Environment law flouted

July 10, 2018, 4:00 pm

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Environment minister Pohamba Shifeta said last weekend that all the local authorities' dumpsites in the country are illegal.

He said they do not meet standards for waste management to curb anomalies such as pollution as provided by the Environmental Management Act 2007 (Act No 17 of 2007), and his ministry is busy drafting relevant policies that will be introduced to all local authorities.

In the meanwhile, the auditor-general, Junias Kandjeke has lashed the Directorate of Environmental Affairs (DEA) in the ministry, along with key stakeholders, whom he says have failed to ensure that local authorities, with the exception of the City of Windhoek, developed and submitted management environmental plans (EMPs) for their sewerage systems.

The 2013/14, 2014/15 and 2015/16 performance audit reports on sewerage management by local authorities in Namibia was tabled in the National Assembly by finance minister, Calle Schlettwein.

“The audit found that the DEA under the environment ministry did not ensure that local authorities develop and submit EMPs for sewerage infrastructure,” Kandjeke said.

Documentary reviews by the auditor reveal that all local authorities visited at the time of the audit, except for Windhoek, had not developed EMPs for sewerage reticulation systems.

“This is because the DEA only started sensitising local authorities on the Environmental Management Act, 2007 (Act No. 7 of 2007) during the 2015/16 financial year,” he noted.

The Rundu, Ondangwa, Ongwediva and Oshakati town councils received letters requesting them to develop and submit their EMPs during 2015/16.

However, at the time of the audit (2013/14, 2014/15 and 2015/16), these local authorities had not complied.

The auditors visited six regions - Khomas, Erongo, Hardap, Kavango East, Kavango West and Oshana.

The report further found that the Directorate of Water and Forestry under the agriculture ministry failed to adequately monitor local authorities to ensure compliance with the Wastewater Effluent Exemption Disposal Permit standards.

Additionally, the Housing, Habitat, Planning and Technical Services Coordination, which spent over N$3.8 billion during the period in question, did not sufficiently monitor sewerage infrastructure undertaken by local authorities.

The coordination, which falls under the urban and rural development ministry, did not ensure that the sewerage infrastructure was adequate to cater for all households, nor that it was well-maintained.

In the report, Kandjeke found a plethora of other shortcomings associated with sewerage systems at various local authorities.

Chiefly, he found that households are not connected to the sewage reticulation system; faulty installation of sewage collection chambers and inadequate sewage reticulation systems.

He also established that there was a failure to collect, treat and dispose of sewage with valid environmental clearances certificates and the usage of the toilet bucket system and open defecation in some areas.

This is contravention of the Environmental Act of 2007, Kandjeke noted.

The purpose of the audit was to assess whether the environment and urban and rural development ministries, along with key stakeholders were effectively ensuring the adequacy of sewerage infrastructure and subsequently the proper management of sewage and its impact on the environment.

ILENI NANDJATO & NAMPA

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Magistrate withdraws for ethical reasons

July 10, 2018, 4:00 pm

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Magistrate withdraws for ethical reasons Windhoek magistrate, Ndapewa Celma Amadhila, has withdrawn as the presiding officer in the bail application of two men who allegedly attempted to defraud the finance ministry out of N$1.2 million.

Amadhila withdrew from the bail application of Jason Pickard (32) and Joseph Iindongo (33) yesterday, on the grounds that she is a friend of Iindongo's sister.

The accused were arrested towards the end of May on allegations of fraud, forgery, uttering of forged instruments and theft.

“The state is opposing bail on the grounds that fraud, forgery, uttering of forged instruments and theft are offences of a very serious nature,” prosecutor Bernadine Bertolini argued, adding the amount involved is N$1 230 993.78.

The prosecution alleges the two men on 16 April, at the finance ministry in Windhoek, pretended to ministry employee Brumhilde !Gaes that account number 60003016918, held at Standard Bank, belonged to the European Commission.

In the process, they induced her to process a payment in the amount of N$1 230 993.78. The account allegedly belongs to Allu J Cash Loans.

They allegedly forged the banking details and documents of the European Commission and offered the forged documents to !Gaes. They are also facing a charge of theft in connection with the incident.

Defence lawyer Trevor Brockerhoff, who is appearing for Pickard, while noting the state's objection to bail, told the court the amount is only a potential loss and that the actual loss is only N$30 000.

Kadhila Amoomo is appearing on behalf of Iindongo.

FRED GOEIEMAN

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South Africa's business confidence index falls again in June

July 10, 2018, 4:00 pm

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South Africa's business confidence index falls again in June South Africa’s business confidence fell for a fifth month in a row in June, with activity mainly hit by a sharp decline in the currency as well as slower retail sales.

The South African Chamber of Commerce and Industry’s (SACCI) monthly business confidence index (BCI) fell to 93.7 in June from 94.0 in May, the business body said in a statement.

It was the lowest reading since September 2017, and short of last year’s average of 94.4.

Business confidence raced to a 2-1/2 year high in January after Cyril Ramaphosa’s election as leader of the ruling African National Congress in December, with the private sector anticipating business-friendly policy changes following years of uncertainty under former president Jacob Zuma.

The enthusiasm has since stalled following a raft of lukewarm economic data figures, most notably a wider-than-expected contraction in gross domestic product in the first quarter.

“Uncertainties surrounding economic policy direction and position should be clarified so that investor and business confidence can reaffirm itself,” SACCI said in a statement.

A sharp slide in the rand, triggered by rising lending rates in the United States and fears that a trade war between China and the United States would slow global growth, has also dented confidence.

The rand has fallen about 15% against the dollar since the beginning of April.

SACCI said seven of the thirteen sub-indices reflected negativity in the business environment, with the trade-weighted exchange rate recording the most notable decline.

“The risk of a global trade war has alerted certain industries in South Africa, and they have already indicated it would affect industries and employment negatively, while knock-on effects have been cited by complementary industries and their export performances,” SACCI said.

-Nampa/Reuters

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Fabianus takes the helm at RFS

July 10, 2018, 4:00 pm

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Fabianus takes the helm at RFS

Staff reporter - Marthinuz Fabianus has been confirmed as the new managing director of Retirement Fund Solutions (RFS) after a period of shadowing Tilman Friedrich as deputy managing director.

Friedrich, the former managing director, has become the chairman of the company.

The appointments became effective on 1 July.

Fabianus joined RFS in 2001. He graduated from Namibia University of Science and Technology (NUST) with a diploma in commerce and bachelors in business management.

He completed a senior management development programme at University of Stellenbosch and various short courses, including a macro-economic policy course at the International Training Centre of the International Labour Organisation (ILO) in Turin, Italy.

Fabianus serves as trustee on the board of the Benchmark Retirement Fund. Earlier this year he rejoined the board of the Retirement Funds Institute of Namibia, where he served as president from 2005 to 2006. He also served as a commissioner on the Social Security Commission from 2015 to 2017.

Humble beginnings

Fabianus’ ascent into his role as managing director stretches back to 1994.

At the time, he was appointed as a filing and delivery clerk to the now defunct pension fund administrator UPA by Friedrich. After three months, Fabianus approached Friedrich and asked for greater challenges. Friedrich appointed him as a trainee a week later and told him that his progress would depend on his personal development through studies.

In 1999 UPA was sold to Alexander Forbes. Friedrich resigned and formed RFS. Fabianus, who had risen to the rank of associate consultant, resigned shortly afterwards to take the position of marketing manager in Old Mutual’s employee benefits division. He resigned from this role in 2001, to rejoin Friedrich at RFS. His upward path began as administration manager, followed by alternate director, shareholder, director of client services and, recently, deputy managing director.

Vision

Speaking about his vision for RFS, Fabianus says he will strive to attain the status of the company becoming a household name in the Namibian market, and that he will work tirelessly to pass on a healthy competitive business for the future generation of the company’s shareholders.

RFS is currently the leading Namibian-owned pension fund administrator. It administers the pension funds of over 60 Namibian very large to medium-sized entities and over 100 small employer groups in the form of private funds under the umbrella fund, Benchmark Retirement Fund.

Explaining his focus for the coming years, Fabianus said the four aspects which he will home in on are visibility of the company, key relationships building, dynamic stakeholder engagement and driving the company's strategic actions and goals.

Taking the lead

At the ceremonial handover on 1 July, Friedrich advised Fabianus to deliberately maintain a fine balance of making his mark on the organisation, but not trying to emulate him nor anyone else, nor trying to deliberately be different.

In his role as chairman, Friedrich will no longer assume operational responsibility, but will act as technical adviser by supporting Fabianus and the organisation generally in technical matters and strategy. He will sit on various internal committees, on the death claims and finance sub-committees and the board of the Benchmark Retirement Fund.

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Lies, damned lies and smokescreens

July 10, 2018, 4:00 pm

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Lies, damned lies and smokescreens Poverty eradication minister Zephania Kameeta and deputy urban and rural development minister Derek Klazen have both rubbished the Afrobarometer survey released last week by the Institute of Public Policy Research (IPPR). The survey was critical of government's handling of social issues, including the high levels of unemployment and poverty prevalent in our society. Government was particularly called out for the manner in which it is handling the plight of the poor in the country. Many of those surveyed questioned, among others, the millions spent on defence, at the expense of poverty eradication efforts. However, the two politicians, while addressing an event in the south, leapt to government's defence, trashing the outcomes of the survey, by basically suggesting government was doing a very well when it comes to addressing the plight of the poor. The blatant disregard of the Afrobarometer survey, in our view, demonstrates just how our political class is utterly out of touch with voters. The truth of the matter is that many poor people don't trust that government has their back, because they remain in an unending poverty cycle. The bottom line is that our country is beset with poverty and misery is the order of the day for many sitting at home without jobs. It is therefore incumbent on our leaders not to neglect the realities on the ground. After all, this is not a popularity contest, and when issues are raised, we cannot simply sweep them under the carpet. This is especially true in the case of the Afrobarometer survey, where ordinary people shared their views and perceptions in a way that reflected the ongoing realities at the coalface of our society. What is required is the kind of honesty that sparks true introspection and change, and not smokescreens for political gain.

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Ohorongo inks local deal

July 10, 2018, 4:00 pm

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Ohorongo inks local dealKaptau Packaging to supply 1.2m bags by end of August Ohorongo Cement MD Hans-Wilhelm Schütte has urged Namibians to always be on the lookout for business opportunities, especially in the manufacturing sector.

Ohorongo Cement has entered into an agreement with a local packaging company that is expected to supply 1.2 million empty cement bags by the end of August.

Kaptau Packaging, established in 2013 but which only started its operations in 2017, is said to the first Namibian company to manufacture cement bags.

The two companies signed the agreement yesterday at Oshakati.

Kaptau is now expected to manufacture and supply 1.2 million cement bags to Ohorongo by the end of August, as part of their five-year deal. The company manufactures about 10 000 cement bags per day.

Ohorongo previously only imported their bags from neighbouring South Africa. Kaptau Packaging executive chairman, David Namalenga, said they are happy to supply the cement bags, adding his company derived its existence from Ohorongo.

“We were born to supply Ohorongo Cement,” Namalenga said. He added they plan to keep the agreement alive for many years to come. “We will make sure this agreement is sustainable in the long-term. Through this we will employ more people and make a mark in the Namibian manufacturing industry,” Namalenga said.

Currently, Kaptau Packaging only manufactures the bags in Oshakati, where 25 permanent staff are employed. Ohorongo Cement managing director Hans-Wilhelm Schütte could not contain his excitement about the agreement, saying the existence of the company provides many opportunities for Namibians.

“Credit must go to Kaptau for making this day a success. At Ohorongo we believe in industrialisation and the production of products in Namibia and what we signed today with Kaptau is evidence that Namibians can do what people in other countries can do,” Schütte said. “We believe in growth at home, as we try to meet what is outlined in Vision 2030 and NDP5 (the Fifth National Development Plan.” Schütte added they will continue to import and that it is too early to determine whether the cement bag imports would be reduced.

“As we are speaking now, there are already cement bags produced by Kaptau being filled with cement. When it comes to quality, we don't compromise on that, even on the quality of our cement; we are focused on producing quality cement for our consumers,” Schütte said. He called on Namibians to always be on the lookout for business opportunities, especially in the manufacturing sector.

KENYA KAMBOWE

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Taxman targets kapana

July 10, 2018, 4:00 pm

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Taxman targets kapanaTaxis, hair salons, plumbers also told to cough up Hair salon, taxi and bus owners, as well as hawkers, plumbers and kapana sellers, are being targeted on the presumption that they earn more than N$50 000 a year.

The informal sector, which is already carrying the huge burden of supporting families amid the country's ongoing economic crunch, is being further drawn into government's tax net.

This follows the finance ministry's announcement, via a pamphlet campaign, that informal traders must honour their tax obligations or face the consequences. The pamphlet warns explicitly that hair salons, whether operated in a city centre, town, informal market, incubator centre or at home, are subject to tax. The same applies to taxi and bus transport businesses, as well as hawkers, whether they sell their products door to door, at an open market, on the side of the road, under a tree, in a neighbourhood or from the boot of a car. “Plumbing services, if you have people who call you to fix their broken taps and pipes for a fee, record such income and pay tax. Kapana sellers, if you roast meat and sell it, you are required to pay tax on such income,” the pamphlet reads further.

Inland Revenue commissioner Justus Mwafonge said the N$50 000 threshold was not new, as individuals who earn more than that per annum are in any case required to pay taxes.

“This is nothing new. Informal traders have always been taxed. It will all depend on how the business is registered. This is nothing new,” Mwafonge said.

According to him, this was also the ministry's way of informing taxpayers, while educating them about their tax responsibilities.

“We are just trying to simplify things.” There was also a possibility that the finance ministry would soon introduce a presumptive tax regime. According to Mwafonge, a lot of work still needs to be done before it is implemented.

“Presumptive tax is still a work in progress.” Presumptive taxation is a form of assessing tax liability using indirect methods such as income reconstruction or by applying baseline taxation across the entire tax base. It is charged for business operators who do not keep proper books of accounts. The tax mainly targets small-scale traders such as transport operators and vendors, kapana sellers and fruit and vegetable hawkers, among others, who all fall under the informal sector.

In terms of the current legislation, section 68 of the Income Tax Act contains provisions that when applied attain objectives comparable to those of a presumptive tax regime.

This section empowers the minister of finance or a delegated officer to raise estimated assessments in cases where taxpayers failed to provide necessary financial information, which is basically an act of presuming one's income. Government first mooted the idea of a presumptive tax regime when then finance minister and current Prime Minister Saara Kuugongelwa-Amadhila tabled the 2014/15 national budget.

The incumbent, Calle Schlettwein, has maintained the introduction of presumptive tax regime would be an attempt to broaden the tax net. According to him, the measure is also not punitive. Windhoek-based seamstress, Racheal Kaiyamo-Hango said the introduction of the presumptive tax was not a good move. “It is unfair because our turnover is not even that much. We don't even make enough to pay tax,” she said. According to her, the introduction of the tax would have been welcome if government helped small and medium-sized enterprises by giving them more business. “There are a lot of things that government can do to step in and help, like ensuring that local businesses make uniforms for school children as an example,” Kaiyamo-Hango said. “They must give us tenders so that our income goes up,” she said.

Another informal market trader, Tjihapa Havarua, who plies his trade as a cook at the Herero Mall market in central Katutura said the introduction of the presumptive tax was not a good idea.

“I do not see this working. Our businesses are even situated in the open… we are struggling. There are even no customers,” he said.

He said informal traders were contributing meaningfully to the economy, as they pay value-added tax (VAT) when they shop for their supplies.

“I don't see why we should pay a presumptive tax. We pay tax on goods we buy from supermarkets already,” Havarua said.

A local welder, Andrew Kasiona, welcomed the introduction of the tax saying it would help a “broke” government.

“It is not such a bad thing. The rent that we pay is also not a lot, so we can pay tax. Government will not be broke again,” Kasiona said.

Danny Meyer, the director of SMEs Compete, said government has alluded to the introduction of a presumptive tax for some time now, viewing it as a strategy to broaden tax collection.

“For example, for hairdressers, taxis, micro butcheries, food vendors, tuck shops, shebeens and school uniform, traditional attire and other garment makers, shoemakers and cobblers, among others. And even service providers such as a roadside carpenters, welders, tyre repairers, plumbers, stove and fridge repairers or builders.”

He said government will then apply this predetermined baseline taxation to all entrepreneurs and micro or small enterprises, which are engaged in the informal business sector.

“In short, it is a strategy by government to collect more revenue. To tax those operating a micro or small enterprise in the informal sector, but not paying tax against profit generated, as they would have done if their business was a registered entity operating in the formal sector.

Ill-timed

“Although there might be a strong case for the introduction of a presumptive tax to capture income that frequently escapes conventional taxation, in a limping economy the introduction might be ill-timed. Many who have lost jobs and those who just cannot secure employment, are conducting some form of business activity in an informal manner, as a way to make ends meet. Others do this to feed their family and contribute towards the needs of an extended family,” Meyer said.

“To increase revenue collection, a wiser move at this time, might be to swiftly improve revenue collection efficiency. To close the net on tax dodgers, by hastening the launch of that proposed semi-autonomous revenue collection agency.”

Independent economist Klaus Schade said while the idea was a notable one, he cautioned the collection of these taxes could be an expensive exercise on the side of government.

“The administrative costs, however, to rake in additional revenue could be relatively high, since staff from the receiver of revenue have to identify and visit these businesses and spend some time on estimating the turnover and profit that is often not backed by any records,” said Schade.

Another concern was that of corruption, Schade said.

“There is also the risk of corruption, since the presumptive tax is usually not based on any paper trails or records, but on estimates, and hence it depends on the individual judgement of the official.”

OGONE TLHAGE

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21 trafficking victims in Namibia

July 10, 2018, 4:00 pm

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21 trafficking victims in Namibia

Namibia has again been placed on an international list as one of the nations failing to effectively combat human trafficking.

With 21 trafficking victims identified in Namibia last year, almost double the 2016 total, more needs to be done to eliminate the growing problem.

According to the 2018 US State Department Trafficking in Persons Report, while Namibia has made efforts to combat human trafficking, it still lacks in the areas of convicting traffickers, referring all identified victims for care and implementing formal procedures for victim identification and referral.

The report, which was released worldwide recently, said although Namibia does not fully meet the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking, it is making significant efforts to do so.

According to the report, 21 trafficking victims were identified last year in Namibia. These victims included 11 men, one woman and nine girls.

Only five of these trafficking victims were referred to a non-governmental shelter, which is partially funded by government. This is compared to 12 trafficking victims identified and referred for care in 2016.

The report says that 15 of the trafficking victims were exploited via forced labour and six were victims of sex trafficking.

According to the report, the Namibian government did not have formal written procedures for use by all officials, in terms of victim identification and referral to care.

However, it created a checklist for law-enforcement to aid in victim identification, which was introduced into the Namibian police's standard operating procedure manual.

The report adds that although the national anti-trafficking coordinating body drafted a national referral mechanism to formalise identification and referral procedures, it has not been adopted yet.

Furthermore, the report points out that government shelters for victims of gender-based violence, including trafficking, were inadequately staffed and non-operational during the reporting period.

“The NGO shelter that received victims during the reporting period expanded its ability to receive families and teen boys. However, there were no facilities equipped to shelter adult male victims of trafficking.”

According to the report, government provided N$26 000 per month to the NGO that received victims, which funded approximately 13% of its operating costs. Social worker interns were also assigned during their final year of training to support the NGO.

Furthermore, seven trafficking cases that involved 10 suspects were investigated last year in Namibia. Of these cases, two involved alleged sex trafficking and five were forced labour cases.

In 2016, a total of eight trafficking cases were investigated.

The prosecution of four trafficking cases, involving five defendants, were initiated, which is an increase from the two cases during 2016.

According to the report all defendants were charged under the Prevention of Organised Crime Act (Poca) of 2004 and two of the five defendants were also charged with knowingly soliciting a victim of sex trafficking under the Combatting of Immoral Practices Act of 1980.

One of the two defendants solicited sex from a trafficking victim in 2015 and he absconded to South Africa shortly after being charged. The report says the Namibian government proactively requested and then secured his extradition to Namibia in December 2017.

Martinus Pretorius (47) is accused of committing sexual acts with three minor girls and is currently standing trail in the High Court. He is facing 13 human trafficking and rape offences, but his trial has been plagued with delays, with the withdrawal of two defence lawyers since the start of the year.

Pretorius' alleged accomplice, Johanna Lukas, was the first Namibian to be convicted of human trafficking in 2015.

The report points out that for the second consecutive year no traffickers were convicted in Namibia and added that one defendant was also prosecuted and acquitted under the Poca.

Efforts that were, however, highlighted in the report, including the signing of the Combating of Trafficking in Persons Bill, the prosecution of more traffickers, identifying more trafficking victims, of whom the majority were victims of forced labour, and referring some victims for care at the partially government-funded NGO shelter.

The report says Namibia also increased anti-trafficking law-enforcement efforts. The 2009 Poca criminalised labour and sex trafficking and prescribed penalties of up to 50 years imprisonment or a fine not exceeding N$1 million.

“These penalties were not sufficiently stringent, and with respect to sex trafficking, (are) commensurate with punishments prescribed for other serious crimes, such as rape.”

In March this year, the Combating of Trafficking in Persons Act was signed, which explicitly criminalises human trafficking and provides protection measures for victims of trafficking. However, it is yet to be officially gazetted, which is a requirement for the law to be fully operational, according to the report.

ELLANIE SMIT

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Millions for motorcade, aircraft

July 10, 2018, 4:00 pm

≫ Next: Father nabbed for daughter’s rape

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Millions for motorcade, aircraft… conduct an assessment regarding leave of absence of staff members to determine the root causes of these problems. – Office of the President

Jo-Maré Duddy – Nearly N$27.7 million was spent on ceremonial services and the motorcade of the Office of Pres Hage Geingob in the 2016/17 financial year.

The bulk of this, nearly N$16.2 million or just below 60% of the total amount, was for Pres Hage Geingob’s private office, according to the latest annual report of the Office of the President tabled in the National Assembly recently.

Included in the budget spent was nearly N$7.2 million for aircraft and/or helicopter rental.

According to the report, the division administered 228 government-owned vehicles on behalf of the ministry of works and transport during the period under review. The Office of the President does not have its own fleet management system. The 192 vehicles included sedans, 4x4s, SUVs and light vans and minibuses. A total of 36 motorbikes were also in the fleet.

The Office used fuel to the tune of about N$2.5 million during the 2016/17 year. Some N$11.3 million was for fixed tariff claims, while nearly N$6.7 million was spent on pool vehicles.

Next to Geingob’s office, the departments of founding president Sam Nujoma and former president Hifikepunye Pohamba slurped up the biggest chunk of the budget. Their departments spent more than N$5.2 million on transport during the year.

Administration’s tab came to about N$4.1 million, while the transport costs of the office of former vice-president Nickey Iyambo amounted to some N$1 million. The division for marginalised communities and disability affairs had a bill of approximately N$1.1 million.

The Office’s division for household services provided neither a budget break-down nor a budget total for its activities in the report. Besides catering for Jacob Zuma, then president of South Africa, and then Indian president Pranab Mukherjee, the report also mentions a “special lunch for former school mates at the presidential residence”.

During the year under review, the Office of the President employed 322 people.

The report identifies the “continuous high number of leave of absence from staff members” as one of the challenges of the human resources department. As part of its future initiatives and programmes, the department planned to “conduct an assessment regarding leave of absence of staff members to determine the root causes of these problems”.

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Father nabbed for daughter’s rape

July 11, 2018, 5:06 am

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Father nabbed for daughter’s rape

A Khorixas man who allegedly raped his 20-year-old biological daughter on Saturday was denied bail in the Khorixas Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday.
His name cannot be released to protect the victim.
He has been charged with rape and domestic violence and his case has been postponed to 16 August this year for further investigations and for him to apply for Legal Aid, the public prosecutor at Khorixas, Penda Hamunyela, told Nampa.
“The investigations will determine if there will be additional charges or not,” he added.
The accused fled the scene after the incident and handed himself over to the Khorixas police on Monday.
According to a crime report issued by the Namibian police, the victim arrived from Windhoek on Friday to visit her grandmother.
While she was sleeping, her father allegedly entered her room around 01:00 and started touching her before forcefully removing her underwear and raping her.
The victim alerted her grandmother, who reported the matter to the police.
NAMPA

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Safari Hotels to get new owner

July 11, 2018, 8:37 am

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Safari Hotels to get new owner

The Namibian Competition Commission (NaCC) has approved the application of United Property Management, owned by United Africa Group, to acquire the entire share capital in the holding company of the Safari Hotel, Safari Court and the Safari Conference Centre.
UAG already owns Protea Hotel Fürstenhof and Protea Hotel Thüringerhof in Windhoek.
The NaCC’s approval is subject to certain conditions.
Read the full report tomorrow in Market Watch.

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Players eager to join Tigers

July 11, 2018, 4:00 pm

≫ Next: Nambala, Shikongo gear up for Tokyo

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Players eager to join TigersAngula, Bantam also set to return Tigers' duo Bryan Bantam and Da Costa Angula are expected to return to the club, following their loan spells at Black Africa.

Players are apparently queuing up to join 2015/16 Namibia Premier League (NPL) champions, Tiger FC, with sources revealing that coach Woody Jacobs is spoilt for choice.

Jacobs has reportedly been receiving calls from some top players, who are prepared to leave their clubs and join the Katutura giants.

Sources, however, said the coach is yet to sign any players, as he first wants to meet with the club's management before any decisions are made.

“He will only sit down with the club hierarchy this weekend and discuss the way forward. But as always, players are calling him,” sources said.

The club is also set to be boosted by the return Da Costa Angula and Bryan Bantam, who were on loan to Black Africa.

The contracts of players like Tafadswa Mvura, Bradley Werman, Letu Shatimuene, and Hosea Nankambe and Nzinga Afonso have also come to an end.

Jacobs did not confirm or deny the claims made by sources.

“It is too early to discuss this matter, but yes I will be meeting the club management this weekend.

“It is also premature to speak about the movements of players,” Jacobs said.

Tigers will be eager to reinforce their ranks, following a shaky 2017/18 season that saw them finishing sixth in the premier league.

The club faced a major crisis in the first half of the season, which saw them lingering near the bottom of the table for a number of weekends.

This resulted in the resignation of coach Lucky Kakuva, who was under pressure from management.

As a result, the club appointed Jacobs in December last year.

He managed to help the team out of the relegation zone, leading them to a sixth place finish.

It was, however, not the best of seasons for the former league champions, given that they lost 12 matches and won 14, while also playing to four draws in their 30 league games.

African Stars will be the defending champions next season, after winning the 2017/18 title.

Jesse Jackson Kauraisa

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Nambala, Shikongo gear up for Tokyo

July 11, 2018, 4:00 pm

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Nambala, Shikongo gear up for Tokyo

Ananias Shikongo and Johannes Nambala are currently in the Netherlands taking part in competitions.

The two local athletes, with guide Even Tjiviju, are gearing up for the 2020 Tokyo Paralympic Games in Japan and are using competitions offered abroad to improve their skills.

They will take part in an upcoming Dutch track meet, where they will run against the best athletes in their race categories.

The results will determine their International Paralympic Committee (IPC) rankings.

Coach Michael Hamukwaya said the athletes did not return home from the IPC Grand Prix in Berlin recently, where they performed exceptionally well.

Nambala won gold in the T13 category 400m sprint and two silver medals in the 100m and 200m, respectively.

Ananias Shikongo won gold in the T11 200m and silver in the T11 400m event.

“They travelled to the Netherlands thereafter to train. It is a great opportunity for them and it would have been selfish for me to ask them to return with me. I had to return as I'm a fulltime employee of the ministry of health,” Hamukwaya said.

“I left them in capable hands and want them to use the opportunity to prepare.”

The Sport on the Move Foundation is involved in their preparation, offering and sharing knowledge, experience and training to Nambala and Shikongo, as they prepare for Tokyo 2020.

LIMBA MUPETAMI

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France in the final!

July 11, 2018, 4:00 pm

≫ Next: Volleyball action heats up countrywide

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France in the final!Paris celebrates victory over Belgium France have reached the 2018 Russia World Cup final after a 1-0 win over Belgium.

The French national anthem La Marseillaise, chants of “we're in the final” and a cacophony of car horns and firecrackers rang out over Paris on Tuesday, as residents of the capital celebrated France's march to the 2018 Russia World Cup final.

A crowd of 20 000 gathered to watch Didier Deschamps' team beat Belgium 1-0 in their semifinal in Saint Petersburg on a giant screen at Paris' historic Hotel de Ville or town hall.

With viewing space at a premium, every vantage spot was occupied, with fans perched on trees, on top of vans on dustbins and bus shelters.

Samuel Umtiti's decisive goal in the 51st minute triggered the waving of a sea of tricolour flags as ecstatic supporters, many in the national team's colours, kissed and hugged and danced.

“Vive la France, vive la Republique,” shouted Alia and Sacha, two Parisian schoolchildren.

“We are so proud to be French tonight!” Alia explained as firecrackers exploded on the cobblestones.

Motorbikes, bicycles, cars and dustbin trucks all came to a standstill to join in the celebrations. With France under high security since the November 2015 terror attacks, the fan zone at the town hall was policed by over 1 200 members of the security forces.

Fans, who climbed on top of buses gingerly inching their way through the crowds, were dancing and waving flares and flags, as the bus driver fought a losing battle to get his passengers to their destination on time.

“I was 18 years old in 1998; it was one of the most beautiful nights of my life. We'll repeat that this Sunday,” said Sebastien. “This team is fantastic,” he said, beaming.

“Boys, we're world champions,” one man in his 30s was heard telling his mates.

“Stop that, you'll bring us bad luck,” he was reprimanded, before the group of friends broke out into the chant of the night: “We're in the final”.

From balconies, families waved the French national flag, children kitted out in Les Bleus shirts waved to the crowd below.

The Rue de Rivoli, normally choc-a-bloc with Tuesday night traffic, became a temporary pedestrian zone as crowds made their way along it past the Louvre to the Champs-Elysees, where 20 years earlier Paris had gathered to celebrate France's sole World Cup win.

Two decades on, there was a sense of deja vu as thousands of euphoric fans turned the City of Lights' most celebrated boulevard into a giant street party.

Up in the capital's red light district at Pigalle in the 18th arrondissement, the neon lit-windmill outside the Moulin Rouge cabaret was shrouded in a haze of smoke-bombs and flares.

“It's magnificent,” beamed Thierry Perier, 45, who was with his eight-year-old daughter.

“We needed this in France, we deserved it. We had the best players and for the morale of the French, to win the World Cup would be the best present ever,” he said, his voice hoarse from cheering.

Another fan, 17-year-old Lea, was not even born when France won their one and only World Cup on a heady night at the Stade de France in a 3-0 triumph over Brazil.

“It's so beautiful what's happened. We are going to experience our own '98 now.”

Before going to print, England was due to play Croatia yesterday evening. France will face the winner in the final on Sunday.

NAMPA/AFP

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Volleyball action heats up countrywide

July 11, 2018, 4:00 pm

≫ Next: Aalandithi yokapana taya ka futa iifendela

≪ Previous: France in the final!

Volleyball action heats up countrywide Sport Reporter

The Bank Windhoek Namibia Volleyball Federation (NVF) leagues are in full swing, as central, Kavango, far north, Erongo and Zambezi association teams continue to impress.

This past weekend saw teams demonstrate their desire to be crowned champions in their respective leagues.

Central

The pace was lifted in the central league, as the season nears its end. In the female category, Rivals Volleyball Club leads the log, followed by Namibia Defence Force (NDF), Khomas Nampol and Deutscher Turn-und Sportverein (DTS), who are all tied on points.

In the male category, Khomas Nampol is top of the log, followed by NamPower, with NDF and 21BDE edging closer.

The weekend saw a titanic clash between Khomas Nampol and NamPower, with the latter emerging victorious with a 3-2 win.

Kavango

The Kavango league saw teams pick up speed in the second round. In the male category, the reigning champions, Rundu Volleyball Club, are a few points ahead, with University of Namibia (Unam) Vipers fast closing in as title contenders. Unam Vipers currently top the table in the female category.

Far north

In the women's division defending champions Oshana Nampol top the table and have been crowned as the 2018 Far Northern Volleyball champions with a game in hand. The 2015 champions, Six Stars, are currently in top form after recording a nine-game unbeaten run in the men's division. They stand a good chance of being crowned champions.

Erongo

In the men's division, Erongo Nampol is currently top of the league, followed by Namibian Navy A and the Walvis Bay Municipality. The Namibian Navy, Swakopmund Volleyball Club and the Walvis Bay Municipality are the top three teams in the women's division.

Zambezi

Unam Katima Mulilo Campus and Hippo are currently sitting atop the men's league. There is no women's division.

More matches are scheduled to take place during the month of July. The two top teams from both the male and female divisions from all five regional associations will qualify to take part in The Bank Windhoek NVF Cup later this year. The tournament will see 24 teams compete for the national title.

Sport Reporter

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Aalandithi yokapana taya ka futa iifendela

July 11, 2018, 4:00 pm

≫ Next: Ohorongo Cement ya shaina etsokumwe noKaptau Packaging

≪ Previous: Volleyball action heats up countrywide

Aalandithi yokapana taya ka futa iifendela Onga omukalo gwokwiimonena iiyemo, epangelo lyaNamibia olya tokola okutula miilonga ompango ndjoka tayi utha aanangeshefa ngaashi aalandithi yuupana oshowo aanataxi na yalwe ya tameke okufuta iifendela yepangelo, ngaashi aanashilonga yalwe mbyoka taya uthwa kompango yoshilongo okufuta iifendela yepangelo kehe omwedhi.

Ø Onkatu ndjoka ya katukwa inayi tambulwako koyendji

OGONE TLHAGE

Ooyene yoosalona, ooyene yootaxi noombesa dhomalweendo oshowo aalandithi yuupana naaniilonga yamwe po yokomake okwa hololwa kutya otaya ka kala taya futu iifendela yepangelo molwaashoka ohaya mono komwedhi iiyemo yi vule pooN$50 000.

Etokolo ndyoka olya landula etseyitho ndyoka lya ningwa kuuministeli wemona okupitilila muufo wuuyelele mboka wa pitithwa tawu holola kutya aanangeshefa yoludhi ndoka oya pumbwa okufuta iifendela nenge otaya ka taalela iilanduli ngele oya ndopa.

Uufo mboka owa londodha kutya aanangeshefa yoosalona kutya oomboka ohaya longele moondoolopa nenge momalukanda oshowo komagumbo oya pumbwa okufuta iifendela.

Natango moka omwa kwatelwa ootaxi, oombesa aalandithi yomomapandanda, pomatala, pooha noondjila nenge kehe tuu pamwe kutya ohaya landithile miihauto yawo.

Aanangeshefa mboka haya longo nokupangela ominino nayo oya tegelelwa ya fute iishoshela.

“Omayakulo gokulonga ominino, ngele owu na aantu haye ku dhengele oongodhi opo wu kapangele ominino dhawo nena owa pumbwa okufuta iifendela yokongulu. Aalandithi yokapana nayo oya pumbwa okufuta ofendela,” okafo komauyelele ka holola.

Ofuto yiishoshela yepangelo kaalandithi kashi shi oshinima oshipe pahapu dhakomufala gwoshikondo shomafutilo giishoshela yepangelo, Justus Mwafonge.

Ndyoka eyamukulo a gandja sha landula sho a ningilwa omapulo kombinga yonkundana yetulo miilonga iishoshela yepangelo,okuza kaalandithi. Uuministeli wemona owa holola kutya aalandithi yuupana, noondingosho otaya ka tameka okukala taya futu iishoshela yepangelo.

Mwafonge okwa popi kutya shoka kashi shi oshimina oshipe molwaashoka paveta yawo, omuntu ngoka ha mono iiyemo yi vule poN$50 000 komvula okwa pumbwa okufuta iishoshela.

Okwa popi kutya oongeshefa odha kala nale nokufuta iishoshela na oshiikolelela owala kutya ongeshefa oya shangithwa ngiini.

Mwafonge okwa popi kutya natango oshindji osha pumbwa okuningwa omanga iifuta mbyoka inayi tulwa miilonga.

Iifendela mbyoka ohayi futwa kaanangeshefa mboka kaye na ihaya kala nomambo gopaiyemo gawo, unene aanangeshefa aashona ngaashi aanataxi, aalandithi yuupana oshowo ooyene yoosalona.

Pantopolwa onti 68 yompango yoIncome Tax Act, oya gandja oonkondo kuuministeli nenge komunambelewa guuministeli a tengeneke iiyemo ngele omufuti gwiifendela okwa ndopa okugwanithwa po okufendela iishoshela yepangelo.

Epangelo olya li lya kaleke edhilaadhilo ndyoka pethimbo sho lya li lya tulwa poshitaafula lyotango moshikakomvula yo sho2014/15, kominista nale yemona, ngoka ngashiingeyi e li omuprima Saara Kuugongelwa-Amadhila.

Minista Calle Schlettwein okwa dhenge omuthindo kutya pethimbo ndika lyoshilongo sha taalela onkalo yopaliko ya dhigupala, oyena okukonga iiyemo ihe elalakano lye haku gwedhela iishoshela mbyoka hayi futwa kaafuti yiishoshela ihe okukwashilipaleka kutya ayehe mboka ya pumbwa okufuta iishoshela otaya futu tuu.

Omunangeshefa gumwe gwomOvenduka, Racheal Kaiyamo-Hango okwa popi kutya etulo miilonga lwiifendela mbyoka kashi shi omukalo omuwanawa, molwaashoka ihaya ningi iiyemo oyindji, mbyoka tayi ka utha ya vule okufuta iishoshela yepangelo.

Okwa tsikile kutya etulo miilonga ndyoka otali tambulwako andola ngele epangelo olya li hali ka tuka oonkatu mokukwathela nokuyambidhiidha aanangeshefa aashona, opo oongeshefa dhawo dhi hume komeho yo ya vule okuninga iiyemo mbyoka taya vulu woo okukutha ya fute iishoshela yepangelo.

Omunangeshefa gumwe ngoka ha landithile oondya dha pya moHerero Mall, Tjihapa Havarua, naye okwa popi kutya etulo miilonga lyompango ndjoka kashi shi oshinima shi li mondjila.

Okwa popi kutya kaye na nale ookastoma nokutula miilonga iifendela mbyoka otashi keya tula owala muupyakadhi.

Omufikili gumwe, Andrew Kasiona, okwa pandula etulo miilonga lyompango ndjoka, ta popi kutya otali ka kwathela epangelo ndyoka lya mbangolota.

“Kashi shi oshinima sha puka. Iifuta yohiila mbyoka hatu futu oyi li pevi nepangelo itali kala we lya mbangolota,” Kasiona a popi.

Danny Meyer, omukomeho gwoSMEs Compete, okwa popi kutya epangelo olya tokola okutula miilonga ompango ndjoka onga omukalo gwokugongela iiyemo, moka aanangeshefa ngaashi aalndithi yuupana,oyene yootaxi noombesa oshowo aanasheshefa oyendji mboka aashoka taya ka kala nokufuta iishoshela yepangelo, ngaashi ompango tayi utha kutya kehe ngoka ha mono iiyemo yi vulithe poN$50 000 okwa pumbwa okufuta iifendela yepangelo.

Omunongononi gwonkalo yeliko iithikamena, Klaus Schade okwa popi kutya nonando ondungethaneko ndjoka oya nuninwa uuwanawa, okwa kunkilile kutya egongelo lyiifendela mbyoka otali ka kala omukalo gu na ondilo kepangelo.

Okwa popi kutya otashi ka pula elongitho lyiimaliwa ya gwedhwa po mokutuma aaniilonga yuuministeli opo yii holole nokutalela po oongeshefa ndhoka, noku longitha natango ethimbo lyawo mokutengelena kutya aanangeshefa mboka otaya gwile mongundu yinipo yokufuta iifendela.

Schade okwa gwedha po kutya uulingulingi nawo otawu vulu okudhana onkandangala sho kape na oombaapila ndhoka tadhi ulike uumbangi wiiyemo mbyoka hayi ningwa kaanangeshefa mboka, kakele komafekelo.

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Ohorongo Cement ya shaina etsokumwe noKaptau Packaging

July 11, 2018, 4:00 pm

≫ Next: Oondoolopa tadhi ndopa

≪ Previous: Aalandithi yokapana taya ka futa iifendela

Ohorongo Cement ya shaina etsokumwe noKaptau Packaging

KENYA KAMBOWE

Omunambelewa omukuluntu gwOhorongo Cement, Hans-Wilhelm Schütte okwa kunkilile AaNamibia ya kale aluhe nokukonga oompito dhongeshefa unene moshikondo shoofaabulika.

Shoka osha landula sho ehangano lyawo lya yi metsokumwe nehangano lyokupakela lyomoshilongo, ndyoka kwa tegelelwa li ka gandje ooshako dhokutula oosamende dhOhorongo dhi li pomiliyona 1.2 okuya pehulilo lyomwedhi Aguste.

Kaptau Packaging, ehangano lya totwa po momvula yo 2013 na olya tameke iilonga momvula yo 2017 na okwa hololwa kutya ehangano lyotango lyaNamibia tali longo ooshako dhoosamende. Eshaino lyetsokumwe ndyoka olya ningilwa oshiwike shika mOshakati.

Kaptau ngashiingeyi okwa tegelelwa a ka longe ooshako dhosamende dhi li oomiliyona 1.2 okuya pehulilo lyaAuguste onga oshitopolwa shetsokumwe lyawo ndyoka lyuule woomvula ntano. Ehangano ndyoka lyOhorongo ohali longo oosamende dhi li po 10 000 mesiku limwe.

Monakuziwa ehangano olya kala hali kutha ooshako dhawo okuza poshishiindalongo South Afrika.

Omunashipundi gwoKaptau Packaging, David Namalenga, okwa popi kutya oya nyanyukwa mokukala taya gandja ooshako dhoosamende kehangano ndyoka hali longo oosamende moshilongo.

Okwa gwedhwa po kutya taya pangele okukaleka po etsokumwe ndyoka uule woomvula odhindji dhi li komeho.

Monena ehanganoo lyoKaptau ohali longele owala ooshako ndhoka mOshakati, moka li na aaniilonga taya kalele ye li 25.

Schütte okwa pandula ehangano ndyoka, sho tali gandja oshiholelwa kAaNamibia kutya nayo otaya vulu okuninga sha. Okwa popi kutya otaya kambadhala okuhumitha komeho oongeshefa shomoshilongo opo ya vule okuyambidhidha omalalakano goVision 2030 oshowo Fifth National Development Plan.

Schütte okwa tsikile kutya natango otaya ka tsikia nokulanda ooshaka okuza pondje molwaashoka natango okuyele okuholola ngele omwaalu gwooshako ndhoka haya mono pondje yoshilongo otagu vulu okushunwa pevi.

Omunambelelwa ngoka okwa popi kutya oye na nale ooshako dhoosamende dha longwa koKaptau ndhoka tadhi zilwa oosamende, na otaya kwashilipaleke ongushu yiilongomwa yawo.

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Oondoolopa tadhi ndopa

July 11, 2018, 4:00 pm

≫ Next: We drive the most expensive SUV in Southern Africa

≪ Previous: Ohorongo Cement ya shaina etsokumwe noKaptau Packaging

Oondoolopa tadhi ndopa

ILENI NANDJATO & NAMPA

Ominista yomidhingoloko, Pohamba Shifeta, oya popi oshiwike sha piti kutya omatoto agehe giiyagaya ngoka ga ningwa komalelo goondoolopa moshilongo kage li pamulandu.

Okwa popi kutya omatoto ngoka inaga gwanitha po iipumbiwa ngaashi mbyoka ya uthwa kompango yoEnvironmental Management Act 2007 (Act No 17 of 2007), nuuministeli we owiipyakidhila okutula po omulandu ndhoka tadhi ka pewa omalelo goondoolopa.

Lwopokati mpoka omuyalulimambo gwepangelo, Junias Kandjeke okwa gandja uusama kuuministeli mboka unene koshikondo shomidhingoloko kutya pamwe naakuthimbinga yalwe oya ndopa okukwashilipaleka kutya omalelo ngoka kalele kelelo lyaVenduka oya tula omanagement environmental plans (EMPs) dhomahala gawo gokweekelahi iiyekelwahi.

Momvula yo 2013/14, 2014/15 oshowo 2015/16 okwa tulwa momutumba gwopashigwana olopota yi na sha nomahala goku ekelahi iiyekelwahi komalelo goondoolopa, kominista yemona, Calle Schlettwein.

Olopota ndjoka pahapu dhaKandjeke oya holola kutya oshikondo shomidhingoloko inashi kwashilipaleka kutya omalelo goondoolopa oga tula miilonga oEMP dhawo shomahala goku ekelahi iiyagaya.

Olopota oya holola kutya konyala omahala agehe ga talelwa po kaleke koshilando shaVenduka, oga ndopa.

Oondoolopa ngaashi Rundu, Ondangwa, Ongwediva oshowo Oshakati odha mono oombaapila ndhoka tadhi pula opo dhi gandje ooEMPs moshikako shomvula yo 2015/16.

Nonando ongaaka okwa hololwa kutya oondoolopa ndhoka odha ndopa okugwanitha po shoka dha pulwa.

Omakonaakono ngoka oga ningilwa iitopolwa ngaashi Khomas, Erongo, Hardap, Kavango East, Kavango West oshowo Oshana.

Olopota ndjoka natango oya holola kutya oshikondo shomeya nomakuti mUuministeli wUunamapya osha ndopa okukondolola omalelo gondoolopa okukwashilipalekakutya ogiiutha komilandu dhoWastewater Effluent Exemption Disposal Permit.

Natango oshikondo shoHousing, Habitat, Planning and Technical Services Coordination, shoka sha longitha iimaliwa ya thika piibiliyona 3.8 momvula ndjoka osha ndjoka osha ndopa okukondolola omahala ngoka haga ekelwahi iiyekelwahi koondoolopa.

Oshikondo shoka shi li kohi yUuministeli wOmayambulepo goondoolopa niitopolwa, osha ndopa okukwashilipaleka kutya omahala ngoka oga tulwa iikwaniipangitho mbyoka tayi pumbiwa, na ngele ogeli tuu pamuthika.

Kandjeke okwa dhidhilike endopo olindji okuza komalelo ngoka, ngashi omilandu dhili mondjila dhoku ekelahi iiyekelwahi, oshowo omakwatakanitho ngoka inaga ningwa mondjila.

Olopota ndjoka oya li ya ningwa okukwashilipaleka ngele Uuministeli wOondoolopa nIitopolwa otawu kwashilipaleke tuu ngele oondoolopa otadhi gwanitha po omilandu ndhoka tashi uthwa ngele tashi ya komahala goku ekelahi iiyagaya niiyekelwahi yilwe moondoolopa, nokugamenena po woo omidhingoloko.

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We drive the most expensive SUV in Southern Africa

July 11, 2018, 4:00 pm

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≪ Previous: Oondoolopa tadhi ndopa

We drive the most expensive SUV in Southern AfricaExploring the world’s most oppulent oil-burner Here's why the Bentley Bentayga 4.0-litre V8 Diesel is a palace on wheels. Janine van der Post, motoring journalist - “It is a brand, after all, driven by Queen Elizabeth II.”

Janine Van der Post - Bentley has unleashed its very first diesel offering in its history to the Southern African market in the form of the its Bentayga SUV.

The automaker claims that it's the most refined 8-cylinder diesel engine developed in the world. With a base price of N$2 950 000, it's an assertion that can't be taken lightly. Throw in a few optional extras and you're close to yet another bar or two added to its cost.

At first glance, the Bentayga might come across as a vehicle for those with an acquired taste and is reserved for rather affluent drivers. But it's only once you get behind the steering wheel and spend a few hours with this vehicle that you'll come to truly appreciate its worth and understand what makes it such a world-class product.

More debonair, than distracting

It's not the most striking vehicle at first glance either, but then again neither is Buckingham Palace until you actually take the time to walk its halls and appreciate its splendid grandeur.

The more time you spend inside the vehicle, the more it grows on you and the more you realise why its price tag isn't as obscene at it might come across.

It's also in these instances when you realise just how important the colour of a vehicle can be. While the Moonbeam metallic (grey) can be a bit obtrusive, the version in Peacock metallic (blue) is a lot more appealing, but that's just in my opinion.

It's a stately car, so much so you feel the need to accentuate your accent and roll your Rs. It is a brand, after all, driven by Queen Elizabeth II.

Benign brute

Bentley reckons that the diesel version "combines practicality, power and luxury with innovative technology, delivering a sublime experience, making it an SUV for every kind of journey".

The W12 sibling has borrowed much of its same technology, which makes it the most technically advanced engine in the world, to its diesel sibling.

One of the most astounding highlights of the most powerful and fastest diesel SUV in the world is how incredibly quiet the car is while idling or driving it. So quiet, that you are most likely to forget to turn off the vehicle before you step out of it. The 4.0-litre triple-charged, 32-valve, 8-cylinder engine delivers 320 kW and 900 Nm.

The thing about this car is that it doesn't really drive, it glides effortlessly while you steer the hand-stitched steering wheel. If you don't keep an eye on the speedometer, you could potentially get yourself into a whole lot of trouble with the law in an instant, it speeds up instantaneously, but gracefully.

Apparently, the car weighs about 2 500kg and even then there isn't an ounce of body-roll when your former Group-N race driver of a driving partner is throwing the mammoth vehicle around Franschhoek's corners. It's as nimble as a deer and floats like a butterfly, but drives like a beast. And overtaking? With 900 Nm... it's child's play.

As bespoke as a Bently should be

While everything about the Bentayga exudes opulence, it's hardly condescending in any way.

Design cues follow through from the W12, but the diesel version has a bold gloss black matrix grille, a centre bar and chrome surround. There are also two twin-quad tailpipes and a V8 diesel badge on the lower front door edge.

If anything, I would redesign the shape of said tailpipes so that it would have a better flow in relation to the design, but I know much research has gone in the design and functionality of the exhaust system.

It's the finer things about this vehicle that makes it a palace on wheels, along with everything that goes with it. For instance, Bentley SA's CEO Toby Venter told Wheels24 that it takes nine hours just to hand stitch the leather steering wheel, while the diamond-quilted seats take 27 hours each.

The craftsmen all have their own special ways of doing thingsm as one employee uses a sterling silver dinner fork to punch each hole in the material that needs to be stitched. In total, there are 3km of stitching throughout the vehicle. The Bentley emblems are embroidered while the sports B-design pedals are drilled.

But it doesn't end there.

And just as the queen of England's car is custom-made, so too can you kit out your palace on wheels.

There is a full choice of 12 duo-tone hide combinations, carpets and interior colour combinations in the handcrafted interior, not to mention 100 Bentley body paint colours. The leather-trimmed cabin comes in a choice of five standard colours.

The upper cabin is trimmed in Eliade, a tactile technical fabric. Other distinctive characteristics include the rear tail lights illuminating the Bentley B, as well as the side air outlets. The headlights too have the brand name displayed inside the cluster and a bold B on the top of the gear lever. - Wheels24

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Company news in brief

July 11, 2018, 4:00 pm

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Company news in brief

Woolies recalls frozen rice

Woolworths said on Tuesday it has issued a recall of its frozen savoury rice mix product which contains sweetcorn imported from a factory suspected of being the source of a Listeria outbreak in Europe.

The product is sourced from Belgium and contains frozen sweetcorn from the Greenyard Factory in Hungary. The retailer said the precautionary recall came after a worldwide recall issued by the Hungarian Food Safety Agency.

"This Greenyard Factory has been implicated as the potential source of a Listeria outbreak in Europe,” Woolworths said in a statement.

-Fin24

Dow Jones futures extend fall

US stock futures extended their losses on Wednesday after Washington announced a plan to slap tariffs on an extra US$200 billion of imports from China, sharply escalating a trade war between the world’s two biggest economies.

Dow Jones mini futures fell as much as 1% while S&P500 e-mini futures, the world’s most liquid futures, were down 0.8%.

-Nampa/Reuters

Britain to fine Facebook over data breach

Britain's data regulator has said it will fine Facebook half a million pounds (about R8.8 billion) for failing to protect users' data, in an inquiry into whether personal information had been misused by campaigns on both sides of Britain's 2016 EU referendum.

An investigation by the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) has focused on the social media giant since earlier this year, when evidence emerged that an app had been used to harvest the data of tens of millions of Facebook users worldwide.

-Fin24

MTN Nigeria picketed by labour groups over right to unionise

MTN Nigeria offices are being picketed by the country’s biggest group of unions over an alleged refusal to allow staff to form workers’ groups, a claim denied by the continent’s largest wireless carrier.

The Nigeria Labour Congress agreed with Johannesburg-based MTN to allow a neutral group to survey staff and find out who wants to join a union, General Secretary Peter Ozo-Eson said outside the company’s offices in Lagos Tuesday.

“MTN has refused for that to happen,” he said.

-Fin24

Uber executive Hornsey resigns

Uber Technologies Inc’s chief people officer Liane Hornsey resigned in an email to staff on Tuesday, following an investigation into how she handled allegations of racial discrimination at the ride-hailing firm.

The resignation comes after Reuters contacted Uber on Monday about the previously unreported investigation into accusations from anonymous whistleblowers that Hornsey had systematically dismissed internal complaints of racial discrimination.

-Nampa/Reuters

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