Tuesday, January 19 2021
THE BIG ISSUES
LEADING THE AGENDA
Everything we know about 501.V2, the new Covid-19 variant identified in SA
SA has more cases and deaths than anything we saw on any day during the first wave, says Prof Abdool Karim
Lazy police have failed SA by hiding behind the ‘roadblock strategy’
Law enforcement has shown SA mirrors a near failed state with its lack of proactive policing of Covid protocols
Whatever happens to the vaccines, SA is already immune to shock
Centralising the vaccination programme to keep money away from grubby hands is simply palliative care
SMART NEWS
IN ONE TAKE
Lesufi lays down law as Curro goes online
Education MEC Panyaza Lesufi has called for the postponement of schooling to be gazetted
Six matric markers die of Covid, 308 test positive
Nearly 2,500 of 45,388 markers withdrew, with fear of contracting Covid-19 among their reasons
WhatsApp flexes its muscles in fight with SA’s GovChat
Competition Tribunal reserves judgment after an impasse between the two messaging platforms
Leave the Covid corpses to undertakers, minister implores families
Zweli Mkhize warns that families preparing their loved ones’ bodies for burial could result in the spread of Covid-19
Guptas blatantly used of media for personal gain, says probe
The Sanef Inquiry into Media Ethics and Credibility unpacks several hard truths relating to the industry
IDEAS
FEEDING YOUR MIND
EDITORIAL | How independent are private schools?
There should have been clarity from the start on whose choice it is to reopen
Why Mogoeng was out of line on vaccine
How dare he use Covid-19 to promote his warped ideas and speak on behalf of Christians? It is time for him to go
WORLD
THE NEWS YOU DON'T NORMALLY GET TO HEAR
Eye on the world – January 19 2021
Six of the best pictures of the day
Erdogan’s great game: Turkey pushes into Africa with aid, trade and soaps
President cements foreign policy ambitions with business and humanitarian help on the continent
Why, Saudi Arabia, are juvenile offenders still sentenced to death?
Riyadh under scrutiny as five child offenders still face execution despite a royal decree to end the practice for minors
Josh Hawley’s political ascent stalls after US Capitol attack
The Missouri senator faces recriminations for pressing on with his election challenge despite the riot
Migrants’ plight: ‘We’re starving. All we have is water and a few cookies’
Thousands of Hondurans seeking a better life in the US are being held back or sent home by Guatemalan forces
LIFE
EVERYTHING ELSE THAT MATTERS
Barack in the USA: Obama tells his story, and leaves us wanting more
For those interested in policy, Obama’s book is a perfect guide, but it’s a pity there’s not more detail about unity
Are SA’s cultural institutions trying to get rid of Kannemeyer and Botes?
The duo behind Bitterkomix is being stymied by galleries, universities, you name it. But why?
Take a bewitching ride to utopian Gwadana
This world of beautiful outcasts collapses the everyday and the outlandish into one scene
SPORT
FINISH LINE ESSENTIALS
Nurkovic takes the ‘im’ out of impotency and fulfils his chief task
The striker’s injury frustrations are over and he says the team is working hard to get back on track for its fans
Siraj rides an emotional rollercoaster to keep India in Test series
The inexperienced pace bowler has stepped up to lead a depleted Indian attack in the fourth Test against Australia
Blast from the past: Cox rocks in Dakar rally
Today in SA sports history: January 19