Joburg inner city building fire claims at least 73 lives
The death toll from a fire which engulfed a five story building in the Johannesburg inner city in the early hours of Thursday morning has risen to 73, with some 43 people injured.
The cause of the fire is currently unknown.
Addressing the media outside the building, City of Johannesburg MMC for Public Safety, Mgcini Tshwaku, described how residents inside the building battled to escape the blaze.
“There are burnt bodies beyond recognition, I have never seen that sight before. Seventy three of them have been confirmed to be dead. One of the things that was an issue was that inside the building, it looks as if there was a gate which was closed so they could not go out. The main reason here that there’s a high death toll is that there are a lot of partitions and gates [inside the building].
“They said people were screaming and wanted to get out but they couldn’t. Many burnt bodies were found actually [stuck] at that gate. On the bottom floor, they had an informal settlement sort of. There were a lot of people who had built using highly flammable material,” he said.
The MMC said officials from the city’s disaster management have been dispatched to begin relief efforts.
“On our side, we’ve got the team which is coming in. The disaster [team] is here. We are going to give them the matrasses and all of that. The housing [department] is here as well meaning that we are going to get them alternative accommodation at this point in time.
“It is very traumatic. I have never seen bodies like that – burnt beyond recognition. There were also kids that were there. There’s a 12 month old kid that got burnt. It’s a very sad scene,” he said.
President Ramaphosa meets with SOE chairpersons and CEOs
Implementing reforms will serve to enhance the ability of State Owned Enterprises (SOEs) not only to adapt to industry developments but also to serve South Africans into the future.
This is according to President Cyril Ramaphosa who met with chairpersons and chief executives of SOEs on Tuesday.
“It is quite clear that the success of our economic recovery relies on the effective functioning of state-owned entities. We are implementing reforms to ensure that SOEs are able to adapt to new economic conditions, including rapid developments in technology, their respective operating environments and changing global trends, and to serve the country well into the future,” President Ramaphosa said.
In a statement, the Presidency said the meeting sought to “discuss the implementation of measures to stabilise their financial and operational performance and harness their economic potential”.
“Government has, since 2018, embarked on a process of reform to address the legacy of state capture in SOEs, including through the appointment of capable leadership, the recovery of stolen assets and the pursuit of those responsible for perpetrating acts of corruption.
“In addition, as part of Operation Vulindlela, fundamental reforms are being implemented in the energy, logistics and water sectors to address structural challenges and reposition SOEs for the future.
“President Ramaphosa called on the management and boards of SOEs to accelerate this reform agenda and fulfil their developmental mandate. He emphasised the importance of SOEs, as strategic national assets, in driving inclusive growth, investing in infrastructure, and creating jobs. President Ramaphosa will continue to prioritise the turnaround of South Africa’s SOEs in order to drive economic growth and transformation,” the statement read.
Also at the meeting, the Presidential State Owned Enterprises Council tabled a report while the National Treasury presented an update on its review of the procurement system of SOEs.
“Since its establishment, the Council has undertaken in-depth analyses at 21 SOEs to inform its recommendations. It has proposed changes to the governance framework and shareholder ownership model to enhance oversight, separate the ownership, policy and regulatory functions of the state, and leverage the combined balance sheet of SOEs.
“In addition, the National Treasury provided an update on its review of the procurement system to implement the recommendations of the Commission of Inquiry into State Capture while enabling SOEs to operate in an efficient and competitive manner. Legislative and regulatory reforms are underway to strike an effective balance between preventing corruption and abuse and allowing innovation, agility and responsiveness in procurement,” the Presidency said.
SAPS’s Operation Shanela nets 1614 suspects
The South African Police Service’s (SAPS) Operation Shanela has yielded success as 1614 suspects were arrested for serious, violent and other crimes.
This successful intelligence-driven, high-density patrols and actions, which was conducted from 21 August 2023 to 27 August 2023, was aimed to disrupt criminal activities before and during the weekend which usually threatens the safety of communities within the province.
Of the total arrests (1614), the breakdown includes the following:
– 38 wanted suspects;
– 12 arrests for murder and 20 for attempted murder;
– 86 arrests were made for property related crime such as burglaries and thefts;
– 195 arrest for assaults with the intent to cause grievous bodily harm;
– 290 for common assaults; and
– 314 arrests were affected for an array of other crimes.
Seizures from the same operation include the following:
– 33 firearms;
– 746 rounds of ammunition from different calibres;
– 321 dagga and 11 099 mandrax tablets;
– 1,355 litres of liquor;
– 29.8kg of copper cable; and
– 85 dangerous weapons.
The high density integrated operations comprised various units such as Vispol, Detectives, Crime Intelligence, AGU, POP, Law Enforcement, other specialised units, K9, private security companies and neighbourhood watch structures.
Operations targeted illegal liquor outlets, suspected drug outlets and compliance inspections carried out at licensed liquor outlets.
All the arrested suspects are expected to make their court appearances in different courts once they have been charged.
High Court sets aside multi-million Rand prisons renovation contract
The Special Investigating Unit (SIU) has welcomed a High Court judgment setting aside the decision of the Department of Correctional Services (DCS) to appoint a company for project management and assessment services related to the renovation of certain prisons during 2014.
According to the SIU, the department appointed Masetlaoka Scott Wilson to:
- Act as a project manager for the renovation of three prisons and replacement of other facilities, at a project management fee amounting to approximately R144 505 417.76.
- Conduct assessments in terms of the Government Immovable Asset Management Act, 2007 (Act No. 19 of 2007) in respect of 221 prisons to the value of approximately R464 100 000.00.
“In January 2014 and in order to avoid returning unspent money of approximately R812 million to the National Treasury shortly before the end of the relevant financial year, DCS took a decision to participate in a contract between MSW, a project management consortium, and the Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET).
“The High Court found that the relevant decision(s) and resulting agreement(s)/contract(s) was/were inconsistent with the Constitution, as it was not fair, transparent, equitable, competitive, and cost effective, and therefore unlawful.
“The SIU welcomes the order of the High Court as it demonstrates the continued implementation of its investigation outcomes and consequence management, and efforts to recover financial losses suffered by the State due to negligence or corruption,” the SIU said.
The corruption busting unit said the decision of “what would constitute just, and equitable relief was referred by the High Court for trial”.
SA records more than 4 million tourist arrivals
South Africa’s tourism sector continues to show strong recovery with the first half of 2023 recording more than four million tourist arrivals.
“Our arrival numbers for 2023 are looking good, demonstrating that South Africa is still a favourable tourist destination and we are eager to welcome more tourists as we head into the busy summer season,” said Tourism Minister Patricia de Lille.
She said the arrivals demonstrate that South Africa is still a favourable tourist destination.
“South Africa’s tourism sector continues to exhibit strong recovery with the first half of 2023 recording more than 4 million tourist arrivals, according to the latest data from Statistics South Africa [Stats SA]. This is a significant increase from the 2, 3 million tourist arrivals between January and June 2022.
The total number of tourist arrivals to South Africa between January and June 2023 showed a sizable 78.2% surge in the first half of 2023 when compared to the same period in 2022.
The Minister on Tuesday held the second National Tourism Safety Forum meeting in Cape Town with various stakeholders in the tourism sector.
De Lille said South Africa receives millions of tourists per year, and the vast majority of visitors return home without any issues and a memorable experience of the country.
The Africa region continues to bring the largest share of tourist arrivals to South Africa with more than three million arrivals from the rest of the African continent in the first six months of 2023.
“This is a testament to the marketing efforts that we have implemented to attract tourists from this region. Africa remains a key source market for us, and we are committed to collaborating as a tourism sector to make sure we welcome visitors from this region and that we cater for their needs and preferences.
Beyond the African continent, South Africa has welcomed more visitors from other regions too. The Asia region almost doubled its figures with a 99.5% growth compared to 2022.
“This year, Europe, the largest source of visitors outside Africa, also experienced solid growth of 66.8.1%, when compared to the same period in 2022. These robust figures showcase South Africa’s charm and attractiveness as well as the work that we are doing in marketing South Africa as a tourist destination of choice.”
North America, Central & South America, and the Middle East also demonstrated strong growth trends with rates of 70.6%, 74.4%, and 75.8% respectively.
“These robust figures showcase South Africa’s charm and attractiveness as well as the work that we are doing in marketing South Africa as a tourist destination of choice.”
Meanwhile, the department is gearing up for the summer season and will be launching the Summer Campaign in two weeks’ time in the Eastern Cape.
Safety
She said the previous meeting of the forum held in May saw all representatives agreed on clear actions to address tourism safety.
”While the latest statistics from StatsSA reveal an upward trend in tourist arrivals, issues of safety are an obstacle in converting would-be tourists to visit our country. As I said after the previous National Tourism Safety Forum meeting, crime is a matter which affects tourism in many parts of the world.”
This was echoed by several tourism ministers from all over the world.
“South Africa is no different and across the world, countries are grappling with these issues with instability and wars in some countries. While it is the mandate of the SAPS to keep our citizens and visitors safe, we all have a role to play.”
She said progress was made since the last meeting.
In a bid to ensure the safety of tourists in the country, the Department of Tourism will be deploying tourism monitors to all provinces at top tourist attractions and national parks.
The key responsibilities of the appointed tourism monitors include patrolling within the identified attractions and site/ areas, raising tourism awareness and provide information to tourists and report any crime incidents to the South African Police Service (SAPS) and other relevant enforcement agencies.
The monitors will be deployed towards the end of October or early November 2023, in time for the summer tourist season.
The department has reviewed the training curriculum for tourism monitors with the departmental budget at R174.5 million, to train more than 2 200 tourism monitors across the country for this financial year.
The key responsibilities of the appointed Tourism Monitors include patrolling within the identified attractions and site/ areas, raising tourism awareness and provide information to tourists and report any crime incidents to SAPS and other relevant enforcement agencies.
Meanwhile, an update from the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) on the C-More tracking device and how best this technology can be incorporated into the Secura app that has been set up by the Tourism Business Council of South Africa, was received.
“Through the use of technology, we are enhancing the tourist experience by offering technology and tourism monitors that assist tourists in various attractions as well as on-demand requests through an app.”
She said the app is now up and running and the operations centre will be launched in Sandton on Thursday.
“The Secura App is already being used by tourists and aims to enhance the visitor experience and assist in many ways including roadside assistance and directing those who are lost,” said the Minister.
MANGOSUTHU BUTHELEZI TURNS 95, NO CELEBRATION WHILE HE’S STILL IN HOSPITAL
The Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP) founding president has been in hospital for more than a month after developing a complication after a recent procedure.
JOHANNESBURG – Prince Mangosuthu Buthelezi turned 95 on Sunday.
However, there will be no big royal celebration for the Amazulu Traditional Prime Minister, who will instead spend the day in hospital.
The Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP) founding president has been in hospital for more than a month after developing a complication after a recent procedure.
But his family said his health has improved.
READ: Buthelezi responding well to treatment in hospital, says IFP
Buthelezi is an iconic figure in South African politics and is one of the country’s oldest statesmen.
The IFP describes him as a committed public servant and leader.
Buthelezi has been flooded with well wishes and prayers from opposition parties and supporters.
READ: Ramaphosa wishes hospitalised Buthelezi a speedy recovery
The ANC in KwaZulu-Natal said a “statesman of Buthelezi’s stature is still needed in South Africa”.
His family said if Buthelezi made steady progress, he could be discharged in this coming week.
F1 – 2023 DUTCH GRAND PRIX – POST-RACE PRESS CONFERENCE TRANSCRIPT
DRIVERS
1 – Max VERSTAPPEN (Red Bull Racing)
2 – Fernando ALONSO (Aston Martin)
3 – Pierre GASLY (Alpine)
TRACK INTERVIEWS
(Conducted by Giedo van der Garde)
Q: Pierre Gasly, P3. Man, I think that must be satisfying, no? What a result for you and the team, the first podium for you together with Alpine.
Pierre GASLY: All I want to say is, let’s go! Yes! I’m feeling so stoked, honestly. What a race, coming back from the summer break and, you know, it hasn’t been the easiest start of the year, just trying to improve race by race and it was good to get some time off, come back and straight into it. We had a third place in Spa in the Sprint, it wasn’t exactly like a normal podium and I’m super pleased for all the guys to get that P3.
Q: When you heard Pérez had a five seconds penalty, I guess you were pushing flat out in the last few laps?
PG: Yeah, I was pretty upset that I got a five second penalty earlier in the race and I was like ‘OK, now it’s 1-1’, and then, yeah, obviously I tried to push as hard as I could to stay within five seconds, and managed to do it. It was a very long race. Very challenging from start to finish and it was greatly executed from all the guys.
Q: Perfect, enjoy it, man. Fernando, P2. Why is it always you love those tricky conditions, on the beginning, at the end, it looks like in the rain, half wet, this is really your thing?
Fernando ALONSO: Yeah, it was a very intense race, obviously at the beginning with wet conditions we were very, very fast. And we stopped maybe one lap too late, but the same as the leaders. And yeah, the car was flying today – very competitive, very easy to drive. In these conditions, you need a car that you can trust and I did try the car a lot today. So, I did enjoy, thanks to all the fans. The energy that we live here in Zandvoort is very unique. It was two years ago when this race came, I thought I will never experience maybe the Zandvoort podium because I was not in a position to think about that. And today it’s going to be very special to share the podium with Max and Pierre now.
Q: That’s nice to hear. Was it hard for you, because there’s like a party going on and you have this wait with the red flag and you have to jump back in the car you have to concentrate, but the crowd was going mad. I guess it must be hard to get back in the zone?
FA: Yeah, it is one of those races that is difficult, as you said, to concentrate, to stay focused for such a long period of time but yeah, as I said, I think this is a very special race track, with all the fans and the energy going on, so you feel always very focused. Happy for Max, congratulations to everyone. I did think about trying a move in the last restart but then I thought maybe I cannot exit the circuit so I stayed calm in second.
Q: Enjoy, man. Max Verstappen, for the third time in a row the winner of the Heineken Dutch Grand Prix. This must feel amazing?
Max VERSTAPPEN: Incredible and also today they didn’t make it easy for us I think with the weather to make all the time the right calls. But yeah, incredibly proud. I mean, I already had goosebumps when they were playing the national anthem before the start. And you know, even with all the bad weather, the rain, the fans were still going at it, so an incredible atmosphere.
Q: You also now equalled Sebastian Vettel with nine wins in a row. I think that’s mega spectacular. Are you up for the 10th one next week?
MV: I’ll think about it next week. I’m first going to enjoy this weekend. You know it’s always tough. The pressure is on to perform and very happy of course to win here.
PRESS CONFERENCE
Q: Max, what an extraordinary race. So much action, so much tension. How satisfying was it to deliver the win?
MV: Yeah, it’s fantastic. Look at this [shows bags of sweets]. I got this now. It’s the highlight of the day for me. Well, yeah, I mean, the race itself was very hectic, of course. I mean, lining up and seeing the rain coming down, yeah, it was tough to make the right calls. I mean, I thought together with the team, you know, they told me, like, the rain is coming, but maybe not enough to switch to an Inter or maybe survive for a few laps, you know, so we decided together to stay out for one more lap, but that at the end of day was then the wrong call. But it made the race definitely more fun, because from there onwards I had to pass a few cars, I had to close the gap up front. But luckily I think within a few laps I closed down like 10 seconds of the gap. So that was very important for the rest of my race. And when we went on to the slick tyres as well, I think that the tyres were holding on quite well on the car for my stint and it was very enjoyable to drive. But then you think you’re going to have, let’s say, an easy ride home, and then they tell me 10, 15 laps before the end, there’s some rain coming again. And this time it was not just some rain, it was quite a lot. So we pit for Inters and within a lap it almost becomes undriveable on an Inter and we opted to go to an extreme. But the problem we have at the moment is that the Intermediate is basically too good compared to the extreme. So even when there’s a downpour like that you still actually want to be on an Inter because it’s faster, but at one point there were so many rivers on the track it just becomes incredibly dangerous. So at the time, I was a bit, well, not upset, but disappointed with the red flag. But I guess in hindsight, with so many people on Intermediates it was probably the right thing to do.
Q: And Max the car seemed competitive in all conditions.
MV: Yeah, it was quick on the Intermediates and quick on the Soft tyres as well.
Q: Now, what were the most stressful moments in that race? And how worried were you by Fernando, just ahead of that mini-Sprint at the end?
MV: Yeah, I think the first laps on the slicks were quite stressful. You don’t want to immediately go off the track. And also knowing how much grip there is still out there on the tyres, with the amount of water coming down, was not easy. And of course the final restart, you know, with seven laps ago, six laps to go or whatever, I knew that my first lap the whole weekend already has not been the best with warm-up, so I knew that I had to survive that first lap. And yeah, Fernando was pushing very hard behind and I could see him close in my mirrors. But once I had the temperature in my tyres it was all well balanced again.
Q: And you’ve equalled Sebastian Vettel’s record of nine in a row and the team’s unbeaten run this season continues. Can we get your thoughts on that?
MV: Yeah, it was probably one of the more difficult races to win again. But yeah, nine in a row was something I never even thought about. So yeah, very happy with that. But I think I’m in general very happy to win here in front of my own crowd.
Q: Max, very well done to you. Thank you. I’m sure there’ll be some more questions in a minute. Fernando, coming to you now. What a race, your seventh podium of the season. You seem to have incredible pace in all conditions as well?
Fernando ALONSO: Yes, today the car was really working really well. And yeah, I felt confident driving. I had trust in the car, which obviously in these conditions you need that level of trust in how much you push. And yeah, the car was fast in dry, it was fast on Inters and probably our most competitive part was at the beginning of the race when it was just a few drops of rain but we still were on the slick Tire. And yeah, quickly we switched to the Inters, so we could not capitalise on that. But we still made some moves – in Turn 3 at the start, on Alex and George, and also on Lando on lap two. So yeah, I was quite happy with the race and it was one of those Sundays where you feel connected with the car, you feel in sync with the car, and everything you do, the car is just answering perfectly.
Q: You were running some upgrades here. Do you think you’ve got back to where you were earlier in the season? Or is it too early to say after a race like that?
FA: I think it’s too early to say. I think that the car is better than the previous events that’s for sure. I felt the car was, as I said, easier to drive. We were more competitive. We’ve been in the top five in every session this weekend. It was not only in the race where we were fast. I think we felt competitive since Friday. But Monza next week is a completely different layout, minimum downforce there and drag. And let’s see if we can still be competitive.
Q: You said on the radio, ‘we will win one soon’, maybe there. One final one from me, Fernando, just give us your thoughts going into that mini-Sprint at the end? Were you thinking about winning or were you thinking of just defending second?
FA: I was thinking about trying. So I was not conservative, let’s say! I thought about what to do, a lot, in the red flag period. So I thought, what were the possibilities, obviously, the move into Turn 2 was something that was in my head, also into Turn 1. I discussed it with the team as well. That was my feeling, that I wanted to try today. But obviously, I don’t want to compromise any big points for the team, because second was very important as well. But they were happy with me to try. I think they have the trust in me as well and in whatever I decide. So yeah, at the restart, I tried in Turn 4 launching the lap, trying to be flat in the banking with the cold tyres, which is a little bit risky, and tried to be side-by-side at least into Turn 1 but I was not that close. So after that I tried some different lines – inside, outside – the opposite of Max for the first lap, in case one of the lines was very grippy or much grippier than he is. And yeah, it was close, but not enough.
Q: Very well done to you, thank you. Pierre, third in the sprint at Spa and then third in the Dutch Grand Prix at the very next race. Feels like you’re on a roll?
PG: Yeah. Yeah, it looks like that. Yeah, I mean, it was extremely tricky today, as Fernando and Max said. All the conditions were pretty much thrown at us from the start. We ended up on slicks in the dry, in damp conditions, then feeding the Inters on the wet, but then on a drying track. So it was all about adapting yourself to the conditions and really playing with the limits. But after the summer break, I was really excited to get back in the car and today was probably the most fun I’ve had all season. Very exciting to be fighting for these positions. And yeah, they were important goals to make but the whole team executed a very strong race. And I’m pleased, because we haven’t been very fortunate since the start of the year, kind of involved in some unfortunate situations on many occasions, which goes to some points and which kind of built some frustration but you’ve got to keep your head down and always trying to improve what you can on yourself, and today it paid off. So yeah, big congrats to the guys and a great way to restart the second part of the year,
Q: Your jump up the order today was made right at the beginning of the race, but you stayed there. Did the pace of the car surprise you in the dry?
PG: I mean, we knew we were starting outside the points and there was this rain coming. Took a good start and out of that last corner, I saw the rain, I could see the intensity, and I saw the opportunity and the reward. So I called it straightaway. I wanted to box, also to benefit from a slightly drier track to warm up the tyres on that first lap. And it really worked out well. So it put us in a strong position, fourth place straightaway. Then there were 71 laps to go. So still a pretty long day at the office. But it felt great. We managed to pull away from the Ferrari, we had a five second penalty, which wasn’t great and put us back behind Carlos, which we had to overtake after that. But all in all, there’s some very good pace and good calls from the team and good strategy. So I’m happy to start this second part of the season in that way.
Q: And was it difficult to stay within five seconds of Perez at the end?
PG: It’s never easy to stay within five seconds of a Red Bull, that’s for sure. But you know, I mean, I saw the opportunity, I knew what was on the table and yeah, just gave everything I had out there. And actually, I expected to struggle a bit more with a warm-up initially, but the conditions were not too bad. So, it was yeah, pretty much a couple of qualifying laps at the end, which were really rewarding and I can feel what he was feeling: I went through it a couple laps before with these five seconds penalties. So yeah, I just tried to get everything I could.
Q: And how much confidence does this result give you going into Monza next weekend?
PG: I think it does give some confidence. I think it’s definitely coming more together with a team. It’s obviously this sort-of adaptation part, since the start of the year, trying to learn from each-other. Last weekend in Spa we had a good top-three finish in the Sprint in Intermediate conditions, like in the wet. Again today, we managed to make the best out of these conditions. There is a clear trend that the car seems to work a bit better in the wet. Now we’ve got to improve and keep working because we’re still slightly further back in the dry. But there were definitely some good signs of pace today and we need to go from there.
QUESTIONS FROM THE FLOOR
Q: (Christian Menath – motorsport-magazin.com) Question for you Max. Will you agree that it’s mostly about risk management for you at the moment, and how is it working with the risk management for you? Is it coming naturally or are you thinking about things like Fernando just explained?
MV: Yeah. Especially in the beginning. And also, when you have this kind of tricky race, for sure, it was a lot about risk management. I mean, when I compare it to a few years ago, where I’m not fighting for the championship, I’m driving completely different for sure. But that’s fine. I mean, even while driving like this, I know that they have a car, which is capable of a lot. So that probably helps to, to be a little bit more in control, I guess.
Q: (Scott Mitchell-Malm – The Race) Max, some people underestimate how hard it can be when, even if you’ve got the fastest car, to keep winning. Is this kind of race the ultimate example of just how hard it can be to keep a win streak going in? How satisfying is it to win a grand prix this complicated?
MV: Yeah, absolutely, I mean, even if you have the best – and I think there have been more dominant cars in the past than what we have at the moment and they haven’t been able to do so, to win nine in a row, whatever, the consecutive wins we have as a team. So yeah, it is hard and especially like today, it’s easy to make a wrong call or even drop it yourself in the gravel or whatever. So, yeah, it’s never that straightforward unfortunately.
Q: (Jesús Balseiro – Diario AS) A question to Fernando. What do you do on Turn 3, first lap. How did you overtake Albon and Russell through the inside on that special corner?
FA: It was FP1 or FP2 it was wet and in one of the out-laps I let a few cars go on the normal racing line and I found a lot of grip on the inside casually, by just letting people go. So, I kept in my head, all the time, all the weekend, in case it was wet. I was ready to try again and, to be honest, when we were on the grid, and the red lights were on for the start of the race, there were a lot of drops in the visor. So, that’s the worst feeling you can have. Because you are ready to start the race on a slick tyre, and on your visor, you see that it’s raining, So, you have no idea of the grip that you will find in Turn 1 braking, or Turn 3. So, I thought everyone will be a little bit cautious in Turn 3 with the grip level, and also just outside Turn 3 there is paint in the Aramco, so you have to be a little bit cautious there. So I thought about the inside line, it could work and yeah, we overtook those two cars. Definitely, that should be the overtake of the month, again. I hope.
Q: (Ronald Vording – motorsport.com) It’s a twofold question to Max. You talked about laps on the Intermediate, when you closed down Checo. At one point you were over four seconds quicker than him. Just how special were those laps behind the wheel, and how many risks did you take there? And secondly, if you compare this Zandvoort win to the previous two, how much more tricky and maybe also how much more rewarding, is this one?
MV: I mean, I knew I had good pace on the Intermediates and I knew that when I had to push, the whole weekend already, you know we were quick. So, it was more about just keeping them alive for whenever you would need them, if there was more rain coming or whatever. So, in the beginning, I think, it was pretty good. But yeah, to compare the wins, I think all of them have been different. So, this one definitely was definitely the hardest one to make all them the right calls to the end.
Q: (Kevin Scheuren – motorsport-total.com) Question to Pierre please. You had a nice wheel-to-wheel battle with Max in the early stages of the race, where it seemed he pushed you a little bit wide in Turn 3. Can you talk us through that moment from your perspective? Especially concerning how stewards may note such a situation – and in other situations they don’t note it and investigate it.
PG:
I think I’ve I finished more than five seconds behind Max, so it doesn’t really matter to me, depends how much Fernando pays me, then we can discuss how much you’re willing to give! Yeah, it was a wheel-to-wheel battle and, I mean, Max knew that if you’ll push me slightly wider on the paint in the wet, if I put a wheel on there, then I’ll just understeer wide. It was on the limit. Yeah, if I’ll be in his position, and you’ve got to pass a car, you’ll play with the limit and that’s why you will try. So I’m not too fussy about it. Yeah, it’s just racing. And yeah, close racing.
Q: (Andrew Benson – BBC) One for Max and one for Fernando. Max, since Miami you’ve moved on to another level compared to Checo and everybody else. Has anything in particular happened? Can you explain why that is? And Fernando, what do you make of what Max has achieved so far this year? Do you think he’s operating on a level separate from anyone else? Or do you think you or Lewis, for example, could challenge him if you were in the same car?
MV: Yeah, I think I learned a lot from the race in Baku, how to do some things with the car, how to set it up. Of course, I didn’t win that race in Baku but actually I really tried a lot of stuff and different tools in the car. That’s why throughout the race it was a little bit inconsistent, but at one point, I got into a good rhythm with what I found. But then I damaged my tyres a bit too much. But it was like ‘OK, that’s quite interesting for the next races’. And I basically implemented that and it has helped me on every track.
FA: Yeah, it is underestimated sometimes what Max is achieving. I agree with the comment and the question that your colleague made before. I think to win in such a dominant matter in any of the professional sports, it is so complicated. So to be at the same level of him, obviously, we have a lot of self-confidence, drivers in general. So I do believe that I can do good as well as well. I don’t know about Lewis, but me, yes! And Lewis as well, and everyone, I think you need to enter in a mood, in a state that you are, as I said before, connected with a car. I think days like today, I felt that I was at my best and have been giving 100% of what I felt and my abilities on a racing car, but maybe in Spa I was not at that level or in Austria or something like that. So you always feel that there is room to improve and you are not 100% happy with yourself, as I am today. And I think Max is achieving that 100% more often than us at the moment, than any of the drivers, so that’s why he’s dominating.
Q: (Jake Boxall-Legge – Autosport) Max, when the second downpour started to come towards the very end of the race, I think you were asked if you wanted to come in and you decided to ask the team to delay your stop a lap. Could you explain your thought process there? Were you just sort of a little bit scared of burning up the Inters too early or did you just feel already quite good?
MV: Yeah, I mean, that lap was definitely too dry in the back, but it started raining, like, on the main street, for example. Then I went again and I came again through Sector 2 and it was still dry. But I don’t know, of course, what’s going on the main straight or Turn 1 and apparently it was really coming down. So then the team told me ‘no, no, you have to come in this lap’. So, it’s a bit of feeling, I think, also, from both sides, you know. Sometimes it can be a little bit more up to you , sometimes a bit more up to the team. And at the end of the day, you have to trust each other in making the right call. And I was very happy that they called me in that the second time around.
Q: (Ed Spencer – Total-motorsport.com) A question to Pierre. Pierre, today you ended a podium drought of over two years. How sweet does it feel considering that the first half of the season was fairly tricky?
PG: Well, it’s obviously very satisfying when you get a reward for the work that we’re all putting in in the team. I think objectively, you’ve got to look at the package that you’ve got. And obviously last year, with AlphaTauri we were nowhere near a podium finish at any point. We just didn’t have the speed. I think this year we came close in Monaco, running in third position and it was clearly a missed opportunity, with the, sort of, extra stop, which wasn’t necessary. But no, it’s a sort of season where you’ve just got to keep trying, just keep trying again and again and there’s going to be a point where things are going to click and today it did, and it was probably the most challenging race of the year. There were a lot of obstacles. There were many moments where we could have got it wrong. But as a team, we just tried to maximise that and that’s why I’m really pleased and I’m really proud of the team, because we haven’t been really fortunate but you’ve got to keep trying and keep looking at yourself and seeing the areas where you can improve. And that’s what we’ve been doing. The top three in Spa didn’t feel the same. Obviously, it was a third place, but it’s a Sprint and I didn’t get to go on the podium. But clearly, this one feels a lot better. And I hope we can build up from there with the guys.
Nadine Dorries officially out as MP, 81 days after announcing resignation with ‘immediate effect’
Having been appointed steward and bailiff of the Three Hundreds of Chiltern, Ms Dorries is now no longer an MP. When the Commons returns from recess on 4 September, a writ can be moved to trigger a by-election within 21 to 27 working days.
Nadine Dorries is officially no longer an MP, 81 days after she announced her resignation from the Commons with “immediate effect”.
The former culture secretary did not step down instantaneously, instead remaining in her role as a politician as she claimed she was looking into why she was refused a seat in the House of Lords.
Following the publication of a stinging resignation letter to Rishi Sunak over the weekend, Ms Dorries has finally vacated her Mid Bedfordshire seat.
Politics latest: Ministers to reform rules to boost housebuilding
She was appointed as steward and bailiff of the Three Hundreds of Chiltern on Tuesday morning – one of two historical posts that MPs have to be given in order for them to give up their position as a member of parliament. There is no formal process to stop being a member of the Commons.
An arch Boris Johnson loyalist, Ms Dorries was expected to be elevated to the upper chamber in her former boss’s resignation honours list.
When this did not come to fruition, she announced her intention to resign, and has since blamed Mr Sunak for blocking her from the Lords; Mr Sunak denies he blocked her appointment.
As the Commons is currently on recess, a date cannot be set for the by-election to replace Ms Dorries in Mid Bedfordshire.
If the writ to hold the vote is moved on the first day MPs return – 4 September – the by-election should be held within 21 and 27 working days.
This would put the likely timetable for a vote right around the time of Conservative Party and Labour Party conferences, which are being held from 1 October to 4 October, and 8 October and 11 October respectively.
Speaking today, the prime minister thanked Ms Dorries for her service.
Mr Sunak said: “I’m grateful to Nadine for her service both as an MP and a minister.
“We are looking forward, and delighted to support our fantastic candidate in Mid-Beds, Festus Akinbusoye, who is the local candidate, the only local candidate in this election; also the local police and crime commissioner.
“He’s got a fantastic track record of already standing up for local people, and I hope he can continue to do that as a new member of parliament.”
The Conservatives, Labour and Liberal Democrats have all been campaigning vociferously in Ms Dorries’s seat over the summer, despite her not having left until today.
Ms Dorries had a sizeable majority of 24,664. This is a larger majority than what was overturned by Labour in Selby and Ainsty earlier this year, or the Liberal Democrats in Somerton and Frome.
Labour finished second in the seat in 2019, with almost double the number of votes as the Lib Dems.
Nesquik discontinued in South Africa due to low demand
You’d have to be as fast as Nesquik’s mascot, Quicky the bunny, to get your hands on the flavoured milk drink as Nestlé is no longer restocking SA shelves.
Nestlé announced Nesquik would be discontinued due to drop in sales and lower demand.
“We remain committed to bringing innovation to the cocoa malt beverages category, and we are eager to improve and introduce new products that will be hitting the shelves soon,” said Takudzwa Mupfurutsa, business executive officer dairy for Nestlé East and Southern Africa.
“As part of this strategic shift, Nestlé will be bidding farewell to Nesquik in SA. Effective from August 21, Nestlé Nesquik strawberry 500g, Nestlé Nesquik strawberry 250g, Nestlé Nesquik chocolate 500g and Nestlé Nesquik chocolate 250g will be no longer be produced in SA and thus discontinued.
“While Nestlé understands that this may disappoint some consumers, this change follows a drop in sales and lower demand for Nestlé Nesquik.”
Milo, Nestlé Hot Chocolate and Nestlé Cocoa are favoured by the SA market.
“They are here to stay, ensuring that consumers can continue to enjoy the exceptional quality and taste they have come to expect from Nestlé. These brands have shown remarkable performance and consumer loyalty, making them the focus of Nestlé’s efforts to build a healthier and sustainable business for the future,” said Mupfurutsa.
“We would like to express our deepest gratitude to our consumers for their unwavering support throughout the years.”
Steve and Marjorie Harvey infidelity claims cause a stir
Johannesburg – American television personality Steve Harvey and his wife, Marjorie Elaine Harvey, found themselves at the centre of discourse after reports of infidelity surfaced on social media.
According to the allegations, Marjorie reportedly had an affair with the couple’s bodyguard, and one of their personal chefs, pictured in 2015 in Las Vegas.
This was followed by claims that their marriage was on the rocks and reports that Harvey was divorcing his wife.
The pair, who have been married since 2017, had been serving couple goals before the news broke on the internet.
Harvey adopted Marjorie’s three children from her previous relationship – 26-year-old model Lori, Morgan, and Jason.
In a shared TikTok video, Harvey spoke about the relationship and said they were fine.
Their fans have slammed the response, saying it does not give an in-depth response to the allegations.
“Before I get started, just let me say that I’m fine. Marjorie’s fine… I don’t know what y’all doing, but find something else to do ’cause we’re fine. Lord, have mercy. I ain’t got no time for rumours and gossip. God’s been good to me; I’m still shining.“
Marjorie also shared a post on Instagram highlighting that the couple do not entertain lies spread about them.
“This is the website: https://mattmcmillenministries.com/how-to-handle-being-lied-about/ My husband and I don’t usually stop to address all the foolishness and lies that have been spread about us. However, to whom much is given, much is required. I understand that with my platform comes some sort of responsibility for those who may not be as strong as we are. Read and share this with your loved ones who may not know how to properly cope. God bless all of you.”
Harvey has always spoken fondly of his wife.
It is also reported that during a past interview with ‘People’ in 2012, Harvey raved about his wife and admitted she had changed the way he existed.
“I’d never been in a healthy adult relationship; I’d never been loyal; I’d never been fully respected,” he said.
Harvey has since been posting his everyday motivational messages on social media, where mixed views are shared.
“No matter what happens, life ain’t over. As long as God wakes you up, that means he ain’t through with you yet. When God wakes you up, he has something for you that you haven’t received. Every day you have the opportunity to make something happen.
“God will seed your imagination with something that is just for you. Ever wonder why you told someone a dream and they shot it down completely? Because God gave it to you and you only. It wasn’t meant to be shared. Protect what God puts in your imagination,” Harvey said on social media.