Índex per 2023-10-05 a Star

‘More than 35 000 mining jobs are on the line, and Transnet is sinking fast’ says Cosatu’ MORE than 35 000 mining jobs are on the line, Transnet was sinking fast and the government needed to make the parastatal as much of a priority as it did Eskom, Cosatu acting national spokesperson Matthew Parks said yesterday. He said the country no longer had time to wait for a new CEO to be appointed to Transnet, nor could it afford a similar situation to occur as what happened at Eskom, where it had taken a year to fill the position of CEO. He said the actions taken by the government to fix the problems at Eskom appeared to be bearing fruit. He said Transnet was “in a deep crisis”…

THERE is no festive cheer in sight for the local poultry sector after Minister of Trade, Industry, and Competition Ebrahim Patel yesterday called for the suspension of anti-dumping duties on poultry for 12-months in a bid to cushion local South African consumers. Yesterday Patel requested the International Trade Administration Commission (Itac) to review the tariffs on imported poultry so that a temporary tariff relief rebate could be enacted to counter the domestic supply crunch. Patel directed Itac to consider the creation of a temporary rebate provision on meat and edible offal, fresh, chilled or frozen of fowls of the species Gallus Domesticus classifiable under HS0207.1. South Africans are currently facing supermarket shelves with a shortage of eggs and chicken amid the worst case of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in…

BUSINESSES in the manufacturing industry in South Africa have remained less optimistic about future activity for the second consecutive month after output slipped into contractionary territory in September. The S&P Global South Africa Purchasing Managers Index (PMI), released yesterday came in at 49.9 points in September, down slightly from August’s 51 points, indicating a broad stagnation in the country’s private sector. The S&P reading is in line with the Absa PMI, which declined by 4.3 points in September to 45.4 points as conditions in the manufacturing sector deteriorated at the end of the third quarter. S&P said total output in the private sector slipped back into decline in September, after last month’s data signalled the first expansion in exactly a year. According to survey panellists, output…

SOUTH Africa’s tough economic landscape, shaped by a global and local pressures, poses significant challenges but also opportunities for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). How businesses respond to the environment can be a deciding factor in their survival and growth. One of the most effective ways for SMEs to navigate economic uncertainties is by being adaptable and choosing the right banking partner. SMEs always have an advantage over larger enterprises in that they can pivot more easily and quickly. From switching to digital sales platforms in response to increased online shopping trends, to offering new products or services that meet emerging customer needs, innovation is key. While innovation helps businesses expand and diversify, frugality ensures survival. SMEs need to carefully manage their expenses to remain afloat during tough times. Adopting…

ASCENDIS Health said yesterday its subsidiary Surgical Innovations had come out of voluntary business rescue. Last month Ascendis said that Surgical Innovations was expected to shortly exit a successful, but challenging, business rescue process pursuant to which relationships with suppliers, customers and other stakeholders have been strengthened, and outstanding disputes have been resolved. “The board of directors of Surgical Innovations is pleased to advise that Surgical Innovations has now successfully exited Business Rescue and remains confident that Surgical Innovations will continue in existence as a solvent and commercially viable operation,” Ascendis Health’s directors said in a statement yesterday. The continuing recovery at Ascendis comes at a time when its board is mulling over a delisting, following discussions with a consortium led by its chief executive officer Carl Neethling. At the…

KIBO ENERGY, the renewable energy- focused development company, announced yesterday that it had agreed to dispose of its coal interest in a Botswana coal-based power project. In a statement, the group said under its declared strategy to divest of all its coal assets, Kibo had entered into a definitive share sale agreement with Shumba Energy for the sale of the company’s remaining 35% equity holding in Kibo Energy Botswana in which Kibo held its interest in the coal resources associated with the project. According to the group, Kibo Energy Botswana consists of the Mabasekwa coal-to-power project, which had a carrying value of nil as of December 31, 2022, with an associated loss before tax of £3.56 million (R82.5m), largely reflecting a full impairment of the carrying value in that…

South Africa’s premier music showcase has found a new home for the next three years. The Recording Industry of South Africa (RiSA) said the South African Music Awards (Samas) will return to Durban after eight years. Previously hosted in Johannesburg, the music, fashion and lifestyle event will be brought to KZN following a partnership between Sama and the KZN Department of Economic Development and Environmental Affairs. The event will be held at the Durban ICC on November 17 and 18 and broadcast live on SABC1. “It’s an honour to partner with the KZN province for what will be a crucial milestone in the Sama history as we build up to 30 years of the awards and democracy in South Africa. “A lot of thought and planning has gone into ensuring…

l Efforts made to manage the shortage Retailers are stepping up efforts to manage the eggs shortage as the country battles an avian flu outbreak. Millions of chickens have been culled in an attempt to prevent the spread of the disease. Researchers said the outbreak was the worst the country had experienced. Some shops have resorted to limiting the number of eggs each customer may buy. The outbreak is proving to be a threat to food security, forcing consumers to dig deep in their shallow pockets. A tray of 30 eggs is now priced from R79 to R120. Dr Lia Rotherham, of the Vaccines and Diagnostics Development Programme, said in an interview with one of the broadcasters that the country was currently facing the H7 and H6 strain, something it…

Inanda-born star Pinky “Pinky-1st lady” Khotsolo, an upcoming Afro-soul singer, songwriter and a contemporary dancer, said her biggest dream is to empower other artists with disabilities, just like her. Khotsolo, 34, started Drumroll Entertainment, which is aimed to empower artists living with disabilities and instil confidence in them. Khotsolo intends on educating the community about the challenges people with disabilities face. Khotsolo was not born disabled. Her life changed in 2007 after completing matric, when doctors discovered she had a spine problem, which led to her becoming a paraplegic and using a wheelchair. She started singing during her high school days and turned professional in 2020. Khotsolo has shared the stage with one of the biggest artists in the country, Big Zulu. Her biggest dream is to one day…

HAVING television shows depicting domestic workers as mere objects to be moved around with no regard for their rights does more harm than good. While the show Abo Auntie airing on Showmax may have been produced to assist domestic workers to improve their skills, the Help One Helper non-profit organisation said it was disappointed at how domestic workers on the show were being treated by their employers. Ntombizodwa Mahlangu, a domestic worker and founder and director of the organisation, said the show exposed the conditions of employment that domestic workers were subjected to. Almost all of the episodes provided evidence that employers did not follow the Basic Conditions of Employment Act and other legislative measures when employing domestic workers, Mahlangu said. She said the organisation had seen episodes where more…

IMAGINE living in an SA National Parks facility half of your life, a place where you see, feel, breathe and hear nature 24 hours a day, seven days a week, in all seasons. This has been Peter “Paddy” Gordon’s life for the past 34 years. The nature specialist has been at the forefront of the management of the country’s national parks. Gordon has led some of the most important parks across the country in a career that is a testament to his passion and love for the communities around them. Currently managing the Free State’s only national park, the Golden Gate Highlands National Park, Gordon has also managed the Table Mountain National Park, the Garden Route National Park and the Richtersveld Transfrontier Park. Gordon flashes a big smile while describing…

FORMULA 1 is one of the most expensive sports in the world and if you’ve seen any of the Drive to Survive shows, you’ll know why despite the FIA capping the amount of money in an attempt to level the playing field. There are advantages for us, lesser mortals, whose driving is restricted to public roads in ordinary cars. A lot of the technology developed around F1 eventually finds its way into our cars and that can only be a good thing as technology develops almost faster than we can keep up. Taking a leaf from its involvement in F1, Renault has developed the E-TECH powertrains – hybrid and rechargeable hybrid – from its 2014 race car. The same architecture has been transferred to E-TECH that combines an internal combustion…

World Cup winner Lukhanyo Am will definitely come into contention for the outside centre position should the Springboks reach the play-offs after this weekend’s final World Cup group stage matches. The Boks face an anxious wait until Saturday evening, when Ireland and Scotland square off in a match (kick-off 9pm) that will determine the outcome of the group. South Africa currently top Pool B with 15 points, Ireland are second (14), and Scotland (10) third. A bunch of scenarios exist but all the Boks want is an outcome that will see them reach the next stage to defend their title. According to Springbok assistant coach Felix Jones, Am will train over the next couple of weeks and will be considered for the play-offs if the side progresses. He arrived in…

There may have been no goals scored but Moroka Swallows and Chippa United still produced an entertaining draw at the Dobsonville Stadium in Soweto yesterday. The two sides huffed and puffed throughout the 90 minutes but could not find a winner. A Chippa United side looking to make it an unfamiliar three wins in a row took the fight to a slow-cooking Swallows outfit. Both coaches Morgan Mammila and Steve Komphela have already expressed their desires to have their sides play some of the most entertaining football in the league, even though it comes at high risk. For the hosts, their insistence to play from the back almost reaped immediate rewards as Komphela’s Swallows created the first clear-cut chance of the game. The in-form Tshegofatso Mabasa got in behind the…

SOUTH African petrol service stations lost a minimum R7 billion profit on petrol sales for the past 10 years, because of poor regulation by the Department of Mineral Resources and Energy (DMRE), Reggie Sibiya, the CEO of the Fuel Retailers Association (FRA), said yesterday. The FRA said it was successful last month in the High Court against the minister of Mineral Resources and Energy, adding the Regulatory Accounting System in Petroleum (RAS) made no provision for Entrepreneurial Compensation (EC). The ruling paved the way for retailers to get EC. The DMRE did not respond to request for comment. Sibiya said the EC claw backs had been rising between 5 cents per litre (cpl) to 15cpl for the past decade between various oil majors. Approxi- mately 65% of service…

BROAD-BASED Black Economic Em- powerment (B-BBEE) policy should remain one of South Africa’s fundamental tools to redress the economic disparities of a highly unequal society in spite of the harsh criticism against it. This is the sentiment of the B-BBEE Commissioner Tshediso Matona who, yesterday, delivered a strong defence of the intentions of the transformation policy. Speaking at the Kagiso Capital seminar on the reality of the B-BBEE policy, Matona said B-BBEE had been a pivotal policy instrument in addressing historical inequalities and transformation of black ownership and participation in the economy, but discussion on its impact, progress and potential improvement was a polarising issue. Matona said the country’s Constitution actually advocated that redress shall be through active interventions by the State, especially on procurement, in favour of previously disadvantaged…

ENTREPRENEURSHIP and small, medium and micro enterprises (SMMEs) are often referred to as the lifeline of the South African economy. Many businesses, however, fail in the first five years in their respective industries, with the common fault being a lack of funding and not having basic business acumen for the entrepreneurs to get their companies off the ground. Mitchan Adams, the founder and CEO of Aions Creative Technology, says heritage can be as much about the future as it is about the past. He aims to make an impact by leaving a legacy of collective accountability. As a venture builder (VB) that invests in South African start-ups, of which 70% to 80% fail within the first five years, Adams says he hopes VBs, with their approach that combines funding with…

ANGLO American said it was cutting corporate office jobs across several countries, as unions said its South African iron ore business plans to lay off scores of workers at its head office. The global mining giant had started reorganising its operations in May, a spokesperson said yesterday. “We expect a potential reduction in corporate office roles across a number of countries,” the spokesperson added, without giving further details of the size or location of the cuts. Livhuwani Mammburu, a spokesperson for the National Union of Mineworkers, earlier said Anglo’s Kumba Iron Ore plans to cut 183 jobs, mostly at its head office, as it faces challenges in moving sufficient volumes to ports as a result of rail constraints in South Africa. The job cuts could be pared back to about…

Downtime With Somizi (S1) 1Magic, DStv channel 103 at 6pm Somizi invites interesting South Africans and celebrities to take some time away from their busy lives and indulge in an out of the box experience with great food and great conversations. On today’s episode, Somizi chats to Thembi Seeti and Ntombi Mzola-Ngcobo. Law & Order (S2) M-Net, DStv channel 101 at 7pm A double murder sparks accusations of the victims’ ex-partners being involved, but the key witness is also dead, resulting in a very complicated case for Assistant District Attorney Stone. Masterchef: The Professionals BBC Lifestyle, DStv channel 119 at 6.01pm The semi-final stage continues with eight chefs left in the running for the title. Their first challenge sees them cook outside the MasterChef kitchen for the first time, as…

In a groundbreaking move for Zimbabwe, the world is set to witness a mysterious and awe-inspiring encounter that happened 30 years ago, through the lens of a Netflix documentary, Encounters. This film not only delves into the unexplained phenomenon that occurred at a Zimbabwean school, it also showcases the nation’s rich cultural tapestry and the resilience of its people. In 1994, more than 60 children at the school claimed to have seen strange beings and a craft that landed near their playground. They described the beings as having large heads, big eyes, and wearing tight black suits. They said they felt a telepathic communication from them, warning them about the dangers of technology and the future of the planet. Their accounts were met with scepticism and disbelief at the time,…

With almost two weeks left before the Pretoria High Court hears the watershed court case brought by Prince Simakade against his half-brother, King Misuzulu KaZwelithini, over the Zulu throne, one of the sides is claiming foul play. Prince Thokozani Zulu, one of the leaders of the grouping of Zulu royal family members in the corner of Prince Simakade, claims that the legal team of the king has pulled out an old affidavit of the late Prince Mangosuthu Buthelezi to bolster his case. The affidavit the king’s legal team has pulled out from the archives of the Pietermaritzburg High Court was filed for the 2021–2022 cases brought by Queen Sibongile Dlamini, the first wife of the late King Goodwill Zwelithini. Dlamini’s case was bundled with those of Prince Mbonisi Zulu, who…

Romance can be an expensive endeavour, especially in modern times. Dates can range from going to a restaurant, watching a movie and bowling to the more unconventional adventures such as hiking and going to the beach. Traditionally, a man is expected to pay the full bill on a date instead of the woman. Some go 50/50. If possible, it is necessary to discuss who will pay for what, before the date. Unfortunately, a Russian man learnt this too late. He reportedly got the short end of the stick when his date ditched him and refused to pay half the bill. News 18 reported that the 28-year-old Moscow man submitted a police report against the woman, who allegedly rushed out of the restaurant. The man told police that he had…

Ingredients Tartar sauce: 250ml mayonnaise 10ml finely chopped gherkins 2 spring onions, finely chopped 15ml chopped fresh parsley or 5ml dried 2 extra-large eggs, hard boiled and finely chopped Fish in batter: 250ml Snowflake self-raising flour 5ml salt 15ml cooking oil 250ml beer 15ml chopped fresh mixed herbs or 5ml dried 800g frozen hake fillets, thawed slightly Method Sauce: Combine all ingredients and mix well. Cover and refrigerate until ready to serve. Batter: Sift flour and salt together. Add oil and beer and whisk until batter is smooth, thick and lump free. Add herbs and leave batter to stand for about 10 minutes. Coat fish with extra flour, dip into batter, and gently drop fish into hot oil. Deep fry until golden brown. Remove fish from oil with a slotted…

Four months after receiving the Lifetime Achievement Award at the 2023 SA Aids Conference in Durban, Professor Hoosen Jerry Coovadia died yesterday. Tributes are pouring in for Coovadia, an icon of the medical fraternity, the Struggle and human rights. Coovadia was buried at the Riverside Soofie Musjid in Durban North, yesterday. He will be remembered for his vision in reviving the KZN Children’s Hospital in Durban and his contribution towards ending the HIV epidemic. Media and radio personality Alan Khan said in spite of his multiple global accomplishments, Coovadia remained humble and kind. “He was just remarkable. He leaves a tremendous legacy after a lifetime of commitment and dedication to the medical field and health sciences – and as a brave leader in the Struggle for a democratic SA. Thank…

South African new vehicle sales slipped for the second month in a row in September, Naamsa figures have shown. The industry body said the overall new vehicle market, at 46 021 units, declined by 4.1% last month, compared with September last year, as economic headwinds continued to batter the economy. The passenger car market, which accounts for the bulk of volumes, led the decline, having lost 8.4% year-on-year. However, the light commercial and bakkie sector enjoyed a 4.6% gain, as did the heavy truck industry with a 10.5% increase versus the corresponding month last year, while the medium commercials declined by 5.1%. Naamsa said 80.7% of vehicle sales in South Africa last month took place through the dealer channels, while the rental industry accounted for 13.6%, followed by corporate fleets…

Rulani Mokwena could well have been sending a coded message to the match officials for Saturday’s MTN8 final between his Mamelodi Sundowns side and Orlando Pirates at the Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban. He did not say it out loud but the coach was essentially pleading – if not instructing – the referee and his assistants to “protect my team against rough play”. Mokwena said yesterday he was hopeful that the tie against the defending champions would be “a good game of football” – unlike the previous clashes between the two sides. “We are playing against a difficult opponent with some very good players on the pitch. It is an opponent playing its third final as a group,” he said. Jose Riviero’s team won the self-same MTN8 last year, as…

THE rand pared some losses late in the afternoon yesterday after plummeting to its weakest level in four months for the second day in a row, with stocks on the JSE also plunging to a 11-month low on the global sell-off of South African assets. The currency fell to R19.41 to the US dollar during early morning trade, its lowest since May when South Africa had a diplomatic fallout with the US over the docking of the sanctioned Russian vessel Lady R in Simon’s Town. However, the rand made some gains during the day, strengthening to R19.18/$1 in the afternoon before closing 0.4% lower at R19.39/$1 by 5pm. The rand has been pressured by a stronger dollar and surging US Treasury yields, which has been driving investors to the…

LAST MONTH, the Gauteng High Court Division of South Africa, Johannesburg, ruled that fuel retailers were entitled to full Entrepreneurial Compensation (EC) and should not have to negotiate with the oil companies to ‘forfeit’ a part of the capex. This after the Fuel Retailers Association (FRA) applied to review and set aside a decision to adopt and implement the regulatory accounting system (RAS) for the Petroleum Sector in a matter which was heard in October last year. FRA argued the RAS did not make provision in its retail margin for EC for retailers in Company Owned and Retailer Operated (Coro) sites. The Department of Mineral Resources and Energy (DMRE) contended that the EC should be negotiated from the capex portion of the retail margin by the oil companies forfeiting a…

MTN REPORTED yesterday that it achieved a 15% improvement in net- work availability in the face of load shedding and vandalism, after it invested R4.5 billion to R5bn in its network to keep customers connected. In a statement, the group said this followed steady increases in network availability throughout 2023, brought about by concerted resilience interventions. According to MTN, in May, South Africans experienced 29 days of stage 5 and stage 6 load shedding, whereas last year, load shedding never increased beyond stage 3 in the same period. “Despite the extremes experienced in May, MTN was able to report improved network resilience,” the group said. “One of the key initiatives contri- buting to the remarkable improvement in MTN’s network availability has been rolling out a comprehensive…

In 2022, the Fak’ugesi African Digital Innovation Festival launched its first Fak’ugesi Awards for Digital Creativity. These awards are aimed at honouring digital creatives in their categories: Animation, Video Games, Visual Arts, Music, and XR (AR/VR). “Over the past decade since our inception, we’ve witnessed and celebrated the phenomenal growth of African creativity in the digital space. This year’s nominees showcased an exceptional standard, seamlessly blending multidisciplinary practices with digital creativity to celebrate the richness of African culture,” says Fak’ugesi’s Festival director, Eduardo Cachucho. The winners are: Animation Arowan Parker – The Present Parker is a South African animator, storyteller, and writer. The Present explores escape into fictional narratives, and rediscovery of human connections. Nkem Nwaturuocha – The Song Maiden Nwaturuocha, co-founder and creative director of Disrupt DNA,…

Gauteng ANC chairperson and Premier, Panyaza Lesufi, has mentioned financial costs as “teething” problems and challenges that are delaying the start of the Marshalltown fire inquiry. Three weeks ago, Lesufi officially introduced and announced the terms of reference of the commission of inquiry into the deadly Marshalltown tragedy of August 31. The fire at the Usindiso Building in Marshalltown, which occurred in the early hours, claimed at least 77 lives and left dozens injured and homeless. The inquiry, chaired by retired Constitutional Court Justice Sisi Khampepe, and supported by advocates Thulani Makhubela and Vuyelwa Mathilda Mabena, was set to begin on Sunday. Lesufi addressed the media yesterday at Ruth First House on the outcomes of the Provincial Executive Committee (PEC) meeting on Monday. He said that there were “teething” problems…

THE City of Joburg is consulting health authorities in a bid to monitor and prevent unsafe food from entering communities after the death of two children due to consuming poisonous and contaminated snacks from a local spaza shop. This latest incident, allegedly at the hands of a foreign spaza shop owner, has sparked tensions between locals and spaza shop owners, most of them foreign nationals. Reportedly, on Sunday, a group of children between four and six purchased biscuits from a spaza shop, and before long started vomiting. The children were rushed to the nearby clinic, but two of them died. Two others were said to be recovering in hospital. Speaking to the four children’s families yesterday, City of Joburg Speaker Colleen Makhubele emphasized the need for action to guarantee that…

A Cape Town man who was convicted of stealing erection pills and sentenced to a fine of R1 000 or 50 days imprisonment, had his conviction set aside after it was found that the magistrate failed to explain his right to legal representation. According to court papers, Josquin September was arrested on July 22, 2022, at Paarl Mall on a charge of theft for taking a pack of Erect Capsules worth R109.95 from Dis-chem Pharmacy. He pleaded guilty to the charge of theft and the magistrate sentenced him to a fine of R1 000 or 50 days. In the transcribed version, the magistrate said to September: “Okay, sir, the State indicated if you intend to plead guilty today, this matter can be disposed of and we will follow a…

THE signing of a memorandum of understanding between the City of Tshwane and Danish city of Aarhus will see the metro exploiting the technical expertise of its counterpart in order to improve the management of water, especially in the Rooiwal wastewater treatment plant. This was the sentiment expressed by mayor Cilliers Brink and his Danish counterpart Jacob Bundsgaard during a media briefing at Tshwane House where they signed the memorandum of understanding. Brink said the partnership was not just about sourcing development funding for Rooiwal upgrades but also about how the municipality can use the best expertise and improve water management. The formalisation of partnership comes after the City in May announced that a staggering R33 million would be injected into a three-year project in collaboration between Tshwane and Aarhus…

WIND tunnels are nothing new in the world of car design, with manufacturers constantly trying to achieve a perfect balance between air resistance and design in an effort to improve a vehicle’s aerodynamic behaviour. It’s one of the most important aspects in Formula 1 which is why when Red Bull was found guilty of breaking the cost cap limit in 2021, it was given a 10% reduction in aerodynamic testing for 12 months from October last year and a $7 million dollar fine. It’s not a one size fits all as tailored aerodnamics are a key step in the development of vehicles. For passenger vehicles and trucks, the goal is to achieve a low drag for a more efficient vehicle. However, when it comes to track-ready and racing cars aerodynamics…

Orlando Pirates striker Kermit Erasmus is fired up to face his former club Mamelodi Sundowns in the MTN8 final at the weekend. The Buccaneers will meet the Brazilians at the Moses Mabhida Stadium on Saturday looking to defend their Wafa Wafa Cup, while also repeating their feat of last season by bulldozing past their rivals once more. Erasmus, who scored the first of three goals when Pirates beat Sundowns in last season’s semi-final, is now looking to inflict similar pain on his former employers. The Gqeberha-born forward spent a tumultuous few seasons at the Chloorkop outfit between 2020 and 2022 and made just 43 appearances during his time there. The 33-year-old has dismissed any suggestions that a meeting with Sundowns would evoke any emotion, given his previous run-ins with the…

Former Proteas bowling coach Vincent Barnes has backed Lungi Ngidi to fill South Africa’s fast-bowling void at the upcoming 50-over World Cup in India. Barnes, who recently retired from his Cricket South Africa duties, has extensive knowledge of working with SA’s fast bowlers from grassroots to international level. The 63-year-old is regarded as the fast bowling “guru” in SA, and was part of the Proteas coaching staff at the last one-day international World Cup held in India in 2011. He admits that losing the express pace of Anrich Nortjé is a “massive blow”, and that Sisanda Magala’s death-bowling skills will be missed, but is confident that Ngidi can take the step up. The Proteas will certainly welcome a fit and raring-to-go Ngidi after the 27-year-old had been out of sorts…

On a day when erratic Kaizer Chiefs were ridiculed after launching their own brand of potato chips, opponents Cape Town City piled on the agony with a 1-0 win, which marked Amakhosi’s first home defeat at FNB Stadium this season. Just ahead of the hour mark on Tuesday evening, it was a chip off the old block, Khanyiso Mayo, who nodded home the match-winner for City. He is the son of Chiefs legend Patrick Mayo, who was also capped 18 times for Bafana Bafana. Up to that stage, Chiefs were dominating with a 66% possession advantage, but Mayo emerged as the spoiler. No sooner had referee Sikhumbuzo Gasa blown the final whistle did social media explode as fans heaped scorn on the Amakhosi, who were mockingly renamed “Kaizer Chips” after…