Durban – Forty-six boxes of contraband cigarettes, with an estimated value of R1.3 million, were confiscated during a patrol at the Farazella border between South Africa and Mozambique.

SANDF spokesperson, Captain Anelisiwe Tamela, said during an operation earlier this week, two vehicles were spotted where people were loading boxes of contraband along the border fence.

“When approached, the suspects fled the scene and 46 boxes of Rothmans cigarettes and an Isuzu bakkie worth R80 000 were found,” Tamela said.

She said SANDF members are deployed at the border to counter illicit goods and undocumented people from entering SA.

Tamela said officers were lauded for their commitment and dedication in combating the cross-border criminal activities.

Last month, SANDF members seized a large quantity of cigarettes, drugs and a vehicle and the Tell Bridge Port of Entry between the Eastern Cape and Lesotho.

According to police, two men were arrested for illegally transporting tobacco products.

In another patrol, officers found boxes of cigarettes and crates of beer. It was suspected that the items were waiting to be collected and smuggled over the border.

The selling of tobacco and tobacco-related products remain banned, despite the country downgrade to level 3 from June 1.

On Wednesday, South Africans expected President Cyril Ramaphosa to announce a relaxation on the ban, however smokers will have to cross their fingers and put their faith in Judge President Dunstan Mlambo and the North Gauteng High Court. Last week, the court heard an application by the Fair Trade Independent Association, which took the government to court in a bid to force them to overturn the ban on cigarette sales.

Judgment was reserved on the matter.

Durban – Higher Education Minister Blade Nzimande has praised Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs Minister Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma for driving campaigns that helped him to quit cigarettes and alcohol.

Nzimande made the comment on Thursday when he was addressing the media during his visit to the Umgungundlovu TVET College in Pietermaritzburg as part of his nationwide drive to check on institutions of higher learning’s state of readiness to comply with regulations to prevent the spread of the coronavirus.

He said Dlamini Zuma started similar campaigns, despite huge opposition, when she was still the Health Minister.

“It might have taken a bit longer because of some people like us, but I stopped smoking in 2012 because of this ongoing campaign that was ringing in our ears.

“I am very proud of it because I am feeling much better,” he said.

He said it was very important that the government intensified the campaign against smoking and should do the “same with alcohol”.

“I stopped drinking in 2018… it can be done as I am an example,” he said.

The alcohol ban was lifted when level 3 regulations came into effect.

Dlamini Zuma had recently been criticised for announcing that the sale of cigarettes would remain banned under level 4 of the Covid-19 lockdown. She made this announcement soon after President Cyril Ramaphosa had announced that the ban on the sale of cigarettes would be lifted.

Ramaphosa later said Dlamini Zuma had his full backing and that the decision to uphold the ban on cigarettes was not hers alone.

Nzimande said Covid-19 has exposed society to the need to stop smoking.

“As a government, we need a heightened campaign against smoking and alcohol abuse.

“It looks like the level of alcohol abuse in our society is abnormally high,” he said.

He said apart from the stringent measures that the government had taken against cigarette and alcohol use during the lockdown,there would be a need to intensify the campaign beyond Covid-19.

“Beyond Covid-19 we may maintain the stringent measures but also we need education to accompany this.

“We need a huge, huge campaign against these two things (cigarettes and alcohol), but we won’t win this campaign on our own, and we will need to forge a partnership in society,” said Nzimande.

Former South African Airways board chairperson, Dudu Myeni, has acquired the services of legal heavyweight Advocate Dali Mpofu as she plans to appeal the judgment of the Pretoria High Court, which declared her a ‘delinquent director’.

In May, Judge Ronel Tolmay handed down her ruling following an application by the Organisation Undoing Tax Abuse (Outa) and South African Airways Pilots’ Association (Saapa) lodged in March 2017.

Outa and Saapa legal counsel Advocate Carol Steinberg asked the court to declare Myeni a delinquent director, arguing that she was responsible for the financial maladministration at the national airline during her tenure as board chairperson from 2012 until 2017.

In her judgment Tolmay agreed, saying: “This declaration of delinquency is to subsist for the remainder of Ms Myeni’s lifetime.

Myeni, via her legal representatives, then filed an application for leave to appeal the judgement.

In a statement issued on Thursday, Myeni said as part of the appeal she has appointed Mabuza Attorneys as her new attorneys of record.

“I have also employed the services of Adv. Dali Mpofu (SC) while retaining the services of Adv. Nqabayethu Buthelezi,” the statement read.

Myeni on claims that “the judge directly copied and pasted no less than 265 of the 285 paragraphs of the judgment from the Plaintiffs’ written closing arguments”.

“Thus the judgment has created the false impression that the judgment is findings of the court when it is in its entirety the submissions of the Plaintiffs being echoed. Not only does this show clear bias on the part of the judge but shows complete lack of independence. Again it is such conduct on the part of certain judges that continues to undermine public confidence in the judiciary and now has the potential to bring the entire judiciary into disrepute,” the statement said.

She said the leave to appeal application again revealed that she has a strong case on the merits.

“I remain confident that another court showing the expected level of independence and sense of justice will arrive at a different outcome,” she said.

Gabrielle Union – who has publicly slammed the working environment on “America’s Got Talent” – thought she signed up for the “easiest show” when she agreed to be a judge on the US talent series.

The television star and actress – who has publicly slammed the working environment on the US talent series – has spoken out about her experiences, including her criticisms of boss Simon Cowell smoking on set on her first day on the job.

She said: “I thought it was the easiest show. How hard is it to … watch jugglers? That’s what I thought I signed up for … Day one, Simon Cowell is smoking cigarettes inside. I’ve worked a long time. I’ve worked with all kinds of people. I’ve never experienced that.

When your boss – the person who has the ability to determine who gets opportunities and who doesn’t – doesn’t believe that the law applies to him or the rules apply to him, and he does it in full view of NBC, Fremantle and Syco and no one cares about Simon Cowell exposing all of these employees to second hand smoke, that’s day one.

What message do you think that sends to anyone that has an issue with the very real racism and the lack of accountability? And it goes on and on and on.”

And Gabrielle also criticised NBC’s own investigation into the incident, insisting it wasn’t “independent” in the slightest as it was paid for by NBC, Fremantle and Syco.

Speaking on The Daily Show with Trevor Noah, she added: “I decided to participate in this investigation … Silly me, I thought ‘independent’ was independent. But when NBC and [producers] Fremantle and Syco pay for that investigation, they control it.

“They turn over what they believe to be inflammatory things, or things that are not advantageous to me. ‘Gabrielle better watch who she calls a racist,’ NBC chairman Paul Telegdy told my team. In the middle of an investigation about racism and discrimination? This is what’s happening from the top of the company.”

Thapelo Mokoena is mourning the passing of his father, football boss Mike Mokoena.

According to IOL Sport, the 68-year-old succumbed to cancer at Sandton Oncology Clinic on Wednesday morning.

Mokoena is the founding member of Free State Star.

Mokoena was one of the longstanding members of the executive committee of the National Soccer League (NSL) and the founding member of Free State Stars.

Taking to Instagram on Wednesday, the “Trackers” actor paid a moving tribute to his father, also expressing his pain at the loss of the family patriarch, he wrote: “Rest In Peace Dad…I’ve been dreading this day coming for a long time now. You put up a good fight with this cancer.

He added: “Thank you for Life. Thank you for the years. You can rest now. You also chose to leave on your Son’s birthday. •Many including soccer fans, industry friends took to different social media platform to share their message of support and condolences to the Mokoena’s family.

“I’m sorry my brother, I know you will continue to make him proud by being the great father you are to your kids,” commented singer and TV host Nandi Madida.

“Condolences to you and the family,” wrote actress Gail Mabalane.

“Sincere condolences to you and your family 🙏🏾❤️,” added TV personality Ayanda Thabethe.

“Condolences brother.you in our prayers,” said actor and TV host Lungile Radu.

“I’m so sorry 💔 May his soul rest in peace,” added TV host Minnie Dlamini-Jones.