Índex per 2021-10-22 a Star

Philippa Larkin philippa.larkin@inl.co.za JSE-LISTED diversified chemicals company Omnia Holdings, which said yesterday that it had sold a majority stake in Umongo Petroleum for R1 billion, is now “actively pursuing” acquisitions in mining and agriculture to add to its war chest as well as considering a possible “special dividend” to shareholders or a share buyback at the end of the financial year. Omnia and minority shareholder Autumn Storm Investment had negotiated the deal in a transaction, which will see Orkila South Africa, a subsidiary of Azeli, a global service provider in the speciality chemical and food ingredients industry, secure a 90 percent share in Umongo. Omnia, together with Autumn Storm, would retain a 10 percent shareholding, which was subject to a two-year option agreement. Seelan Gobalsamy, the chief…

Shingai Darangwa shingai.darangwa@inl.co.za When I first got my hands on Ozark last year, at the heart of the Covid-19 lockdown, I ploughed through all three brilliant seasons within a week. The American crime drama streaming television series stars Jason Bateman and Laura Linney as married couple Marty and Wendy Byrde. The couple and their two children relocate to the Lake of the Ozarks to set up a money-laundering operation after their shady dealings with a Mexican cartel is brought to light. Created by Bill Dubuque and Mark Williams, the series has received 32 Primetime Emmy Award nominations and become one of Netflix’s most popular shows, sparking comparisons to the classic series Breaking Bad. After season three, Bateman expressed excitement at the upcoming season: “A super-sized season means super-sized problems for…

Yershen Pillay THERE is excitement in South Africa about the prospect of the hydrogen economy – we are one of just two African countries gearing up for it. With the global hydrogen market expected to record a value of $184.1 billion (about R2.66 trillion) in 2025, the economic opportunities open to the wider hydrogen value chain are a good news story amid the narrative of South Africa’s poor economic outlook. However, most important for unlocking the hydrogen economy will be our ability to foster the new skills required by the sector. If we are to enjoy the jobs created by the hydrogen economy, it is vital to have a skilled workforce to fulfil the new roles – many of which we are probably yet to imagine. We will…

I’m not a morning person. And while no amount of java can completely perk me up, a delicious brunch certainly does the trick. While brunch was popularised in the US in the 1930s, the concept of combining breakfast and lunch originated in England in the late 19th century. Now brunch has become a part of our everyday life. With the current warmer weather and the country now at level 1 of the lockdown, brunching isn’t just ideal, it’s welcomed after months of hibernating in our homes. As such, I was delighted to learn that one of my favourite spots in the suburbs, Arbour Café and Courtyard in Birdhaven, Johannesburg, recently launched their bottomless bubbles and brunch concept. Co-owner Josh Simon explained: “Having been fortunate enough to travel extensively and experience…

Thobile Mazibuko thobile.mazibuko@inl.co.za In the first week of November, Stellenbosch will be hosting its inaugural Wine Town show. The five-day festival will be showcasing local wines and food at venues around the town and at participating wine farms. Stellenbosch Wine Routes manager Elmarie Rabe says they are happy with the new show dates that have been moved from August to November 3-7. “We’re extremely excited about Wine Town Stellenbosch. As the inaugural show, it’s an exploded version of our traditional wine festival and would have taken place in August, but lockdown restrictions put paid to it for that month. With restrictions now at level 1, everyone’s back and raring to go,” says Rabe. The Wine Town show is in conjunction with Stellenbosch Wine Routes’ 50th anniversary. As a result, guests…

| LEHLOHONOLO MASHIGO BROADCASTER eNCA yesterday apologised to former Eskom chief executive Matshela Koko after he filed a complaint with the Broadcasting Complaints Commission of SA (BCCSA) last month. eNCA, through a BCCSA statement, said that on August 31 the channel had conducted an interview with Koko, who told the broadcaster that in his view it was unfair that the Glencore-owned Optimum coal mine was not forced to pay R1.4 billion to Eskom relating to the non-compliant coal that was delivered between 2012 and 2014. We went on to report that in 2015, the Eskom board agreed to pay the mining house around R1.6bn for coal that was ‘simply never used’,” said eNCA. “eNCA was wrong to report that the coal was never used, and we have been subsequently…

Chulumanco Mahamba chulumanco.mahamba@inl.co.za THE LACK of black stem cell donors has fatal consequences as most cancer deaths are among black South Africans, but only 10% are registered as stem cell donors. The SA Bone Marrow Registry (SABMR) said that while most cancers deaths (about 60%) are among black South Africans, only 10% are registered as stem cell donors. “This has devastating consequences,” said deputy director of the SABMR Jane Ward on Wednesday. According to Ward, each year an estimated 4 000 new cases of blood disorders, such as leukaemia and lymphoma, occur in South Africa and for most patients the best chance of a cure is a bone marrow transplant, also termed a stem cell transplant. “Only about 2.8% of black leukaemia patients referred to the SABMR, who require a…

Itumeleng Mafisa itumeleng.mafisa@inl.co.za AFTER a number of years running the public broadcaster, former SABC head Hlaudi Motsoeneng said he wants to go back to his home town and the municipality of Maluti a Phofung. More than three years ago Motsoeneng launched the African Content Movement (ACM), a new political party stretching its legs for the first time in this year’s local government elections. Motsoeneng said when he grew up in QwaQwa, things were stable in terms of service delivery. But he says the current government has failed to deliver basic services in that area including water and electricity. Motsoeneng said he was heartbroken by the number of unemployed young people loitering in the streets of Maluti. “For many years the people of Maluti did not have water but there are…

THE CITY of Joburg this week launched a mass vaccination campaign to support the national Covid-19 vaccine programme, which aims to vaccinate 40 million South Africans. Vaccination sites and other activities were set up at the Metro Centre public parking, outside the piazza. Surrounded by colour from the different gazebos, music playing in the background and other health check activities, there was a buzz as people were nervous and excited to receive their jabs. Residents who wanted to be vaccinated were offered free transport in the form of the city’s metro buses from every region since 9am. The city expected numbers for attendance to range between 500 and 1 000. People chose between the Johnson & Johnson or Pfizer vaccines. City departments, entities and partners were also on-site to assist…

ZAAHIER ADAMS zaahier.adams@inl.co.za FOR England to have come as far as they have in white-ball cricket is staggering. For so long the nation that frowned upon anything not played over at least four days and in white flannels, they are now the undisputed bench-march for high-tempo techno-colour cricket. Eoin Morgan’s team have embraced a brand that is intoxicating in its excitement, which in the process delivered the 2019 50-overs World Cup in the most dramatic fashion. But they are not finished yet. They are hell-bent on becoming the first team to do “the double” with the ICC T20 World Cup firmly in their sights. “I think it'll be unbelievably special if we manage to do it,” Morgan said this week. “I think that the group of players that we’ve had…

HERMAN GIBBS AFTER a disappointing Cosafa Women’s Championship campaign, Banyana Banyana were in seventh heaven after routing Mozambique in their opening Africa Women’s Cup of Nations (Awcon) first-leg qualifier at the Estadio do Zimpeto in Maputo on Wednesday. Goals by Linda Motlhalo (2), Gabriela Salgado (2), captain Janine van Wyk, Melinda Kgadiete and Noxolo Cesane accounted for an eventual 7-0 romp, after leading 3-0 at half-time. By the sound of things, the scoreline could have reached double figures, judging by coach Desiree Ellis’s post-match comment: “We hit the post five or six times.” The return leg will be played in Dobsonville, Soweto, next week, and Banyana look set to advance to the third qualifying round. The South Africans will play the winners of the Algeria versus Sudan qualifier. The…

THE first Barcelona-Real Madrid meeting after the departure of Lionel Messi to Paris Saint-Germain will be headlined on Sunday by two youngsters as a game typically billed as a clash of superstars instead looks to the upcoming talent of Vinicius Jr and Ansu Fati. The two players still have a lot to prove, but their talent has elevated them to a point where they are becoming the new faces of their clubs. On Barca’s side, Fati has been one of the few positives in a season that started with the heartbreaking loss of Messi due to a financial crisis that also led to Antoine Griezmann rejoining Atletico Madrid. After being out for almost a year following a devastating injury to his left knee that required four surgeries, the 18-year-old Spain…

IN TREATMENT M-NET, DSTV CHANNEL 101, 10PM An eventful season finale. In the wake of her much-needed self-analysis, Brooke contemplates how startling revelations might impact her future with her son and inform her relationship with Adam. CHILD’S PLAY M-NET CITY, DSTV CHANNEL 115, 8.50PM In this thrilling third instalment of the killer doll franchise, Chucky has his sights on another boy’s body after two failed attempts with Andy, who is out to stop him. LAW OF THE HEART 2 TELEMUNDO, DSTV CHANNEL 118, 9PM Julia anxiously waits for communication from Pablo. Later, a hearing begins, with Bechara on the defendants’ stand and Marcos on the other.…

Thobile Mazibuko thobile.mazibuko@inl.co.za Following a successful event in May, ArtsUnite has returned to Roxy Revue Bar at GrandWest. The art show, which started on October 13, will continue until November 27 with live performances from well-known artists and new talent. “This project has organically taken life and added to the need for artists to work and showcase their talent on a stage. The next two months see popular artists from the first run, but also fresh new talent yearning to have their voices heard and to be celebrated”, says Bridgette Brukman. Here’s a breakdown of the artists who will be performing. Until October 23 Gemma Fassie Fassie was the first artist to perform this week. The singer, who has released her debut contemporary R&B project After Hours, has been singing…

Jonisayi Maromo jonisayi.maromo@africannewsagency.com PRESIDENT Cyril Ramaphosa has, in his capacity as chairperson of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) organ on defence, politics and security co-operation, appointed special envoys to engage eSwatini King Mswati III on security and political developments in the landlocked nation. This followed rising reports of escalation of repression and human rights abuses. Acting Presidency spokesperson Tyrone Seale said Ramaphosa had expressed appreciation for King Mswati III’s availability to receive the SADC delegation comprising former minister Jeffrey Radebe, Deputy Minister of International Relations Candith Mashego-Dlamini; a representative of Botswana, which is the former chair of the organ; a representative of Namibia which is the incoming chair and Ramaphosa’s special adviser on international relations Maropene Ramokgopa. “The special envoys will be accompanied by SADC executive secretary, Elias…

Chulumanco Mahamba chulumanco.mahamba@inl.co.za COVID-19 has contributed to a significant spike in child sexual exploitation and abuse online, according to a new report that shows child sexual exploitation and abuse online is increasing. WeProtect Global Alliance, a movement of more than 200 governments, private sector companies and civil society organisations working together to transform the response to child sexual exploitation and abuse online, published its 2021 Global Threat Assessment this week. The report revealed that the scale of child sexual exploitation and abuse online is increasing rapidly, with more 3 000 000 accounts registered across the 10 most harmful child sexual abuse sites on the dark web “Over the past two years, the reporting of child sexual exploitation and abuse online has reached its highest levels, with the Covid-19 pandemic being…

Staff Reporter CITY of Joburg Finance MMC Matshidiso Mfikoe has announced the return of four major sporting events in the city. The city has partnered with stakeholders who own rights to these major events to position Johannesburg as a sports destination of choice. Mfikoe announced the series of events lined-up by the city and its partners, starting with the Joburg Open. This year’s edition will see the return of spectators as the Covid-19 regulations allow for 2 000 fans for outdoor events. Also featured on the list of events is the Joburg Ladies Open, 947 Ride Joburg and the Kyalami 9 Hour. “For the City of Joburg, hosting these events, with all our strategic partners is a timely major boost to the country’s economy. “The Joburg Ladies Open will be…

Chulumanco Mahamba chulumanco.mahamba@inl.co.za RHODES University will next week honour retired Xhosa news anchor Noxolo Grootboom with an honorary doctorate. Rhodes University announced yesterday it will confer a Doctor of Letters (D Litt) (honoris causa) degree on Grootboom at its second virtual graduation ceremony for Master’s and PhD students on October 29. Grootboom is recognised nationally for her promotion of national pride and culture through her journalistic career, which spanned 37 years. “Our nation owes her an unpayable debt of gratitude, and appreciation for all that she has done to give much-needed hope to many South Africans in times of national loss and despair and for being a passionate advocate of the Xhosa language in our society,” Rhodes University vice-chancellor Dr Sizwe Mabizela said. Mabizela added the university thought it was…

Muhammad Omar | Durban North The latest tirade regarding former prisons boss Arthur Fraser that Deputy Chief Justice Zondo “is unfit” to hold the post of chief justice, is based on him not being given a chance to make representations at the Zondo commission. The joke is: since when does Arthur Fraser think he is so important to sway a pending judicial appointment based on his sentiment or ill treatment? In fact, even if Deputy Chief Justice Zondo was not in the running, based on this it becomes imperative that he is given the post as it would now seem a bias against him. I can imagine if Fraser was an “Indian” how the anti-Indian group would have howled at an Indian trying to block a rural African’s appointment. I…

SOUTH Africa start their Twenty20 World Cup campaign against Australia tomorrow as the underdogs. This despite the fact that Temba Bavuma’s men have had a decent build-up leading up to the tournament. They have won away series in the West Indies, Ireland and Sri Lanka. There is little doubt, though, that South Africa possess great T20 players that could easily sway any contest in their favour on their day. Senior cricket writer, Zaahier Adams, who will cover the World Cup for Independent Media, picks five players who must shine against Australia when the two giant nations clash: 1. Quinton de Kock South Africa’s talisman has been quiet during the warm-up games, but that’s how the big players operate. As Gary Kirsten always said, don’t waste your runs in warm-up matches.…

MIHLALI BALEKA mihlali.baleka@inl.co.za KAIZER Chiefs defender Austin Dube is confident Amakhosi can still improve on their 4-0 victory over Chippa United in the league when they visit high-flying SuperSport United at the Lucas ‘Masterpieces’ Moripe Stadium on Sunday. After a four-game winless streak in the Premiership, Chiefs finally turned the tide last weekend. They put Chippa to the sword with four unanswered goals, thanks to an impressive display from Keagan Dolly and Khama Billiat in either half. That victory was so welcomed that it inked the perfect birthday present to club supremo Kaizer Motaung, who turned 77 on the day. But some of the club’s discerning fans suggested that it was naive to read too much into the results, saying it’s still early days. Coach Stuart Baxter, who was earmarked…

WYNONA LOUW wynona.louw@inl.co.za WHEN Springbok coach Jacques Nienaber named his 32-man squad for the end-of-year tour, Salmaan Moerat was the only newcomer to the group, and that alone made his name noticeable. But it’s for an entirely different reason that his inclusion is special. Moerat will grace the shores of the UK as a Springbok when the world champions take on Scotland, Wales and England as two of his uncles did exactly 50 years ago. It has been five decades since Ikraam and Marwaan Moerat were part of the South African Rugby Football Federation (Proteas) side that embarked on a tour to the UK in 1971 when they played six matches. The following year, when the England Test team toured South Africa, both brothers withdrew from the team, citing political…

From the outside – with demand for honey and commercial pollination services reaching “colossal” levels, and four times the number of registered beekeepers this year than in 2016 – it appears that South Africa’s beekeeping industry is on the up and up. But experts on the inside tell a different story: one of a fragmented, confused industry with resource scarcities across the board. Disorganisation, government mismanagement, insufficient training and sweeping initiatives to wipe out bee forage countrywide are setting the burgeoning industry up to fail. Without a full systems overhaul, these experts say the industry’s future is in peril. Here’s why. Beekeeper numbers give a false impression? The number of registered beekeepers countrywide has increased approximately 400 percent in the past five years alone, according to data from the…

Thobile Mazibuko thobile.mazibuko@inl.co.za Wits Art Museum (WAM) is hosting a walkabout of the exciting “Seen, Heard and Valued: WAM celebrates 40 Years of the Standard Bank African Art Collection”. The walkabout will be lead by Dr Alison Kearney, who compiled the exhibition’s educational resource. Taking place tomorrow, the exhibition will feature over 400 artworks from the Standard Bank African Art Collection. Some of the acclaimed artists who will be showcasing include Sam Nhlengethwa, Jackson Hlungwane and Santu Mofokeng. WAM is open to the public from Tuesday to Saturday, 10am to 4pm. A selected number of people are allowed into the museum at any one time. Meghan Judge is also hosting an exhibition at WAM until November 6. Titled Static Drift, Judge’s exhibition explores the sonic potential that static has for…

Sihle Mavuso sihle.mavuso@inl.co.za FORMER president Jacob Zuma yesterday officially opened two charges of prosecutorial misconduct against advocate Billy Downer SC, one of the most senior prosecutors within the stable of the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA). Should Zuma be successful in his quest to get Downer hauled over the coals for the alleged misconduct of leaking classified information about his arms deal corruption trial and his medical records, the prosecutor could be slapped with a fine or serve 15 years behind bars. Yesterday, a smiling Zuma personally went to the Pietermaritzburg police station to open the charges. Accompanied by, among others, his bodyguards, daughter Duduzile and the spokesperson of the Jacob Zuma Foundation, Mzwanele Manyi, the former president spent almost an hour undergoing all the formalities of laying criminal charges in…

THE SISONKE Educational Project, in partnership with the Joburg metro police department (JMPD) outreach unit, this week engaged in dialogues in Kliptown, Soweto, in efforts to educate and fight against gender-based violence (GBV). It is no secret that GBV is a profound and widespread problem in many communities and in South Africa as a whole. The community gathered at the Kliptown Community Hall recently to participate in the discussions surrounding GBV with a deeper focus on emotional abuse. Sisonke and the JMPD created a safe space for survivors to come together, work through their differences and set aside these variances. The JMPD’s mandate is not only to enforce the laws of the roads. The department’s functions include traffic policing, policing of municipal by-laws and regulations. Another important mandate is to…

staff reporter MARK your calendar! Popular music station 947 has announced the line-up for the first-ever hybrid Huawei Joburg Day with 947, inspired by the Huawei nova series, today. Huawei Joburg Day with 947 is an iconic event and the biggest bi-annual music extravaganza in South Africa. It has been transferred to a virtual space for the two most recent events. Today the event will be hosted in a hybrid format for the first time, with a limited number of listeners lucky enough to experience the event in person as VIPs. The artist line-up is Goldfish, Matthew Mole, Shekhinah, Nasty C, Prince Kaybee and DBN Gogo. Thando Makhunga, station manager of 947, said: “We’re super-excited to announce that Goldfish will be joining the event for a virtual set from…

HERMAN GIBBS THE goal drought has become Orlando Pirates’ worst nightmare, and there is no end in sight ahead of Sunday’s Confederation Cup match against Congolese side Diables Noirs in Orlando. On Wednesday, Pirates banked a 0-0 draw against Maritzburg City in a Premiership match in Pietermaritzburg. A few days earlier, they came away with the same result in a Confederation Cup match against Diables Noirs in Brazzaville. Pirates have of late, played four matches and have scored one goal during that time. After Wednesday’s match, Pirates’ interim co-coach Fadlu Davids said it was hugely frustrating that the team could not find a way past Maritzburg’s defence, even though his team had a one-man advantage for the last half hour of the match. “It was quite disappointing in the…

Power overwhelming Morgan Bolton morgan.bolton@inl.co.za THE spectre of 2005 at Indianapolis still hangs over the United States Grand Prix, but it is a reputation that the Circuit of the Americas is rectifying lap by lap. Here, we look at five things that could define the race this weekend. There should be no grid penalties for the leading teams this weekend in Austin. In Turkey, Lewis Hamilton took a 10-grid penalty when he used a fourth power unit, ultimately finishing fifth. In the previous race, the Russian Grand Prix, Max Verstappen started from the back of the grid when he also took a penalty for an engine change. Both Ferraris have new power units as well, and will now have the best possible power available to them on a track that…

MANCHESTER United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer may have breathed a sigh of relief following their chaotic midweek Champions League victory over Atalanta, but his job does not get any easier as they host an in-form Liverpool in the Premier League. Sunday’s clash is the first of what could be a defining set of fixtures for United and Solskjaer with a resurgent Tottenham Hotspur and champions Manchester City on the horizon. United have assembled an attack that is the envy of several clubs, but Solskjaer has yet to get the best out of his team who sit sixth, five points behind leaders Chelsea, following humbling defeats by Aston Villa and Leicester City. The results led pundits to question whether Solskjaer is the right man to craft a United team that gets…

CRISTIANO Ronaldo’s second coming at Manchester United has already produced two memorable moments with late winners against Villarreal and Atalanta to edge the Red Devils towards the last 16 of the Champions League. However, Ronaldo’s return has also come at a cost, with Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s men increasingly looking like a disjointed bunch of talented individuals rather than a team. United were on course for a fifth defeat in eight games when Atalanta led 2-0 at half-time at Old Trafford on Wednesday. A stirring second-half fightback eased the pressure slightly on Solskjaer as United went from bottom of Group F at the break to top by full-time. Ronaldo completed the comeback with a towering header after goals from Marcus Rashford and Harry Maguire brought the home side level. The five-time…