3/23 4/23 5/27 6/65 7/163 8/164 9/167 10/188 BOWLING: A Milne 10-0-30-1 (3w), M Henry 10-1-49-4 (2w), M McClenaghan 10-2-40-2 (3w), D Bracewell 9-1-37-3, M Santner 8-0-32-0. NEW ZEALAND M Guptill c N Kulasekara b Siriwardana . . . . . . . . . . . 79 B McCullum c Lakmal b Siriwardana . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55 T Latham b Dilshan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18 R Taylor not out . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 H Nicholls not out . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23 Extras (1lb 10w) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 TOTAL: (for 3 wkts) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 191 FALLS: 1/108 2/162 3/164 BOWLING: N Kulasekara 3-0-27-0, S Lakmal 3-0-24-0 (1w), A Mathews 1-0-17-0 (1w), A Mendis 5-0-49-0 (2w), M Siriwardana 5-0-45-2, D Chameera 2-0-18-0 (3w), T Dilshan 2-0-10-1 (1w). ■ New Zealand won by 7 wickets. BIG BASH LEAGUE PERTH SCORCHERS v BRISBANE HEAT Western Australia Cricket Ass. Ground, Perth Twenty20 match, 9th match BRISBANE HEAT J Peirson c Klinger b Willey . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 L Simmons c Bancroft b Behrendorff . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0 C Lynn not out . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 75 P Forrest c Agar b Tye . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 N Reardon c Behrendorff b Hogg . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 J Floros c Tye b Behrendorff . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 B Cutting b Tye . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 J Lalor c Paris b Tye . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 Extras (7lb 1w) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 TOTAL: (for 7 wkts) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 117 FALLS: 1/2 2/33 3/64 4/67 5/88 6/105 7/117 BOWLING: J Behrendorff 4-0-32-2 (1w), J Paris 4-0-25-0, D Willey 4-1-15-1, G Hogg 4-0-15-1, A Tye 4-0-23-3. PERTH SCORCHERS M Harris c Lynn b Fekete . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36 M Klinger not out . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53 A Agar not out . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24 Extras (2b 2lb 1w) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 TOTAL: (for 1 wkt) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 118 FALLS: 1/48 BOWLING: J Lalor 3-0-19-0 (1w), M Steketee 2-0-21-0, S Badree 4-0-26-0, A Fekete 2-0-16-1, B Cutting 2-0-12-0, J Floros 2.1-0-20-0. ■ Perth Scorchers won by 9 wickets. RUGBY AVIVA PREMIERSHIP Exeter Chiefs 33 Sale Sharks 17; Leicester Tigers 22 Newcastle Falcons 10; London Irish 25 Northampton 23. P Exeter Chiefs 7 Saracens 6 Leicester Tigers 7 Harlequins 6 Northampton Saints7 London Wasps 6 Gloucester Rugby 6 W 6 6 6 4 3 3 3 D 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 L 1 0 1 2 4 3 3 F 215 180 152 162 124 136 107 A 108 59 111 118 100 118 123 BP 5 3 1 4 5 2 1 Pts 29 27 25 20 17 14 13 Sale Sharks Bath Rugby Worcester Warriors London Irish Newcastle Falcons 7 6 6 7 7 2 2 2 1 0 1 0 0 0 1 4 4 4 6 6 115 123 114 102 94 154 119 160 229 225 3 3 2 0 0 13 11 10 4 2 FRANCE French Top 14 P 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 Clermont Auvergne Toulouse Toulon Racing Metro Brive Bordeaux Begles Montpellier Castres La Rochelle Grenoble Stade Francais Pau Agen Oyonnax W 6 7 6 7 6 6 6 5 4 4 4 3 2 2 D 1 0 0 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 L 3 3 4 2 4 3 4 5 6 6 6 6 8 8 F 276 261 352 201 197 223 250 231 222 229 199 172 196 175 A 179 147 193 188 164 192 264 231 237 274 220 284 280 331 Pts 33 32 32 30 28 28 26 24 21 19 18 15 10 10 SOCCER SOUTH AFRICA ENGLAND Premier League Newcastle 0 Everton 1; Bournemouth 0 Crystal Palace 0; Aston Villa 1 West Ham 1; Chelsea 2 Watford 2; Liverpool 1 Leicester 0; Manchester City 4 Sunderland 1; Swansea 1 West Brom 0; Tottenham Hotspur 3 Norwich 0; Stoke 2 Manchester Utd 0. The result from the Southampton v Arsenal match was not available by the time of going to press. Leicester City Arsenal Manchester City Tottenham Hotspur Crystal Palace Manchester United Watford Liverpool Everton West Ham United Stoke City Southampton West Bromwich Bournemouth Chelsea Swansea City Norwich City Newcastle United Sunderland Aston Villa P 18 17 18 18 18 18 18 18 18 18 18 17 18 18 18 18 18 18 18 18 P 12 12 12 12 11 11 12 12 12 11 12 10 10 12 11 12 W 8 8 7 5 5 5 4 4 5 4 3 3 3 2 1 1 D 2 2 3 6 4 2 4 4 1 3 3 2 2 4 3 3 L 2 2 2 1 2 4 4 4 6 4 6 5 5 6 7 8 F 20 20 19 19 16 12 11 11 18 12 10 12 10 8 5 9 A 8 10 10 10 13 12 10 12 20 13 16 13 11 15 15 24 Pts 26 26 24 21 19 17 16 16 16 15 12 11 11 10 6 6 D 5 3 2 8 3 5 5 6 8 8 5 6 5 5 4 6 5 5 3 5 L 2 3 5 2 6 5 5 5 4 4 6 6 8 8 9 8 9 9 12 12 F 37 31 37 31 23 22 23 21 32 26 16 21 17 22 23 16 20 19 19 15 A 25 14 20 14 16 16 18 22 24 22 16 21 24 32 29 24 32 33 37 32 Pts 38 36 35 32 30 29 29 27 27 26 26 21 20 20 19 18 17 17 12 8 FRANCE Ligue 1 Premiership Sundowns Wits Black Aces Kaizer Chiefs Platinum Stars Golden Arrows Bloem Celtic SuperSport United Chippa United Free State Stars Polokwane City Ajax Cape Town Orlando Pirates Jomo Cosmos TUKS Maritzburg Utd W 11 11 11 8 9 8 8 7 6 6 7 5 5 5 5 4 4 4 3 1 P Paris Saint Germain 19 Monaco 19 Angers 19 Caen 19 Nice 19 St Etienne 19 Rennes 19 Lorient 19 Lyon 19 Marseille 19 Lille 19 GFC Ajaccio 19 Nantes 19 Bordeaux 19 Montpellier 19 W 16 8 8 9 8 9 6 6 7 6 5 6 6 5 6 D 3 8 7 3 5 2 9 8 5 7 9 6 6 8 4 L 0 3 4 7 6 8 4 5 7 6 5 7 7 6 9 F 48 25 17 21 32 22 25 27 23 28 15 20 14 23 22 A 9 23 11 22 23 22 21 26 23 21 13 22 17 28 25 Pts 51 32 31 30 29 29 27 26 26 25 24 24 24 23 22 Bastia Reims Guingamp Toulouse Troyes 19 19 19 19 19 6 5 5 3 0 4 6 4 8 8 9 8 10 8 11 20 19 17 21 10 24 24 27 33 35 22 21 19 17 8 L 1 3 5 6 6 6 5 7 5 7 7 8 7 8 10 10 11 8 F 46 47 26 34 25 23 26 23 18 19 11 21 17 21 22 17 18 17 A 8 23 18 30 20 23 21 23 21 23 18 26 26 28 37 32 29 25 Pts 46 38 32 29 27 27 26 24 24 22 20 19 18 17 15 15 14 13 GERMANY Bundesliga P Bayern Munich 17 Borussia Dortmund 17 Hertha Berlin 17 Borussia M’gladbach 17 Bayer Leverkusen 17 Schalke 04 17 Wolfsburg 17 Mainz 05 17 Cologne 17 Hamburger SV 17 Ingolstadt 04 17 Augsburg 17 Darmstadt 17 Eintracht Frankfurt 17 VfB Stuttgart 17 Werder Bremen 17 Hannover 96 17 Hoffenheim 17 W 15 12 10 9 8 8 7 7 6 6 5 5 4 4 4 4 4 2 D 1 2 2 2 3 3 5 3 6 4 5 4 6 5 3 3 2 7 ITALY Serie A Internazionale Fiorentina Napoli Juventus Roma Milan Sassuolo Empoli Atalanta Lazio Torino Chievo Udinese Sampdoria Bologna Palermo Genoa Frosinone P 17 17 17 17 17 17 16 17 17 17 16 17 17 17 17 17 17 17 W 11 11 10 10 9 8 7 8 7 7 6 6 6 5 6 5 4 4 D 3 2 5 3 5 4 6 3 3 2 4 4 3 5 1 3 4 2 L 3 4 2 4 3 5 3 6 7 8 6 7 8 7 10 9 9 11 F 23 33 31 28 32 24 20 23 19 20 21 21 15 24 19 17 15 17 A 11 15 13 14 18 21 15 22 19 26 20 18 24 26 24 26 23 34 Pts 36 35 35 33 32 28 27 27 24 23 22 22 21 20 19 18 16 14 Carpi Verona 17 17 2 0 4 8 11 9 15 12 33 27 10 8 L 0 1 3 3 3 5 5 3 5 7 6 6 7 6 6 8 8 11 F 30 24 34 19 26 19 22 17 16 20 11 16 12 12 8 9 11 6 A 7 7 10 7 21 15 20 15 20 27 17 30 15 18 18 18 26 21 Pts 36 35 31 25 21 21 21 19 19 17 16 16 15 14 14 10 10 5 L 2 3 3 3 4 2 6 5 4 5 6 8 7 8 8 8 8 10 9 9 F 36 22 42 28 21 25 24 21 21 19 13 16 10 17 18 15 17 18 12 12 A 15 8 15 22 15 16 18 19 14 19 19 26 14 22 26 23 27 37 23 29 Pts 35 35 33 31 30 26 24 23 22 21 20 20 17 16 16 15 14 14 13 11 PORTUGAL Primeira Liga FC Porto Sporting Lisbon Benfica Sporting Braga Vitoria Setubal Pacos de Ferreira Rio Ave Arouca Vitoria Guimaraes Maritimo Estoril Praia Belenenses CD Nacional Moreirense Uniao da Madeira Boavista Academica Coimbra Tondela P 14 14 14 14 14 14 14 14 14 14 14 14 14 14 14 14 14 14 W 11 11 10 7 5 6 6 4 5 5 4 4 4 3 3 2 2 1 D 3 2 1 4 6 3 3 7 4 2 4 4 3 5 5 4 4 2 SPAIN La Liga P Barcelona 15 Atletico Madrid 16 Real Madrid 16 Celta Vigo 16 Villarreal 16 Deportivo La Coruna 16 Athletic Bilbao 16 Sevilla 16 Valencia 16 Eibar 16 Real Betis 16 Espanyol 16 Malaga 16 Real Sociedad 16 Getafe 16 Sporting Gijon 15 Granada 16 Rayo Vallecano 16 Las Palmas 16 Levante 16 W 11 11 10 9 9 6 7 6 5 5 5 6 4 4 4 4 3 4 3 2 D 2 2 3 4 3 8 3 5 7 6 5 2 5 4 4 3 5 2 4 5 News ST Mainbody, 27-Dec-2015-Page 26, Cyan ST Mainbody, 27-Dec-2015- Page 26, Magenta ST Mainbody, 27-Dec-2015-Page 26, Yellow ST Mainbody, 27-Dec-2015- Page 26, Black Sunday Times 26 | SPORT SPORTS STAFF ATHLETES dominated South African sport this year, and that fact is represented in our list of top sports stars for 2015. Our sports staff voted and Wayde van Niekerk, Caroline Wostmann and Anaso Jobodwana featured in the top five alongside cricket hero AB de Villiers and swimming sensation Chad le Clos. The top 15 of 2015 come from nine sporting codes, including four athletes and three cyclists. There’s one each from cricket and soccer, but given the poor display by the Boks, nobody from the 15-man version of the game made our list. And now . . . here are SA’s top sports stars 2. AB de Villiers The trailblazing Proteas batsman went on a record-breaking spree this year. In January he scored the fastest ODI ton off 31 balls and went on to score 149 off 44 balls against the West Indies. The following month the 31year-old scored 162 off 66 balls against the same opponents at the World Cup. In that innings he was the fastest to 50, 100 and 150 in ODI history. 3. Caroline Wostmann She won the Two Oceans and Comrades this year, making her the first South African woman to win the ultra double since Frith van der Merwe in 1989. As it was she was the first local woman to win the Two Oceans since Sarah Mahlangu in 2000 and the Comrades since “I was worried that I would see people dancing on the ball and doing all these other shibobos. In my team I don’t want that,” Sundowns head coach Pitso Mosimane said in the afterglow of a 6-1 win. TODAY CRICKET Australia v West Indies — 2nd test day 2, 1.15am SS2. South Africa v England — 1st test day 2, 9.30am CSN/SS2/SABC3. New Zealand v Sri Lanka — 2nd ODI, 11.30pm SS6. SOCCER League Championship — Nottingham Forest v Leeds United, 6.25pm SS3. TOMORROW CRICKET Australia v West Indies — 2nd test day 3, 1.15am SS2. South Africa v England — 1st test day 3, 9.30am CSN/SS2/SABC3. SOCCER Premier League — Watford v Tottenham Hotspur, 4pm SS3; Everton v Stoke City, 4.50pm SS5; Crystal Palace v Swansea City, 4.50pm SS6; West Bromwich Albion v Newcastle United, 4.50pm SS4; Norwich City v Aston Villa, 4.50pm SS7; Man Utd v Chelsea, 7pm SS3; Arsenal v AFC Bournemouth, 7.20pm SS5; and West Ham Utd v Southampton, 7.20pm SS6. booked a spot at the 2016 Rio Olympics. A cool, calm finisher. 9. Cameron van der Burgh He had to settle for silver in the 50m and 100m breaststroke events at the world championships, but he clocked his best times since 2012. He went on to win the World Cup series. Couldn’t have asked for much more from a true gladiator. TRAILBLAZER: AB de Villiers scored the fastest ODI in 2015 TOP: Caroline Wostmann won Two Oceans and Comrades STYLISH: Anaso Jobodwana came of age this year Rae Bisschoff in 1998. Not bad for someone who took up running to shed baby weight. gold. He’s world champion, but 2015 wasn’t his best year in the pool. With Michael Phelps on the comeback trail, Le Clos has his work cut out next year. rugby there is still no substitute for sheer pace in wider channels. Senatla scored 47 tries in the 2014-15 HSBC World Sevens Series as the Blitzboks finished second overall. No finisher is as lethal in the sport. Once his Sevens commitments are realised at the 2016 Olympic Games, he will turn his attention to the 15-man game, which is an exciting prospect. 4. Anaso Jobodwana After being an also-ran in the finals at the 2012 Olympics and 2013 world championships, he came of age this year. The 23-year-old won the 200m bronze at the world champs in Beijing, finishing behind Usain Bolt and Justin Gatlin. That’s a third place that somehow seems more valuable than a bronze. 5. Chad le Clos He retained his 100m butterfly world title this year, which he failed to do in the 200m event in which he won the 2012 Olympic 6. Kevin Anderson The US-based player became the first South African since Wayne Ferreira in 18 years to break into the world top 10. He beat Andy Murray to advance to the US Open quarterfinals this year, the furthest he has gone at a grand slam. At Wimbledon he gave Novak Djokovic a scare before losing in five sets. 7. Seabelo Senatla The former schoolboy sprinter showed that in all forms of 8. Jermaine Seoposenwe After legendary Banyana Banyana striker Portia Modise retired earlier this year, a new star was born in Seoposenwe. The US-based forward bagged five goals in the qualifiers as coach Vera Pauw’s ladies 2015 MEMORABLE QUOTES “IT nearly killed me,” sighed newly crowned 400m world champion Wayde van Niekerk after returning from a Beijing hospital. Earlier, the South African had literally run himself to a standstill to claim gold at the World Championships in a time of 43.48sec. BEST TV LIVE SPORT No surprise Boks don’t feature, 2O15 was bad for 15-man game 1. Wayde van Niekerk He upstaged the reigning Olympic, world and Africa champions — Kirani James, LaShawn Merritt and Isaac Makwala — to win the 400m world crown in Beijing in a time that made him the fourth-fastest of all time. Going into this season, he had not beaten any of them, but he picked them all off this season. “I want six goals, what’s the point of doing shibobos and you score two goals? Score six, big teams score six.” “I must say that my pre-match prediction was horribly wrong, I didn’t expect us to be as impotent as we were, and I certainly didn’t expect them to have the cutting edge they had,” said former coach Nick Mallett about the Springboks’ performance against Japan at the World Cup in England. Bafana Bafana head coach Ephraim “Shakes” Mashaba TUESDAY CRICKET Australia v West Indies — 2nd test day 4, 1.15am SS2. South Africa v England — 1st test day 4, 9.30am CSN/SS2/SABC3. SOCCER Premier League — Leicester City v Man City, 9pm SS3. WEDNESDAY 10. Chad Ho The six-times Midmar Mile king won the 5km open water world title this year. But the 2008 Olympian must convert that success into the 10km discipline in time for the 2016 Rio Games. CRICKET Australia v West Indies — 2nd test day 5, 1.15am SS2. South Africa v England — 1st test day 5, 9.30am CSN/SS2/SABC3. New Zealand v Sri Lanka — 3rd ODI, 11.30pm SS2. SOCCER LaLiga — Levante v Malaga, 4.55pm SS5; Real Madrid v Real Sociedad, 5pm SS3; Rayo Vallecano v Atletico Madrid, 7.05pm SS5; Sevilla v Espanyol, 7.10pm SS6; Eibar v Sporting Gijon, 7.25pm SS7; Barcelona v Real Betis, 9.20pm SS5; Celta Vigo v Athletic Bilbao, 9.20pm SS6; and Getafe v Deportivo La Coruna, 9.25pm SS7. Premier League — Sunderland v Liverpool, 9pm SS3. 11. Sunette Viljoen She finished the year ranked second in the world and won bronze at the Beijing world championships. 12. Greg Minnaar This cyclist keeps going downhill, but in his case that’s a good thing. The three-times world downhill champion took silver in 2015. Pity this isn’t an Olympic discipline. | December 27 2015 THURSDAY SOCCER LaLiga — Villareal v Valencia, 5pm SS3. FRIDAY CRICKET New Zealand v Sri Lanka — 4th ODI, 11.30pm SS2. SPEED MERCHANT: Wayde van Niekerk won the 400m crown at the world championships in Beijing Picture: GETTY IMAGES SATURDAY CRICKET South Africa v England — 2nd test day 1, 9.30am CSN/SS2/SABC3. SOCCER 13. Kirsten McCann and Ursula Grobler Became the first South African women to win a rowing world championship medal when they took bronze in the lightweight double sculls. 14. Ashleigh Moolman-Pasio The 2014 Commonwealth Games bronze medallist scored several top-10 finishes in European races and also finished the year ranked sixth in the world. 15. Hekkie Budler The WBA and IBO strawweight champion made two successful defences in 2015, taking his IBO tally to nine defences and WBA to four. Ranked No 1 by The Ring magazine. Premier League — West Ham United v Liverpool, 2pm SS3; Arsenal v Newcastle United, 4.45pm SS3; Man Utd v Swansea City, 4.50pm SS5; Leicester City v AFC Bournemouth, 4.50pm SS6; Norwich City v Southampton, 4.50pm SS4; West Bromwich Albion v Stoke City, 4.50pm SS9; Sunderland v Aston Villa, 4.50pm SS8; Watford v Manchester City, 7pm SS3. ý As supplied by the TV channels 2015 SOCCER WRAP perhaps overreached a tad in explaining his team’s “shock” defeat to Mauritania. “It happens all over — even Jesus Christ himself went through pains but He managed to go on, saving and preaching to people.” afterwards whether we win or not. My happiness should not depend on whether we win a World Cup. There are more important things in life.” The Proteas fell in the semifinals, but we understand Domingo is still a married man. “Every time you put on a green jersey you are under pressure,” reminded Proteas head coach Russell Domingo on the eve of the team’s departure to the Cricket World Cup. “We expect so much. I’m really trying to downplay it. I’m hoping my wife still loves me “Why are you hating from outside Las Vegas when you couldn’t get in,” high-rolling sports minister Fikile Mbalula hit back when detractors demanded to know what he was doing at the Floyd Mayweather-Manny Pacquiao fight. The good, the bad and the ugly: an eventful year for football Villain: Lindile Kika Maritzburg United chairman Farook Kadodia just misses out on this one for firing Mandla Ncikazi five matches into the new season and sacking his replacement, Clive Barker, for being too old. The winner is Kika, the man who was first to bite the dust in the Fifa match-fixing scandal investigation. His ban is said to have been just the start. TSHEPANG MAILWANE WHAT a year it has been for South African football. Not quite the best ever, but it should go right up there with some of the most memorable. Think back to the national under-17 team qualifying for the Fifa World Cup in Chile, or when Banyana Banyana striker Jermaine Seoposenwe banged home the winning goal against continental giants Equatorial Guinea to secure the 2016 Rio Olympics qualification. There was also Stuart Baxter and his Kaizer Chiefs team that finished the league season with a record-breaking 69 points in winning the Absa Premiership, with defender Tefu Mashamaite sweeping up all the big gongs at the Premier Soccer League (PSL) awards in Sandton, Johannesburg. Mamelodi Sundowns may have missed out on the league title, but they have lots to smile about with the Nedbank Cup and Telkom Knockout titles in the cabinet at Chloorkop. We cannot forget Ajax Cape Town’s youngsters, who upset Chiefs in the MTN8 final to claim their first trophy since 2008. That said, there’s always the good, the bad and the ugly. The year hasn’t gone without controversy, such as Lindile “Ace” Kika being banned from all football activities for six years after his involvement in the match-fixing scandal of Bafana Bafana’s games before the 2010 Fifa World Cup. Here’s a wrap of an eventful year. Best coach: Pitso Mosimane The Sundowns coach narrowly beats national under-17 coach Molefi Ntseki to this award. He saved what would have been a disastrous season for the star-studded Brazilians when they won the Nedbank Cup in May after finishing second in the Absa Premiership. On December 16 they won their second competition, outclassing Chiefs in the Telkom Knockout final. Sundowns will start the new year at the top of the standings, eager to stay up there until the season ends. Quote of the year: Jomo Sono (Jomo Cosmos coach) “After seeing a few teams in the Premier League, we are not the ones going down for sure. “I have seen number 15 and 16 already and we are not there.” KABO YELLOW: Mamelodi Sundowns players — Thabo Nthethe, right, Bongani Zungu, top, Teko Modise, left, and Keagan Dolly — celebrate the Telkom Knockout win Picture: GALLO IMAGES Best player: Jermaine Seoposenwe (Banyana striker) The goal-scoring machine made the country forget about Portia Modise’s retirement very quickly, scoring goals for fun as she inspired the team to the 2016 Rio Olympic Games. The US-based striker banged in five goals in the Olympic qualifiers, including the all-important winner against Equatorial Guinea. Team of the year: Sundowns Orlando Pirates, Ajax and the under-17s come close, but Sundowns have done extremely well to win two knockout competitions this year — Nedbank Cup and Telkom Knockout. They finished second last season and are currently top of the standings. Their juniors — under-15s, 17s and 19s — all won major tournaments this year. Hero: Jody February Seven months after his father died, February produced one of the finest performances by a goalkeeper to guide the South SENSATIONAL: Banyana Banyana striker Jermaine Seoposenwe is in great form Picture: BACKPAGEPIX African Under-23 national team to the 2016 Rio Olympics. Four penalty saves by the 19year-old in the third-place playoff against the Caf Under-23 Championship hosts Senegal, including one in regulation time, secured a spot at the Games for the first time since 2000. Not bad for the Urban Warriors’ third-choice keeper. Comeback of the year This one goes to two players, Thamsanqa Gabuza and Collins Mbesuma. A fringe player all of last season, Orlando Pirates’ forward Gabuza was handed a lifeline in the Caf Confederation Cup and earned a spot in the Bafana team thanks to his heroics in the continental club competition. He scored great goals. A trimmer Mbesuma of Mpumalanga Black Aces is having his best season since the 2004/05 campaign at Chiefs. The Zambian is leading the scoring charts with seven goals. Story of the year Itumeleng Khune found out that despite being Chiefs’ star player for years, Amakhosi were not going to beg him to stay. He was shown the door when he chanced his arm a little too much at the contract renegotiations. But just before the start of the season, when he was without a club to join, Khune went back to Amakhosi and was said to have taken a salary cut. And on a forgettable note . . . The Africa Cup of Nations in Equatorial Guinea was a disaster for Bafana Bafana. Not only did they fail to win their three group matches after scoring first, coach Shakes Mashaba surprisingly used three goalkeepers in the competition. That, and Bafana’s defeat to Mauritania in the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers, is something South Africans will not want to remember. RACING TURFFONTEIN Race 1: Win: 1 R1.30; places 1 R1.10, 13 R2, 2 R1.70. Swingers: 1x13 R3; 1x2 R1.80; 2x13 R7.40. Exacta: 1x13 R6.80. Trifecta: 1x13x2 R24.30. Quartet: 1x13x2x3 R138.10. Race 2: Win: 11 R3.90; places 11 R1.50, 14 R2, 5 R1.30. Swingers: 11x14 R5.60; 5x11 R2.70; 5x14 R4.70. Exacta: 11x14 R28.50. Trifecta: 11x14x5 R103.10. Quartet: 11x14x5x3 R227.90. Race 3: Win: 12 R5.30; places 12 R1.80, 1 R1.50, 3 R1.50. Swingers: 1x12 R4.20; 3x12 R3.30; 1x3 R3.20. Exacta: 12x1 R25.70. Trifecta: 12x1x3 R66.30. Quartet: 12x1x3x6 R217.60. Race 4: Win: 11 R11.50; places 11 R2.90, 2 R2.70, 7 R3.10. Swingers: 2x11 R12.70; 7x11 R15.90; 2x7 R10.60. Exacta: 11x2 R147.20. Trifecta: 11x2x7 R1 301.90. Quartet: 11x2x7x8 R3 873.80. Race 5: Win: 7 R1.60; places 7 R1, 3 R1.80, 9 R2. Swingers: 3x7 R1.90; 7x9 R2.80; 3x9 R5.30. Exacta: 7x3 R5.50. Trifecta: 7x3x9 R26.10. Quartet: 7x3x9x4 R68.30. Race 6: Win: 5 R3.60; places 5 R1.80, 4 R3.50, 6 R4.70. Swingers: 4x5 R12.60; 5x6 R14.60; 4x6 R26.50. Exacta: 5x4 R52. Trifecta: 5x4x6 R613. Quartet: 5x4x6x3 R3 626.40. Race 7: Win: 1 R5.10; places 1 R1.70, 8 R1.20, 2 R2.10. Swingers: 1x8 R2.60; 1x2 R5.10; 2x8 R4.10. Exacta: 1x8 R13.30. Trifecta: 1x8x2 R62.60. Quartet: 1x8x2x3 R180.10. Race 8: Win: 1 R6; places 1 R2.60, 3 R1.90, 11 R4.40. Swingers: 1x3 R6.40; 1x11 R23.20; 3x11 R20.60. Exacta: 1x3 R29.20. Trifecta: 1x3x11 R416.50. Quartet: 1x3x11x5 R2 852.80. Race 9: Win: 4 R2.20; places 4 R1.50, 5 R1.70, 1 R1.70. Swingers: 4x5 R3.20; 1x4 R3.40; 1x5 R4.20. Exacta: 4x5 R11.90. Trifecta: 4x5x1 R41.10. Quartet: 4x5x1x9 R541.20. GREYVILLE Race 1: Win: 4 R1.50; places 4 R1.20, 1 R2.90. Swingers: 1x4 R2; 3x4 R1; 1x3 R2. Exacta: 4x1 R6.90. Trifecta: 4x1x3 R10.90. Quartet: 4x1x3x6 R22.50. Race 2: Win: 3 R5.20; places 3 R1.60, 8 R2.20, 1 R1.50. Swingers: 3x8 R3; 1x3 R4.70; 1x8 R4.90. Exacta: 3x8 R24.80. Trifecta: 3x8x1 R87.20. Quartet: 3x8x1x7 R383.80. Race 3: Win: 2 R3; places 2 R1.50, 7 R4.60, 1 R1.80. Swingers: 2x7 R10.50; 1x2 R3.50; 1x7 R11.30. Exacta: 2x7 R39.80. Trifecta: 2x7x1 R226.60. Quartet: 2x7x1x3 R852.30. Race 4: Win: 11 R23.50; places 11 R4.50, 5 R2.10, 9 R3.40. Swingers: 5x11 R20.70; 9x11 R32.70; 5x9 R15.90. Exacta: 11x5 R201.30. Trifecta: 11x5x9 R3 625.10. Quartet: 11x5x9x1 R9 974.60. Race 5: Win: 14 R2.90; places 14 R1.30, 13 R2.30, 9 R4.50, 1 R1.20. Swingers: 13x14 R8.40; 9x14 R15.90; 9x13 R30.40. Exacta: 14x13 R38.30. Trifecta: 14x13x9 R927.90. Quartet: 14x13x9x1 R3 641.50. Race 6: Win: 7 R11; places 7 R2.70, 10 R1.90, 8 R1.80, 2 R4.10. Swingers: 7x10 R13.10; 7x8 R9.70; 8x10 R4.40. Exacta: 7x10 R80.40. Trifecta: 7x10x8 R445.20. Quartet: 7x10x8x2 R7 498.40. Race 7: Win: 2 R12.50; places 2 R4.10, 13 R4.10, 9 R2.90. Swingers: 2x13 R31.40; 2x9 R13; 9x13 R19.90. Exacta: 2x13 R219.80. Trifecta: 2x13x9 R1 536.70. Quartet: 2x13x9x5 R13 615.30. Race 8: Win: 4 R9.50; places 4 R2.30, 6 R2.70, 9 R2.50. Swingers: 4x6 R8; 4x9 R7.50; 6x9 R13. Exacta: 4x6 R64. Trifecta: 4x6x9 R540.80. Quartet: 4x6x9x3 R4 675. Race 9: Win: 8 R1.50; places 8 R1, 9 R2.30, 3 R4. Swingers: 8x9 R2.50; 3x8 R6.10; 3x9 R13.20. Exacta: 8x9 R6.10. Trifecta: 8x9x3 R59.40. Quartet: 8x9x3x2 R335.10. Race 10: Win: 1 R13.10; places 1 R3.80, 7 R1.70, 5 R2.20. Swingers: 1x7 R7.80; 1x5 R9.80; 5x7 R4.90. Exacta: 1x7 R52.10. Trifecta: 1x7x5 R349.70. Quartet: 1x7x5x2 R1 507.40. SAF TOTE TURFFONTEIN Bipot: Net Pool R246 794.85. Tkts 681.75. Div R362. Nos 11,14; 1,12; 2,11; 3,5,7; 4,5,13; 1,8. JP: Net Pool R642 339.43. Tkts 1 389.14. Div R462.40. Nos 5,7; 5,13; 1; 1. P6: Net Pool R1 114 726.54. Tkts 45.88. Div R24 296.40. Nos 11; 5,7; 5,13; 1; 1; 4,12,13,14. P/A: Net Pool R706 846.19. Tkts 5 709.58 . Div R123.80. Nos 1,3,12; 2,7,11; 3,5,7,9; 4,5,6,13; 1,2,8; 1,3,11; 1,4,5,12,13,14. Pick3 (Race 1-3): Nos 1; 11; 12. Div R25.20. P3 (2-4): Nos 11; 12; 11. Div R432.50. P3 (3-5): Nos 12; 11; 5,7. Div R167.90. P3 (4-6): Nos 11; 5,7; 5,13. Div R302.60. P3 (5-7): Nos 5,7; 5,13; 1. Div R72.60. P3 (6-8): Nos 5,13; 1; 1. Div R138.10. P3 (7-9): Nos 1; 1; 4,12,13,14. Div R145.90. GREYVILLE Bipot: Net Pool R250 404.72. Tkts 42.36. Div R5 910.30. Nos 3,8; 2,7,9; 5,11; 13,14; 7,10; 2,13. JP: Net Pool R628 231.69. Tkts 83.09. Div R7 560.50. Nos 14; 7; 2; 4. P6: Net Pool R974 896.71. Tkts 6.15. Div R158 313.30. Nos 11; 14; 7; 2; 4; 1,8. P/A: Net Pool R583 935.28. Tkts 2 290.70. Div R2 290.70. Nos 1,2,7,9; 5,9,11; 9,13,14; 7,8,10,15,18; 2,9,13; 4,6,9; 1,3,8,9. Pick3 (Race 1-3): Nos 2,4,5,8; 3; 2,9. Div R40.50. P3 (2-4): Nos 3; 2,9; 11. Div R881.20. P3 (35): Nos 2,9; 11; 14. Div R296.80. P3 (4-6): Nos 11; 14; 7. Div R1 365.10. P3 (5-7): Nos 14; 7; 2. Div R791.40. P3 (6-8): Nos 7; 2; 4. Div R3 328.80. P3 (7-9): Nos 2; 4; 1,8. Div R226.90. P3 (8-10): Nos 4; 1,8; 1. Div R181.80. DOUBLES TURFFONTEIN 1st: 1x11 R7.40. 2nd: 11x12 R18.40. 3rd: 12x11 R57.90. 4th: 11x7 R27.20. 5th: 7x5 R12.20. 6th: 5x1 R16.70. 7th: 1x1 R26.50. 8th: 1x4 R29.60. GREYVILLE 1st: 4x3 R8.70. 2nd: 3x2 R19. 3rd: 2x11 R87.80. 4th: 11x14 R84.80. 5th: 14x7 R56. 6th: 7x2 R164. 7th: 2x4 R116.10. 8th: 4x1,8 R19.30.9th: 8x1 R20.90. News ST Mainbody, 27-Dec-2015-Page 27, Cyan ST Mainbody, 27-Dec-2015- Page 27, Magenta ST Mainbody, 27-Dec-2015-Page 27, Yellow ST Mainbody, 27-Dec-2015- Page 27, Black 22 Sunday Times | December 27 2015 TELFORD VICE in Durban WE think we know our opening batsmen. They’re players like Bruce Mitchell, Jimmy Cook, Kepler Wessels and Andrew Hudson; people whose hearts beat once a week, who subtract from rather than add to their equation of strokes, who can see a stupid thing coming from around the corner and refuse to do it. “Few quieter or more modest men have played test cricket,” Wisden wrote of Mitchell, whose “perfect sportsmanship on and off the field at all times was living proof that success can be achieved without any compromise of behaviour”. The rebel in the ranks is Graeme Smith, that gauche galumpher with gazillions of runs. The big left-hander is not Mitchell in any sense, but he can still be squeezed into our mental mould for the making of an opener: he was ready to take on more than his share of responsibility, he didn’t flinch from a fight, he did what it took. But sprinkled like stardust in the spectrum of opening batsmen that starts with Mitchell and ends with Smith are rarities like Eddie Barlow, Herschelle Gibbs and Eric Rowan. “He was small and wiry and cocky and feisty and contemptuous of authority. He was a SPORT | 27 Opening batsmen: a breed apart It remains to be seen if the SA v England tests will give birth to a new generation of top-order stars right-handed bat without much elegance, but with all the strokes. He did not bat either with dignity or precision; he regarded his cricket in most light-hearted style, but his confidence was amazing.” Could be about Gibbs, couldn’t it? Or Barlow. In fact, it’s Wisden on Rowan. Despite the limitations convention imposed, Rowan, Barlow and Gibbs were among the most magnetic players of their generations. They were watched with electric interest. Their species is neither extinct nor limited to South Africans. Australia’s David Warner is a reasonable facsimile of any of them, sometimes to an unreasonable degree. Until 2013, India’s Virender Sehwag was, too. Before that, Desmond Haynes and Gordon Greenidge didn’t so much step out of the opener’s box as rip it to shreds in those long-gone days when West Indies could play cricket. But the preconception that the openers must be as stodgy as they are sturdy, all the better ONE OF A KIND: Former Proteas skipper Graeme Smith was always ready to take on more than his share of responsibility to take the shine off the ball and tire the bowlers and earn the advantage in the timeworn way, persists between the blinkers of respecting tradition. Cricket keeps telling itself that it is important to maintain this notion because it has always been important to do so. Except that it hasn’t, as the records of Rowan, Barlow, Haynes, Greenidge, Gibbs, STEADFAST: Australia’s David Warner is a reasonable facsimile of any of the dashing opening batsmen Pictures: GETTY IMAGES Sehwag and Warner attest. The idea that the art and craft of surviving and then prospering at the top of the order is evolving along with the rest of the game is dangerous to those who prefer their cricketers flannelled and themselves fooled. But it’s a fact that adds to the pertinence of the question that is being asked amid South Africa’s and England’s strug- gles to settle on reliable opening pairs going into the series that started at Kingsmead yesterday — what, besides the obviousness of quality bowlers armed with a new ball on a fresh pitch, makes opening the batting the most difficult job in test cricket? “You’ve got to go straight in,” Cook, an opener in four of his six test innings and in most of his other 469 trips to the first-class crease, said. “You may be tired from having been in the field all day and their bowlers have been sitting with their feet up. And, if you’re playing at a high level, if you make a mistake you’re out. “You’ve got to know what to play and what to leave, and nobody makes a success out of opening the batting over a significant period of time unless they have a rock-solid defence.” What did Cook think of the glimmering hope that opening could be dragged into the modern age? “Guys have become more positive and I can see the merit in that — if that’s your game, if How to watch the big test without assaulting a Pom Dr Roberts picking up The Cherries SBU MJIKELISO D O not adjust the picture on your TV. That steadily pinkening patch on the screen beyond the extra cover or fine leg boundary at Kingsmead today is as it should be. The patch is at Castle Corner, where the 450-odd members of the Barmy Army who are in attendance at the first test have been corralled — nice and close to a steady supply of the brown, bubbly stuff produced by the SA team’s sponsors. Perhaps the place should be rebranded the wet spot. As we all know, if you put a pile of pale Poms under the African sun they start out looking like one half of a packet of marshmallows and end up looking like the other half. But they will be good fun in other ways as well, no doubt singing a particular song that starts with, “We’ve got one rand to the pound . . .”, and that counts all the way up to “We’ve got 22 rand to the pound . . .” before ending with “We’re so rich it’s unbelievable!” Whereupon you, as a comparatively impoverished Saffer also assigned to the wet spot, should try not to punch them, however much you feel the urge and however much of the brown, bubbly stuff you have consumed. Instead, think pink: these people are fiscally significant. If you need to feel better about all this, consider that things will be very different at Newlands next week, where about half the seats have been sold to spectators travelling from England — perhaps a consequence of all the available tickets being made available online without holding some back for the exclusive purchase of South Africans. An extra 2 000 seats have been erected in temporary stands, which does take away from Newlands’ prettiness. But the Barmy Army have “22 rand to the pound”, remember. By next week, it could be 25. And there is some solace in the fact that they have bought tickets in pockets around the ground and so will not be able to thicken their collective voice too volubly for comfort. No such sociopolitical challenges will have to be overcome on the field. There, it’s all about runs, wickets and sledging. No one will sit in someone else’s seat, or slop beer over a teammate or even an opponent, or try to chat up thy neighbour’s partner, or have to stand in a long queue for boerewors rolls, beer, or the toilet. And let’s not get on to the small war of attrition in the parking lot. Truly, playing international cricket is, in several ways, a damn sight less difficult than paying good money to watch it being played, bloody Barmy Army and all. Of course, none of this matters when the team you support wins. Then, you can put up with all the pink Poms you could throw a warm beer at. Besides, when England’s opponents win, their supporters tend to act like marshmallows as much as they resemble them. But does the converse apply? Can a crowd influence a team as readily as teams influence crowds? As much as cricketers say they don’t hear the noise or feel the vibe coming from the stands, they also say they are far happier playing in front of their home spectators. Fans who remind players that we all live in the same world by, say, launching plastic water bottles from their seats towards the field in protest at a shoddy performance by said players — as happened during the T20 between India and SA in October — will be treated like criminals, never mind that the bottles landed nowhere near the precious players nor that the protesters had a point. So, eat, drink, think or be pink, and don’t adjust your TV. you are an attacking batsman. If you’re a different kind of opening batsman you may see things differently.” Minds are being bent in that direction, but as a counter to prevailing conditions rather than as a progressive step. Temba Bavuma and Moeen Ali are fresh examples of batsmen who would in the past never have batted at the sharp end of a test innings but have recently done exactly that in India and the United Arab Emirates. However, they are now back where everyone seems to think they belong — including themselves. “I’ll be a bit more comfortable and used to it,” Bavuma said of his return to the middle order after scoring 56 runs and lasting more than four hours in his two innings at the top in Delhi. “I enjoyed the experience . . . but the middle order is where I am best suited for the team.” Having scraped together 86 runs in six innings as an opener against Pakistan, Ali both echoed and challenged Cook’s point about horses for courses. “I probably got caught in two minds at times whether to attack or not,” he said. “I’m really looking forward to going back to No 8, playing a few shots and freeing up.” Wisden readers might understand their reluctance. Rowan would not. INJURED: James Anderson of England was ruled out for the test Picture: GETTY IMAGES RARING TO GO: Dale Steyn of South Africa is back in action Picture: GETTY IMAGES IRREPLACEABLE: Mitchell Johnson of Australia has retired Picture: GALLO IMAGES Baddest stormtrooper of speed? Steyn TELFORD VICE in Durban AND then there was only one. With Mitchell Johnson having retired and James Anderson ruled out of the Kingsmead test, Dale Steyn is the sole stormtrooper of speed still standing in all of cricket. Morne Morkel? Too nice. Kyle Abbott? Too clever. Kagiso Rabada? Too new. Stuart Broad? Too girlish. Steven Finn? Too random. Steyn? Nasty, brutish and not as short as he seems in the impolite company of his pace peers. Anderson? A fast bowler’s fast bowler, sleek and slippery and oh so silkily skilful. Is anyone else up for the entirely unofficial title of baddest bastard bowler in the game? No. Anderson will, it is to be hoped, sort out his injured calf in time to rage hard against the dying of the twilight of his career in the second test at Newlands on New Year’s Day. Steyn, just back from a groin strain that took him out of SA’s attack for all but the first innings of their series in India, will know how Anderson feels. The Saffer from Phalaborwa is 32. The Pom from Burnley is 13 months older. Look at their faces and you see men who have put more miles on their body clocks than others of their age. How many deliveries can they have left before even one more becomes too many? Once they have gone, when might we see their like again? But, for now, Hashim Amla is a happy captain: “He (Steyn) has been the best bowler in the world for the past five or six years. Rankings say that, his performances say that and not having him play in India was a big blow for us. “It’s great to have him back as a bowler but also as the leader of our attack. He is fit and raring to go.” Asked before the Kingsmead test about Anderson’s withdrawal, Amla played with a bat straighter than any he wields in the middle. “We don’t place too much emphasis on who they have or who they don’t have. For us it’s about doing what we do best. Who leads England’s attack doesn’t make a difference to us.” If you believe that, you also believe David van Rooyen is the guy to steer SA’s economy into calmer waters. Broad, too, chose to venture further from rather than closer to the truth: “If ❛ It’s great to have him back as a bowler but also as the leader of our attack you talk to Jimmy he feels he could have played (in Durban). It’s just a slight niggle but the management decided it really wasn’t worth the risk in the first test. There’s a feeling he’ll be okay for Cape Town. “We do know this is a four-test series and we want him to play a part in it. We’ve got such depth in the squad there’s not the need to take a risk. He’s disappointed but with the strength in depth we’ve got in this group it’s not a hammer blow to us.” England coach Trevor Bayliss also seemed to pull a fast one: “It’s always a concern if your leading bowler or batsmen misses a game, but the last time Jimmy missed one we did pretty well.” That was at the Oval in August — where Australia won by an innings. Just as Johnson has left a hole far bigger than the sum of his parts in the Australian team, a void that will take some filling, so SA were not half the team they could have been in India had Steyn been fit. But England seem to be getting used to doing without Anderson. He has been forced to withdraw from two of their last six tests and pulled up lame in another, and they have won two of those games. Perhaps that’s what Bayliss was on about. Or perhaps bowlers like Anderson, Steyn and Mitchell can’t be restricted to the reality that pins down the rest of us. For them, legend is life and life is legend. AT its close, the Rugby World Cup chewed up and spat out members of the Springbok team to all parts of the globe. Team doctor Craig Roberts landed on the picturesque bench of English Premier League side AFC Bournemouth. And he’s loving every moment. You would have thought he would be sucked into next year’s expanded Super 18 rugby competition but, no, instead he has switched codes and countries, at least for the time being. “After the World Cup disappointment, the South African Rugby Union was unable to commit to a contract going forward and Bournemouth were one of the teams that approached me,” Roberts said. “I really like their approach and culture. They have a young progressive manager who really embraces sports science. “A number of Premier League teams approached me over the years but my focus up to now was on trying to bring the Webb Ellis Cup home to South Africa again. “I have been very fortunate and privileged to work with the Springboks for nine years, after studying medicine to become a rugby doctor and was very lucky to fulfil my dream very early.” Not so long ago, Roberts’s biggest worry was whether Boks’ Duane Vermeulen, Fourie du Preez, Willem Alberts and Jean de Villiers would be fit to play in the World Cup that ended in October. But that’s all in the past. His proper initiation into one of the most thrilling leagues in world football came during Bournemouth’s 3-3 draw with Everton — his second game in the dugout. You probably didn’t notice him: crouched behind manager Eddie Howe, eyes wide open, partly focused on the pandemonium at the Goldsands Stadium and partly wondering what he’d got himself into. Roberts is not the only “Saffer” on the Bournemouth bench, but is joined by Bafana Bafana front man Tokelo Rantie and Johannesburg-born Andrew Surman. “It was great to see Rantie get some game time on the pitch against West Brom and show some of the touches we are used to in SA,” Roberts said. Watching The Cherries hold Swansea City away, that draw with Everton and beating Chelsea, Manchester United and West Bromwich Albion on the bounce has proven the perfect release for the good doctor after a disappointing World Cup. 2015 RUGBY WRAP The year the Boks lost to Japan, and fans said farewell to Lomu CRAIG RAY THE 2015 rugby season was one that started with the promise of World Cup glory but ended with Springbok coach Heyneke Meyer resigning in ignominy after a tortuous year. The Springboks endured a torrid season, which included their first-ever loss to Argentina and a shock loss to Japan, also a first, at Rugby World Cup 2015. In all, the Boks lost five of their 11 matches in 2015, an unacceptable return after three years of building towards the World Cup. In terms of transformation, too, the Boks fell short with only eight black players making it into the 31-man World Cup squad. Meyer, a passionate and decent man, had little option but to bow out when the dust settled on a terrible season that will go down as one of the worst in Bok history. The Boks lost two matches at RWC 2015, their joint worst return in terms of losses at a single tournament, even though the campaign ended with a third-place finish at the World Cup. But at other levels too, South African rugby struggled. Super Rugby could only be described as a sporting disaster. The Stormers were South Africa’s sole representatives in the play-offs. And that was only because of the conference system, which guaranteed at least one team from each of the participating unions a place in the post-season. Had the play-offs been decided on points accumulated, the Stormers would have finished seventh on the overall standings. The Blitzboks failed to capitalise on winning the first two tournaments of the 2014/15 HSBC World Sevens Series and ended second to Fiji on the overall standings by the end of the season. But they did secure one of the four automatic qualification places for the 2016 Rio Olympic Games. So there was a silver lining. The Junior Springboks laboured at the Junior World Championships in Italy, eventually losing to England in the semifinals. The 2015 Currie Cup was a watered-down version, as it was December. Only when the South African Rugby Union stepped in to take over the running of the franchise did it grind forward. Saru appointed former SA under-20 assistant coach Deon Davids as head coach of the team and it contracted 20 players. Saru’s rugby department, under Rassie Erasmus, will be heavily involved in coaching, but it is unlikely to stave off a series of embarrassing results for the team next season. LUNGE: Damian de Allende against Brumbie David Pocock Picture: ESA ALEXANDER a World Cup year. A Super Rugby-strength Golden Lions proved too powerful against teams that were barely above Vodacom Cup strength. The Lions went through the campaign undefeated and deservedly took the title. But underlining the weakness of the tournament GENTLE GIANT: New Zealand’s Jonah Lomu lost his last battle Picture: GETTY IMAGES was the fact that the Free State Cheetahs made the semifinals after winning only three of their 10 group matches. Off the field matters were not much better. Most worrying is the state of rugby in the Eastern Cape. Under the presidency of Cheeky Watson, the Eastern Province Rugby Union is now bankrupt, with players’ salaries regularly going unpaid in the latter part of the year. The Southern Kings franchise, which is due to take part in an expanded Super Rugby tournament in 2016, had no coach and players until early MOMENT OF THE YEAR: As painful as it is for South Africa, Japan’s 34-32 victory over the Springboks in Brighton was sensational for RWC 2015 and for rugby in general. Karne Hesketh’s injury time winning try set the tournament alight and ensured that unless the Boks went on to win, Meyer’s days were numbered. It also catapulted rugby to a wider audience in an instant. More than 25 million Japanese tuned in for subsequent matches. HEARTBREAK OF THE YEAR: The Boks bludgeoned their way to the RWC semifinals after the Japan debacle but inevitably came up short against old foes New Zealand. They were distinctly second best for most of the match, but their spirit could not be questioned as they lost 20-18 to a side that was generally 20 points better than the next best. MATCH OF THE YEAR: Aside from Japan’s heroics against South Africa, the Highlanders’ brilliant 21-14 win over the Hurricanes in the final in Wellington was a triumph for a team of blue-collar workers over their more sophisticated opponents. Having had to beat the Chiefs and the Waratahs in the playoffs made it all the sweeter. SA PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Centre Damian de Allende was terrific during Super Rugby for the Stormers and he seamlessly carried that form into the test arena. He was a constant threat with the ball in hand and regularly beat defenders with ease. The Boks could build an entire game plan around his ability. WORLD PLAYER OF THE YEAR: All Black flyhalf Daniel Carter saved his best for when it mattered most. In the latter stages of the World Cup, Carter delivered one knockout out blow after another, including brilliant drop-goals in the semifinal against the Boks and the final against Australia. Both punctured the opponents’ self-belief at critical times. Under huge pressure, Carter’s sense of timing was immaculate. RIP: Two All Black greats, Jerry Collins and Jonah Lomu, died this year, as did Bok legend John Gainsford. Collins and his partner died in a car crash in France, Lomu died from complications from a kidney disorder and Gainsford succumbed to cancer. WORLD TEAM OF THE YEAR: 15 Ben Smith, 14 Adam AshleyCooper, 13 Conrad Smith, 12 Ma’a Nonu, 11 Julian Savea, 10 Dan Carter, 9 Fourie du Preez, 8 David Pocock, 7 Schalk Burger, 6 Sam Warburton, 5 Sam Whitelock, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Frans Malherbe, 2 Augustin Creevy, 1 Marcos Ayerza. News ST Mainbody, 27-Dec-2015-Page 28, Cyan ST Mainbody, 27-Dec-2015- Page 28, Magenta ST Mainbody, 27-Dec-2015-Page 28, Yellow ST Mainbody, 27-Dec-2015- Page 28, Black England pair hold up Proteas It seems that more than just a decent pitch is needed to get SA back on track TELFORD VICE at Kingsmead AN angel of optimism posing as a marketing maven snagged spectators as they streamed through Kingsmead’s gates yesterday and asked: “Would you like to purchase a sachet of sunscreen?” Clouds formed the canopy above. Below, wetness was everywhere. Sunscreen? Forget the sunscreen. Mopping up delayed the start of SA’s test series against England by 30 minutes. Thirty more minutes later, lightning jagged through the clouds and forced the players off the field. Then thunder rumbled across the scene. In Durban. In December. Rain followed, staying long enough to delay the resumption for 100 minutes and returning just more than an hour later. This time, as the dampness descended like dandelion down, the floodlights began cutting through the gloom. It was 2pm. Play resumed 20 minutes later, and three-and-a-half hours afterwards the fight with the elements was abandoned for the day. England, put in to bat by Hashim Amla after he had won the toss for only the third time in his 13 tests as captain, were 179/4. After shambling to a 3-0 hiding in India, SA were suddenly SA again— the No 1 team come to remind everyone, themselves included, it seems, exactly who and what they were. “India was a wake-up call for a lot of us,” Dale Steyn said. “We found that we’re probably not as good as we thought we were. It even started in Bangladesh (in July and August, when rain forced a drawn series). There were cracks in the armoury starting there. “The boys have hurt. We’re going to go back to being a basic cricket team. With the amount of flair, talent and skill we have in our side, if we do the basics extremely well and throw in a bit of our flavour we’ll be back to that No 1 team. It’s just a ranking but we can play like that — like we have in the past.” That Steyn would seem to think SA are no longer the top-ranked team is factually incorrect, but it is a healthy mistake for him to make. Not that SA made any until Nick Compton, playing his first test since November 2013, and James Taylor, the son of a jockey who doesn’t stand much taller than a set of stumps himself, collaborated to disabuse the home side of the notion that all they needed to get back on track was a decent pitch. The surface was slow, but it didn’t hurt SA’s cause that they had Steyn back from the groin strain that kept him out of most of the India series. He bowled like a boy let loose on a beach, a wonder of energy and aggression straining at the limits of even his outrageous physicality. “It’s been bloody frustrating sitting on the sidelines for six weeks,” Steyn said. And it looked like it in a first spell of six overs in which the bats- Leicester rudely awoken from dream men took runs off him just five times and in which he conceded 11 and removed Alistair Cook and Alex Hales. Cook extended his world record for opening the batting in test cricket to 207 innings, but failed to get off the mark before playing away from his body and steering a delivery snaking away from him to second slip. Debutant Hales became the 908th man to take guard at the top of a test order. He won’t want to become the 169th man to do so only once. On the evidence of the 22 balls he faced for his 10, that won’t happen — even though he got out to a flaccid flash that nestled in AB de Villiers’ gloves. With England reduced to 12/2, Compton and Joe Root nudged and nurdled them back towards safety, only for Dane Piedt to pin the enterprising Root on the back thigh with a delivery that turned and bounced. Given out, Root called for a review and discovered that the ball would have hit the top of his middle stump. The stand between Compton and Taylor reached 125 before Steyn snuffed it out with a delivery that hinted a touch away. A weary Taylor swung lustily and edged to be caught behind for 70. Compton’s graft and Taylor’s grit ❛ India was a wake-up call for us. We found we’re not as good as we thought we were. It even started in Bangladesh made their batting about as pretty to watch as a look at the kitchen sink after Christmas lunch. But, unlike a second helping, that’s what was required. Today, Compton will doubtless continue in similar fashion as he looks to build his 63 not out — an innings already 179 balls in the making — into something monumental, given that England do not have much batting left. Like SA, England face questions about their batting in the wake of a series loss to Pakistan in the United Arab Emirates. Unlike SA, they have been tasked with answering them immediately. Amla’s decision to insert England would have been prompted largely by the conditions and Steyn’s availability. But it bears wondering whether he was reluctant to expose his batsman even to an England attack without James Anderson — who is out of the first test with a calf injury — so soon after SA had been dismissed for fewer than 200 in six of their seven innings in India. “If he doesn’t play (in the series) I’ll be very happy,” Steyn said. “He’s a pretty good bowler, so if he sits on the sidelines I’m stoked. I really don’t want to face him.” LETTING OFF STEAM: South African bowler Dale Steyn, right, celebrates after dismissing England batsman James Taylor, middle, during the first day of the cricket test at Kingsmead in Durban yesterday Picture: AFP Drunken debauchery marks Durban test KHANYISO TSHWAKU at Kingsmead THE only time Durban hosts a beerfest is during October, when one of its leading casinos/resorts mimics its far more famous Munich counterpart for a weekend. The opening day of a Boxing Day test, especially if it falls on a weekend, may rival the esteemed festival for a day at least. The two-litre beer jugs were a prime opportunity for ambush marketing, such was their proliferation and their easy use. If it gets warmer, the national brewery may need to recall its engineers from their holidays to keep the kegs full. At some point, the stadium bars had to be closed for a “cooling period” under instruction from the police. They were eventually closed due to crowd misconduct. It may be problematic when the sun makes a return. Science threw up an oft-proven law at Durban stadiums and the city in general: humidity is directly proportional to the rate of thirst. The playing strip, lush as it was, was equally thirsty in how it swallowed up the squalls that threatened to disrupt this prestigious day, rewarded with a good crowd by Durban standards. The alluring smell of braaied meat heavily outweighed that of the traditional curry as the stadium was enveloped in an intoxicating aroma of delectable deliciousness. That partly explained some of the empty seats, while the 400strong Barmy Army took ownership of Castle Corner instead of their favoured East Stand. They roared in delight when James Taylor and Nick Compton in particular steered the England batting ship out of tricky waters. Compton is a born and bred Durbanite, who seemed to understand the vagaries of a hard and true surface. Despite his grinding innings, getting to his 50 allowed his uncle, The Mercury’s senior cricket writer Patrick Compton, to crack a smile. “Titch” Taylor’s verve may prove heartening for equally vertically challenged Temba Bavuma. As the most inexperienced members of the England batting unit, they have yet to experience the cauldron that is the Melbourne Cricket Ground, but the smatterings of St George's Cross made it a home away from home. The soggy disappointment that was last year’s Port Elizabeth test again highlighted how susceptible cricket is to the elements. The eagerness outside the stadium before play and the clumps of fans who walked from Florida Road to Masabalala Yengwa Avenue spoke volumes about the importance of the game. Durban, though, still needs to show that it loves the game when less illustrious opponents come to town. LEICESTER City were given a Premier League reality check when the unlikely leaders lost 1-0 at Liverpool yesterday, after Manchester United slumped to a third consecutive league defeat to pile the pressure on manager Louis van Gaal. Christian Benteke’s second-half goal sealed the points at Anfield as Leicester suffered their first league defeat since September when they lost to Arsenal, who could replace them at the top if they beat Southampton in the late match. Third-placed Manchester City closed in on Leicester by crushing lowly Sunderland 4-1 and Tottenham Hotspur consolidated fourth place as Harry Kane scored twice in a 3-0 home victory over Norwich City. Leicester, who failed to score for the first time this season and suffered only their second loss, have 38 points from 18 matches with Arsenal on 36, Manchester City on 35 and Tottenham 32. All eyes were on Van Gaal in the first game of the hectic holiday period and Stoke won comfortably 2-0 at the Britannia Stadium. Goals from forwards Bojan Krkic and Marko Arnautovic left United in sixth place. They have now lost four consecutive matches in a season for the first time since 1961. Guus Hiddink’s second spell as Chelsea’s interim manager began with a 2-2 draw at home to Watford. Oscar wasted the chance to secure victory for the champions when he missed a late penalty at Stamford Bridge and Chelsea remained 15th. Crystal Palace drew 0-0 with Bournemouth, moving above Manchester United into fifth spot. At the bottom, Aston Villa drew 1-1 with West Ham United to leave manager Remi Garde still awaiting a first win since taking over from Tim Sherwood. Aston Villa fought back to salvage a draw at home, but the Premier League strugglers remain in trouble at the foot of the table. West Ham have drawn their last five league matches and are without a win in eight, while Villa saw their club-record winless run in the league extended to 17 matches. Only three of the previous 23 teams who were bottom on Christmas Day have avoided relegation and Villa will go into tomorrow’s trip to Norwich with just eight points from 18 games. Managerless Swansea won for the first time since October, beating West Bromwich Albion 1-0 to climb out of the relegation zone above Norwich and Newcastle United, who lost 1-0 at home to Everton due to a last-minute goal by Tom Cleverley. Everton striker Romelu Lukaku failed to emulate the great Dixie Dean by scoring for the ninth game in a row. — Reuters Courageous Sundowns boss Pitso sets sights on Champions League TSHEPANG MAILWANE AWAY from the football pitch in the plush Park Hyatt Hotel in Rosebank on Monday, man of the moment Pitso Mosimane spoke passionately about the things he still wants to achieve as a coach. One, Mosimane would love to coach Bafana Bafana again, but he makes it clear that he is not after Ephraim “Shakes” Mashaba’s job because he is really enjoying life at Mamelodi Sundowns, where he’s won three trophies in as many seasons. “I don’t think I finished well with my international career with Bafana. [But] This is not the right time to go to Bafana because they have a very good coach and they’re playing well. Look at how they played against Costa Rica and Angola away from home. I really hope this thing of chopping and changing coaches stops because we achieve nothing,” he says. “I don’t think coaches are the problem. [Stuart] Baxter was sacked [as Bafana coach] and he went on to win the league [Absa Premiership]. I was sacked and I went on to win the league. Gordon [Igesund] was sacked and he won the Telkom [Knockout]. So is the problem the coaches? You tell me.” Mosimane went on: “So we need to keep Bra Shakes, but as you asked me, do I want to coach Bafana? Maybe yes in future because I did not finish well. I was in a difficult time of having seven draws, but seven draws was against top countries. They were not against Mozambique, Lesotho or Madagascar or Mauritius. “I may be talking about coaching Bafana, but look at what is happening at Sundowns. I am so happy here. The players are responding, the board is supporting me and we are winning trophies.” “Now I want to go back. If we put the star on the badge, then Sundowns should be ranked the top team in South Africa because we have [already] won the league six times. No one has done that. There’s still a lot of work to be done.” After failing in their attempt to sign Bidvest Wits attacking midfielder Sibusiso Vilakazi, Sundowns cannot be ruled out of going for the star player again when the January ❛ ❛ This is not the right time to go to Bafana because they’re playing well After a win over Jomo Cosmos in September, he was hailed as “our Sir Alex Ferguson” by some of the Sundowns fans and, like the retired manager who was adored at Old Trafford through the good and the bad, Mosimane is determined to sit in the hot seat for many years to come. It rarely happens in South Africa that coaches are given many years to build a team strong enough to conquer all, but Mosimane seems to have that kind of support from the team management and he would love to pay them back by winning the Caf SKY IS THE LIMIT: Coach Pitso Mosimane celebrates after Mamelodi Sundowns won the Telkom Knockout final against Kaizer Chiefs in Durban Picture: GALLO IMAGES Champions League. Call him crazy, but he believes he can achieve that goal in the coming year, with Sundowns set to compete in the continental club competition. “I want to put the star on top of the badge and we think it’s possible next year. We have the mentality and we need to have a go [at it] again. We must always play in that space. “I went to the Champions League group stages with [former club] SuperSport [United]. I had Daine Klate, Pa [Siboniso Gaxa] and Richard Rantjie. Those boys were young. I want to put the [Caf Champions League] star on top of the badge, we think it’s possible transfer window opens. A player like Vilakazi would add value to their Champions League campaign. “You know the players we want. But their teams don’t want to release them. We have made a request and they [Wits] said no. Wits called me to order for speaking publicly about Vilakazi. But whether a player is free or not, you have to speak to him. Who buys a player he hasn’t spoken to? “You can’t tell me that when Wits signed Jabu Shongwe they did not speak to him before. You can’t tell me when they signed [Mozambican star midfielder Elias] Pelembe they did not speak to him before. And by the way, Wits spoke to Nyasha [Mushekwi] when he was still under contract. It’s a fact.” While Sundowns fans were calling for Mosimane to leave early in the season, club president Patrice Motsepe backed him to turn things around. Mosimane revealed that Motsepe had a “magic chat” with the team after the 2-1 defeat to Golden Arrows in September. “After the Arrows game, he told us that we played very well and ever since his talk we have not lost a game,” he said. “Maybe that was the turnaround. I call it the magic talk. You think he does not understand football? He understands.” Motsepe can certainly be happy with what’s happening at the club, not just with the first team but the juniors as well. The under-15s, 17s and 19s have all won trophies this year and Mosimane has backed some of the young stars in the development structures, like national under-17 player Notha Ngcobo, to make a mark at the club in the near future. The Brazilians are Nedbank Cup and Telkom Knockout champions and they are currently top of the Absa Premiership table. There’s certainly a lot to look forward to for Mosimane and his charges next year.