Star -julkaisun 2024-04-16 -irtonumeron sisällysluettelo

THE RAND FELL to a touch of R19 to the greenback after the escalation of the conflict in the Middle East, and other domestic factors continued to put pressure on financial markets. Additionally, the domestic currency was also depressed by the continued strength in the dollar on the back of higher-than-expected inflation, as well as economic uncertainty ahead of the pivotal general elections in South Africa next month. The rand weakened to R18.99/$1 during early trade yesterday, remaining at its lowest level in two weeks, from Friday’s close of R18.84/$1 as higher US inflation dashed hopes for an earlier rate cut, while geopolitical conflicts weighed on market sentiment. Over the weekend, Iran launched a barrage of missiles and drones on Israel, two weeks after a suspected Israeli strike on its…

THE INTERNATIONAL Monetary Fund (IMF) has cautioned South Africa about making overly optimistic economic growth forecasts, fiscal objectives and debt stabilisation. In its “Technical Assistance Re- port-Fiscal Transparency Evaluation on South Africa” released yesterday, the IMF revealed that the country has many elements of sound fiscal transparency practices. Based on an assessment of fiscal transparency practices against the IMF’s Fiscal Transparency Code, South Africa meets the standard of advanced practice on 12 of the 36 principles. Nine principles are assessed as good, the basic standard on a further nine principles while six are not met. The country has long scored well in the Open Budget Index (OBI) and is now being ranked second out of 120 countries surveyed. Despite this, the IMF said South Africa had suffered the consequences of…

SOUTH Africans, aged 35 and below, are continuing to demonstrate a growing preference for private mobility, WesBank revealed yesterday. These insights showed a consistent increase over the past three years in the number of vehicle finance applications for new and pre-owned cars by Millennials and Gen-Zs. The upwards trajectory was tracked from 2021 when 722 505 vehicle finance applications were received from young people aged 35 and younger. However, this number increased to 806 458 in 2022; and 826 088 by 2023. WesBank head of marketing and communication Lebo Gaoaketse yesterday said this was contrary to previously held views by industry experts who suggested that a desire for private car ownership would wane among Millennials and Gen-Zs in favour of alternative forms of transport, such as e-hailing…

THERE’S a movement against smartphones. Initially, it focused on how smartphones are killing productivity. Now, it’s turning its focus on the impact on kids. The movement is gathering momentum, to an extent that a media entity has reported that in the UK, there’s speculation that the government is considering a ban on smartphones for kids under 16. It goes on to say that there was even a poll that found that most parents would back a ban on children under 16 having smartphones in the UK. The publication indicates that the survey for charity Parentkind found 58% of parents of school-aged kids think smartphones should be banned for under 16s. It rose to 77% of the moms and dads whose children are in primary school. The development, coupled with another…

Drug regulators in Tanzania and Rwanda have recalled a batch of Johnson & Johnson children’s cough syrup as a precautionary measure after their Nigerian counterpart said laboratory tests found high levels of toxicity. The East African neighbours join Nigeria, Kenya and South Africa in recalling the same batch of the syrup, which is used to treat coughs, hay fever and other allergic reactions in children. South Africa has also recalled an additional batch. Laboratory tests on the syrup by Nigeria’s health regulator showed a high level of diethylene glycol, which has been linked to the deaths of dozens of children in The Gambia, Uzbekistan and Cameroon since 2022 in one of the world’s worst waves of poisoning from oral medication. The batch recalled was made by J&J in South Africa…

Kate Hudson, pictured, is “ready to take the criticism” that may come with the launch of her music career. The 44-year-old actress has been one of the biggest stars in Hollywood for decades, but released her debut single, Talk About Love, in March ahead of launching an album. She told Britain’s HELLO! magazine: “It’s actually not a sudden thing. I’ve been writing music my whole life. I just never shared it. I guess I was waiting for the right time to do that and this is it. I’m excited to share. It’s vulnerable, but I feel ready to take the criticism. My hope is that’s received with the warmth I created it with.” The Almost Famous star – daughter of Hollywood legend Goldie Hawn and singer Bill Hudson – said:…

WITH the national elections just weeks away, the newly-formed uMkhonto weSizwe Party (MKP) could find itself a kingmaker in KwaZulu-Natal, especially if no single party wins an outright majority in the province. On the surface, the ANC, EFF and MKP in KZN have asserted that they are all looking for a majority victory in the province and dismissed coalition talks as something that will only be entertained after the election results are determined. Nationally, EFF leader Julius Malema has said if the ANC gets below 50%, he would be willing to bargain EFF votes with the ANC but only if they make his deputy Floyd Shivambu finance minister after the elections. He has also not ruled out an EFF/MKP coalition, saying he is open to working with “like-minded” parties. ANC…

In the run-up to the general elections on May 29, President Cyril Ramaphosa began his campaign trail with a door-to-door visit in Cosmo City, north of Johannesburg, on Saturday. During the visit, Ramaphosa interacted with residents, listening to their concerns and aspirations. “It is crucial for us as leaders to be on the ground to listen to the voices of our people and ensure that their concerns are heard and addressed. “I have been told that Zandspruit is the home of the ANC. Since 1994, the ANC has been prepared to work for the people and bring development in communities and change their lives,” he said. Ramaphosa further said that he had been going around checking if ANC leaders were doing their work. Ramaphosa’s approach resonated with the residents, with…

CITY of Tshwane customers who reconnect themselves to the grid after being disconnected for defaulting on municipal accounts are to face “the might of the law”. This stern warning was issued yesterday by the DA caucus spokesperson in the council, Kwena Moloto, who reacted to last week’s action by the City against two Garsfontein residents who illegally reconnected their electricity meter at their house. On April 8, the City had disconnected the property for non-payment of municipal services, including electricity to the tune of nearly R300 000 during its #TshwaneYaTima operation. The pair subsequently illegally reconnected their electricity meter to the grid, forcing the City to press criminal charges against them. Moloto said the two were arrested on April 11 for unlawful action. He said the arrests marked a…

Moses Tembe regrets not intervening more in his daughter Anele and Kiernan “AKA” Forbes’s “toxic” relationship. The Durban businessman, who on the eve of his daughter’s funeral received a preliminary police report leading him to believe that there was a 99% chance that Anele didn’t kill herself, said he should have done more. These and other startling revelations have been shared in a book titled When Love Kills, set to be released tomorrow, authored by Melinda Ferguson. IOL previously reported that Ferguson spoke intensively to both sides of the families and received permission. In the book, Ferguson delves into the couple’s tumultuous relationship, including details of Anele’s death in April 2021, when the 22-year-old reportedly fell from the 10th storey at the Pepperclub Hotel in Cape Town. Anele and AKA,…

SOUTH Africa’s democracy hinges on a vibrant, independent media landscape that both scrutinises those in power and amplifies the voices of its citizens. Enshrined in the country’s Constitution, freedom of speech, including press freedom, stands as a cornerstone of this democratic ethos. The media ecosystem in South Africa is characterised by its robustness, diversity, and constant evolution, with journalists playing a pivotal role in upholding accountability and transparency within governance structures. However, the South African media faces a myriad challenges, ranging from the disruptive impact of the Covid-19 pandemic to shifting patterns in media consumption and the relentless march of technological advancements. One particularly concerning challenge is the proliferation of misinformation propagated by self-styled “influencers”, undermining the integrity of journalistic endeavours. Journalists who dare to challenge prevailing narratives often find…

Five matches that could yield the maximum of 25 points, 20 if all are won without any bonus-points, and a winning run that must at least equate to 16 points, is the simple arithmetic that the Lions will have to make tangible in the next few weeks. Knocked out of the EPCR Challenge Cup, the Joburgers can now focus every ounce of their attention on the United Rugby Championship (URC) in their ultimate objective of reaching the Top 8 of that tournament. Looking back at the previous two editions of the competition, 50 points should suffice in reaching the play-offs. Last season, the Sharks sneaked into the quarter-finals with 48 points, while at the end of the 2021/22 season the Glasgow Warriors did so with 50. If that is the…

A FAST FIBRE internet route between Johannesburg and Europe has gone live after Paratus Group yesterday launched the express fast-speed internet connection. The internet and IT services group said the fibre internet link between Johannesburg to the European city of Lisbon and the rest of the continent would help reduce connectivity latency to 123 milliseconds. This comes after Paratus launched two fibre links from SA to Mozambique in October 2023, providing an alternative connection to undersea cables. Paratus CEO Schalk Erasmus said the new connection will utilise the Infinera FlexILS and GX Series DWDM equipment, as well as state-of-the-art Infinera equipment that is capable of supporting wavelengths of up to 800GB. “Our continual investment in creating Africa’s quality network is now extended with the launch of this express route (from…

PARETO, the retail property investment group owned by the Government Employees Pension Fund (GEPF) is doing a debt-to-equity deal with Netherlands-based Atterbury Europe Holdings that will leave Pareto with direct stakes in the Mall of Cyprus and Mall of Engomi. Atterbury Europe Holding was established in 2014 out of Atterbury Property South Africa, and it has a 30-year record of developing and managing retail and commercial assets in Europe, with success in developing shopping centres and offices in Cyprus, Serbia and Romania over the past decade. Pareto has an iconic portfolio of shopping centres across South Africa, and mixed-use developments, including Menlyn Park, Sandton City, Cresta, Pavilion, Tyger Valley Mimosa and Southgate shopping centres as well as Westgate. Atterbury Europe, through a subsidiary Atterbury Cyprus, made its first landmark investment…

THE COMPETITION Tribunal has granted eMedia interim relief against Multichoice, Supersport and SABC in relation to the broadcasting of sporting events on television The Competition Tribunal said yesterday that it granted an interim relief application by eMedia Investments and its subsidiary, Platco Digital, against Multichoice SA Holdings, Multichoice, Supersport International and the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC). This comes after eMedia accused MultiChoice of abusing its alleged dominant position by concluding anti-competitive and restrictive sub-licensing agreements with the SABC, the public broadcaster. The tribunal said that eMedia alleged MultiChoice prevented the SABC from broadcasting major sporting events (such as rugby and cricket games – including World Cup tournaments), sub-licensed to the SABC, on the SABC’s channels carried eMedia’s Openview platform. In a statement, the tribunal said: “eMedia filed a complaint…

AMID GLOBAL uncertainty, recent events have highlighted a critical juncture of opportunity in the dynamic landscape of African tech venture capital (VC). In a handy medium article titled, Five ways startups can impress investors during due diligence, Founders Factory Africa investment manager Philani Mzila reflects on the fact that in 2023, African VC experienced a notable decline, with $3.5 billion raised from 547 deals. Compared to the previous year, that represented a 46% decrease in total funding and a 28% decline in deal count. This year, things are off to a tenuous start. According to Africa: The Big Deal, the total funding raised by African start-ups in Q1 2024 was almost half what was raised during the same period last year (-47% year-on-year). Mzila points to a handful…

Goldway Capital plans to de-list MC Mining from the JSE and from Australia after attaining more than 80% control of the South Africa coal mining firm following a hostile takeover bid. The board of MC Mining initially opposed the takeover, but Goldway swayed other shareholders in the company to accept its offer. Goldway now controls about 83% of the former African coal company, whose shares slumped by 2.60% to R1.87 in afternoon trade yesterday despite being 7.26% stronger in the past three months. The company yesterday confirmed that it will de-list MC Mining from the JSE and from the Australian Securities Exchange (ASX). This has brought to an end weeks of haggling between the board of MC Mining and the US-based Goldway, which is offering A$0.16 cash per MC Mining…

Megan Fox quipped it’s best to “not waste your energy on boys” after her engagement to Machine Gun Kelly (MGK) ended. The 37-year-old Transformers actress – who has Noah, 11, Bodhi, 10, and Journey, 7, with ex-spouse Brain Austin Green – recently confirmed on the Call Her Daddy podcast that reports about her and the 33-year-old rapper calling off their engagement at some point was “accurate”. And while they have not divulged their relationship status, an insider claimed they are “still together – but taking some space to “figure things out”. Speaking to E! News at Revolve Festival, Fox said when asked to give her advice to single women: “Just learn a skill or develop a hobby and do not waste your energy on boys. “All they’re going to…

Magashule unfazed by 70 counts of money laundering and corruption Former ANC secretary-general Ace Magashule has called the case against him and 17 other co-accused in the R225 million asbestos scandal a “waste of time”. Magashule and businessman Edwin Sodi, along with 16 other accused including companies, are facing more than 70 counts of corruption and money laundering. This relates to the alleged irregular awarding of a R255m asbestos roof removal contract in the Free State in October 2014. Magashule, alongside former human settlements MEC Olly Mlamleli and others, face charges of fraud, corruption, money laundering and contravention of the Public Finance Management Act. Over the years, the State has alleged that between June 2015 and January 2016 Magashule either received or benefited from unlawful payments of more than R1m…

The long-standing debate over the banning of pit bulls in South Africa has taken centre stage once again after a worker, Moeletsi Sedi, 40, from Rustenburg, was mauled to death at his workplace, prompting a call for immediate police action. Cosatu has added its voice to the call made by a Rustenburg family seeking justice after one of their loved ones was mauled to death by the pit bulls while at his workplace on April 6. Cosatu general-secretary Solly Phetoe said yesterday the organisation was demanding urgent action by police and for the owner of the dogs to be held accountable for this tragic death. “Action needs to be taken with regards to pit bulls. All too often the nation has been traumatised by the horrific mauling and killing of…

THE ANC government will do whatever it takes to protect its own, even to the detriment and safety of the rest of the South African population. This sentiment was expressed by DA spokesperson on Correctional Services, Janho Engelbrecht, as he voiced concern at the growing number of prisoners – released under President Cyril Ramaphosa’s Special Remission Programme (SRP) – re-offending. In August last year, Ramaphosa announced the remission of sentence of non-violent offenders to reduce the overcrowding of prisons, which were reportedly standing at an occupancy rate of 143%. At the time, the government detailed how there were as many as 212 286 inmates, including 9 351 foreign nationals, managed by the Department of Correctional Services across the country’s 243 correctional centres and 218 community centres. Engelbrecht said through the…

UNISA has conferred the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Theology (honoris causa) on Bishop Nomthandazo Purity Malinga, the 100th Presiding Bishop of the Methodist Church of Southern Africa. Malinga is the first woman to take on the role in the Methodist Church of Southern Africa. The honorary doctorate was bestowed during a graduation ceremony at the Muckleneuck Campus in Pretoria on Thursday. It was said that through her leadership, Malinga has contributed to society’s transformation, especially in gender equality and the recognition of young people. Through the positions she has held within the Methodist Church of Southern Africa and in society in general, she has challenged patriarchy and male domination, often at a significant cost to herself. Presenting Malinga’s biography, Professor Mokhele Madise from the Department of Christian Spirituality,…

Scottie Scheffler reaffirmed his status as the best golfer on the planet after winning his second Masters on Sunday but with the birth of his first child on the way the world No 1 says golf is dropping way down his priority list. He cautioned his rivals not to take this as a sign his clubs are going to be collecting dust in the garage, however, and said he will be back on the job after a bit of diaper duty. “I’m definitely not going to intentionally take my eye off the ball,” said Scheffler, who won his previous Green Jacket in 2022. “I will go home, soak in this victory tonight. “Will definitely enjoy the birth of my first child. But with that being said, I still love competing.…

The Bulls and Jake White were well within their rights to save their top brass for the United Rugby Championship (URC) and spare them a tough travelling journey to England and back. There’s been furore abroad about how White and his fellow decision-makers at Loftus Versfeld selected a second-string Bulls to compete in the quarter-finals against Northampton Saints and subsequently lost 59-22. No one can fault the Bulls, though, if you look at the position they find themselves in in the URC and how important it will be over the next couple of weeks to keep winning in the competition with their best players available. There are already reports of an injury crisis at Loftus with key players like Marco van Staden and Marcell Coetzee out. White was cagey when…

The SA Revenue Service (Sars) has maintained it was vindicated by the judgment of the Supreme Court of Appeal (SCA) which ought to have awarded a modest 8% to 10% apportionment of the tax apportionment to Capitec Bank, had the entity not appealed to the Constitutional Court. Sars was responding yesterday to the Concourt’s landmark ruling on Friday that found the bank’s recovery of VAT on irrecoverable loans was a legitimate financial practice, which may affect the cost of credit and access to finance for consumers. In a statement yesterday, Sars said it welcomed the clarity and certainty provided by courts, since this was in line with its strategic intent of voluntary compliance. “Sars wishes to emphasise that this judgment is unique and specific to the circumstances surrounding this taxpayer…

THE Agricultural Business Chamber (Agbiz) has warned that the frequent occurrences of animal diseases implied that some countries – like South Africa in 2021 and 2022 – will occasionally lose access to export markets while they worked to clear the disease. This comes as avian influenza (bird flu), the H5N1 strain that has killed hundreds of millions of birds globally and millions of chickens in the past 18 months in South Africa, was last week detected in a Texas farmworker and dairy cows in six US states. Agbiz chief economist Wandile Sihlobo yesterday said animal diseases were increasingly a significant challenge globally. Sihlobo said that during such times, the disease-free countries would potentially increase their volume of exports to markets. “South African red meat and livestock product exporters should always…

THE RECENT announcement of Stra- tek Global teaming up with the DeepTech incubator Koya Capital to help secure funding and construct a R9 billion ($480 million), first-of- a-kind (FOAK) HTMR-100 (100MWth and 35MWe), Helium Cooled Pebble Bed Modular Reactor (PBMR) in South Africa has sparked a mix of public scepticism as well as genuine excitement for South Africa’s nuclear industry. Nuclear power has long been a contentious issue and it is often criticised by the interests of other competing energy sources as either unbankable or too dangerous. Small modular reactors, like Stratek Global’s HTMR-100 design, aim to reduce upfront costs by making the technology accessible for investment by the private sector. Additionally, its passive safety systems should make gas-cooled reactors more socially acceptable to those affected by…

CREDIT ratings on domestically focused companies were proving resili- ent and most of S&P’s issuers were able to keep earnings relatively stable, but discretionary spending pressure and infrastructure failure was cutting back their efficiency and had increased costs. This was according to S&P Global, which yesterday released a report on sub-Saharan corporates. “Our ratings on sub-Saharan African companies were volatile throughout the pandemic and subsequent recovery. In 2020, sovereign rating actions were behind 50% of the corporate rating actions in sub-Saharan Africa, 95% of which were downgrades. Upgrades in 2021 and 2022 – mainly on the back of lower financial risks – gave way to a mixed picture in 2023, as some commodity markets flagged,” S&P Global said. Ratings on utilities and infrastructure companies were largely holding up due to…

VOLVO has become the first car manufac- turer in China to achieve climate-neutral status, after switching its Taizhou manu- facturing plant to biogas. In a statement, Volvo Cars chief operating officer and deputy CEO Javier Varela said the plant’s switch from natural gas will result in a reduction of more than 7 000 tons of carbon dioxide (CO2) per year. Varela said Volvo was acting fast when viable climate- neutral energy alternatives become avail- able. “The switch to biogas at our Taizhou plant demonstrates how each of our manu- facturing locations across the globe is developing its own climate-neutral energy mix based on what’s available in the region,” Varela said. The company said despite being a small share of their total Scope 1 to 3 emissions of 43 million…

Mpho “Popps” Modikoane, Vafa Naraghi and Sifiso Nene were some of the biggest winners at the 11th Annual Savanna Comics’ Choice Comedy Awards. Held over the weekend at Gold Reef City’s Lyric Theatre in Johannesburg, the ceremony saw some of Mzansi’s most celebrated comedians awarded in categories such as stand-up comedy, comedic writing and content creation. Modikoane, who was also the event’s host, won the coveted Comedian of the Year Award. Naraghi received the Breakthrough Act of the Year Award and the Sauce of the Year Award, presented by Mrs Ball’s. Nene received the Best Solo Show Award for his Baby Mama Drama comedy segment and the Joe Mafela Award. Other winners included Robby Collins, who took the Headliner of the Year Award; Callum Hitchcock, who won the Savanna Newcomer…

Three years ago, Anele Tembe’s death sent shockwaves through the nation. At just 22, the fiancée of late rapper Kiernan “AKA” Forbes fell to her death in April 2021 from the 10th floor of the Pepperclub Hotel in Cape Town. The question of whether she jumped or was pushed is still circulating, with multiple delays in court proceedings on the matter. Speaking about the case for the first time, Moses Tembe (Anele’s father) sat down with SABC’s Chriselda Zozi Lewis for a tell-all. “We are still feeling so much pain, we are still feeling so much anguish over the passing of our daughter, Anele ... Our hearts remain shattered into pieces,” he said. The exclusive interview took place at a library in Anele’s former school, which has been named in…

FOUR youngsters have been killed after the BMW they were travelling in, crashed into the roof of a car dealership in Johannesburg, in the early hours of Sunday morning. Three of the deceased have been identified as Taahir Mohammed, Fardeen Rhemtula and Mateen Ghood, from Polokwane, Limpopo. The other occupant, Zayan Chaya, was from the Mokopane area in Limpopo. Johannesburg Emergency Management Service spokesperson Robert Mulaudzi, confirmed that the vehicle was travelling on the M1 South, in the direction of the Johannesburg CBD before it lost control and veered off the road. The vehicle then plummeted – an estimated two to three storeys – before it landed on the roof of the Motus Toyota Parktown dealership, on Empire Road. “The vehicle was driving in the direction of the Joburg CBD.…

Corruption, lack of transparency as well as skills and incompetence are some of the reasons why municipalities across the country are struggling to deliver basic services to communities. Millions of people, businesses, and families are not happy that the promises they voted for have not been prioritised. Basic services that include water, electricity, proper roads and safety are not delivered to the public. Residents and communities are embroiled in protest actions nearly every month because they are fed up with the lack of services. Many blame the government and allege that corruption, irregular tenders and payments are the reasons for this crisis. Lack of skills and knowledge are also mentioned. Last month, Johannesburg Water electromechanical manager Gugulethu Quma apologised to the city’s residents after they experienced water outages for almost…

Retired justice and former Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC) chairperson, Johann Kriegler, says there is no basis for suspicion of the IEC’s appeal against the Electoral Court’s decision to rule in favour of the MK Party (MKP). Justice Kriegler said there was nothing untoward about the decision to appeal the ruling, adding that it was predictable that the IEC would do so. “The Constitution creates the commission and the Electoral Act gives it certain powers, obligations and responsibilities. “In general, they have to see that elections are run fairly, freely and orderly in terms of applicable laws and now there’s a dispute over what the law is relating to this particular issue,” he said. Justice Kriegler added that the IEC’s insistence on seeking clarity from the Constitutional Court…

Ingredients Base 250g Tennis biscuits 100g butter, melted Filling 1 tsp vanilla essence 600g smooth cottage or cream cheese ¾ cup icing sugar 284ml fresh cream Juice and rind of 1 lemon Topping 2 x 410g tins of sliced mangoes in light syrup, drained 1 tbs sugar 2 tsp gelatine 1 cup boiled water 1 large fresh mango, peeled and thinly sliced Juice of 1 lemon Method The base Lightly grease and line a 20cm loose-bottomed tin with baking parchment or greaseproof paper. Put the biscuits in a plastic food bag and crush them to crumbs, using a rolling pin. Transfer the crumbs to a bowl, then pour over the melted butter. Mix thoroughly until the crumbs are completely coated with the melted butter. Tip them into the prepared tin…

Four people have been killed following Sunday’s torrential downpours in Margate on the KwaZulu-Natal South Coast. It is believed that a man, woman and young child were in one of the vehicles that washed off the roadway, while a man was struck by lightning. Clean-up operations are under way and rescue teams continue to search the area while Marine Drive – a main road in Margate – appears to have born the brunt of the rains. Speaking to eNCA, Ray Nkonyeni municipal manager Khetha Zulu, said they are yet to quantify the cost of damages incurred. He said there has been substantial damage to businesses in Margate as well as infrastructure, including the town’s Olympic-sized swimming pool. Zulu said there has also been significant damage to road infrastructure. He…

NATIONS craft meticulous national security strategies to safeguard their existence. Central to the execution of the strategies is the unequivocal endorsement of a senior government figure, typically the head of state, lending weight and authority to the plan. However, our nation finds itself ensnared in a quagmire where the critical role is played by an individual who has a tarnished past and questionable credentials. Consequently, law enforcement agencies have adopted misguided crime-fighting tactics, setting us on a path to failure. South Africa should assert that criminal justice is a matter of internal jurisdiction, not subject to international contest. Leveraging our commercial regulations, we must strive to enhance our appeal to foreign enterprises and investors. Moreover, we should recognise that criminal law shapes the moral fabric and operational effectiveness of our…

All political parties seem to be thoroughly enjoying the campaigning phase, doing everything to out-wit and out-shine others with lofty promises of how they will solve all of the country’s service delivery problems. But, looking at some of the parties, you become so dejected as they do not inspire confidence and do even understand the importance and magnitude of the responsibility of government. You wonder what will happen to the country if by some unimaginable twist of fate, the least capable of all the parties happens to get enough votes to be declared the outright winner of the elections? Right now anything is possible as some voters are only interested in demonstrating to all how popular they are, with no regard for whether or not they have the knowledge and…

Orlando Pirates coach Jose Riveiro has opened up about the secret behind his side’s recent rich goal-scoring form. The Buccaneers have been frequently questioned or even criticised for their bluntness in front of goal since Riveiro took over last season. Although they’ve enjoyed cup competition success under the Spaniard by lifting the MTN8 twice and the Nedbank Cup, their shortfalls in the DStv Premiership as well as the CAF Champions League have been linked to their failure to score consistently. However, since the turn of the year, the Sea Robbers have seemingly found their sail and are ready to rip through any side placed in front of them by merely overpowering them with attacking intensity. Pirates have lost just one of their nine games in 2024, a 2-1 shock to…

BRAD Binder will no doubt be happy to have departed the Circuit of the Americas (Cota) after a tough weekend at the US MotoGP. The South African started the race from 17th on the grid after a poor qualifying, but managed to fight his way up the grid to finish ninth, his worst finish of the season so far after three races. Indeed, the factory Red Bull KTM team will admit that Cota was not kind to them after Binder’s teammate, Jack Miller of Australia, also finished at the back end of the point-scoring positions. Both riders will have looked on in envy at Pedro Acosta’s weekend, one suspects, after the young sensation claimed an impressive second-place finish ‒ his second consecutive podium in the elite field ‒ on KTM’s…