Star -julkaisun 2022-11-03 -irtonumeron sisällysluettelo

THE GOVERNMENT needs to urgently review the impact of import duties on the increasing cost of food, and remove newly imposed duties on imported french fries, according to international trade consultancy XA Global Trade Advisors. This follows the recent imposition by the International Trade Administration Commission (Itac) of provisional duties on frozen fries imported or originating from Belgium, Germany and the Netherlands. The provisional duties imposed were as high as 190% in some cases. XA Global Trade Advisors chief executive Donald MacKay said yesterday the government could not continue to impose duty-upon-duty on food and expect it not to harm consumers. “Duties on fries specifically have increased the price of fries by 88%, from R16/kg in 2021 to R30/kg in 2022. Duties are not in the public interest, they…

THE COMPETITION Commission wants to prosecute Vita Gas for limiting access to liquified petroleum gas (LPG) from import terminals in the Western Cape. Vita Gas imports LPG, propane, and butane into Southern Africa by ship. Vita Gas sells to any licensed customer that wishes to buy small or large volumes. The Competition Commission said last Friday it had referred to the Competition Tribunal a complaint against Vita Gas for the alleged abuse of market dominance in the supply of LPG from import terminals in the Western Cape. The Sunrise Energy terminal, located at Saldanha Bay, is the only LPG terminal in the Western Cape. The commission found that Vita Gas, by entering into an exclusive agreement with Sunrise Energy, which had contravened the Competition Act. The commission said it had…

PHARMACY retailer Dis-Chem’s earnings grew by 44% for the half-year ended August 31, 2022, boosted by consumer shopping habits and routines, which were almost restored to pre-Covid levels. This despite the group coming under fire following a leaked letter last month by its chief executive Ivan Saltzman, in which he announced a moratorium on the hiring of white staff. Saltzman failed to address the issue in the firm’s interim results webcast. In its six months results released yesterday, the group said its headline earnings per share were 70.1 cents, a 44.3% hike from the prior comparable period. Retail revenue grew by 9.3% to R14.4 billion with comparable pharmacy store revenue at 3.6%. “If the contribution of Covid-19 vaccines and testing are excluded from both periods, retail revenue…

Multi-award-winning musician Makhadzi has become a force to be reckoned with, not only in South Africa, but internationally. The star has fans eating out the palm of her hand, releasing banger after banger, and her new single Ndiringe is no exception. The three-and-a-half-minute track was released on multiple streaming platforms last week and sets the tone for a hot South African summer. The hitmaker said the song, like all her music, is a reflection of life. “I make music that should resonate with people, even though people may not understand my music, I speak through the universal language – music,” she said. Sung in Venda, Makhadzi linked up with Mr Brown for the divine offering of energetic drums, soothing synths and folk-like storytelling, making it a welcome addition to the…

Claim that businessman was asked to store the cash for safekeeping A CAPE TOWN-based property developer has emerged as an alleged central figure in helping President Cyril Ramaphosa’s special adviser, Bejani Chauke, store more than $20 million in cash three weeks after the Phala Phala farm scandal was exposed. This is contained in a document apparently authored by former State Security Agency director-general Arthur Fraser which forms part of UDM leader Bantu Holomisa’s submission to the independent parliamentary panel established to determine whether Ramaphosa has a case to answer over the scandal. The letter, believed to have been intended to assist the Hawks in their probe, claims that property mogul Zahir Vallie, owner of ZProp, was contacted by Chauke three weeks after charges were laid against Ramaphosa. Chauke, according to…

USING science and innovation as a driving force behind stimulating economic growth in South Africa has been identified as an important strategy to also fight poverty, unemployment and inequality. This was highlighted during the first of the two-day 8th biennial conference, which started at the CSIR in Pretoria yesterday. Under the theme “Harnessing research, development and innovation for a robust South African economy”, the summit attracted 1 800 participants, including scientific experts, academia, industry leaders from around the world and members of the public. The conference is expected to also address challenges related to power outages, water cuts, climate change and the high unemployment rate in the country. It will also look at the opportunity for South Africa to become a significant player in the hydrogen market. CSIR chief executive…

PRESIDENT Cyril Ramaphosa must put words into action when he calls for an end to gender-based violence (GBV) on public platforms. Ramaphosa is holding a presidential summit on GBV and femicide (GBVF) exactly four years to the day since he made a pledge for everyone to work together to end the violence that men perpetrate against women and children in South Africa. Ramaphosa said that during the first summit, the participants collectively made a firm commitment to the nation to undertake a comprehensive, effective and united response to GBVF. “We agreed to develop a National Strategic Plan (NSP) to guide our national response, to co-ordinate the sectors involved in the fight against GBV, to strengthen the state’s response, and to align the efforts of government, the private sector and civil…

There is this cultural view/thinking that a black woman needs to be submissive. This thinking belongs to the dark ages. Stay strong Busisiwe and fight on. There are many ANC so-called government officials running around far too smug that should be investigated. I would love to audit Eskom, Sanral, the SANDF and other payrolls, Ithuba, the above to name just a few. There are ANC cowboys out there who need to be looked at very closely – including the so-called top six. Again, Busisiwe, fight on. Yes, this pathetic ANC so-called government are quick to try and nail a woman, as is the case with Mpho Phalatse, but do little or nothing to hold male counterparts to account. As always.…

When your surname is Ford, you live in Detroit and you still play an active role within Ford Motor Corporation, you’re as close to royalty in America as you’ll ever get. In this case it’s Elena Ford, who is the chief customer experience officer for Ford Blue. Ford Blue came about after president and CEO Jim Farley split the business into two separate but interdependent business units. Ford Blue is dedicated to the traditional internal combustion engine and Ford e focuses on EVs and connectivity. Speaking after the recent launch of the new Mustang, she proudly mentioned that her first car on her 16th birthday was a 1982 silver Mustang with blue stripes. “It’s still my favourite car and I have a wonderful collection of Mustangs.” But we were…

MALIBONGWE Maketa is from the Eastern Cape, where they boast about how hard they’re bred. Maketa will need every bit of that toughness as he prepares to lead the Proteas Down Under for a three-match Test series in December/January as the national team’s interim head coach. Actually, Maketa, 42, has already needed a thick skin just to deal with Cricket South Africa over the last few years when he went from Proteas assistant coach under Otis Gibson, to some undefined role for a few months, then sprung up as SA ‘A’ coach – a job he’s continued with, which has allowed him to work again with the senior men’s national team lately. He’s been with the squad in some capacity since the home series against Bangladesh in April, and then…

THE AUDITOR-general’s office has expressed concern at Transnet’s in- ability to generate sufficient cash flow from its operations to make debt payments, its liquidity, resulting in its raising loans to make payments, a sentiment expressed by Moody’s Ratings Agency earlier this year. Briefing Parliament’s standing committee on public accounts yesterday, Modimela Singo, the acting business executive at the auditor-general (AG), said yesterday that Transnet’s financial report, in which it recently declared R5 billion profit from a fair value adjustment of its R9.8bn portfolio investments, had been done late. “The issue is that Transnet is not able to generate sufficient cash flow from its operations to settle loan repayments. “It is not sustainable that Transnet has to raise loans to make repayments, even though it does have a R36bn domestic…

THE JSE HAS given Fortress Reit (real estate investment trust) until November 30 to submit a compliant Reit dividend declaration, or its Reit status would be removed, the company said in an update yesterday. To retain its Reit status, a Reit must distribute at least 75% of its distributable profits to shareholders within four months of its financial year-end, subject to the solvency and liquidity test. Fortress’s board planned earlier this year to collapse the company’s dual-share structure into a single share, and so allow the declaration of a dividend, but this plan was not approved by shareholders. Fortress was required to submit a dividend declaration for its year ended June 30, 2022, to the JSE by October 31. Fortress, however, said its memorandum of incorporation (MOI) prevented the payment…

CILO CYBIN Holdings, which plans to list in the JSE’s main board on November 14, said yesterday that its initial public offering (IPO) to raise R500 million closes tomorrow. The company plans to acquire and invest in biotech, biohacking or pharmaceutical sector companies in the cannabis, psychedelics, wearable devices and custom nutrition markets. The results of the IPO are expected to be released on Tuesday. The company said in a statement that it had identified potential acquisitions in South Africa and the US. One of these was Cilo Cybin Pharmaceutical (CCP). Gabriel Theron, founder of Cilo Cybin Holdings, is also the founder and main shareholder in CCP. “CCP has a state-of-the-art cultivation, manufacturing and packaging facility in Midrand. “The vision of the company from the outset was not to…

Musicians Babes Wodumo and Mampintsha, real names Bongekile Simelane and Mandla Maphumulo, have had quite the relationship, with several of their down moments playing out in public. Even before getting married and welcoming their child, the couple has faced abuse allegations. Their fans have been given an inner look into their relationship on their Showmax reality show, Uthando Lodumo. After requesting her husband to take a paternity test because of rumours he fathered a child outside their marriage, Babes Wodumo visited her marriage counsellor, Pastor Dube. During the session, the Wololo hitmaker poured out her heart about her marital woes, from Mampintsha’s alleged shady business dealings in relation to her career and his hitting on female celebrities. “When I log onto his Instagram, I see the messages he sends to…

International airline Emirates recently announced the ramp-up of services to its three gateways in South Africa: Joburg, Cape Town and Durban. Emirates Senior Vice President: Commercial Operations Africa, Badr Abbas told the media in a round- table discussion on Tuesday that the ramp-up was part of Emirates’ ongoing commitment to support South Africa’s economic and tourism recovery to enhance connect- ivity across all of its gateways. “Our ramp-up reaffirms South Africa’s strategic importance on our network, and we prioritise service expansion and rebuilding our capacity in this market to unlock further growth potential,” he said. The airline said to further reaffirm South Africa’s strategic importance in its network, Emirates would be increasing its flight schedule to South Africa from January 1, for Cape Town, and March 1, for Joburg,…

Nazareth Baptist Church’s Ebuhleni faction, under the leadership of Mduduzi Shembe, of which King Misuzulu is a member, said it was not bothered by his anointing by the Anglican Church during his coronation last week. The church, popularly known as KwaShembe, weighed in on the matter after a public outcry from the African traditionalists who had questioned the rituals conducted by the church, which was founded through a missionary system under British rule. Many Africans argued that the missionary system was an integral part of the colonisation agenda of European imperialists like Britain. Yesterday,Kwa- Shembe spokesperson Thokozani Mncwabe said although King Misuzulu was a member of his church, the church was not bothered by the ritual conducted by Anglican Reverend Thabo Makgoba because it meant nothing. Mncwabe said their leader,…

THE marketing content said this year’s Fortuner Challenge was going to be tough. It wasn’t joking. I’ve covered a few of them over the years and the 2022 version over two days in Stellenbosch was the toughest by a long margin. When your first challenge starts in 30 degree heat in the sun with a cross fit exercise pushing 100kg up and down eight times on a sleigh you know you’re in for a rough ride. And just as you get your breath back you have to pull a rowing machine over a virtual 1 000m under a predetermined time, followed by carrying a 45kg ball around two loops to try and hoist it over your shoulder with as many reps as you can. While this is taking place, your…

YESTERDAY marked three years to the day that the Springboks beat England in the Rugby World Cup final in Japan, but while South African fans were reminiscing, SA Rugby’s director of rugby Rassie Erasmus made it very clear from Dublin that the Boks have moved on and are more concerned about next year’s tournament in France. Erasmus is clearly thriving being back with his beloved Boks after a year of suspension – Saturday’s first Test on their end-of-year tour against Ireland will mark the first time he has been at a Bok match this year – and he said his team are not living in the past and are determined to defend their crown. “Winning the World Cup was wonderful in 2019, it was great, but the bragging rights are…

SPANIARD Jose Riveiro and Frenchmen Romain Folz are barely a year into their roles as the coaches of 2022 MTN8 finalists Orlando Pirates and AmaZulu FC respectively. But one of them is set to join a list of foreign coaches to have won the crown. Here, Mihlali Baleka looks at those foreigners who have won the MTN8 title in recent years. Ruud Krol Orlando Pirates Dutchman Krol guided Pirates to a treble in 2011 and that began by winning the MTN8 after beating Soweto rivals Moroka Swallows on penalties. Julio Leal Orlando Pirates Brazilian Leal was an unpopular successor to Krol in 2011, but he achieved the improbable by defending the MTN8 title after beating Soweto rivals Kaizer Chiefs. Zeca Marques Moroka Swallows Born in Portugal, Marques made a name…

So far the government remains aloof, and says that it doesn’t have funds TONGAAT Hulett’s Business Rescue Practitioners (BRP) and the South African Cane Growers Association (Sacga) have resolved to go cap in hand to ask the government to salvage the company, which currently facing costs close to R1 billion for payments to farmers for the months of September and October. Trevor Murgatroyd, Peter van den Steen and Gerhard Albertyn of Metis Strategic Advisors are the business rescue practitioners of Tongaat. After a meeting with them, Sacga announced that it had written to Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development Minister Thoko Didiza, Trade, Industry and Competition Minister Ebrahim Patel and President Cyril Ramaphosa, among others, to request urgent engagements on the necessity of government financial intervention to ensure that…

TO MEET short-term glass supply shortfalls in South Africa, Ardagh Glass Packaging – Africa (AGP), a subsidiary of Ardagh Group, is on track with its Nigel 3 extension plan, which was ex- pected to be commissioned in late 2023. Earlier this year Ardagh completed its R18 billion acquisition of Consol with a R3bn Nigel extension plan in hand to broaden its Africa footprint. AGP said in a statement this week, it planned a further extension of its Nigel production facility in Gauteng to support customers’ current and projected demand growth over the next few years. This investment in a third furnace (N3) follows the recently commissioned Nigel 2 (N2). AGP said the lead time to build a new glass furnace was 18 to 24 months and it took…

SAA’S AUDIT by the auditor-general (AG) is finally under way after it submitted its financial statements for the past four years last week. Backed up against the wall by parliamentarians in the standing committee on public accounts (Scopa), Fhumulani Rabonda, the deputy business executive at the AG’s office, and Modimela Singo, the acting business executive at the AG, said while SAA’s audit had got under way in August, after initial statements were submitted in May, the utility had subsequently resubmitted a fresh set of financial statements only last week. The audit, which will cover the financial years 2018/19, 2019/20, 2020/21 and 2021/22, is expected to be completed in February or March next year. “We could not start the audit because the financial statements of subsidiary Airchefs and SAA were not…

Takeoff has been shot dead at the age of 28. The rap star – whose real name was Kirshnik Khari Ball – was known for creating hits such as Versace and Bad and Boujee alongside his uncle Quavo and cousin Offset as part of hip-hop group Migos but was killed following an “altercation” at the 810 Billiards and Bowling in Houston, Texas, during the early hours of Tuesday morning, TMZ has confirmed. A source told the outlet: “Takeoff and Quavo were there playing dice when an altercation broke out and that’s when someone opened fire, shooting Takeoff either in the head or near his head. He was pronounced dead at the scene.” TMZ went on to report that two others were shot at the scene and have been hospitalised, although…

Joburg mayor Mpho Phalatse seems to have lost the support of her own multiparty-coalition members – with some feeling she was delaying the processes of her ousting. ActionSA leader Herman Mashaba has appealed to Phalatse to face the inevitable and stop trying to retain power through the courts. Mashaba was responding to allegations that he was doing the DA’s dirty work trying to ensure that the motion of no confidence against Phalatse does not go through. The motion had been premised on criminal charges Phalatse was facing concerning alleged corruption. The Star understands that both Mashaba and Phalatse had been implicated in alleged corruption concerning the funding of the Field Band Foundation, which received grants from the City of Johannesburg. The DA had claimed that the Field Band Foundation matter…

The Black Coffee Foundation and Virgin Active South Africa have partnered for a fitness event in support of the Mthatha Food Bank, set for November 13 at Fourways Mall. The event will put attendees through their paces in a series of 50-minute cycling or boxing sessions led by Virgin Active instructors while Grammy Award-winning DJ Black Coffee, real name Nkosinathi Maphumulo, spins the decks. The initiative aims to raise funds for the Black Coffee Foundation and will go toward supporting the Mthatha Food Bank, a cause close to the DJ’s heart. “I grew up in Mthatha, so I try to support them as much as possible. With the establishment of the Mthatha Food Bank, myself and the foundation hope to be able to make an impact on the lives of…

One thing’s for sure, if you’re looking for a Volkswagen SUV or crossover, you’re spoilt for choice. T-Cross, Taigo, T-Roc, Tiguan, Touareg, take your pick. The T-Roc, which shares its basic architecture with the Audi Q2, is slightly shorter than the cheaper Taigo, although it is at least somewhat wider. We recently spent a week the 2.0 TSI 4Motion R-Line. With 140kW and 320Nm it’s not as powerful as the Golf GTI, and it certainly won’t push you back in your seat when you floor the pedal from a standstill, but it is brisk and allows for effortless overtaking. Power goes to all four wheels through a smooth-shifting seven-speed DSG dual-clutch gearbox, and you can change gears yourself with the flappy paddles. The T-Roc feels more agile than your average…

THE Proteas may be focused on a crunch T20 World Cup clash against Pakistan in Sydney today, but even they could not keep their eyes away from Dewald Brevis’ record-breaking masterpiece for the Titans earlier this week. Brevis, just 19, shot the lights out with 162 off just 57 balls, and in the process shattered a number of records, including a world best for the fastest 150 in T20 cricket, and it has certainly not gone unnoticed Down Under. The teenager has been touted to break into the Proteas squad in the near future and senior statesman David Miller was certainly impressed by the youngster’s ability. “To do that in any format or any level of cricket is something special. He definitely has shown what he’s capable of. He’s a…