Friday, February 18 2022
THE BIG ISSUES
LEADING THE AGENDA
10GB of free data will be nice, but let’s also sort out bucket toilets
The UN says data has become a fundamental human right, but there are many other things needed for human dignity
How Ramaphosa moved the ANC’s heaven and earth
His statement that ‘the state does not create jobs, the private sector does’ is a dramatic about-turn for the ANC
SA’s faith in its municipalities is collapsing even faster than its cities
Municipal rot amounts to R189bn. To turn this around we need leaders who lead, then citizens will follow
SMART NEWS
IN ONE TAKE
PODCAST | Six themes Zondo underexplored in the first two reports
Eusebius McKaiser and Hennie van Vuuren discuss how Zondo report could have been more nuanced in some respects
Covid drug gets interim approval as regulator continues testing
SAHPRA is allowing emergency use of molnupiravir and has started a rolling review of the product
From poos to booze: ellies have been there, dung that to make perfect gin
The world is drunk on the alcohol this SA artisanal distiller makes from carefully selected elephant droppings
IDEAS
FEEDING YOUR MIND
EDITORIAL | Police must put 2014 equal resources plan into action. Now
SA is never going to sort out GBV as long as there aren’t enough cops in poorer areas
Singling out VW Polo drivers won’t get us there alive
RTMC thinks they’re SA’s most dangerous drivers and wants the speed limit lowered. Does it get how numbers work?
It gives me no bleisure to announce the marriage of business and leisure
A column to satisfy your inner grammar nerd
WORLD
THE NEWS YOU DON'T NORMALLY GET TO HEAR
This is where Africa is at with Covid-19 vaccinations, and it’s not good
Only 12% of people are fully vaxxed, with some countries administering less than five shots per 100 people
Long after the Covid war is won, survivors battle with mental health
Study indicates after-effects of the virus could be far worse than initially feared, and may last a lifetime
Mining imperils mysterious deep-sea critters that could save the planet
Strip-mining for minerals used in e-car batteries could make the organisms extinct before scientists can study them
Sydney afraid to go back in water after first fatal shark bite in 60 years
Experts believe a white shark of at least three metres in length was responsible for the attack
LIFE
EVERYTHING ELSE THAT MATTERS
Golden moment for Spain as ‘Alcarras’ takes Berlinale’s top award
Other films to take honours included ‘Myanmar Diaries’, ‘Trap’ and ‘Rabiye Kurnaz vs George W Bush’
Nothing birdbrained about these canine patrols
Thanks to dogs, guests at Sydney Opera House eateries can enjoy meals without being bombarded by seagulls
Baby shark has Kiwi scientists singing about ‘rare and exciting’ find
Experts surveying the east coast of South Island have discovered a rare baby ghost shark
SPORT
FINISH LINE ESSENTIALS
SA rugby needs top-to-bottom cash injections to sustain it
Private investment is welcome, but it needs to more than trickle down to provincial level
World’s top golfer Jon Rahm pledges ‘fealty’ to PGA Tour
‘I wish I could tell you when I’m playing again,’ says Tiger Woods
Blast from the past: Malan’s 1961 Boks return home unbeaten
Today in SA sports history: February 18