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MTC is sorry, free data for all

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MTC is sorry, free data for allMTC is sorry, free data for all Namibia's telecommunications giant MTC hopes that a public apology and declaration of love for their 2.4 million customers, in addition to 300 megabytes of free data, will put to rest widespread customer fury and furore after system enhancements caused havoc for the past two months.

At a press conference yesterday, MTC executive Tim Ekandjo announced that the difficult period following the implementation of the system enhancements should now be a thing of the past, after 335 000 customers were “duly refunded” and the system stabilised.

Ekandjo admitted that the company had received “quite a lot of queries since the system update” and “quite a lot of complaints” related to the system enhancements.

Ekandjo could not yet expand on the exact nature of the upgrade, but said it was linked to keeping MTC in line with international standards and competitors.

He added that in a symbolic gesture to show MTC was “truly sorry” for the upheaval, the company had decided to, in addition to the 335 000 refunds and a public apology, award each MTC customer with 300 MB of free data.

The free data to all customers is a “token of MTC's appreciation to all customers for their loyalty, continued support and to extend an apology for any inconvenience they might have endured during the recent MTC system enhancements.”

MTC also stated that the gift was a demonstration of their “unconditional love and support” to all MTC users.

The free data will be available for use on both pre-paid and post-paid service plans, beginning today at 08:00, and will be valid for 48 hours for pre-paid customers.

Post-paid customers will be able to use the data until their next billing cycle.

In addition, all Turbo Boost customers will receive a free Turbo Boost bundle commensurate to their Turbo Boost plan, Ekandjo said.

Ekandjo said MTC did not mind admitting that it was not perfect.

“We sometimes make mistakes. So we are never too big to say we are sorry to all affected customers.”

He emphasised that a “thorough verification process to make sure every affected customer is duly refunded” was undertaken, and that the system had been stabilised.

He added that MTC's technical teams had experienced a steep learning curve and “next time we will ensure there is less inconvenience”.

Ekandjo would not comment on the total value of the refunds or the free data, saying that MTC did not want to spoil the gift by bragging about what it cost the giver.

Ekandjo told reporters that in terms of reputational damage following widespread complaints on social media and elsewhere, the intention was not to offer a gift in the hope of erasing the harm done.

He noted that the gift was to underline the company's apology and assurances that happy customers are a priority.

He added that there has not been a “mass exodus” of customers to other service providers and that MTC “retained most customers”.

Ekandjo also dismissed accusations made on social media and elsewhere that their leading role had led them to adopt an uncaring stance towards customers.

“We do not agree that we have adopted a non-caring attitude, because we are a leader in the industry. We are big and successful, because of the support we have received from our customers, and we will never abandon them.”

The company's data charges were ranked as the second lowest in Africa, and the cheapest in sub-Saharan Africa, the company announced yesterday.

JANA-MARI SMITH

Namibian Sun turns 10

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Namibian Sun turns 10Namibian Sun turns 10 We are proud to announce that your favourite newspaper, Namibian Sun, has reached an important milestone and is celebrating ten years of existence today.

The newspaper has grown by leaps and bounds since it first hit the streets on the morning of 20 September 2007 – first as a weekly before converting to a daily publication.

“Looking back over the first decade of our existence, we have grown with the Namibian Sun community and our contribution and role in shaping public discourse over the years is there for all to see,” says the editor, Festus Nakatana. “We are committed to producing quality and independent content as well as acting in the interest of the public and holding institutions accountable, as we have always done in the last ten years. To all our readers and advertisers, thank you for your support.”

Guards' pay gazetted

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Guards' pay gazettedGuards' pay gazettedNew minimum wage now binding All security companies must now pay the minimum wage agreed on in December, but only SAN-affiliated companies must give back pay too. The long-awaited Government Gazette instructing all Namibian security companies to start paying the new minimum wage for security officers was published last week.

The new minimum wage was agreed in December last year between the Security Association of Namibia (SAN) and the unions.

In what has been an ongoing controversy since January, only SAN-affiliated companies were compelled to implement the agreed wages, which included a minimum wage increase of approximately 25%, from N$6.75 or N$7 to N$8.75, marking the first phase of the agreement.

The second phase of the agreement was only applicable for employees of SAN-affiliated companies, who have been employed for a year or more on 1 July 2017, and constituted an approximately 15% increase, from N$8.75 to N$10 per hour.

But, as of Friday, the ministry concluded the process of extending the collective agreement in the security industry, and the terms and conditions of employment contained in that agreement “now apply to all employees and employers in the industry,” a statement from the Ministry of Labour, Industrial Relations and Employment Creation stated.

Labour permanent secretary Bro-Mathew Shinguadja underscored yesterday that only SAN-affiliated companies were legally bound by the agreement prior to the gazetting of the agreement last week.

The ministry explained that any SAN members who have not yet implemented the new minimum wages have to ensure employees are compensated, backdated to January and July as was relevant.

“Members of SAN were to implement their agreement from the date they set themselves and if there are SAN members who have not implemented the agreement since 1 January 2017, employees have the right in terms of that agreement to claim whatever is due to them from that date,” Shinguadja told Namibian Sun.

The ministry also confirmed yesterday that for non-SAN-affiliated members, the “increment is only effective from 15 September 2017 and that means there will be no back pay. Back pay will only be applicable to the security officers employed by the companies who were part to the agreement, and that is if they never implemented it [collective agreement].”

The ministry explained that “this collective agreement is only extended to the entire industry as from 15 September 2017 and therefore it only becomes binding to non-parties (of SAN) effective the date of the extension.”

He referred to section 71 of the Labour Act and said that “to extend an agreement to non-members is a legal process which has to be managed and implemented in according with the Labour Act. Sight should not be lost; this is a legal mechanism that forces someone who was not a party to the agreement to be bound by it unlike the parties to it who have set the parameters themselves.”



SAN earlier this year said that the fact that only SAN-affiliated companies had to comply with the agreement, after a December strike was barely averted through their work with the unions, and the resulting agreement, had disadvantaged them in numerous ways.



SAN president Dries Kannemeyer said that while non-affiliated companies had been able to continue paying N$7 or less, SAN-affiliated companies struggled to absorb the additional costs without alienating customers or having to cut jobs.



Moreover, several members abandoned the association, preferring to continue paying the lower wages until the gazetting was concluded.



During the December negotiations, SAN warned that a survey among industry stakeholders had shown that the steep increase in wages would be unaffordable and would likely force companies to institute layoffs, as clients would be unable to handle the cost of the service that would inevitably trickle down to them.



“But nothing of this feedback was taken into consideration by the ministry or the unions. Any decrease in security manpower should be laid before labour and the union's doors,” Kannemeyer said.



Earlier this year, it was estimated that at least 150 out of a total of 180 security companies in the country, including SAN-affiliated companies, did not implement the new wages until last week's gazette.



The ministry earlier this year said the delay in gazetting the extension of the agreement was due to negligence on the part of SAN and the unions.



Shinguadja told Namibian Sun it was unclear why the application to extend the agreement had been delayed, when all were familiar with the processes of extending the agreements to the entire industry.







Forward and onwards







The ministry last week cautioned all employers in the industry that they are now legally bound to “be aware and comply with all the national labour laws, including this collective agreement.”



SAN's Kannemeyer yesterday said the industry-wide increase on wages would affect the cost of services.



“What I believe is going to happen is that security companies are now going to put through increases to their clients and we don't know how many clients are going to accept these. During our initial negotiations the permanent secretary of labour did indicate that government institutions will be able to give the necessary increases for companies providing security services to them.”



The ministry warned in their statement that “no security company will be eligible to provide security services to the State (at all levels) and its agencies and parastatals unless it is compliant with this agreement.”

Katupose will play CHAN

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Katupose will play CHANKatupose will play CHANHighlands Park remain in contact with him Muna Katupose will possibly join national teammates Chris Katjiukua, Peter Shalulile and Larry Horaeb at Highlands Park FC next year. Brave Warriors striker Muna Katupose has confirmed that he will be available for the African Nations Championships (CHAN) team selection.

The CHAN qualifiers hero has been linked with a move to South African Premier Division club Highlands Park FC.

Katupose was on trial with the club from 4 to 15 September. He returned to Namibia over the weekend.

With the national team preparing for the CHAN competition, it has been speculated that the striker might not be available for selection because he might not be locally based.

Katupose yesterday assured Namibian Sun that he will not be leaving for South Africa anytime soon.

“Well, it was a great opportunity for me to train with Highlands Park and I can confirm that they might possibly sign me by January.

“This will however only take place after the CHAN competition in Kenya.

“The club's coach told me that they were very impressed with my performance during my stay in South Africa and they were ready to use my services,” Katupose said.

Katupose's brace in the last CHAN qualifiers match secured the Brave Warriors a place in next year's showpiece.

Namibia had to beat the Comoros by 2-0 in the return leg at the Sam Nujoma Stadium after losing 2-1 in the first leg away to the Islanders.

The striker came off the bench and scored two brilliant goals to send the country to the CHAN finals.

It was also the forward's last-minute goal that guaranteed Namibia a place in the 2008 Africa Cup of nations a few years ago.

“My focus right now will be to work very hard in order to ensure that Namibia performs well at the CHAN competition.

“I am willing to give it all in training so that I can remain fit and strong for next year.”

The fifth edition of the CHAN finals will be held in Kenya from 11 January to 2 February next year, with 16 teams competing for the grand prize of U$1.25 million (N$16.2 million).

All the teams that qualified for the tournament received N$2.2 million for their heroic efforts.

JESSE JACKSON KAURAISA

Shikongo to teach guides

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Shikongo to teach guidesShikongo to teach guides Namibia's three-time Paralympic gold medallist, Ananias Shikongo, will host an athletics event at the DTS sports grounds in Windhoek at the weekend.

Shikongo will teach teams of two sighted participants how to compete in a visually impaired race.

Following the training, participating teams will compete against each other in a 100m race, where one team member will be blindfolded and the other act as the guide.

The line-up of participating teams include representatives from well-known Namibian corporates such as Agra, Namdeb, MVA Fund, PricewaterhouseCoopers, Crown Distributers, Namibia Breweries and the Development Bank of Namibia.

The event is a joint venture by Shikongo's initiative, the Namibian Sport on the Move Foundation, and investment company BFS Nampro Fund, aimed at raising funds and boosting public awareness of para-athletics in Namibia.

SPORT REPORTER

Young golfers thrill

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Young golfers thrillYoung golfers thrillNamibia Junior Open Golf Championships 2017 It was a cold and windy weekend at the Rossmund Golf Club, which made it a bit tougher for low scores, but Henco Rieckert didn't let the bad weather influence his game. Henco Rieckert was majestic as he cruised to a seven-shot victory in the Namibia Junior Open Golf Championships at Rossmund Golf Club over the weekend.

The 16-year-old Omeya golfer fired a magnificent round with two birdies and 16 pars in two days.

Heading in to the final round he led by two shots from the local favourites, Wayne Proffitt from Rossmund Golf Club and Marthinus Marais of Walvis Bay Golf Club.

The two tried to close the gap in the final round, but Rieckert was untouchable.

The runaway victory followed Rieckert's previous visits to the All Africa Junior Championships in Zimbabwe and International Curro Golf Championships South Africa.

Cilliers Sachse from Omeya Golf Club had steady rounds of golf over the two days and he won the B division by 11 strokes.

Emile Vilbert from Walvis Bay Golf Club, just seven years of age, won the C division by nine points.

Lempie, an eight-year-old girl from the Walvis Bay development group, won the women's development division.

Marike Neethling won the girls' C division. She is also representing Namibia in the final Sanlam Golf Tournament in Sun City in October.

The development division was contested by 18 junior players between the ages of six and 13, with the assistance of Adri Pienaar, Brenda Lens and Gert Olivier.

They are said to be showing potential and some are tipped to excel in the sport in the future.

The organisers said junior golf in Namibia was going from strength to strength. The next junior tournament will be hosted at Walvis Bay and Rossmund in December.



Final results of the Namibian Junior Golf Championships

Overall Winner: Henco Rieckert

A division Best Gross: Damian da Silva

A division Best Net: Marthinus Marais

B division Best Gross: Cilliers Sachse

B division Best Net: Jonathan Mather

C division Winner: Emile Vilbert

Second place: Victor Watt

Third place: Charl Hamman

Overall girls' winner: Marike Neethling

Development boys' winner: Sioni

Development girls' winner: Lempie

SPORT REPORTER

//Goa!Haob Games next week

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//Goa!Haob Games next week//Goa!Haob Games next week The annual //Goa!Haob Games will take place at Tsumeb next weekend.

The event offers netball and football tournaments for people between the ages of 40 and 60.

So far, about 38 teams in the 40-49 age group have confirmed their participation, while eight teams in the 50-60 group also confirmed their presence.

Interested teams have been requested to register for the tournament before the end of this week.

Teams in the 50-60 age group have time till early next week to register for the tournament.

The registration fee is N$800 per team and more than 30 000 spectators are expected.

Trophies and medals will be handed out to the victorious teams at the tournament.

Sponsor John Ramakutla said: “It is always great to sponsor this event because it helps the elders showcase their skills.

“This event can also ensure that older people remain fit and healthy for a long time.

“We are inviting anyone interested to come and spend the weekend with us in Tsumeb.”

JESSE JACKSON KAURAISA

Brazil eye London for pre-World Cup camp

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Brazil eye London for pre-World Cup campBrazil eye London for pre-World Cup camp Brazil could choose London as the location for their pre-World Cup training camp next year, according to media reports.

The team's general coordinator, Edu Gaspar, is currently in the British capital to speak with local clubs about the availability of their facilities.

“It's an idea that we have debated internally. We want to optimise our preparation and we think it's important to choose a base before arriving in Russia,” Gaspar told the Folha de S.Paulo newspaper.

It is understood Brazil coach Tite wants his squad to stay in London for 10 days before the group travels to its World Cup base in the Black Sea resort city of Sochi.

The report added that Arsenal was a leading candidate to host the Brazil squad given that Gaspar played for the London club in the early 2000s. Brazil has already qualified for the World Cup, which will be played in 11 Russian cities from June 14 to July 15.



NAMPA / XINHUA

Boks will bounce back

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Boks will bounce backBoks will bounce backSpringboks aren't worse than the All Blacks Springbok coach Allister Coetzee is adamant that his team will bounce back in their next match. The Springboks suffered a 57-0 defeat in the Castle Lager Rugby Championship at the hands of their old foe New Zealand in Albany.

Coetzee returned to South Africa alongside a very down-looking Bok group on Sunday night and said his side had simply hit “a perfect storm” in Albany, and that the score-line was hardly a reflection of how good the team were.

“Definitely not, we did get that on Saturday but I would say that we are definitely not 50 points. It is a bad day at the office to be honest but should we get them at Newlands, then we will see,” the defiant Coetzee said ahead of the October 7 rematch between the two sides in Cape Town.

Coetzee looked to explain the tsunami of points the team conceded to post the worst ever defeat at the hands of the All Blacks, a result which can't be sugar-coated no matter how good the spin.

“It is disappointing obviously and I think we really prepared to put up a good performance or an improved performance from the Australian one. The week went very well but obviously we had a few setbacks, but that is no excuse. We just hit a perfect storm, where you had the All Blacks being criticised for their performances in the second test against Australia, the one they almost lost and the one against Argentina. You don't need to motivate the All Blacks when they play the Boks.

“It was almost like it was a perfect day for them. We hung ourselves in a way because we didn't execute. And if you don't execute against the All Blacks then you will be punished and in the first 20 minutes we were dominating collisions. We felt we were looking in good nick, but every time when we needed to go one more phase, or one more pass, they ripped the ball and we were behind the poles.

“A little kick behind from a quick tap and we were behind and they scored. Great defence until they used the cross kick and the ball bounced awkwardly and it was 24-0 before we had any answers.

“We did a lot of attack and had some good passages of play, some good territory, dominated possession but had nothing to show for it. From that point of view it shows again you really have to be accurate when you play against New Zealand. You can't give them points on a platter.”

Coetzee said the team now knew very well where they were in comparison to the All Blacks. And while he wouldn't concede the point, the evidence of Saturday's massacre is pretty compelling.

“Like you rightly say, they are the best team in the world. And now we have a clear indication of where we are. I don't think in terms of the physicality stakes, the effort stakes, we are far behind. Our intensity isn't far behind. But in terms of depth in our squad and in terms of execution on the day, we've had a great lineout success story.

“The great lesson for our players and what they experienced is the amount of pressure that New Zealand can exert on a team, and that is what you need to cope with. That is the rush defence, how they forced those errors and in the contact holding. That is crucial; there is a lot of learning. I don't always want to say learning but there were a lot of players who played for the first time against New Zealand and they have experienced it themselves.”

Yet the record books will show Coetzee has now lost to the All Blacks by 50 points within a 12-month period, and while as coach he needs to find answers before the two home games, Saturday's result was a clear assessment of just where this Springbok team is right now: Loads of promise, but lacking depth and a killer instinct, lacking game-breaking superstars and composure to compete with the best in the world.



SUPERSPORT

Man Utd fans urged to drop 'racist' Lukaku chant

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Man Utd fans urged to drop 'racist' Lukaku chantMan Utd fans urged to drop 'racist' Lukaku chant British anti-discrimination group Kick It Out on Tuesday called on Manchester United fans to stop a “racist” chant about striker Romelu Lukaku.

The 24-year-old arrived from Everton in the summer for a fee that could reach £90 million (N$ 1.6 billion)and has quickly become a popular figure among supporters, netting seven goals in as many games.

Lukaku already has a chant in his honour but the song, to the tune of the Stone Roses' 'Made of Stone', refers to the size of his penis, using a stereotype about black men that has led Kick It Out to call for action.

“Kick It Out is aware of footage of alleged racist chanting by supporters of Manchester United that emerged on Wednesday,” said a spokesman for the group.

“The lyrics used in the chant are offensive and discriminatory. Racist stereotypes are never acceptable in football or wider society, irrespective of any intention to show support for a player.

“We have contacted Manchester United regarding the issue and will be working closely with them and the FA (Football Association) to ensure that it is addressed swiftly.”

A United spokesman said: “We are seeking advice from the relevant bodies. Manchester United has a zero-tolerance (approach) towards all forms of discrimination.”

Scott Patterson, a season-ticket holder who runs the The Republik of Mancunia blog, called the chant “drivel that belongs in the 1980s”.

“It's a cheap and insulting stereotype that has no place in this day and age,” he posted.



NAMPA / AFP

Audi takes lead in automated driving, others wary

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Audi takes lead in automated driving, others waryAudi takes lead in automated driving, others wary Audi is taking a lead in bringing more automated driving to roads, but rivals seem in no rush to follow while legal and regulatory uncertainties still cloud the technology.

At the Frankfurt car show, Audi paraded the A8, which can drive itself under certain conditions, decide when to change lanes and does not always require drivers to monitor the road - though they must be ready to intervene at the sound of an alarm.

On a scale where zero is a fully manual car and five a fully autonomous one, the A8 is a level three, putting it ahead of level two features offered by Tesla and General Motors.

Struggling to emerge from the shadow of parent Volkswagen's diesel emissions scandal, Audi is badly in need of a new prestige model and a marketing coup.

“It's gratifying that we are able to set a positive sign for real 'Vorsprung durch Technik',” said research and development chief Peter Mertens, referring to Audi's advertising slogan meaning “advancement through technology”.

But with special approval still required almost everywhere to drive such a car, and question marks over how quickly the driver has to take back control - and who is responsible during handover - some rivals are sceptical about whether the market is ready.

“Who will accept to pay for something that they can use only in extremely limited conditions?” asked Didier Leroy, European chairman of Japanese carmaker Toyota.

“The fact that Audi is introducing this one now doesn't mean that we will rush in the coming months to say that we are able to do it too. That is not our logic,” he told Reuters at the car show.

Among the A8's new features is the “traffic jam pilot”, which can completely control driving at up to 60km/h on a divided highway.

The German company expects customers will be able to use all the model's self-driving functions next year or in 2019. It is applying for approval country by country, starting with Germany, a spokesman said during the show.

Audi thus hopes to leapfrog Tesla, whose Autopilot technology suffered a major blow when a driver using it was killed in a crash, and GM, whose Super Cruise feature to be offered this autumn will allow limited hands-off driving at highway speeds on limited access roads like dual carriageways.

In the wake of the crash, Tesla said the driver was using Autopilot in conditions for which it was not intended, and US regulators said carmakers should take steps to make sure semi-autonomous systems are not misused.



Hands on the wheel

Regulatory regimes vary widely across the world and, in the United States, even from state to state, creating a headache for manufacturers. Some authorities would rather they held back.

“We're very concerned about the idea that drivers will be encouraged to pay even less attention than they already are and that manufacturers are rolling out these systems without existing federal standards,” Linda Bailey, executive director of the US National Association of City Transportation Officials, told Reuters.

Florida, seen as the least restrictive state, has essentially legalised all forms of autonomous driving without the need for a permit or insurance requirements. New York, at the other end of the spectrum, has a law that demands drivers always have at least one hand on the wheel.

Michael Jellen, president of Velodyne, which develops lidar sensing technology that is used in autonomous cars, said the industry still had a long way to go.

“When they truly launch a hands-free, driver disengagement system, that's when we think (the industry) will have evolved,” he said in an interview. “Today, when someone has their hands on the wheel and their foot ready to brake, I call that driving.”

In Europe, Germany is the pioneer, having passed a law in May that legalises autonomous driving in principle as long as a licensed driver is behind the wheel - although approval still has to be sought for individual models.

German politicians hope to persuade the European Union to adopt common regulations to speed adoption of autonomous driving and prevent self-driving systems from having to switch themselves off or change parameters when they encounter national borders - so-called geofencing.



NAMPA/REUTERS

Refreshed Kuga launched

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Refreshed Kuga launchedRefreshed Kuga launchedImproved specification, features All models are sold with Ford Protect, including a four-year or 120 000km comprehensive warranty, three-year or unlimited distance roadside assistance and five-year or unlimited km corrosion warranty. Ford's updated Kuga SUV has arrived in South Africa sporting design tweaks throughout as well as new features.

Since the start of 2017 the Kuga has been the subject of media scrutiny, a court battle and outcry from owners. The automaker hopes to mitigate the damage caused with its extensive recall plan for existing models and the roll-out of a spruced SUV.

The refreshed SUV can be powered by either two petrol options, the 1.5-litre and 2.0-litre EcoBoost, and a single diesel unit - 2.0-litre TDCi.

Depending on model, there is the option of front-wheel drive or all-wheel drive and manual or automatic transmissions.

As before, three specification levels are available; entry-level Ambiente, the mid-level Trend and the range-topping Titanium.

Prices start from R368 800 for the 1.5 Ambiente to R506 900 for the top-of-the-range 2.0 TDCi Titanium.

The new Kuga features Ford's latest design language manifesting in a redesigned grille as well as new headlights and fog lights.

At the rear, it gains redesigned light clusters and new tailgate design, along with the twin exhausts. A new range of standard and optional alloy wheel designs are available from 17” to 19”.

The refreshed Kuga retains Ford's 1.5-litre EcoBoost engine producing 110kW/240Nm in the front-wheel drive six-speed manual derivative.

A 132kW version of the 1.5 EcoBoost engine is fitted to SUVs equipped with a six-speed automatic– available in front-wheel drive guise and with all-wheel drive.

The petrol engine line-up is topped by the 2.0 EcoBoost, which produces 177kW/340Nm, and is available exclusively with all-wheel drive and the six-speed automatic.

For diesel fans, the 2.0 TDCi turbodiesel engine remains, capable of 132kW/400Nm, powering all four wheels through the PowerShift dual-clutch automatic.

An enhanced version of Ford's Active City Stop with low-speed collision mitigation and avoidance has been introduced, which can be specified as with the Driver Assistance Pack available as an option on the Trend and Titanium models. This pack also includes Adaptive Cruise Control, Blind Spot Information System (BLIS), Lane Departure Warning and Lane Keeping Aid, as well as Advanced Active Park Assist.



SYNC3

Ford's adds its new SYNC3 connectivity system, standard on the Trend and Titanium derivatives. Kuga drivers can operate the SYNC3 8” touchscreen in the same way that they use their smartphones. A new interface features larger, easier to operate buttons and enables pinch and swipe gestures for the first time.

The new Kuga now offers Perpendicular Parking, in addition to the semi-autonomous Active Park Assist technology.

Enhanced safety... for pedestrians?

The Kuga's bonnet features a wider, central dome that, says Ford, “not only serves to complement its sporty, smart new look, but also incorporates a structural design that improves pedestrian protection in the event of an accident. The bonnet and rear liftgate also have been re-engineered to help mitigate damage to more expensive-to-replace components.”



WHEELS24

Discovery SVX, BMW X7...

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Discovery SVX, BMW X7...Discovery SVX, BMW X7...Top bakkies, SUVs at Frankfurt Motor Show At the 2017 Frankfurt International Motor Show, automakers are pulling out all the stops to dazzle visitors with cars that are greener, smarter and faster than ever. Bakkies and SUV were once the outcasts at car shows, this year, they were amongst the main features at the 2017 Frankfurt Motor Show.

Land Rover revealed a new variant of its Discovery, the V6-powered SVX, tailored to tackle the great outdoors. BMW expands its SUV offering with the reveal of its X7.

In terms of bakkies, Ford debuted its Ranger Black edition and Toyota celebrates its iconic Toyota with a new limited edition at the show.

Here's what the big reveals actually mean:



VW Amarok Ultimate

Taking the new X-Class quite seriously, VW has shown its upgraded V6 Amarok at the Frankfurt auto show. “Upgraded, V6, but they only launched it the other day?” Indeed.

Beyond the 19” Milford alloys, chrome surface trim highlights, LED running lights and exceptionally yellow lacquer, the Aventura Exclusive Amarok has boosted some addition power and torque form VW's 3-litre V6 turbodiesel.

VW is claiming the new V6 will be good for 190kW, very tidily countering the ascendance of Mercedes-Benz's X-Class V6, which makes 190kW too.

Land Rover Discovery SVX

The great British off-road brand is suffering from Mini syndrome, by launching derivatives of its most esteemed models which nobody really asked for but some might really enjoy.

New Discovery SVX is just such a car, adding a supercharged V8 to the one Land Rover which is made for Safari work, instead of street racing. We can understand all those Ranger Rover Sport and other SVR models but this one? It's a 5-litre 386kW supercharged V8 in a curiously place...



Mercedes-Benz GLC F-Cell

The theme at Frankfurt 2017 was electrification, but Mercedes-Benz has a slightly different view of where the electricity to power your future vehicle should source from onboard.

Hydrogen has fallen out of favour with the automotive industry, but Mercedes believes that generating electricity from a hydrogen fuel cell, instead of a lithium-ion battery pack, is the superior execution of zero emissions motoring. Its GLC F-Cell concept is powered by an entirely capable 147Kw electric motor and with 4.4kg of hydrogen onboard, the claimed endurance is 437km. Best of all? The only waste product is water vapour.

We suspect GLC F-Cell could be massively popular with Cape Town residents when it becomes available in 2019.



Toyota Hilux Incredible

Five decades of getting stuff done. That is what Toyota's Hilux has been up to since its launch in the late 1960s.

To celebrate its invincible legacy Toyota's built a special edition Invincible 50 (surprise, surprise), with all those bits of kit Hilux owners ordinarily have to source themselves – aftermarket.

Beyond the graphics, you'll notice bolder wheel arch mouldings, 18” alloys (rolling BF Goodrich tyres) and a sweeping roll bar on the back, shading the custom toolbox which sits right up against the cab. Inside? A leather trimmed handbrake. Because it's a tool, not a fashion accessory.



Toyota Prado

The junior Land Cruiser has been refreshed with new headlights (shaped to reduce the risk of damage off-road), bonnet and fenders. Most notable is certainly the new grille, which features five distinct vertical slat groupings.

Inside the redesign has been even more comprehensive with a new centre-stack featuring upgraded infotainment, improved switchgear, evolved instrument binnacle and dials. Autonomy was a theme at this year's Frankfurt auto show and new Prado has pedestrian detection programmed into its emergency brake assist function. South African Land Cruiser fans can expect new Prado at local dealerships before the end of this year.



BMW X7 I

Perhaps the most controversial vehicle revealed at the IAA 2017, was BMW's vision of its future. A gigantic SUV, X7 iPerformance is a six-seater with the largest cabin BMW's engineers have ever spaced.

A plug-in hybrid, X7's bloating of the characteristic BMW kidneys has perhaps shown the limits of this renowned styling detail. The logic behind a mammoth SUV is simple: America. BMW does not possess a counter to the Mercedes GLS and when the production version of X7 goes on sale in 2019, its purpose will be to siphon off some of those large SUV sales.



Ford Ranger Black

The only American auto brand which bothered coming all the way to Frankfurt, Ford's bakkie display was perhaps a bit overshadowed by what it had announced just before the show; confirmation of the new Ranger Raptor high-performance double-cab bakkie.

As such the Frankfurt show Ranger, the brand's new 'black' limited edition, wasn't quite the news it would ordinarily have been. Featuring dechromed styling, with the dominant theme being 'black' (surprise, surprise), the production run for Ranger black will be only 2500. With Wildtrak and new FX4 Rangers already being desirable limited-edition versions of the popular double-cab bakkie in South Africa, we suspect it won't come down all the way south, to us.



Chery TX

Chinese car brand are usually noticeable by their absence at European auto shows because the quality and safety requirements of the world's oldest car market precludes them from entering.

Chery is keen on changing this perception with the reality of a true premium SUV. It's called the Exeed TX and about the size of a Rav4, it's a Chinese plug-in hybrid SUV boasting a lot of German design and engineering input.

The claims for Exeed are impressive, 0-100kph in 6 seconds, a 124 157m. Allegedly charges to full capacity in a mere four hours too, from a humble 220v household power source. Inside the infotainment system and its touchscreen interface are supplied by Bosch, Exceed's entire electronics architecture is the work of Continental automotive and the chassis was modelled by Benteler.

German detailing, Chinese pricing. Could Chery be on to its first truly competitive global car? We'll have to wait for the production version to see.



WHEELS24

MTC a gandja ombili

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MTC a gandja ombiliMTC a gandja ombili Ehangano lyomakwatathano goongodhi dhopeke moNamibia, lyoMTC otali gandja ombili kookastoma dhawo dha thika poomiliyona 2.4, oshowo oshali shelongitho lyointernet noomegabytes 300, omolwa omaupyakadhi ngoka ga dhidhilikwa kookastoma dhaMTc, pethimbo ehangano ndyoka lyali tali ningi omalunduluko mosystem yawo oomwedhi mbali dha piti.

Pomutumba gwiikundaneki ngoka gwa ningwa kOmukomeho gwEhangano ndyoka, Tim Ekandjo, okwa tseyitha kutya uupyakadhi mboka wa dhidhilikwa kaayakulwa yawo pethimbo ndyoka oshinima sha pita ngashiingeyi konima sho aayakulwa ya thika po-335 000 yali ya shunithwa iimaliwa yawo.

Ekandjo ina gandja uuyelele kutya oyali taya ningi omayambulepo goludhi luni ihe okwa koleke kutya oya mono omanyenyeto ogendji okuza kaayakulwa yawo.

Okwa gwedha po kutya onga omukalo gwokuulika egandjo lyawo lyombili, otaya gwedhwa ko oshali shelongitho lyointernet nooMB 300.

Elongitho ndyoka lyoshali olya tamekele ohela potundi onti-8:00 na oli na ongushu uule woowili 48, kaayakulwa ayehe yaMTC.

Ookastoma adhihe dhoTurbo Boost otadhi ka pewa omakwatathano ngoka oshali, pahapu dhaEkandjo.

Ekandjo okwa popi kutya oshili mondjila okutaambako epuko lyawo na otaya gandja ombili kaayakulwa yawo ayehe.

Ekandjo ina popya kutya ongushu yiifuta yooskatoma mbyoka ya shunitha oshowo elongitho lyoshali lyointernet ndyoka, olyongushu yi thike peni, ta popi kutya inaya hala okwiiholola kutya otaya ka longitha shi thike peni, moshali shoka taya gandja koshigwana onga ombili.

Ekandjo okwa ekelehi woo omapopyo ngoka ga ningwa komakwatathano gopainternet kutya ehangano lyawo kali nako we nasha naayakulwa yawo.

“Itatu itaala kutya otwa kutha po omukalo gwokukala twaahenako nasha nookastoma dhetu. Otse aakomeho moshikondo shika. Tse otuli ehangano enene ndyoka lya pondola oshindji omolwa eyambidhidho ndyoka twa mono okuza kookastoma dhetu, onkene katu na esiku tu dhi ekelehi.”

Iifuta yomalongitho gointernet mehanagno ndyoka oya li ya tulwa ponomola ontiyali momahangano ngoka ge na iifuta yi li pevi menenenvi lyaSaharan Africa, patseyitho ndyoka lya ningwa kehangano ndyoka lyomakwatathano mOmaandaha.



JANA-MARI SMITH

Uutile wuulunga woondoongi

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Uutile wuulunga woondoongiUutile wuulunga woondoongiAakwashigwana taya holola omaiyuvo gawo kombinga yuutomeno woondoongi Aakwashigwana yaaTopnaar mboka taya lumbu momudhingoloko gwomulonga gwaKuiseb mErongo, oya holola omaiyuvo gawo omolwa oompangela ndhoka tadhi ningwa opo ku totwepo uutomeno woondoongi moshilongo, taya popi kutya uutomeno mboka otawu ka etitha uulunga woondoongi moshilongo. Omukomeho gwelelo lyopamuthigululwakalo lyaakwashigwana mboka, Seth Kooitjie okwa popi kutya aantu ye oyuuvite omahokololo guutomeno mboka taga popiwa, na oga e ta uutile mokati kaakwashigwana mboka.

Okwa lombwele oNampa kutya ohaya longitha iinamwenyo mbyoka momalweendo gawo nomathimbo gamwe ihaye yi landitha po kwaamboka haya tomo oondoongi.

Kooitjie okwa popi kutya kaye na ontseyo neuveko kutya uutomeno mboka otawu vulu okweetitha uupyakadhi wu thike peni.

Omapopyo gaKooitjie oga landula omatseyitho ga ningwa miikundaneki kutya aapunguli AaChina otaya pangele okutotapo ongeshefa yuutomeno mOutjo nOkahandja.

Uutomeno mboka otawu pangele okukala tawu tomo oondoongi dhili 70 mesiku kehe nokomvula omayalulo ngoka otaga ulike kutya oondoongi 25 000.

Okwa popi kutya ope na ongeshefa onene yoshipa shondoongi moChina, shoka tashi longithwa mokuninga omuti gwa simana, hagu ithanwa 'ejiao'. Kakele kokulongithwa momalweendo, oondoongi ohadhi longithwa woo mokupulula omapya moNamibia. Omayalulo giinamwenyo ngoka gwa ningwa mo-2016, koshikondo shUundjolowele wIinamwenyo, oga holola kutya Namibia oku na oondoongi dha thika po- 144 647.

Sho a ningilwa omapulaapulo, Mayola gwa Outjo Marius Sheya okwa popi kutya elelo itali vulu okutula miilonga okatomeno hoka, ngele ope na uumbangi kutya otaka vulu okweeta uupyakadhi moshigwana,.

Sheya okwa popi kutya omakonaakono

goenvironmental impact assessment (EIA) ogeli metifa nelelo otali kaya moonkundathana nomahangano ngoka taga pangele okutunga uutomeno mboka oshowo oshigwana. Mayola gwaKahandja, Congo Hindjou okwa popi kutya elelo lyondoolopa yawo oya pula aakuthimbinga muutomeno mboka ya ninge ekwatathano noshigwana tango.

Kenya oye owala oshilongo shaAfrika shoka shi na okatomeno koondoongi, omanga iilongo ngaashi Tanzania, Botswana, Uganda naEthiopia oya pata uutomeno mboka, pahapu dhaAlex Mayers gwoBritish charity Donkey Sanctuary.

Mayers, ngoka e li moshilong opo a vule okuuva omaiyovo gaakwashigwana kombinga yoshikumungu shika, okwa popi kutya oondoongi ohadhi gandja ekwatho momalweendo gokufala kuuklinika, okukateka omeya nokulonga momapya gaakwashigwana mboka olundji haya dhengwa koshikukuta.

Okwa popi kutya omalelo goondoolopa oge na oshinakugwanithwa shokugamenena po oonkalamwenyo dhaakwashigwana.



-Nampa

PAULUS SHIKU

China rises at Frankfurt car show

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China rises at Frankfurt car showChina rises at Frankfurt car showChinese are not afraid of competition Usually the Frankfurt Motor Show is a time for European automakers to shine, but this year a few lesser known brands from Asia stole the show. Traditional heavyweights Fiat, Peugeot and Volvo may have shunned this year's Frankfurt auto show (IAA), but for Chinese and Taiwanese carmakers looking to make inroads in Europe the chance to step into the limelight was not to be missed.

Two years after becoming a surprise hit at the last IAA with an electric sedan concept car to rival Tesla's Model S, Taiwanese upstart Thunder Power was back at Europe's top industry showcase, which runs until September 24.

But this time there was no mistaking its ambitions.

Positioning itself a stone's throw away from luxury brands Maserati and Ferrari, Thunder Power unveiled a second prototype, a high-end electric SUV with which it hopes to capture a slice of the booming 4x4 market.

“I'm not interested in gasoline cars. I want to build an electric car that is the best in the world,” said chief executive Wellen Sham.

The sedan is set for mass production in 2019, followed by the SUV a year later, he told AFP, adding that the firm already had a factory in China and planned to set up one in Spain.

Starting with Germany and Britain, Thunder Power eventually aims to sell 40 000 units a year in Europe, he said.

On the other side of the mammoth Frankfurt convention centre, fairgoers marvelled at the renaissance of storied German brand Borgward, which went under 50 years ago but was brought back to life in 2015 with the help of Chinese truck maker Beiqi Foton.

“We are coming to Europe this year,” said chief executive Ulrich Walker, adding that its limited-edition BX7 SUV, priced at around 45 000 euros (N$ 717 023), will go on sale in Germany first before other models are launched across the continent.

Tapping into nostalgia for the brand's heyday, Borgward also unveiled a sporty Isabella concept car inspired by a legendary 1950s coupe of the same name.

The reborn German-Chinese manufacturer, which is already producing cars in China, plans to increase its European footprint by building an assembly plant in Borgward's original hometown of Bremen in northern Germany next year. The plant will manufacture electric vehicles for European consumers, with production slated for 2019.

“Like the Japanese and South Koreans in the past, Chinese manufacturers want to show they can be successful in Europe, it's a mark of quality, a test before expanding to other markets outside Europe,” said Walker.

Two other Chinese manufacturers, high-end WEY and the mass-market Chery, made their IAA debuts this year.

WEY, the newly created luxury label of Chinese carmaker Great Wall, showcased a range of compact 4x4s offering both petrol and hybrid drivetrains.

It also wowed with its XEV concept, a sleek crossover with futuristic-looking gullwing doors, but did not make any announcements about when it might land in Europe.

Chery showed off the Exeed Tx, an urban crossover designed for European tastes that it says will be made available with hybrid, plug-in hybrid and fully electric drivetrains.

“We have the firm intention to come to Europe, but it's too early to disclose the details,” Chery CEO Anning Chen said, hinting only that “this product isn't going to be the cheapest car on the market.”

Chinese carmakers' more visible presence at this year's IAA is not just for European consumption, said industry expert Laurent Petizon at consultancy AlixPartners.

Showing that they appeal to an international audience is also a way for the brands to increase their cachet back home in the world's largest car market, he told AFP, pointing out that those jostling for attention at the IAA were not China's biggest players.

“The goal is not to invade the European market, at least not for now,” he said.

But analyst Ferdinand Dudenhoeffer of Germany's CAR research centre noted that Chinese manufacturers had worked hard in recent years to improve their chances of gaining a foothold in Europe's competitive and mature car market.

“The design and quality are now at the level of those seen in general European manufacturers like Renault, Opel, Volkswagen,” he told AFP, calling the Chinese focus on offering electrified SUVs “a good strategy”.

Chery boss Chen for his part said he was “confident” of a European breakthrough.

“We are not just a Chinese automaker, we are a global automaker,” he said, brushing off concerns about the crowded European market.

“In China, we are not afraid of competition,” he said.



NAMPA/AFP

UK pushes ahead with nuclear projects

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UK pushes ahead with nuclear projectsUK pushes ahead with nuclear projectsAgainst rising headwinds Official figures show nuclear energy represented 21.2% of Britain's energy production last year, compared with 24.4% from renewable energy sources. Under pressure from Brexit and the declining costs of renewable energy, Britain's nuclear industry is increasingly relying on supportive government policy to plough on with high-profile - and controversial - projects.

With four big projects due for completion by 2025, the country is at the forefront of a global industry left shaken by the 2011 disaster at the Fukushima nuclear site in Japan.

“The UK is the best place in the world to build nuclear” as the sector does not face the political opposition found elsewhere, David Powell, Hitachi's Europe vice-president for nuclear power plant sales, told AFP on the sidelines of a conference in London this month.

Britain's Conservative government has made the decommissioning of the country's coal-fired power stations and ageing nuclear reactors - many of which were built in the 1950s - a pillar of its energy security policy and low-carbon commitments.

Only one of Britain's 15 existing reactors is expected to be in use by 2030.

But British anti-nuclear campaigners have denounced the government's steadfast commitment to nuclear power, urging it to focus instead on renewable sources like wind and solar.

“The contrast between the nuclear industry and the renewables industry could not be starker,” said Doug Parr, policy director at Greenpeace UK.

“Offshore wind, in particular, is dramatically falling in cost and rapidly improving in technology,” he said.

“It is clear that new nuclear will only be built with substantial government support which is not required by renewable energy technologies like wind and solar.”

Two new windpower projects announced last week appeared to confirm that it has become cheaper to harness energy from wind than nuclear.

But Tom Greatrex, chief executive of the Nuclear Industry Association, says he is not convinced, and that harnessing atomic energy still has its advantages.

“For nuclear energy, as with offshore wind, the more you build, the more the price falls,” he told AFP at the conference, which was also attended by senior delegates from the French giant Areva, China's CGN and the US group Westinghouse.

“Nuclear delivers what offshore wind can't deliver, which is constant, always available power. It does not matter what the weather is like,” he said.

But the industry also faces an entirely different obstacle in the form of Brexit, with Britain having to decide on whether to remain in Euratom, the European nuclear regulator.

In recent written evidence submitted to the UK parliament, French energy group EDF warned continued access to skilled labour from the EU, and the development of an alternative regulatory framework for Britain, would both be necessary for major projects like Hinkley Point to go ahead.

Last March, the first pouring of concrete at the Hinkley Point C power plant in western England brought the vision of a nuclear future for Britain one step closer to reality.

The site's two reactors, due to be built by 2025 in conjunction with EDF and China's CGN, will be Britain's first in more than two decades.

EDF is also considering building a reactor at Sizewell in eastern England as a counterpart to Hinkley, while CGN has its eyes on a similar project nearby.

Elsewhere, two reactors being built in Wales by the Japanese conglomerate Hitachi are expected to gain regulatory approval before the end of the year.

Increased demand for electric cars, trains and heating are contributing to the growing electricity demand, meaning a surge in new capacity is required, according to industry experts.

“No one says it should all be nuclear, but it must have its place,” Greatrex said.

But the competition from wind and solar power threatens to severely test the viability of British nuclear projects across the board in the coming years.



NAMPA/AFP

Sasol disbands debt-ridden BEE scheme

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Sasol disbands debt-ridden BEE schemeSasol disbands debt-ridden BEE scheme Petrochemical giant Sasol announced yesterday that it will disband its black economic empowerment scheme Sasol Inzalo when it matures next year.

In its place it will launch a new broad-based black economic empowerment scheme, the R21 billion Khanyisa empowerment scheme.

But Inzalo shareholders will receive no pay-out, after the scheme was unable to service debt due to low oil prices and lacklustre share performance.

Sasol said based on the closing Sasol Ordinary share price (SOL) of R389 on September 4 2017, Inzalo shareholders will not receive any Sasol shares when the scheme ends in 2018, due to the fund's debt.

The new scheme, Khanyisa, will draw from the lessons learned from Inzalo to evolve into a stronger, more successful fund, Sasol said. SOLBE1 shareholders will be given the right to participate in Khanyisa, and will also be issued with bonus shares.

Khanyisa's ownership structure is intended to achieve about 20% direct black ownership in Sasol South Africa for a period of up to ten years. It will be anchored in Sasol's assets in South Africa, and will be vendor financed.



Inzalo haunted by debt

With over 206 000 shareholders in Inzalo, the scheme was one of the biggest BBB-EE transactions in South Africa. Inzalo holds 16.1 million ordinary shares of Sasol and derives income from its dividends. It boasted over 200 000 previously-disadvantaged shareholders. But Sasol felt the scheme has not delivered on the desired outcome.

Inzalo comprised four elements: the Sasol Inzalo employee trusts, the Sasol Black Economic Empowerment ordinary or SOLBE1 shareholders, the Sasol Inzalo Groups funded element and the Sasol Inzalo Foundation. The foundation will be renamed and will not be part of Khanyisa.

At its inception Inzalo cost R26bn.

The BEE scheme matures next year, which means debt together with its expenses will have to be repaid.

Inzalo's Achilles heel was that it was heavily financed by third-party debt, obtained from mostly banks. To protect the scheme, Sasol fixed the interest rates at inception, a decision its executives in hindsight admitted was a mistake.

When interest rates declined, the fund still had to repay debt at the fixed rate. Sasol provided full guarantees for the banks in obtaining the financing for Inzalo.

Sasol said based on the closing share price of R389, there is a shortfall, backed by the guarantees, and a funding commitment for Sasol of about R2.1bn.

In disbanding Inzalo, Sasol will write off the internal debt of the scheme, which Sasol itself financed. It will then continue to repay the banks till Inzalo's debt is serviced. No value will be distributed to Inzalo's shareholders at the disbandment, because of the external debt.

Sasol Inzalo was created in 2008 by Sasol Limited, structured as a 10-year investment to September 2018. When the scheme started out, the oil price stood at US$100 per oil barrel. But the price has halved since then, affecting the profitability of Inzalo.



NEWS24

Obama begins lucrative turn as Wall Street speaker

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Obama begins lucrative turn as Wall Street speakerObama begins lucrative turn as Wall Street speaker Barack Obama has begun cashing in on his time in the White House with paid Wall Street speeches less than a year after leaving office, a practice which drew stinging rebukes for Hillary Clinton during last year's presidential campaign.

The former US president will appear Monday before a who's who of the US health care industry at a conference to be held next week by the New York trading firm Cantor Fitzgerald, according to two sources with knowledge of the matter.

He will deliver remarks before answering questions from the audience, they said on condition of anonymity.

Obama will discuss his signature 2010 health care reform legislation, known as Obamacare, which Republican lawmakers are still working to dismantle after several failed attempts.

According to a person briefed on Obama's planned appearance, he will be paid about US$400 000 (N$5.3 million).

In August, Obama addressed a New York gathering held by the Chicago private banking and wealth management firm Northern Trust.

Panelists at that event, according to the firm's website, included billionaire former New York mayor Michael Bloomberg, chief Microsoft cybersecurity advisor Jonathan Trull and IBM general manager for “blockchain” technology Marie Wieck.

Obama received US$400 000 for his Northern Trust appearance, according to Bloomberg News, which also reported Monday that the former president had made a similar appearance this month at the private equity behemoth Carlyle Group.

Carlye Group and Northern Trust both declined to comment when contacted by AFP. A spokeswoman for Cantor Fitzgerald confirmed that Obama would attend next week's event but offered no additional details.

The speeches are the first Obama has given to Wall Street since leaving the Oval Office on January 20.

Since May, Obama has made paid appearances in Italy, Germany, Scotland, Canada, Indonesia and South Korea.

He is also due to make an appearance later this month in Toronto and to appear at a New York synagogue in January.

“Since leaving office, President Obama has spent his time doing public and private events, both paid and unpaid, that are true to his values and his record,” Kevin Lewis, an Obama spokesman, told AFP.

“Consistent with that, his paid speeches in part have allowed president Obama to contribute US$2 million (N$26.5 million) to Chicago programs offering job training and employment opportunities to low-income youth.”

The appearances nevertheless risk drawing the same criticism that bedevilled Clinton during last year's White House campaign, exposing Obama to barbs from the left of the Democratic Party, which currently has no clear standard bearer.

Clinton has since written she now regrets delivering paid remarks to the investment bank Goldman Sachs and others because it created the impression that she was in their pockets.



NAMPA/AFP

Private sector must join HIV/Aids fight

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Private sector must join HIV/Aids fightPrivate sector must join HIV/Aids fight The Kavango West regional governor, Sirkka Ausiku, has appealed to the private sector, especially those involved in healthcare, to help eliminate HIV/Aids.

Ausiku made the call during the handover of a prefabricated antiretroviral treatment clinic at Nkurenkuru on Tuesday.

The governor acknowledged the contributions made by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) through the United States President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) in the fight against HIV/Aids for the past three decades.

“We are now moving towards the elimination of this dreadful disease and I therefore express my profound gratitude and appeal to other institutions and the private sector to come on board and journey towards the elimination of HIV,” Ausiku said.

She added that since the launch of the test-and-treat strategy by the Ministry of Health and Social Services in 2014, the programme has witnessed a significant turnaround in the region, as many people now have access to HIV care immediately after being diagnosed.

She expressed hope that with continued support from the CDC, the ministry would achieve its 90:90:90 goals.

The 90:90:90 goal is the United Nations Programme on HIV/Aids (UNAIDS) treatment target to help end the Aids epidemic by the year 2020.

Also speaking at the handover, health minister Bernard Haufiku called on businesses and community members to do their best to assist the government in the delivery of quality health infrastructure.

According to 2016 UNAIDS statistics, between 200 059 to 236 933people in Namibia live with HIV/Aids.

A PEPFAR report released in June this year indicated that the national HIV/Aids prevalence rate stood at 13.3%, and in Kavango West between 7.3% and 23.7%.

The US government, through PEPFAR and the CDC, provided N$1.7 million to set up three containers and shaded waiting areas at the Nkurenkuru Health Centre and N$1.3 million for partitioning the Nankudu District Hospital situated 18km east of Nkurenkuru.

NAMPA
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