Thursday, January 21 2021
THE BIG ISSUES
LEADING THE AGENDA
A bridge too far, as six Joburg Roads Agency officials are suspended
Agency incurred more than R418.7m in irregular expenditure to fix roads, potholes and bridges, according to report
Nationalisation is being bandied about, so play the game, private schools
Independents have a place, but at times like this and for solidarity’s sake they should align with public institutions
ANALYSIS | The awesome stakes of Joe Biden’s presidency
Not since 1945 has more rested on a new US leader
ANALYSIS | The American republic’s near-death experience
Donald Trump was just a symptom and the US is still in danger from those who peddle lies in place of truth
SMART NEWS
IN ONE TAKE
Vacancies fester as doctors, nurses sit at home
SA’s healthcare under the spotlight as pandemic reveals the sector’s chronic weaknesses
‘Mr President, hear our cries as our healthcare colleagues die around us’
SA healthcare workers are pleading for assistance as dozens of professionals continue to die of Covid-19
SIU got it wrong about me and PPE, Masuku wants to tell court
Former Gauteng health MEC will try to convince the court on Thursday that report is invalid
Did Aggett make a confession? If so, interrogator says he never saw it
Conflicting testimony by former cops at inquest makes details around activist’s supposed suicide even murkier
Who’s zooming who? Why people prefer the cameras off in online meetings
Students and colleagues seem to have a complex about operating on camera during Zoom meetings
IDEAS
FEEDING YOUR MIND
EDITORIAL | The survival of the booze industry is in our hands
South Africans want to drink our favourite tipples. We also want beds available in hospitals. We can’t have it both ways
We’re not safe from the Trump skidmark, but can scrub some of it away
Perhaps under the ordinariness of Biden and Harris, the US and the world can start reclaiming reality
Many US presidents went on to write books. Let’s hope Trump doesn’t
Here’s a look at some of them, as industry experts beseech US publishers not to make a deal with Agent Orange
WORLD
THE NEWS YOU DON'T NORMALLY GET TO HEAR
Eye on the world – January 21 2021
Six of the best pictures of the day
Lower-income countries fall behind in race for vaccines
Dose shortages risk prolonging pandemic for years, experts warn
Thailand to charge opposition leader over ‘royal vaccine’ remarks
Politician faces lèse majesté law after claim Covid jabs an attempt to ‘shore up’ monarchy’s popularity
Green hydrogen kicks into high gear, but could the wheels come off?
The industry’s shares have soared 500% in the past year, but the frenzy has led to concerns about a bubble
Courtiers ready to splab all on Meghan’s letter to her dad
Associated Newspapers questions the letter’s ‘secrecy’, as Duchess of Sussex admitted discussing it with aide
LIFE
EVERYTHING ELSE THAT MATTERS
Flush and flash? Then this is the shop for you
A new go-to destination for all things luxury has opened its doors – and it looks stunning
Tshepo Jeans makes great strides with Hyde Park opening
SA’s design savvy congratulate Tshepo Mohlala on his upmarket move
Meet man’s best-dressed friend
Fashion’s latest superstar is an Italian Greyhound named Tika, who’s also a fierce advocate for gay rights
SPORT
FINISH LINE ESSENTIALS
Alas, the most predictable thing about our league is its unpredictability
An example is Chiefs confounding critics by winning three games on the trot, rocketing them up the table
Rabada is happy with security and just wants to concentrate on cricket
The Proteas have arrived in Pakistan and begun to acclimatise ahead of the first Test which starts on Tuesday
Blast from the past: Kuiper clobbers Proteas to victory over England
Today in SA sports history: January 21