Monday, September 14 2020
THE BIG ISSUES
LEADING THE AGENDA
Ideas FREE
If EFF gets power it will ruin SA, starting with a gun to the ANC’s head
It merely has to ramp up victimhood to find favour with desperate voters, then squeeze power out of coalitions
Justice Malala
Columnist
4 min read
In North West, bodyguards are more important than school kids
The province has slashed its books budget, but can afford to splash out on administrator’s security
Prega Govender
Journalist
2 min read
For SA, reusable plastic bags carry more weight than other options
When judging the overall impact of shopping bags, a number of factors need to be taken into account
Wendy Knowler
Consumer journalist
5 min read
SMART NEWS
IN ONE TAKE
What on Earth?! The crazy ways our world has changed
Experts weigh in on how we’re making sense of this strange new normal on the streets, in hospitals ... in life
Tanya Farber
Senior science reporter
3 min read
New SA app creates safe spaces by catcalling GBV offenders
You can now access a live map to gauge the safety of an area
Suthentira Govender
Senior reporter
2 min read
Vaccine producer takes cannabis therapy to a new high
Unlike conventional CBD oils, what makes the latest innovation more potent is its water-soluble form
Sipokazi Fokazi
Journalist
2 min read
IDEAS
FEEDING YOUR MIND
EDITORIAL | When the state takes the wheel it’s a huge train smash
SAA. The Gauteng Freeway Improvement Project. Railways. The list of failures is long and depressing
Sunday Times Daily
Editorial
3 min read
Mapisa-Nqakula’s Zim trip flies in the face of our constitution
Using a state-sponsored jet to conduct party business shakes the fundamental pillar of separation of powers
By Malaika wa Azania
3 min read
Ideas FREE
They wrote it this week: A cricket star is drunk, and not just with success
Extracts from diaries and letters written between September 14 and September 20
Robin Crouch
Journalist
5 min read
LIFE
ALL THE OTHER THINGS THAT MATTER
Better late than never: how important is ...
Rather build a routine of good habits and keep an eye on the big picture than obsess about force-feeding yourself
By Devlin Brown
3 min read
Lifestyle FREE
Duo is sewing seeds to unite a nation down to a T
Two local creatives have designed an inspiring collection of T-shirts to help create a functional SA
By Andrea Nagel
7 min read
SPORT
FINISH LINE ESSENTIALS
SA sport is nothing without the mighty Amakhosi
Beyond debates about footballing decisions and how the club is run, there’s no sport without Chiefs
Khanyiso Tshwaku
Sports reporter
3 min read
Blast from the past: Broken hands, cracked heads ...
Today in SA sports history: September 14
David Isaacson
Sports reporter
2 min read
SNAPSHOT
flower power A protester attends the London Trans Pride 2020 march on Saturday.
Image: Simon Dawson/Reuters
Image: Simon Dawson/Reuters
6 things you need to know
Boy electrocuted by open wires in veld
An eight-year-old boy died after he was electrocuted by open electrical wires in a veld in Despatch, outside Port Elizabeth in the Eastern Cape, on Saturday, police said. Police spokesperson Gerda Swart said two children were playing in the bushes in Kingston when residents were alerted by frantic screams. Swart said one child was seen running out of the bushes. “The child then informed the community members that the boy was shocked by an open wire that was lying on the ground.” The boy was rushed to hospital but was declared dead. An inquest docket was opened.
School ‘built on leaky sewer, not wetland’
The Gauteng government has denied claims by one of its own portfolio committees that an R82m school was built on a wetland and has stood unused for three years. On Saturday, the provincial government dismissed the claims about Mayibuye Primary School in Tembisa, Ekurhuleni, as untrue and misleading. The department said construction of the school started in 2017, then “the scope of the project had to be reviewed to meet certain requirements”. It added: “Contrary to claims that there is a wetland, there is actually a sewer line that was discovered when the engineers conducted a wetland investigation. This required the team to dig seven pits, which is when an old sewer line was discovered, which was found to have been leaking for years. Unfortunately no records of the pipe can be found.”
Robbers steal cash, rifle from police station
Armed robbers made off with cash and an R5 rifle after holding up police officers at the Badplaas police station in Mpumalanga in the early hours of Saturday. Police spokesperson Col Brenda Muridili said the hold-up occurred at the station's community service centre just before 1am. Three men armed with pistols held two policemen and disarmed them. “The suspects forced the members to open the safe and took one R5 rifle and some money before fleeing the scene on foot. No arrests have been made yet and no injuries were reported. We are appealing to anyone with information that can lead to the arrest of the suspects to call Crime Stop number 086 00 10111 or send tip-offs on MySAPS App,” said Muridili.
Much Covid transmission is before symptoms
Test and trace systems are missing Covid cases because much of transmission occurs in the five days before symptoms show, research suggests. The study by Oxford University shows that the peak of transmission occurred just before and after the onset of symptoms. However, 42% of cases were spread in the five days before any signs of the virus appear. - Telegraph Media Group Limited (2020)
Top golfer John Daly has bladder cancer
Two-time major winner John Daly has revealed he has recently been diagnosed with bladder cancer. Daly, who won the 1991 US PGA Championship and the Open four years later, said the issue came to light after visiting a doctor about kidney stones and a bad back. The 54-year-old underwent a procedure to have the cancer removed, but he has been told there is a high probability of it returning. The five-time PGA Tour winner is well known as a larger than life character, but he admitted he may have to change his diet and stop smoking to improve his odds of beating the disease. - Telegraph Media Group Limited (2020)
Balloonist scares 3 rare parrots to death
A Dutch hot air balloonist must pay £63,000 in compensation to a bird collector after he scared three of his rare parrots to death during a balloon race. He had fired his main burner just 50m from the birds’ cage and the noise from the blast frightened the parrots so much they died of stress, a court heard. In his defence, the balloonist said he had to fire the burner in order to stay airborne during the March 2017 race, but those claims did not convince the court. - Telegraph Media Group Limited (2020)
