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IOL News
2 hours ago
- IOL News
Looking for value? Ask a local
Home-made steak and stout pie with chips, peas and gravy. Image: Frank Chemaly Crossways Where: Cnr Dennis Shepstone and Old Howick Road, Hilton Open: Monday to Thursday 11am till late (kitchen 9pm); Friday and Saturday 11am till late (kitchen 9.30pm); Sunday 11am to 9pm (kitchen 4pm, Pizza kitchen 8pm) Call: 033 343 3267 It takes something to fill a large restaurant on a chilly Monday evening. But a fire is blazing in the hearth and the locals are out in force. Monday is pizza special night. Any two large pizzas, excluding seafood come in at R159 - and that includes two complimentary drinks. And boards carrying large pizzas are flying out of the kitchen, they look really good, nice crisp thin bases and generous toppings. The value is incredible. Similar specials on Tuesday take in their pastas. On Wednesday it's burgers, Thursday mix and match and Saturday, steak egg and chips. Sunday's special is a traditional roast with all the trimmings for R120. The inclusion of complimentary drinks offers exceptionally good value. In addition, pensioners get a 10% discount on main courses. Sadly neither Mom or I feel like pizza. We're at Crossways pub in Hilton. I didn't realise the extent of the operation only having eaten in the pub itself, which spills out onto a wide verandah. People were actually sitting there despite the cold. The heaters must have been working overtime. But behind the pub is the main diningroom. There's also a small 'pizza' dining room with the oven taking pride of place which was full. And at the back is a large garden which would be excellent for summer braais. Friendly staff soon found us a spot near the fire, a Scotch for Mom, a good glass of red for me. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ Ad loading Snails in garlic butter and gratinated with cheese. Image: Frank Chemaly The menu is substantial, taking in many pub classics. Light meals include wraps, salads and toasties. There's a selection of snack baskets, ideal for soaking up the booze in a communal setting in the pub. These can include anything from calamari and scampi, to spicy chicken wings, riblets, crumbed mushrooms, jalapeno poppers, boerewors, and lamb chops. They all come with chips and onion rings, and offer good value. Starters include everything from a soup of the day, to a variety of ways with nachos. There's the predictable chicken livers, spicy or mild, deep fried brie, and a mussel pot, along with many of the items that make up the baskets. There's also an anti-pasto board and bruschetta. Pepperoni balls with a tomato relish. These were croquettes stuffed with pepperoni and cheese. Image: Frank Chemaly We opted for creamy garlic snails (R89), gratinated in the pizza oven, which we really enjoyed. You could smell that lovely cheesy topping as it hit the table. We mopped it all up with toasted French loaf. The pepperoni balls (R74) - croquettes stuffed with pepperoni and cheese - sounded great on paper, but somehow didn't work in practice. The pepperoni sort of over powered everything. But perhaps that is just me. When I took some of the potato only and dipped it into the excellent roast tomato relish, it worked. So maybe patatas bravas would be an option. For mains there's burgers which feature a home- made 150g patty topped with options like cheese, bacon, pulled pork and featuring an array of different sauces from Jack Daniels to guacamole and sour cream, to mushroom or spicy mayo. You can also build your own. They're all a good R30-R40 cheaper than their Durban equivalents. Then besides the pizzas in evidence everywhere, there's a range of pastas, and then a selection focussed on real pub grub. Think sausage and mash, fish and chips, eisbein and chicken schnitzels. There are a number of steak options - including a beef and reef - and Natal style curries including chicken and prawn, beef, lambs and veg. Oxtail served with mash. Image: Frank Chemaly I opted for their home-made steak and stout pie (R150) which was sizable and enjoyable, even though the stout didn't really come through fully. The chips could have done with a second frying and the gravy was on the Bisto side of things. A pity. Mom's oxtail (R179) lacked the deeply umami flavours one expects of oxtail although the meat was tender. It was more like a bean stew with pieces of oxtail. It was served with a good creamy mash. All things a few technique tips in the kitchen could fix.
IOL News
a day ago
- Sport
- IOL News
Roger de Sa still optimistic despite Cape Town City's missed opportunity in PSL playoffs
Prins Tjiueza scored the only goal for Cape Town City against Casric Stars. Photo: BackpagePix Image: BackpagePix Cape Town City will need to dig deep in their final two fixtures to secure their place in the Premiership for next season. Their hopes of claiming a first win in the Premier Soccer League promotion/relegation playoffs were cruelly dashed in the dying minutes of their clash against Casric Stars at the Solomon Mahlangu Stadium in Mpumalanga on Wednesday. Now, heading into the last two matches of the mini-league, City find themselves in a pressure-filled situation where at least one victory is vital to maintain their top-flight status. The Citizens took the lead in the first half through a goal from Prins Tjiueza, but after Casric Stars fought back, Sphamandla Mlilo calmly converted from the penalty spot to earn the hosts a share of the spoils. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Next Stay Close ✕ City assistant coach Roger de Sa reflected on his team's missed chances, and also took encouragement from the draw, viewing it as a steady step forward in a playoff campaign where momentum and home advantage could prove decisive. 'As expected, it's playoffs time, and everyone is playing for everything,' De Sa said after the match. 'We just have to calm down. We got a good point away from home and they have to come to us, so we are still in it. I saw the log – we are on top, and hopefully we can push through. 'I thought we started badly – the first 10 to 15 minutes were very poor. 'But once we got into it, on a bumpy pitch, we created some good chances and we got the goal. We could have possibly gone 2-0 up, but we didn't put our chance away. 'It was what we expected – route-one long balls for the last 20 minutes – and unfortunately a penalty. But I think a point away from home was not bad, even though we could have got more.' City's 2024/25 campaign has been a tough one, with form and consistency eluding them. However, they are now four matches unbeaten, including their final two league games. Even though they have shown signs of improvement, they still remain in a precarious position with two difficult matches ahead. The prolonged playoffs have not only denied the Cape side early time off to reflect on the season, but they could potentially have little time to rest before the start of the next season. And despite the late equaliser denying them victory, De Sa remained optimistic and still believes that his team is still well positioned in the race. 'The playoffs are unpredictable, but they also run long and spill into the next season,' De Sa continued. 'Most playoffs are usually unpredictable.
IOL News
a day ago
- Health
- IOL News
When it comes to Freedom of Expression, the WHO Pandemic Agreement says nothing
The writer says that the next time a pandemic strikes—and there will be a next time—we cannot look to Geneva for guidance on how to preserve open debate and protect democratic norms. Image: File THE World Health Organization's long-awaited Pandemic Agreement has finally been adopted. At over 30 pages, it is comprehensive in ambition - addressing everything from vaccine access to supply chain resilience. But when it comes to one of the most critical ingredients for effective public health in a democracy - freedom of expression - the Agreement has remarkably little to say. In fact, it says almost nothing. Take, for instance, this key provision: 'Each Party shall, as appropriate, conduct research and inform policies on factors that hinder or strengthen adherence to public health and social measures in a pandemic and trust in science and public health institutions, authorities and agencies.' This sounds constructive. But read it again. 'As appropriate'? According to whom? And what policies, exactly? The Agreement doesn't say. It offers no guidance on whether open public debate - complete with disagreement, critique, and messy facts - is essential to building trust in science and public institutions. Nor does it warn against the dangers of censorship during public health crises. It simply leaves it to each country to decide for itself what 'appropriate' means. In other words, it takes no position. And this is precisely the problem. In the name of trust, governments during the COVID-19 pandemic did not always build it - they sometimes undermined it. South Africa offers two powerful examples. First, Dr Glenda Gray, one of the country's most respected scientists and then-president of the Medical Research Council, publicly criticised aspects of the government's lockdown measures. The reaction from the Department of Health was swift: the Director-General requested that her employer, the Medical Research Council, investigate her. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ This wasn't scientific debate. It was an attempt to silence a dissenting voice. It was only after public uproar that the matter was dropped. Second, consider the ivermectin litigation saga. In December 2020, South Africa's medicines regulator, SAHPRA, triggered a controversy by incorrectly stating in a press release that ivermectin was 'not indicated … for use in humans', despite the fact that the drug had long been registered for certain human indications in South Africa. Some might label SAHPRA's statement as misinformation or even disinformation, but more plausibly, it was simply a careless - though consequential - error by a public authority. Yet the same press release went further, threatening with criminal enforcement against members of the public seeking to import ivermectin - an unnecessarily heavy-handed stance that swiftly provoked litigation. These are not stories from some distant autocracy. They happened here, in South Africa. And they highlight an uncomfortable truth: even well-meaning public institutions can slip into authoritarian habits under the pressure of a public health crisis. The antidote to authoritarian drift - and to official error - is freedom of expression. In Democratic Alliance v African National Congress, the Constitutional Court affirmed that freedom of expression is valuable not only for its intrinsic worth but also for its instrumental role in a democratic society. It informs citizens, fosters public debate, and enables the exposure of folly and misgovernance. It is also vital in the pursuit of truth—both personal and collective. If society suppresses views it deems unacceptable, those views may never be tested, challenged, or proven wrong. Open debate enhances truth-finding and allows us to scrutinise political claims and reflect on social values. This is why the South African Constitution enshrines freedom of expression - not as a luxury for peacetime, but as a safeguard for moments of crisis. Our Constitution was written with the memory of repression in mind. And it is precisely when fear and uncertainty tempt governments to silence dissent that its protections matter most. One might have expected an international agreement on pandemic response to affirm these same values. Yet the WHO Pandemic Agreement retreats into vagueness. It speaks of 'trust' and 'solidarity,' and warns against 'misinformation and disinformation,' but avoids the real issue: how should a democratic society respond when public health policies are contested? How do we protect space for critical voices? Instead of offering a principled stand, the Agreement offers a shrug. Countries are told to act 'as appropriate.' That could mean encouraging open dialogue—or it could mean criminalising dissent. The WHO doesn't say. And that silence speaks volumes. Professor Donrich Thaldar Image: University of KwaZulu-Natal
IOL News
a day ago
- General
- IOL News
Mthatha floods victims will be resettled on new land, says Cogta
The flooding in the Eastern Cape has led to a tragic loss of lives. Image: Gift of the Givers SUITABLE land will be identified and allocated to the victims of the devastating Eastern Cape floods to enable long-term, dignified housing solutions. This, according to the Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (CoGTA) in the Eastern Cape, was the assurance Minister of Human Settlements, Thembi Simelane made to the victims during her oversight visit to two severely impacted informal settlements, Skiet and Eugene, to engage with residents and evaluate urgent housing and support needs. Some of the residents had settled close to the Mthatha Dam, which is suspected to have been flooded during the recent heavy rains. The floods claimed the lives of nearly 100 people and displaced more than 2000. "As a key role player in disaster coordination, CoGTA continues to collaborate with all spheres of government to ensure that emergency relief reaches affected families," Cogta said. The government has come under sharp criticism from residents for how it responded to the disaster, with reports that people were trapped in flooded houses for hours with no emergency crews in sight. The South African Defence Force (SANDF) have also been lamented for delays in deploying resources like its Oryx helicopter to assist with flood relief. IOL reported that the alleged absence of Flight Engineers (FEs) had significantly hampered the SANDF's ability to operate vital aircraft during recent floods in Mthatha, as heavy rains and snow battered the Eastern Cape. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Next Stay Close ✕ The SANDF did not respond to questions around the issue on Wednesday. While not commenting on behalf of the government, UDM leader Bantu Holomisa, who is also Defence deputy minister said when president Cyril Ramaphosa visited the area, he had called for the tragedy to be declared a national state of disaster noting the 'scale of the destruction in Mthatha and surrounding areas is immense. Roads, bridges, schools, and critical infrastructure have been washed away. Entire communities are cut off from emergency services, and the humanitarian need is growing by the hour'. Holomisa said he was concerned as after Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (CoGTA) Minister Velenkosini Hlabisa, visited the area he had not seen the necessity in making the declaration. 'I don't want to point fingers but almost 90 people have died, it's totally out of control'. Disaster management expert, Dingaan Mahlangu from Ncuma risk management said the recent events highlighted the urgent need for 'improved disaster preparedness and rapid response mechanisms in South Africa', especially in light of increasingly unpredictable weather patterns. 'We must move from reactive to proactive disaster management if we are to save lives and build resilience in vulnerable regions. Flood disasters are (becoming) increasingly common in our changing climate. With proper planning, community engagement, and inter-agency collaboration, their impact can be significantly reduced,' he said. Cape Times
IOL News
2 days ago
- Sport
- IOL News
All Blacks coach Scott Robertson considers 'imitating' Springboks' tactics
FILE - All Blacks coach Scott Robertson admits 'you can learn from others' when it comes to international rugby. Image: Backpagepix All Blacks coach Scott Robertson hinted that he may follow Rassie Erasmus and the Springboks' 'bomb squad' tactics ahead of their hotly anticipated Rugby Championship matches later this year. The Springboks swept the All Blacks aside in the last year's Rugby Championship after two thrilling late comebacks. The impact of the Boks' bench was telling in Cape Town and Johannesburg, as the All Blacks had no answer to the South Africans' quality and power off the bench. In fact, the Springboks kept the All Blacks scoreless in the last 20 minutes in both those encounters. But now Robertson seems to want to fight fire with fire, with Robertson saying in a recent interview that closing out matches will be one of the biggest areas that they will be focusing on in their upcoming Test series against an understrength France team. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ Ad loading The Springboks have successfully used their bench over the last six years, using a 6-2 or 7-1 split in favour of the forwards. In the second Test against the All Blacks last year they went with a conventional 5-3 split and still got the desired impact in the second half to win the match. It remains to be seen if Robertson will move away from his preferred 5-3 bench split for the Tests against the Boks in Auckland (August 31) and Wellington (September 7). But what we do know is they will have to come up with a plan to get one over the Boks, who have won their last four matches against the Kiwis. 'What Rassie [Erasmus] has done beautifully is he's really clear in the second half of games how to make great impacts. That's an area of growth for us,' Robertson told the Sunday Star-Times. 'He's got a really good formula – their Boks style. They can be extremely brutal, can put you in the corner, and they can play some great rugby off turnover.
