Inhoudsopgave van 2024-03-22 - Star

Furniture removal companies Stuttaford Van Lines and Pickfords Removals SA have admitted to involvement in a furniture removal cartel and have agreed to pay an administrative penalty totalling R40 million. According to a statement on Wednesday, the Competition Tribunal said this formed part of the terms of a settlement agreement. This followed a hearing during which it heard submissions on various aspects of the settlement agreement. The settlement agreement concluded all complaints, investigations and prosecutions relating to Stuttaford Van Lines and Pickfords. In 2010 the Competition Commission launched investigations into several furniture removal companies, including Stuttaford Van Lines, Pickfords and AGS Fraser International, operating subsidiaries of Laser Transport Group. The investigations revealed that furniture removal companies had tendered collusively in the provision of furniture removal services to government departments, big…

Mining giant Sibanye-Stillwater on Wednesday said that it had suspended production at its Siphumelele shaft in Rustenburg, which accounts for nearly 4% of its South African platinum group metal (PGM) output, after an accident damaged surface infrastructure. The diversified miner said in a statement that no injuries were reported from the February 29 incident when an ore collector bin attached to the shaft headgear collapsed to ground. The collapse had damaged a surface ore conveyor belt system. The damage to the ore collector bin and collapse of the conveyor system had resulted in the suspension of production from the shaft, Sibanye said. Investigations into the cause of the incident were underway, while its impact on annual production from the Siphumelele shaft was being assessed, it added. The shaft was forecast…

The cause of a fire at Parliament has not hitherto been established and the presumably mentally disturbed Zandile Mafe remains the lone suspect. This is a subject that when brought to statisticians to shed light on, would result in more damage. Statisticians will need more parliaments to burn in order to make the appropriate inferences on what caused a fire at the South African Parliament. A sample of one does not suffice for statisticians. Statisticians are notorious for creating more fires. This is in order for them to create a bigger sample to understand the cause of the fire as the power of one is a difficult outlier to contend with. Statisticians are not ones who believe in one swallow making a summer. However, lawyers can always prove, either on…

Investec will report a solid financial performance for the year to March 31, based on diversified revenue streams and the success of its client acquisition strategies. The international bank and wealth manager in the UK and South Africa said in a trading statement on Friday that the average rand/pound exchange rate depreciated by about 15% for the 11 months to February 2024, resulting in a big difference between reported and neutral currency performance. In addition, the comparability of the results with a year before was affected by corporate actions. These included the merger of Investec Wealth & Investment (UK) (IW&I) with Rathbone Group, R6.7 billion share buy-backs to optimise capital in South Africa, disposal of property management companies to Investec Property Fund (IPF), the restructure of Bud Group Holdings to…

AECI on Wednesday celebrated its centenary as it plots a clear growth and expansion trajectory ahead. AECI has a market capitalisation of R9.69 billion. Posting its annuals last month, the group lowered its final dividend 79% to 119 cents in the year to December 31, but its core mining division saw record results, and group debt reduction targets were met. Group CEO Holger Riemensperger reiterated the firm’s strategy to become a global top three player in its industry by 2030. “Through operational excellence and a disciplined approach to capital allocation, we aim to double the Ebitda of our core mining and chemicals business by 2026,” he said. He said these capabilities were central to the sustainable and profitable growth of AECI, coupled with strategic disinvestments from non-core businesses. AECI Mining…

FingerS are pointing to award-winning singer Kelly Khumalo as the mastermind behind Senzo Meyiwa’s murder. As the trial continues at the Gauteng High Court, Pretoria, Muzikawukhulelwa Sibiya, one of the five men accused of killing Meyiwa, provided the court with a written confession and statement claiming they were paid R100 000 to carry out the alleged hit on the former Bafana Bafana captain. He implicated Khumalo as the one who ordered the hit. It was also revealed that Khumalo had contacted one of the accused just hours before Meyiwa’s murder. Since the damning reports, Khumalo’s sister, Zandile “Zandie” Gumede, took to social media again to encourage Khumalo to prove her innocence. She shared a family photo on Instagram and wrote: “Bo Mashobane sekuseduze phambili, God is at work. “Isilungu sithi…

Nuts are not just for snacking. When used correctly, they can form an integral part of a meal, elevating the sensory experience of a dish while boosting its nutritional content. The challenge with using nuts in the kitchen for most people is understanding how to cook with them properly. Nuts add great texture to salads, can be blended and processed into all sorts of dips and sauces, and make wonderful additions to baked treats. While they are often seen in confectionery approaches and desserts, their savoury appeal is increasing. Nuts are appearing in many more products – and forms not widely used in the past. They now appear as an ingredient in many recipes, not only for their nutritional role but for the versatility that lets them adapt to a…

ACTIONSA believes the best way to commemorate Human Rights Day and honour the lives of the 69 people who died in the Sharpeville Massacre on March 21, 1960, is to take action against the ruling party and vote for an alternative that prioritises South Africans’ interests. According to ActionSA president Herman Mashaba, political parties have no need to visit Sharpeville. “After 30 years of democracy, citizens’ lives have barely changed, with many facing unemployment, addiction, and a collapse in service delivery. “With 11.7 million South Africans unemployed and over 28 million relying on social assistance, we have truly failed to live up to the dreams of those who fought for our democracy. “In order to genuinely respect the legacy of the Sharpeville Massacre, we must change South Africa’s current trajectory…

Bidders Choice is hosting a liquidation auction of seven P-grade sectional title office units for Little River Trading 191 (Pty) Ltd in Illovo, Johannesburg, on April 11 at 11am. The auction will take place onsite at 35 Ferguson Road and features office units, storerooms and parking bays. The property is a five-storey structure clad with specialised walls which feature internal insulation, contributing to the complex’s green design. Each tenant individually controls the central air-conditioning installed in the building. Additionally, the building features the latest technology, including smart boardrooms, a high-technology security system, and fingerprint access. The building also offers multiple storerooms (mostly in the basement), garden space, small yard space and balconies. Access between the basement and upper floors is by means of three Mitsubishi lifts. The seven office units…

Ukraine has revealed that it has expanded its African footprint with a roll-out of 10 new embassies across the African continent. This was revealed by the Ukrainian Ambassador to South Africa, Liubov Abravitova, who was speaking during the opening of the Free the Children Conference on Tuesday. Last year, Ukraine launched diplomatic ties with the establishment of an embassy in Ghana, with reports suggesting that additional embassies are planned in Rwanda, Mozambique and Botswana. At the time, the government, through its Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal in Kyiv, revealed that it would invest $25 million (approximately R468m) in establishing these 10 embassies in 10 African countries as part of Ukraine’s African renaissance and rekindling of its relationship with its African counterparts. Abravitova, who remained coy about the other countries on the…

VLADIMIR Putin has won by a landslide! screams the Russian press and government-owned media. It was inevitable, considering he was the only “meaningful” candidate. What is of concern are his threats against Western countries should they enter the Ukrainian theatre of war. Two years of “war” have proven that Russia is not a superpower … the army is a dismal failure unable to achieve Putin’s diabolical plan of dominating Ukraine. The Russian economy is taking strain … and the new age … young, enlightened Russians are sick to death of Putin’s stranglehold. Yet … these Russians are petrified of speaking out against Putin … as either death or long-term prison sentences await them … constantly being watched by Putin’s hand-picked secret service personnel. Putin has perfected the dark art of…

Talifhani Banks is perhaps too modest to brag but it is clear he was born to be an entrepreneur. Growing up in Louis Trichardt, Limpopo, his mother planted the seed in him from age 10 when he started selling fruit and vegetables at the railway station. At 14, he was taking orders and making deliveries in her sewing business, where she made school uniforms. He took a detour when he enrolled at the University of Pretoria to study Statistics and Econometrics. He took jobs at retail giant Pick n Pay and Massmart, including a stint at a car parts company before starting his own company in 2017. “Growing up, I always had visions of becoming an entrepreneur and I kept telling everyone I would be running a business one day,”…

Bafana Bafana’s ongoing Fifa Series pilot project in Algeria is set to aid the team’s preparations for the World Cup qualifiers in June. However, coach Hugo Broos will not want to tweak much of the team that finished third in the Africa Cup of Nations in Ivory Coast two months ago. We looked at five players who were not at the Afcon who must impress Broos from the outset in Algeria. Bruce Bvuma: Goalkeeper Bvuma has been a light in Chiefs’ darkest moments recently, keeping seven clean sheets in the last nine matches in all competitions. Previously he had been in and out of the side due to inconsistent performances. An SA call-up should result in vital momentum and a desire to improve. Bvuma is still battling with one-on-one duels…

Formula One world champion Max Verstappen has backed Red Bull’s handling of a complaint against boss Christian Horner and said the saga has had no impact on how he feels racing for the team. Verstappen started the season by winning both races so far, but those victories in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia have been overshadowed by unspecified allegations of misconduct against Horner by a woman employee at Red Bull. Horner, who has denied the accusations, was cleared of misconduct but the unidentified woman lodged an appeal after her complaint was dismissed, British media reported last week, ensuring the controversy has continued to rumble on in the lead-up to Sunday’s Australian Grand Prix. Verstappen said he did not want to be too involved in off-track issues because his role was to…

The Ria Ledwaba anti-Safa circus has rolled into town, with two football outcasts, Leslie Sedibe and Vernon Seymour, leading the charge. For some time now, Ledwaba has been out of the structures of national football. Her slide from grace started at the 2022 SA Football Association elective congress, where she suffered a humiliating defeat after she challenged Danny Jordaan for the presidency. Jordaan, with 186 votes, polled seven times more votes than Ledwaba (27). It was a crushing defeat, but Ledwaba has done her utmost to maintain a presence in South African football. Ledwaba, a former Safa vice-president, has become a fierce critic of the governing body, and in particular Jordaan. On Wednesday, Ledwaba enjoyed the spotlight of the media at a conference in Johannesburg, where she made light of…

With the Stormers looking to bounce back from their last URC game, which ended in defeat to the Bulls at Loftus Versfeld, Sti Sithole is keen to make his contribution to an improved effort in tomorrrow’s United Rugby Championship clash against Edinburgh. The Capetonians lost the set-piece and physical battle to the Bulls in a 40-22 loss in Pretoria on March 2. They can’t afford to come second best up front against a solid Edinburgh pack at the Cape Town Stadium tomorrow (5.05pm kick-off) that includes the likes of South African-born props Boan Venter, WP Nel and Luan de Bruin, as well as star loose forwards Hamish Watson and Bill Mata. Current Scottish internationals Duhan van der Merwe, Grant Gilchrist, Jamie Ritchie, Pierre Schoeman and Ewan Ashman are not available…

RETURN to glory! That is how Sean Smith, the trainer of Thabiso “The Rock” Mchunu and Thulani “Tulz” Mbenge has dubbed their World Boxing Council (WBC) fights in the Olive Convention Centre, Durban, tonight. Mchunu, once the darling of KwaZulu-Natal boxing, will take on Yamil Alberto Peralta from Argentina for the vacant WBC Silver cruiserweight title in the main bout. Mbenge, who made it clear in the pre-tournament media conference at Moses Mabhida Stadium on Wednesday that his aim was to win via a knockout to advance in the rankings, will be up against another Argentinian, Leandro Fonseca. Their bout will be a WBC welterweight encounter, one of the undercard fights of an 8-bout tournament that will be televised live on SABC Sport from 5pm today. Both South African boxers…

More than 70 businesses at the Black Industrialists and Exporters Conference make pledges More than 70 businesses at the 2024 Black Industrialists and Exporters Conference on Wednesday pledged to spend R261 billion on procurement from black industrialists over the next five years. The spending will range across a wide range of sectors, including agro-processing, agriculture and forestry; rail; electro-technical; metal fabrication and industrial equipment; glass, plastics, household goods and marine; retail, clothing and footwear; pharmaceuticals and medical devices; information technology; and, financial services. The government’s black industrialists programme aims to provide support and funding to industrialists, who wish to start, maintain or expand their businesses. Speaking at the event, Trade, Industry and Competition Minister Ebrahim Patel noted that the direct turnover of companies supported by the black industrialists programme was…

TELECOMMUNICATIONS giant Vodacom South Africa has come under fire once again after reports surfaced that the company is planning to cut 80 jobs. Vodacom has a staff complement of about 5 400 people. In a statement, a spokesperson for the largest wireless operator in Africa told Business Report that: “As Vodacom South Africa, we routinely ensure that our business operations are fit for purpose as we transition from a Telco to a leading Technology company. “To ensure the continued efficiency of key functions and maintain our competitive edge, we anticipate that our latest operational review will impact less than 80 employees. “This decision aligns with our commitment to adapt and optimise our business to meet evolving industry and customer demands. Additionally, Vodacom South Africa continues to proactively implement various cost…

South African average salaries improved by 2.5% in February with the monthly, annual and quarterly increases suggesting a better year for take-home pay. The monthly BankservAfrica Take-home Pay Index (BTPI) experienced another positive month in February amid the better-performing environment, resulting in companies increasing their employees’ average salaries over the past three months. Shergeran Naidoo, BankservAfrica’s head of stakeholder engagements, said the average nominal take-home pay reached R16 085, which was 4.6% growth on a year ago and also 2.5% up on January’s R15 692. “In real terms, the monthly take-home pay tracked higher at R14 354 in February 2024, slightly below year-on-year levels.” This year’s business environment was expected to improve, unlike the previous two years where persisting economic challenges significantly impacted companies and their ability…

There are three pension funds in the country, including South Africa’s largest fund, that are not governed by the Pension Funds Act, and National Treasury needs to deal with these separately in implementing its famous two-pot retirement system. I refer to three government pension funds, in particular the Government Employees Pension Fund (GEPF), which holds more than R2.3 trillion in assets and has almost 1.3 million active members and another 475 000 pensioners and beneficiaries. This fund is constituted under its own law, the Government Employees Pension Law (Proclamation 21 of 1996). The other two funds are the Post Office Retirement Fund (PORF), governed by the Post and Telecommunications-related Matters Act (previously the Post Office Act) of 1958 and the Transnet Retirement Fund (TRF), governed by the Transnet Pension Fund…

Shares in Renergen closed 1.56% lower on the JSE at R10.72 on Wednesday despite it announcing an investment boost from Italian firm Airsol, a wholly-owned subsidiary of SOL. The SOL group has a significant presence in the industrial gases market, including helium, across the world. Renergen said conditions precedent to the subscription by Airsol of unsecured convertible debentures – which are convertible into Renergen shares upon the completion of an initial public offering by Renergen on the Nasdaq – had now been fulfilled. SOL had now subscribed for the remaining tranche of convertible debentures, bringing SOL’s total investment in Renergen to $7 million (R131m). SOL had originally subscribed for convertible debentures in Renergen for an amount of $3m. The remaining tranche of convertible debentures in Renergen subscribed for by SOL…

BBC Lifestyle’s hit property reality TV show, Listing Cape Town, is set to return next month for another riveting season. The first season featured magnificent homes in some of the Mother City’s most elite suburbs. The latest offering will feature even more jaw-dropping properties, some valued up to a whopping R280 million. From next month, viewers will once again get the chance to step inside these luxurious homes. Those featured are in upmarket areas of the Winelands and the Bishopscourt area as well as Cape Town’s opulent Millionaire’s Mile. This season will also feature several of the late Herbert Baker’s iconic homes, as the show pays homage to his architectural legacy. New real estate agents, Byron Louw from RE/MAX and the Pam Golding Property Group’s Jonathan Tannous and Kim Tresfon…

With Human Rights Day affording South Africans a public holiday yesterday, many Joburgers will be enjoying a long weekend. Celebrate this occasion with these fun events. Earth Hour 2024 celebrations Earth Hour is a worldwide movement, organised by the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), that seeks to encourage people from all walks of life to take environmental action. This year, the occasion will be commemorated tomorrow, March 23, worldwide, as the international organisation prompts people to protect the planet. Earth Hour was famously started as a lights-out event in Sydney, Australia, back in 2007. Over the years, it has grown into the global grassroots movement that it is today. An Earth Hour celebration will be taking place in Johannesburg this weekend with an outdoor cinema experience under the stars. Hosted by…

The service delivery-challenged community of Sharpeville was yesterday once again the centre of political attention from political parties as the country commemorated the 64th anniversary of the Sharpeville Massacre in which 69 people died on March 21, 1960. Among the parties that vied for the hearts and minds of the community of Sharpeville were Build One SA (Bosa), the EFF, ANC, Rise Mzansi, Ace Magashule’s African Congress for Transformation (ACT), ACDP, the MK Party and the PAC. These attention-grabbing acts of electioneering took place right in the middle of a potholed and unfinished Seeiso Street. In a community of unpaved roads, pothole-riddled streets and other service delivery challenges, scores of residents decried the lack of political will to deal with the socio-economic challenges affecting them. “There is no service delivery…

PUBLIC enterprises portfolio committee chairperson Khaya Magaxa on Wednesday said the committee would fast-track the investigations into the Takatso Consortium’s 51% takeover of SAA by the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) and other law enforcement clusters. He said work that had gone into the matter by parliamentarians would not go to waste and called for the matter, from parliamentary Speaker Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula up to the Chair of Chairs, to be fast-tracked. Magaxa told The Star: “Some of the allegations made by the former director-general (Kgathatso Tlhakudi) have some merit. To give you an example, it is claimed that the minister picked Rand Merchant Bank (RMB) as transactional advisor. RMB identified four companies on its shortlist and Harith was not one of them. Later on, RMB left and the Department of Public…

SENZO Meyiwa murder trial judge Ratha Mokgoatlheng has blasted black lawyers for poor conduct and disrespecting the courts. As the murder trial resumed, the Gauteng High Court, Pretoria, was informed that proceedings would have to continue in the absence of advocate Thulani Mngomezulu, the legal counsel for first accused Muzikhawukhulelwa Sibiya. State advocate George Baloyi was at his wits’ end as he explained that he had been informed by the legal counsel that he would not be present as he was being held up with another matter he had attended to on Tuesday that had been rolled over to Wednesday. Baloyi told the court that Mngomezulu indicated that the court could proceed with the two State witnesses, namely the photographer and the interpreter, in his absence as he did not…

The City of Tshwane has come under fire from the Auditor-General (AG) for overstating its employee-related costs by more than R415 million, which includes close to R2m paid towards salaries of staff who had resigned from the municipality. This was disclosed in the City’s qualified audit report issued by the AG for 2022/2023 financial year. The City was also found wanting for paying its staff for overtime work they did not perform. The AG report said: “Overtime payments stated at R618 335 286 and R615 944 148 were overstated by R413 652 014 due to employees being paid for more hours than worked.” The City’s disclosed salary payments of R7 694 969 897 and R7 627 684 729, respectively, were overstated by more than R1.9m due to employees being paid…

FROM the moment you press play, you get a sense that what you are about to listen to is no ordinary Afro House product. It is a journey into the captivating sound of DJ Edit SA at his absolute beastly self. His followers will remember the Pretoria-based producer's single this time last year, Bawo (Prayer for the Nation), with singer and songwriter Nosy Lee. Exactly 12 months on, DJ Edit SA has roped in his Pitori home girl Nosy Lee again for his new song, titled Dear Mtanam. The message in the song is deep and the beat curated to keep the audience on the dance floors in a typical DJ Edit SA style. Written by Nosy Lee, the song urges a child not to give up, reminding him/her that…

Sutha ke Fete means “make way so I may pass” in Sesotho; an invitation to make way for an imagined passer-by, wrapped in a richly-decorated heritage blanket. This is the title of the first exhibition of the globally-iconic Basotho blankets in the Western Cape, presented by Sanlam in collaboration with the National Museum in Bloemfontein. Showcasing the unique and engaging designs of traditional and contemporary Basotho blankets, the exhibition, on now, will run until June 14 at the Sanlam Art Gallery in Bellville, before moving to Sandton, Johannesburg, for Heritage Month. With exquisite heritage blankets on loan from the National Museum, along with 26 Basotho blankets from the Sanlam Art Collection, including Aranda’s Young Basotho Designer range, the exhibition celebrates the stories of the blankets, which have become an iconic…

to my sisters – how to unlock the life-changing power of female friendship Renée Kapuku & Courtney Daniella Boateng Loot (R219) Blueprint Press I WAS really looking forward to diving into this book, but I have to admit that it didn’t quite live up to the hype. It’s touted as a guide for building strong female friendships, which sounded perfect, but ends up focusing more on strengthening the friendships we already have (which I suppose is not a bad thing), rather than helping us make new ones. And I was really hoping for some tips on that front. To My Sisters starts off with an open letter to all the sisters and ends with you, as a reader, having to write two letters – one letter to yourself and the…

A day after South Africa fast bowler Kwena Maphaka was drafted in by five-time IPL champions Mumbai Indians as a replacement for injured Sri Lanka pacer Dilshan Madushanka, the legendary Allan Donald feels the 17-year-old has a golden opportunity to showcase his talent at the “biggest tournament on the planet”. Maphaka, a left-arm pace bowler, caught everyone’s eye in this year’s Under-19 World Cup in South Africa, taking the hosts to the semi-finals and being adjudged Player of the Tournament, having taken 21 wickets from six games at an average of 9.71 and an economy rate of 3.81. It was reported that Maphaka was set to join MI as a support bowler for IPL 2024, after a few matches for the Lions, where Donald works as a bowling coach, in…

Rubin Hermann and Migael Pretorius powered the North West Dragons to their second win of the Cricket SA T20 Challenge in fine style yesterday. The Dragons continued their newfound form as they clawed their way back from a bad start in the competition to make it two wins in three matches with a seven-wicket victory over the struggling Boland Rocks at the JB Marks Oval in Potchefstroom. Set a target of 146 runs to win, the Dragons got off to a good start, with Hermann and Meeka-Eel Prince combining for a solid opening partnership of 49, before Prince fell to Imraan Manack for 13. Run machine Herman followed up his century in that match with a blistering 96 off 56 balls, that included nine fours and five sixes, yesterday as…

Inflation in February ballooned on the back of rising medical and fuel prices to the highest level in four months, dashing South African consumers’ rate cut hopes. Economists said on Wednesday that when the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) meets next Wednesday, it is likely to keep interest rates on hold. Statistics South Africa (Stats SA) said on Wednesday that the consumer price index (CPI) rose to 5.6% year-on-year (y/y) in February, from 5.3% in January. Core inflation accelerated to 5% y/y from 4.6% y/y over the same period. Trade union the United Association of South Africa said they were concerned the latest inflation rate was a setback to workers’ hopes of interest rate cuts. “Workers have faced rising fuel, food, medical, insurance and transport prices over the past two months,”…

South Africa’s consumer food inflation slowed to 6% in February this year, from 7% in January, underpinned by the deceleration across most food products. Lower food inflation leads to lower food prices, which is good news for consumers. However, sugar, sweets and desserts remained roughly unchanged from the last months. Wandile Sihlobo, the chief econo- mist at the Agricultural Business Chamber, said they expected this broad moderation path to continue for most of the products within the food basket over the near-to-medium term. “However, there are significant upside risks for the bread and cereal products in the food basket because of the potentially poor white maize harvest on the back of the current heatwave and dryness,” Sihlobo said. Nkhensani Mashimbyi, an economist at Absa AgriBusiness, said the prices…

In the ever-evolving landscape of global finance, the South African rand (ZAR) has been a silent participant in a tumultuous dance with destiny. The question on everyone’s mind: Is the South African currency facing a crisis, and how much wealth has it lost in the span from 2003 to 2023 due to its consistent devaluation against major currencies? The ZAR’s downward spiral finds its roots in a complex web of geopolitical tensions and internal economic challenges. The Russian-Ukraine war has ruffled feathers in international financial markets, creating an environment of heightened risk aversion towards South Africa. The looming threat of potential sanctions, including being locked out of SWIFT, casts a shadow over international payments, leaving investors wary of the consequences. South Africa’s dependence on foreign investment to fund its current…

Standard Bank says the governing ANC is likely to notch up sufficient votes in the May 29 election to avoid a coalition that could steer policy towards a more populist stance, although it cautioned investors to brace for a “tumultuous” period ahead of the key poll. There is widespread sentiment that public support for the ANC is dwindling as a result of crime, poor governance and corruption, as well as inefficiencies in key sectors such as rail transport and energy. However, Standard Bank analysts believe the ANC will garner sufficient votes to avoid a coalition in the coming election. “We can expect an election result (that will see) the ANC garnering sufficient votes, negating the need for a coalition arrangement with a sizeable political party that may steer policy in…

Discovery Group’s normalised headline earnings increased 11% to R3.32 billion and new business annual premium income (API) was up 28% to R14.2bn, while the bank reached monthly break-even ahead of schedule. “In an environment of macroeconomic complexities, Discovery delivered a strong operating performance underpinned by our investment in future growth platforms as well as adhering to financial discipline,” chief executive Adrian Gore said in a statement. An interim dividend of 65 cents (110c – 2023 financial year-end) was declared. In South Africa, the Discovery Health, Discovery Bank, Discovery Life, Discovery Invest and Discovery Insure businesses’ normalised operating profit increased 9% to R4.36bn, while new business increased 29% to R11.1bn. In the UK, the Vitality Health and Vitality Life lifted normalised operating profit 2% to £34.7 million, or by 13% to…

Seasoned South African journalists Mandy Wiener and John Robbie will bring unique insights from the continent as they are set to host documentary shows on History Channel Africa. This move will see the media veterans join the likes of Morgan Freeman, Dan Aykroyd, Laurence Fishburne and William Shatner, who have also been featured on the channel this year. In the show, Great African Crimes with Mandy Wiener, the renowned journalist and author will uncover the details behind some of the country’s most riveting crimes. This gripping one-off documentary will unravel three dramatic crimes that left the nation stunned as it forms part of the channel’s “Crime Month” in October. “Great African Crimes has all the ingredients of a compelling TV show – interesting crimes, complex characters, intriguing narratives, the backdrop…

According to the SAPS, the ‘mastermind’ behind SA’s largest corporate fraud scandal shot himself while in Hermanus South Africa was left in a state of shock last night as reports surfaced that disgraced former CEO of Steinhoff International, Markus Jooste, has died. He leaves behind his wife, Ingrid Jooste, a son and two daughters. Jooste lived in Stellenbosch. He died by suicide in Hermanus, where he had a permanent residence. The mastermind behind the Steinhoff scandal – South Africa’s largest corporate fraud – allegedly shot himself as he faced imminent arrest. The SAPS said in response to questions last night: “We can confirm that Hermanus SAPS opened an inquest docket for further investigation following the death of a 63-year-old man earlier today. “Police were activated to attend to a shooting…

UNDER-FIRE National Assembly Speaker Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula has taken special leave from her position as pressure continues to mount for her to step down following a raid at her home this week over allegations of corruption. “This decision has been communicated to the Secretary of Parliament and to the President of the Republic in his capacity as Head of State. This decision by myself is meant to protect the integrity of Parliament and ensure its sacred duty and its name continue unblemished. I have also communicated my decision to take special leave to my movement, the ANC. “I hope this statement clarifies my position, reaffirms my commitment to upholding the integrity of my office, and demonstrates my full co-operation with the legal process,” she said in a statement last night. Earlier…

The Randburg Magistrate’s Court in Johannesburg has convicted a police officer on four counts of culpable homicide for a tragic incident which happened on June 14, 2018. The Independent Police Investigative Directorate (Ipid) said Sergeant Somiso Jali was driving a police vehicle with a colleague when he lost control and rammed into four pedestrians. The four people were walking along a pavement next to the road. “He lost control of the vehicle as he was driving at high speed when he approached Jukskei Bridge,” said Ipid spokesperson Phaladi Shuping. “He bumped into two women, Nani Ncube, 38, and Legato Nthotso, 20, as well as two children, Lethabo Ragwale, 8, and Given Karabo Nthotso, 5.” All four lost their lives as a result of injuries they sustained. Sergeant Jali and his…

NEWLY-CROWNED Mrs Universe South Africa 2024, Monique Weyers from Pretoria, will represent South Africa at Mrs Universe in South Korea in October. She was crowned Mrs Universe South Africa 2024 at The Lyric Theatre, Gold Reef City, last Friday. It was a spectacular event where contestants walked in the national costume parade, swimsuit, and evening gown competitions. Weyers is a 37-year old aviator and wife. She holds a student pilot licence and is working towards her private pilot licence. She wants to use her platform to forge the path ahead for women and young girls in the aviation industry. She is also a proud Tears Foundation Brand Ambassador and will continue to be a voice for domestic violence, abuse, and rape survivors. She will get the opportunity to compete at…

South Africa’s Banyana Banyana face the daunting prospect of playing in a group of three top-10 countries if they qualify for this year’s Paris Olympics women’s football competition in France from July 24 to August 10. Banyana Banyana’s qualification fate hangs in the balance since they must still play the final round of qualifying against arch-rivals Nigeria’s Super Falcons. The Sasol-sponsored Banyana Banyana play the first leg in Nigeria on Friday, April 5, in Abuja. The reverse tie will be played on Tuesday, April 9, at the Loftus Versfeld Stadium in Pretoria. The draw for football at the 2024 Paris Olympics was announced at the Le Pulse Building in Saint-Denis, Paris, on Wednesday. The two qualifying African teams have been placed in tough groups. Apart from the Nigeria versus South…

Fast bowlers are almost guaranteed to have injuries at some point in their careers, and Proteas quick Anrich Nortjé is no exception to the rule. Nortjé suffered a back injury in September, which saw him miss the entire ODI World Cup in India last year. It was not the first ODI World Cup that the 30-year-old had missed out on due to injury, as he picked up a finger issue in 2019, weeks before the World Cup, and subsequently missed out on that event as well. This time around, the Proteas fast bowler spent five months sitting on the sidelines and doing rehab work because of the back injury. However, Nortjé has recently returned to action in the ongoing Cricket SA T20 Challenge, and has played three matches so far.…

The Proteas Women will look to build on the positives from their tour of Australia as they go up against Sri Lanka next week, in a series that will comprise three T20 matches and three one-day internationals. Proteas coach Hilton Moreeng said the series is an opportunity to rectify past mistakes, especially by starting the tour on a good note. Moreeng believes the T20 series will help prepare for the World Cup in Bangladesh in September, while the ODI fixtures will play a major role in automatic qualification for the 50-over World Cup in India next year. South Africa hosted the ICC T20 Women’s World Cup last year, and lost to Australia in the final by 19 runs. They have since had series at home against Bangladesh, New Zealand and…

For someone who used to be called “Quade Cooper” in his early Boland days, it was interesting to hear Willie le Roux stress the importance of “not always just having an attacking mindset”. That shows the growth that the Springbok fullback has achieved in recent years, and he hopes to bring that variety to the Bulls over the next few seasons. Despite being a two-time World Cup winner, Le Roux said this week – ahead of tomorrow’s United Rugby Championship clash against the Dragons in Newport, Wales (9.35pm kick-off, SA time) – that he still enjoys learning from the younger players in the squad. Le Roux returned to South Africa after the World Cup last year following several years at Wasps in England and Toyota Verblitz in Japan, and having…

On THE bus back from the Stade de France in Paris after winning the World Cup final, the Springboks were already talking about a three-peat four years later. Jesse Kriel, the Springbok outside centre in the 12-11 defeat of the All Blacks, said as much this week at an early screening of the first episode of the Chasing the Sun 2 documentary that will be aired at 8pm on Sunday evening on M-Net. “The group of players that defended the World Cup do not regard themselves as being at the end of an era – far from it,” Kriel said at the SuperSport studios in Randburg. “On the bus after the final, with the cup among us, we were already talking about winning it for a third time. This is…