Índex per 2023-12-01 a Star

MOZAMBICAN family-owned group RGS has won the bids to take over ailing Tongaat Hulett (THL) with a R3.6 billion debt-for-equity offer, plus some R500 million in working capital. The terms of southern Africa’s biggest sugar producers’ business rescue plan that was released yesterday showed that Tongaat will also retain its listing though the process and existing shareholders will retain a 5% shareholding in Tongaat. Tongaat went into business rescue in October last year. RGS also undertook to sell down its 95% shareholding to a 51% to 60% stake within a year of the deal being done, in order to leave sufficient free float in Tongaat’s shares to enable it to remain listed. RGS Holdings is owned by the Gulamo family and produces sugar in Marromeu, Sofala province in…

SOUTH African asset manager Stanlib yes- terday launched an energy fund that aims to attract $1 billion (R19bn) by the end of 2028, to finance greener energy projects across the African continent. The launch of the Khanyisa Energy Transition Fund comes amid a global move towards more environmentally-friendly energy options. The COP28 summit opened yesterday with a plea to countries and fossil fuel compa- nies to work together to meet global climate goals. “The need and urgency for mobilising capital into some of these (climate) commitments is greater today," said Johan Marnewick, Stanlib's head of credit alternatives and portfolio manager. South Africa has secured $676 million in grants from rich nations for a transition to green energy, in addition to the $8.5bn pledged by developed nations at COP26, a figure…

THE NATIONAL Treasury has tabled the Draft Rates and Monetary Amounts and Amendment of Revenue Laws Bill, which proposes an increase in the Health Promotion Levy (the sugar tax) to take effect from April 2025. The proposal has sparked renewed campaigning by proponents of the sugar tax for a larger increase in the name of health. What this argument ignores is the close relationship between sustainable livelihoods and health. South Africa simply cannot afford to approach this matter as a zero-sum game; and thankfully, it doesn’t have to be. Much hangs on the actions the National Treasury and government take over the next 18 months, as the mooted increase approaches. The sugar industry is concentrated in the rural areas of KwaZulu-Natal and Mpumalanga, regions that already face significant economic challenges.…

This week, the National Treasury published its finalised financial inclusion policy framework for South Africa, titled “An Inclusive Financial Sector for All”, outlining the government’s roadmap towards a financial sector whose services and products are geared towards the population as a whole. The first draft of the paper was published for public comment in October 2020. After comments had been taken into consideration, the revised policy framework was endorsed and approved by the Cabinet in August this year. In an accompanying statement, the Treasury acknowledged that much progress had already been made: “While much remains to be done to achieve the financial inclusion objectives, the headline figures on financial inclusion in South Africa over the last decade reflect positively on South Africa’s progress, with more than 81% of the country’s…

A MACHINE learning actively managed ex- change traded fund (AMETF) plans to list on the JSE, the Numoro Multi-Asset AMETF (Aqua). The JSE said in a statement: “This new fund, which is supported by robust algorithms, is born from a partnership between financial solutions provider Numoro and the Prescient financial man- agement platform.” The portfolio invests in a flexible combination of investments in international equity, bonds, money, and property markets – with further increased adaptability through asset allocation between asset classes, countries, and regions. Johann Kloppers, the founder and managing director at Numoro, said, “Our collaboration with Prescient on the Numoro AMETF represents a significant leap forward in the world of asset management. “By integrating machine learning into our investment strategies and leveraging the expertise and infra- structure of Prescient,…

edward.west@inl.co.za The SPAR GROUP enjoyed good turnover growth in its year to September 30 and its management has also addressed the problems that resulted in the headline earnings a share falling by more than 45%. The group lifted turnover 10.1% to R149.3 billion for the year off the back of strong performance from the Irish business, while Southern Africa increased wholesale grocery turnover by 7.1%, despite various challenges. Group profitability was negatively impacted by the IT system implementation challenges, operating losses in Poland, certain non-recurring items, and higher debt costs due to rising interest rates. This led to diluted headline earnings per share falling 47.7% to 606.3 cents. The group had, however, acted with the announcement to sell its interests in the Polish business, and it had a…

It’s just under two weeks until the most anticipated festival of the year, Hey Neighbour, and excitement is building. Over the past few months, the first annual Hey Neighbour Festival announced an all-star cast of international acts unlike any we’ve seen since 2018’s Global Citizen festival, which brought the likes of Beyoncé, Jay-Z, Pharrell and Ed Sheeran to Mzansi. This time we’ll be seeing the likes of Kendrick Lamar, HER, Khalid, The Chainsmokers, and Swedish House Mafia. There’ll also be top local acts, including Grammy award winner Zakes Bantwini, Nasty C and Anatii. First, what’s up with that name? Well, the festival explained that it comes from the idea that the event aims to connect attendees through immersive experiences and give them a chance to reconnect with themselves, humanity, and…

The South African Weather Service is monitoring the situation after scorching conditions fuelled by a high- pressure system resulted in South Africa experiencing unprecedented heatwaves, smashing temperature records across the country. The weather service issued extended advisories as hot conditions persist, breaking November records in multiple provinces. According to data, peak temperatures on November 27 (Monday), reached a new high of 46.7°C. The weather service said: “Following the heatwave conditions that prevailed from November 19, 2023, for a number of days in most parts of the country, November records were broken in both the maximum and minimum temperature measurements. “Hot to very hot conditions were experienced in most parts of the country, with isolated areas having extremely hot conditions for several days in a row. “Hot conditions reached their peak…

On November 15, US President Joe Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping met outside San Francisco at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) event in bilateral efforts to reset US-China relations from polarised zero-sum competition, towards dialogue and co-operation. The two leaders of the most powerful countries and the biggest economies in the world last met in November 2022, on the sidelines of the G20 summit in Bali, Indonesia. The talks, which come after months of delicate diplomatic negotiations, come against the backdrop of a long struggle for global shifts from bipolarity to a pluralist world order in which the Global South is becoming actively assertive. Unsurprisingly, Xi called for the US and China to jointly shoulder responsibilities based on co-operation while leading by example, step up co-ordination and co-operation on…

Hoërskool Ben Vorster has confirmed that it is investigating the circumstances around the use of the K-word by one of its learners in a TikTok video. The school said that irrespective of the outcome of the governing body’s investigation, programmes would be developed to inform learners of the various aspects of the school’s ethical code of conduct. The Grade 9 learner can be seen with a girl in the video, and he calls popular YouTuber Sonwabile D an “EFF k*****”. His screen then goes blank. The EFF’s wing in Limpopo staged a protest outside the high school in Tzaneen where its members met with the school’s management. In a statement released by the school, governing body chairperson Eddie Vorster said it launched an investigation after the incident was brought to…

THE City of Tshwane has warned against scammers targeting people looking for accommodation at the blocks of flats built under the government’s social housing programme in Marabastad. The flats are for the benefit South Africans with a gross household income of between R11 301 and R22 000. MMC for Human Settlements, Ofentse Madzebatela, said: “It has come to our attention that there is a fraudulent website that purports to be that of the Housing Company Tshwane, a housing entity of the City of Tshwane.” He warned the public against using such websites, and individuals who claimed to be allocating and selling Housing Company Tshwane units at the Townlands social housing project. “Housing Company Tshwane units are solely for rental purposes and are not for sale. These units are only…

Two South African young scientists have both earned medals after successfully showcasing their scientific research at this year’s Buca International Music, Science, Engineering Energy Fair, which took place in İZmir, Türkiye. Inge Higgins, a Grade 9 learner from Hoërskool Menlopark in Pretoria, clinched a prestigious Silver medal in the Biology category, while Vera van der Merwe, a Grade 10 learner at Bloemhof Hoër Meisieskool in Stellenbosch, secured a Bronze medal in the same category. These remarkable achievements were realised at the international fair which was held from November 20 to 25. Both learners had been awarded the opportunity to travel to Türkiye and participate in the fair by the Eskom Expo for Young Scientists. Higgins showcased her research project, “The effect of biodegradable olive-pulp plant pots on the germination and…

The National Youth Development Agency (NYDA) celebrates the successful conclusion of its recruitment roadshow for the second cohort of the National Youth Service (NYS) programme. Commencing with Brits in North West, the roadshow launched at Letlhabile Community Hall where the mayor of Madibeng Local Municipality, Douglas Maimane, welcomed the programme, urging the youth of Madibeng to seize the opportunities. He encouraged them to embrace the opportunities as a symbol of empowerment, emphasising the importance of youth taking the lead in their development and contributing positively to their community. The next stop was at the Multi-Purpose Centre in De Aar, in the Northern Cape, followed by Thaba Nchu Civic Centre in the Free State and finally, Jakes Gerwel Multi-Purpose Centre in Somerset East, Eastern Cape. The overwhelming response from the youth…

John Plumtree has been marching to Pretoria in some form or another for over 30 years and he says nothing has changed in terms of what is required for a Sharks win at Loftus Versfeld. As a player for Natal in the ’90s and as coach of the Sharks and Hurricanes, nothing has changed – the forward battle trumps all else if the Bulls are to be corralled. “There is plenty of excitement in our backline,” Plumtree said, after naming an unchanged squad apart from Aphiwe Dyantyi coming in for the injured Werner Kok for tomorrow’s URC derby. “Aphiwe provides a slightly different skill set to Werner. Aphelele Fassi is in good form. Makazole Mapimpi will be better off for the run he had last week. Our midfield is starting…

BILLIONAIRES increased in numbers and overall wealth last year, Swiss bank UBS said yesterday, with the fortunes inherited by the newly-minted super-rich exceeding cash generated by self-made billionaires for the first time in years. The number of billionaires rose by 7% to 2 544 people globally, UBS said in its 2023 Billionaires Ambitions Report, with their total worth rising by 9% to an estimated $12 trillion (R223trln). For the first time since the study started in 2015, billionaires accumulated more wealth via inheritance than through their own business activities. Among the 137 new billionaires, a total of $150.8 billion was inherited by 53 heirs over the past year, exceeding the 84 new self-made billionaires’ total of $140.7bn, the bank said. The generational wealth transfer was gaining momentum…

THE SOUTH African National Energy Development Institute (Sanedi) has argued that coal still has a place in the country’s energy mix as it faces the prospect of a dark Christmas period due to intensified power cuts. This comes as load shedding continues to wreak havoc in the economy as Eskom is forced to implement intensified power cuts due to breaking generation units. Sanedi’s clean coal research specialist, Gcobisa Melamane, yesterday said peak demand had always been met by pumped-storage schemes that store and release water to generate electricity, as well as open-cycle gas turbines that run on diesel. Melamane said that renewable energy options were increasingly adding to capacity and displacing some of the coal-generated supply from ageing power stations. However, she said commercial, industrial and manufacturing enterprises could not…

BUSINESS, especially the financial services sector, has a crucial role to play in funding and accelerating the transition to cleaner and more sustainable sources of energy, says Absa Group Chief Strategy and Sustainability Officer Punki Modise. Modise said COP28 was particularly significant, because it was where the first global stocktake would happen to assess progress made in meeting the terms and conditions of the international treaty on climate change adopted in Paris in 2015. “Although Africa has contributed the least to the climate crisis, it is experiencing disproportionate climate change consequences which mani- fest in social and economic under- development, an energy poverty crisis and rising inequality,” Modise said. She added that African countries would be looking to COP28 for strategies that would strengthen the continent’s resilience and ability…

LEWIS Group declared a dividend of 200 cents despite its consumers facing tough financial pressure and after it managed to retain the quality of its book in the six months to September 30, its results showed yesterday. The relatively strong results for the furniture, electronic goods, home appliance and housewares retail group in such a weak economy saw the share price ratchet up a sturdy 5.06% to close at R41.50 on the JSE yesterday. The pressure on consumer disposable income from higher fuel, energy, food and borrowing costs was reflected in the continued slowdown in the group’s cash sales, which also adversely impacted the performance of UFO, Lewis’s cash retail brand. But a right sizing and cost cuts at UFO resulted in it reporting an operating profit for the…

The Department of Social Development has cleared the air following this week’s difference of opinion between Minister Lindiwe Zulu and her deputy, Hendrietta Bogopane-Zulu, over the awarding of the contract to manage the GBV command centre. This comes after Bogopane-Zulu said that she was not made aware of the appointment of a new service provider to manage the command centre after Vodacom’s contract came to an end. This resulted in the appointment of Brilliant Telecommunications as its replacement. According to the deputy minister, the minister had a hand in the appointment of the new service provider, an assertion that the minister denied during an interview with eNCA. Yesterday, following a countrywide outcry suggesting that the command centre had collapsed, the department, through its spokesperson Lumka Oliphant, said it would like…

SUGGESTIONS that more than 20 deaths in Hammanskraal in May this year in the wake of a cholera outbreak were caused by contaminated water from the Rooiwal wastewater treatment plant are “misleading”. This was said by City of Tshwane’s Utility Services MMC Themba Fosi in reaction to opposition parties’ insinuation that dirty water from the Rooiwal plant had something to do with deaths of people following a cholera outbreak in the township. Fosi was speaking during an ordinary council sitting at Tshwane House council chamber, where councillors deliberated on the recent public protector’s report that found the City had failed to provide residents of Hammanskraal with clean water. ANC councillor William Kgopa attributed the failure to lack of capacity on the part of the City and its current administration. “The…

TZANEEN-BORN producer and DJ Dr Skaro has ensured there was a track released this year to speak to familial and common ills faced by society today. Whether it was his debut single of the year Ae Enough, speaking on effects of being a breadwinner, or the cheaters’ anthem Ake Joli and his last single Moruti detailing the dangers of false pastors, Dr Skaro has used his music to detail real life occurrences. Not steering far away from this ethos, the Dilo Txaka hitmaker delivers his latest single Kea Gae. A track he teamed with President ya Straata Focalisict, and features Sosha’s Pat Medina, Richie Teanet and Sleazy Musiq. The upbeat, pop-inspired single is an anthem for anyone looking for an uplifting single to continue pursuing your dream. Focalistic opens the…

It’s competition time! Heineken® is celebrating 150 years of good times. Join us for our celebration at Destination Good Times taking place @Hey Neighbour Festival and take part in Africa’s Biggest Cheers moment! Stand a chance to WIN a VIP Experience and an Exclusive Heineken® Hamper valued at R7 200! Be a part of the celebrations from December 8, 9, and 10 at Legends Adventure Farm in Pretoria. Here’s how to enter: Share a photo or video of you and your mates’ unique cheers moment on social media (Instagram, X, or Facebook) tagging @Heineken_SA and @TheStar_news Use the designated hashtag #He150ken #Heini and show us your most spirited, creative, and engaging cheers moments to become one of our lucky winners. It’s not just a competition; it’s a chance to…

The festive season is upon us and we have a lot to celebrate as a country! It’s time to get those braai stands out, dust off the camp chairs and call up the troops. Of course, nothing says let’s make this one to remember without the classic South African snack tray and Simba’s limited edition Steakhouse Beef flavour. While the flames work their magic, let your guests Bambisa ngeSimba Steakhouse Beef as they anticipate the sizzling taste of the braai. The curated blend of premium spices that replicate the succulent and savoury taste of a gourmet steakhouse beef fillet will squash even the most deep-seated beef between rivals. Make this a festive season that Roarrs with flavour by creating new and unforgettable memories with Simba’s Steakhouse Beef flavour. The Star…

A blind mole with, an iridescent coat sheen, that “swims’ through sand and has been lost to science since 1936 has been rediscovered, thanks to a team of conservationists and geneticists from the Endangered Wildlife Trust (EWT) and the University of Pretoria. The De Winton’s golden mole, native to South Africa, is the 11th of the world’s most wanted lost species to be rediscovered since the Search for Lost Species launched in 2017. A research paper, “Environmental DNA from soil”, reveals the presence of a “lost Afrotherian species”. Published this month in the scientific journal “Biodiversity and Conservation”, the incredible lengths the team went in order to rediscover the species are detailed. The EWT-led team used a burgeoning technique, never used before, to detect golden moles: environmental DNA (eDNA), which…

The government’s failure to maintain and upgrade its infrastructure is coming home to roost – in a devastating fashion. This week, at least two major companies signalled their intention to downscale and disinvest in South Africa due to load shedding and seaport and rail issues. Volkswagen warned that it would have to undergo radical restructuring to remain profitable in South Africa. The automobile manufacturer has been in the country for almost 80 years and its manufacturing plant in the Eastern Cape has more than 3 500 employees. Steel corporation ArcelorMittal SA could slash a further 3 500 jobs as it looks to offset a 74% drop in share price over the past year. Also citing power cuts and rail challenges, ArcelorMittal said: “In the circumstances, the ArcelorMittal SA board and…

When Marius Louw joined the Lions, there were doubts surrounding the 28-year-old’s abilities. After all, the inside centre had the big boots of captain Burger Odendaal to fill and had limited opportunities at his former team the Sharks. Few thought that he would be able to match the strength and physicality of then-Wasps-bound Odendaal but now, in many respects, Louw has eclipsed those expectations. Indeed, Louw has crash-balled his way into the consciousness of Lions fans with courageous displays, ploughing his way into opposition teams with gleeful abandon. He has put in some powerful running performances, never shying away from the contact point, and never being afraid of the crash! boom! bang! of the midfield. Sure, he has made a few mistakes in those moments, but there can be no…

RHULANI Mokwena is a players’ coach through and through, but that doesn’t mean he spares the emotions of his players if they are not pulling their weight. Mamelodi Sundowns have been the best team in Africa in recent months. They are the first African Football League champions and are on course to win the domestic league for a record seventh time in a row. They won the AFL in some style as they beat arch-rivals Petro de Luanda, Al Ahly and Wydad Casablanca a few weeks ago en route to the title. Their aspirations to defend their domestic title also haven’t suffered, thanks to their dominant start. The Brazilians returned to the Premiership on Wednesday night and beat cross-town rivals SuperSport United 2-0 to break their own record of eight…

mihlali.baleka@inl.co.za TS Galaxy striker Samir Nurkovic is enjoying his football again, and there are no legal battles or selfish ambitions that could kill his mojo. It’s been a topsy-turvy stint in the PSL for Nurkovic, having risen to stardom before finding himself jobless, in legal brawls ... and scoring goals again. Nurkovic became the talk of town after turning his detractors to admirers at Kaizer Chiefs in his debut season in 2019, nearly guiding the side to the league title with his scoring prowess. But injury woes saw his contract terminated by Amakhosi, resulting in him being jobless for some time before surfacing at Royal AM last season. His stint with Thwihli Thwahla lasted two months, the club reportedly terminating his contract after it emerged that he had lengthy…

Like many other industries, Ford has had to fly freight in as a result of the port backlogs FORD SOUTH Africa president Neale Hill has sounded another warning to the government to get its house in order before the vehicle manufacturing industry faces total collapse. “It’s not about to happen immediately, but I fear that investments from parent companies are likely to stop after 2028 if the current situation continues,” he said at the local launch of the Ford Puma in Cape Town on Wednesday night. His comments follow a recent interview with Volkswagen Global CEO Thomas Schäfer where he said he was “very worried” about the future viability of its Gqeberha plant as a result of blackouts, rising labour costs and the county’s chaotic port delays and crumbling rail…

SA Canegrowers SOUTH African Canegrowers welcomes the order issued on Wednesday in the High Court of South Africa, Durban Local Division, dismissing with costs the application by Tongaat Hulett and the Business Rescue Practitioners to challenge the financial obligations on the miller in terms of the Sugar Act and the Sugar Industry Agreement. This order follows the failure of Tongaat Hulett and Gledhow mills to pay more than R1.5 billion due to the South African Sugar Association (Sasa) at the end of March 2023. As a consequence of these de- faults, the final recoverable value (RV) price for growers in the 2022/2023 season dropped by more than R400 per ton, with significant financial implications for growers and compromising the sustainability of their operations. The business rescue practitioners at Tongaat…

Following a strong rally during the first half of the year, the past few months have been characterised by global equity markets retreating from their recent highs. In fact, the MSCI World Index ended October 10.4% lower than its July peak, technically placing the index in correction territory. Yet, despite the recent declines, returns across equity markets since October last year, when the market bottomed, remain impressive. This is perhaps surprising, given all that has transpired over the ensuing period. The leaders and laggards From October 12, 2022, to October 31, 2023, the MSCI World Index returned around 20% in US dollars and slightly more in rand. Interestingly, Europe (+27%) and Japan (+20%) were the standout regional performers over the period, while the US marginally underperformed the broader index, despite…

SHARES in Hudaco Industries shot up nearly 8% after it yesterday voluntarily disclosed it had agreed to acquire Plasti- Weld’s trading assets and liabilities. But later Hudaco’s shares, which are up 87.13% in three years, closed a mere 2% up at R163.20 on the JSE yesterday. The deal takes effect from today (December 1) and the purchase consideration would be based on the annual profit after tax of the Plasti-Weld business for the three preced- ing financial years and the first year after the effective date. Hudaco said the maxi- mum consideration was R56 million, which would be funded from cash generation and existing facilities of Hudaco. Plasti-Weld is an importer and stockist of plastic welding equipment, hot-air tools, special- ised test and inspection equipment and thermo…

ABOUT €104 million (R2.12 billion) has been wiped off Reinet’s net asset value (NAV) in the half year period to September 2023, the company, which has a secondary listing on the JSE, said yesterday, highlighting though that it had committed €39m in investment commitments during the same period. Reinet’s NAV, which measures the value of the company’s total assets less its liabilities, has declined by 1.8% from the previous €5.7bn as at March 2023. Its current NAV of €5.6bn, however, “reflects a compound growth rate of 8.5% per annum since March 2009” including dividends paid. “The decrease in the NAV of €104m during the period reflects decreases in the estimated fair value of certain investments including British American Tobacco (BAT), Pension Insurance Corporation Group Limited and Prescient China…

It’s the first weekend of December and there are plenty of events in Joburg this weekend to get you into a holiday mood. So put on their party shoes and enjoy the festivities in the city. Thandiswa Mazwai Life – Mzansi Fela Festival Catch one of South Africa’s most talented vocalists, Thandiswa Mazwai, at the State Theatre tomorrow. Following sold-out shows in Durban and Johannesburg, Mazwai wants to give her supporters a taste of what to expect in her album, Sankofa. “Sankofa is about fetching what has been left behind and the making of this work has really embodied that idea,” she explained. “I can’t wait for people to hear what we’ve been working on. It’s sensitive and lush while at the same time, very powerful to me.” Mazwai has…

The Senzo Meyiwa murder trial has been postponed to January next year after one of the defence advocates complained he was not feeling well and needed medical attention. A visibly unhappy Judge Ratha Mokgoatlheng acceded to the request after defence advocate Bheki Mngomezulu told the Gauteng High Court, Pretoria, that he needed to consult a medical doctor. The court had previously heard that Deputy Judge President Audrey Ledwaba wanted the case resolved speedily in order for other cases to be resolved. The murder trial was due to go to recess today. Five men, Muzikawukhulelwa Sibiya, Bongani Ntanzi, Mthobisi Prince Mncube, Mthokoziseni Maphisa and Fisokuhle Nkani Ntuli are accused of murdering the Bafana Bafana and Orlando Pirates goalkeeper at the Vosloorus home of his girlfriend, Kelly Khumalo, during a suspected hit.…

Four men who were arrested in connection with a fatal cash-in-transit robbery that happened in the Mecklenburg policing area in the Sekhukhune district have been remanded in custody, Limpopo police said. The four alleged robbers, aged between 34 and 40, appeared in the Tubatse Magistrate’s Court. The robbery happened on Saturday. A security guard delivering money was shot dead. “The four suspects were identified as Herbet Mbuyane, 40; Albert Matemane, 40; Victor Nonyane, 37; and Prince Mdluli, 34. The suspects are facing charges of robbery with aggravating circumstances and murder,” Limpopo police spokesperson Brigadier Hlulani Mashaba said. Mashaba said the case against the four was postponed to December 6 for a formal bail application and further police investigations. “The arrests came after a group of suspects bombed a security company…

Veteran music stars, Babsy Mlangeni and Blondie Makhene will help in the fight against gender-based violence as part of the line-up for the “Take a stand against GBVF” event set to take place at Soweto’s Naledi Hall today. The event coincides with the 16 Days of Activism for No Violence Against Women and Children campaign which kicked off this past week. On Saturday, while in KZN, President Cyril Ramaphosa called on South African men to play a role in dismantling the image that the country was a place where women are abused. Addressing the public in Durban at the start of the annual 16 Days of Activism against gender-based violence (GBV) on Saturday, Ramaphosa said men who continued to abuse women were creating a bad image of the country. Last…

THE dysfunctional state of the Beit bridge border post between South Africa and Zimbabwe, where the Border Management Authority (BMA) was hastily launched without receiving adequate funding or the transfer of relevant personnel, is emblematic of the lack of political will to tackle porous borders in South Africa. I visited the Beitbridge border post alongside ActionSA Limpopo premier candidate Kgoshi Letsiri Phaahla andsaw first-hand the dysfunctional state of the facility which, despite having recently been upgraded, remains plagued by inefficiencies and allegations of corruption. Only a few metres from the border post, there are gaping holes in the fencing. This allows people to easily cross the border illegally, and for goods and drugs to be smuggled into our communities. The visit to the border post reaffirmed to me again that…

ELOQUENCE and lock forwards seldom belong in the same sentence but Ruben van Heerden is a rare case where a rugged engine room man can deliver erudite answers to media queries. Van Heerden, who divides rugby players into those who play pianos and those who shift them, has been a glimmer of light in the dark cloud that has hovered over the Stormers’ URC campaign. The Cape team’s line-out functioned perfectly well at times during the Stormers’ winless tour of Europe and Van Heerden’s partnership with youngster Adre Smith was one of the few reasons for coach John Dobson to smile. “Adre and I are forming a nice combination,” said Van Heerden. “He told me in the gym that I was the head boy and he was the bad boy.…

SO good is the Blitzboks’ record in the Dubai Sevens they have been dubbed the “Desert Kings”. The Blitzboks have won five of the last six Dubai Sevens. That includes the back-to-back tournament weekends held after the life-altering Covid pandemic, which took them to a record 10th Dubai gold. Only New Zealand come close with six cup wins in the Gulf, and they have to navigate through them (6.44am), Samoa (8.50am) and Canada (12.58pm) in Pool A tomorrow. In comes 20-year-old Junior Springbok Masande Mtshali, with the required keenness to make the Dubai outing the Olympic qualification springboard for the Blitzboks. “Dubai is a good place to start with that,” said Mtshali. “I have been here before and we feel comfortable with the surroundings and tournament set-up, so there will…