Índex per 2021-12-15 a Star

Edward West edward.west@inl.co.za The construction industry is more positive about the year ahead, with more government-led infrastructure spend on the cards and greater private sector investment likely. These were some of the insights from a 2022 Construction Industry Outlook survey conducted by RIB CCS in Africa and the Middle East in the final quarter of 2021. This is good news for an industry that has been under severe pressure over the past few years due to a dearth of government infrastructure investment, weak economic growth that has pared private sector spending, low business confidence and the impact of the pandemic on the sector. RIB CCS chief executive Andrew Skudder said in South Africa alone, the total value of plans passed for building construction fell by 37 percent year-on-year in the…

Dineo Faku dineo.faku@inl.co.za SASOL’S shares dived 6 percent to close R260.76 a share on the JSE yesterday after cutting its synfuel output due to lower-than-expected coal availability and quality from its Secunda operations. Sasol trimmed its production volumes to between 6.7 and 6.8 million tons for the financial year 2022 at Secunda after shortfalls in its own mines and that of its external supplier Thungela’s Isibonelo mine. Speaking to investment analysts, Bernard Klingenberg, executive vice-president operations, said coal supply from the group’s long-standing commercial supplier was interrupted as a result of wet weather, significantly affecting the supplier’s ability to provide contracted off-take quantity. “One external supplier, Isibonelo, which is mine linked to us via a conveyor belt system, is an open-cast mine and they normally supply between 20…

Ainsley’s Big Cook Out BritBox In this series the intrepid TV chef, Ainsley Harriot, hits the road across the Americas, looking for barbecue inspiration. Travel with Ainsley around the United States, Mexico, Brazil, Argentina and Canada to indulge in a number of treats, from pizza on coals in Chicago to “chicken chompers” in Cancún. Fun, easy and, most importantly, delicious! Scandal! e.tv at 7.30pm Lindiwe is seduced by the allure of Nhlamulo’s past. A worried woman is reminded of an outstanding debt. Dudu grapples with problems both on a business and personal front. Epstein’s Shadow: Ghislaine Maxwell Part 2 M-Net (DStv 101) at 9.30pm Peacock presents a powerful investigative documentary series that reveals the complicated and mysterious life of Ghislaine Maxwell and her relationship with Jeffrey Epstein.…

Itumeleng Mafisa itumeleng.mafisa@inl.co.za THE Public Servants Association (PSA) has condemned the University of Venda for making Covid-19 vaccination mandatory for those enrolling at the university in 2022. The University of Venda joins several other universities that have made vaccinations mandatory for the coming year. The PSA said it was shocking that staff and students were told that the unvaccinated would not be allowed on campus from January 1. The “no vaccination, no entry” regulation to force students and employees to vaccinate violated their constitutional rights, the PSA said. “The PSA acknowledges the impact of the pandemic, but it equally values the right of individuals not to vaccinate for a variety of reasons, including concerns about side-effects,” it said. Forced vaccination may result in unrest that will impact on the academic…

anita.nkonki@inl.co.za RENOWNED popular DJ Ntombe- zinhle Jiyane, affectionately known as DJ Zinhle, has topped the ranks yet again, winning the title of Africa’s number one female DJ for the second year in a row. Online publication Djane Mag confirmed that the 37-year-old faced off with 100 other DJs and was voted the best on the continent. DJ Zinhle was followed by DBN Gogo and Lerato Kganyago in the third spot in the rankings. Djane Mag follows and compiles a list of 100 female DJs around the world and celebrates those who are doing a remarkable job in the industry. The music star shared the news on her social platforms with her fans. “The Zee Nation fights for this one every year. Thank you,” she said. DBN Gogo, who secured the…

Victims of Larry Nassar, the former doctor for the US women’s gymnastics team, reached a $380-million (over R6-billion) settlement on Monday with USA Gymnastics (USAG), the US Olympic & Paralympic Committee (USOPC) and their insurers after a five-year legal battle. The settlement will cover claims brought among others by Olympic gold medallists Simone Biles, Aly Raisman and McKayla Maroney, who were among Nassar’s most high-profile sexual abuse victims. According to court filings, more than 500 victims have sought compensation. “USA Gymnastics is deeply sorry for the trauma and pain that Survivors have endured as a result of this organisation’s actions and inactions,” USAG president and CEO Li Li Leung said in a statement. As part of the settlement, USAG and the USOPC also agreed to designate some of their board…

Manchester United’s match at Brentford, that was supposed to be played last night, was postponed as the English Premier League reported a record number of Covid-19 cases, with the virus threatening to disrupt the busy Christmas fixture list. It came hours after the Old Trafford club closed their Carrington training complex because of several players and staff members testing positive for coronavirus. The Premier League Board took the decision to postpone the Brentford clash “based on guidance from medical advisors”, said a Manchester United statement. United’s fixture in west London was the second Premier League game to fall to the virus in three days, after Tottenham Hotspur’s match at Brighton on Sunday was called off. “Manchester United can confirm that our Premier League fixture at Brentford FC, on Tuesday 14…

Nigeria have appointed Augustine Eguavoen as interim coach of the men’s national team for the Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) next month in Cameroon, after firing German Gernot Rohr from the top position. The Nigeria Football Federation’s move came with less than a month to go before the 2022 Afcon in Cameroon is set to kick off. Confirming the development, NFF general secretary Mohammed Sanusi said: “The relationship between the Nigeria Football Federation and Mr Rohr has come to an end. We thank him for his services to the Super Eagles and Nigeria. “We also want to thank the Federal Ministry of Youth and Sports for their collaboration and guidance all through.” Rohr, who replaced Nigeria legend Sunday Oliseh on a permanent basis in August 2016, led the country to…

Given Majola given.majola@inl.co.za THE recorded economic transactions, measured by BankservAfrica, decreased from 127.3 to 125 points last month to reach the lowest actual level since February. BankservAfrica’s head of stakeholder engagements, Shergeran Naidoo, said yesterday that at 125, the BETI Index for November was 2.3 points down from October and a further 6.2 points down from September. “In the last three months, the BETI numbers have weakened.” BankservAfrica processes and settles millions of interbank transactions daily and provided a good indication of the movements in the South African economy through the BETI, which is an indicator of the direction of the economic flow. The authors of the BankservAfrica Economic Transactions Index said the annual change in the headline BETI revealed very little of the current circumstances. Meanwhile, there was a…

Gerry Cupido geraldine.cupido@inl.co.za South African comedian and television host Trevor Noah has filed a lawsuit against an orthopaedic surgeon Dr Riley Williams III, and the Hospital for Special Surgery in New York City over alleged botched surgery. The lawsuit which was filed by Justin Blitz of Schulman Blitz LLP states that The Daily Show host suffered from “serious personal injury” which is “permanent, severe and grievous”, and that the accused failed “to prescribe proper medications” as well as failing to “discontinue certain prescription medications”. The doctor is also accused of failing “to use proper tests and examinations in order to diagnose the conditions from which Noah” was suffering”. The injuries allegedly left Noah “rendered sick, sore lame and disabled”. It also alleged that the accused failed “to inform the plaintiff…

Lehlohonolo Mashigo lehlohonolo.mashigo@inl.co.za THE National Education Health and Allied Workers’ Union (Nehawu) has vowed to disrupt next year’s State of the Nation Address (Sona) and State of the Province addresses (Sopas). This is after it emerged that workers in the legislative sector would not be getting a salary increment for the financial year that started in April 2021. National co-ordinator of Nehawu in the sector, Sthembiso Tembe, said this decision had left the union with no option but to hit them where it mattered most and disrupt all the major events of the sector. “We consulted with our members across the country and they are ready to bring the sector to its knees,” said Tembe. Tembe said it was their members who make these sittings possible and they would continue…

Anita Nkonki IT LOOKS like the viewers of this much-loved television show will have something to look forward to in 2022 as The Ranakas will soon grace Mzansi screens again. It is understood that the show’s season 5 will premier on January 6. The show gives a glimpse of the everyday life of an African family in a manner that is unfiltered. The Ranakas are a family of five siblings. Manaka Ranaka, also known as “Lucy Diale” for those who watch Generations; Mpumi Ranaka, a gentle soul, writer and mother; Ziggy Ranaka the eldest son, husband to Michelle and a hustler in the family; Ranaka Ranaka, the last-born, a DJ who embraces his youth lifestyle; and Dineo Ranaka, who is a well-known media personality and television producer. Entertainment writer…

Gontse Riet Gontse.Riet@inl.co.za TWO octogenarian graduates have made their dreams a reality and successfully completed postgraduate academic programmes. Antoinette Swart, 83, received her PhD in ancient cultures, while Rosemary Lapping-Sellars, 80, received her masters in visual arts during a virtual ceremony from Stellenbosch University (SU) on Monday. Swart said it felt “unreal” to have obtained her PhD at such an advanced age. “I didn’t really intend to do another degree, but was persuaded to do so by two friends, who are professors at Stellenbosch University. I thought about it and decided, ’well, why not’,” Swart said. Swart matriculated from Rustenburg High in North West and holds the following degrees: 1957 – BSc (Botany and Zoology); 1958 – BSc (Hons) cum laude (Botany); 1960 – MSc (Botany); 2011 – BPhil (Bible…

The holidays are notorious for derailing our health and fitness goals. Sleep-in mornings, lack of exercise, and tons of comfort food are the quickest ways for us to fall off the wagon and uproot our usual routine. But there are ways to still enjoy summer and all its festivities without going too far off track. Try to fit these habits into your busy social calendar to ensure you keep moving your goals forward. Be mindful of what you take in No one wants to bother with dirty dishes and cooking while on holiday. It’s much easier to order a takeaway or meet up with friends at a restaurant. And that's totally fine, as long as you stay mindful of what you eat and drink. Try avoiding deep-fried and super-sugary snacks…

FAROUK ARAIE | Benoni OUR country is in lockdown level 1 as the fourth wave positions itself to encircle us in the next few weeks when gatherings and festivities intensify. A fully fledged fourth wave could have a debilitating affect on the state’s health, infrastructure and economy. As illustrated during the first three waves, the plague creates fear and other psychological reactions. In the face of these grim facts, we must not relax our guard; complacency would be deadly. We are in uncharted waters as far as Omicron is concerned, which makes it difficult to chart the trajectory of this new viral beast which has an insatiable thirst for harvesting human souls. Many are brazenly violating the provisions of the lockdown by leaving the sanctuary of their homes…

SAMOA-BORN centre Hunter Paisami is relishing facing teams from the Pacific Islands in next year’s revamped Super Rugby after signing a new contract with Rugby Australia. The 23-year-old has extended his relationship with Australia and Super Rugby side the Reds until the end of the 2023 World Cup in France, after featuring in 15 of 20 Tests for the Wallabies over the last two seasons. Two teams representing the Pacific Islands – Moana Pasifika and Fijian Drua – will join the renamed Super Rugby Pasifika competition next year to participate alongside the existing five teams each from Australia and New Zealand. “I’ll be keen to play against those big island boys, (they’re) physical and that,” said Paisami, who played at youth level for Samoa before moving to Australia. “It’s real…

England head into the day-night second Ashes Test in Adelaide tomorrow under pressure and facing an ominous task against an Australian team who have won all of their eight pink-ball matches. The tourists’ capitulation by nine wickets in the opening Test in Brisbane exposed their batting and fielding frailties, exacerbated by rain-hit preparations and lack of match practice. It wasn’t helped by poor decision-making – notably captain Joe Root choosing to bat after winning the toss on a juicy Gabba pitch, and the widely criticised omission of pace veterans James Anderson and Stuart Broad. Root knows his team must find a way to improve, and fast, to stand a chance at a ground where Australia have hosted five of their eight Test wins under lights. “We have got to be…

THE Club at Steyn City in the north of Johannesburg will host its first major international tournament with the new $1.5-million Steyn City Championship, which will make its debut on the Sunshine Tour and DP World Tour schedule in March 2022. The Steyn City Championship, scheduled to take place from 17-20 March 2022, will be the fifth tournament co-sanctioned by both the Sunshine Tour and DP World Tour, and will feature prominently amidst a strong South African swing of DP World Tour and Challenge Tour events on local fairways. Steyn City now takes its place on the global DP World Tour schedule, which visits 27 different countries in 12 months, putting the international focus squarely on this Jack Nicklaus golf course. “We are very excited to welcome The Club at…

Siphelele Dludla siphelele.dludla@inl.co.za Consumer confidence in South Africa remained fairly deep in negative terrain and could deteriorate early in the new year on the back of prevailing Omicron Covid variant. According to the FNB, consumer sentiment has remained depressed due to soaring fuel prices, the resumption of rolling blackouts, further job losses and the threat of a fourth wave of Covid-19 infections. The FNB/BER Consumer Confidence Index (CCI) released yesterday showed that confidence edged up slightly, from -10 to -9 index points, during the fourth quarter of 2021. However, at -9 index points, the CCI remained well below the average CCI reading of +2 points and therefore still pointed to low levels of consumer confidence. FNB senior economist Siphamandla Mkhwanazi said consumers were faced with a “welter of conflicting signals”…

South Africa has rejected Eskom’s request to remain exempt from pollution standards at some coal-fired power stations, which the utility said yesterday would force it to immediately shut down 16 000MW of capacity. That equals about a third of the generating capacity of Africa’s most industrialised country. South Africa relies on Eskom for more than 90 percent of its electricity, which derives chiefly from 15 ageing coal-fired power stations, for which it has enjoyed waivers on emissions limits for soot, nitrogen oxides and sulphur dioxide. The heavily-indebted provider says it cannot afford the technology required to meet them. “If implemented, the decision will result in an immediate shutting down of 16 000MW of installed coal fired capacity,” Eskom said, adding that it would cost more than R300 billion to adhere…

Acting chief justice in clandestine Zoom meeting to discuss his report THERE was a clandestine Zoom meeting on November 23 between Acting Chief Justice Raymond Zondo and the Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC) to discuss Justice Zondo’s report on the Judicial Commission of Inquiry into State Capture, The Star can exclusively report. In an act that can be considered unconstitutional and unethical, Justice Zondo requested the assistance of the council in drafting his report. The judge, who was tasked with chairing the commission of inquiry, made an admission in the meeting that the inquiry was supposed to precede an investigation but because of public pressure the commission ran a parallel process with an investigation. In the meeting were representatives of the commission and of the council, who agreed that the…

Goitsemang Tlhabye goitsemang.tlhabye@inl.co.za POLICE Minister Bheki Cele yesterday urged officers not to honour and worship criminals. He said they should put their foot down to protect the most vulnerable and start making inroads to combat gender-based violence and femicide. Cele was in Mpumalanga when he raised the issue of a Mamelodi woman, whose video of her battle to report an assault to her local police went viral. Keitumetse Maluleka, 32, said she was at the Silverton police station to open a case against her lover, yet he had already been released. Maluleka said her abuser was roaming the streets and the police did nothing to help her. She alleged that the police were “grovelling to him like a king” when they arrived. “I opened multiple cases reporting this person; he…

Baldwin Ndaba baldwin.ndaba@inl.co.za The executive mayor of the City of Joburg, Dr Mpho Phalatse, has urged her coalition partners serving in her local government cabinet to prioritise services to the people of the city. Mayor Phalatse made the call after Joburg Magistrate’s Court Regional President Modibedi Djaje officially swore her in along with 10 of her mayoral council members at the Connie Bapela Council Chambers yesterday. She made these comments after none of the 18 political parties that contested the November 1 municipal elections, including her party, the DA, managed to gain an outright majority. “This journey has not been an easy one for all of us. Eighteen political parties, all with the hope of emerging an outright winner in the local government elections, had their hopes thwarted when most…

Anita Nkonki AWARD-winning music sensation Makhadzi wrapped up this year by launching her most anticipated sneaker wear called Kokovha. Early last month the Limpopo-born star had people talking after signing a mega-million deal with South Africa’s newest sports apparel and footwear brand Kicks Sportswear. The Ghanama hitmaker said the influence behind her sneakers is her roots and her Venda culture. The sneakers are made in colours that make them relate to her culture, something that had her fans fall in love with them. When this dream came to reality, Makhadzi was grateful that her mother was next to her on this big day. Overjoyed and filled with gratitude, the star took to social media to express how she felt about the moment. “Last night was a dream come true…

Stuart Hess stuart.hess@inl.co.za WHAT effect could Rohit Sharma’s absence have on India’s chances of winning the three-match Test series against South Africa? Not having Sharma around is a massive blow, given the 34-year-old’s form this year. He is second only to England captain Joe Root on the list of leading Test run-scorers in 2021. Sharma’s aggregate of 906 runs includes two centuries and four fifties, and he has been critical to India winning seven out of the 13 Test matches they’ve played this year. By contrast, Virat Kohli is having a poor year when measured against the staggeringly high standards he has set for himself. He has scored just 483 runs in 17 Test innings, and somewhat alarmingly, his last Test century came over two years ago. While Sharma’s Test…

Ashfak Mohamed ashfak.mohamed@inl.co.za DID you know that Embrose Papier made his Springbok debut as long back as June 2018? It was in that infamous Washington DC Test against Wales, when then new Bok coach Rassie Erasmus had picked a makeshift team as he had left the bulk of his first-choice team at home to prepare for the England series. The gamble nearly paid off, but South Africa went down 22-20. Papier, then 21, came on to the pitch for the last four minutes as a wing in place of Makazole Mapimpi, and his stock grew throughout the year as he earned four more Test caps off the bench before earning his first start against Scotland at Murrayfield. The Bulls halfback showed his class in that match, with one memorable run…

Joe Schmidt was named as an All Blacks selector yesterday, but will not take up the role until after his former team Ireland tour New Zealand next year. The New Zealander will replace Grant Fox on the All Blacks selection panel from August 2022, a month after Ireland’s three-Test tour. Schmidt said “to a degree” the timing was because he did not want to be working against Ireland, a team he coached to three Six Nations championships and two wins over the All Blacks. “I’m sure they appreciate the fact that I’m not that keen to get started until early August,” he said. “It’ll give me a chance to sit back ... we’ll have a lot of Irish visitors.” Schmidt said the selection role suited him “because I’m a bit…

Formula One world champion Max Verstappen stood out even in infancy as a serial winner, the owner of the Belgian kart track where the Dutch driver first honed his racing skills said on Monday. Paul Lemmens, whose Karting Genk circuit is known as the ‘Home of Champions’, recalled first meeting a four-year-old Verstappen when father and former F1 racer Jos brought him along to test a baby kart. “It was amazing to see because his helmet was bigger than himself,” he said a day after Red Bull’s 24-year-old Verstappen won the title in Abu Dhabi. “The father Jos was racing also in my team, and for that, he started here. He lived also in Belgium about 15km from here, so each weekend or each day they had off, they were…