Índex per 2023-08-28 a Star

Zimbabwe government, Terris consortium raise questions over Kagera’s winning bid THE SOUTH African Industrial Development Corporation (IDC) is embroiled in a row in which it allegedly irregularly got into bed with an unknown Tanzanian company picked up to buy the assets of ailing sugar giant Tongaat Hulett, currently under business rescue since October last year. With agro-processing operations in South Africa, Mozambique and Zimbab- we, Tongaat Hulett – roiled by accounting scandals and embroiled in choking debts – has courted controversy in the past two years. A bid to rescue it and put it on a path to recovery has seen Kagera, a little known Tanzanian company being picked to acquire the assets of the ailing South African sugar producer. “This deal has all the hallmarks of irregularity and underhand…

GRINDROD’S interim earnings grew by 26% for the six months ended June 30, 2023, supported by continued strong demand for its logistics solutions through its cargo terminal infrastructure footprint and complementary logistics service offerings. In its interim results ended June 30, 2023, the ports, terminals, and logistics operator said on Friday that Maputo port volumes increased by 30% compared to the prior period, resulting in a record performance of 5.9 million tons exported during the period. Grindrod’s Mozambique dry bulk terminals in Maputo and Matola handled 6 million tons, up 17% on the prior period. Grindrod is collaborating with Transnet Freight Rail and Mozambique Port and Railways (CFM) on the ongoing initiative to move cargo on trains running seamlessly between South Africa and Mozambique, which it said would…

ANALYSTS say Spur Corporation is soaring above South Africa’s macro-economic and political upheavals after the restaurant and eatery operator – which posted a 27% surge in revenue and lifted headline earnings per share by 81% for the year to end June 2023 – soared to a 52-week high on the JSE. Spur Corporation’s JSE share price lifted by 1.27% on Friday although it is massively up by 26.6% at R 27.8 in the year to date comparative. “There are a number of companies in South Africa executing very well and creating tremendous shareholder value while not using the dire political and macroeconomic environment as cover for poor performance,” said Piet Viljoen, who manages Merchant West Investments Value Fund. Cratos Asset Management said the 52-week highs touched by Spur’s stock this…

SOUTH African equity prices recovered somewhat last week on the back of a stronger rand and the lower-than-expected inflation data. Statistics South Africa released the consumer price index numbers for July 2023 last Wednesday. The annual inflation rate fell to 4.7% – the lowest increase in the index year-on-year in two years. The July rate is much lower than 5.4% in June and below market forecasts of 5%. The rate is now almost on the mid-point unofficial target of 4.5% set by the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC). Expectations that the MPC of the SA Reserve Bank may not increase the repo rate at their meeting next month had led to equity prices, bond rates and the rand moving positively. The currency improved during last week by 40 cents…

As at the end of February this year, the Tshiamiso Trust celebrated a year of accelerated delivery for the trust, as it reached the milestone of the first R1 billion paid out to 11 341 beneficiaries. The trust held a virtual annual general meeting on Friday to update on its performance, set up following the R5bn settlement agreement to compensate mineworkers who got permanent lung damage from silicosis and tuberculosis (TB) from their work in the mines, or their families if the mineworker was deceased. At the end of the first year of full operations in the financial year 2021/ 2022, Tshiamiso reported R194.5 million paid to 2 168 claimants. The trust chairperson Dr May Hermanus said on Friday that the performance of the past year, with…

THE funeral of theatre icon Selaelo Dan Maredi took place in Polokwane at the weekend. He died “peacefully at home” on August 17 after a long illness, the family said. Paying tribute to the veteran, award-winning actor Sello Maake kaNcube expressed his gratitude and appreciation, calling Maredi a pioneer of black South African theatre, who made “significant contributions to the field”. During his memorial service, Maredi was remembered for his sharp wit and innovative spirit. Industry giants including Maake kaNcube, Jerry Tsie, Arthur Molepo, Peter Sephuma and Mpho Molepo praised Maredi for his immense contributions and dedication to theatre. According to his peers, his innovative nature, commitment to education and dedication to nurturing emerging talent leave an indelible mark on the creative landscape, inspiring others to carry forward his…

NHLANHLA “Lux” Mohlauli, the former leader of the Operation Dudula Movement and member of the Soweto Parliament, was sentenced on two counts: one for malicious property damage and one for breaking into a house with intent to steal. He was sentenced by the Roodepoort Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday. According to the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) spokesperson, Phindi Mjonondwane, Mohlauli, 35, was sentenced to two years of imprisonment wholly suspended for three years on condition that he was not convicted of housebreaking, and another five years of imprisonment, also wholly suspended for three years, provided he was not convicted of malicious damage to property during his suspension. “The court added a further condition of him paying the complainant, Victor Ramarafe, an amount of R9 500 in cash on or before August…

A young skateboarding and sailing enthusiast is hoping to create greater awareness and introduce more people to Adaptive Skateboarding. Robert Glover, 24, originally from Namibia but now living in Observatory, has been sailing since the age of 11 and started skateboarding in 2018. Glover was born with a condition called sacral agenesis or caudal regression syndrome, a rare birth condition which sees the partial or complete absence of the sacral and coccygeal bones, stunting the growth of his legs. Adaptive skateboarding allows for greater access and inclusion in the sport, with skaters with physical or development conditions making adaptations to their boards and equipment so as to allow them to fully enjoy the sport. “I’d like to create awareness for the sport of skating since it had recently been included…

Two fighter jets are still flying over the Sandton area, four days after the 15th BRICS Summit ended. It is still unclear what the reason could be. Some people thought it to be a show of authority by the BRICS countries, and some South Africans criticised the activity, saying the country could be wasting resources by flying the fighter jets. Last week, Sandton residents and those visiting the area saw and heardfighter jets. Two fighter jets were regularly seen and heard while flying over the Sandton Convention Centre. At this stage, no official authority has been willing to give The Star official comment or details on the purpose of the fighter jets flying over the area. There was a large presence of law enforcement agencies in and around the venue,…

Minister of Mineral Resources Gwede Mantashe’s populist approach on how to solve the zama-zama problem – pandering to cheap and incendiary xenophobic sentiments that South Africa is not going to train “foreigners’ in artisanal mining skills – displays serious ignorance. And, to boot, this comes from somebody who is basically a miner, for he spent most of his life in this industry. It sounds all good for Mantashe to pontificate about the matter, but what are the facts? He is ignorant to think he can just wish the zama-zamas away. They are a sophisticated criminal enterprise that not only includes Lesotho citizens but powerful South Africans and even members of the police. The mistake that people, such as Mantashe, are making is they superficially think that zama-zamas are those…

The Springboks could not have asked for a better final warm-up match ahead of the World Cup than the record thrashing of the All Blacks at Twickenham. Here, Leighton Koopman looks at the positives and slight concerns from the 35-7 win as the world champions head into their last week of training in Corsica. A force to be scrummed with It was a sight to behold when South Africa won the first few scrums as the front-row of Frans Malherbe, Steven Kitshoff and hooker Malcolm Marx made light of New Zealand’s pack. What probably had their opponents in the World Cup more worried is when the replacement front rankers in Ox Nche, Trevor Nyakane and hooker Bongi Mbonambi came on with the rest of the “Bomb Squad”, they continued…

Stellenbosch FC coach Steve Barker was hoping to start an all-important week on a positive note. Instead, Stellies’ home fortress, the Danie Craven Stadium, was breached for the first time in 10 games since January, with high-flying SuperSport United claiming a 2-1 victory on Saturday night. Barker’s charges now turn their attention to Kaizer Chiefs on Wednesday and Orlando Pirates in the MTN8 quarter-final first-leg on Sunday needing to shake off a second Premiership defeat of the season. Stellies’ mentor is not too perturbed, though, and still believes his team is on the right track. “I was obviously very disappointed in the result, not so much in the performance,” said Barker. “SuperSport like to put a lot of pressure on, get a lot of balls in wide areas, play off…

ELECTRICITY Minister Dr Kgosientsho Ramokgopa has blamed revolving door at management level for the instability at Tutuka power station in Mpumalanga, which is the worst performing among Eskom’s coal fleet. This comes as Ramokgopa on Friday met with the Tutuka Power Station general manager Bruce Moyo, the station’s management and engineers in a bid to assess the state of progress of units that need to be restored. In a media briefing yesterday, Ramokgopa said Tutuka had been a “perennial underperformer” in recent years. Ramokgopa said the power station has moved from generating about 98% energy availability factor (EAF), and was now sitting at about 21% EAF. He said they had deployed additional resources in the context of resource mobilisation fund and they were stationed at Tutuka. “This is a big…

NORTHAM Platinum Holdings announced on Friday that it had resumed declaring its dividend after a ten-year halt, a R6 per share amounting to R2.4 billion from the disposal of its stake in Royal Bafokeng Platinum (RBPlat). In its financial results for the year ended June 30, 2023, the platinum group metals (PGM) miner said it had also established a dividend policy of a minimum of 25% of headline earnings and would buy back R1 billion of its own shares. “The sale of Northam's investment in Royal Bafokeng Platinum Limited subsequent to June 30, 2023, has presented an opportunity for Northam to significantly strengthen the group’s balance sheet and liquidity position, which in turn has enabled the group to declare its first dividend in over ten years. This dividend constitutes…

THE SOUNDS and magnitude of fighter jets flying over Sandton and its neighbouring suburbs in Johannesburg between August 22-24 was a stark reminder that power had descended on our shores and concentrated at this richest square mile in Africa. Just like the 2010 Soccer World Cup, South Africa proved to be a perfect host of a global magnitude event. The summit was executed without any incidences and South Africa once again showcased her hospitality. The 15th BRICS Summit concluded on a very high note, highlighting a momentous occasion and significant history on the African soil. President Cyril Ramaphosa made a pronunciation that BRICS leaders had adopted guiding principles on the BRICS expansion to include Argentina, Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, Saudi Arabia and the UAE. These developments transpire from the driving theme…

Given the shift in power from unipolar to multipolar, as shown by the advancements of BRICS block countries, it is vital to investigate the debt-led development model to finance infrastructure in Africa, especially in Southern Africa. In his speech at the BRICS Summit, Russian President Vladimir Putin stressed the importance of fostering cross-border trade and investment. To effectively contribute to the member states' faster socio-economic growth, co-operative links must be strengthened and direct dialogue between business communities must be increased. Consequently, the Sustainable Development Goals can be accomplished. The United Nations 2030 Development Agenda, which places a strong emphasis on infrastructure development, depends on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) being achieved. Strengthening domestic and international financing resources for infrastructure development is crucial to addressing the infrastructure gaps and fully achieving…

Katlego Mboe’s ex-wife, Monique Muller, has again accused the media personality of financially abusing her to the detriment of their child. This time, she is ousting the TV personality for maintenance issues. On her Instagram Stories recently, Muller broke down what she’s been going through. She wrote about how Maboe earns a “6 figure” salary but cannot pay his child’s school fees in full. She said Maboe earns 10 times more than she does and he insists their child go to a private school even though she cannot afford to pay her share of the school fees. She alleged Maboe did not want their son moved to a cheaper school even after she begged him, nor does he want to take on the full responsibility of paying the entire sum…

Former president Thabo Mbeki has questioned why Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) leader Julius Malema insists on singing the Struggle chant “kill the Boer, kill the farmer”, saying there was no political context for singing it in current-day South Africa. Mbeki was speaking during a conversation with students at the University of South Africa, where he serves as chancellor. Malema shouted the chant in the presence of almost 100 000 supporters during the EFF’s 10th birthday rally at the FNB Stadium last month. The Freedom Front Plus has since opened a case of intimidation against Malema and the EFF for singing the song, which they said provoked farm murders, while the Democratic Alliance has said it would approach the UN to file a complaint against the EFF and the ANC.…

In South Africa, many employees are abused and denied their employment rights due to the precarious employment situation. All employees in South Africa are protected by various pieces of labour legislation, including the Basic Conditions of Employment Act and the Labour Relations Act. However, many employers try to exploit their employees by: Dodging the employment relationship by outsourcing the work to others. This means the employer relies on fewer scrupulous employers who break labour laws, such as the Basic Conditions of Employment Act and the Minimum Wage Legislation. Defining the relationship between themselves and the workers as “independent contractors”. This means the workers are not entitled to the same labour rights as employees. Using part-time and piecework contracts to keep workers from accessing their full labour legal rights. The courts…

UNISA has won the Collaboration Catalyst Award, which recognises an exhibitor who actively seeks and fosters collaborations between different science, technology, engineering, arts, mathematics, and innovation disciplines. From August 14 to 18, 2023, Unisa’s College of Science, Engineering, and Technology, together with the College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences, participated in the 21st Sasol Techno X 2023, South Africa’s biggest science, technology, engineering and mathematics career guidance exhibition. Exhibitors from various departments, institutes, and science centres from both colleges showcased their science, technology, engineering, and mathematics offerings and conducted interactive live demonstrations. Sasol Techno X is not only an exhibition, but a celebration of innovation, creativity, and the boundless possibilities within the science, technology, engineering, arts, mathematics, and innovation fields. For five days, exhibitors from various universities and organisations…

Kaizer Chiefs coach Molefi Ntseki is gradually mastering the nitty-gritty of winning matches in domestic football. Chiefs finally got their Premiership campaign up and running on Saturday as they beat AmaZulu FC 3-0 to snap a three-game winless streak after one draw and two losses. Pule Mmodi scored a brace before Edson Castillo put the final nail in AmaZulu’s coffin. The victory ensured Ntseki could breath a sigh of relief after their last loss to TS Galaxy in Mbombela resulting in angry supporters pelting him with missiles. But while Chiefs walked away with the points, leaving Usuthu winless and goalless in four matches after three draws and one loss, Ntseki was honest in his assessment of their performance. “AmaZulu played the game, and we scored the goals, which was very…

Formula One leader Max Verstappen celebrated a record-equalling ninth successive victory yesterday after beating the rain to win a chaotic and red-flagged Dutch Grand Prix for the third year in a row. The Red Bull driver’s home triumph from pole position at a soggy Zandvoort equalled now-retired Sebastian Vettel’s 2013 streak of success and was the team’s 14th consecutive triumph and 13th of the season. The race started dry before rain caused chaos at the end of lap one, with a dry period followed by a torrential downpour that halted proceedings on the 65th of 72 laps with cars skidding off. Fernando Alonso put Aston Martin back on the podium with second place and a bonus point for fastest lap after the eventual rolling re-start behind the safety car led…

Bafana Bafana’s Lyle Foster scored his first Premier League goal, much to the delight of Burnley coach Vincent Kompany, in a 3-1 loss to Aston Villa yesterday, as Manchester City moved to the top of the Premier League with a victory over Sheffield United. Foster, 22, joins countrymen Benni McCarthy, Shaun Bartlett, Steven Pienaar, Quinton Fortune, Philemon Masinga, Mark Fish, Eric Tinkler and Mbulelo Mabizela on the honours role in scoring in the elite division. There was high drama in the late game yesterday when Darwin Nunez came off the bench to score twice as Liverpool snatched a sensational 2-1 win over Newcastle United, as the Reds bounced back from a straight red card in the first half for captain Virgil van Dijk. Having picked up an early yellow card,…

THE COUNCIL for Medical Schemes (CMS), the designated regulator for the medical schemes sector in South Africa, stated on Friday that it was gravely concerned and disturbed by the claims of billing irregularities and other fraudulent behaviour made against the renowned hospital group, Mediclinic International. Last week, an anonymous whistleblower accused Mediclinic of irregular billing practices in six of its hospitals. In an email from an anonymous source, the person identifying themselves as a whistleblower said they worked as a clinical case manager and coder, and alleged that at the hospitals, patients’ conditions were manipulated to either bill at an alternative reimbursement model, or coding was used to “carve an account out” to bill for services where the loss would be too significant for the hospital. “Case managers are also…

ANGLOGOLG Ashanti said it has closed its loss-making Corrego do Sitio (CDS) mine in Brazil to lower costs and stem runaway losses. The Johannesburg-based gold miner said the workforce at the mine would be reduced while it is placed on "care and maintenance", a process which involves preserving the operation's vital infrastructure during the time its not producing gold. The CDS mine, one of AngloGold’s smallest operations, had been hit by poor output and costs of production "well above" the price of gold, the company said in a statement. "The mine has been unable to sustain itself or to fund the capital needed to ensure its long-term future," it said. AngloGold CEO Alberto Calderon initially had outlined plans to sell the mine, but failed to attract interested buyers. The CDS…

COEGA Steels, a producer of steel products, aims to establish a state-of-the-art R160 million rolling mill facility project in the Eastern Cape, with the goal to be built by next year. CEO of Coega Steels Hassan Khan said in a statement on Friday that the facility’s modern machinery and cutting-edge technology would serve as a catalyst for the local manufacturing sector, supplying reliable and efficient sources of steel and finished products to vital industries such as construction, automotive, and infrastructure develop- ment. The project’s timeline was set for nine months, with civil construction of the rolling mill scheduled to commence in late September 2023, and the targeted completion date set for May 2024. He added that the Coega Rolling Mill project was set to make history as the first rolling…

THE BRICS Summit was by all counts a success. This is from its development content, countries that actually joined, the mobilisation of the African continent to participate and, importantly, the offer of support by China to South Africa on the issue of energy, from nuclear and coal to renewables. The summit certainly shifted the magnetic field of the socio-political and economic landscape to the true south. The build-up to the summit had important sign posts. The Africa- Russia summit signified a potential shift in economic relations. This, however, was preceded by an equivalent of what in 1974 was labelled the Hidden Agenda at the Third World Population Conference in Bucharest, where Africa raised development as core to population deliberations. The world was eager on population control and reducing the birth…

AN IMPENDING class-action case of the Association of Meat Importers and Exporters (Amie) taking the International Trade Administration Commission (Itac) to court over the rules for importing chicken from the EU might yet be another battlefront in the issue of chickens portions on consumers’ plates. The Amie’s legal action against Itac and the government ministers stems from concerns regarding the EU Sunset Review investigation of anti-dumping duties on frozen bone-in portions from Germany, the Netherlands and the UK. “This refers to domestic poultry farmers and producers in South Africa who are concerned about the impact of imported EU chicken products on their industry,” ChickenFacts’s Zola Brunner said at the weekend. The battle lines are drawn between local producers squaring up against importers, primarily marked by the recently re-enacted tariffs on…

MPUMI Mbele says he is honoured to bring to life the remarkable journey of the founder, leader, and musical visionary behind Ladysmith Black Mambazo, Bhekizizwe Joseph Shabalala. Music is My Life: The Story of Joseph Shabalala which will air on SABC1 at 9pm tonight, celebrates the life and legacy of the king of isicathamiya, whose influence on the music landscape, not only in South Africa but across the world, is immeasurable. The documentary aims to inspire, educate and celebrate Shabalala’s achievements and his impact on the world of music. Mbele says the film will provide a window into the struggles, triumphs and creative processes of Shabalala, who left an indelible impact on society. “I had the opportunity to work with Bra Hugh (Hugh Masekela) via Thandiswa Mazwai. At the time,…

The letter released by Facebook rapist and killer Thabo Bester’s girlfriend, Dr Nandipha Magudumana, alleging abuse has been called nothing but a PR stunt by a legal analyst. Magudumana released a letter through her lawyers, claiming that powerful politicians and business people were behind her suffering and incarceration at a Bloemfontein prison. Magudumana was arrested with Bester in Tanzania in April. They had allegedly been on the run after it was revealed that Bester had faked his fiery prison cell death in May last year. Magudumana, who faces charges of fraud and corruption, violating a corpse, harbouring and concealing an escaped offender, and defeating the ends of justice, said she was “illegally” incarcerated at the Bizzah Makhate Correctional Centre in Kroonstad. In her letter, she wrote of “the many painful…

If you are living with a partner, married or divorced, or have dependants, it is crucial your will is in order, says Mariska Comins, head of Technical Support, PSG Wealth. According to Comins, if a person dies without a will, the South African law of intestate succession will make a decision about the distribution and beneficiaries of said person’s assets. When one partner in a relationship passes away, there needs to be a clear outline of their wishes in their will so they can protect their loved ones. Drafting a will and then updating it when you have life changes, such as divorce, is important. The outcome of which could be different from what a person would have chosen when they were alive. Drafting a will ensures people can secure…

A snake handler and a farmer both bagged a python on a farm near the King Shaka International Airport recently. Snake handler Jason Arnold said that one afternoon he was called out to an urgent rescue for a big python on a farm in the Mount Moreland area. Looking at his surroundings while on his way to the rescue, Arnold said there were a lot of snakes in the area because it is surrounded by sugar cane and lots of natural bushes. There is also a river that runs nearby. He said there was a lot of snake activity in the area. Before reaching his destination, he explained what he was going to try to do, but people might think he was crazy. “I don’t like to restrain pythons by…

AN EVENT will be held to empower women to make their own choices. The Choice Is Yours will take place on September 9, at Altitudes Beach in Fourways, and will mark the contribution to society of women from all walks of life. Award-winning Johannesburg-based surgeon Dr Brian Monaisa said the event would include networking, sharing information, and gaining new knowledge about cosmetic surgery. He said women would be educated about the tools available to assist them daily. Monaisa, one of a few black plastic surgeons in South Africa, also runs the Marang Aesthetics Clinic in Krugersdorp. “It is humbling to be able to speak to a group of women about plastic surgery, to share information, and to meet so many personalities. Marang Aesthetics and Monaisa will be on…

Bothongo Rhino and Lion Nature Reserve in Krugersdorp is a local gem. The reserve, in the heart of the world-renowned Cradle of Humankind World Heritage Site, north of Krugersdorp on the Kromdraai, offers a number of exciting activities. The reserve was officially opened in 1990, and has grown into the well-known landmark it is today. The Star explored the reserve in a guided game drive with an experienced professional who explained animal behaviour and shared important details about the landmark. Guided game drives, Cradle Bike Park, Bothongo Wondercave, Giraffe Feeding, and Savannah Trails are some of the few activities to be enjoyed. The Bothongo Wondercave is within the Bothongo Rhino and Lion Nature Reserve, uses the same entrance, and can be visited as an attraction on its own. There are…

Chinese President Xi Jinping’s state visit to South Africa on the eve of the 15th BRICS summit marked a new high in flourishing socio-economic and political diplomatic co-operation and solidarity between South Africa, Africa, and China. Xi is the most significant head of state attending the 15th BRICS Summit in Sandton, a leader of a great power that has forged flourishing relations as the biggest trading partner and friend of Africa. This is his fourth state visit to South Africa and his second visit abroad this year. In January 2023, China and South Africa celebrated the 25th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries. They have since deepened their wide-ranging bilateral relations, which have been elevated to a comprehensive strategic partnership and underpinned by a new…

Novak Djokovic and Carlos Alcaraz are on a US Open collision course as the final Grand Slam tournament of season gets under way today with American teenager Coco Gauff chasing a breakthrough first major title. A little more than six weeks after world No 1 Alcaraz defeated Djokovic in an enthralling finale to the Wimbledon championships, the two men could meet again at Flushing Meadows if the seedings go to plan over the next fortnight. Djokovic and Alcaraz whetted the tennis world’s appetite for another blockbuster showdown at the Cincinnati Open last weekend, with 23-time Grand Slam singles winner Djokovic downing the 20-year-old Spaniard in a four-hour classic. Djokovic, 36, is making a long-awaited return to the US Open this year after his refusal to be vaccinated against Covid-19 meant…