Índex per 2023-01-26 a Star

GLOBAL Airways Consortium unit Takatso Airways maintains it is well equipped for the 51% takeover of SAA, even as insiders insist the ANC conference was a watershed moment for the deal as the February deadline looms for Takatso to show face. Takatso’s newly appointed spokesperson, Thulasizwe Simelane, said the consortium is ready to fulfil IRS commitment to funding SAA’s operational costs to the tune of R3 billion over two to three years, to ensure the airline is agile in a competitive market, commercially viable, and contributes to growth of the South African economy, especially tourism, aviation and related sectors, as well as regional and continental trade and integration. Industry insiders insist, however, that Takatso's window shopping of SAA is over, and that the looming Cabinet reshuffle will put paid to…

ECONOMISTS have widely predicted that the South African Reserve Bank (SARB) will hike the interest rate once again today. The SARB’s monetary policy committee (MPC) will make their decision on the repurchase rate (repo rate), with economists saying that a further hike will put more financial pressure on consumers. The central bank is expected to maintain its hawkish monetary policy stance a bit longer, in spite of consumer prices softening to a seventh-month low in December. Economists had widely predicted an increase of 50 basis points from the MPC in January, however, with the surprise decrease in the CPI, some economists say that it could be slashed to 25 basis points. Andra Nel, a purpose manager at KFC’s Add Hope, told Business Report: “A rate hike makes it very hard…

Activists under the banner of non-profit organisation Ukrainian Association of South Africa have been left seething this week as Pretoria announced steps that were interpreted by some as openly nailing its colours to the Russian mast amid the armed conflict between Moscow and its neighbour Kyiv. As International Relations and Co-operation Minister Naledi Pandor welcomed Russia’s foreign minister Sergey Lavrov to her OR Tambo Building headquarters in Pretoria, her department made it clear that Russia had been invited to tour South Africa. From the other side of Pretoria, Minister of Defence and Military Veterans Thandi Modise took the opportunity to hit back at critics of the impending mass military joint exercise set to bring Russian and Chinese artillery to South Africa. The former speaker of Parliament reminded critics that in…

The highly anticipated Joburg Film Festival will kick off its extravaganza with XALE, a thought-provoking film by Moussa Sene Absa. The festival will present some of the finest films from over 35 countries across the globe, including 20 African premiers and 27 South African premiers, from January 31 to February 5 at various locations across the city. Film fanatics can immerse themselves in films from Tunisia, Brazil, Seoul, the US, Japan, Morocco, and more, with a mix of feature films and documentaries showcasing stories that cross cultural boundaries. The first film, XALE, follows Awa, a 15-year-old African schoolgirl who is enjoying adolescence alongside her twin brother, Adama, who wishes to travel to Europe. This Senegalese feature takes viewers through a storyline of family values, love, life, and betrayal. Tumi Masekela,…

WITH the new Ford Ranger having hit the streets in double cab guise late last year, the emphasis now shifts to the two-seat versions. The new Ford Ranger Single Cab and Super Cab line-ups are set to go on sale in South Africa from March, according to Ford SA. Pricing for the Single Cab ranges from R464 200 to R545 000, while the Super Cab models will set you back anything from R485 400 to R772 800. A Wildtrak Super Cab variant has been added to the mix for the first time. On the Single Cab front it’s interesting to note there are no base-spec “workhorse” models, but Ford SA says these will arrive later in the year. The XL trim grade features prominently in the Single Cab and Super…

RENAULT Sport, as you know it, is about to make way for an electrified future under the Alpine banner, but not before the performance brand’s hot hatches get a last hurrah. Sporting subtle revisions, the 2023 Renault Megane RS Trophy has been launched in South Africa, at a somewhat eye-watering price of R899 900. But this is one of your last chances to buy a petrol-powered performance hatch from the French carmaker – the last will be the Megane RS Ultime that arrives later in the year, sporting unique design touches and likely an even higher price tag. The Megane RS 300 Trophy that you see here has been revised for 2023 with updated C-shaped LED headlights and taillights and a unique rear diffuser. Other design highlights include a model-exclusive…

It is official: South Africans should brace themselves for blackouts for at least the next 18 months, said outgoing Eskom CEO André de Ruyter recently. The beleaguered national energy producer has caused South Africans so much pain, having experienced load shedding since 2007. The effects of this national energy crisis have cost the already struggling economy billions of rand, with the state enterprise having to constantly borrow money from international lenders in order to keep the lights on. Recently Eskom has been given an 18.65% tariff increase by Nersa, causing a huge outcry from the already cash-strapped nation. The persistent load shedding has caused so many problems to so many citizens. People have had their appliances damaged by the on/off power surges; some have had their properties burnt while others…

VICTORIA Azarenka and Aryna Sabalenka can today set up an all-Belarusian Australian Open final, but Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina and Magda Linette stand in their way of making Grand Slam history. Two-time champion Azarenka faces Russia-born Kazakh Rybakina in the first semi-final on Rod Laver Arena, with Sabalenka up against Poland’s unseeded Linette afterwards. Should Azarenka and Sabalenka progress to Saturday’s final, it will be the first time two Belarusian players have contested a Grand Slam decider. “I really want it to happen,” said Sabalenka, the fifth seed who is yet to drop a set in 2023 after winning in Adelaide earlier this month. “I know that Vika will do everything she can to make it happen. I will do everything I can to make it happen. That’s going to…

FAF du Plessis has five T20 centuries, but there would have been none sweeter than his 113 not out at the Wanderers on Tuesday. Du Plessis, captain of the Joburg Super Giants, etched his name into the record books as the first centurion of the inaugural SA20. The veteran faced just 58 balls, but struck eight boundaries and eight sixes that had “The Bullring” on its feet throughout the Super Kings’ successful chase against Durban’s Super Giants. It was only fitting that it was Du Plessis who struck the winning runs with a six over extra cover to take the Super Kings past the Super Giants’ 178/6. Du Plessis’ record-breaking feat had even greater substance as it came while his opening partner Reeza Hendricks (45 off 46 balls) was struggling…

Astral CEO Chris Schutte says that food security is threatened through agriculture reliance on failing infrastructure and services ASTRAL Foods yesterday warned not only that it might have to resize and cuts jobs, but South Africa’s food safety was compromised, as poultry companies in South Africa are being slaughtered by high feed input costs, devastating levels of load shedding and the general decay of municipal infrastructure. This as the JSE-listed poultry Astral Foods said yesterday in a voluntary update for the six months ending March 31, 2023, it expected its headline earnings per share (Heps) to drop by 90% year on year to 142 cents. It cautioned the market that Astral was expecting market conditions to deteriorate, with record high feed input costs, devastating levels of load shedding, and…

SOUTH Africa’s message at the recent annual World Economic Forum (WEF) meeting in Davos was that it is open for investment and ready to partner with the local and global community to lift its economy to higher, jobs-rich and more sustainable growth, a statement from the Department of Finance said yesterday. The South African delegation acknowledged to the WEF that addressing the electricity shortage is “the first and most important step” to unlocking faster economic growth, creating employment and attracting investment, the department said in a statement. The WEF’s annual meeting, themed “Co-operation in a Fragmented World”, captured the economic, geopolitical and social challenges currently faced by the globe. The worldwide energy, food and cost-of-living crisis, driven by the conflict between Russia and Ukraine, and fast-rising inflation, were among key…

Veteran radio host Mark Pilgrim puts on a brave face as he endures more hospital procedures in his fight against stage 4 lung cancer. The dad of two shared a recent image of himself in hospital while he undergoes more fluid drainage from his abdomen. He captioned the picture on Instagram: “Really skinny at the moment. Having more fluid drained from abdomen so my tummy has a bit of space for food. “It’s a journey. It’s not easy. Baby steps. Still have the end goal in sight where myself, Adrienne and the girls are walking on the beach with our future golden retriever.” Prayers and well wishes flooded the comments section of his post. @nhlanhla_mafu wrote: “Sending God’s healing.” @pearlmotsuku wrote: “Talk about a fighter, keep pushing Mark, the reward…

The Robben Island Museum has denied allegations of infrastructure collapse, saying the island is fit for visitors. This follows the circulation of photographs on social media showing some buildings in a state of decay. CEO Abigail Thulare said that the upkeep and maintenance of the Robben Island Museum (RIM) as a world heritage site and a marine protected area was managed by the museum, the Department of Sport, Arts and Culture, as well as the Department of Public Works and Infrastructure. “The narrative perpetuated by certain stakeholders that the RIM is in a state of disrepair is completely devoid of truth and would appear to have malicious intent,” the museum said. “The photographs (circulating on social media), which show certain buildings with the roof collapsed, were taken four years ago…

The judiciary in Malawi has launched an investigation after a magistrate in Balaka allegedly ordered a man accused of rape to have his penis fondled in court to find out if he could get an erection. It is alleged the accused claimed he had erectile dysfunction as a defence. According to court papers, the accused, Yusuf Willy, 22, from Kalimba village was arrested and charged with raping a 17-year-old girl on June 9, 2021. In his defence, Willy said he was unable to have an erection and magistrate Philip Chibwana indicated that he would like to find means to see if he could have an erection. A woman stood up in court and volunteered to touch the accused’s penis in order to see if he could have an erection. Willy,…

WITH women still vastly under-represented in judicial positions, especially on the Benches of the courts of South Africa, the Aspirant Women Judges Programme was yesterday launched by Chief Justice Raymond Zondo. The year-long programme is to give women within the legal system – lawyers, advocates and magistrates – the necessary tools to later become judges. The programme is implemented by the South African Judicial Education Institution. The entity was established to promote the independence, impartiality, dignity, accessibility and effectiveness of the courts through continuing judicial education. The purpose of the Aspirant Women Judges Programme is to provide entry level education and training to aspiring female judicial officers to enhance suitability for appointment. Justice Zondo yesterday, during the launch of the programme, said many of the women participating may not necessarily…

THE BMW M3 CS is back, to answer the prayers of those seeking a ferocious yet agile and practical M car and the latest-generation sedan brings more power and less weight to the equation. But hurry, stocks are limited, as they say in the infomercials. Our contact at BMW says just 20 units have been allocated to South Africa, and they’re likely to arrive around the third quarter of this year. The new-generation BMW M3 CS is powered by BMW’s 3.0-litre straight-six turbopetrol motor, which has been extensively upgraded to produce 405kW at 6 250rpm, which is a 30kW increase over the M3 Competition, while maximum torque remains at 650Nm. To achieve these power gains, engineers raised the maximum pressure of the two turbochargers from 1.7 to 2.1 bar and…

JABU Mahlangu’s comments that Mamelodi Sundowns are “destroying” the Premier Soccer League are short-sighted. While Mahlangu, who became popular as Jabu Pule in his playing days at Kaizer Chiefs, is perfectly fair in terms of deeming the overall quality of the football in the league to be of a low standard, his claims about Sundowns being the problem are not fair. What Mahlangu should have rather done is some analysis of the other teams in the league who have done nothing to match the runaway league leaders, who are now all but certain to win the Premiership for a sixth consecutive season. Sundowns have been dominating the league because they are getting the basics right while others are getting them wrong. Truth be told, Masandawana are probably being made to…

MAMELODI Sundowns coach Rhulani Mokwena expects his team’s squad depth to play a vital role as the Caf Champions League and Nedbank Cup approach. The Brazilians participated in their seventh match in 24 days when they edged TS Galaxy 2-1 in the Premiership at Mbombela Stadium on Tuesday night. Mokwena and his technical team were forced into making numerous changes to the starting XI after they exerted themselves against Kaizer Chiefs at the weekend. However, the defending Premiership champions produced another solid performance and Mokwena believes their ability to rotate players at will and have specific training details affords them a chance at keeping their standards high. “It’s the only possible solution to a hectic schedule - freshness and rotation to make everybody feel like a part of the process,”…

DAVID Kriel is kind enough to acknowledge the impact of Springbok stars Kurt-Lee Arendse and Canan Moodie on the Bulls attack, but the man himself has made some big strides forward this season. The 23-year-old utility back was the first-choice fullback at Loftus Versfeld for a few seasons, with Arendse at right wing, as the Bulls dominated the domestic scene under new coach Jake White during the Covid-19 lockdown. But White had an epiphany and moved Arendse to fullback, and the rest is history as the former Blitzboks speedster has become an attacking force from the back – even though he now operates at No 14 for the Boks. Later, Moodie came through as well as a fullback and wing, and Kriel was shifted to inside centre for a while.…

THE Proteas Men’s one-day international team are in a mess. That much, naturally, can be ascertained from their position in the ICC World Cup Super League. But it goes beyond their 11th place, with only Zimbabwe and the Netherlands below them. Things, everyone agrees, must change, and the man tasked with that huge undertaking is new white-ball coach Rob Walter. The only problem is that Walter is still “11 hours ahead” in New Zealand, where he is wrapping up his previous assignment. World champions England are not going to wait for Walter’s arrival, though. Most of their players, including captain Jos Buttler, have been in the country for the past month assimilating to conditions while plying their trade for the various teams in the Betway SA20, while others like Moeen…

QUILTER, the British multinational wealth company, said yesterday that it had put in a resilient performance in the fourth quarter of 2022 despite a seasonal slowdown and lower net flows. “Although net flows for 2022 were below the level we want to achieve, we finished the year on a solid note despite the usual seasonal slowdown towards the end of the quarter. I was particularly pleased with the performance from our high net worth segment, which has continued to deliver a robust performance, with good flows from the Quilter channel offsetting a slowdown in IFA flows,” CEO Stephen Levin said. He commented at the release of a trading statement for the fourth quarter, a period of relative economic decline and rising interest rates and inflation in developed markets. The full…

DIGITAL bank TymeBank has roped in retail giant TFG (The Foschini Group) to exploit its footprint in expanding its financial products and services to its expanding customer base, both instore and on digital platforms. The partnership is set to deliver, among others, more than 600 TymeBank TFG Money branded kiosks to open TymeBank TFG Money bank accounts in TFG stores across the country. The TymeBank TFG Money debit card is linked to two of South Africa’s leading rewards programmes; customers benefit from TFG Rewards and Pick n Pay Smart Shopper when they shop at any of the 20+ TFG brands, in-store or online, and double Pick n Pay Smart Shopper Points when shopping at Pick n Pay. TFG customers will benefit from TymeBank’s ‘Buy Now Pay Later’ product MoreTyme, which…

Steenhuisen: SA doesn’t have an Eskom problem, it has an ANC problem Despite threats and intimidation from members of the ANC Youth League, the DA and its leaders marched to Luthuli House in Johannesburg, taking the fight against load shedding to the governing party’s headquarters. The current blackouts continue even in the midst of a National Energy Regulator of South Africa (Nersa)-approved 18.65% Eskom tariff hike. The march also comes just days after Eskom announced permanent power cuts for the next two years. Some businesses have had to close down due to the endless power crisis, which in turn has crippled various sectors of the economy. Speaking after the DA had marched to Luthuli House from the City Library Gardens, DA leader John Steenhuisen said the march was not about…

The days of Mpho Phalatse as the first woman mayor of the City of Joburg “are numbered” and some DA members have allegedly vowed to vote in favour of a motion of no confidence against her – mooted by the smaller opposition parties in council today. This is according to highly placed sources within the DA, both in the City of Joburg and other parts of Gauteng, who are part of a cohort apparently unhappy with Phalatse at the helm of DA politics in Joburg. Independent Media understands that some of these disgruntled DA councillors have vowed to vote with the smaller parties in support of a motion of no confidence against Phalatse in the City of Joburg today. The motion was filed by the ATM and supported by the…

A tree infested with the invasive polyphagous shot hole borer beetle (PSHB) was discovered on a private property in Newlands this week. The city said its officials were on site advising the resident on the safe removal of the tree to prevent the spread of the damaging beetle following its discovery on Tuesday. The infested tree, a box elder, is situated on private property in Kildare Road, Newlands. Surrounding property owners have also been advised to inspect trees on their properties as a matter of urgency. A PSHB beetle infestation was first discovered in Oldenland Road, Somerset West, in an ailing London plane tree in March 2019. To date, only trees in the Somerset West area have been affected and removed. “We are extremely concerned about this latest sighting in…

Sophiatown, District Six and other mixed-racial residential areas kept South Africans living together harmoniously. The Population Registration Act of 1950 spoilt all that and divided united people according to four groups: whites, Asians, coloureds and blacks. The Group Areas Act stated where one could live, have amenities, worship and run businesses. The Immorality Act stipulated who to date and marry, the bantustans became remote reserves for blacks and a plethora of regulations muddied the oneness in people. Collectively all these draconian rules and regulations of separation, called apartheid, were started and executed, unapologetically, by whites. Whites were classified as supreme to us all, Asians being better than both coloureds and blacks. These social categories are ingrained in people’s minds. No magic wand or evolution can reverse this man-made plague. Only…

Two female university vice-chancellors will be championing the fight against the scourge of gender-based violence and femicide (GBVF) within the higher education sector. This is to ensure that the post-schooling arena provides safe learning spaces for students. Unisa’s Professor Puleng LenkaBula, as well as her Nelson Mandela University counterpart, Professor Sibongile Muthwa, were appointed this week by Minister of Higher Education, Science and Technology Blade Nzimande. They will head key programmes towards addressing the challenges of GBVF. Speaking to the media this week, Nzimande said the decision had been taken in light of incidents of gender-based violence witnessed on campuses. This had resulted in female students being abused and brutally killed. Killings of students such as Nosicelo Mtebeni, Uyinene Mrwetyana, Precious Ramabulana, Jesse Hess and many others had highlighted the…

SOUTH Africa’s hybrid SUV space has another new entrant with the Haval Jolion HEV going on sale this week. Priced at R549 950 in Luxury trim and R579 950 in Super Luxury guise, the Haval Jolion HEV is the country’s second cheapest hybrid SUV, slotting between the Toyota Corolla Cross (R442 400 to R480 200) and its larger brother, the Haval H6 HEV, which sells for R669 950. Although it can’t match the Corolla Cross for affordability, the new Chinese contender does offer a performance advantage, with its 1.5-litre turbopetrol combining with an electric motor to produce system outputs of 140kW and 375Nm. For the record, the Toyota offers 90kW. Like its aforementioned counterparts the Haval Jolion HEV is a self-charging hybrid that can cover limited distances on electric power…

SOUTH African heavyweight star Kevin Lerena wants to spend “quality time” with his wife and children, and wants his body and mind to recover fully from a busy 2022 before he gets back into the ring. Following his bout with British heavyweight Daniel Dubois in December, it was expected that Lerena would return to boxing as early as March. But in an Instagram post this week, the 30-year-old southpaw from Johannesburg stated that he is only likely to fight again in April, possibly against Ivory Coast-born Belgian Ryad Merhy. Lerena went toe-to-toe with Dubois at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London for the WBA (regular) heavyweight title, knocking his much taller and heavier opponent to the ground on a few occasions, but then succumbing to a third-round technical knockout in…

NOVAK Djokovic said there was something extra behind his title charge at this year’s Australian Open after being deported from the country last year and having to play his matches with an injured hamstring after suffering the problem in Adelaide. Having arrived in Australia unvaccinated 12 months ago, the nine-time Melbourne champion was deported amid a backlash from angry Australians who had endured some of the world’s toughest lockdowns as Covid-19 infections surged. Djokovic returned this year after his three-year visa ban was lifted and although the Serbian injured his hamstring en route to the Adelaide title, he has looked unstoppable at Melbourne Park as he seeks a 10th crown and 22nd Grand Slam. “I always try to give my best, particularly in Grand Slams, because at this stage of…