Table of contents for 2023-04-04 in Star

Individuals who install rooftop solar panels from March 1 will be able to claim a 25% discount SOLAR panel shortages in South Africa may lead to price increases on the available products with the impact of this more likely to be felt by smaller businesses, as well as medium and lower-income households with smaller budgets, according to KPMG partner and head of energy and natural resources Safeera Loonat. Loonat said this was happening while continued load shedding has seen banks offer new solutions to fund residential and small commercial solar solutions. Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana announced in his Budget Speech in February that starting in March this year businesses would be able to reduce their taxable income by 125% of the cost of investing in renewables. Individuals who install rooftop…

TECK RESOURCES yesterday unani- mously rejected an unsolicited and opportunistic acquisition proposal from Glencore plc. This follows Glencore announcing its proposal for a merger between Glencore and Teck. Glencore submitted a proposal to the board of directors of Teck Resources – on March 26 this year – to merge with Teck and to simultaneously demerge their combined metals and coal businesses. Teck describes itself as among Cana- da’s leading mining companies, and says it is committed to responsible mining and mineral development, with major business units focused on copper, zinc and steelmaking coal. The offer is the largest acquisition attempt by the largest coal miner since its merger with Xstrata in 2013. Teck said if the acquisitions had happened, it would have exposed its shareholders to thermal coal and oil…

KO emerged as the most nominated artist for the upcoming 2023 Metro FM Music Awards when the SABC announced the list of nominees recently. The awards, which are back after a six-year hiatus, will take place on May 6 at Mbombela Stadium, in Mbombela, Mpumalanga, and will be broadcast live on SABC1. The SABC held an exclusive nomination announcement party at Polo Room, Inanda Club, Sandton, last week. During proceedings, there were performances from Sino Msolo and Makhadzi. KO bagged seven nominations off the back of his dominant, record-breaking single, Sete. He was nominated for Song of the Year, Artist of the Year, Best Collaboration Song, Best Hip Hop Artist, Best Male Artist, Best Music Video and Best Viral Challenge. The late rapper AKA and Sjava were close behind as…

Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana’s decision to exempt Eskom from the Public Finance Management Act (PFMA) and disclosing any of its irregular, fruitless and wasteful expenditure in its annual financial reports until 2025, has sparked outrage across the country. The notice of the exemption was gazetted on March 31 by Godongwana, who exempted Eskom from reporting irregular expenditure in its annual financial reports for the next two years, but the embattled power utility will report it in Eskom’s integrated report. The exemption was requested by Eskom board chairperson Mpho Makwana in the hope of restoring Eskom’s balance sheet and ultimately acquiring a better audit outcome through debt relief, while shielding its financial irregularity from investors. After Treasury’s R254 billion debt relief for Eskom, which was announced in the February Budget,…

The Congress of the People (Cope) in Tshwane has warned the multi-party government that removing the speaker of council through a motion of no confidence would plunge the city into a state of chaos. This comes after indications from some in the multi-party government that a motion of no confidence was on the cards for the speaker, Mncedi Ndzwanana. Ndzwanana became speaker after the post was left vacant by the former mayor of Tshwane, Murunwa Makwarela. Makwarela was pushed into the position of mayor after serving as speaker but resigned as mayor after fraud allegations surfaced. Cope councillor Ofentse Moalusi slammed the DA, saying: “The blatant hypocrisy of the DA is that, where it suits them, they are advocates for a restricted number of motions of no confidence in other…

THE City of Tshwane is preparing to launch its Easter Road Safety campaign on Thursday amid the exodus of holidaymakers and people going to places like Moria for religious pilgrimage. The Department of Roads and Transport launches its Easter Road Safety campaign on Mabopane Highway (R80) in Soshanguve today. Also, the Tshwane taxi industry said it would be hitting the roads hard to ensure that their drivers complied with the rules of the road. Spokesperson MacDonald Makata said they wanted to maximise safety and curb the scourge of road fatalities, which left many families without parents and breadwinners at this time of the year. He also urged taxi operators, whose taxis were bound to local trips, to apply for permits to travel longer distances between Thursday and Monday. This morning…

This year the internationally acclaimed musician Lloyiso – whose real name is Loyiso Gijana – is giving his fans an endless taste of his music. As promised, the talented star has unveiled his eagerly anticipated debut EP, Seasons, which he said mirrors his life. “This is my first body of work and a chance for fans to see a vulnerable side of me. “I wrote it in South Africa and Los Angeles, when I was reflecting on every aspect of my life. It’s called Seasons for that reason,” said Lloyiso. After the success of his hit singles, Gijana delivers more tunes reflecting his life and allowing his fans to see his vulnerable side. The seven-track project, which features productions from Earwulf and Grammy Award winners Mr Hudson (who has produced…

Each one is known for their remarkable contributions to the entertainment industry, and now they come together as a family to unpack their religious and cultural beliefs, sexuality, and cultural views in a reality show. Famed for their love of music, Pinky, Zwai, Loyiso and Phelo will be taking viewers behind the scenes in Mzansi Magic’s The Bala Family set to premiere on April 20. Since the Bala family’s love of music began, the Bala brothers have become household names. Zwai’s success has been influential in both the music industry and within his family, spurring his brothers Loyiso and Phelo to pursue their successful music careers. Zwai simultaneously helped to revolutionise the genre of kwaito music through the legendary award-winning group TKZee and later in his career as a solo…

The sad story of the medic held captive by terrorists, for five years after being kidnapped on duty in Awbari, Libya (The Star, March 31) highlights the many problems South Africans face on leaving the country to study in foreign countries, or looking for employment because of scarce and dismal employment opportunities here. Many have had traumatic experiences, such as the medical practitioner Gerco van Deventer. You think you are running away from a frying pan only to land up in the fire. Being forcefully separated from your family is the most devastating experience, and his family are appealing to South Africans to help him escape from the nightmare. It is not clear how donations can achieve that, or how those able to help this way could send the money.…

As a nation, we are in mourning the brutal murder of an innocent soul in Parkview. Iconic journalist Jeremy Gordin was killed in a robbery. We profess to be a democracy, but the sad reality is that we are living under siege. The murders and kidnappings we are grimly witnessing on a daily basis has prompted serious soul searching as this escalating menace is pervasive in South Africa. Violent crime accompanied by death in our beleaguered country cannot continue without drastic consequences for the perpetrators. Law and order has collapsed and the law-abiding masses have no right to their lives and properties. These ruthless criminals terrorise our society, deprive us of our livelihoods and snatch our God-given rights to life and liberty. How long are law-abiding citizens going to live…

Okay, most South Africans will agree that the government is abysmal … Their track record in relation to implementing policies that ensure equality is best not spoken about. On the subject matter of redress, especially concerning the indigenous peoples, one can only begin to remain hopeful when your thirst for redress is quenched by their Kool-Aid. However, what about the other prominent stakeholder in the day-to-day lives of our people? Is South Africa’s private sector playing its part to address reconciliation with the first nations? As limited as the so-called state capture commission was, one factor emerging from it is that corporates are still consciously acting in ways that place greed over the well-being of the citizens of the country. In the ANC, they have a willing partner in corruption…

LONDON: Teachers in England have rejected a pay offer from the British government aimed at ending a series of disruptive strikes, their trade union said yesterday, announcing two further days of walkouts. The National Education Union said 98% of teachers who voted in the ballot followed its advice to reject the offer of a one-off payment this year of £1 000 and an average pay rise of 4.5%. The union said teachers would take two further days of strike action, on April 27 and May 2. The government has argued that higher pay rises would only worsen inflation. | Reuters…

Tunis: Tunisia’s main opposition coalition pressed the government yesterday to explain a days-long public “absence” of President Kais Saied, saying it had information that he was sick. Saied, 65, has not appeared in public since March 22, according to his Facebook page. This has sparked rumours over the state of his health. Ahmed Nejib Chebbi of the National Salvation Front said Prime Minister Najla Bouden would run Tunisia in the event of a temporary power vacuum, but that a permanent vacancy would present the country with a “great catastrophe” due to a legislative void. | AFP…

Chelsea sacked manager Graham Potter on Sunday after less than seven months in charge after a 2-0 home defeat by Aston Villa at the weekend which left the London club 11th in the Premier League. According to bookmakers SkyBet, here are the contenders to replace Potter as Chelsea’s third manager this season. JULIAN NAGELSMANN Bayern Munich surprisingly parted ways with Nagelsmann last month with the club second in the Bundesliga and in the Champions League quarter-finals, replacing him with former Chelsea boss Thomas Tuchel. Nagelsmann, 35, led the Bavarians to their 10th straight Bundesliga title after taking over in 2021. He has previously managed RB Leipzig and Hoffenheim. He has also been linked with Tottenham Hotspur, who have Cristian Stellini in interim charge until the end of the season after…

The next time Aiden Markram bumps into former Proteas star Herschelle Gibbs, they will have a few extra things to talk about. Markram not only equalled Gibbs’ legendary 175 on Sunday in the Pink ODI at the Wanderers, but he also slayed the Netherlands to all parts. Gibbs famously butchered Dutch bowler Daan van Bunge for six sixes in one over of the 2007 World Cup clash in St Kitts. Markram did not quite match the mercurial Gibbs’ feat, but he did strike seven sixes on the day, including one massive hit into the Memorial Stand to bring up his 150. “His (Gibbs’) innings was probably a lot better than mine in terms of the match situation and the series context, but I watched that game when I was young…

Forget about the seven tries the Lions scored against Racing 92 to secure a 51-28 victory at the weekend. For a moment, put at the back of your mind the 547 metres they ran, the 28 defenders they beat, the eight clean breaks, or the 52 gainline carries, three turnovers and 109 tackles the Joburgers made. What was most pleasing was the utter commitment and sheer will of the matchday 23 to work together and deny the visitors, despite the fact that they played with one less man for the majority of the clash. The long-term result of the red card to Emmanuel Tshituka is still to be decided, but the grit and determination shown by his teammates in his absence, will only reinforce coach Ivan van Rooyen and company’s…

STRUGGLING businesses will soon be able to apply for their share of the R50 million in Absa’s energy subsidy grants, which it has made available to help keep the businesses running. Absa said in a statement yesterday it would provide up to R50m in energy subsidy under its Green Asset Finance programme for qualifying SMEs, in a move to support and grow small- and medium-sized businesses. Absa’s energy subsidy is the only grant of its kind providing some support to small business customers to finance solar installations and keep the lights on, the bank said. Eligible SMEs that had their commercial properties financed by Absa would be contacted by Absa and need not take any action to apply for the support. Subsidy amounts would be determined based on…

ADVANCED Health’s headline loss from continuing operations widened to R20.8 million in the six months to December 31, as it moves to exit the Australian market with the sale of its operations there for R522m. The company’s Australian majority owned Presmed Australia (PMA) owns or co-owns 10 operating facilities, including day hospitals and consultation clinics in partnership with the practising doctors in those facilities in and around Sydney, Australia’s Central Coast, and Tasmania. “In order to focus more strategically on developing and expanding its South African operations, Advanced Health has resolved to exit the Australian market and dispose of its equity interest within PMA,” the group said in its interim results released yesterday. PresMed BidCo on December 23 entered into a binding agreement to buy 100% of PMA shares…

The last thing a person expects is for a movie about a fantasy tabletop role-playing game to be a knock-out, but Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves is an absolute joy. The film sees a charming thief and a band of unlikely adventurers undertake an epic heist to retrieve a lost relic, but things go dangerously awry when they run afoul of the wrong people. Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves brings the rich world and playful spirit of the legendary role-playing game to the big screen in a hilarious and action-packed adventure. I was most surprised by how well the film was written and directed by Jonathan Goldstein and John Francis Daley. The duo, both of whom grew up as avid D&D players, have already shown a talent for…

The Anglican Church in Johannesburg has lashed out at the City of Joburg for failing to keep the inner-city clean. The church has accused the municipality of making the worship experience in the city a traumatic one. For years, the Anglican Church has appealed to the municipality to ensure that the area around the Cathedral Of St Mary the Virgin, near the Wanderers Street precinct, is clean, but it appeared that after a number of mayors, the situation has remained the same. The matter was made glaringly worse on Sunday as church members tried to embark on a Palm Sunday procession outside the church and were greeted by piles of rubbish and a gagging stench outside of the cathedral. This prompted Bishop Steve Moerane to use his Palm Sunday to…

A TUG-OF-WAR over a product called Roadsaver – a bitumen compound that can be used to fill and seal potholes and cracks in tarred surfaces – has turned into a legal battle. A company is claiming one of its former directors took the secret formula, to make this product, with him when he resigned. Universal Blending feared that Sarel Henderson would now open his own business using this product. According to Universal, the product belonged to them. Henderson, while not denying he is going to use Roadsaver in his new business, said the product did not belong to Universal. The company told the court that Henderson was the only person who knew the full formula because he revised the ingredients to replace an additive that was found to be carcinogenic.…

STRAIGHT to jail and no getting-out card for three months. This was the message conveyed to a father of three who simply ignored the orders made in the past that he had to pay maintenance towards his wife and children. He also had to give his wife money to buy another house for her and the children. These orders were made during previous court hearings and following a settlement agreement between the couple when they got divorced. None of these orders, which the husband had earlier agreed to, were adhered to. It was calculated that he owed the wife more than R7 million. She told the court that she had to sell one of their other properties to make ends meet. In once again proving that maintenance orders are to…

the theme of this year’s World Autism Awareness Day, “Transforming the Narrative: Contributions at home, at work, in the arts, and in policy making”, calls on everyone to accept and support autistic people in society and the workplace. World autism day is observed on April 2. Gauteng Health MEC Nomantu Nkomo-Ralehoko said more facilities must be established to provide proper support to children with autism and their families. Nkomo-Ralehoko said statistics showed that 1 in 160 children was born with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), which tends to persist into adolescence and adulthood. While some people with ASD can live independently, others have severe disabilities and require lifelong care and support. “In my interactions with families of children who have been diagnosed with ASD, Down syndrome, and cerebral palsy, it became…

At least 10 million South Africans didn’t have enough food or money to buy food in 2019, according to the country’s statistics agency. This food insecurity remains a leading health problem unlikely to be eradicated any time soon. To support those affected, it’s important to understand how South African households cope with food insecurity. Existing research on this has been conducted sub-nationally. The focus has mostly been on the poorest regions of the country. The national picture of household food insecurity has not been clear. Another gap in understanding has been the impact of households’ coping strategies on mental health. Such strategies include eating less, borrowing or using credit, and even begging for food on the streets. Our recent study investigated food insecurity and related coping strategies among South African…

Former US president Donald Trump prepared to fly from Florida to New York City yesterday to face charges stemming from a probe into hush money paid to a porn star before the 2016 election, as security tightened in Manhattan. Trump was due to surrender at the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office today and likely will be fingerprinted and photographed prior to his appearance before a judge at an arraignment proceeding where he will plead not guilty. Trump, a Republican who is seeking to regain the presidency in 2024, is the first former US president to face criminal charges. The specific charges included in the grand jury indictment have not been disclosed. Trump has said he is innocent, and he and his allies have portrayed the charges as politically motivated. In a…

Paris: Arctic scientists are set to start drilling to save samples of ancient ice for analysis before the frozen layers melt away due to climate change, mission organisers said yesterday. Italian, French and Norwegian researchers have set up camp in Norway’s Svalbard archipelago to preserve crucial ice records for analysing past environmental conditions. They will extract ice in a series of tubes from 125m below the surface. Researchers have set up camp at an altitude of 1 100m on the crevasse-ridden Holtedahlfonna ice field and will work for three weeks in temperatures as low as -25°C. | AFP…

“That’s why he the GOAT.” That was how 200m world champion Noah Lyles described his training partner Wayde van Niekerk’s outstanding performance at the South African championships in Potchefstroom at the weekend. The 400m world record-holder got social media buzzing with his terrific winning time of 44.17 seconds at the NWU McArthur Stadium on Saturday as he turned up the heat in the last 100m to stride away from world junior champion Lythe Pillay, who also produced an excellent display to set a new personal best of 44.80 – which was also a world championship qualifying time. Van Niekerk’s effort was his best since 2017, when he sustained a serious knee injury during a touch rugby match at Newlands stadium that has kept him on the sidelines for long periods…

AYO TECHNOLOGY Solutions (AYO) has informed its shareholders it would repurchase R619 million of the shares that the Government Employees Pension Fund (GEPF) holds in the company, as part of its settlement agreement with the Public Investment Corporation (PIC) and the GEPF. In a statement following a JSE notice issued by the ICT group earlier yesterday, AYO said it is revealing some details of its settlement deal after an article in the Daily Maverick on March 25, which disclosed the settlement terms and which the group said misrepresented the agreement between it and the PIC. “AYO wishes to emphasise and confirm that at no stage has it disclosed or verified the terms of the settlement to Daily Maverick or any other media publication. AYO must assume that the PIC acted…

THE SETTLEMENT between the Public Investment Corporation (PIC) and AYO Technology Solutions (AYO) has ended their protracted legal dispute. However, the AYO case highlights the impact of negative media coverage and the weaponisation of quasi-judicial processes, such as commissions of inquiry against companies. The case has broader implications for the South African business landscape, particularly international investor sentiment. AYO, a large information technology company, was formed by amalgamating several long-standing, profitable IT companies into the ICT group. But hostile media gave the impression that a “small, newly formed IT company” approached the PIC for a more considerable investment than its actual size. The media built the narrative to target and undermine AYO. The disproportionate targeting of AYO and associate companies at the Mpati Commission of Inquiry raises concerns about the…

Re-elected DA leader John Steenhui- sen has come under heavy criticism amid what some have called a direct attack on the EFF and its leader, Julius Malema. Shortly after being re-elected over the weekend, Steenhuisen declared the EFF his party’s enemy number one. “I declare Julius Malema’s EFF to be political enemy number one of the DA,” said Steenhuisen. But he did not stop there. “The day that an ANC/EFF government takes over, it will be doomsday for South Africa,” he said. “Let me tell you, EFF doomsday will make the collapse of Zimbabwe look like a dress rehearsal, and I believe all South Africans – black, coloured, white and Indian – will be completely destitute and abandoned, and that is why, during the remaining months before next year’s election,…

HAS anybody picked up on how justice in America now requires the accused to prove his innocence in place of the traditional rule that a person is innocent until proven guilty? Yet that is how former House Speaker, Nancy Pelosi, views due process in the indictment of Donald Trump. Following the 2016 presidential election, Hillary Clinton falsified the use of campaign funds in her submissions to the Federal Election Commission. She was never charged or had her home raided. That same charge is now the basis of the indictment against Trump despite it having no basis in terms of expired documentation, relying on a witness, Michael Cohen, who was jailed for perjury, concerning a liaison between Trump and a woman that never occurred. Even the anti-Trump Washington Post has opined…

The art of raising children, to a great extent, consists in knowing how to guide them so their behaviour contributes to a joyful yet disciplined atmosphere at home and at their schools. Through appropriate education, guidance and proper discipline, our children have the capacity to achieve their highest potential and direct their talents and energy towards the advancement of our communities and the building of a better world. In the Bahá’í view, every child is endowed with talents and capacities and it is the responsibility of parents and educators to help them develop their capacities to their fullest potential. Bahá’u’lláh, founder of the Bahá’í Faith states: “Regard man as a mine rich in gems of inestimable value. Education can, alone, cause it to reveal its treasures, and enable mankind to…

RAMADAAN is a special time of the year. The Islamic holy month is more than just about fasting and prayer. It is a time for humanity, for giving and sharing among families, neighbours and with the poor. Not just for Muslims, but non-Muslims are invited to share in the culture, the food during Ramadaan and the Eid celebrations that follow. Once again, it has been heart-warming to see communities of Cape Town share their tables and food with their fellow citizens at mass iftar events organised in streets around the city. And all are invited to join these breaking-of-the-fast sunset meals, where you’ll savour the rich flavours of local kitchens, enjoying such treats as samoosas, koesisters, daltjies and other savouries and sweets. It is a time for charity too, and…

RAMALLAH: Israeli forces killed two Palestinian gunmen during a clash in the occupied West Bank yesterday, militant factions and medics said, and shot down a drone over the Gaza Strip that the ruling Islamist group Hamas claimed as part of its arsenal. Tensions have been running high as Muslims mark the Ramadaan holy fast month during a surge in Israeli-Palestinian violence. The latest shootings happened during a raid by the Israeli military in the northern West Bank city of Nablus. The military said its soldiers shot several gunmen after coming under fire in Nablus. There were no Israeli casualties. The Israeli military detained two people. | Reuters…

Brussels: Finland’s flag will be hoisted outside Nato headquarters today when it becomes the newest member of the Western alliance, secretary general Jens Stoltenberg said. Russian President Vladimir Putin’s invasion of Ukraine last year upended European security and pushed Finland and its neighbour, Sweden, to drop decades of non-alignment and seek to join Nato. Objections from Turkey and Hungary held up Helsinki’s bid and are blocking Stockholm, before Ankara cleared the final obstacle for Finland last week. | AFP…