Table of contents for 2021-12-10 in DFA News

Sandi Kwon Hoo sandi.kwonhoo@inl.co.za MEMBERS of the Ronaldsvlei Communal Property Association (CPA) marched to the offices of the Northern Cape Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development this week in demand of title deeds. Ronaldsvlei CPA deputy chairperson Noor Fredericks stated that around 300 families were excluded from land restitution processes after they were displaced from their homes in 1974. “Many of the land claimants are over the age of 80 years and have been living with their families in Roodepan and Greenpoint. We were in the process of issuing beneficiaries with permits to occupy land but the department stopped us and told us that it is illegal. We have given the department seven days in which to respond to our demands,” said Fredericks. He said that all beneficiaries…

Lance Fredericks IT’S THAT time of the year again. I had to get a few items at the supermarket on Wednesday and felt my panic levels rise. I pulled into the supermarket parking area and immediately pulled out of the parking area. With so many cars, I just knew the queues would be snaking down the aisles again, and as I’ve said before, I am not visiting busy stores this festive shopping season if they have individual queues. I cannot afford to be robbed of my time while simultaneously being wary of being robbed by the bands of patrolling bandits. Just this week residents were warned to be wary of ‘skelms’ when using ATMs. “If you observe suspicious persons while approaching the ATM, do not use the machine,” went the…

Siyabonga Mkhwanazi siyabonga.mkhwanazi@inl.co.za Political Bureau THE government says it will keep an eye on possible protests at late former President FW de Klerk’s memorial service in Cape Town on Sunday. Minister in the Presidency, Mondli Gungubele, said the unity of the country was important. He said the issue of De Klerk had become a tricky debate in the country. De Klerk died of cancer in his Cape Town home a few weeks ago and was cremated at a private funeral. However, the government had indicated it would have a memorial service later. Gungubele said our forebears had fought against divisions. It was important that there should be no issues that bring about divisions. He said if all South Africans were bound by the Constitution, they remained a family. It would be…

Phumlisa Vers phumlisa.vers@inl.co.za IN DECEMBER 2020, President Cyril Ramaphosa announced a lockdown just three days before the year ended. As 2021 comes to an end, South Africans are a little doubtful as it too comes to an end with yet another covid wave on the rise. Recently, a new variant of Covid-19 has been discovered called The Omicron variant. With this new wave settling in just a few weeks before December, more and more South Africans find themselves sick. The number of sick people rising could potentially lead to yet another lockdown before the year ends. The rise of the Omicron variant comes as yet another virus breakout. This breakout has lead to numerous countries denying South African citizens into their countries. The decision to ban SA citizens in countries…

Loyiso Sidimba loyiso.sidimba@inl.co.za EMPLOYEES of the SA Revenue Service (Sars) have tabled their demands for pay increases that could be up to more than 11% next year. The National Education, Health and Allied Workers' Union (Nehawu) and the Public Servants' Association (PSA) are demanding salary increases for their members at Sars for the 2022/23 financial year despite the taxman failing to honour the existing agreement this year. The failure to implement the final leg of the three-year wage agreement, which would have seen their pay improved by 6.2%, and which was due to be effected in April this year, is now before the North Gauteng High Court after the PSA challenged Sars’s decision. According to both unions’ demands for 2022/23, their starting point for the 2022 wage negotiations will be…

PARIS – The battle between seven-time champion Lewis Hamilton and the relative youngster who wants to take his crown, Max Verstappen, boils down to 58 laps in Abu Dhabi on Sunday. From the first-lap crash at the British Grand Prix that took the Dutchman out of the race and led to angry recriminations to Hamilton's assertion after his thrilling victory in Saudi Arabia on Sunday that Verstappen was “crazy”, all the ingredients are there for a rivalry for the ages. The two men are following in a hallowed tradition. AFP looks at some of the sport’s stellar head-to-heads. Lauda vs Hunt The 1976 season was the apex of the long-running battle between James Hunt and Niki Lauda that was later turned into the film ‘Rush’ by director Ron Howard. The…

Julie Steenhuysen Reuters THE ARRIVAL of the highly-mutated Omicron variant is a wake-up call to develop vaccines less susceptible to the rapid changes of the coronavirus, leading virologists and immunologists told Reuters. Most first-generation Covid-19 vaccines target the spike protein on the outer surface of the SARS-CoV-2 virus used to infect human cells. Omicron has prompted alarm among scientists because it has far more mutations than earlier variants, including more than 30 on its spike. "One thing that is clear from Omicron is that the virus... is not going to go away," said Dr Larry Corey, a virologist at Seattle's Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center who is overseeing US government-backed Covid-19 vaccine trials. "There's a need for better vaccines." Since the beginning of the pandemic, the coronavirus has morphed several times including…

Sandi Kwon Hoo sandi.kwonhoo@inl.co.za THE EFF in the Northern Cape has committed to not grab land or interfere with operations in Orania after an EFF mayor was elected at Thembelihle Local Municipality. The EFF is the official opposition at Thembelihle Municipality with three seats, while the ANC won five seats. The DA, FF+ and Siyathemba Community Forum (SCF) voted for the EFF mayoral candidate, where the opposition outnumbered the ruling party with six votes against the ANC's five. The DA, FF+ and SCF each have one seat at the municipality. EFF provincial chairperson Aubrey Baartman said that they will meet with the leaders of Orania. "We will meet with the leaders of Orania either next week or early the following week. We want to introduce the new mayor to the…

Viwe Ndongeni-Ntlebi viwe.ndongeni@inl.co.za South Africa was witnessing the fourth wave of the novel Covid-19 pandemic, Health Minister Joe Phaahla said, days after the Omicron widget was detected in the country. He said the situation was more concerning than the previous waves. “There is a much steeper upward curve than has ever been seen in the last three waves,” Phaahla said. President Cyril Ramaphosa has said Omicron was driving the fourth wave of Covid-19 infections in the country and there had been a fivefold increase in daily infection rates over the past week. Dr Morgan Mkhatshwa, the head of operations at Bonitas Medical Fund, answers common questions around Omicron: What is it Omicron? It’s a new, heavily mutated Covid variant known as BI.I.529. When was Omicron first detected? The earliest…

Benida Phillips benida.phillips@inl.co.za A 39-YEAR-old suspect was expected to appear in the Kuruman Magistrate’s Court yesterday on a charge of money laundering amounting to R400,000. Hawks spokesperson in the Northern Cape, Nomthandazo Mnisi, said the suspect was arrested in Sandton. “The suspect was arrested on Tuesday, December 7, 2021 in Sandton by the Hawks’ Serious Commercial Crime Investigation team. It is alleged that during June 2020 the suspect received money, which was allegedly the proceeds of a crime, from Value FX investment company that is currently under investigation by the Hawks,” said Mnisi. “The suspects who were running the Value FX investment allegedly lured community members in Kuruman to invest money in their company. The community members were promised that their investment would yield a 100% interest return.” Mnisi…

Alan Baldwin LEWIS Hamilton will become either the first Formula One driver to win eight world championships or be dethroned by young nemesis Max Verstappen at Abu Dhabi on Sunday at 3pm. Either a record will be set, one surely destined to last longer than Ferrari great Michael Schumacher’s seven between 1994-2004, or Hamilton’s long reign will end in a generational shift. For the first time since 1974, and only the second since the world championship started in 1950 although scoring systems have changed, two title contenders go into the final round absolutely level on points. Whatever the outcome, the showdown promises to be television ratings gold. Verstappen has won nine races to Hamilton’s eight – a key advantage that means the Briton must score while the Red Bull driver…

Eshlin Vedan NORMALLY humble Orlando Pirates co-coach Mandla Ncikazi made a bold claim recently by saying that his side is on par with runaway Premiership leaders Mamelodi Sundowns and that they have more supporters than the title favourites. “We are on the level of Sundowns, but we even have more support than Sundowns. Pirates is a big team in South Africa; you are expected to win every match, every weekend,” said Ncikazi. But Pirates’ form this season has suggested there is a gulf in class between them and Masandawana. The Sea Robbers enter their game against TS Galaxy tomorrow on the back of successive draws, against AmaZulu FC and Baroka FC. They have also won just four games this season compared to Sundowns’ 10, even though they have played…

TRAVIS Head blasted the third-fastest century in Ashes history to crush England hopes on the second day of the opening Test at the Gabba yesterday. The 27-year-old Head, controversially recalled to the Australia side ahead of veteran Usman Khawaja, justified his selection by passing 100 off only 85 balls. He smashed two sixes and 12 fours in his century – the third-fastest in the Ashes behind only Adam Gilchrist’s 56-ball ton in Perth in 2006 and Gilbert Jessop’s 76-ball effort at The Oval in 1902. “I’m still pinching myself – I can’t quite work out what transpired over the past couple of hours,” Head said. “I took some chances – technically and mentally I was really composed, really relaxed. “I found the first 20 runs really tough, but the game…

Sandi Kwon Hoo sandi.kwonhoo@inl.co.za COMMUNITY health workers (CHWs) in the Northern Cape only received a part payment in line with the minimum wage regulations. South African Liberated Public Sector Workers Union (Salipswu) provincial organiser Thapelo Thole stated that care workers only received R817.45 on December 6. “No indication was given as to when the balance would be paid out. This is only happening in the Northern Cape, while other provinces have complied,” said Thole. He pointed out that the purpose of the minimum wage was to protect workers against unduly low pay. “This ensures a just and equitable share, where employees are duly protected. A minimum wage can assist in overcoming poverty and in reducing inequality. The Northern Cape Department of Health is not complying with the minimum wage regulations…

Supplied LUCIUS Christiaan Moolman was born on March 30, 1961 in Cradock in the Eastern Cape. He spent his formative years on the family farm between Cradock and Somerset East. After school he decided to pursue his passion for nature and obtained his BSc Degree in Botany and Zoology at Stellenbosch University and followed this up with his Honours and a Master’s degree in wildlife management at the University of Pretoria. Currently, the regional general manager of what is known as the Arid Region of South African National Parks (SANParks), Lucius’ first contact with the organisation was at Mountain Zebra National Park outside Cradock. This is where he conducted his research towards his Master’s degree between 1984 and 1986 thanks to a SANParks bursary. He did a mandatory, albeit short…

Benida Phillips benida.phillips@inl.co.za THE IMPORTANCE of a collective fight against gender-based violence (GBV) was highlighted during a march by the Postmasburg police, in partnership with the Community Policing Forum (CPF) and some of the newly elected mayoral committee members as well as taxi associations. The march took place on Wednesday. Police spokesperson Nomvuyo Makoloi said the dignitaries emphasised the vital role that all community members play in the fight against GBV. “Among the messages emphasised by the team was that men need to be more affectionate and not aggressive in all forms of relationships. Parents were also motivated to express love and affection to their children. Women and young girls were encouraged to never keep quiet about any form of abuse. The community were urged to never accept gender-based violence…

By Mandla Seloane IT IS APPOINTMENT of judges season in South Africa, and all manner of candidates are pitching for the coveted jobs. On the 2019/20 figures, the annual remuneration of judges was: Chief Justice - R2 896 107; Deputy Chief Justice - R2 606 428; judges of the Constitutional Court - R 2 316 919; President of the Supreme Court of Appeal - R2 606 428; his/her Deputy - R 2 461 674; judges of the SCA - R 2 316 919; Judge President of the High Court - R 2 172 165 ; his/her deputy - R 2 027 241; a judge of the High Court - R 1 882 486. (Government Gazette 25 March 2020) The Booklet on the Conditions and Benefits for Judges indicates that…

Morgan Bolton IN THE closest title race since 1974, Sir Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen head into the season-ending Abu Dhabi GP with everything on the line. Here, Morgan Bolton looks counts down the five factors to keep in mind during this most exciting of F1 seasons. 5. Kimi, my guy This will be the Iceman’s final race as he retires from F1. In a career spanning 20 years, Kimi Raikkonen participated in 352 races – a record – winning 21 and finishing on the podium 103 times. The 42-year-old leaves the sport as a former World Champion, claiming the title in 2007 with Ferrari by one point over Lewis Hamilton in the McLaren in a memorable title race. Raikkonen will be remembered for his stoic demeanour, calmness…