Índex per 2024-03-15 a Star

Hyprop to exit its sub-Saharan Africa operations in Ghana and Nigeria from challenges encountered HYPROP said yesterday in its results for the half-year to the end of December, that challenges faced by South African retailers spell uncertainty. “The challenges facing SA retailers and the recent announcements by Pick n Pay, which is an anchor tenant in all our SA centres” as well as “the potential default of the South African government on its financial commitments and the heightened political and economic risk in South Africa ahead of the elections in May 2024” were key uncertainties. It also mentioned “the likelihood of interest rates remaining higher for longer” as a risk factor. As a result, Hyprop had skipped payment of an interim dividend. Hyprop said it was being knocked…

RMB VENTURES and Bopa Moruo Private Equity, alongside management, has acquired a majority stake in Icon Oncology Holdings, a provider of cancer treatment in South Africa, for an undisclosed sum. The acquisition was approved yesterday by the Competition Commission. Icon has a national footprint of 26 radiotherapy facilities incorporating 30 linear accelerators (Linacs). The business employs more than 300 clinical professionals who deliver care to about 30 000 patients annually. In addition to 59 accredited chemotherapy units, Icon manages three compounding pharmacies and a licensed pharmaceutical wholesaler. The group also owns 16 specialised properties incorporating the bunkers from which it operates. Icon Managed Care has a contracted network representing 80% of all oncologists in private practice. Icon interim CEO Anthony Pedersen said the firm aimed to improve the quality…

Tyrone Lowther FOLLOWING the recent budget speech, delivered by Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana, many South Africans are concerned about “tax bracket creep”, where, due to tax brackets not being adjusted with this speech, those receiving increases could end up paying more tax. However, with smarter tax return planning, you can play your part in minimising the effects of this bracket creep and even turn tax return time into something to look forward to. 5 good reasons to file your tax return: You could get a refund. If you’ve overpaid on taxes, you could qualify for a tax refund from South African Revenue Service (Sars), but this can only happen if you file your tax return. It could help you with a loan application. If you need a long-term loan, such…

STANDARD Bank Group lifted headline earnings a sturdy 27% to R42.9 billion for the 12 months to December 31 last year, underpinned by its assets’ growing franchise and positive momentum in its businesses. Return on equity increased to 18.8%, up from 16.3%. The cost-to-income ratio fell to 51.4%, down from 53.9%. The credit loss ratio was up by 98 basis points (bps) from 83bps in 2022. A final dividend of 733 cents per share was declared, equating to a payout ratio of 55%. Africa regions contributed 42% to headline earnings, with the top eight contributors being Ghana, Kenya, Mauritius, Mozambique, Nigeria, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe. CEO Sim Tshabalala said the strong performance reflected a differentiated franchise and good momentum in Standard Bank South Africa, which is the…

PICTURESQUE South African landscapes are the battleground for the highly anticipated season premiere of the Discovery Channel’s international hit show, Naked and Afraid. The series involves strangers fighting to survive extreme environments and dangerous wildlife, all while nude. The group of amateur survivalists are put to the ultimate test in the wild for days at a time, with nothing but a few primitive tools. They have to use the natural elements to clothe themselves as well as to find food, shelter and water. In season 17 of the reality show, which is set to air at the end of the month, the South African wilderness will feature. “In the premiere episode, viewers will witness a hunter and a farmer as they join forces to tackle the unforgiving wilderness of South…

Anglo American Platinum (Amplats) is the latest in a list of companies to concede that they had failed to follow up on a vetting process of President Cyril Ramaphosa’s former economic adviser Thabi Leoka. Early this year, Leoka was exposed for allegedly lying about holding a PhD in economics from the London School of Economics (LSE). She was forced to resign from a number of positions she held in top organisations, including the Presidential Economic Advisory Council (Peac), MTN SA’s board, Amplats and the private health-care group Netcare. However, Netcare admitted they had failed to verify Leoka’s fake PhD qualification when they appointed her to stay for two years until the scandal broke. Peac had initially defended her and asked for her to prove to them that she held the…

LAST-MINUTE applications by Thabo Bester and Dr Nandipha Magudumana to stop Showmax from airing a four-part documentary, Tracking Thabo Bester, will be heard in the Gauteng High Court, Johannesburg, today. Showmax is also scheduled to premiere the documentary today. The court application comes in response to requests by Magudumana and Bester, who want to prevent the documentary from being shown on the grounds that it violates their rights. MultiChoice said Showmax briefed legal counsel and said it would vigorously oppose the applications. Its statement says: “The allegations against Mr Bester and Dr Magudumana are incredibly serious, and Showmax strongly believes that it is essential for viewers to have the opportunity to watch the documentary and form their own informed opinions. Showmax is of the view that the attempt to stop…

Fashion Without Borders Africa is celebrating its 10th anniversary of highlighting the diversity and richness of African fashion while also fostering a global talent showcase. Founded with the vision of empowering underprivileged designers and models across Africa, the platform has expanded its reach beyond borders and is now prominently established in two additional countries: Botswana and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Bringing attention to the richness and diversity of African fashion, this event also aims to provide emerging designers from disadvantaged backgrounds with an international stage on which to showcase their skills and creativity. Under the capable direction of Efigy Productions, the fashion affair takes place three times a year: in April in South Africa, in June in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and in October in Botswana.…

Ingredients: 2 cups white bread flour 2 cups cake flour + extra for dusting ¾ cup milk 1 sachet yeast Pinch salt 3 tbs sugar ½ tsp of each ground cinnamon and nutmeg ½ cup raisins or sultanas ½ cup water 1 egg, whisked 3 tbs softened butter Cross: ½ cup flour Enough water to create a smooth paste Glaze: ¼ cup smooth apricot jam 2 tbs hot water Method: Combine flours, milk, yeast, salt, sugar, spices and dried fruit in a mixing bowl. Add water while mixing, then add egg and butter. Knead for 4 to 5 minutes or until smooth. Cover with clingfilm directly on dough and set aside to rise for 45 minutes to 1 hour, or until it has doubled in size. Knead the dough and…

The most recent winner of the R40 million Lotto jackpot has big plans in place. But these don’t include leaving their day job any time soon. According to National Lottery Ithuba, the winner of the March 9 R40 million Lotto jackpot may just consider retiring earlier than usual. Ithuba said the winner spent R100 on their ticket and played via the Standard Bank platform. “Thrilled with their life-changing experience, the winner came forward to claim their fortune and also received comprehensive psychological and financial counselling to assist in managing their newfound wealth,” said Ithuba in a statement. They said the winner attested to being a regular player of both Lotto and Powerball and had to check their numbers three times after receiving a notification from the bank confirming their jackpot…

Jose Riveiro says his Orlando Pirates troops can’t afford to underestimate their Nedbank Cup last-16 opponents Hungry Lions at Orlando Stadium tomorrow night (6pm kick-off). Pirates have battled in their bid to challenge for all the trophies this season. They’ve only won the MTN8 so far, while missing out on the Carling Knockout Cup. The DStv Premiership title is also out of reach as they trail runaway champions Mamelodi Sundowns, who have two games in hand, by 13 points. But Pirates can still salvage their league season by finishing in second position and qualifying for the CAF Champions League next season. And that’s not all. They can still complete a cup double by adding the Nedbank Cup to their MTN8 crown – a feat that would copy last season’s heroics.…

Cheslin Kolbe’s heroic charge-down of Frenchman Thomas Ramos’ attempted conversion during the Springboks’ nerve-racking World Cup quarter-final victory last year, was last night honoured at the SA Rugby Awards as the fans’ moment of the year. In a decisive moment of the match and the overall cup campaign, Kolbe launched himself from the tryline to brilliantly deny Ramos and France an extra two points in the Boks’ eventual 29-28 victory in Paris. Meanwhile, in the most prestigious category of the night, Eben Etzebeth – to the the surprise of arguably no one – walked away with the 2023 SA Rugby men’s player of the year award, becoming only the second player to win the honour back-to-back after Pieter-Steph du Toit did so in 2018 and 2019. Etzebeth had a stellar…

Atletico Madrid needed a penalty shoot-out to edge past Inter Milan and reach the Champions League quarter-finals after a dramatic last-16 clash ended 2-2 on aggregate on Wednesday night. Atletico looked to be on their way out after Inter, who won the first leg 1-0 at home, took the lead at the Metropolitano, but they hit back and found a way to take it to penalties. Atletico’s Jan Oblak saved from Alexis Sanchez and Davy Klaassen, and Inter’s Yann Sommer kept out Saul Niguez’s effort, leaving Lautaro Martinez to keep their hopes alive. The Argentine striker blasted his penalty over the bar to send Atletico through 3-2 in the shootout after the match finished 2-1 to the Spanish side in extra time. “I always say that penalty shoot-outs, in the…

At the start of the season, young Bulls forward Reinhardt Ludwig thought he may feature in just a few games for the senior side. Having turned 21 only last year, Ludwig would’ve hoped to crack a few United Rugby Championship matches, and then get himself ready for the upcoming Currie Cup. Instead, the former Junior Springbok has quickly become a perennial figure in the starting line-up through a combination of good form and injuries to the likes of Ruan Vermaak and Ruan Nortjé. But his impact has been so influential that coach Jake White found a place for him in the team even when the two Ruans returned. White made a big call to hand Ludwig the No 7 jersey for the massive clash against the Stormers on March 2,…

Brentford forward Ivan Toney received his first England call-up yesterday since serving an eight-month suspension for breaching FA betting rules ahead of friendlies against Brazil and Belgium. Everton defender Jarrad Branthwaite and Newcastle United forward Anthony Gordon were called up for the first time by manager Gareth Southgate, who said Arsenal defender Ben White had asked not to be considered for the squad. The 27-year-old Toney won his lone cap for England as a substitute against Ukraine last March, and has scored four goals for Brentford since his return from suspension on January 20. “He’s shown straight away getting back into Brentford’s team the quality and impact he can have,” said Southgate. The 21-year-old Branthwaite has been a bright spot in Everton’s roller-coaster season. “He’s played consistently well,” Southgate said.…

The MARKET warmly welcomed a special dividend by Exxaro Resources, which is exploring acquisition opportunities, which saw its shares surge 7% after it posted its results for the year to December. The mining firm paid out a special dividend of R5.72 per share with its R11.36 per share final dividend. The shares traded at an intraday high of R186.18, but it closed 5.40% down at R164.59 on the JSE yesterday. Year-to-date the share was 14.92% lower. Earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation at Exxaro for the period were also 29% lower at R13.4 billion, with headline earnings per share resultantly falling 22% to R46.81 per share. Revenue fell 17% to R38.3bn, hurt by significantly “lower export sales prices achieved due to the steep decline in the API4 index…

Sasol, the global chemicals and energy company, and Topsoe, a carbon emission reduction technology company, have launched joint venture Zaffra, which will focus on the development and delivery of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF). Zaffra is headquartered in Amsterdam and its CEO is Jan Toschka. “With a global presence, Zaffra’s unique combination of pioneering SAF technologies and operational excellence places it at the forefront of the industry'stransformation,” the companies said in a joint statement yesterday. Zaffra combines the extensive ex- perience of Sasol in asset development, plant construction, and robust operat- ing and technology expertise, and Top- soe’s carbon emission reduction technologies. Topsoe’s technology uses hydro- processing expertise to enable the processing of virgin oils, waste oils and fats, solid biomass, and plastic waste/tires to produce Hefa-based Sustainable Aviation Fuel,…

EMPOWERMENT investment holding company ARC Investments lifted its interim net asset value by 4.6% to R16 billion after benefiting from new investment and fair value gains as the focus shifts from acquisitive to organic growth. ARC Fund’s key investments delivered strong performances – both TymeBank and Linebooker reached breakeven in the past six months and Philippines-based GOtyme attracted two million customers within 13 months, CEO Johan van Zyl said yesterday. “Our portfolio is now more focused and streamlined. Our unlisted investments, which are only accessible through ARC Investments, have grown to 90% of the portfolio, and the top 12 investments now make up 89% of the fund’s value. “Despite these changes, we have maintained a good diversification, which has supported the portfolio’s performance in a challenging macroeconomic environment,” he…

THERE are just a few weeks to go before autumn officially kicks in and temperatures drop. As such, enjoy the last warm moments of sunshine in Johannesburg this weekend with these diverse, entertaining and stimulating events. Saint Patrick’s at The Irish Ireland might be on a different continent, thousands of kilometres from the City of Gold, but Joburgers will get a chance to add their own twist to Saint Patrick’s festivities. Also known as the Feast of Saint Patrick, this is an Irish religious and cultural holiday. It marks the traditional death date of Saint Patrick, the foremost patron saint of Ireland. Saint Patrick’s Day is commemorated across the globe and it has evolved into a celebration of Irish culture, which includes parades, special foods, music, dancing, drinking and a…

Dining out can be an enjoyable way to connect with friends, family, and co-workers. Restaurant dining plays a role in how we celebrate and socialise. Learning how to navigate the menu better, and upgrade your dining choices, can help ease the stress while dining out. When you look at a menu, you will see it is divided into several sections, one for each course. You do not have to order every course, but the general rule of thumb is to order at least two (and you can split one of them). Here are a few tips and tricks for a healthy and happy restaurant experience. Research ahead of time Most restaurants have the menu on their website, so it is best if you can look at that ahead of time.…

THE City of Johannesburg could take up to 10 years to resolve its water problems that have rocked the country’s economic capital in recent years. In the last two weeks, the city has been scrambling to find solutions to its water woes that left scores of residents across the municipality with dry taps for 10 days. According to the metro, the recent water interruptions were sparked by a power outage at the Eikenhof pump station almost two weeks ago, but some parts of the city are still struggling with water today. Non-profit-organisation WaterCan has repeatedly warned that the ageing infrastructure and leaks were the main instigator of water shortages in the city. The NPO reportedly said the metro was losing up to 44% of its fresh drinking water, with 25%…

The State has won a significant victory in its case against the five men accused of killing Senzo Meyiwa, with the admission of confession statements and pointing-out statements made by the accused. The bid by Muzikhawukulelwa Sibiya and Bongani Sandiso Ntanzi, the first and second accused in the murder trial, to have confessions and a pointing-out statement allegedly made by them made inadmissible has been thwarted. The pair’s legal defence challenged the admission of the confessions as they alleged they were assaulted, tortured, and shocked by the investigating team into confessing to their role in the murder of the Orlando Pirates player on October 26, 2014. Before giving his ruling, Judge Ratha Mokgoatlheng highlighted other cases on admissibility of confessions as he stressed it should not be argued that he…

THE Republican Conference of Tshwane has questioned the motive for Mayor Cilliers Brink withholding the Auditor-General’s (AG’s) report. Brink reported this week that the metro had made progress by achieving a qualified audit opinion in 2023 from the adverse findings in 2022 but declined to release the full report for public participation until it had been tabled in council. “The full audit report will be released for public participation after it has served as part of the City’s annual report which will come to council in due course. During this meeting it will be presented formally by the AG and engaged on by councillors,” he said. But, Republican Conference of Tshwane councillor Lex Middelberg criticised Brink for keeping the report under wraps instead of sharing it with his fellow councillors…

THE Dinokeng Game Reserve and its anti-poaching unit have thus far been successful in protecting their rhinos and other wildlife from poaching. However, this comes at a great cost and dedication, as was once again demonstrated this week on Wednesday, when a tag was placed into the horn of a female rhino. This experience was shared with the media by an “Africa in One Day” experience hosted by Dinokeng Projects (an entity of the Gauteng Department of Economic Development). The event formed part of the Dinokeng Showcase 2024 meetings, held with all the stakeholders, which included owners of the lodges in the area and locals involved in the project. The Dinokeng project has proved to be a success since its start some 20 years ago. Its game reserve boasts…

Everybody knows Sho Madjozi’s got that magic touch that appeals to all, especially the little ones. Kids have been going wild over her signature hairstyles, so naturally, she decided to turn that into a whole vibe. Last month, the South African rapper and singer proudly flaunted her latest hairdo, complete with a detachable, glitzy hairpiece. And guess what? Our girl Sho isn’t done yet. She’s got something big planned for her pint-sized fans. She took to X to spill the tea about her upcoming event, offering a sneak peek video of her chilling with her tiny squad, and It’s giving major squad goals. @ShoMadjozi wrote: “Shoma and friends VIP party Spread the news, you may be saving a parent a looot of tears Letssssss gooooo.” The girlies were rocking those…

WORLD Glaucoma Week comes to an end tomorrow after activists, awareness campaigns and patients living with glaucoma raised awareness about the disease. This year’s theme was “Uniting for a Glaucoma-Free World”. The World Glaucoma Association (WGA), with its initiative: World Glaucoma Week, defines glaucoma as a “chronic, progressive disorder of the optic nerve that produces characteristic visual field damage”. The disease is incurable, irreversible and does not portray any symptoms; hence, it’s the secondary cause of blindness. WGA reported that an estimated 80 million people were living with the disease, while 50% were unaware they’re living with glaucoma. Some 111.8 million of the world’s population is expected to be diagnosed with glaucoma by 2040. WGA also wrote that the numbers of people living with glaucoma while being unaware…

Rise Mzansi Gauteng premier candidate Vuyiswa Ramokgopa says several communities in the Vaal region have been stripped of their dignity by the people entrusted with leading them. Speaking during a visit to the residents of Boitumelo in Sebokeng on Wednesday, she said they had been abandoned by the ANC government. “The community have been stripped of their dignity and forced to live in the hazardous conditions of sewage flooding their homes, endangering their health and quality of life. Despite hollow promises of governmental support, the stark reality on the ground paints a far bleaker picture,” said Ramokgopa. “Many of the families we visited today have had to abandon their homes due to sewage that has flooded their yards, infiltrated their homes and covered the streets of the community. “These houses…

THE 10-week-long Indian Premier League is set to get under way in a week’s time, with the final scheduled for May 25-26, which is more or less five days before the start of the T20 World Cup in the United States and West Indies. When the IPL reaches the knock-out stages, a Proteas T20 team will be in action in a three-match series against the West Indies, meaning coach Rob Walter will most likely be without his big guns for those encounters. This promises to directly affect the team’s preparations for the showpiece event because ideally, like any coach, Walter would want to have his players in camp closer to the World Cup. However, those are not the cards that Walter has been dealt, and he might have to readjust…

Borussia Dortmund winger Jadon Sancho said there was “no better feeling” after his goal helped secure a 2-0 win over PSV Eindhoven and progress to the Champions League quarter-finals on Wednesday night. The Manchester United loanee opened the scoring in the third minute, his first goal in front of Dortmund’s 82 000-strong home crowd since May 2021. Marco Reus added a goal in stoppage time to seal the win, putting Dortmund through 3-1 on aggregate, making the last eight for the first time since 2021. “It was like a relief. I think like all players you want to have a good start to the game – and there’s no better feeling than that,” Sancho told TNT Sports. “I’m just grateful that I could get a goal for the team. We…

Rassie Erasmus’ first match of his second tenure as head coach will start exactly as it did in his first match in charge – with a June friendly against Wales at a neutral venue. In 2018, Erasmus took a makeshift Springbok team to Washington to play (badly) against Wales, and six years later, the Boks play Wales in London. Again it will be an experimental team, but there will be a big difference to 2018 – this time a Springbok B side will be packed with exciting new players, because South African rugby in 2024 is on a different planet to where it was after the unfortunate Allister Coetzee era. To be fair to Coetzee, he was in a difficult position when he took over from Heyneke Meyer. He did…

While manufacturing production rose by 2.6% year-on-year in January, according to Statistics South Africa, confidence in the sector dipped during the first quar- ter thanks to load shedding, challenges at the ports and political uncertainty, the Absa Manufacturing Survey showed. According to Statistics South Africa, the largest positive contributions were made by petroleum, chemical products, rubber and plastic products (13.6% and contributing 2.9 percentage points) and wood and wood products, paper, publishing and printing (5% and contributing 0.5 of a percentage point). Seasonally adjusted manufacturing production increased by 0.8% in January this year compared with December 2023. This followed month-on-month changes of -1.3% in December and 0.9% in November last year. The Absa Manufacturing Survey business confidence dipped 5 points to 21 points, which was significantly lower than the…

IF YOU ARE considering relocating or working abroad, it is important to understand the tax implications that come with these decisions. Failure to be well informed about your tax resi- dency status and obligations could result in significant tax liabilities. There is a myriad of confusion around this issue, which is impacting those leaving the country and those who have left the country many years ago. The challenge is that there is no one-size-fits-all approach, given that there is no clear definition of tax residency in the Income Tax Act. Clearing up confusion The first point to note is that there is no such thing as formal, final or financial emigration anymore. This was the process you would have followed with the South African Reserve Bank (SARB) when you wanted…

Two years after Riky Rick’s death, his family have paid tribute to the award-winning rapper’s life and legacy with the release of his posthumous single, Ilanga. The amapiano song features vocal contributions from Young Stunna and Baby S.O.N, with some of the best local producers including Tyler ICU, Mas Musiq, Kelvin Momo and Zadok. According to a statement online, his wife, Bianca Jade Naidoo, said that the love song is about “wanting something to work out and looking to return to love”. “The song uses imagery of the sun setting and casting shadows to bring to life the complexity of love.” This heartfelt release follows last year’s AI-generated single, Stronger, which promoted mental wellness. It also precedes the return of the late Sondela hitmaker’s 5th edition of his music and…

One of the five men charged with the murder of rapper Kiernan “AKA” Forbes intends making an application on the basis of Section 174 of the Criminal Procedure Act 51 of 1977 once the State rests its case in the trial. Lindokuhle Thabani Mkhwanazi, 30, made said this assertion yesterday in the Durban Magistrate’s Court in his bail affidavit, read out by his legal representative, advocate Simphiwe Mlotshwa. Mkhwanazi is charged along with Lindani Zenzele Ndimande, 35, Siyanda Eddie Myeza, 21, Mziwethemba Harvey Gwabeni, 36, and Lindokuhle Lindo Ndimande, 29. They face 12 counts including two murders, conspiracy to commit murder, unlawful possession of firearms and ammunition, five attempted murders, and money laundering. It is alleged that Gwabs Miningi, a company owned by accused Gwabeni, received an amount of R803…

Bookworms are in for a treat in the month of May as the Franschhoek Literary Festival 2024 has announced its programme list of esteemed local, pan-Africanist and international authors. The three-day literary festival will host authors and lovers of their masterpieces from May 17 to 19 in the Cape Winelands. The festival, which is held annually over the third weekend of May, boasts an eclectic mix of voices from various genres, providing attendees with a unique opportunity to engage with their favourite authors. The Franschhoek Literary Festival is regarded as “the literary event of the year”. Programme director Jennifer Ball says the festival promises an enriching experience, featuring a thought-provoking panel of discussions, in-depth author interviews, poetry readings, interactive writing workshops and Melodies in Words. “We are thrilled and honoured…

Ingredients 200g Marie biscuits, finely crushed 125g butter 3 leaves gelatine 1 tub medium-fat cream cheese 2 cups double cream salted caramel flavoured yoghurt ¾ cups castor sugar or honey 1 tsp vanilla extract or vanilla essence ½ Tbsp Maldon salt flakes, for topping Caramel sauce: 1 cup sugar ⅓ cup cream ¼ cup cold butter Method Line a 23cm loose-bottomed tart tin. Combine crushed biscuits and butter. Press mixture down evenly into tart tin and up the sides to create the crust. Chill in fridge until firm, about 5–10 minutes. Place gelatine leaves in water to soften (called sponging or blooming), about 10 minutes. Combine cream cheese, yoghurt, castor sugar (or honey) and vanilla in a mixing bowl. Heat 1 cup of this mixture in a pot over medium…

Outgoing Minister in the Presidency Dr Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma has admitted to receiving a free flight on a private jet owned by a South African businesswoman in order to attend the funeral of Namibian president Hage Geingob. Dlamini Zuma was among the dignitaries who attended the funeral of Geingob, 82, who died early last month while receiving treatment in a hospital in the capital, Windhoek. Responding to questions posed by MPs in the National Assembly on Wednesday, Dlamini Zuma said the lift was offered by businesswoman Daphne Mashile-Nkosi, who was also attending the funeral. She said she saw nothing wrong with accepting it as it saved taxpayers’ money. “So, how can I say how much was incurred because lifts are free. Now you are asking the reason why. The reason…

A paragraph in T Markandan’s letter, “Two-faced US salving their conscience”, caught my eye. He states: “Yet both the Israelis and the Palestinians are blood cousins. They are the descendants of Moses.” Could he clarify and give proof of just how they are related? Could he also give confirmation of the statement: “They have the blessing of Jehovah to wipe out the Palestinians living in Gaza”? Where can this “blessing” be found? Hamas is hell-bent on driving the Israelis into the sea, but that’s okay. Whose “blessing” has Hamas got? The US does supply arms to Israel just as Iran and Russia are supplying rockets and arms to Hamas and other terrorist organisations, plus supporting them financially. The people of Gaza are not “innocent”. They are just as guilty as…

Mamelodi Sundowns coach Rhulani Mokwena says drawing matches is a national catastrophe for the club, given their dominance over the past few years. Sundowns have been the team to beat in Mzansi for the past six seasons, thanks to a winning streak of six championships in succession. And having shown no signs of slowing down as they are closing in on a seventh title, Sundowns have been on everyone’s lips – expected to always win. Mokwena’s men have embraced that challenge, so much so that they are expected to compete for the other remaining trophies – the CAF Champions League and Nedbank Cup – as well. The Brazilians are in the Champions League quarter-finals, where they’ll face Tanzanian giants Young Africans over the two-legged contest after the coming Fifa break.…

American Emma Navarro shocked Australian Open champion Aryna Sabalenka to reach the Indian Wells ATP-WTA Masters quarter-finals on Wednesday night as Coco Gauff sailed through. Navarro, ranked 23rd in the world, pushed Sabalenka hard on a breezy Stadium Court to notch her first career win over a top-five player 6-3, 3-6, 6-2. US Open champion Gauff, seeded third, celebrated her 20th birthday with a dominant 6-0 6-2 victory over Belgian Elise Mertens. It wasn’t quite so easy for last year’s men’s runner-up Daniil Medvedev, but the fourth-seeded Russian managed the windy conditions to post a 6-4 6-4 triumph over Bulgarian Grigor Dimitrov. Medvedev next faces seventh-seeded Holger Rune, who saved a match point and then roared through the second-set tiebreaker on the way to a 2-6, 7-6 (7/2), 6-3 victory…

Tottenham Hotspur can leapfrog Aston Villa into a Champions League qualifying spot with a Premier League victory over Fulham at Craven Cottage tomorrow, while at the other end of the table Luton Town host Nottingham Forest in a relegation battle. Ange Postecoglou’s Spurs side, who have lost once in their last eight league games, are two points behind fourth-placed Villa in fifth on 53 points, and have a game in hand over the Midlands side after thumping them 4-0 away last weekend. Villa could have moved eight points clear, but instead, Tottenham are breathing down their necks and can move into fourth sport until Sunday at least after a rout that manager Unai Emery called “a very bad day in the office”. Mid-table Fulham, meanwhile, will look to bounce back…

TS Galaxy will go head-to-head with D’General in the last-16 of the Nedbank Cup on Sunday at the Free State Stadium in Bloemfontein (3pm kick-off). The Botshabelo-based D’General are one of the two ABC Motsepe League teams left in the round of 16, and TS Galaxy know all about not underestimating opponents from lower divisions – as they won the competition in 2019 after a 1-0 victory against Kaizer Chiefs in the final. TS Galaxy coach Sead Ramovic believes his team can repeat their 2019 heroics, as long as they stay focused and understand that the game against D’General is a must-win encounter. “It was a beautiful thing that we won the cup in the past,” the German-Bosnian mentor said this week. “But we have two options: we stay in…

The Jukskei derby is upon us once again as the Wanderers is set to host the encounter between the Lions and the Titans in the fourth round of the Cricket SA T20 Challenge tonight. In midweek, the Titans lost a tight game by two runs against the Warriors at SuperSport Park in Centurion, while the Lions lost by four wickets against the Dolphins at Kingsmead in Durban. Titans all-rounder Aya Gqamane told Independent Newspapers yesterday that they need to tighten up on their overall execution moving forward into the tournament. “It was a very tight game, and we obviously lost by two runs. In T20 cricket, those types of games happen quite often – and I think we only need to tighten up on our execution, be it batting, bowling…