Wednesday, February 23 2022
THE BIG ISSUES
LEADING THE AGENDA
SA’s politicians quite simply don’t have enough ‘skin in the game’ to care
Let’s hope the finance minister is able to rise above their cloud-cuckoo-land world views as he delivers his budget
SA should design economic policy based on strengths of regions: here’s how
To build the economy the state should devolve national policy to allow provinces to build on their strengths
Plan to make grade R compulsory is threatened by high cost
Thousands of new classrooms and teachers would be needed for R17.6bn project
If there’s a World XV in heaven, HO de Villiers will be lacing his boots
Regarded as one of rugby’s all-time greats, with his attacking flair he revolutionised the way fullbacks played
SMART NEWS
IN ONE TAKE
Vaccine mandates: it’s not all about you, Makhanda Against Mandates
Rhodes says anti-vax group’s rights cannot trump those of majority, with Covid expert backing the institution
Big Five bonanza: Patrice Motsepe splashes the cash to political parties
IEC report shows African Rainbow and Harmony Gold paid over R13m to the big five political parties in October
Corruption trial politically motivated, with no legal basis, Ace insists
Suspended ANC secretary-general wants his cases struck off the roll, but he will have to wait until April for clarity
IDEAS
FEEDING YOUR MIND
Prove you’re right, Cele. Solve the Clover murders
Video footage of a strike-related killing is circulating widely, so identifying all the offenders shouldn’t be difficult
How Boeing fooled the world for max profits
Doccie on plane maker’s death traps is essential viewing for anyone interested in how corporate dishonesty costs lives
WORLD
THE NEWS YOU DON'T NORMALLY GET TO HEAR
Why Vladimir is Putin store in east Ukraine and why the West is worried
Autonomy allows the breakaway regions to veto policy, while invasion could spark European security crisis
Sanctions could badly hurt Russia, but it’s a balancing act for the West
Moscow is throwing stones, leading the White House to announce sanctions of sorts, while the EU considers them
Don’t get too excited: living with Covid does not mean it’s over
How relaxed restrictions work in practice will depend on how responsibly everyone holds up their end of the new deal
GOP candidates don’t get a cent from Trump’s mountain of cash
He has been aggressively fundraising since leaving office, raking in enough to make his presence felt in the midterms
LIFE
EVERYTHING ELSE THAT MATTERS
Music loses one of its ‘brightest stars’
UK music entrepreneur Jamal Edwards, whose mission it was to discover emerging artists, has died aged 31
Easter Island statue shrugs off the cobwebs to make long journey home
‘Moai’ has spent more than a century in a Chilean museum
Female representation on UK boards is at 40%, with SA not too far behind
In the UK there has been a more than 25% increase in a decade, says report, but ‘there’s room for improvement’
SPORT
FINISH LINE ESSENTIALS
Boklash: Bakkies, as only he can, was just telling it like it is
Bakkies Botha is spot on when he says Eben Etzebeth hasn’t reproduced his Springbok form for French club Toulon
One match does not make us a bad team, says Bavuma
Proteas players ready to bloom again after a period of soul searching and self-critique
Blast from the past: Lara lashes SA bowling attack in Bloem
Today in SA sports history: February 23