Star -julkaisun 2023-06-20 -irtonumeron sisällysluettelo

Concern raised over rapid rise in cases of money muling and forged documents THE Southern African Fraud Prevention Services (SAFPS) has raised concerns over an alarming increase in fraud cases over the past three years, especially in money muling and forged documents. This was highlighted in its recently released 2023 Fraud Statistics, which details the fraud incidents from April last year until the end of April this year. The SAFPS said the fraud landscape has increased significantly over the years, with impersonation fraud, money muling and forged documentation being the most significant challenges that they have to deal with. Recent statistics mark Gauteng as the hot spot for fraud, with 66% of all reported fraud incidents occurring in the economic hub. KwaZulu-Natal followed with 17%, and the Western Cape…

As South Africa commemorates Youth Month, the Department of Social Development wishes to remind South Africans of one of the challenges faced by young people around the country – alcohol and substance abuse. Drug abuse is a complicated problem at the intersection of public health, safety and social issues, claiming over 500 000 lives each year and putting a strain on families and communities. According to Lumka Oliphant, the department’s media liaison person, socio-economic factors such as poverty, inequality and unemployment continue to be important contributors to increased drug use and the development of substance use disorders. She said: “It is in this context that the period between June 19 and 23 has been set aside as the National Anti-Drug Awareness Week, and the department will be raising awareness…

SOUTH Africa needs to increase its number of commercial farmers and production, this, as the continent suffered a shortage of about 30 million tons of grains in the wake of the Russia/Ukraine war. The sentiment was posed by industry role-players, following President Cyril Ramaphosa’s statement that both Russia and Ukraine were major suppliers of grains and producers of fertiliser destined for African markets. “According to the African Development Bank, the conflict has ‘triggered a shortage of about 30 million tons of grains on the African continent, along with a sharp increase in cost’. As a result of this conflict African countries are negatively affected by the rising costs of food and energy,” Ramaphosa said. The president recently returned from Ukraine and the Russian Federation as part of a delegation from…

The USA is a superpower and has influence all over the world. When it coughs, the whole world catches the flu. And it has a tendency of abusing its power, especially against countries that don’t agree with it. Next year, the USA and SA are going to the polls. At the same time, these two countries are currently at odds with each other due to SA being accused of supporting Russia in its (the latter) war against Ukraine. Interestingly, there are similarities between the two country’s presidents, Joe Biden and Cyril Ramaphosa. They both took over from disastrous presidents: Donald Trump and Jacob Zuma, respectively. When Biden and Ramaphosa took to power, both carried the hopes of the citizens of their countries but have failed dismally to meet expectations. Now…

THE Department of Transport on Sunday announced that the driving licence card production machine was back in full production amid a 350 000 licence backlog. The printing of new driving licences cards was halted because the machine was faulty and needed urgent attention. The machine is the only printing machine in the country and needed to be taken out of production for three weeks to replace a broken part identified during a routine maintenance. In a statement released on Sunday the department said the backlog was currently at 350 000 cards. Spokesperson Collen Msibi said the backlogs were dependent on the number of orders received. “There is currently a catch-up plan to address the backlog, which will be cleared by the end of August.” Msibi said the testing of…

A SENIOR researcher who was declared legally blind by his doctor and thus could no longer perform his duties as before and dismissed on medical grounds, turned to the Johannesburg Labour Court as he felt that his employer had unfairly discriminated against him because of his disability. Vuyisile Gugwini worked at the National Consumer Commission’s office when he was diagnosed with acute loss of vision and retinal detachment. Gugwini stated that his employer unfairly discriminated against him in terms of the Employment Equity Act on the ground of his disability. He experienced difficulty with his eyesight in 2016, and was diagnosed in June 2017, whereafter he went for three operations. An ophthalmologist eventually declared that he was legally blind and suggested that Gugwini be assisted in receiving a disability grant.…

THE Goldenberg scandal in the early 1990s is Kenya’s largest documented gold fraud. The scheme involved Goldenberg International Limited, which pretended to export gold and diamonds and, in exchange, received substantial subsidies from the government for “earning” foreign exchange. Kenyan businessman Kamlesh Pattni – who was at the centre of the scandal and was charged with fraud but eventually acquitted – was recently named in a new investigation into gold fraud. This time, his operation is allegedly being run through Zimbabwe from his base in Dubai. Economists Roman Grynberg and Fwasa Singogo, who have researched the Goldenberg case, and the gold mining industry and its role in illicit financial flows in Africa, unpack the issue. What was the Goldenberg scandal? The scandal centred on two companies: Goldenberg International and Exchange…

Chinese leader Xi Jinping said yesterday he saw headway in the strained relationship with the US on a rare visit by Secretary of State Antony Blinken, but the rival powers remained at odds over their core disputes. In a symbolic sign of lowering the temperature after soaring tensions, President Xi received Blinken in the vast Great Hall of the People and said the two powers had “made progress and reached agreement” on unspecified issues. “I hope that Secretary Blinken, through this visit, can make positive contributions to stabilising China-US relations,” Xi told the top US diplomat, the highest-ranking American official to travel to Beijing in nearly five years. Both sides had played down prospects for breakthroughs, with Blinken saying his more than 11 hours of talks over two days were…

Islamabad: Owing to the non-availability of US dollars, commercial importers in Pakistan have announced they will stop the import of all eatables and drinks from June 25. According to a statement issued by Karachi Wholesale Grocers Association Secretary Farhat Siddique, all banks have refused to provide them with dollars. After a thorough discussion, the association decided that importers should inform their indenters that no shipment should be dispatched after June 25. No shipment would be cleared that was dispatched after June 25. | IANS…

Manchester City chairperson Khaldoon Al Mubarak has voiced his frustration that financial fair play (FFP) charges are overshadowing the club’s success on the pitch, vowing to air his “blunt views” when he can. Pep Guardiola’s team won a historic treble of the Uefa Champions League, Premier League and FA Cup last season - becoming just the second English side to manage the feat. City were charged in February with 115 alleged breaches of the Premier League’s financial fair play regulations dating back to 2009 and accused of not cooperating in an investigation. Guardiola last month said he does not want a cloud hanging over his team’s achievements and hopes for a resolution as soon as possible. Khaldoon, speaking to in-house club media, said he could not comment in detail on…

Police in the Bojanala Platinum District (Brits and Rustenburg) have warned motorists of an increase in hijackings, particularly of delivery cars and trucks. This comes after several cases were reported recently. Colonel Adele Myburgh said that at lunchtime on June 13, a man, 39, driving a Scania truck laden with cooking oil pulled over next to the N4 road, near the Swartruggens Toll Gate, to relieve himself. “Three individuals in a Toyota Yaris confronted him, blindfolded him and dragged him into their car. All of his belongings were stolen. “He was eventually released at an unknown location and called Swartruggens police two days later. “In a second incident on June 14 at about 12 noon, a driver, 29, was on the R511 road, near the N4 off-ramp in Brits, in…

MEMBERS of the Taxi Patrol Squad from Centurion arrested for possession of unlicensed firearms will have to wait a while longer to apply for their release on bail after their day in court was disrupted due to an emergency. Even though the legal representatives for Lenohang Setenane, 28, Mthozisi Mhlongo, 40, and Jabulani Zondo, 44, were ready to proceed with their bail application in the Pretoria Magistrate’s Court yesterday, they informed the trio they would not be able to proceed. This was after the presiding magistrate informed the court that matters in Court 16 would have to be postponed due to a personal emergency. The trio were arrested last Monday by members of the police’s Taxi Violence Task Team after a tip-off about members of a taxi association patrol squad…

We have forgotten something about Ramaphosa. He played a key role at Codesa – the Convention for a Democratic South Africa, the bilateral and multiparty negotiations to end apartheid. So buoyed was he with the outstanding achievement on his CV that he led a delegation of African leaders to Europe to get the two warring nations to the negotiating table to end the Ukraine conflict. If he could pull it off, it would enhance his tattered image. Phala Phala, Eskom and his corrupt and inefficient government would be forgotten. He would go down in history as the great peace negotiator, a great son of South Africa and may even stand a chance to win the Noble Peace Prize. But Europe proved a bridge too far to cross for Ramaphosa and…

Humans are the most stupid creatures that have ever walked this earth despite the illusion they are the smartest. Technological developments are inexplicable, in that at the same time as bringing positive changes, they can be very devastating. This issue of Artificial Intelligence (AI) is apt to consider in this regard. In as much as it is going to bring many good changes, it portends serious challenges to the very existence of humanity itself. Right now many states are busy with enacting laws to regulate AI because, if misused, human beings are going to be in trouble. What is galling is we have been here before: human beings developed nuclear weapons that were capable to destroy the world and it was a titanic struggle to contain this eventuality. Now…

THE City of Tshwane’s Health Department says it has received several complaints about a mosquito infestation in areas in the Winterveld area, specifically Wards 9 and 24. MMC for Health, Rina Marx said the Municipal Health Services Section of the department commenced investigations to determine the extent of the infestation. This included sampling the insects to determine the type of species invading the area. This approach was necessary to determine the type of intervention required, according to Marx. “Laboratory tests undertaken revealed that this mosquito species is not a disease carrier but can cause irritation due to the female insects that require blood to produce their eggs. “Among the possible identified causes of the infestation is the nature of the environment. A major section of the area is a wetland…

A SEASONED pilot has his wings back after a court allowed him to take to the skies again. The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) suspended his licence for six months when he flew too close to the ground in a bid to encourage a group of people on the landing strip to move away. David Mandel turned to the Eastern Cape High Court in Gqebertha for an urgent order allowing him to fly again, pending a review application against the CAA’s decision to clip his wings for six months. Mandel is said to be a passionate and experienced pilot, holding a private pilot’s licence for approximately 40 years, with an unblemished flying record. He regularly receives invitations to fly in air shows and pilots his own planes between South African cities…

Miss South Africa 2022 runner-up Ayanda Thabethe is ready to represent Mzansi at the Miss Supranational 2023. The KwaZulu-Natal-born star made it to the top 24 and is also Group 4’s Supra Chat winner, meaning that she is advancing to the top 10 semi-final round of Supra Chat. Thabethe will walk the Miss Supranational stage in Poland, where Lalela Mswane will crown her successor. People rallying behind her want to see her win so that she, and the current titleholder, Mswane, can have a beautiful South African moment on stage. “Powerhouse. I’ve been saying I can’t wait to see ur reaction when Lalela is crowning you as her successor,” commented @_viweh. Thabethe will participate in the pageant on July 14. In other news, reigning Miss South Africa, Ndavi Nokeri, partnered…

As power cuts continue, the economy falters, unemployment rises, and the currency tumbles, South Africa’s political commentators tend to agree that support for the governing African National Congress (ANC) will fall under 50% in the 2024 national and provincial elections. If the party avoids a defeat, it could lead to a coalition government. It’s only logical to expect that governance failures of this magnitude would send large numbers of dissatisfied voters into the arms of opposition parties. But as scholars who have studied South African voter behaviour for decades, we warn opposition parties that they cannot count on disillusionment to drive voters towards them. Unless they convince dissatisfied voters that they provide a credible alternative, the ANC may still win a majority of votes come 2024. How is this possible?…

Kyiv: Ukrainian forces have recaptured the village of Pyatykhatky from Russian troops on the southern front, Deputy Defence Minister Ganna Malyar said yesterday. Malyar said that “eight settlements have been liberated” in total this month since the start of a counteroffensive, with 113km2 of territory recaptured. After accumulating Western-supplied weapons and building up assault units, the Ukrainian military is battling to recapture territory seized by Russia. Moscow said yesterday that its forces had replled seven attacks by Ukrainian forces in the eastern Donetsk region that includes Bakhmut. | AFP…

JACKSON: At least one person died and about two dozen people were injured overnight after a tornado hit central Mississippi, health authorities said. The tornado struck the town of Louin, about 112km east of Jackson, late on Sunday, the National Weather Service said, adding that multiple tornadoes could have hit the area. Most of the injured were in stable condition or had been discharged from emergency. About 400 000 customers across the US South were without power yesterday, including about 45 000 in Mississippi. A dangerous heat wave had helped spawn the deadly tornadoes. | Reuters…

The next two months will be key to proving whether Bafana Bafana’s heroics against Morocco were fluke or not as coach Hugo Broos will return to the drawing board. Bafana sprung a surprise in their last Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) qualifier, beating the No 1-ranked nation on the continent 2-1 at FNB Stadium on Saturday night. Granted, the result did not matter after both teams had already sealed passage to the finals in Ivory Coast next year, but Broos and his counterpart Walid Regragui weren’t leaving any stone unturned. They both named strong starting line-ups, with a host of the players that formed part of Morocco’s historic run in the World Cup, where they finished fourth, taking part. It was, however, incredibly Bafana who came out as victors with…

Wyndham Clark’s first Major triumph at the US Open seemed “surreal” but amid the swirling emotions the very real memory of his late mother, Lise, was very real indeed. “I know my mom is proud of me,” Clark said after shrugging off two late bogeys to card an even-par 70 and beat four-time Major champion Rory McIlroy by one stroke. The 32nd-ranked American’s triumph at Los Angeles Country Club resonated even more since his mother once lived in LA, and his parents were actually married at Riviera Country Club just up the road. Clark’s victory comes just weeks after he broke through for a first US PGA Tour title at Quail Hollow, finally realising a dream that his mother had nurtured before her death from cancer. “She was so positive…

While the Grammy award-winning Black Coffee and local amapiano stars like Uncle Waffles and Focalistic tour the Northern Hemisphere, there’s a talented crop of new talent coming up. Here, we weigh in on some of the most notable new acts across amapiano, R&B and hip hop. AMAPIANO Konke Durban singer-songwriter Konke fills his sonic canvas with dynamic, bold shapes on Kancane, the amapiano hit single that first put him on the map in 2022. Alongside the prodigious talents of Musa Keys and other talented newcomers from his label, House of Tayo, Konke stood out as a fresh, young talent to look out for. He’s since put out several other solo and collaborative singles that have made clear the full scope of his talents. Recently, Konke capped off a memorable past…

Paxton Fielies is serving the heat in her latest music video off the back of her recently released single called Touch & Go. Fielies doesn’t usually dance on stage or in her music videos but she really gets physical in this one, something Mzansi could possiblly be seeing more of. The 23-year-old Cape Town-based songstress shot to fame when she became the Season 13 Idols SA winner and has been on a roll ever since. In March this year, Paxton released Touch & Go as a teaser ahead of her second album. The R&B music star told IOL Entertainment that the song touched on a personal issue she experienced with dating at a time when she was mostly occupied with her career. “Touch & Go was inspired by a…

When the Proteas launch their 2023/24 international season with three KFC T20 Internationals (T20Is) against old rivals Australia in August, they will be looking to right some of the wrongs from the past. The series is scheduled to take place at Hollywoodbets Kingsmead Stadium in Durban and will be one South Africa will be hoping to make a strong statement against an opponent that has a formidable record in the format in this country. The Aussies only ever lost one T20I series on these shores – a defeat back in 2008/09 when a Johan Botha-captained team were 2-0 victors thanks to inspiring displays by the skipper himself as well as Roelof van der Merwe, Robin Peterson, Wayne Parnell, Mark Boucher and Albie Morkel. They had also won a one-off T20I…

The partnership between Metropolitan and e-hailing service Uber has made the frantic process of travelling from one point to another for job interviews more manageable for young people. To mark Youth Month, the We’re Here for You(th) campaign is helping to provide young job seekers with free transport to interviews. Young people often miss out on job opportunities because of financial constraints. The collaboration is set to give 1 300 young candidates Uber vouchers for transport to and from job interviews. The chief marketing officer at Metropolitan, Tlalane Ntuli, says the company is playing a part in bringing young job seekers and prospective employers together. “We can build strong communities together if we invest in our youth by providing the necessary resources and tools that allow them to unlock their…

The African peace initiative, albeit the diplomatic fiasco between South African officials and Polish authorities in Warsaw, need to be commended for advancing Ubuntu. The delegation, led by President Cyril Ramaphosa, has added to the list of intermediaries who want to see an end to the Ukraine – Russian war. It is the responsibility of every global leader to find an unbiased solution through mediation to bring an end to the conflict. The mission of brokering an effective resolution to attain a ceasefire between the warring parties can never be without complications. However, by concentrating on the common good, the scaling down of the war and peace based on the values of justice and reconciliation, end of hostilities can be achieved. Since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the working class and…

Danger, disaster, and dysfunctional are words that can easily sum up the drama taking place at the troubled Ditsobotla local municipality in the North West. The municipality was dissolved due to its inability to pay workers for more than five months and failure to meet its service delivery mandate in 2022. Subsequently, Parliament resolved to dissolve the municipality, which was under the rule of the divided ANC, where there was a parallel council consisting of two speakers, two mayors, and two municipal managers. As if that is enough, the bi-elections brought more drama wherein the Patriotic Alliance’s Elizabeth Lethoko was elected as a mayor with the help of the ANC, which failed to secure an outright majority. Lethoko resigned a few hours after being elected to office. In a twist…

NEW Health Funders Association CEO, Phumelele Makatini, who strives to advocate for a good cause, believes the entity is the perfect vehicle for her mission. Makatini reckons the association is an excellent champion of such initiatives within the healthcare sector. Having held several executive and senior management roles in stakeholder relations, business development and strategy in blue-chip companies, Makatini most recently served as CEO of the Building and Construction Medical Aid Fund. An entrepreneur who is passionate about private healthcare and education, Makatini has held the role of Academic Independent Contractor at Unisa, and visiting lecturer at Wits Business School, and is well placed to lead the association and its members into a new era of growth and development at a critical juncture in the history of healthcare in South…

Human papillomavirus (HPV) is a common sexually transmitted infection that can cause various types of cancer in men and women. HPV is transmitted through skin-to-skin contact during sexual activity, and most people who contract the virus do not experience symptoms. However, HPV can lead to genital warts and cancer. Recent global trends have shown an increase in HPV-related cancers, particularly in low- and middle-income countries such as South Africa. This is due in part to a lack of access to the vaccination and screening programmes, which can help prevent and detect HPV-related cancers. It is estimated that more than 200 million people worldwide are infected with the virus every year. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), HPV causes about 5% of cancers worldwide, which is a significant number. Furthermore,…

The family of a 29-year-old Free State man who left South Africa after he was offered a job in Thailand which turned out to be a scam, is pleading for public help as he is now stuck in Cambodia. Xolani Sidwell Fongo’s family said they feared for his life and had exhausted all diplomatic channels to bring him back. “After IOL published his story, the media that side took it and published it as their own and we believe he’s now being targeted; he’s no longer safe. We need help to bring him back,” said a family friend. Fongo left South Africa in November after receiving an email from a man who identified himself as John Thomas, claiming to be a recruiter for Huilong Technology, a Chinese marketing company supposedly…

As thousands of people have been displaced by severe storms that have lashed the Western Cape, how media houses report on climate change has come under the spotlight. Wits lecturer Enock Sithole recently did a study and found that the country’s media rely too heavily on events like conferences, climate disasters and the release of scientific papers in their reporting on climate change. He rightfully points out that it’s a problem, as day-to-day issues related to climate change, like ongoing mitigation and adaptation efforts, go unreported. Other major areas for improvement include overall communication on the climate crisis by key stakeholders like policymakers, captains of industry, scientists and NGOs. These shortcomings are hugely worrying, given what scientists predict for South Africa – from floods to cyclones, to warmer and drier…

Manila: At least 628 people had fallen ill after being displaced due to an eruption of Mayon Volcano, the most active volcano in the Philippines, officials said yesterday. The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council recorded at least 10 kinds of sickness affecting the evacuees aged between 2 and 64, including coughs, colds, fever, gastroenteritis, acute respiratory infection, and skin disease. The council said nearly 39 000 people had been affected by Mayon’s eruption, which started on June 8. Authorities have evacuated more than 20 000 villagers living in the danger zone. | IANS…

Kuwait City: Kuwait’s fifth government in less than one year took the oath of office yesterday after elections returned an opposition-controlled parliament, setting the stage for further political turmoil in the oil-rich emirate. Four royals are among the 15-strong cabinet, appointed by the ruling Al-Sabah family that has a history of clashes with the Gulf’s only elected national assembly with powers to hold government to account. This month’s legislative elections were held after the constitutional court had annulled the results of the September polls, also won by the opposition. | AFP…

The financial implications that come with relegation from the Premiership are huge as clubs are subjected to losing sponsors rather than retaining them. When Maritzburg United learnt that they would be competing in the PSL promotion/relegation play-offs, they knew they ran the risk of losing their union with the Gift of the Givers and Arminia Bielefeld if they were relegated. Their first fears were indeed confirmed last week as they lost out on an opportunity to retain their Premiership status via the play-offs to Cape Town Spurs, who finished top of the three-team mini league. Losing the Gift of the Givers and Arminia seems to be looming large, or even confirmed, given the damning accusations of betrayal from Maritzburg chairperson Farook Kadodia. On Sunday, Kadodia wrote a long statement directed…

Cricketing minnows Oman pulled off a massive upset by beating Ireland by five wickets in their opening ICC Cricket World Cup qualifier in Bulawayo yesterday, the Gulf sultanate’s first-ever victory over a Test nation in a one-day international. The other Group B match saw Sri Lanka crush the United Arab Emirates by 175 runs. George Dockrell hit 91 not out and Harry Tector 52 as Ireland reached a respectful 281/7 in their allotted 50 overs. But they hadn’t counted on the fighting qualities of an Omani side for whom opener Kashyap Prajapati hit 72, while captain Zeeshan Maqsood pitched in with 59, Aqib Ilyas 52 and Mohammad Nadeem 46 not out. A triumphant Maqsood said it was an “honour” to have beaten Ireland, eventually by five wickets with 11 balls…

Pep Guardiola has indicated that Manchester City would not move for Paris Saint-Germain forward Kylian Mbappe. “You know where he wants to go,” said the City manager at a golf tournament in Spain on Monday, alluding to Spanish side Real Madrid. The PSG forward has a contract until 2024 but has told his club he will not extend it, and also plans to stay for one more season, meaning he can leave for free next year. Mbappe, 24, turned down Real to stay with PSG when Los Blancos tried to sign him last year. Guardiola also said City were battling with his former team Barcelona over midfielder Ilkay Gundogan. The German midfielder is out of contract with City and Guardiola wants him to stay, but Barcelona are trying to lure…