Tabla de contenidos para 2023-10-13 en Star

Banking sector is a key intermediary and conduit of capital across the country’s key sectors ROBUST transformation of South Africa’s financial services sector is a critical component of the country’s economic make-over as the banking sector is a key intermediary and conduit of capital across key sectors and players, Dondo Mogajane, the chairperson of the Government Employees Pension Fund (GEPF) said yesterday. The GEPF has just officially launched a new Transformation Policy that seeks to create a framework for future GEPF investments by to stimulate and achieve socio-economic transformation, leverage the vast investment power of the GEPF to encourage the growth of black owned financial service providers and to invest in asset classes aimed at delivering positive financial social service outcomes. The new policy is also aimed at nudging…

THE NEXT generation of self-healing smart phones will be able to repair themselves if their screens get scratched or damaged. A new report by analytics firm CCS Insight has predicted advances in technology mean manufacturers will be able to start producing gadgets with self-healing displays featuring a nano-coating within five years, meaning they could hit shelves as early as 2028. The coating on the screen would be able to mend scratches by creating new material to fill gaps when it is exposed to the air. The Predictions for 2024 and Beyond report states: “Self-healing displays appear on smartphones and other consumer electronics by 2028. The first self-healing displays emerge capable of repairing minor scratches and dents on their own. This is enabled by using a special material in the…

KAROOOOO, the owner vehicle-tracking platform Cartrack, yesterday said that despite the growth experienced in South Africa by Carzuka, an online car platform that connects buyers to sellers, it had decided to cease buying second-hand vehicles as dealerships had expressed that Carzuka’s business competed with them. In its second quarter-and-half-year 2024 results, Karooooo said the decision follows considerable interaction with motor dealerships across South Africa over the past few months, in conjunction with Carzuka’s expansion, as some of the motor dealerships started perceiving Carzuka’s business interests to conflict with their business interests. “We maintain that the Carzuka business model is robust, but we do not want to risk the long-standing strategic relationships that Cartrack has forged with motor dealerships across South Africa. “There are many components within the Carzuka’s platform that…

Some members of the healthcare sector have called for the government to address the flaws in the National Health Insurance (NHI) Bill, passed by the National Assembly in June and with the National Council for Provinces. The Bill, among other things, covers: who will be able to access healthcare services; how these services will be funded; the establishment of a board and advisory committees, general provisions applicable to how the fund will operate, complaints about and appeals to decisions made by the fund; and the source of income of the fund and transitional arrangements. It states that once the NHI is fully implemented, medical schemes can only offer complementary coverage for services not reimbursed by the NHI. Medical schemes and insurers, in particular, had expressed concern about the effect the…

The season finale of the Showmax Original show Unfollowed sees host Thembekile Mrototo speak to Molemo Maarohanye about his controversial career. In the episode, the two discuss how Maarohanye returned after he and a friend crashed into and killed four school children in 2010 after binging on drugs and alcohol. He spent four years in prison for the deaths. “Everything was taken away in the blink of an eye,” he recalled. He added he wasn’t willing to discuss the matter any further out of respect to the families who lost their kids. Maarohanye is currently out on bail and is facing three counts of rape, two counts of attempted murder and one count of assault. The cases were brought by four accusers after women, including actress Amanda du-Pont, Refilwe Khumalo…

If it feels like everything has gotten more expensive lately, you are not alone. Inflation has rocketed in the aftermath of the Covid-19 pandemic. While there is no business in the world that is unaffected by inflation, restaurants tend to get hit especially hard. In times like these, restaurant owners should be quick to adjust to more cost-efficient strategies if they want to compete in a challenging market. Below are four ways restaurant owners can make a profit while battling inflation. Buy local When you can, buy locally to cut down on transport costs (a real factor when gas prices are at an all-time high) and to build relationships with farmers. Cultivating relationships can help you get better deals and perhaps even lead a farmer to grow or produce an…

BUSINESSMAN Bret Lang, a former operator of the now-defunct Johannesburg-based Executive Turbine Aviation (ETA), has shared his own experience of what it is like to have his business run into the ground, alleging that South Africa’s financial institutions “hunt in packs and they all look after each other”. The businessman who gave his full support to the Sekunjalo Group of Companies and its chairman, Dr Iqbal Survé, in their “David versus Goliath” battle against the banks, said he had suffered the same heavy-handed business and personal approach that Survé and Sekunjalo were currently suffering. Lang, drawing parallels between his experience and that of Sekunjalo, said it looked like the banks were attempting to disable Survé and his Independent Media empire. He said he now had no financial accounts because the…

A SENIOR leader of the SA Municipal Workers Union (Samwu) in Tshwane has been shown the door after he was allegedly captured on a video camera fire-bombing a waste removal truck on August 28. Mayor Cilliers Brink, who exposed the official, said the city did not make the information public to avoid jeopardising the police investigation. Brink was addressing the media yesterday at Tshwane House, where he identified the official as Samwu’s regional executive member. The shocking revelation was made amid the ongoing unprotected strike by some union members over outstanding 3.5% and 5.4% salary increments. Since the strike began in July there has been reported incidents of violence, including torching of municipal vehicles, disruption of service delivery such as refuse collection and withdrawal of Tshwane Bus Services. At least…

PICK n Pay announced the extension of its partnership with WWF South Africa, marking a renewed commitment to achieving net-zero carbon emissions across its group by 2050. The collaboration, initiated in 2006 to address over-exploited fish stocks, has evolved into a transformative, long-term partnership. While its roots were in fisheries improvement projects, the focus has now expanded to encompass critical issues within the entire food system. According to a press release, the extended partnership will tackle Scope 3 emissions and align with the Science Based Targets initiative to set targets across Pick n Pay’s supply chain. The collaboration also aims to develop strategies to reduce food waste within the supply chain. Vaughan Pierce of Pick n Pay emphasised the significance of engaging suppliers in managing water and climate-related risks. “This…

Workers are under financial pressure to generate additional revenue; hence, “side hustles” have become commonplace. People with full-time employment are increasingly marketing their side hustles in order to supplement their income. Pfunzo Muligwe, from Limpopo, is a certified electrical engineer who turned entrepreneur with a business that has a footprint in Gauteng, Mpumalanga, and Limpopo. He is one of many who quit their jobs to pursue a full-time entrepreneurial career after his side business grew. Muligwe also sought to create jobs, and uplift his community. He battled the usual start-up woes but emerged victorious. When he quit his regular employment in 2019, he self-funded the business using personal loans and cash injections from his pension fund. One of the most difficult issues his company had initially was that they had…

REIGNING world champions the Springboks went through some intense and noisy training sessions this week in preparation for France and the partisan crowd expected during Sunday’s World Cup quarter-final in Paris. Although it would have been tough to simulate what they are in for at the Stade de France (9pm kickoff) at the weekend, the Boks have tried to create as close an atmosphere to the one they are expecting when they face the host nation for a spot in the semi-finals. Even though they played against France in Marseille last year, and took on Ireland in front of a vociferous Stade de France during the pool games, Bok hooker Bongi Mbonambi believes it won’t come close to what they can expect come Sunday. “I think the intensity will be…

SOUTH Africa completed a stunning 134-run victory over Australia in Lucknow yesterday to maintain their unbeaten start to the 50-over World Cup. We picked five plays of the day from the encounter ... Shot of the day Heading into the World Cup, Quinton de Kock had already announced he would retire from one-day internationals following the conclusion of the tournament. He was more determined than ever to have a successful campaign, and he started the World Cup well with a century in the opening match. Yesterday, he followed up with a second consecutive ton, bringing it up with a pull shot that travelled all the way for six. That stroke takes our shot of the day honours, purely because of the importance of De Kock’s innings – a knock…

OVER the years, France have produced a host of battle-hardened props who have been able to put their hand up to be the best in world rugby. Current loosehead Cyril Baille is among them – alongside the likes of Christian Califano, Nicolas Mas or Pascal Ondarts – and on Sunday, the 30-year-old will face one of the biggest challenges of his career. At the Stade de France, the front-rower is set to play a major part for the hosts in their World Cup quarter-final with the Springboks, but it all seemed very unlikely two months ago In August’s warm-up win over Scotland, Baille suffered a calf injury, putting his tournament in doubt. Despite the fitness issues, he returned in time for France’s two final group games, convincing wins over Namibia…

Ex-Formula One boss Bernie Ecclestone was spared an immediate prison sentence yesterday after he pleaded guilty to misleading Britain’s tax authority about overseas assets worth more than £400-million. Ecclestone has also agreed a civil settlement with HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC), under which he will pay £652.6m (over R9.27-billion) covering tax, interest and penalties for 18 tax years between 1994 and 2022, prosecutor Richard Wright said. The 92-year-old appeared at London’s Southwark Crown Court and pleaded guilty to one count of fraud by false representation, just over a month before he was due to stand trial. Ecclestone admitted giving a misleading answer to HMRC at a July 2015 meeting, when he said he had established only a single trust in favour of his daughters and was not a beneficiary or…

SOUTH African entities will now be able to trade in carbon credits and renewable energy market products following a collaboration between the JSE and Xpansiv in setting up the JSE Ventures platform. Globally and regionally companies have been rushing to sign carbon credit deals, with Zimbabwe this month inking a deal giving an UAE company vast tracts of land under a carbon credit scheme. According to the International Monetary Fund, effective use of carbon pricing policy, reducing inefficient government subsidies that have delayed the green transition, and other green financial and sectoral measures are key in meeting South Africa’s ambitious climate objectives. It adds that with an official carbon tax rate set at R134 per ton of CO2 emitted by end 2022, an estimated effective rate of less than R7…

G7 FINANCE leaders yesterday condemned “terror attacks” on Israel by Hamas and voiced “unwavering” support for Ukraine in its continuing struggle against a Russian invasion. “We unequivocally condemn the recent terror attacks by Hamas on the State of Israel and express our solidarity with the Israeli people,” the G7 finance ministers and central bank governors said in a joint communique after meeting on the sidelines of the International Monetary Fund and World Bank annual gathering in Morocco. Japanese Finance Minister Shunichi Suzuki, who chaired the meeting, said many G7 participants voiced concern and condemnation over the escalating conflict in the Middle East. The group, made up of the US, Britain, France, Germany, Italy, Canada and Japan, also voiced its resolve to enforce sanctions and other economic measures against Russia. “We…

“WE HAVE NO involvement or links to State Capture,” Renergen said yesterday in a statement on its website in response to questions from two of its shareholders as it was also forced to defend its rights to produce helium. Renergen is facing a relentless social media onslaught by shareholder activist Albie Cilliers, leading to the gas and helium producer’s shares haem- orrhaging 21% in seven days. Its shares had fallen 5.39% to close at R12.12 on the JSE yesterday, with a market cap of R1.89 billion. The company did not mention which shareholders had raised questions. According to its 2022 annual report, its main shareholders are Tamryn Investment Holdings (17.75%), Notable Pioneer (8.78%), MATC In- vestments (7.03%), CRT Investment (6.94%), while the Government Em- ployees Pension Fund owns…

THE AMOUNT of food wasted globally is staggering, with South Africa being no exception. While food wastage occurs along the supply chain from farmer to consumer, families could be doing far more to avoid wasting food at home. By doing so, they not only benefit financially through a reduction in their grocery bills; they also contribute to a cleaner environment and help the needy. In 2020, the World Food Programme estimated that about a third of food produced globally, or about 1.3 billion tons a year (worth about $1 trillion), goes to waste. It calculated that all the food produced but never eaten would be sufficient to feed two billion people – more than twice the number of undernourished people across the globe. In this country, in a…

The weather may not have been screaming spring over the past few days, but not celebrating Garden Day would be a crime. Celebrated annually on October 15, Garden Day is a national event aimed at honouring those who love a beautiful, healthy garden. “Garden Day is an annual movement for green-fingered folk to celebrate the fruits of their labour with family and friends. Whether you have a rolling lawn, volunteer at a community garden or have a few plant boxes on your balcony, everyone is invited to participate,” read the statement from the Garden Day movement. So what are you waiting for? Take a break from the hard work of planting, watering, weeding and mulching. Instead, celebrate your garden with a party. Your garden gathering could be anything from a…

Rapper Cassper Nyovest has notably kept a low-profile on X, formerly Twitter, over the past few months. Lately Nyovest, known for his often polarising remarks and antics on the app, has instead been focused almost solely on promoting his music. A post from him recently on the app seems to indicate this new direction has been intentional as he seeks to shift out of the bubble of the social media app. “Dear artist, listen to me. I kid you not , twitter is not a real place, It’s a bubble,” he tweeted. “Get out there and live your life. Build a real life for yourself that you don’t have to escape to feel any kind of euphoria.” He went on to share images of himself, his manager Tlee and…

The residents of Lehae, Slovoville and Fun Valley near Eldorado Pak have taken it upon themselves to man parts of the Golden Highway, which has become dangerous for motorists due to a gaping hole in the road. On Monday, the residents decided to close the road until the provincial and local government repair it. The Golden Highway is currently blocked off to traffic between Cavendish Street and R554 Nirvana Drive. On Wednesday, The Star visited the site of the closure and found a group of residents guarding the road. Colbert Maduna of Slovoville said they were waiting for a meeting with the authorities to map a way forward. “It has been a long time that we have been asking government to do something about this sinkhole. “Cars have been damaged…

DURBAN snake rescuer Nick Evans was at the vet with an injured mamba when he received a call about a suspected black mamba, but a picture confirmed it was a Mozambique spitting cobra. Evans said he received the call on Wednesday about a large snake at an office park in Westville. He said the caller sent a picture. “It wasn’t a black mamba, but a large Mozambique spitting cobra. Can’t say I was disappointed that it was a spitting snake! I left the vet in a hurry and made my way there,” Evans said. He said the caller did exactly what every caller should do – he watched the snake and did not take his eyes off it until Evans arrived. Evans said it was a good thing the…

THE EFF in Tshwane has called for the University of Pretoria (UP) to be the University of Tshwane to “defuse racial tension”. Speaking to Pretoria News yesterday, the red berets’ regional chairperson, Obakeng Ramabodu, said a process of renaming the university had to start with immediate effect. “We have come to realise that this country is still plunged in racial tension and to defuse the racial tension we must move with the times and change names of our facilities that remind us of the apartheid era. “This racial tension is caused by names like the University of Pretoria … this causes the public to think the university belongs to the Afrikaner.” Ramabodu added that the name carried a history of oppression and that was why the Afrikaner people felt they…

The number of people who have never been married has increased substantially in South Africa, while the number of people getting married is declining along with people cohabiting – the concept of vat en sit. This is revealed in the Census 2022 data, which shows that people who have never married went up from 54% in 2011 to 62.2% last year, while the number of those married slipped from 29.9% in 2011 to 24% last year, and those cohabiting fell from 9.2% in 2011 to 7.8%. In terms of couples who were separated but still legally married, there was a slight decrease from 0.8% in 2011 to 0.4%, a slight increase in divorce from 1.5% in 2011 to 1.6%, and widowed couples fell from 4.6% in 2011 to 4%.…

SOUTH Africans of a certain generation are not accustomed to what they gloriously witnessed yesterday at Lucknow’s Ekana International Cricket Stadium. But much more of this, and they may actually have to start believing they have a team worthy of going a long way at the 50-over World Cup. The Proteas were exemplary in all that they did yesterday in crushing five-time champions Australia by a mammoth 134 runs. There is a traditional closeness between these teams – especially at World Cups – and the coin has customarily fallen on the side of Australia. But yesterday, the Proteas were utterly dominant in all aspects. They batted better, bowled better, fielded better and also reviewed better than Australia. Perhaps they ought to have made more runs than the 311/7 they eventually…

The Emirates Lions should find themselves in a content space next week as they prepare for their opening United Rugby Championship (URC) match against the Stormers … well, mostly content. There is a positive vibe coming out of the Doornfontein-based team, with their squad enjoying a clean bill of health across the board – save for one area and it is a biggie. Lions supporters will be pleased to hear that flyhalf Jordan Hendrikse is up and running and looked sharp on Wednesday during a pre-season training match against the Bulls. But due to an injury to Gianni Lombard, the Lions will start the new URC season thin at No 10. Head coach Ivan van Rooyen has been making plans to shore up the position as they prepare for the…

The Springboks will have their work cut out for them if they want to topple France in Sunday’s World Cup quarter-final in Paris. But thanks to four matches varying in difficulty during the pool phase, they should be able to handle whatever the home team throws at them at the Stade de France (kick-off 9pm). We looked at five vital areas the Boks will have to dominate to be victorious ... The scrum It will all start upfront for both sides. The Springboks waxed lyrical about the world-class forward pack the French possess and how they are looking forward to matching up against some of the best in world rugby. And the South Africans have a certain standard to maintain regarding scrummaging. They were dominant for most of the group…

There is no end to the sickening culture of contempt in South African football as players and clubs alike treat the national team with utmost disdain. And it seems there is no end in sight, except maybe when it is time for World Cup selections. Perhaps then players start thinking about the massive bonuses that Fifa offer players today. South African footballers would have been amazed that Banyana Banyana players returned R1-million richer after the last Women’s World Cup. It must be remembered that players are free to reject an international call-up or even retire from international football whenever they please. However, many choose not to exercise this right but decide that they want to have their cake and eat it too. Look at the case of Percy Tau, arguably…

THE SOUTH African Revenue Service (Sars) was the lead agency in a search and seizure operation yesterday as it said that it had broken the back of a coal syndi- cate. In a statement it said information became available regarding a host of tax crimes allegedly committed by members of the coal-smuggling syndicate. The coal syndicate had substituted superior quality coal from trucks supplying power utility and smuggled it out of the country to alternative markets, which has led to the fiscus losing at least R500 million in revenue. The low-grade coal damages the in- frastructure at the Eskom power stations, which is a major factor in crippling the power utility’s ability to generate electricity for the South African grid. Some of the identified and arrested suspects were employed by…

THE SOUTH African government has invited businesses in the country to submit expressions of interest in the pilot of the Trusted Employer Scheme (TES) in a bid to attract skills and services from abroad. The announcement was made by the Department of Home Affairs against the backdrop of President Cyril Ramaphosa’s State of the Nation Address in which he said the government would be reviewing its visa application system to make it easier for foreigners to travel to the country for tourism, business and work. Operation Vulindlela, a initiative of the Presidency and National Treasury to accelerate the implementation of structural reforms and support economic recovery, conducted a review of the work visa framework to identify and remove barriers related to the attraction and retention of skills needed for economic…

LOAD shedding had been hugely disruptive to all businesses, but particularly to the telco industries, Vodacom CEO Shameel Joosub said. Speaking at the Western Cape Premier Alan Winde's 26th Energy Digicon yesterday, Joosub said the telco industry had more than 20 000 sites across the country. “If you think about this situation in your house or building and times (multiply) it by 20 000, that is the problem for the telco industry. It has been very disruptive. “The other reality and what we are seeing is that when there is load shedding, we actually see an increase in traffic, because customers then actually go into using more of the networks. But then there is an expectation that communication is there during load shedding,” he said. He said industry…

Rising pop star Ananya couldn’t have chose a better time to release her debut EP, i woke up one night. With mental health on the rise, the project plays around her messages of vulnerability and the good in seeking help for one’s mental health. The singer/songwriter, fashion creative, and mental health activist poured her heart and soul into the seven-track EP and takes listeners on a journey into examining their own state of mind. Recorded between Cape Town and London, the EP dives into mysteries of her inner thoughts, drawing inspiration from her dreams, nightmares and mental health journey. “Making this EP has been a labour of love. It’s honest, vulnerable, empowering, emotional, all at the same time. “It’s nightmares, and dreams, regrets and truths. It’s stepping into the best…

Jim Jefferies’s Give ’Em What They Want tour will be heading to South Africa next year. Big Concerts said the Australian comedian would be at GrandWest’s Grand Arena in Cape Town on April 12 follow by Time Square’s SunBet Arena on April 13. “@jimjefferies fans, clear your calendars!” they wrote on Instagram, “The hilarious comedian is bringing his Give ’Em What They Want tour to South Africa in 2024! “Book #DiscoveryBank pre-sale tickets from 9am, Wednesday October 18. Tickets go on sale to the general public at 9am, Friday, October 20 exclusively from @ticketmasterza.” The award-winning Sydney native is one of the most popular and respected comedians of his generation, entertaining audiences across the globe with his provocative, belief-challenging and thought-provoking comedy. Jefferies first hit the comedy stage at festivals…

Unisa vice-chancellor and principal, Professor Puleng LenkaBula, has refused to apologise to general secretary of the National Association of South African Workers (Nasa), Mpho Morolane, for allegedly calling him a rapist and woman abuser on social media. Morolane had requested that LenkaBula tender an apology for her remarks on all social media platforms by end of business on September 27, which the VC did not do. This resulted in a legal war between the two, who have allegedly worked together in the past. Morolane had unleashed his legal team on LenkaBula after the VC allegedly verbally harassed him on social media and referred to him as a rapist and a woman abuser. Last month, Morolane’s lawyers, England Slabbert Attorneys accused LenkaBula of making defamatory statements against its client. However, last…

The City of Joburg MMC for public safety, Dr Mgcini Tshwaku, has heeded the call to meet a Pakistani national to clarify claims made on a video that has since gone viral. Tshwaku was in Fordsburg, where he unpacked the context of the video and requested to meet owners of spaza shops in and around Joburg to verify their suppliers of goods and deal with the issue of selling expired goods and counterfeit products. In the video, an enraged Pakistani can be heard making rants, which he told Tshwaku were directed at the individual allegedly intimidating their business. It was explained that the video was not meant to incite violence but was a cry for help as shop owners claimed there was someone who regularly demanded money from them. In…

Times are tough, and South African consumers are struggling under the pressure of increased inflation and high interest rates, as well as a rise in the cost of living. Chantel Pieterse, head of Operations, Unifi South Africa, said: “Ordinary South Africans are looking for ways to make ends meet, and for many this includes considering loans or borrowing money from credit suppliers.” If you have a loan, here are five tips to help take the stress out of paying it back. Set up a budget and stick to it Tyrone Lowther, Head of Budget Insurance, said that whether one is trying to get out of debt or save money, a basic budget is an underestimated tool for gaining control of one’s finances. If you have never set up a budget…

When you’re a celebrity, you need to know your place and understand that, unlike ordinary citizens, there are certain things you cannot get away with saying. Amapiano musician Kabza De Small found himself getting grilled on X following the silly remarks he made about women who wear make-up. In two trending videos, he said it was better when women hired make-up artists instead of doing the make-up themselves. His comment can be translated as: “When this make-up thing started, people were doing it for you. But you guys ruined it by doing it yourselves. You look like a corpse”. In another video, he said a blush looked better on light-skinned women and not dark-skinned women. Translation: “There is this thing that you put here (brushing his cheeks) after make-up,…

Consumers thinking of the traditional potato salad or baked potatoes drizzled with chicken juices at Christmas must think again as the price of their favourite spud has gone through the roof. A 7kg bag of potatoes costs between R110 and R120, while a 10kg bag costs about R189.99 at grocery stores like Checkers, OK and Food Lovers Market. The Western Cape Department of Agriculture said potato prices surged by more than double over the year, increasing by 102% in October 2023, exceeding the 2022 mid-October potato average prices and setting a new high staple for the vegetable. The department said in week 38 of 2023, potato prices averaged R10 704 per ton, an increase of 21% week-on-week, driven by a decline of 27% week-on-week to 13 291 tons. Western Cape…

The deplorable state of provincial roads in Gauteng, with a particular emphasis on the critical issues plaguing the R101 road, Golden Highway and Rondebult Road in Boksburg, and the widespread presence of hazardous potholes, is worrying. Our provincial roads have deteriorated, posing significant threats to public safety and impeding our economic progress. The recent emergence of a sizeable sinkhole on Rondebult Road in Boksburg is a stark reminder of the dire state of our road infrastructure. This sinkhole endangers commuters’ lives and compounds the daily challenges faced by motorists, cyclists and pedestrians. It is crucial that the Gauteng Department of Roads and Logistics use the maintenance budget wisely to keep our roads in tip-top condition. This will help prevent further accidents. Furthermore, it will allow the department to be proactive…

QUINTON de Kock may have enjoyed a fruitful homecoming to Lucknow, but the Proteas wicket-keeper heaped praise on the bowling unit for rolling Australia in their World Cup clash yesterday. De Kock plays for IPL franchise Lucknow Super Giants and thrilled his adopted home crowd with 106 off 109 balls – his second consecutive World Cup century – at the Ekana International Cricket Stadium. The 30-year-old’s heroics helped set up South Africa’s 311/7, forming a 108-run opening partnership with captain Temba Bavuma (35) before the in-form Aiden Markram also contributed another stylish 56 to set up the crushing 134-run victory. There were also cameos from Rassie van der Dussen (26), Heinrich Klaasen (29), David Miller (17) and Marco Jansen (26) all the way through the Proteas batting line-up. But De…

SPRINGBOK legend Jaque Fourie is convinced that only one centre combination will do when South Africa take on France in an almighty World Cup quarter-final clash this weekend. Fourie, a World Cup champion in 2007 and British & Irish Lions series winner two years later, arguably redefined the role during his tenure with the Boks in a career that spanned 11 years and 72 Test caps. Now coaching at the Lions, Fourie spoke exclusively to Independent Media regarding who he would select at No 12 and 13. The Boks have a number of options there, and their inner circle will have to think carefully on who they pick for Les Bleus at the Stade de France on Sunday (9pm kickoff). The return of Lukhanyo Am has complicated matters, as they…

The Titans return home to SuperSport Park for the remainder of the One-Day Cup campaign and they will bring positive momentum with them following Donovan Ferreira and Dean Elgar’s match-winning centuries in Durban. Ferreira blasted an unbeaten 138, alongside Elgar’s unbeaten 100 at Kingsmead on Wednesday, ensuring a much-needed six-wicket victory against the Dolphins after being humbled by the Warriors in Gqeberha last week. The Sky Blues now head back to Centurion for the remainder of their round-robin fixtures and take on the North West Dragons today (1pm) – a team brimming with confidence, having won two consecutive matches. “We’re happy to be back home on Friday and play in front of our home crowd,” said Titans head coach Mandla Mashimbyi. “There’s the obvious factors that play into our…

MIHLALI Mayambela is living the dream by playing in the Europa League, even though he is eyeing a jump to the Champions League in future. Mayambela had a maiden season to remember with Aris Limassol in the Cypriot top flight last season, guiding the team to the league title. He didn’t stop there, though. The Cape Town-born player ensured that they qualified for the Europa League after coming short in the Champions League qualifiers. Aris have had a mixed start in the Europa, though. They lost their opener to Sparta Prague, before redeeming themselves with a win over Rangers at home. But having started in both matches, it was a dream come true for Mayambela as he always dreamt of playing against some of the best players in the world.…