Índice para 2023-06-28 em Star

THE SOUTH African government has taken another step in the future energy security direction with a commitment to co-operate with Germany on green hydrogen projects. Minister in the Presidency responsible for Electricity, Dr Kgosientsho Ramokgopa, and German Vice-Chancellor and Minister of Economic Affairs and Climate Action, Robert Habeck, yesterday signed a joint declaration of intent to establish the South African German Hydrogen Task Force. The signing took place virtually during a bi-national commission between South Africa and Germany. Green hydrogen, which is made by splitting water using renewable energy, is one of three ways South Africa is aiming to shift its economy away from a reliance on coal for its electricity generation. The Joint Declaration of Intent is not legally binding nor does it have financial implications for South Africa,…

THE SOUTH African Crop Estimates Committee (CEC) yesterday lifted its forecast for the 2023 harvest to 16 354 million tons – the second largest on record. Improved yield in both yellow and white maize had led to the ongoing upgrade, it said. Wandile Sihlobo, the chief economist at the Agricultural Business Chamber (Agbiz) said yesterday that the CEC’s lifting of the country’s 2022/23 commercial maize production estimate by 1% from last month was not surprising. He said this crop was 6% more than the 2021/22 season and the second-largest harvest on record. “The expected ample harvest is primarily on the back of large yields, as the area planted is slightly down from the 2021/22 season. About 8.64 million tons is white maize, with 7.71 million tons being…

Non-governmental organisation Right 2 Justice has called for the University of South Africa (Unisa) Director of Executive Support, in the Office of the Principal, and vice-chancellor David Maimela to be investigated. The organisation said Maimela should be investigated for "the role he may have played in aiding Unisa Principal and Vice-chancellor (VC), Professor Puleng LenkaBula, and bringing down Unisa". Maimela is seen as being too close to the VC and key to the alleged collapse of the institution. This comes just as the university celebrated its 150th anniversary amid allegations of maladministration, supply chain challenges, and many other systemic problems at Unisa as uncovered by the Independent Assessor, Professor Themba Mosia. This week, the Democratic Alliance (DA) called for Unisa to be placed under administration. The NGO, through its deputy…

The FORMER CEO of the Joburg Roads Agency (JRA) is set to lock horns with the agency’s board of directors after filing an urgent court application challenging his dismissal and asking the court to stop the filling of the position of CEO as he believes a board member doctored his CV to get rid of him. Mahanuke, who was appointed on August 1 last year, was dismissed on June 9 by the board. In his application, filed in the Johannesburg Labour Court on Monday, he argued that he was targeted after he resisted efforts to interfere with his duties. He alleged that his suspension was unlawful because regulations and disciplinary procedures were not followed. “On or around the week of the 15th November 2022, news broke out in the media…

The MMC for Human Settlements in the City of Joburg, Anthea Leitch, has launched a new affordable housing project in the heart of Roodepoort, South of Joburg. Leitch said the city had invested R35 million into developing the 92-unit project, which is targeted at mixed-income qualifying households with a gross income ranging from R3 500 to R22 000 a month. The project includes 28 one-bedroom units and 64 two-bedroom units with a kitchen, dining area and bathroom. “Although we understand that most people can afford to pay for the rental, other applicants do not meet the criteria based on screening, and therefore, we would like to urge that those who meet the criteria be afforded an opportunity to live without being intimidated,” Leitch said. Applications for the Legae Affordable Rental…

The Human Sciences Research Council was established in 1968 as South Africa’s statutory research agency and has grown to become the largest dedicated research institute in social sciences and humanities on the African continent, doing cutting-edge public research in areas crucial to development. It recently published a new study on human trafficking in South Africa. The author, Professor Philip Frankel, said the book, Human Trafficking in South Africa, which will be launched tomorrow, goes beyond anything written before. “Chapters on sex, labour, and child trafficking are supplemented by material on child organ trafficking for muti-murder, illegal adoption, and ‘baby farming’ of children for exploitation by foster parents. “The section on sex trafficking includes a discussion of current initiatives to decriminalise all forms of sex work, and labour trafficking is especially…

We are waiting for the final outcome of the criminal case that is being heard in the courts to find out who was criminally responsible for the deaths of 144 mentally ill patients. The deaths could have been avoided if the ANC government had listened to those that cautioned it against the transfer of the patients to NGOs, but all the warnings fell on deaf ears. Besides, it would help if Dr Joe Phaahla, who is adamant about going ahead with National Health Insurance, would tell us what he knows and understands about it. If he did understand it, he would not be pushing for it when all public hospitals in all ANC-governed provinces are falling apart. Moreover, what is the rush, when no one is even sure who will…

Living with the pain of arthritis in the knee joint can rob people of a good quality of life, but with the help of robotic surgery this is becoming a thing of the past. Fortunately, technology used in knee replacement surgery has taken a great leap forward with robotics assisting orthopaedic surgeons to achieve ideal placement for more natural feeling joints. “Wear and tear of our articular cartilage is a natural process, and when this leads to pain and poor quality of life it is called osteoarthritis,” Dr Graham Bayes, an orthopaedic surgeon practising at Netcare Mulbarton Hospital in Johannesburg said. In the general population, the overall lifetime risk of requiring a knee replacement is about 30%, although as average life expectancy improves the percentage becomes higher for an ageing…

THE City of Joburg must pay more than R7.8 million to a then heavily pregnant teenager who fell into an open manhole while walking along a street in Eldorado Park at night. The then 16-year-old, who was in Grade 10, presumably bumped her head against a sharp object inside the manhole, and suffered severe head injuries. She now suffers from bilateral blindness, constant headaches and seizures. She turned to the South Gauteng High Court, Johannesburg, where she claimed more than R9m in damages from the Joburg Metro. She blamed it for the incident and it was argued on her behalf that the metro had a duty to cover the manhole or at least warn the public about the danger. Acting Judge AM Van der Merwe totally agreed and found…

A KZN woman is celebrating her 720km ‘Walk of Dignity’ from Johannesburg to Durban, to raise funds to buy sanitary towels for rural schools. Ndiswa Ndaba’s journey has captivated hearts and minds across the nation. Ndaba, 23, from Pietermaritzburg, who is also a founder of the KaMbambeni Foundation, embarked on a courageous mission that started on May 28 and ended on June 25. Her aim was to raise funds to support the sanitary needs of 10 schools in KwaZulu-Natal, specifically targeting her hometown of Pietermaritzburg and other parts of the province. She had been aware of the dire circumstances young girls face, often missing school due to the unavailability of sanitary towels. “I am very happy to have finally completed this journey. It was a very challenging journey, you know,…

President Vladimir Putin aimed to rally Russia’s military and security services yesterday, telling them they halted a slide into civil war when Wagner mercenaries rebelled and marched on Moscow. As Russia announced preparations to disarm Yevgeny Prigozhin’s private force, Putin and his supporters were insisting his rule was not weakened by the revolt widely seen as the biggest threat to Kremlin authority since he came to power. Asked whether Putin’s power was diminished by the sight of rebel mercenaries seizing a military HQ, advancing on Moscow and shooting down military aircraft along the way, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said: “We don’t agree”. Putin himself attempted to portray the dramatic events at the weekend as a victory for the Russian regular military which has shown restraint in not being drawn into…

JERUSALEM: Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant and a senior Palestinian official discussed violence in the occupied West Bank yesterday, with Gallant’s office saying he offered reassurance about Israel’s intention to crack down on Jewish settler riots. A Hamas gun attack that killed four Israeli civilians outside a West Bank settlement sparked days of violent incursions into Palestinian villages and towns by groups of Jewish settlers. Twelve suspects had been arrested, Israeli police said. Israeli forces, which have intensified raids against suspected Palestinian militants, would continue to operate anywhere required, Gallant said. | Reuters…

MANCHESTER United yesterday raised its forecasts for annual revenue and adjusted profit, betting on strong commercial and match-day income as the English football club returns to the Uefa Champions League. United, which is currently in talks to sell itself, said it was expecting revenue of between £630-million and £640m, compared with its previous forecast of between £590m and £610m. The US-based Glazer family, which owns the club, said in November they were considering a sale of the 20-time English champions in what could be the biggest sports deal ever. They received several bids, including from Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad al-Thani of Qatar, British billionaire Sir Jim Ratcliffe and Finnish businessperson Thomas Zilliacus. Reuters reported earlier this month that the club is negotiating granting exclusivity to the consortium led by the…

Director of rugby Rassie Erasmus says the Springbok door is not closed on troubled wing Sbu Nkosi, who is currently without a provincial team after he and the Bulls parted ways on Monday. Erasmus said SA Rugby will support the 27-year-old’s efforts to get back on the field. Nkosi has scored nine tries in 16 Test matches for Erasmus and current Bok coach Jacques Nienaber, but last played in the green and gold in 2021. He has had periods of being AWOL at the Sharks and Bulls, and disappeared without a trace for over a week in February. “We look at his age and how well he played for us. We just hope to see him playing rugby soon for somebody, somewhere,” Erasmus said. “We want him to play for…

THE PRUDENTIAL Authority (PA) has been monitoring the levels of exposures by the banks to South Africa’s sovereign debt, following a notable increase in the banking industry’s overall exposure and concentration to government securities in the period since 2020. CEO of the Prudential Authority Nomfundo Tshazibana said in the PA’s latest annual report that: “The PA continues to encourage banks to actively manage, monitor and report such exposures to their appropriate internal governance structures to ensure that exposures remain within approved internal risk appetite metrices.” She said that while government securities were frequently utilised in banks’ risk mitigation strategies, exposures to these securities also needed to be appropriately balanced against credit extension to the real economy. Meanwhile PA chairperson Lesetja Kganyago said two non-systemic banks were placed under curatorship…

Renowned South African actress Connie Chiume is partnering with the Essence Festival to promote and expose South Africa’s talent to the global market. Chiume has announced the launch of the “Essence of South Africa” initiative, which will be showcased during the Essence Festival of Culture in New Orleans, US, from tomorrow to July 3. Through her Connie Chiume Foundation, the Black Panther actress will further her vision of creating more opportunities for South African artists to gain exposure globally. Speaking to IOL Entertainment, Chiume expressed excitement to bring the vibrant culture of South Africa to the Essence Festival. “Our vision is to promote sustainable cultural ties and collaboration while empowering women in arts and culture business,” said Chiume. “Through this initiative, we aspire to create a lasting legacy impact project…

■ Mohamed claims Motala extorted R400k Well-known businessman and former director of Arthur Kaplan Jewellers, Hoosein Mohamed, has launched yet another offensive against liquidator Enver Motala. Mohamed’s detailed complaint statement accuses Motala of serious incidents of intimidation, harassment and soliciting a payment of R400 000 from him. These claims reveal a grim picture of Motala’s alleged misconduct, with supposed proof of payment and other communications between the two parties as recent as two months ago. Mohamed, who was denied bail in the Randburg Magistrate’s Court last week following his arrest on June 1 after an incident in Sandton during which he allegedly threatened Motala’s daughter, fellow liquidator, Laila Motala, with a firearm and shoved her up against a wall. He has accused Motala of having solicited an unwarranted R400 000…

From page 1 “They say it was a random shooting, but I think they were targeting my family. I think they wanted to kill my family,” he said. The DA caucus leader in Johannesburg, Belinda Echeozonjoku, visited the Maile family in Riverlea. Echeozonjoku said she was concerned about the gun violence in the area and called for the police to get to the bottom of this incident. “The young lady was looking for a job last week, and now her life is ended just like that. Surely someone has to take responsibility,” she said. Echeozonjoku said unemployment was a contributing factor in the gun violence and drug problems in most former coloured communities. “Young people want opportunities to empower themselves and make life better for their families. “If these young…

Our country’s national pastime is producing as many children as we can. And, as a parent, you are really not a fan of your children. Just keep the social grant and send them to gran. As for our government, you can only stare in disbelief as it pockets money meant for poor folks’ relief. Even our four-legged friends do not escape our greedy ways. Chop off their tusks or horns and let them suffer for days. I am certain this was not the master plan. Yet, we continue to pollute, multiply and cram. The answer is simple: money is the master and we do not give a damn.…

THE CITY of Tshwane has confirmed that cholera cases are on the decline, with no deaths recorded since the weekend in Hammanskraal. The area, in the north of Pretoria, was hit by a cholera outbreak in May that claimed the lives of 33 people with scores showing symptoms of the waterborne disease being admitted to various hospitals in Pretoria. However, the number of cases has since been on the decline, with only 30 positive cases being treated. Speaking to Pretoria News yesterday, City spokesperson Sipho Stuurman said the municipality had not recorded any deaths in the past three days. “We have not recorded any deaths since June 24, and currently the number of patients is only 30, which is a decline in what we used to see in the previous…

The story of human achievement is measured not just in years, but in the innovation and mastery of tools. Each milestone represented a pivotal leap in societal progress from the advent of simple stone implements to the inventions of the ramp, the lever, the wheel, steam, and the motor. Today, we stand at the threshold of the artificial intelligence (AI) era. AI is already reshaping diverse sectors from health care to commerce, education to communication. Yet, an unsettling gulf exists between public perception and scientific understanding of AI, a divide deepened by sensationalist media and popular culture’s misleading narratives. As we grapple with the onset of AI, we stand on the precipice of a monumental inflection point. The course of our journey hinges on the choices we make and the…

MUMBAI: India’s monsoon season rains were set to cover the whole country by the weekend, according to meteorological department officials, allowing farmers in northern states to begin planting summer-sown crops. The monsoon, the lifeblood of India’s $3 trillion economy, delivers nearly 70% of the rain needed to water its farms and recharge reservoirs and aquifers. It also brings relief from the worst of the summer. Rains usually lash Kerala state, on India’s south-west coast, from June 1 and move northwards to cover the entire country by July 8. This year, a cyclone delayed the onset of the monsoon rains. | Reuters…

Geneva: The UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) has said that more than 2.4 million refugees globally will need resettling in 2024, a 20% increase compared with 2023. The Asian region tops the list of estimated needs for 2024, with nearly 730 000 refugees due to require resettlement support, 30% of the global needs. The report said that about 754 000 Syrians across the globe required urgent resettlement. Refugees from Afghanistan had the second-highest resettlement needs, followed by those from South Sudan and Myanmar. In 2022, out of 116 000 applications, only 58 457 refugees could be resettled. | IANS…

THERE will be no shenanigans when it comes to the flyhalf position in a World Cup year, the Springboks assured yesterday as they continue to prepare for the opening match of the Rugby Championship next weekend, despite the confirmed loss of Handre Pollard for the tournament. Last year, a mini crisis enveloped the No 10 jumper due to injuries and lack of form. It reportedly saw Willie le Roux running the channel during training and in support of Damian Willemse on matchdays, while incumbent scrumhalf Faf de Klerk was also touted as an emergency stopgap. With the defence of their Webb Ellis Cup looming, SA director of rugby Rassie Erasmus and Bok coach Jacques Nienaber are making sure no such action is required this season. On Tuesday, from their base…

British singer and songwriter JP Cooper is set to tour South Africa in August. Known for his global hit song September Song off his debut album Raised Under Grey Skies, Cooper has a huge fan base here. The announcement of his first world tour comes on the brink of his new music release project coming soon. Cooper recently spoke about it, hinting at a string of collaborations he will be working on in 2023 and 2024. Among the list of excited fans were season 11 Idols SA finalist Lloyiso Gijana, who said: “Yess bro! Excited to see you live.” Cooper will perform at The Old Biscuit Mill in Cape Town on August 24, and then at the Parklive Festival in Marks Park, Emmarentia, Johannesburg on August 26. In Durban,…

The COMMUNITY of Riverlea is still in shock after a random shooter sprayed a group of people with bullets at a local spaza shop. The Star understands that on June 23, some community members were hanging around a spaza shop in the evening while some customers were buying essentials at the shop. Luka Ntja told The Star his daughter Anastasia Maile died while trying to shield her mother from the bullets. Anastasia was a well-known youth activist in her community. Before she died, she had been vocal about the problems that some young people were experiencing with the applications for the Nasi iSpani jobs project. Ntja said he was pained by the death of his daughter, but was grateful that his wife had managed to survive the tragedy. “My…

A 47-year-old suspect, who disguised himself as a police officer, is expected to appear in the Rustenburg Magistrate’s Court for corruption and fraud. North West police revealed that the suspect acted as an investigating officer in a theft case and demanded R3 000 from a man who was implicated in a criminal matter on condition that he ensure that the docket disappeared. After the matter was reported to the Provincial Anti-Corruption Investigation Unit (ACIU), the suspect was apprehended in an undercover operation. It is also said that the suspect’s court appearance emanates from his arrest in Boitekong, outside Rustenburg, on Friday last week. “The suspect, who allegedly pretended to be an investigating officer of a theft case opened in September 2022, called and demanded R3 000 from the man who…

Ingredients 500 – 600 g frozen Calamari rings 2 t Chilli & Garlic Seasoning 2 T maizena olive oil 200 g linguine (save ½ cup cooking water) 2 t Lemon & Black Pepper Seasoning Sauce 1 – 2 T butter 2 cloves garlic, finely sliced ½ cup white wine 1 x 25 g Ina Paarman’s Liquid Fish Stock 1 T Sun-dried Tomato Pesto ± ½ cup reserved pasta water ¼ cup chopped parsley freshly ground black pepper Method Defrost calamari in a colander. Shake to dry and spread out on absorbent kitchen towel to remove as much moisture as possible. Decant into a mixing bowl. Mix with Chilli & Garlic Seasoning and maizena. Toss to coat. Leave to marinate for 20 minutes. In the meantime boil the pasta…

MMC for Public Safety, Dr Mgcini Tshwaku, has unveiled CCTV cameras, a street patrollers programme in Finetown and Ennerdale ward 7 region G areas. He said these programmes form part of the city’s response to fighting crime and lawlessness in the communities of Finetown and Ennerdale. He added that the cameras had been installed strategically in crime hotspots to assist SAPS and JMPD with identifying perpetrators of crime. “The use of CCTV cameras and the patrollers is one of our strategies, also known as smart policing. The CCTV footage will be linked to the patrollers on the ground through an app that can be downloaded on any smartphone device and to the Integrated Intelligence Operations Centre (IIOC) Command Centre,” he said on Sunday. On Monday, Tshwaku addressed the community of…

The Star carried an interesting front-page report on 23 June 2023. The headline was “Johannesburg mayor’s office staff push back at the alleged hypocrisy of ActionSA and DA”. There are allegations that the mayor of Johannesburg, Kabelo Gwamanda, faces serious criminal charges of fraud in that a funeral insurance scheme he ran was not registered at the Financial Services Conduct Authority (FSCA), making it illegal, and many residents of Johannesburg were defrauded when there were no funds to meet their funeral claims. As a result, ActionSA, supported by the DA and several other parties in the opposition coalition, has given notice of a motion of no confidence in the mayor. It seems that the ANC and the EFF, not to speak of the Patriotic Alliance (PA) and Al Jamah-Ah, do…

Motorists who straddle a lane on the road are a danger to other road users. Remain in your lane, that’s the proverbial rule. This is exactly why the resource-based Constitution makes me puke. The Bible clearly states that you can’t serve two masters at the same time, it’s either God or the devil. The nonsense of bigamous citizenship must be put to death. Whether you’re a native or an enfranchised citizen, you can’t swear allegiance to two nations. Unless, of course, you’re not a man of flesh but a chameleon. The Supreme Court of Appeal in Bloemfontein, which is consistent with our damp-squib Constitution allowed dual nationality. It has ruled that the Citizenship Act’s provision, which makes a South African citizen lose their nationality on being conferred with citizenship of…

WATER has been restored in parts of Tshwane after an outage that left residents with dry taps. According to the municipality, the outage was due to the Rand Water supply system running low due to the recent power failures, which affected their operations. Responding to questions sent by the Pretoria News, municipal spokesperson Lindela Mashigo said the outage did not amount to a crisis, and confirmed that the hardest hit area was Soshanguve, however, water was now fully restored. “Tshwane was affected by power failures impacting on Rand Water supply infrastructure on June 23. The City of Tshwane was notified by Rand Water about the inconsistent supply challenges that were under way, affecting Tshwane and other municipalities. “This follows a number of power failures and trips experienced during this month…

South Africa’s road mortality rate was classified as a “national tragedy” in 2021, with the country’s roadways being judged to be among the most deadly in the world. Despite significant efforts in numerous provinces to reduce the annual accident rate, a number of dates on the calendar continue to be notoriously connected with large surges in road accidents and fatalities. One prominent example is that during long weekends or school vacations, when road trips are popular, motorists are more likely to be involved in car accidents. According to Youlon Naidoo, Executive Head: Claims & Procurement at MiWay Insurance, keeping yourself and your family safe on the road should be a major priority as you look to hit the road to build memories. “MiWay typically sees an upsurge in claims during…

A fire was ignited in our youth on 16 June, 1976, catapulting them into the fight for national liberation across the country, free of oppression and the injustice of apartheid. Amid national arrests and the murder of fellow students, they did not give up. They pressed on through raids, barbed wire, casspirs and smoke grenades. In his 1985 speech, Oliver Tambo honoured them: “Despite the campaign of murder and terror unleashed by the racist against them, including the very young, they have stood firm in their demands. They have refused to break from the ranks of the struggling masses. In saluting our students and working youth, we can truly say that they have earned for themselves the honour of being called the Young Lions.” In South Africa, those aged from…

South Africa is a prime example of the ability to forgive and co-exist in harmony with other people. The country has 11 official languages, a number of tribes, and cultural influence from all over the world, which came with the trading at the ports and, of course, colonialism and Western influence on local politics. Nevertheless, when Nelson Mandela and FW de Klerk took a historic photo just after the formation of the government of unity in the early 1990s, it was clear that South Africa would be a symbol of tolerance and human triumph over atrocities such as racism and apartheid. The flag of triumph was raised with all its different colours, symbolic of all who lived in South Africa. Doves of peace were released into the skies, and a…

Paris: More than 6 500 people had been arrested following the 2020 dismantling of EncroChat, an encrypted communications tool used by organised crime, Europol said yesterday. Close to 200 of the arrests were “high-value targets”, it said, adding that nearly ¤900 million of criminal funds had been seized or frozen. Since 2020, investigators had managed to intercept, share and analyse more than 115 million criminal conversations, by over 60 000 users, the report said. The intercepted calls included conversations about attempted murders and drug shipments. | AFP…

London: Going hungry in the UK due to historically high levels of food inflation risked becoming “the new normal” for millions of people, said a study released yesterday. The study by the University of Sussex said 14% of the population was now suffering from food poverty. From fewer than 100 food banks in the UK a decade ago, the number rose to more than 2 000 in 2021, with 9.7 million people in food poverty in September 2022. Soaring food prices are up more than 18% in the year to May. UK inflation hit 8.7% last month. | AFP…

ORLANDO Pirates yesterday announced the arrival of four new signings, including Bafana Bafana international Melusi Buthelezi and Katlego Otladisa. The Buccaneers are long-time admirers of Buthelezi from TS Galaxy and Otladisa from Marumo Gallants. They also completed the transfers of SuperSport United’s Patrick Maswanganyi and Sephelo Baloni from Motsepe Foundation outfit All-Stars. The Soweto club has ramped up its preparation for the upcoming season after winning both the MTN8 and Nedbank Cup trophies while also qualifying for the Caf Champions League. The quartet will form part of Spanish coach Jose Riveiro’s 2023/24 plans with Pirates competing in four competitions. Otladisa, a former Mamelodi Sundowns junior player, has grown to be one of the most exciting wingers in the division while plying his trade for both Platinum Stars and Bahlabane Ba…

THE framework of the merger agreement of the PGA Tour and Saudi-backed LIV Golf says a for-profit subsidiary of the US golfing body will be created to manage commercial investments and assets for all tours, according to a copy reviewed by Reuters on Monday. The PGA Tour will have a permanent controlling interest in the subsidiary’s board of directors, regardless of the Saudi investment, the framework says. The PGA Tour, DP World Tour and rival Saudi-backed LIV circuit, which had been involved in a bitter fight that split the sport, earlier in June announced an agreement to merge and form one unified commercial entity. The framework agreement also ends litigation between the two sides. The LIV Golf series is bankrolled by the Saudi Arabia Public Investment Fund and critics…

TEMBA Bavuma is “humbled” and “excited” by the thought and reality of leading the Proteas to a maiden World Cup trophy. The excitement in the cricket world is at an all-time high as the 13th edition of the one-day international World Cup is just around the corner. The 2023 edition will be hosted in India, a country with the biggest audience of the sport. It certainly promises to be a World Cup like no other, with a bit of added pressure almost guaranteed for all the players and fans around the world who will be glued to their television screens hoping the cricket gods favour their own country to win the tournament. For South Africa’s captain Bavuma, it will be his first taste of the event. Yes, Bavuma has two…