Cape Times 2021-07-12

Sandile Mchunu sandile.mchunu@inl.co.za Mediclinic International said on Friday that the current third wave in southern Africa was exceeding previous admissions to its facilities due to the impact of the Delta variant, and hospitals were under severe pressure. The private hospital group said it, together with other health-care providers, had put all possible resources in place to manage the demands of the Covid-19 pandemic. South Africa has reported an average of 19 956 new cases a day, between July 1 and July 8, according to information from the National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD). Dr Gerrit De Villiers, the chief clinical officer at Mediclinic Southern Africa, said the group could confirm a tremendous demand for hospital beds and intensive care unit (ICU) resources in most provinces, putting the hospitals under…

SIPHELELE DLUDLA siphelele.dludla@inl.co.za THE alcohol industry has called on President Cyril Ramaphosa to lift restrictions on the sale of alcohol, saying it cannot continue to endure a double pandemic of Covid-19 and poverty. The National Liquor Traders (NTL), representing 39 000 township-based taverns, shebeens and bottle stores, wrote to Ramaphosa over the weekend pleading for the lifting of the ban. The National Coronavirus Command Council (NCCC) met yesterday to assess developments in the Covid-19 pandemic and the national response to this challenge. The Southern African Alcohol Policy Alliance in SA (Saapa SA) urged the government to allow access to alcohol through off-consumption sales, while retaining the suspension of on-consumption trading, which it said “is clearly the best option”. NTL convener Lucky Ntimane said the devastation of the current ban…

Venues such as gyms and fitness centres can also operate, subject to strict health protocols Siphelele Dludla siphelele.dludla@inl.co.za The RESTAURANT industry has heaved a sigh of relief as the government has slightly relaxed the lockdown restrictions, although the healthcare system remains under pressure. President Cyril Ramaphosa yesterday announced that the country would remain at adjusted level 4 of the lockdown for another 14 days, until July 25. Ramaphosa said that restaurants and eateries would be able to operate, albeit while observing strict health protocols, in a bid to boost economic activity. The restaurant industry has been pleading with the government to be allowed to reopen, because a number of establishments have closed or were on the brink of collapse because of the economic fallout from the pandemic. “Such establishments may…

Sandile Mchunu sandile.mchunu@inl.co.za Transaction Capital has raised R1.7 billion through an accelerated bookbuild by issuing 33.09 million new ordinary no par value shares at a price of R35.50 a share, with the proceeds expected to be used in part to finance the acquisition of a controlling stake in WeBuyCars. Transaction Capital announced, in May, that it has concluded an agreement to increase its stake in WeBuyCars from 49.9 percent to a majority stake of 74.9 percent. WeBuyCars is a trusted principal trader of used vehicles through its vertically integrated e-commerce and physical infrastructure, offering finance, insurance and other allied products. The group said on Friday that it was pleased to announce the successful completion of the bookbuild, which was multiple times oversubscribed. “The placing shares were…

Dineo Faku dineo.faku@inl.co.za THARISA, the JSE-listed platinum group metals (PGM) and chrome concentrates miner, declared a $10.8 million (R153m) interim dividend after the group benefited from record platinum group metal prices and a robust operational performance during its third quarter ended June 2021. Tharisa, South Africa’s fourth largest chrome concentrate producer, said on Friday that operationally, the third quarter was one of the strongest in the company’s history, bolstered by strong PGM and chrome pricing. Chief executive Phoevos Pouroulis said revenues and margins continued to be healthy on the record PGM basket prices and a steady increase in the pricing of chrome concentrates. Tharisa reported a 15.6 percent jump in the PGM basket price it received quarter on quarter and said the pricing remained above $3 000…

WHETHER it’s finding or losing my virginity, doing it the Virgin way, or screwing it up and doing it all over again, any of these books by Richard Branson holds a proud place on my bookshelf and I constantly devour any content he shares. Yesterday he was etched in stratospheric history so to speak as the first billionaire to head to the edge of space. Going back in time, my first encounter with one of the Branson brands was 16 years ago on Virgin Airlines, which was also my first time boarding a plane. I’m fortunate to say I have also met him personally. On November 10, 2017 – a date etched firmly in my mind – he visited us at 22 on Sloane. I was star struck. He seemed…