Índex per 2024-09-06 a Star

AUTOZONE’s business rescue practitioners (BRPs) are confident they have secured an investor requiring the closure of only nine underperforming branches in southern Africa with the loss of 46 jobs, as labour demurs to the plan set for creditors’ approval next week. In a plan published for creditors’ scrutiny, Matuson and Associates BRPs Piers Marsden and Jenna Osborne said they were confident the plan, which would reward each AutoZone employee with R32 000 in hardship compensation, would gain traction with shareholders, creditors and workers. “If the sale process is implemented, the BRPs will seek to obtain the sale of the business or the divisions as going concern or through the acquisition of the company’s shares, thereby resulting in many jobs being preserved. Employees who are retrenched, if any, would be…

In a tell-all interview with podcaster Lungelo KM, Lebo Keswa shared intimate details about her failed marriage to veteran actress Letoya Makhene. Keswa visited the Engineer Your Life podcast to spill the tea on an episode that aired earlier this week. During the interview, Keswa said that her relationship with the former Generations actress started “like a fairy tale”. “It was beautiful, especially for me. After 12 years of being single, I met Letoya at my grandmother’s 99th birthday. Within a week of us meeting, something in me changed. The beginning of our love story was a very beautiful one.” She shared how quickly their relationship grew strong to the point that they decided to spend the entire Covid-19 lockdown together at a hotel penthouse. “It was probably the most…

South African songbird Cara Frew has reached a significant milestone in her music career. Frew has earned her place as a member of the Grammy Recording Academy. She joins other artists such as South African singer Breindy Klawansky of the Breindy and Matt duo, Nigerian artists Flavour, OLA, Maleek Berry and Afropop singer and songwriter Tresor Riziki. The Recording Academy represents the voices of performers, songwriters, producers, engineers and all music professionals. This inclusion will allow Frew to actively participate in the Grammy Awards process, both as a voter and as an artist eligible for awards consideration. “I am deeply honoured and humbled to be accepted into the Grammy Recording Academy. This recognition validates the hard work and passion I've poured into my creative pursuits.” Becoming a member of the…

Ikapa Express Auctioneers will be hosting a South African Revenue Service Customs Online Auction on September 18, from 8am to 12.30pm. The auction will feature goods from the Gauteng warehouses. Items going under the hammer will include: Hairpieces Household items Toys Jewellery Car parts Tools Spare parts Carpets Miscellaneous items Viewing is on September 16 and 17, from 9am to 3pm. Go directly to the addresses listed below. Items from the Orita and Kaserne warehouses can be found at 10 Mpumelelo Road, Doornfontein, City Deep, Johannesburg. For more information, contact Christopher Skosana at 083 447 4496 (Ortia) Thandolwethu Rweqane at 082 859 3968 (Kaserne) or Hendrika Coetzer at 072 235 2889. Items from the Pretoria warehouse can be found at Acerlor Mittal, corner Roger Dyason Road and Frikkie Meyer Street,…

GAUTENG MEC for Finance and Economic Development Lebogang Maile has asserted that greater urgency was required from accounting officers including mayors and members of mayoral committees to address service delivery challenges. Maile was speaking at a media briefing held at Gauteng legislature in Johannesburg yesterday. He said internal units and committees should intensify their quarterly assessment of performance. “Council oversight committees should hold executive leadership accountable for the implementation of service delivery plans,” said Maile. This comes after Auditor-General Tsakani Maluleke’s damning 2022/23 report last week. Maile said compliance was not improving and remains a stumbling block towards good governance, as most metros still did not comply with procurement legislation. “Most common findings identified by the AG relates to expenditure management, unauthorised irregular fruitless and wasteful expenditure, procurement and contract…

Madwoman Chelsea Bieker Little Brown “The world is not made for mothers. Yet mothers made the world,” writes Chelsea Bieker in her second novel, Madwoman. In her dedication for the book, Bieker includes a photo of her own mother, “who lives in every line”. That image will live in the reader’s imagination with each fictional reference to the mother of her protagonist and narrator, Clove. Madwoman follows Clove as she devolves within the brittle fallacies of being a frustrated writer, a stay-at-home mother and a social media influencer. Gripped by childhood traumas that she hides along with her real name, Clove lives with the abusive legacy of parents she cannot forget even after fleeing to the Pacific Northwest. The novel is her chance to directly address a mother who failed…

Framed – True stories of wrongful convictions John Grisham, Jim McCloskey Loot (R299) Hodder & Stoughton In his first work of non-fiction since The Innocent Man, author John Grisham and Centurion Ministries founder Jim McCloskey share 10 harrowing true stories of wrongful convictions. Impeccably researched and grippingly told, Framed offers an inside look at the victims of the US criminal justice system. In the aftermath of terrible crimes, the public demand immediate justice. Police and prosecutors rush to quickly close the case. But in Framed, Grisham and McCloskey unpick the reality. Ten wrongful conviction cases. Twenty-one innocent people. Ten stories with a truth more shocking than fiction. Joe Bryan suffered the unbearable tragedy of his wife’s murder, only to be tried and found guilty of the crime himself – despite…

The protector Tony Park Loot (R249) Pan Macmillan A GRIPPING thriller by Australia’s master of adventure about rescue, revenge and redemption, and the things we do to protect the ones we love. Professor Denise “Doc” Rado is South Africa’s expert on pangolins, busting poachers and freeing the endangered anteaters in elaborate undercover stings. After a risky operation backfires, Doc’s life is shattered, but she still has to lead an eclectic group of donors on a wildlife tour of southern Africa. But there’s a target on her back. As the safari ventures deep into Africa, Doc fears they’re being followed and she will do anything to keep them all safe – especially Ian Laidlaw, a handsome Australian businessman turned accidental philanthropist. Is Doc being hunted by the poachers she once fought,…

A party more than three years ago, during the Covid-19 pandemic, returned to haunt a bank official who had arranged the gathering, going against the bank’s Covid-19 policy, and who had posted pictures of the event on WhatsApp. Mmakgosi Morudu, who was the branch manager at Standard Bank’s Gezina, Pretoria branch, was subsequently dismissed by the bank for gross misconduct. Morudu took the matter to the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration. The CCMA found the dismissal to be substantively unfair but procedurally fair. The commissioner ruled that Morudu should be reinstated and given a final written warning and three months’ backpay. Unhappy with the finding, the bank turned to the Johannesburg Labour Court, which ruled in its favour and concluded that Morudu should be fired. The bank said it…

Family and community members of Katlehong in Ekurhuleni are reeling in pain after the brutal killing of “Supreme Commander” Mandla Nkambule, co-founder of Thathazonke (TTZ) and Yizo-Yizo anti-crime units. Many people believe this was a “hit”. Nkambule was driving in his marked car when he met his untimely death on Wednesday afternoon. Before co-founding these crime fighting units and starting his own business, Nkambule had been a police officer for over 20 years. The Gauteng SAPS, speaking to The Star yesterday, said Nkambule was driving in Katlehong at about 5.30pm when he was shot at by suspects who were driving parallel to him. “The victim lost control of his vehicle and crashed into a palisade. He was certified dead on the scene. The motive for the killing cannot be confirmed…

ACTIONSA has initiated a series of parliamentary questions directed at every minister and deputy minister, seeking detailed lists of the names, qualifications, and competencies of all ministerial and deputy ministerial support staff appointments. This follows recent revelations exposing apparent disregard for minimum qualification criteria and what appears to be nothing more than cadre deployment, particularly highlighted by the latest controversy within the Agriculture Ministry. As outlined in the Public Service Act, political appointments to ministerial offices are regulated by minimum standards of qualifications and experience, stipulations necessary to ensure that ministerial offices are capacitated with skilled personnel who can effectively execute their mandates. Exceptions to the rule, which do occur under special circumstances, must, in every instance, be fully justified and motivated before being considered for exemption. Circumvention of the…

In a month or so, the Class of 2024 will sit for their final exams. This will mark the end of their 12-year school journey, but not the end of their learning, some will take their studies further. My son, Siyabonga, is in matric. This year is more hectic for him than the others. This year, Siya attended classes on Saturdays and during school holidays. He can't wait to finish his Grade 12 final exams. That said, principals put a lot of pressure on educators to produce top matric results. Unfortunately, the pressure cascades down to learners. As a result, learners spend more time at school, learning, studying and writing homework and have less time to relax, recoup and rejuvenate. This partly explains why when learners fail matric, they feel…

SOUTH Africa has for decades been struggling with the “triple threat” of poverty, unemployment and inequality. The key to addressing these challenges is education. There is little to no hope of overcoming these problems if thousands of teaching posts are being cut. The Western Cape government is burdened with a budget shortfall of R3.8 billion over the next three years. This, after its education department received only 64% of the cost of the nationally negotiated wage agree- ment, leaving the province to fund the remaining 36%. The situation is similar in the other provinces. A R4bn shortfall in KwaZulu-Natal means 11 000 educator jobs are at risk. The Western Cape Education Depart- ment (WCED) had the unenviable task of having to sacrifice 2 400 teacher posts for the 2025 academic…

ZIMBABWE’S State-owned railway operator has opened its network up to private players, including a unit of South Africa’s Grindrod, as it seeks to boost freight volumes that had collapsed after decades of underinvestment, an official said. National Railways of Zimbabwe (NRZ) hauled 12 million tons of cargo annually at its 1990s peak, but now manages less than 3 million tons owing to a lack of locomotives and poor maintenance of its rail infrastructure. The collapse also followed a sharp decline in agricultural and mineral output, triggered by the violent seizure of white-owned farms championed by Zimbabwe’s former leader Robert Mugabe in 2000. However, mineral output is on the rebound, mainly driven by chrome and lithium demand from China. Chinese companies such as Tsingshan Holdings, Sinosteel, Sinomine, Zhejiang…

SOUTH Africa’s economy is part of a diverse group of Sub-Saharan African economies known to be more impacted by global markets than their North African counterparts. Harnessing and taking advantage of the many opportunities to be found within local markets rely heavily on the ability to build investment portfolios that are resilient enough to outlast market shocks and volatility. Factors impacting local market The local investment landscape has seen its fair share of turbulence. The rise of geopolitical tensions in Europe – and most recently, the Middle East – has caused widespread uncertainty and disruption. During politically charged events and times of conflict, investors are more prone to make impulsive decisions to reduce their risk exposure. Large selloffs, for example, can in turn cause sharp declines in certain assets, further…

The South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) has noted with “serious concern” and condemned alleged racial utterances perpetuated by a minor on social media platform TikTok. The incident hogged headlines after what has been titled a “racist and derogatory” video went viral on social media by a learner who used the k-word and the n-word at a black content creator. The learner from Hoërskool Duineveld in the Northern Cape, during a live video, went as far as telling @UncleSeeno, the content creator (in Afrikaans) that if it wasn’t for TikTok, he would “shoot and kill him”. In the video, seen by scores of people, the “racist” learner, along with three others, repeatedly uses the k-word as his friends laugh in the background. @UncleSeeno asked the learner if he had anything…

Never Saw Me Coming – How I Outsmarted the FBI and the Entire Banking System – and Pocketed $40 Million Tanya Smith Loot (R299) Quercus Publishing The true story of how a middle-class black girl from Minneapolis became one of the single biggest threats to the US banking system. Tanya Smith fancied herself a folk hero, a kind of Robin Hood, using her powers of persuasion to buck the system and help the poor and needy. It started innocently enough, with calls to celebrities’ houses with her teenage twin sister. Soon, Tanya realised she could convince utility companies to amend the balances of her friends and neighbours, clearing their overdue electricity bills with a single phone call. Eventually, as she tested the limits and realised she could get past any…

Life Esidimeni – Portraits Of Lives Lost Harriet Perlman and Mark Lewis Loot (R235) Jacana Media When writer Harriet Perlman and photographer Mark Lewis set about documenting the lives of the families whose loved ones had been so horribly killed in the Life Esidimeni tragedy, they were determined to honour the dead and recognise the sufferings of those left. They embarked on a journey across South Africa, meeting face-to-face with families grappling with the unimaginable loss of loved ones. Their heartbreaking stories, accompanied by powerful photographs, forge a deep connection with the victims. The portraits are not just faces on a page, but a testament to the human cost of this tragedy. In late 2015 and 2016, South Africa witnessed a horrific human rights tragedy: 144 people entrusted to the…

Ingredients 150g baby onions 30-45ml butter A few sprigs of thyme 30ml Huletts Brown Sugar 500g leftover roast lamb, pulled or thinly sliced 250ml beef or lamb stock 20g cake flour 1 roll of puff pastry 1 large egg, lightly beaten Method Grease a 20 cm pie dish. Preheat the oven to 200°C. Peel the baby onions and cut the bigger ones in half or quarters, making sure to leave some whole. They should all be roughly the same size. Heat the butter and thyme over a medium heat. Once the butter is bubbling, add the onions and brown sugar. Fry the onions in the butter until they are golden brown and softened, about 10-15 minutes. Add the lamb and warm it through. Pour in the stock, bring to the…

TWO decades after he was slapped with four life imprisonment sentences on various rape convictions, the Gauteng High Court, Pretoria, has ordered a convict’s immediate release from jail as the record of his trial proceedings during 2004 is missing. Mpho Kekae had been struggling to appeal his convictions and sentence for the past 15 years. His first bid to appeal was sent to court in 2009, but due to administrative and other problems, it could not get off the ground. The court was not able to decide his appeal on the facts before it as there were no facts contained in the trial record which formed the basis for his conviction 20 years ago. Three judges, faced with Kekae’s appeal, remarked: “With the evidence of the two complainants missing, this…

The Department of Employment and Labour has announced that all designated employers must submit their 2024 employment equity reports. They must complete reports on EEA2 and EEA4. One can go on to the online portal of the Department of Employment and Labour to ensure that the forms are properly completed. It must be remembered that a designated employer is an employer with 50 or more employees or an employer with fewer than 50 employees but whose annual turnover meets or exceeds the thresholds listed in Schedule 4 of the Employment Equity Act. Some employers choose to volunteer and become designated employers. They must likewise submit their forms as soon as possible. The period for the 2024 Employment Equity Reporting is from this month to January 15, 2025. It is vital…

IN AN INCREASINGLY globalised world, international investments play a crucial role in diversifying portfolios, mitigating risks, and seeking growth opportunities beyond one’s domestic market. However, the landscape of international investing is fraught with complexities, particularly in regions where legislation prioritises political agendas over economic sustainability. International investments offer several key benefits. Investing across different geographic regions can reduce the risk of a portfolio being overly dependent on the economic conditions of a single country. This diversification can help protect investors from local economic downturns or political instability. International investments expose investors to different currencies, which can serve as a hedge against domestic currency devaluation and inflation. Despite the benefits, international investing can be challenging, especially when faced with stringent legislation that appear to be designed to protect political interests rather…

The latest edition of Galaxy 947 Joburg Day promises to be one for the books. It will see the likes of Scorpion Kings – amapiano pioneers DJ Maphorisa and Kabza De Small – as well as Sun El Musician, Lady Zamar, Will Linley, MiCasa, Young Stunna and others taking to the stage. “A perfect Saturday afternoon is different for everyone but many would agree that singing along and dancing to great live music performances with friends and family on a beautiful sunny day ticks that box,” the promoters say. The gathering will also include a kiddies’ zone for the first time, offering interactive and fun activities. There will be a Chill Zone – an over 18s covered area to view the stage. This will have its own bar,…

In what has been categorised as a sad day in South Africa’s young democracy, the black-owned Sekunjalo Group has expressed disappointment at the Constitutional Court’s decision to refuse to hear its appeal case against banking giant Nedbank. The company had sought to prevent Nedbank from closing its banking accounts. However, the Concourt deemed the application not worth their consideration. The group maintains that its case addressed critical issues surrounding fair and equitable access to banking services for all South Africans. “We will not relent in this fight and will consult with our stakeholders to determine the way forward. Sekunjalo will now request the Concourt to revisit their decision.” The company said the Concourt decision could be at odds with the essential principles of equality and right to trade, and in…

Toward Eternity – a novel Anton Hur Loot (R265) Harpervia What does it mean to be human in a world where technology is quickly catching up to biology? In a near-future world, a new technological therapy is quickly eradicating cancer. The body’s cells are entirely replaced with nanites – robot or android cells which not only cure those afflicted but leaves them virtually immortal. Literary researcher Yonghun teaches an AI how to understand poetry and creates a living, thinking machine he names Panit, meaning “beloved”, in honour of his husband. When Yonghun, himself a recipient of nanotherapy, mysteriously vanishes into thin air and then just as suddenly reappears, the event raises disturbing questions. What happened to Yonghun, and though he’s returned, is he really still himself? When Dr Beeko, the…

Duped in dubai – based on a true story John R. Sawers Rachel’s story begins like so many others – she is young, intelligent, and eager to explore the world. When a friend invites her to Dubai, it seems like the perfect getaway. But what starts as a dream holiday quickly unravels into a nightmare, serving as a stark reminder of how easily one can be drawn into something sinister. The story draws you in with its premise: a Ugandan woman in her early twenties, bright but a bit naïve, finds herself in a new city, dazzled by its glitz and opportunities. It is here that she meets a German businessman, Dieter Lowe, who promises her more than just a holiday. He offers her a job in his company, and…

A LEGAL showdown between the City of Tshwane and labour unions in the metro over an unfulfilled 2021 collective wage agreement is finally scheduled to take centre stage at the Labour Court on November 28. This comes after almost two years since the City approached the court with a view to adjudicate on its review application concerning a decision to be exempted from paying workers a salary increase in line with a signed wage agreement. Both the City and labour unions, the South African Municipal Workers Union (Samwu) and the Independent Municipal and Allied Trade Union, entered into a 3-year collective salary and wage agreement in 2021. Part of the agreement would have seen municipal workers’ salaries increasing by 3.5% in the 2021/22 financial year, 4.9% in 2022/23, and 5.4%…

THE Tshwane University of Technology’s (TUT) Advancement and Partnerships Office (APO) has launched a dynamic and impactful initiative – the #Twentyfrom20 fundraising campaign – aimed at raising R1.2 million in support of three vital projects. They are the Ndumo Community project in KZN; the ICT Intervarsity Hackathon Series; and the Grade R Centre of Excellence: Early Childhood Development, aimed at providing access to quality early childhood education for learners from disadvantaged communities. Sharing more background about the campaign, Phumla Msibi, senior development officer at APO and campaign manager, said the campaign would run from September 2 to November 31. “We will seek the generosity of 60 companies, each committing to a donation of R20 000,” she continued. She added that these companies would have the option of choosing one…

TSHWANE musician Khutsi Sdumane is making waves with his latest single Mofe Tshelete, featuring Thm Da Reaper and Antic. The track promises to captivate listeners with its unique blend of “churchy” melodies and vibrant chants and set tongues wagging for its lyrics. The song, Mofe Tshelete, which translates to “give her money”, also advocates for “give her the (bank) card, give her the pin and don’t be stingy”. It challenges traditional norms by encouraging men to express their love through financial generosity and meaningful gestures. The song not only emphasises monetary support, but also highlights the importance of quality time and understanding women’s love languages, including gifts and acts of care. Khutsi Sdumane’s latest release has sparked conversations across the country, with some critics accusing him of perpetuating the controversial…

The release of South Africa’s second quarter Gross Domestic Product (GDP) data by StatsSA earlier this week has again brought home the shocking reality that with dismal 0.4% growth, KwaZulu-Natal’s financial outlook remains bleak. This situation is compounded in KZN, the province with the highest unemployment rate in the country . It is clear that KZN’s government of provincial unity (GPU) has its work cut out if it is to achieve continuous economic growth of at least 4-5% annually – the minimum needed to kickstart job creation and reduce poverty. And the place for the GPU to start with is the development of KZN’s rural economy. Rural development must also include; Improving youth development Introducing empowerment centres; Strengthening local government; and Reducing crime. The DA remains committed to ensuring that…

THE theme of this year’s Casual Day on September 6, “I see you”, gives hope to people with disabilities that they are being “seen” by society. But do we really see them? Do we recognise and prioritise their needs and their rights? We must go beyond seeing people with disabilities to recognising their rights and citizenship and appreciating their value and dignity by making sure our society is equitable and inclusive, catering for their needs both in mainstream services and through specialised services where necessary. In this article, I focus on the available health-care services in South Africa and how accessible these are to people with intellectual disabilities. People with intellectual disabilities, especially when the disability is severe, usually face multiple health challenges. Extensive research, available mostly from high-income countries,…