Índex per 2024-01-30 a Star

BY CONVERTING 1 000 tons of food waste into animal feed over the past six months, the Shoprite Group said it was providing enough fodder for up to 3 000 cattle daily. It said that was part of its commitment to environmental sustainability and advancing the circular economy. The retailer was repurposing food products, returned from Shoprite and Checkers supermarkets to its distribution centres in Brackenfell, Western Cape, and in Centurion, Gauteng, that were no longer fit for human consumption, thereby preventing waste from ending up in landfills. Dried goods such as rice, pasta, maize pro- ducts, cereal products, flour, chips, snacks and seeds supplement hominy chop, a byproduct of maize milling, in the group’s animal feed formula. To reduce food waste, which has significant environmental, social…

Headline earnings for year to December 2023 expected lower by at least 166% EARNINGS in ArcelorMittal South Africa (Amsa), which is battling a slowdown in the local economy and national infrastructure and logistics shortfalls, are expected to plunge for the full year to December, tipping the company from profit-making into a loss. Business Report reported last week that big South African steel manufacturers, including Amsa, were struggling to keep the lights on. Amsa yesterday reported that headline earnings for the year to December 2023 were expected to plunge by at least 166% from R2.34 headline profit per share in the previous contrasting period to a loss per share of between R1.55 and R1.85 per share. “Included within the above range of the earnings per share guidance, is the recognition of…

THE FACT THAT 145 countries, covering close to 90% of global emissions, have announced or are considering net-zero targets by 2050, which is what will be required to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees, is good news for our planet. However, to achieve this, countries will have to completely transform how they produce and consume energy. More specifically, how to replace coal, gas and oil-fired powered energy with clean, renewable energy sources such as solar and wind. This raises questions regarding what pace will be required for various climate technologies to scale up in order to play their part in a new net-zero energy mix. A recent analysis by global consultancy McKinsey has revealed that that even the more mature technologies, such as wind and solar power, would need to…

Margot Brews THE HEALTH-CARE sector has been on the cusp of substantial reform for some time. However, the introduction and application of artificial intelligence (AI) across various health-care disciplines will surely stand out as one of the most revolutionary eras in the industry. The rapidly evolving field has been lauded as the key to unlocking greater quality in health-care services, introducing more efficient protocols and treatment pathways, as well as considerably increasing access to health-care across all demographics. When we place this in a local context, taking into consideration that steps to implement the National Health Insurance are in motion, AI will be critical in helping implement specific elements, such as public health interventions. If we are to refer to the Covid-19 pandemic and its immense scale, AI was leveraged…

THE WORLD Health Organisation said yesterday that nearly half the world’s population was now covered by solid rules limiting trans fat in foods and urged lagging countries to follow. The WHO appealed in 2018 for industrially produced fatty acids in foods to be eliminated world- wide by 2023, amid evidence they caused 500 000 premature deaths every year. The target was not met and was pushed back to 2025 .But now 53 countries covering 46% of the world’s population are imple- menting best practice policies on the toxic substance – up from 11 countries and 6% in 2018. The WHO estimates that about 183 000 lives a year are being saved. “Trans fat has no known health benefit, but huge health risks,” WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said.…

Are you a home cook with a passion for food? Then this is your chance to show off your culinary skills and win big. MasterChef South Africa is back and now is the time to enter if you want to be chosen as a contestant. The winner of the local fifth version of the world’s biggest television cooking competition will scoop up a whopping R1 million cash prize. To possibly bake, fry, or roast your way to success in the MasterChef South Africa kitchen, you must be a South African citizen above the age of 18 who has never earned a living as a professional chef. You simply have to live and breathe food, love spending time in front of the stove, and know how to whip up the most…

The ANC national executive committee (NEC) has suspended former president Jacob Zuma for his involvement with the uMkhonto we Sizwe (MK) Party. The ANC NEC, meeting in Boksburg, has tasked its secretary-general with sending a letter to Zuma. ANC secretary-general Fikile Mbalula confirmed yesterday that Zuma had been suspended. He said they invoked rule 25 of the ANC constitution to temporarily suspend Zuma. He said the ANC did not take long to act on the matter, but had to engage internally. ANC national chairperson Gwede Mantashe indicated a few weeks ago that they would not act now but would have to wait until after the polls. “The options of engagement, he closed them down. You can see from his posture every day. It was clear there was no turning back…

The saying that justice delayed is not justice denied has never been more so for a woman from Mothibistad after finally seeing her uncle being sentenced for raping her as far back as 1992. According to the Northern Cape’s National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), the former teacher, who was residing at a hostel in Mothibistad, placed a pillow over his niece’s face and proceeded to rape her while in her bedroom in February 1992. Although the 32-year-old teacher was living with his wife, baby daughter and niece, following the initial incident, he would take advantage of the times when his wife was not at home and would rape his niece using the same modus operandi. The prosecuting authority said the uncle would also on occasion make up excuses as to why…

A 10-YEAR-old boy nearly lost his life after a wardrobe fell on top of him when a neighbour’s wall collapsed due to the flooding that caused devastation to the Chicken Farm informal settlement in Soweto on Saturday. A few streets away, a man identified by neighbours as Bongani, believed to be originally from Mozambique, lost his life when he was electrocuted while inside his one-room shack in the area. The circumstances surrounding the real cause of death are still unknown, but neighbours believe Bongani was electrocuted by an appliance that came into contact with water from the heavy rain. “We believe he was electrocuted. Those who last saw him have indicated that he had been trying to take the water out using a spade and, minutes later, the electricity went…

AS SCHOOLS opened last week and after concerns were raised around the safety of pupils being transported to and from them, traffic officials have announced that during a national crackdown hundreds of vehicles were removed from the roads and many drivers arrested. The Road Traffic Management Corporation (RTMC) said that at the end of the first week of the school calendar, traffic authorities intensified their crackdown on unroadworthy vehicles transporting pupils to school. “The back-to-school campaign, which started when schools reopened, has so far resulted in 37 548 vehicles stopped and checked in 484 law enforcement operations in different provinces,” RTMC spokesperson Simon Zwane said. He said provinces with the highest number of vehicles stopped and checked were KwaZulu-Natal, the Eastern Cape and Gauteng. “A total of 167 drivers…

Outgoing Gauteng provincial police commissioner Lieutenant-General Elias Mawela has given his last update before retiring after serving the police force for more than five decades. Mawela indicated that the provincial department, which has weathered storms, is now in calmer waters, especially on issues pertaining to financial management. Mawela who was appointed to the position on February 1, 2019, gave the province under his tenure a glowing five-year review as he delivered what is likely his last address as commissioner. He said on his appointment, the province made specific priorities which shaped the implementation of a turnaround strategy intended to assert the authority of the state. “The initiatives contained in the SAPS turnaround strategy are intended to assert the authority of the state, ensure thorough and responsive investigation…

TRIBUTES have poured in following the death of South Africa’s first black neurosurgeon, Professor Mochichi Samuel Mokgokong. He died at the age of 72. The Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA) said Mokgokong, who was the HPCSA president from 2011 until 2015, died on January 24. Current HPCSA president Professor Simon Nemutandani said the country was blessed to have been shaped by the will, leadership and vision of Mokgokong. He was well known for heading the team responsible for separations of craniopagus conjoined twins and has trained and mentored more than 20 neurosurgeons, he said. “The sudden loss of our leader, colleague and friend is devastating. His inspiring leadership enabled all of us to fulfil our role in improving public health, especially for the most affected people,” said Nemutandani.…

Israel’s El Al Airlines has scrapped its flights to South Africa following a drop in demand for seats as a result of the case brought by South Africa to the International Court of Justice (ICJ). The airline made the announcement on the same day that the ICJ ruled on provisional measures for Israel to stop genocide in Gaza. The decision to scrap the flights will come into effect at the end of March. South Africa filed the genocide application late last year, but the court made the ruling on Friday. Minister of International Relations Naledi Pandor said they hope Israel will implement it. President Cyril Ramaphosa said the court judgment has vindicated South Africa in its call for Israel to stop the escalation in Gaza. He said it was time…

THE BUSINESS sector in South Africa is extremely concerned at the lack of investment in the mining industry due to unclear policy direction, delayed exploration licence approvals, the energy crisis, and logistics challenges. Business Leadership South Africa (BLSA) yesterday warned that the mining sector was facing unprecedented challenges, especially due to the energy insecurity and more than a decade of regulatory chaos. BLSA CEO Busi Mavuso said the rapid deterioration of Transnet’s ability to move output across the country and through the ports, meant a considerable decline in earnings. Mavuso said there was a lack of expansion investment by South African miners, but even more con- cerning was the near absence of exploration spending. She said this meant the industry was in a terminal state, with only existing mines being…

AGRICULTURAL Business Chamber’s (Agbiz) chief economist, Wandile Sihlobo, said yesterday that South Africa should send a firm message to neighbouring Namibia and Bo- tswana about its interest in maintaining smooth trade within the Southern African Customs Union (Sacu) and that these countries should ease the current restrictions on vegetables. “If there are attempts to revive their domestic vegetable industries, such should be communicated clearly to South Africa, as an affected partner, with clear time frames of these bans. “Such information would be valu- able in assisting the South African industry and government to plant appropriately for export markets to other regions when the ban is in place,” Sihlobo said. More importantly, he said, South Africa’s agriculture and trade ministries must intensify their efforts to widen the export markets to regions…

IT HAS BEEN one year, nine months and 22 days since I last contributed to Business Report and more than five years since I was a weekly columnist. Since writing regularly for the paper, I’ve penned syndicated long-form editorials for other significant publishers, offering accessible Afri- can perspectives on the continent’s eventful digital transformation journey. I’ve also been fortunate to produce and present live radio and storytelling podcasts for the BBC World Service. A random highlight was being roped into this live “social video” coverage of the Afrobytes Marketplace 2018 for BBC Africa from, “the great African city of Paris” with Kenyan rock star journalist Larry Madowo. (Larry is now arguably one of CNN’s top international correspondents.) Before I get ahead of myself, allow me to reintroduce myself. My name…

TRUWORTHS International, the UK and South Africa clothing retailer, said yesterday that headline earnings per share (Heps) were expected to increase between 0% and 4%, after strong UK sales offset falling sales in South Africa in the 26 weeks to December 31. Group sales increased 8.2% to R12.2 billion in the 26 weeks compared with the same period a year before, when sales were particularly high, off the back of pent-up demand from the Covid pandemic. Heps were expected to be between 495 cents and 515c from 494.6c. The interim results are expected to be published on February 29. Retail sales growth for Truworths Africa, which comprises mainly the South African businesses, fell 0.3% to R8.4bn. Office in the UK grew sales 15.6% to £162 million (R3.86…

JSE-LISTED European property investor MAS says non-investment grade (IG) rated real estate bond issues are no longer viable as the sector is priced for default. This would affect its planned €500 million (R10.1 billion) bond in the 2025/2026 year to refinance maturing Eurobonds. In 2021, MAS issued a €300m Eurobond. “Unforeseen circumstances oc- curred since then, significantly reducing the likelihood of MAS achieving IG in time for a bond issue in 2025/2026 and making bond issues unviable for non-investment grade real estate issuers,” MAS said in an investor presentation yesterday. This means that the bonds maturing next year will require refinancing in the secured debt market, increasing competition and putting pressure on bank debt availability, the company, which invests in and operates green retail assets in Europe, said.…

Award-winning content creator Nadia Jaftha has had a busy start to 2024. Not only is she single again, she just bought herself a new whip. The businesswoman and her former bae Xavier Haupt released a joint statement via their Instagram accounts that they had decided to end their relationship. Although fans were disappointed to see the end of “Xadia”, they were curious to know what happened. While appearing on Good Hope FM’s Great Drive! show with Carissa Cupido, Jaftha answered the burning question. When Cupido touched on a fan question, Jaftha said, “I think the beautiful thing is that we both are still on very good terms. It’s still very fresh,” she admitted, laughing. “I’d be lying if I said I was completely fine, because, obviously, that’s a lie. “I’m…

City of Joburg and Rand Water have confirmed the shooting of its officials while on duty yesterday in the south of Joburg. While the Rand Water official remains unnamed due to the sensitivity of the matter, the water utility has confirmed its executive was shot dead during a back-to-school campaign at the Zakarriya Park community hall in Vlakfontein. The City of Joburg has indicated that its chief whip, Sithembiso Zungu, is recovering after the shooting. Rand Water said it has been saddened by the incident that has claimed the life of its executive. “Rand Water sadly confirms the tragic incident that claimed the life of an executive, on Monday (yesterday). “As an organisation, we are shocked and devastated by the tragic passing of our treasured colleague, after a tragic…

The IFP premier candidate in KwaZulu-Natal, Thami Ntuli, has vowed to prioritise service delivery if he becomes the premier. In what appeared to be an attempt to dispel the ongoing rumours of tension between Ntuli and party president Velenkosini Hlabisa over the position, the party announced Ntuli as the premier candidate in the forthcoming elections. The announcement came as parties were battling to control the province. Hlabisa said he was the one who nominated Ntuli, adding that there was never any tension between them. The nomination was made after the IFP’s national council and national executive committee met at the weekend. In welcoming the appointment, Ntuli said he would only outline his plans and vision after the party’s manifesto launch at Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban on March 10. But…

ActionSA mourns the passing of Professor Mochichi Samuel Mokgokong recently after a gallant battle with cancer. South Africa has lost an icon of the medical fraternity who is the first neurosurgeon of African descent in South Africa. Professor Mokgokong’s accolades count among others, being co-lead of a 50-member team for a successful 18-hour operation to separate conjoined twins Mpho and Mphonyana, who were joined at the head. Professor Mokgokong embodied selflessness, forsaking the trappings of private medical practice to instead serve in the interest of society by imparting his knowledge and skills with academia both locally and abroad to enhance the development of neuro- science for the benefit of all. South Africa and the Mokgokong family have lost a giant and pillar of society.…

Gauteng Education MEC Matome Chiloane has announced the appointment of Nchupetsang Incorporated Attorneys to find out who dropped the ball, ultimately leading to the death of 12-year-old Latoya Temilton. A week following the death of Temilton, a Grade 7 learner from Laerskool Queenswood, the Gauteng Department of Education (GDE) announced that they had appointed Nchupetsang Attorneys an independent law firm to investigate the circumstances surrounding the death. Temilton allegedly drowned while at a leadership camp held at the Wag ’n Bietjie Resort in Witkoppen. Speaking at a media briefing at the school in Pretoria yesterday, Chiloane said the law firm had vast experience, and had most recently assisted them with a major scandal involving the selling of posts that the department were dealing with. According to the Education MEC, the…

THE Gauteng Department of Health has pleaded with social media users to be cautious about the type of images and videos they choose to help them trend online. The warning comes after the department raised concerns about the circulation on social media of a year-old video that resurfaced about the poor condition in which mental health-care users at Tembisa Provincial Tertiary were kept. According to the department, even though the video was not recent, it was posted. This gives the impression that health-care patients at the facility were being mistreated recently. However, the department said that contrary to the assertions made in the video, it had made significant strides in improving and bolstering service to mental health-care patients and general patients at the facility. The department said a number of…

We are living at the height of the digital age where, with phones at the tips of our fingers, we can access boundless forms of entertainment. This ease and sheer load of information available online can make you feel like time just flew by while you did not accomplish your tasks for the day, week or even month. While we should not take such technology for granted, we should instead use it more intentionally to improve our lives and not hinder them. If you’re an extremely organised or creative person, why not use your skills or talent to make some extra cash by helping others get more order into their lives? Here are some ways you can do this: Create and sell weekly planners A weekly planner is a schedule…

Ingredients 45ml sunflower oil 5ml fennel seeds 5ml garam masala 1 sprig of fresh curry leaves 1 onion, finely chopped 10ml chilli flakes 2 potatoes, cubed and par-boiled 10ml ginger, finely chopped Salt and pepper, to taste 1 x 400g tin chopped tomatoes Salt and pepper, to taste 300ml coconut milk 300ml coconut cream 3 large, hard-boiled eggs Pap, to serve Method Heat the oil in a large frying pan and add the fennel seeds, garam masala and curry leaves, stirring continuously until fragrant. Add the onions, chili flakes and potatoes, and continue to cook, for about 2 minutes, until the onions are translucent. Stir in the ginger and cook for a further 5 minutes and season to your taste. Mix in the tomato and cook for about 10 minutes…

ANGLO American yesterday announced the launch of a research and development project in collaboration with GEM, one of China’s largest battery and battery material recyclers. The aim is to explore new and more efficient technologies for the use of existing and alternative raw materials to be used in batteries for electric vehicles (EVs). Anglo American Base Metal executive head Paul Ward said: “Our diversified portfolio includes a range of products critical to the long-term decarbonisation of transport – a sector estimated to account for over 15% of global emissions. We are collaborating with leaders in the sector to explore new technologies that build on the physical qualities of our portfolio of products to help tackle some of the key challenges facing the industry and contribute to the sustainable scale-up of…

A HONG KONG court issued a winding-up order for Chinese real estate giant Evergrande yesterday, as the embattled firm teeters on the brink of bankruptcy. The firm’s astronomical debt has become emblematic of a years-long crisis in China’s property market,with knock-on effects across the world’s second-largest economy. What do Evergrande’s creditors want? Evergrande was once China’s biggest real estate firm, a giant in a sector that ballooned as property became the foundation of a burgeoning middle class’s growing wealth. But it accrued massive loans at a time when credit flowed freely, and when Beijing, in 2020, turned off the taps in a bid to rein in the sector, it was left owing more than $300 billion. Unable to repay interest on its loans, it formally defaulted in December 2021.…

ONE OF THE most important techno- logy products will be in stores (US and Europe) this week. Apple’s Vision Pro will finally be released to the public on February 2. The Apple Vision Pro headset is not a new idea, however, whenever Apple releases a new product we should pay attention. The device that will bring computer visuals closer to your eyes is new for Apple and will probably shake up the headsets industry. Microsoft had Hololens, Google had Goggles, Facebook is armed with Oculus (now known as Meta Quest) and Samsung brought Gear VR. So far we have not seen much adoption, however, the entry of the Apple product may change how we perceive headsets. The Apple Vision Pro will take away the need for a screen and wrap…

GEMFIELDS Group generated strong auction revenues and pricing for both emeralds and rubies from its 75%-owned Kagem emerald mine, its 75%-owned Montepuez ruby mine and from its brand Fabergé. Total auction revenues of the JSE- and London-listed miner came to $242 million (R4.5 billion), the second- highest year in Gemfields’ history, despite the withdrawal of November 2023’s auction of higher quality emeralds, an operational update for the six- month period to December 31 said yes- terday. “Kagem experienced a general improvement in both the quality and quantity of premium emeralds recovered in recent months,” the company said. Gemfields had passed the $2bn milestone in cumulative emerald and ruby auction sales since its first auction in 2009, with more than $400m in taxes being paid to the Mozambique and…

The Road Accident Fund (RAF) has welcomed the conviction and sentencing of a KwaZulu-Natal former attorney who swindled money from his clients. Langelihle Dube was last week sentenced to 10 years’ imprisonment for stealing R2.3 million from clients. In the RAF-related case, R1.4m was paid into Dube’s account after a youngster was seriously injured in a car crash. However, Dube failed to make payment to the boy’s family. Dube also stole a R900 000 life insurance payment from a deceased estate. RAF CEO Collins Letsoalo slammed lawyers who use the fund as a gravy train by either defrauding the fund or claimants. “It is outrageous that claimants are taken advantage of by the same legal experts who are supposed to protect their interests. “The RAF remains committed to the…

The Border Management Authority (BMA) is making progress in managing the country’s ports of entry, commissioner Dr Mike Masiapato said this week. The BMA had earlier reported that it had facilitated the legitimate movement of about 5 096 288 travellers across 71 ports of entry between December 6, 2023 and January 18, 2024. Masiapato said the BMA’s implementation plan, which had lasted for 43 days from December 2023 to January 2024, saw more than 15 924 undocumented individuals, 6 455 undesirables and 4 626 inadmissible persons. He said that had resulted in 27 005 individuals being deported while attempting to enter South Africa illegally. Masiapato said that on the other hand, the country’s ports of entry had seen more than 5 million travellers coming through SA’s ports of…

Congratulations! Your government has rightly earned its entry into the history books. What a proud moment for South Africa! Congratulations to the team that made this happen. It is very necessary to remain cool and modest about this great achievement – blowing one’s own trumpet is never advisable. Congratulations!…

Cosatu president Zingiswa Losi and SACP president Solly Mapaila have both urged the ANC and President Cyril Ramaphosa to rethink the country’s economic and policy directions which they say are anti-working class. The two leaders were speaking during the ANC’s NEC lekgotla at Birchwood Hotel in Boksburg. Mapaila said the capitalistic system must be revisited to benefit the working class and the millions of unemployed. The one-size-fits-all approach has not yielded positive results for the country’s poor, he said. Mapaila said the country’s economy is still in the hands of white people more than 30 years into democracy. He called on the government to tamper with the system as it remains untransformed and arrogant. “The small insurance groups tell us they do not approve and everything collapses and this creates…

As political parties gear up for the upcoming provincial and general elections, some analysts described the emergence of uMkhonto weSizwe as the most exciting as it had a possibility of harming the governing party in a big way. Speaking to The Star, a political commentator and Citizen Forum spokesperson, Dennis Bloem, said the MK party was a big threat to the ANC as it was very clear that former president Jacob Zuma would take a big chunk of the party’s support in the coming elections. Bloem said he was confident that the ANC was shivering every time they saw the big numbers the MK party was pulling at their rallies, because the ANC knew that some of the supporters were their members. “I am definitely sure MK is causing sleepless…

Africa’s largest vulture relocation project got off to a flying start last week when 160 Cape and African white-backed vultures were moved from Vulpro in the North West to their new home at Shamwari Private Game Reserve in the Eastern Cape. The birds were loaded into special transport crates and placed in two interlinked DHL trucks before undertaking the 18-hour, 1 042km journey. The relocation was part of a two-year project to establish a breeding facility at Shamwari for sick or injured vultures which were non-releasable but have been rehabilitated and are able to breed. WeWild Africa, an NGO specialising in animal rewilding and translocation, played a major role in the relocation project. The organisation’s director, Derek Milburn, said they were contacted by VulPro to move the vultures to the…

THERE is a different atmosphere altogether in world cricket at the moment, following the historic achievements that three teams managed to pull off this past weekend in Australia and India. Firstly, it was Shamar Joseph’s inspirational journey to Test cricket – one that saw the 24-year-old fast bowler quit his job as a security officer, only to go on to become player of the series in the West Indies’ first victory on Australian soil since 1997. Then it was the Proteas Women that took over the underdog tag as they defied the odds and registered their first victory over Australia, thanks to an unbeaten half-century from captain Laura Wolvaardt. To conclude a weekend that saw the underdogs achieve the unthinkable, England defeated India in India in a Test match, a…