Friday 26th February 2021, 0145
Real News. Scrolla.Africa
HE WANTED TO BUILD A MEMORIAL TO MANDELA - BUT COVID CRASHED THE DREAM OF A TOURIST MECCA IN ALEX Everson Luhanga
Tumi Masite is a multi-talented man who dreamt of turning the street he lives on into a tourist Mecca in Alexandra north of Johannesburg.
Tumi stays on the same street where Nelson Mandela once rented a room in the 1940s. That was when Alexandra was called the “Dark City” due to having no electricity when the rest of Johannesburg was lit up at night.
“My intention was to make 7th Street and Hofmeyer Streets buzz like Vilakazi Street in Soweto,” he said. “That has been my dream ever since I realised that I was staying in the same Street the icon embraced.”
Tumi is the owner of the Ekasi gym, once visited by Arnold Schwarzenegger, Reg Park and Richard Branson. He sells his drawings and paintings to tourists from all over the world and has a tattoo parlour.
He is a well known figure in Alex. He gave a beautiful painting to former President Jacob Zuma in 2012 while the ANC was celebrating 100 years of existence and has hosted local boxing championships.
But like thousands of others, Covid-19 crushed his dreams and destroyed his businesses - now he is drowning in debt.
He told Scrolla.Africa from his home in Alexandra that everything stopped in March last year when the government introduced lockdown regulations.
No one came for tattoos as restrictions were introduced, and tourists who used to buy his paintings stopped travelling as borders were closed.
He kept the hope alive that things would get better, and breathed a sigh of relief when people started coming back to his gym.
But there was no money in their pockets. “When I asked for subscription fees, they would tell me that they too have lost jobs.”
The father of three had to provide for his family so he sold some gym equipment, his television set and a washing machine and went to borrow money from the bank.
But now he is drowning in even deeper debt.
He said the couple has had to pack up the place they were living. His girlfriend has gone to stay with her gogo on the other side of Alex with the children. He has gone to stay with his gogo.
His girlfriend, 28-year-old Sizakele Zuma, lost her job as a waitress during level five of lockdown.
The couple said Tumi’s uncle who works at charity organisations as a driver delivered food parcels to them. “My uncle has been helping us a lot.”
Tumi said in a normal world, he used to make nearly R20 000 a month from all his activities.
“Now I cannot make R1000 these days. How life has changed.”
The largest mass vaccination program in history has begun - but it needs to be even larger Arthur Greene
On Wednesday, Covax delivered its first major shipment of Covid-19 vaccines to Ghana.
The global initiative plans to distribute over two billion doses of the vaccine to 92 countries this year, which, officials say, would make it the largest vaccination operation in history.
The shipment of 600,000 doses was delivered to the capital Accra first because studies have suggested that the spread of the virus in West Africa has been much wider than official numbers show.
According to a recent study, at least one in five people in Lagos, Nigeria, could have contracted the coronavirus by October last year. Similar results were found in Accra.
Covax, which will provide vaccines to low and middle-income countries, will work against wealthy countries’ “vaccine nationalism” and make distribution fairer.
However, the buying-up of jabs by rich countries still dwarfs Covax’s efforts.
The New York Times reports that while 44.5 million Americans have already received a shot, as of last week more than 130 countries had yet to vaccinate a single person. . Even Covax’s shipment to Ghana covers less than one per cent of the population.
And by the end of 2021 they will only have been given enough jabs to vaccinate 20 percent of its population of 30 million, so it will have to purchase more.
The United Nations secretary-general, António Guterres, said last week that the distributions had been “wildly uneven and unfair.”
He added that the pandemic will not end until everyone has been vaccinated.
“This is not a matter of charity,” he said. “It’s a matter of epidemiology.”
It is not enough for wealthy countries to provide enough vaccines for their own populations. They must ramp up their contributions to Covax if the pandemic is going to end.
Picture source: @WHOAFRO
Wear a mask, Sho Madjozi - the kids are watching By Mmaditaba
Covid-19 has undoubtedly affected the livelihoods of everyone, including artists, but what message are our celebrities sending in a time of a global pandemic?
With the ban on events in South Africa, South African musicians have resorted to going to neighbouring countries to perform. Which is good - but where are your masks guys?
Sho Madjozi has been in Tanzania for almost a month - shooting amazing content and living her best life - but where is your mask Sho?
Cassper Nyovest was also in Zanzibar flexing his famous bottle dancing skills that we love him for. But Cass: where is the mask?
Fellow musician Focalistic performed in Kenya earlier this month to a very large crowd that wasn't wearing masks.
Celebrities always say they didn't ask to be role models but the title comes with fame. When Sho Madjozi changes a hairstyle, so do all the kids. When she launches a clothing line, the kids are first in line.
We are not asking that they stop making a living - not at all, times are tough. We are not asking for them to perform with a mask while they are alone on stage. But why is the crowd at your feet not wearing masks?
In a world, particularly in Tanzania, where there is a denialism of this global crisis, we are not asking you to be role models, just to be responsible for your own health, or to keep the irresponsible behaviour off social media. The kids are watching.
Video source: @ShoMadjozi
Zim’s Vice President leaves a trail of sex scandals and angry husbands Joseph Chirume
Calls are getting louder and louder for Zimbabwe's Vice President, Kembo Mohadi, to resign.
Mohadi, 71, who has had two collapsed marriages, is accused by angry husbands of destroying their marriages.
One of the women works in Mohadi’s office as a Central Intelligence Officer.
Mohadi was allegedly approached at his Glen Lorne home by a CIO agent, Jacob Mumpande accusing the vice president of sleeping with his wife, Abbigal Muleya. Mumpande demanded that his wife be removed from Mohadi’s office.
This is after Abbigal was heard on the phone asking Mohadi if he had taken sex enhancing tablets ahead of their meeting later at a lodge.
Mohadi is also accused of bedding Chervaughn Choeni, prompting her husband, Martin Chabuka, to file for divorce.
In a leaked telephone conversation Mohadi is heard asking: "So, when will you give it to me?"
Choeni replied that she had come to his office earlier.
"Actually, I had come with the intention of giving it to you,” she said.
“So you want to give it to me in the office?” asked Mohadi.
"Yes," responded Choeni.
Mohadi then said: “Okay, there is no other place. We will have to do it in the office."
Mohadi is also said to be paying full tuition fees for a young girl who lives in Bulawayo. She has allegedly been trying to end the relationship after telling Mohadi that she has a boyfriend her own age.
ZimEye.com on Twitter says, "Mohadi impregnated a Harare based Advanced Level student, giving her an STI (sexually transmitted infection) and making her feel worthless."
Oliver Zaranyika wrote on Facebook, "I think the Mohadi scandal is just the tip of an iceberg. It is actually a culture in Zanu PF. The country is bleeding left, right and centre. But they are busy thinking about sex."
A Twitter account in the name of Mohadi's former wife, Tambudzani Mohadi reports that: "He has a pregnant girlfriend who is in form six. Another girlfriend is his cousin's child."
Mohadi divorced Tambudzani, his wife of 30 years in 2017, then quickly married Juliette Mutavhatsindi in 2018 but has not been seen with her since 2019.
Picture source: Zim Live
Zambian coach in court for fondling woman’s buttocks Joseph Chirume
Zambian coach Milutin Sredojevic is learning the hard way that fondling a woman's body without her consent is not a joke.
Sredojevic appeared for the second time today at the New Brighton Magistrate’s Court in Qqeberha, formerly Port Elizabeth, facing sexual assault charges.
He will appear again on 25 May for trial at the New Law Court. His bail of R10,000 was extended to the same date.
NPA regional spokesperson, Anelisa Ngcakani said during the Cosafa Games in Qqeberha on 7 December a woman took Sredojevic coffee at the Wolfson Stadium and asked him if he needed anything. He allegedly said he needed another type of sugar, pointing at her private parts.
The complainant complained to her boss who warned Sredojevic, but later the same day Sredojevic allegedly touched her buttocks.
The court case attracted a small group of women activists who had come to give support to the victim.
ANC spokesperson for the Young Women’s Desk, Nomafa Sinetile told Scrolla.Africa it was a very important case because it was not penetrative rape nor was there aggression.
“Most attention is given to penetrative rape but touching a woman's body without her consent is a worse form of rape. That is body shaming and reducing the dignity of the victim,” she said.
"We want to see justice being done and this case should set an example that women’s bodies should not be touched without agreement. The South African law should set a good example with this case.”
Homeless Felix Hlophe denies he is broke Philani Mzila
KZN based Gagasi FM radio breakfast host Felix Hlophe is homeless after he was allegedly kicked out of his rented home in Pinetown, Durban.
According to two close insiders Felix is battling financially and even went to beg a traditional healer and businessman Bhongolwethu Mzozo, known as Dr Khehlelezi, for help.
"Since the lockdown began he hasn't been able to live the flashy life he likes to lead. Things are not coming together for him," the source said.
According to another source he visited and begged Dr Khehlelezi to invest R80,000 in his gin business but would not give Dr Khehlelezi his car keys.
"Khehlelezi wanted the car as insurance but Felix did not provide it. He asked for a huge amount and no one can give that kind of money," the source said.
“Felix must swallow his pride and move back home.”
Dr Khehlelezi confirmed meeting Hlophe about a loan.
"He came to me to ask for money to pay for his kid’s education but the amount is between us," he told Scrolla.Africa.
Felix denied asking for a loan and being kicked out of his home but said his meeting with Dr Khehlelezi was purely business.
"How can I put my family through that? I have properties in my name. My gin business needs more cash and I thought working with Khehlelezi was the best idea," he said.
“I'm not bragging but I have no money issues.”
Hlophe offered to send copies of his title deeds for his properties but at the time of publishing Scrolla.Africa was still waiting.
Nasty C to feature on the Ellen DeGeneres Show Sizwe Sibiya
The past year has been tough for artists in the music industry unable to perform live shows but the career of Mister ‘Zulu Man With Some Power’ Nasty C has really rocketed up.
Just a week after releasing visuals of his single ‘Black and White’ from the album ‘Zulu Man With Some Power’ with American singer and songwriter Ari Lennox, Nasty C - whose real name is Nsikayesizwe Ngcobo - is going to be appearing on America’s Ellen DeGeneres Show, one of the world’s leading daytime television shows.
“Yea we are going up tomorrow!!! Let the whole world know!!” said the 24-year-old rapper from Durban.
Nasty C thanked Ellen, the host, for inviting him on the show that will air on Friday, 26 February.
“@theellenshow thank you for the put on.”
Nasty C has already appeared on another American show, Late Night with Seth Meyers.
As if that is not enough, his name is trending on social media with SA rapper Stogie T’s ‘Dunno’ music video – and he also made another appearance on SlikourOnLife, an online show hosted by veteran rapper of the group Skwatta Kamp, Slikour, on Thursday.
He gives props to the team behind him for his making the big moves, saying “I am not going to sit here and act like the guy who pulls all the strings and makes all this s*** to come together, I am not.
"I have a team."
Nasty C who is signed under Def Jam, like Sho Madjozi of the Gqom hit ‘John Cena’ will reportedly perform his love song ‘Black and White’ with the featured Ari Lennox on the daytime television show.
Picture Source: @Nasty_CSA
Man faked his own kidnapping to get off work
Some people will do almost anything to get off work – but a man in the American state of Arizona took it to extreme lengths by tying himself up and faking his own abduction and kidnapping.
He also invented a story of treasure hidden in the desert.
The New York Times reported that after responding to a call, police found the man, discovered to be 19-year-old Brandon Soules, with his hands bound behind his back by a belt and a hankie “stuffed in his mouth”.
Soules told officers that he had been abducted by two masked men who struck him on the back of his head and knocked him unconscious.
He told investigators that he had been kidnapped because his father had a large amount of money hidden in the desert.
Hospital records showed that Soules had no concussion or injury to his head and text messages did not show messages or phone calls he described.
Eventually, Soules admitted that he had made the whole story up. He has been arrested and charged with false reporting, the police said in a statement.
According to the Times, Soules worked at a car shop, the Tire Factory, where he installed tires and drove around to pick up parts for the store. According to Soules’s Facebook profile, he no longer works there.
Picture source: NyTimes.com
TWO YEARS IN A TENT Lungani Zungu
After more than two years of living in a government tent, about 120 Umlazi residents have been told they will be moving to a transit camp.
The residents, including children, were hoping that the eThekwini Municipality would rebuild their houses that were destroyed by floods in 2019.
Since Ntombenhle Ntendeni’s two-roomed mud shack was washed away in the floods she has stayed with her three children in the tent that was erected outside Tehuis hostel near Mega City mall at Umlazi V section.
“I’m glad to be alive. Many people lost their loved ones during the floods,” she said.
“But I don’t want to go to a transit camp. We will never have a place to call home again,” Ntendeni told Scrolla.Africa.
The tent is divided into a male and female section. When they bath, they have to look out for prying eyes.
“We don’t have running water, and there are no ablution facilities. There is no social distancing,” she said.
“We hear that the municipality was told about us, but no one has listened to us. No one cares.”
Another resident said the ANC government only cared about itself. She said the government had promised to build houses for them when the floods hit the township.
“We want the government to build our houses and not place us in transit camps,” she said.
Vanessa Burger, who had helped the victims, said they were understandably appalled.
“Why has the municipality seemingly prioritized the construction of new transit camps instead of permanent housing?”
Hildah Magaia sets sights on world football Timmy T Maranda
Banyana Banyana star, Hildah Magaia signed her professional contract with Moron BK in Sweden on Wednesday and she is ready for the new challenge.
Magaia was part of the Banyana Banyana side that retained the Cosafa Cup 2020 and she was named the best player in the Cosafa Women's Championship.
The striker had a fantastic season with Tshwane University of Technology in the SAFA National Women's League by scoring 36 goals and finished the season tied with Rhoda Mulaudzi in the scoring charts.
The striker also helped TUT to finish as runners up in the SAFA National Women's League behind Champions Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies.
The Denilton born striker told Scrolla.Africa she is very happy and ready for her new journey.
"The time is now. I’m hoping to have the best time of my life in Sweden and to be able to use the talent that God has given me in a good way. I want to make my family and the nation proud,” she said.
Magaia joins a growing list of Banyana Banyana's players who are flying the South African flag high in world football.
Banyana Banyana players now playing overseas:
Thembi Kgathlana, Spain Noko Matlou, Spain Jermaine Seopasenwe, Portugal Refiloe Jane, Italy Ode Fuluditulu, Finland Janine Van Wyk, Scotland Bambanani Mbane, Belarus Lebogang Ramalepe, Belarus Kelso Peskin, France Amanda Mthandi, Spain Nothando Vilakazi, Spain Rhoda Mulaudzi, Belarus Andisiwe Ngcoyi, Kosovo Zanele Nhlapo, Kosovo, Albania Linda Motlhali, Sweden Regina Mogolola, Serbia Rachel Sebati, Turkey Amogelang Motau, USA Letago Modiba, Turkey kholoso Biyana, Spain Leandra Smeda, Sweden
Picture source: @BanyanaBanyana
McCarthy says playing Leopards away is tough Menzi Magubane
Coach Benni McCarthy is looking to end AmaZulu’s trophy drought when the Nedbank Cup returns this weekend. Usuthu last lifted a trophy in 1992.
McCarthy wants to correct that by taking out everyone in front of them. Black Leopards are next in line and Usuthu are heading there on Saturday when they face each other in the last 16 of the competition at Thohoyandou Stadium at 3pm.
"As much as any club, such as Mamelodi Sundowns want to win the cup, so do we at AmaZulu. We play to improve, but ultimately we want to win it,” he said.
"We have new ownership, new management and new coaches so we want to go all the way. It's not going to be easy but we will push.”
He said playing Leopards is never easy especially in Venda.
“Travelling to Thohoyandou is a nightmare and conditions are totally different to Durban. But what's going to make it even harder is their new coach, Kostadin Papic,” he said.
"Players always play differently under a new coach as we saw in their win against Golden Arrows. I'm expecting a tough match but we have also improved in the past weeks."
The round of 16 begins on Friday with two GladAfrica Championship outfits in a Cape derby.
Cape Town All Stars will host Cape Town Spurs at Parow Park at 3pm. Tshakhuma Tsha Madzivhandila face Swallows at Peter Mokaba Stadium in Polokwane at 6pm.
Picture source: @diski365
Manchester City rule supreme Timmy T Maranda
Manchester City have extended their unbeaten run to a brilliant 26 matches in all competitions.
They beat Borussia Mönchengladbach 2-0 in the 1st leg of the UEFA Champions League at Puskas Arena in Budapest on Wednesday.
Goals by Portuguese Bernardo Silva and Brazilian Gabriel Jesus were enough to hand the Citizens the two away goal cushion going to the 2nd leg in Manchester.
The first score came when Joao Cancelo’s pinpoint cross found Bernardo Silva unmarked and Silva headed City into the lead.
Gladbach’s threats were thwarted by defenders Eric Laporte and Ruben Dias, the home side coming close with a tricky back heel that went across the face of Ederson's goal.
Manchester City doubled the lead in the second half with Silva turning provider to Gabriel Jesus who scored to secure the 19th win in all competitions without a loss and 12th win on the trot.
The Citizens take a comfortable two-goal lead back to Manchester with the best chance to qualify for the quarter-final in the UEFA Champions league.
Meanwhile, 13 time UEFA Champions League winners Real Madrid left it late to beat a 10 man Atalanta 1-0 in the 1st leg tie to take an away goal advantage heading to Spain at Atalanta Stadium in Bergamo, Italy.
Tottenham beat Wolfsburg 4-0 with a seven goal aggregate lead at Tottenham Hotspurs Stadium in the UEFA Europa League.
Picture source: @manchestercity
Chiefs and Downs’ fixtures reshuffled to make way for CAF commitments Menzi Magubane
To accommodate Mamelodi Sundowns and Kaizer Chiefs' CAF Champions League commitments, the PSL has reshuffled their fixtures for the weekend and next week.
Downs and Chiefs will travel to their different destinations on Friday as they are in action on Sunday in Champions League matches.
Masandawana travelled to Tanzania for their Group B match against CR Belouizdad of Algeria at the Benjamin Mkapa Stadium in Dar es Salaam at 3pm. The fixture was originally scheduled for 23 February but was cancelled due to medical restrictions in Algeria.
Downs were scheduled to take on Polokwane City in the Nedbank Cup last 16 on Saturday but the PSL has confirmed that this fixture has been rescheduled for Wednesday 10 March at Loftus Stadium in Tshwane at 3pm.
Downs' visit to Stellenbosch for the DStv Premiership fixture has also been postponed and the league is yet to confirm the new date.
This game was meant to take place on the coming Tuesday, just three days after Downs' match in Tanzania.
Amakhosi were in the same predicament as Sundowns as far as their next league fixture was concerned. Chiefs had a match away in Polokwane against Tshakhuma Tsha Madzivhandila next Tuesday but the league postponed it as well.
On Friday morning Amakhosi will fly from Joburg on a special chartered flight for Burkina Faso where they have a date with Moroccan outfit Wydad Casablanca in Ouagadougou at 4 August Stadium at 6pm.
This Group C clash was originally meant to have taken place on 13 February in Casablanca but it was postponed by CAF after the Moroccans did not issue Chiefs with visas.
Picture source: @kaizerchiefs