Tuesday, May 17 2022
THE BIG ISSUES
LEADING THE AGENDA
Eastern Cape education skips cheaper option for R220m consultancy
Officials hire a middleman to provide tutors, an expense a teachers’ union calls a fruitless expenditure
The just transition gift horse that might be a Trojan horse
Pravin Gordhan is severely underestimating the effects of stage 2 load-shedding on the economy
Ubank placed under curatorship
The bank has a capital adequacy ratio of just 3% vs an industry-wide average of more than 15%
To keep our demons in check, we need to embrace unusual suspects
Whether we agree with them or not, stepping away from our reading staples to sample other views is important
SMART NEWS
IN ONE TAKE
Mkhwebane opens criminal case against Joburg over Sibiya appointment
Public protector says city misled her by concealing critical information about anti-corruption unit boss’s appointment
Terror charges in KZN’s ‘IS’ double murder case were dropped. Why?
Three accused of killing Cape couple in 2018 were initially charged on four counts of terrorism-related activity
Impeachment process is tainted, Mkhwebane says in affidavit
Public protector has applied to file new evidence in the Western Cape High Court
Another day, another delay in Zuma, Thales corruption case
Tuesday was a ‘holding date’ for SCA feedback on Zuma’s ‘reconsideration’ application, but it hasn’t materialised
IDEAS
FEEDING YOUR MIND
Paying consultants millions to teach maths and science doesn’t add up
With thousands of vacant posts, Eastern Cape education department’s outsourcing of extra lessons makes no sense
Black farmers in SA need support. This is how it could be done
Subsidies for these farmers would help to create an inclusive agricultural sector and correct past racial biases
African women hit a wall of prejudice as they seek start-up funding
The push to groom more women entrepreneurs has spawned a new breed of gender-focused funds on the continent
WORLD
THE NEWS YOU DON'T NORMALLY GET TO HEAR
Vaccination + infection = better Covid immunity, say studies
They signal that vaccinated people who’ve had Omicron probably won’t get seriously ill from another variant
Hot as hell: welcome to Delhi, where a record heat wave refuses to end
A diary from New Delhi on a recent day when the city of 19-million struggled to cope with killer temperatures
You’d be goggle-eyed if you knew how much of your data Google really shares
The info is mainly used to boost the search engine’s ad revenue, but it is increasingly being exploited for surveillance
Cuba says Fidel-deedee to bigots, celebrates LGBTQ+ History Month
It is the first Latin American country to celebrate the month, first organised by the US’s Rodney Wilson in 1994
LIFE
EVERYTHING ELSE THAT MATTERS
Friendships end for many reasons, among them Covid differences
In romantic relationships people believe they can resolve issues through debate, but this does not apply to friendships
Actually, we will play again, and we’ll do it with Def Leppard
Mötley Crüe, which vowed never to play live again, reunites for new audiences, taking other ballies along for the ride
Zoo sticks its neck out to give baby giraffe a leg up to survival
San Diego Zoo resident receives a leg brace to correct limb disorder which could have cost the animal her life
SPORT
FINISH LINE ESSENTIALS
Stellies savour 3-0 win over Sundowns and eye Confed Cup football
Steve Barker’s Stellenbosch FC are in fifth position, just two points off third place with one game to play
Woods back in PGA spotlight, Mickelson still in the shadows
Former world No.1 Tiger Woods takes the next step in his extraordinary comeback at Southern Hills this week
Blast from the past: Cavaliers fight back to beat Boks in second Test
Today in SA sports history: May 17