Índex per 2022-07-25 a Star

PRICE capping will create unfair competition in the fuel retail industry, resulting in thousands of job losses, the Fuel Retailers Association (FRA) said at the weekend. On Friday, Department of Mineral Resources and Energy (DMRE) Minister Gwede Mantashe published a brief notice on page 106 of the weekly Government Gazette, seeking for comment on his “intention to introduce a price cap” for 93 octane. This marked the commencement of a 30-day period for public input, before the process can proceed. Moving to a maximum price, or price cap, would allow petrol retailers to discount fuel, however, they see fit, with price specials, bundles, or volume discounts. Currently, the exact price of petrol is set by the government and selling the fuel at any other price is illegal. Reggie Sibiya, the…

The online admissions for Grade 1 and Grade 8 for the 2023 academic year is running smoothly with over 165 000 applications having been processed by midday Friday, according to the Gauteng Department of Education. Starting at 8am on Friday, parents of prospective grade one and eight pupils were able to register their children for the next academic year via the department’s online portal, which has not shown any glitches so far. MEC for Education Panyaza Lesufi, who outlined the changes to the system recently, said they had upgraded the technical capacity to manage expected high demand. The system had also been enhanced to follow a single application process, which allows all applicants to apply at the same time during the application period. “We have made a single application, we…

New KZN ANC chair faces first test calming crowd of delegates hostile to president at party’s provincial conference NEWLY-elected ANC KwaZulu-Natal chairperson Siboniso Duma faced his first test last night when he calmed a hostile crowd of party delegates at Olive Convention Centre to allow party president Cyril Ramaphosa to address them. While it was uncertain for most of yesterday whether Ramaphosa would address the conference, he finally arrived but was met with a frosty reception. When Ramaphosa entered the venue delegates erupted in song Wenzeni uZuma (why is former president Jacob Zuma being persecuted). The song has been a recurring theme throughout the three-day gathering. Duma appealed to delegates to give the ANC president an audience, warning that failure to do so would paint an unfair picture of what…

A group of photographers assisted by Fujifilm South Africa are equipping women with cameras in an attempt to forge a new pathway for healing and further exploration. The five-week street photography workshop #shoot4purpose was started by photographers Quaniet Richards, Nawawie Mathews and Shamiel Albertyn in September last year for victims of gender-based violence, abuse and trauma, with the aim of incorporating photography into their healing journey. The first five participants had no prior experience with cameras or photography. Co-founder and mentor Richards said: “We want to assist in rebuilding self-esteem and confidence. We believe we can use photography as a tool to document what is happening in our communities and in this way, create awareness of the social challenges we face in our communities and society at large.” There are…

It is unacceptable that Eskom staff demand salary increases when they also contributed to the present state of Eskom. According to social media reports, it is stated these employees are paid an average of R60 000 a month and Eskom is one of the highest-paying employers in the country. Taking this into account, Eskom should be providing a world-class service. Although employees will argue senior management were involved in corruption, it seems employees were also complicit in acts of wrongdoing. How many employees spoke out about the corruption? A lifestyle audit and polygraph testing will determine how many employees are involved with corruption as well. Also, take into account that Eskom has a bloated staff by about 16 000 according to international benchmarking. The board and the CEO who were…

The inconsistent performances of Bafana Bafana could well have a negative effect on the next generation of South African men’s footballers. However, the conduct and success of Pitso Mosimane and Desiree Ellis will probably aid the country in producing quality coaches going forward. Following his snub from the Caf Coach of the Year final shortlist, Mosimane issued a rational, humble and honest response. Did Mosimane deserve the award? Probably not, especially given that last season was not one of the best in his career. Did he deserve a nomination? It is debatable, but there is a good argument to insist that he should have been on the final shortlist. During the last year, Mosimane won a bronze medal with Al Ahly at the Club World Cup. He also led Al…

Manchester City striker Erling Haaland will need more time to begin firing on all cylinders, despite scoring on his pre-season debut in a 1-0 win over Bayern Munich, manager Pep Guardiola said on Saturday. Haaland, who joined the Premier League champions on a five-year contract last month, got on the end of a Jack Grealish cross and fired home from close range after 12 minutes to secure victory over the Bundesliga side at Lambeau Field in Wisconsin. Guardiola praised the 22-year-old’s poacher instinct, but said the Norwegian needed to be handled carefully to aid his return to full fitness. “He scored a goal, which is important. These type of goals in front of keeper - always he’s there,” Guardiola said. “The first minutes, he needs more rhythm and time but…

Red Bull’s Max Verstappen won the French Grand Prix yesterday and took a huge stride towards his second Formula One title after Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc made a costly mistake and crashed out while leading. Seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton finished second for Mercedes in his 300th Grand Prix, with teammate George Russell third to secure their first podium double of the campaign. The victory on a hot afternoon at Le Castellet was Verstappen’s seventh of the season and 27th of his career. It also left him a hefty 63 points – more than two race wins – clear of closest rival Leclerc at the top with 10 rounds remaining. “I think we had really good pace from the start, I was putting pressure on Charles,” said the Dutch 24-year-old, who…

LOCAL farmers are hopeful that the agreement to reopen Ukrainian Black Sea ports for grain exports will avert a potential worldwide food crisis and ease the rise in global food prices at a time when the cost of living has risen exponentially in South Africa. Russia and Ukraine signed a landmark deal on Friday guaranteeing the safe passage of commercial ships from the Ukrainian ports that are cut off by a Russian naval blockade. Wheat prices rose to the highest level since 2008 this year as the Russian invasion of Ukraine led to grain supply disruptions from two of the world’s largest producers. Over the past five years, South Africa has on average sourced around 30 percent of its wheat imports from Russia and Ukraine, and a significant amount…

EELLIES Holdings has attributed the falling number of satellite dish installations as more people opt for internet streaming, as a major reason for expected losses. News of the likely loss saw the share price slump a massive 20 percent to 20 cents on the JSE on Friday afternoon. The company said on Friday that it expected to report a loss of between 5.42c and 6.50c a share for the year to April 30, when compared to the earnings of 7.25c for 2021. The wholesaler, importer and distributor of LED lighting, energy electrical and electronic products and solar solutions, also anticipates reporting a headline loss per share of between 6.49 and 7.77c for the year, compared to the headline profit of 9.19c a share for the previous year…

Pietermaritzburg’s Eastwood Secondary School, which suffered catastrophic damage to a number of its classrooms and offices during a hailstorm in December last year, has been repaired and upgraded. Leading edible oil producer Willowton Group stepped up when it received a plea from the school. Operations executive Mohamed Ishfaaq Moosa said the school no longer had sufficient classrooms for all its pupils and was trying to accommodate them on a rotational basis. Moosa said Willowton Group could not ignore the plight of the school after the principal, Keith Solomons, appealed for help while facing a long wait for assistance from the KZN Department of Education, which has been inundated with calls for help in the wake of widespread flooding throughout the province during the first half of this year. According to…

While most viewers prefer to binge on the more popular, trendy TV shows that offer plenty of drama, why not take a break and enjoy these insightful, educational shows that often get overlooked. Here’s our pick of amazing shows worth your time. Abandoned Engineering – Discovery Family, Tuesdays at 7.35pm In its fifth season, Tom Ward narrates this documentary series that looks at some of the greatest engineering projects in the world that have now been abandoned. The series explores how and why they were built, considers the financial and social costs of their failure and examines the environmental and ecological impacts. Experts come up with plans to make something beautiful or useful from the ruins. Vikings: The Rise and Fall – National Geographic, Wednesdays at 6pm This docu-series offers…

SA FOOTBALL Association (Safa) president Danny Jordaan says Banyana Banyana will be rewarded with a “more than” R9.2 million bonus after winning the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations crown in Rabat on Saturday. “We’re going to honour the commitment and even put more than that,” an elated Jordaan told SABC Sport after Banyana’s thumping 2-1 win over Morocco in the Wafcon final on Saturday. “Don’t worry about that, I spoke to the captain; when we get back (home) we’ll sit down and sort it out. “They deserve the R400 000 (incentive) each, and more. “And we are going to work hard to give them more. They’ve really delivered for the nation and we are proud and must celebrate this achievement. At a packed Prince Moulay Stadium in Rabat on Saturday,…

WITS University’s vice-chancellor and principal, Professor Zeblon Vilakazi was inducted as a Fellow of the Royal Society (UK), one of the world’s most prestigious scientific academies. “It is an honour to welcome so many outstanding researchers from around the world into the Fellowship of the Royal Society,” Sir Adrian Smith, president of the Royal Society said. “Through their careers so far, these researchers have helped further our understanding of human disease, biodiversity loss and the origins of the universe. I am also pleased to see so many new Fellows working in areas likely to have a transformative impact on our society over this century – from new materials and energy technologies to synthetic biology and artificial intelligence. I look forward to seeing what great things they will achieve in the…

The migratory monarch butterfly, which has, for millennia, turned North American woodlands into kaleidoscopes of colour in one of nature’s most spectacular mass migrations, is threatened with extinction, international conservationists say. Every autumn, migratory monarchs fly thousands of kilometres from breeding grounds in the eastern US and Canada to spend the winter closely huddled in trees in Mexico and California. Numbering in the millions in the 1990s, the butterfly’s population has since shrunk by more than 85%, scientists estimate. On Wednesday, it was placed in the endangered category of the International Union for the Con- servation of Nature’s Red List of Threatened Species. “What’s happening to monarchs is like a death by a thousand cuts," said Karen Oberhauser, the director of the University of Wisconsin-Madison Arboretum. Logging has destroyed much…

Sherlyn Gabriel’s PhD journey was rough – very rough. “I suffered from a bad case of imposter syndrome and even to this day, I catch myself feeling like I’m not smart enough to get this degree. I mean, I forget concepts related to my work that I really should know,” she said. Yesterday she received her PhD in mechanical engineering during a UCT winter graduation ceremony. And she couldn’t be happier. However, for those who think mechanical engineers are car mechanics, she has these words of advice: “Banish that thought”. Plainly put, she said, mechanical engineers design, develop, build and test things. They deal with anything and everything that moves – from components to machines (including a car engine), and even the human body. “My PhD was unlike anything I’ve…

THE entertainment industry has to bear yet another loss of great talent after the announcement of the untimely passing of esteemed veteran actor Mncedisi Shabangu. The SA Film and TV Awards- winning talent was well known for directing several theatre productions and also graced small screens on popular shows like Rhythm City, The Lab, and iNumber Number, among many others. His family confirmed the news and requested privacy while dealing with their loss. “It is with great sadness that the Shabangu family informs you of the sudden passing of Mncedisi Baldwin Shabangu. He passed on in the early hours of this morning, July 24. “The family appreciates all messages of condolences and requests privacy at this difficult time. Memorial and funeral arrangements will be announced,” said the Shabangu family. In…

Banyana Banyana’s glorious achievement of lifting the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (Wafcon) title in Saturday’s final in hostile Morocco highlighted the growth of the game in South Africa. Over the years SA women’s football learnt many lessons and during that time Banyana ran up a record on playing in five Wafcon finals without success. On Saturday night, Banyana had heeded those lessons and produced a polished display to defeat Morocco’s Lionesses of Atlas despite long bouts of intimidation in the cauldron of a packed Stade Prince Moulay Abdellah in Rabat. Banyana showed that they had done their homework on how to deal with a partisan crowd. It was surprising that Caf had not stepped in to ban lasers from live events since the Moroccans had used it all week…

Denmark’s Jonas Vingegaard won the Tour de France yesterday, ending the reign of two-time defending champion Tadej Pogacar, who was second. Geraint Thomas, the 2018 champion, was third. Belgium’s Jasper Philipsen won the dash for the line on the cobbled Champs Elysees to take the iconic final stage victory. The ecstatic Philipsen lifted his bike aloft at the finish line after taking his second win of this year’s Tour, turning the page on his embarrassment of mistakenly celebrating on stage four, when he had in fact finished second. Vingegaard and his Jumbo-Visma teammates all crossed the line together in a line and cheering wildly. After a relentless struggle over peaks and plains in a crushing heatwave, Vingegaard assured his win on Saturday’s time-trial, having taken the lead in the Alps…

PETROL prices in South Africa could soon be determined by free market forces as the government moves to deregulate fuel prices as part of mitigating the rising cost of living. Energy Minister Gwede Mantashe on Friday gazetted a notice calling for public comment within 30 days on the government’s intention to introduce a price cap on 93 octane petrol. The price of 93 octane increased by R2.37 per litre to R26.31 per litre this month, reaching an all-new record high due to the escalation of global oil prices. The introduction of a price cap on 93 octane petrol will allow retailers to sell at a price below the regulated price, including discounts on petrol. This is the next step in the government’s “two-phase approach” introduced to reduce fuel…

HEALTH is the next area of focus for Amazon. This was confirmed by newly appointed chief executive Andy Jassy when he announced that Amazon would be spending $3.9 billion (R65.5bn) to acquire One Medical, a chain of primary care clinics in the US. Amazon is not alone in pursuing health with its technology. Apple re- leased a report which highlighted the extent to which the company is developing health solutions. In South Africa, the Bill and Melinda Gates foundation is funding health tech startups through the Investing in Innovation (i3) Programme which will be headed by Startupbootcamp AfriTech. This health industry focus by tech companies will come with necessary health innovations and harms. We are now likely to see improved services in virtual health care, better access to medical…

intel, the Department of Higher Education and Training and Orbit TVET College have officially launched the Intel Artificial Intelligence Laboratory at Orbit TVET College in Brits, North West. It was an exciting day for the students and college management who gathered at a college hall to welcome the laboratory they had long anticipated. Addressing the official launch of the laboratory, director-general of the Department of Higher Education and Training, Dr Nkosinathi Sishi, said he welcomed the launch of the laboratory as it would bring critical skills and innovation to the youth. Sishi said they were entrusted in their department with the responsibility to invest in human capital development. “This we do by ensuring that we provide skills development through the work of our institutions, starting with all 21 Setas that…

POP star Beyoncé has revealed the tracklist for her new album, Renaissance. Last week, a full credits list with all the album’s songwriters and producers make the rounds online. Fans noticed the credits on track 10, Move, featured Nigerian stars Temilade Openiyi (Tems), Richard Olowaranti Isong (P2J) and Ronald Banful (GuiltyBeatz). P2J and Tems previously worked together on Wizkid’s Made In Lagos album where P2J produced the international smash hit Essence, which Tems was featured on. GuiltyBeatz produced Tems’ recent single, Crazy Tings. He also previously produced two songs (Already and Keys To The Kingdom) on Beyoncé’s 2020 Lion King soundtrack album, The Lion King: The Gift. Whether this means Beyoncé will also be dabbling in afrobeats on this album once more or if these African artists will be showcasing…

Following the increased pressure on South Africa’s energy grid, relief was expected to be felt in just over a year after Norwegian renewable energy company Scatec ASA announced construction was starting on what was set to be the largest solar and battery power project in Africa. The multibillion-rand Scatec projects, Kenhardt 1, 2 and 3, in the Northern Cape were the first three projects under the Risk Mitigation Independent Power Producer Procurement Programme (RMIPPPP) to reach financial close, which occurred on Tuesday. Once operational, the projects would have a total solar capacity of 540MW, battery storage capacity of 225MW/1 140MWh and provide 150MW of dispatchable power to the grid between 5am and 9.30pm under a 20-year power purchase agreement. The projects were 10 kilometres wide from side to side, with…

WHEN she laid her eyes on her baby for the first time she was convinced that there must have been a blunder by the nurses while giving birth. Out of frustration and shock she said the first thing she did was to reach out to her mother and tell her about the condition of the baby. Her lack of knowledge about a cleft lip and palate instilled panic until she was told what it was and how her baby could get help and be normal like other children. Qaqambile Phika, 29, is mother to Sibaluhle Phika, 5, a young boy with a cleft lip and palate. She speaks candidly about her mothering journey from giving birth to Sibaluhle, which created frustration until she was informed about the condition, to becoming…

Saturday’s improved performance, albeit one that ended in defeat, has lifted the spirits in the Proteas Women camp and given reason for optimism ahead of the Commonwealth Games. There was finally a performance in which the batters – especially openers Lara Goodall and Anneke Bosch – played with greater intent and displayed more self-belief, but even with that improvement, it was still evident that more can be done. “The mood is still very good in the camp, we are enjoying each other’s company and we are having a lot of fun off the field,” said Goodall. The mood, of course, hasn’t always been so lovely. The shock retirement of Lizelle Lee not only caught Cricket SA and her teammates off guard but was difficult for those players who’d spent a…

The Proteas’ 28-year wait to win a white-ball series in England will continue after the series decider at Headingley was washed out yesterday. The visitors would undoubtedly feel they missed the opportunity to close out the series last week at Old Trafford in the second ODI when they dismissed England for just 201 in a 29-over match before being bowled out for 83. To compound matters, they were denied another chance in the series-decider in Leeds just when Quinton de Kock’s superb 92 not out off 76 balls had propelled South Africa to 159/2 after just 27.4 overs before the match was abandoned. “It wasn’t ideal, especially after putting in such a spectacular performance with the bat in the first ODI,” stand-in captain Keshav Maharaj said. “It is frustrating, but…

On the same day that the Springboks calmly tweaked their squad for the Rugby Championship, their imminent opponents from New Zealand jettisoned two coaches in a frantic bid to right their listing ship. South Africans can forgive themselves for having a smug grin as they contemplate this role reversal because, for almost all of the professional era, the boot has been very much on the other foot. The Land of the Long White Cloud has transformed into the ‘Land of the Black Shroud’ since a plucky Ireland dared to win a series on New Zealand soil, and blood-letting was inevitable to assuage outraged All Black fans raised on a diet of relentless victory. The main target had been head coach Ian Foster, but yet again he has miraculously escaped the…