Table of contents for 2021-08-19 in Star

Dineo Faku dineo.faku@inl.co.za CURRO Holdings, South Africa’s biggest private school group, is taking legal action to become a mandatory vaccinated company, it said yesterday as it placed dividends on ice and announced that enrolment had returned to pre-Covid-19 levels during the half-year ended June 2021. Speaking to shareholders during the company’s financial results presen- tation for the half-year ended June 2021 held virtually, Curro’s chief executive Andries Greyling said the decision was in the best interest of recovering from Covid-19. “We started a legal process within the legal framework of making sure that our business will be totally vaccinated within the next 12 months. I think that it is our obligation to get the world open and ensure that all our learners, parents and teachers are protected throughout the coronavirus,”…

DRDGold benefits from high gold prices, Ergo posts revenue hike Dineo Faku dineo.faku@inl.co.za DRDGOLD, which mines gold dumps around Johannesburg, generated R5.26 billion in revenue during the year ended June 2021, up 26 percent from the R4.1bn recorded a year earlier on strong metal prices. The group’s Ergo operations enjoyed a robust performance, posting a 29 percent hike in revenue to R3.94bn from R3.06bn mainly on the back of the 20 percent increase in the rand gold price and as the company’s gold sales jumped by 7 percent. “Volume throughput increased by 13 percent to mitigate a 6 percent decrease in yield, due mainly to the previously reported depletion of high-grade reserves available to the Knights plant,” said the group. Revenue at Far…

GIVEN MAJOLA given.majola@inl.co.za THE LOSSES of R84.5 million caused by the recent unrest pose a threat to thousands of rural jobs, according to the South African Canegrowers Association. SA Canegrowers chairperson Andrew Russel said the association was extremely concerned about the impact of the unrest and has called on the government to provide immediate financial relief to growers, particularly small-scale growers. “As the extent of the damage becomes clearer by the day, there are now thousands of precious rural jobs at risk,” said Russel. According to the South African Sugar Association, the country’s sugar industry was one of the world’s leading cost-competitive producers of high-quality sugar that made a signifi- cant contribution to employment, particularly in rural areas, sustainable development and the national economy. It is a diverse industry,…

Marchelle Abrahams marchelle.abrahams@inl.co.za 2021 has proven to be the year of the comeback kid. It’s crop tops, chunky sole shoes and cable knit jerseys topping the trends list. It’s no wonder our hankering for nostalgia could be the reason why we’re so fascinated about the resumption of Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck’s relationship – it’s familiarity during these uncertain times. Hollywood’s IT couple first started dating in 2002 and got engaged later that year. They officially split in 2004 after the spectacular bombing of their movie Gigli. Fast forward to July 2021 and it’s game on for “Bennifer”. Seventeen years and a few failed relationships in between; that’s a lot of time to reassess your feelings for someone. Years have passed, it’s water under the bridge, and yes, time does…

Sihle Mavuso FORMER president Jacob Zuma, in his bid to successfully defend himself against corruption charges, has asked the Nelson Mandela Foundation (NMF) and ruling party to come to his rescue. Zuma, through his lawyers, wants the foundation and the ANC to furnish him with information related to donations they received from companies and individuals linked to companies that won tenders during the multibillion-rand arms deal of 1998-99. During the procurement of modern arms for the military, the State, in its charge sheet which is before the Pietermaritzburg High Court, alleges Zuma used his political clout as the deputy president of the ANC (from 1997) and later of the country (from 1999) to help Durban businessman Schabir Shaik and his companies under Nkobi Holdings to score arms deal tenders.…

James Mahlokwane james.mahlokwane@inl.co.za A HEBRON family is pleading with Eskom to remove a stainless steel cable tied to concrete in their veranda to balance a nearby electric pole. Emely Lefoka, 57, who uses crutches, said her family was now unable to move around freely or park cars in the yard. The view of their house was also being compromised because of the steel cable that was forcefully placed in their yard. She said Eskom contractors electrifying the rural area in Madibeng Municipality in the late 1990s dismissed her when she told them not to tie down the cable in the middle of her yard because her house plan would reach that spot. “We are a poor community on the outskirts of Tshwane that was not incorporated into Gauteng during the…

Jonisayi Maromo THE National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) has withdrawn the prosecution of bishop Israel Makamu for sexual assault following consultation with the complainant who subsequently filed a withdrawal statement. Makamu, the founder of Endless Hope Bible Church in Alberton, was arrested in May after a former church employee laid a complaint of sexual assault at the Brackendowns police station over an incident in September 2018, NPA Gauteng spokesperson Phindi Mjonondwane said. “The NPA is convinced that the interest of justice dictates that prosecution no longer be pursued,” Mjonondwane said. Makamu was out on R2 000 bail, having made a brief appearance on a charge of sexual assault at the Palm Ridge Magistrate’s Court in May. The church leader who hosted the controversial Rea Tsotella TV show on the DStv satellite…

CRICKET Australia chief Nick Hockley defended Justin Langer yesterday after mounting concern over his management style sparked uncertainty around his position heading into the Twenty20 World Cup and a home Ashes series. The Australian head coach was forced to address negative feedback earlier this year when discontent surfaced about his "headmaster-like" leadership and shifting moods. He took the criticism on board and admitted he had been "grumpy and intense" most of his life. Langer faced controversy again last week after reports of a heated argument with a Cricket Australia journalist following a poor white-ball tour of the West Indies and Bangladesh. The confrontation is said to have taken place in the team hotel, with players and staff watching, leading to feverish media speculation over his future. Hockley praised the "incredible…

WYNONA LOUW wynona.louw@inl.co.za SPRINGBOK coach Jacques Nienaber says Jasper Wiese’s eagerness to learn has played a role in his growth in the national set-up. Wiese produced a Man of the Match performance in the Boks’ Rugby Championship opener against Argentina at Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in Gqeberha last weekend in a massive step up from his first few Test outings. Wiese made his international debut against Georgia in July before going on to feature twice against the British & Irish Lions. “Jasper has played four Tests now and I’d say it was easier in the beginning,” Nienaber said about the pressure to perform. “People didn’t know him that well and he could almost fly under the radar. But when they start taking notice of him and start analysing and profiling…

HERMAN GIBBS AFTER several incidents of rank poor officiating reared their head in MTN8 quarter-final matches over the weekend, there have been calls to use technology when the Premiership season kicks off this weekend. The tragedy of some basic blunders was that the subject was stationary, and the naked eye would have sufficed. There was no need for technology. When a penalty is taken, the law says the defending goalkeeper must remain on the goal line until the ball is kicked. The referee and one assistant referee are in a position to check to see that goalkeeper is on the goal line. It is the most basic of duties. Once either of the officials sees that the goalkeeper is off the goal line, the referee will tell the goalkeeper…

EDWARD WEST edward.west@inl.co.za GRAND Parade Investments (GPI) and US private equity fund ECP Africa Fund (ECP) yesterday appealed to the Competition Tribunal to accept revised empowerment-focused conditions for the more than R500 million sale of Burger King South Africa. This followed the Competition Commission’s unprecedented decision on June 1 this year that the sale of the US burger franchise in South Africa by GPI to ECP be prohibited, not because of any issues of competition, but because the deal would have reduced the shareholding of historically disadvantaged people. It was the first time that such a deal had been blocked by the commission on the grounds of public interest alone. Yesterday, it emerged in proceedings before the tribunal that GPI and ECP had engaged the Department of Trade,…

EDWARD WEST edward.west@inl.co.za OLD MUTUAL said its sales and earnings recovered in the six months to June 30, notwithstanding a R2 billion additional provision for Covid-19 related mortality claims. The life assurance and financial services group said in a trading statement yesterday that mortality claims paid relating to Covid-19 in the group’s life businesses for the six months to June 2021 had been more than anticipated, and were driving negative Net Client Cash Flows. However, this was offset by inflows in the Asset Management and Wealth businesses. “Our mortality experience has been worse than anticipated, with impact on profits mitigated by a partial release of provisions raised at the end of 2020.” The group’s Covid-19 provisions were increased by R2bn as at June 30, 2021, to take into account…

Siphelele Dludla siphelele.dludla@inl.co.za SOUTH Africa’s economic recovery from the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic has been uneven on the country’s industry, but particularly very slow on labour-intensive sectors, according to the SA Reserve Bank (SARB) when it tabled its 2020/21 annual report to Parliament’s Standing Committee on Finance yesterday. In its macroeconomic overview and outlook, the SARB pointed to a sharp but divergent recovery in the global economy as Covid-19 vaccination was increasing amid the spread of the Delta variant. SARB governor Lesetja Kganyago said domestic growth, however, was not high enough and recovery to pre-pandemic levels could be expected around 2023. Kganyago said South Africa’s recovery was weaker than most peers and so is investment, as gross fixed capital formation was hovering around 15 percent of the gross…

GIVEN MAJOLA given.majola@inl.co.za THE WORLD Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC) has warned that the South African economy could incur losses of R181 million for every week it was on the UK’s “red list” for travel. The study conducted by the WTTC uncovered the staggering consequences that the UK “red list” presented to the travel and tourism sector and, by extension, the country’s economy. According to the WTTC’s annual Economic Impact Report (EIR), in 2019 South Africa was among the most popular destinations for UK travellers, who accounted for 7 percent of international visitor spend, representing R9.4 billion. All UK travellers, regardless of their vaccine status, travelling to countries on the “red list”, which includes South Africa, were required to cover the cost of a 10-day hotel quarantine upon returning to…

BULL S5 M-NET CITY, DSTV CHANNEL 115, 7.10PM In a season premiere that hits home, Bull and the TAC team struggle to adjust to a virtual court system as they weather the New York City shut down due to the coronavirus. LIFE, THE UNIVERSE & EVERYTHING WITH BRIAN COX BBC EARTH, DSTV CHANNEL 184, 7PM Physicist Brian Cox looks back on a decade of discovery and towards the next space frontier, asking the biggest question of all – what’s next? In each episode, Brian focuses on a specific topic: Aliens, gravity, space and time. CHRISTINA ON THE COAST S3 HGTV, DSTV CHANNEL 177, 9PM Real estate and flipping expert Christina Haack, known for starring in renovation series Flip Or Flop, helps clients transform their outdated properties into high-end…

Staff Reporter THE search for this year’s “Face of Ponds” is on and, for the first time in the history of the competition, three women – instead of one – will be crowned the brand ambassadors of Ponds. The three winners will be given the chance to represent the skincare brand for a year – while using the platform to express and celebrate, their authenticity and unique beauty. The winners will receive R50 000 each. “After taking a brief hiatus, we are excited to once again search for – and more importantly celebrate – the diverse beauty that is a true reflection of our country,” said Unilever Beauty and Personal Care senior PR leader for Africa Sphelele Mjadu. “The beauty industry is seen as contributing to the spread of narrow…

Sinenhlanhla Zungu sinenhlanhla.zungu@inl.co.za FILM-MAKER and brewer Obakeng Malope, 33, believes that beer is a craft and should get the attention it deserves as an art, through film. She says people should stop looking at beer as just the end product; the brewery industry has been hard hit by the pandemic, and if people take a closer look at the production of beer, the brewing industry and the film industry could join forces to keep people’s dreams alive. Malope, who was born and bred in the North West but lives in Johannesburg, wants to change the narrative around alcohol consumption and beer, particularly. “People should be more insightful about the beer they consume. They need to understand beer like craftsmen. Beer is not something to be consumed with the sole aim…

Jason Woosey jason.woosey@inl.co.za THE most successful Chinese brand on South African soil, Haval, entered the country under the GWM banner more than 14 years ago. Yet it’s only in more recent times that the importer has started to make a significant impact on the local sales charts. Leading this sales charge is the new Jolion, which was introduced earlier this year as a replacement for the H2. The Jolion range is priced between R299 900 and R398 900 and, while that puts it into contention with the likes of the Ford EcoSport and Hyundai Venue, in size terms it’s pretty close to far more expensive vehicles like the Kia Sportage and Opel Grandland. At highway speeds the Jolion is very quiet, barring a bit of wind noise, and we were impressed…

Molaole Montsho African News Agency Zambian opposition leader Hakainde Hichilema grew up looking after cattle, now he is going to look after Zambian people following his resounding victory in the presidential election. The 59-year-old, businessman told the media in May he grew up looking after cattle. According to Wikipedia, he is a millionaire and the second-largest cattle rancher in Zambia. Hichilema, better known as HH or Bally, contested in five presidential elections and lost all. He lost two of them narrowly, against Edgar Lungu of the Patriotic Front. He won on his sixth attempt, ironically beating Lungu with a wide margin of a million votes. Going to the general election, both Hichilema and Lungu were confident of a resounding victory. Hichilema said he was expecting at least 4.7 million people…

Eshlin Vedan eshlin.vedan@inl.co.za SOUTH Africa star Luther Singh has joined FC Copenhagen from Portuguese club Braga for a reported fee of €1.5million (around R25m). Singh joins the Danish giants on a four-year deal which will see him remain on their books until 2025. A winger by trade, the 24-year-old will be looking to follow in the footsteps of former Bafana Bafana star Sibusiso Zuma, who attained legendary status with Copenhagen during his five-year spell with the club from 2000-2005. Zuma’s famous bicycle kick goal for Copenhagen against Brondby in 2001 was voted as the Danish goal of the year for that year and the best Superliga goal of the decade in December 2009. Other South Africans who previously played in Denmark include Elrio van Heerden, who also played for Copenhagen…

MIHLALI BALEKA @Mihlalibaleka ORLANDO Pirates caretaker coach Fadlu Davids is confident that he and fellow coach Mandla Ncikazi will be able to steer the Sea Robbers’ ship to winning ways this season, given that they have a similar approach in their game model. On Monday, Josef Zinnbauer resigned as Pirates’ commander in chief, stepping down after nearly two years at the club. The Buccaneers have since appointed his assistants Davids and Ncikazi as joint caretaker coaches. The duo have their work cut out for them. They must ensure they start the Premiership season on a high note when they face Stellenbosch FC at home on Saturday. The Bucs are already on the back foot after crashing out of the MTN8 in the first round. Last Saturday, the Buccaneers appeared to…

QUORUM Holdings, a company that builds affordable residential and student housing, is the first in South Africa to accept rental deposits in cryptocurrency, and to allow tenants potentially to benefit from an increase in value, Quorum’s legal director, Saul Mayers, said this week. Rental deposits are standard practice in South Africa, but tenants do not usually benefit from the money held by their landlords. And deposits can be held for several years, depending on the lease. Quorum’s portfolio of properties was expected to reach about 3 000 residential units in Joburg over the medium term and another 5 000 beds in student accommodation through a subsidiary, Urban Circle. Mayers said this option for rental deposits represented a good use for cryptocurrencies and a new way of doing business. He…

Chulumanco Mahamba ACCEPTANCE of vaccines is increasing in South Africa but challenges remain, including younger people being less likely to be accepting of vaccines than older people, a University of Johannesburg (UJ) and Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC) survey shows. Vaccine hesitancy has been at the forefront of the debate this week after the national Department of Health conceded that its Covid-19 vaccination drive has lost momentum due to vaccine hesitancy. On Wednesday, UJ and the HSRC released two reports that provided the latest findings about vaccine acceptance and hesitancy from round four of the UJ/HSRC Covid-19 democracy survey. The data was collected between June 25 and July 12 and was fully completed by 7 631 participants. Research chairperson in social change at UJ, Professor Kate Alexander, said the survey…

Itumeleng Mafisa THREE chrome hotshots face arrest and serious jail time as the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) ponders on hard evidence implicating them in fraud and misconduct relating to mining projects in Limpopo. The Director of Public Prosecutions in Pretoria has dismissed the representations by Anthony Ras, Gertrude Ramaphoka and Mokgophi Mmagakane to have 94 counts of fraud and 94 counts of defeating the ends of justice withdrawn against them. The Star’s investigating unit has seen a copy of the charge sheet that the NPA had compiled prior to the trio’s court appearance on August 24, in the Specialised Commercial Crimes Court in Polokwane. The three were alleged to be in the service of VDH Holdings, Absolute Group Management and Nicholas William van der Hoven during 2016 when VDH and…

Luxolo Mafumana | Turffontein, Joburg WE just commemorated yet another year since the senseless killing of our people by the executive arm of our government, having chosen the side of big business, as is the norm in any capitalist society where profits matter more than lives, over hard-working citizens who wanted nothing more than a fair wage for their audacious efforts in sourcing out millions of dollars worth of minerals for the multinational company. I am one of the many people who are calling for this to be declared a national holiday in honour of the lives lost. I am aware that this will not change the current conditions of many manual workers who are still subjected to exploitative working conditions in this country, which happens to be…

Jason Woosey jason.woosey@inl.co.za YOKOHAMA, Japan: Nissan has pulled the covers off the long-awaited successor to the 370Z, and in final production form – shown in US specification here – the new Nissan Z remains almost painstakingly faithful to the Z Proto concept that was revealed last year. The new Nissan Z also returns the Z lineage to turbo power, last seen in the 300ZX of the 1990s, which also inspired the new model’s rear-end styling. Like the 300ZX, the new Nissan Z is powered by a 3.0-litre twin-turbo V6 petrol power plant, and the modern unit produces 298kW at 6400rpm and 475Nm from 1600rpm. That’s 53kW and 113Nm more than the normally aspirated 3.7-litre lump that powered the 370Z. The company estimates a 15% improvement in 0-100km/h acceleration, which should…

AN England side reeling from a 151-run defeat by India, and already missing several fast bowlers, could be without Mark Wood for next week’s third Test after the express quick injured himself while fielding at Lord’s. Wood landed heavily on his right shoulder while diving headlong into an advertising hoarding when saving a boundary on the fourth evening, but he still bowled at speeds in excess of 150km/h on Monday’s last day of the second Test. There are doubts, however, over whether the Durham paceman, whose career has been blighted by injuries, will be fit to feature at Headingley next week. England are already without several seam bowlers in the injured Stuart Broad, Jofra Archer and Chris Woakes, while all-rounder Ben Stokes is unavailable due to a mental health break.…

ZAAHIER ADAMS zaahier.adams@inl.co.za MAMELODI Sundowns’ defence of their Premiership title begins tomorrow at Loftus Versfeld in Pretoria (5pm kick-off) against opponents who last season dared to challenge the reigning champions. Not only did AmaZulu finish runners-up to the Brazilians in the league but both encounters were enthralling affairs for completely contrasting reasons, with an 11-minute Themba Zwane hat-trick proving the difference in a thrilling 4-3 victory for Sundowns in Tshwane before Benni McCarthy’s team tightened up their defence to hold the visitors to a 0-0 draw at Jonsson Kings Park in Durban. Although AmaZulu ultimately fell short in their quest to dethrone Sundowns, Usuthu captured the imagination of the South African football public with their fairytale run that virtually stole the thunder of the champions. There is no denying the…

MIHLALI BALEKA @Mihlalibaleka THERE exist a sense of deju vu since Stuart Baxter’s return to Kaizer Chiefs as coach. The gaffer doesn’t, however, think the Soweto giants will be at their best in their opening Premiership match against TS Galaxy on Sunday. Nine years ago, Baxter lost his first match against rivals Mamelodi Sundowns in the MTN8 quarter-finals before opening the new league campaign with a thumping 6-0 win over AmaZulu away at Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban. This season, in his second stint in charge of Amakhosi, Baxter lost his opening match, the quarter-finals of the MTN8, to Sundowns via a penalty shootout, setting out a similar scene for the coach. Chiefs will take positives from that match, given that they came from behind after trailing 2-0 in the…