Star -julkaisun 2024-04-18 -irtonumeron sisällysluettelo

CONSUMERS should brace for a prolonged period of elevated cost of living as the South African Reserve Bank (SARB) is unlikely to temper its monetary policy after headline inflation remained stubborn on the back of rising education fees. Data from Statistics SA (StatsSA) yesterday showed that the rate of annual consumer price inflation (CPI) softened to 5.3% in March, down from 5.6% in February. StatsSA said core inflation recorded a modest decline, from 5% to 4.9% in March. This disinflation trend in the headline was better than the expected decline of 5.5%, and is expected to continue as the year progresses, albeit at a slower pace. StatsSA said the categories with the highest annual price changes in March were miscellaneous goods and services, education, health, and housing and utilities. StatsSA…

THE SOUTH African Revenue Services (Sars) has remained adamant that it had not defaulted on paying its electricity bill to the Tshwane Municipality as lights went off due to more than R800 000 arrears incurred at the office it occupies in Pretoria. This comes as the Metro confirmed yesterday that the revenue collector had since paid its arrears amount after it was cut off as part of the “Tshwane Ya Tima” operation aimed at collecting R4 billion a month in arrears revenue. In response to Business Report, Sars said it could not confirm the reported R838 000 arrears for electricity supply which had resulted in the Metro switching off the lights in the ongoing Tshwane Ya Tima, partly as a result of unpaid service charges. “Sars does…

UN SECRETARY-General António Gu- terres yesterday called for action from the Group of Twenty (G20) to mobilise the financial and technical resources that developing countries needed to ensure the energy transition. He said this at the official opening of the14th Assembly of the International Renewable Energy Agency (Irena) held in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates (UAE). The 14th Irena Assembly presided over by Rwanda, gathered more than 1 300 participants from 144 countries, including ministers, industry leaders, and CEOs to chart a strategic way forward across countries, regions, and the world, in light of the findings of the first Global Stocktake at COP28. Guterres said developing countries must deliver on their COP28 finance commitments as it would be “simply impossible” for developing countries to transition to clean energy…

EARTH Day marks a time for reflection and decisive action concerning conser- ving the environment, with 2024 initia- tives aimed at reducing the usage of plastics. The first Earth Day was commemorated on April 22, 1970, as a way of rais- ing awareness around the importance of environmental conservation. Since that pivotal day in world his- tory, Earth Day has become a movement that represents a growing call to action for global citizens everywhere, to work together in safeguarding our planet and building a sustainable future. Businesses, both big and small, have an imperative role to play in taking up this mantle and promoting a people- and planet-first philosophy at every level of the workplace and to extend the impact into homes and communities. The call for green funding The…

UNITED Airlines has recorded lacklustre results in the quarter ended March 31, 2024, after taking a body blow from the delayed delivery of its fleet of Boeing Aircraft following the manufacturer’s turbulent recall issues. United, which predominantly flies Boeing aircraft, yesterday said it would alter its strategy to meet the output of manufacturers, and expected to bring fewer aircraft into its fleet this year after the US government grounded Boeing 737 Max 9 jets and placed limits on their production. The US airline said it had reworked its orders on other aircraft and had agreements in place to lease a few dozen more jets from Airbus. The company had a pre-tax loss of $164 million (R3.1 billion), a $92m improvement over the same quarter last year;…

Netflix’s newest local offering, Smart Casuals, challenges the norms of a typical romantic relationship. The debut feature film by Zwo and Ndamu Farisani of Farisani Creations, looks at relationships in the City of Gold. The romantic drama sees local talents including Anga Makubalo, better known as NaakMusiQ, in the lead role alongside Terrence Ngwila (The Wife), Angela Sithole (Savage Beauty), Mandisa Constable, Nyaniso Dzedze and hip hop dance pioneer, Kudzai Mureriwa. NaakMusiQ plays Taki, a mid-thirties, talented photographer who has sworn off serious relationships. That is until he meets Tumi, who rocks his world, leading to a change of heart. Meanwhile, Mahlatsi and Bheka have been together for over 12 years, with two failed trips to the altar. Viewers meet them as they make their third attempt to tie the…

There is no shortage of quality content to watch these days, but check out this list of the best new micro-budget films available for streaming at home right now. They are a result of the R28 million joint fund by the National Film and Video Foundation (NFVF) and Netflix, created with the intent to finance each production at 100% of their budget. This partnership was announced in March 2021 to create new opportunities for emerging film-makers in the local film industry after the pandemic. Runs in the Family Directed by Ian Gabriel, this is about a reformed con artist, Varun, and his transmasculine son, River, who go on a road trip across South Africa to break River’s estranged mother out of rehab. Varun faces trouble from his past while forming…

A DURBAN man has been arrested in connection with the kidnapping and attempted murder of his wife. The accused and his three accomplices were traced to a room at a property in Coffee Bay in the Eastern Cape. According to Reaction Unit SA’s Prem Balram, the man allegedly accused his wife of having an affair with an ex-boyfriend. She claimed that at the weekend, he robbed her of jewellery and a white GWM vehicle. She also alleged he and two men strangled her, loaded her into a car, and drove off. Balram said the woman claimed the men planned to dump her body in a sugar cane field, but she regained consciousness. “The woman woke up on the seat of a silver Toyota Etios while a man was attempting to…

Build One South Africa (Bosa) president Mmusi Maimane has demanded the scrapping of the General Education and Training Certificate (GETC), slamming it as “Bantu Education Certificate” during his visit at a community hall in Pimville, Soweto, on Tuesday. GETC was formed by the Basic Education Department, allowing Grade 9 learners to exit school and enter the working world. The certificate provides alternative options to enter the job market, with skills and recognised certification, and to pursue skill-related jobs, instead of the matric and university route. GETC will be recognised as level one under the National Qualifications Framework (NQF). Maimane blamed the ANC for an archaic education system, saying that “Bantu Education Certificate” encouraged the ideologies of former prime minister Hendrik Verwoerd, according to which black people should remain in low-skilled…

OJ Simpson died on April 10 aged 76 from prostate cancer nearly 30 years after he was acquitted of the double-murder of his ex-wife Nicole Brown Simpson, 35, and 25-year-old Ron Goldman. Gossip has spread online that he used his last breaths to admit to their murders. But a source has now told TMZ the talk is “totally false”, adding that “nothing about the LA thing came up or was even thought about”. The “LA thing” was the knife killings of Nicole and Ron in 1994 at her house in Los Angeles. Simpson was acquitted of their murders after his 11-month “Trial of the Century”, with his “Dream Team” of nine top attorneys. He was found liable for Nicole and Ron’s deaths in a civil case brought by the families…

THE Faculty of Engineering, Built Environment and Information Technology at the University of Pretoria has launched its new Immersive Technology Lab at the Department of Information Science. This cutting-edge facility marks a significant milestone in the university’s journey towards integrating advanced immersive technologies into its curriculum and research initiatives, said a spokesperson. The Immersive Technology Lab has its roots in the early integration of Virtual Reality technology within the department dating back to 2013. The acquisition of early Virtual Reality headsets allowed Honours students to immerse themselves in the forefront of technological innovation. As the appeal of Virtual Reality grew, the lab evolved into the Virtual Reality and Interaction Lab, formally inaugurated in February 2018, to accommodate a larger cohort of students. The lab has been instrumental in familiarising multimedia…

Ingredients 5 tbsp Castor Sugar 2 eggs 5 tbsp oil 1 tbsp of vanilla essence 2 & ¾ cups cake flour 3 tsp baking powder 300ml buttermilk Syrup 2 cups water 2 cups sugar Desiccated coconut Method In a large bowl, beat the sugar and eggs with a hand whisk until creamy. Add the oil and vanilla essence and whisk until fluffy. Sift in the dry ingredients and add the buttermilk and mix just until well combined. Cover the bowl of batter and allow to rest for 30 minutes. Next, in a deep saucepan on medium heat, spoon the batter into the oil and deep fry until golden brown on each side. Remove with a slotted spoon and place on a paper towel to soak off excess oil. Combine the…

After my intense and disappointing run at Killarney in Cape Town, I was revved up to up my game at Kyalami. After clocking in over 300 kilometres on Assetto Corsa, I was itching to put my skills to the test on South Africa’s most famous racetrack. Sim racing might prepare you mentally, but nothing beats the rush of actual track action. Kyalami promised a new level of challenge with the addition of five dealer-driven Toyota GR Yarises joining us on track. Practice day kicked off on Thursday, and while I started strongly with a couple of quick laps, a clutch failure forced me to cool my heels for the rest of the session. Lesson learned: pushing too hard too soon only burns rubber and breaks parts. The afternoon turned into…

The decision to name Desiree Ellis as the ‘Moegoe of the Week’ simply because Banyana Banyana had back-to-back failures in Olympic qualifying is a callous one. ‘Moegoe’ is a South African slang word for a stupid person, coward or weakling, and Ellis is none of these. With their weekly feature, the Johannesburg-based Sunday World newspaper failed to acknowledge that the national women’s team have never enjoyed the support that a national team should. It also appears that the South African Football Association hierarchy, charged with the day-to-day running of the organisation, are oblivious to the importance of this support. At the outset of her tenure in 2016, Ellis realised this and called on outside help to present a strong case to Safa for basic support. She had taken over from…

He’s already set a national record this year, so Akani Simbine is the man to beat in the 100m sprint at the SA athletics championships over the next few days. Simbine – who is the SA record holder with a superb 9.84sec in the 100m – set a national best of 15.04 in the 150m in February at a season opener in Pretoria. He followed it up with a 200m race in the Athletics SA Grand Prix event in Johannesburg, where he ran a solid 20.32 to finish second behind Botswana’s Letsile Tebogo (19.94). But Simbine’s journey to the Paris Olympics later this year will start in earnest today at the Msunduzi Athletics Stadium in Pietermaritzburg, where he will compete in the 100m heats and semi-finals, with the final scheduled…

THE CAF Champions League semi-final clash between Mamelodi Sundowns and Esperance pits together two of the competition’s most miserly defensive outfits. South Africa’s Brazilians and the Blood and Gold of Tunisia will be hard-pressed to work their way past each other’s solid defensive walls over two legs in a quest to reach the ultimate stage of the continent’s premier club knockout competition. The first encounter takes place on Saturday at the Stade Olympique Hammadi Agrebi in Rades, a suburb of Tunis (9pm kick-off, SA time). The second leg will be held at Loftus Versfeld in Pretoria next Friday (8pm kick-off). Over the 10 matches that they have both played to reach the semi-finals, the two teams have jointly let in a paltry four goals – the two sides incredibly each…

THE AUTOMOBILE Association (AA) has warned of another petrol price hike in May that will push the cost of living even higher for financially-constrained consumers, as inflation also remained sticky above 5% in March. The AA yesterday said that current unaudited data from the Central Energy Fund (CEF) indicated the petrol price would again increase by 37c/litre in May, pushing the price close to R25.15/l from the current R24.78/l. The transport index on the headline inflation print rose by 2% between Feb-ruary and March, mainly due to a monthly rise of 5.3% in fuel prices in March, when petrol increased by R1.21/l, and diesel by R1.06/l and R1.19/l, respec- tively. South African fuel prices have reached record-high increases over the past three years, despite the government not increasing the General…

THE FUTURE of a decarbonised mari- time footprint took a step closer on Monday after Greece announced that it had joined the Clean Energy Marine Hubs Initiative (CEM-Hubs) and become its seventh member. The initiative is led by Brazil, Canada, Norway, Panama, the UN and Uruguay. Nelson Mojarro, the head of innovation and partnerships for the International Chamber of Shipping (ICS), speaking on Monday at the 14th Assembly of the International Renewable Energy Agency (Irena) in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, welcomed Greece joining the initiative and highlighted how the maritime sector was set for major disruption in the pursuit of clean energy. The initiative, which was launched last year, brings together the private sector and governments across the energy-maritime value chain to transform maritime transportation and production hubs for…

A RECENT SME survey has shed light on purchasing patterns and influencing factors expected for small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in South Africa during the remainder of this year. According to the results, the global economic environment, characterised by inflation, fuel price hikes and a weakening rand, is giving SMEs every reason to seek out more affordable purchasing options, possibly favouring suppliers who can offer competitive pricing or bulk purchase discounts to offset the financial strain caused by these macroeconomic challenges. Rising operational costs could mean limited SME purchasing power, prompting cost-cutting measures at many businesses. The survey conducted by Lula, a leading local B2B credit partner and SME banking service provider, reveals that SMEs are prioritising investments in crucial areas such as technology, energy efficiency, and operational assets, despite…

INSIMBI Industrial Holdings said yesterday that it expected its headline earnings per share to decline between 50% and 60% for the 12 months to end-February 29. Its results, expected to be released on May 31, were likely to show a similar decline in earnings per share between 11.17 cents and 13.97c compared to 27.94c earnings per share the prior comparable year. Insimbi provides resource-based supplies to a wide range of industrial consumers such as non-ferrous alloys, refraction and foundry materials, plastic moulding and recycle processes to national, regional and international clients. Insimbi’s share price fell 1.15% to 86c yesterday close to midday, a price that was 30.6% lower than a year, but which was much in line with the 84c it was trading at three years ago. “The decrease…

An independent law firm has been appointed to probe the circumstances of the tragic drowning of two teenage learners in the Hennops River near Centurion during a school excursion on Monday. The two Daveyton Skills School in Benoni learners, aged 13 and 16, were attending a discipline camp held by NGO Rising Stars Generation, at Rock Falls Adventure Ranch. Gauteng Education MEC Matome Chiloane visited the school yesterday, expressing disappointment at yet another drowning of learners. “We have put in place a very clear process that guides trips and excursions, especially taking learners to water. If schools do not follow the guides, it puts us in a position where we have to come in. The sad part is that we come in because kids have drowned. “We have been clear,…

WITH less than six weeks remaining until South Africans head to the polls on May 29, the battle for votes in the Western Cape is intensifying. The DA has maintained a stronghold in the province for more than a decade. Yet, current polling suggests its long-standing majority could be in jeopardy. Addressing supporters in Cape Town on Tuesday, Patriotic Alliance (PA) leader Gayton McKenzie disclosed that five parties had united in favour of the PA to divert coloured voters from the DA. It was widely felt that the province needed a new strategy after more than 15 years of DA control. “Five smaller parties, including Advieskantoor, Karoo Gemeenskaps Party, Witzenberg Aksie, Oudtshoorn Gemeenskaps Inisiatief, and Karoo Democratic Force, have committed their support to the PA and vowed to mobilise their…

FIVE new parties left off the ballot paper in the upcoming elections have started galvanising their supporters across all provinces as they prepare to haul the Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC) to the Constitutional Court. Newly formed political parties such as Operation Dudula, Arise SA, the Cape Independent Party, the Defenders of the People and the Independent South African National Civic Organisation are in discussions on possibly taking the IEC to the Concourt in order to contest their exclusion from the upcoming national and regional elections taking place on May 29. This after their application was turned down by the Electoral Court yesterday. The crux of most of their issues stem from the political parties’ failure to meet the Electoral Act’s Section 27 requirement to submit party lists no…

The Electoral Commission of SA (IEC) says its legal battle with the uMkhonto weSizwe Party (MKP) has delayed the printing of ballot papers. On Tuesday, IEC CEO Sy Mama- bolo said the IEC could not afford any more delays if it was to stage successful elections. This comes in spite of a pending Constitutional Court matter between the commission and the MKP after the commission lodged an urgent application last week. The Electoral Court had ordered the IEC to include Jacob Zuma’s name on the party’s list of candidates for Parliament after the party successfully appealed against the commission’s decision to exclude him from the list. The IEC had upheld an objection to Zuma’s candidacy due to his criminal record for contempt of court, citing Section 47 of the Constitution,…

The new BMW X2 has landed in Mzansi and if the X1 is a tad too compact and the popular X3 doesn’t do it for you then the “rebel” as it’s dubbed within the group that first introduced the Sports Activity Coupe moniker, should cover all your bases. As we’ve come to expect with updates it’s taken a couple of steroids and the second generation is 194mm longer, 21mm wider and 64mm taller allowing for 560 litres of boot space and 1 470 litres with the rear seats folded, but it still retains the character and coupe-esque type lines of the X2. South Africa gets the X2 M35i xDrive performance model and the X2 sDrive 18i both with the M Sport package as standard. It has the hexagonal BMW kidney…

Volkswagen has announced an investment of R4 billion for its South African manufacturing plant in the Eastern Cape. The German carmaker said the majority of the investment would be centred around preparing the Kariega plant to build a third model range from 2027 onwards. VWSA has previously indicated that it was pushing to secure production of this “third model” but this week’s announcement all but confirms that the project has been given the go-ahead. The company confirmed that the new compact SUV model was being developed in Brazil, and that a South African engineering team was involved in the process to ensure the vehicle is adapted to local and continental requirements. The new SUV will be based on the current Polo’s MQB AO platform and will also share a production…

Paris Saint-Germain’s emphatic victory over Barcelona keeps alive the French club’s dream of ending the Kylian Mbappe era by lifting the Champions League trophy at Wembley in June. Their hopes of going all the way in Europe’s elite club competition for the first time hung in the balance after they lost 3-2 at home to Barca in the first leg of their quarter-final last week. They had never previously won a Champions League knockout tie after losing the first leg at home, and their prospects of doing so this time appeared slim after they conceded the opening goal on the night. Another disappointing exit threatened for the Qatar-owned club, who had gone out in the last 16 in five of the previous seven seasons. But they seized the opportunity given…

A recent alum of tackle school, Asenathi Ntlabakanye, warned with a smile yesterday that his opponents better beware: he won’t be going soft when it comes to smearing them into the ground. “Ja,” said the prop wryly of his recent education. “I passed with an A.” Ntlabakanye copped a three-match suspension on March 24 when it was adjudged that he had made head contact with Connacht loose forward Conor Oliver in the 15th minute of their United Rugby Championship (URC) clash. Down to 14 men for the rest of the encounter in Galway, the Lions still managed to beat the Irish team 38-14 in what will arguably be remembered as their best match of the campaign. After attending tackle school while in Wales afterwards, Ntlabakanye’s suspension has been reduced by…

The ICC T20 World Cup kicks off in just under two months, and with limited cricket left to be played, Proteas coach Rob Walter will have plenty of choices at his disposal. But he is faced with tough decisions following a summer of breakthroughs, especially in the bowling department. Proteas fast bowler Lungi Ngidi returned to action for the Titans in the ongoing Cricket SA T20 Challenge recently, following his recovery from a lower back injury. Ngidi was injured while representing the Paarl Royals in the SA20 competition earlier this year, and has since missed out on the Indian Premier League (IPL) with the Delhi Capitals. Delhi recently lost another key member when English batter Harry Brook left the tournament after the death of his grandmother, and they roped in…

They may still have five league games to go, but the Bulls are already viewing Saturday’s United Rugby Championship clash against Munster at Loftus Versfeld (5.05pm kick-off) as a knockout game. That was the word from loosehead prop Gerhard Steenekamp, who has been one of the stalwarts for the Pretoria side this season. After getting a taste of Test rugby for the Springboks last year during the build-up to the World Cup, the 27-year-old from Potchefstroom has put his hand up again for higher honours with a series of impressive displays. In tandem with new recruit Wilco Louw at tighthead prop, Steenekamp has been at the forefront of a dominant Bulls pack in the scrums and tight-loose. The two big men were certainly missed in last week’s Champions Cup quarter-final…

RETAIL activity in South Africa is expected to remain constrained after sales fell for a second month in February as elevated inflation continued to affect consumers’ disposable incomes. Statistics SA (Stats SA) yesterday said retail sales declined by 0.8% year-on-year in February, marking the second consecutive month of decreases in retail activity, following a 2% decline in January. Stats SA’s deputy director for distributive trade statistics, Raquel Floris, said three of the seven retail groups registered a fall in sales in February, with the clothing category being the largest negative contributor to growth. Floris said the retail print experienced significant drops in sales of textiles, clothing, footwear and leather goods, and all other retailers as it fell by 6.8% during the month. “Hardware, painting, glass, and the miscellaneous group referred…

AGRICULTURE South Africa (AgriSA) said yesterday that the Extension of Security of Tenure Amendment Act (Estaa), which was enacted at the beginning of this month, marked a significant milestone in the ongoing evolution of property rights in South Africa. Agri SA said Estaa represented a concerted effort to address long-standing issues within the Extension of Security of Tenure Act of 1997, and would ensure sustainable land reform, enhancing and protecting property rights. It also said the Estaa refined key definitions within the legislation. “Through the introduction of key amendments and regulations, Estaa aims to enhance security of tenure while balancing the rights of both landowners and occupiers,” it said. “The inclusion of new definitions for ‘dependent’ and ‘family’ ensures that the rights of spouses, both adopted and biological children, parents,…

ANGLO American’s diamond producing unit De Beers yesterday said diamond sales for its 2024 third cycle which closed on April 16 grew by 3.2% to $445 million (R8.42 billion), compared to sales volumes for the second cycle. Diamond prices on world markets have been muted although producers of the gems believe the market is now on a recovery path. “Anglo American plc announces the value of rough diamond sales (Global Sightholder Sales and Auctions) for De Beers’ third sales cycle of 2024, amounting to $445m,” it said yesterday. For the previous cycle, De Beers sold $431m’s worth of diamonds. Its latest sales performance is, however, below the $542m attained over the same period a year ago. “The provisional rough diamond sales figure quoted for Cycle 3 represents the…

With the bitcoin halving just weeks away, an event widely expected to occur this month, and the price reaching all-time highs, crypto investors might consider previous halvings to see how it could affect the price, said Luno country manager for South Africa, Christo de Wit. “There are no guarantees and it is anyone’s guess whether the price will drop, rise or maintain after the April halving,” he said yesterday. “Bitcoin’s recent rally to a new all-time high has meant this cycle looks distinct from previous cycles – possibly driven by the recent institutional interest driven by the approval of bitcoin ETFs in the US,” he said. In rand terms, the price has been considerable over the past six months, more than doubling from R534 338.28 per bitcoin to R1 204…

AWARD-winning electronic band GoodLuck, which comprises Ben Peters, Juliet Harding and Tim Welsh, have returned from a brief musical hiatus with the release of their new single, Goodbye My Friend, which features Afro-tech duo, Frigid Armadillo. The new single has been described as a captivating journey through emotive soundscapes, blending Afro beats and an incredible lyrical narrative into a rich sonic tapestry. Taking to Instagram, the chart-topping group’s lead singer, Harding, said the song is dedicated to anyone who is going through a breakup. “I wrote these lyrics after two of my good friends told me at dinner they were getting a divorce. I was so confused by the way they were handling it … like they knew this was what they needed to do to grow and evolve within…

Springbok captain Siya Kolisi has been honoured as one of Time magazine’s 100 Most Influential People of 2024, it was revealed by the publication yesterday. The former Sharks and Stormers player, who now plies his trade for Racing 92 in the French Top 14, became only the second captain in Rugby World Cup history to lift the Webb Ellis Cup with back-to-back victories, winning the coveted championship in 2019 in Japan and most recently again in France last year. Those achievements have embedded him as one of the Boks’ greatest captains, while also winning him the adoration of the South African public at large. Recognised as an ‘Innovator’ on the highly-respected list, Kolisi finds himself alongside an elite few sporting stars to be recognised for their international impact this past…

A GREAT deal of jostling for Cabinet posts between political parties has already begun ahead of the May 29 national and provincial elections. Recently, EFF president Julius Malema announced that if the governing ANC got less than 50% of the vote, he would consider getting into bed with the party to form a coalition on condition that they agreed to elect his deputy, Floyd Shivambu, as finance minister. The opposition, the DA, has also shown an interest in teaming up with the ANC, holding in contention its interest in keeping the Western Cape it has been governing for years. However, the contentious province is in the eye of opposition parties that have emerged as threats to the DA. These include the Patriotic Alliance (PA), led by controversial Gayton McKenzie,…

As political parties contesting the coming elections gear up for the polls next month, some are setting their eyes on the Union Buildings. Hlaudi Motsoeneng, the African Content Movement (ACM) leader, said he was the only candidate who could change and transform South Africa for the better. Speaking to The Star yesterday, Motsoeneng said all the other political leaders had failed to bring much-needed reforms to the country. “The current crop of leaders don’t have innovative ideas to grow the economy or improve service (delivery). Our infrastructure has collapsed due to failed maintenance, while my track record at the SABC speaks for itself. “There are no leaders in this country. They were all tried and tested, and the results were there for everyone to see. This country is on the…

Ingredients 30ml olive oil, divided 3 large eggplants (brinjals), cut into 1cm slices 1 onion, finely chopped 2 cloves garlic, crushed 15ml Robertsons oregano 140g tin plum tomatoes 1 Knorr vegetable stock pot 1 large handful fresh basil, roughly chopped 80g Parmesan cheese, grated (or Cheddar) 80g dried breadcrumbs 200g Mozzarella cheese Method Preheat the oven to 180°C. Heat half the oil in a large frying pan over medium-high heat. Fry the brinjal slices for 2 minutes on each side, until golden. Set aside. In a saucepan, heat the remaining oil over medium heat. Add the onion and cook for 3 minutes, until softened. Add the garlic and oregano and cook for a further 2 minutes. Add the tomatoes and Knorr vegetable stock pot and simmer for 30 minutes. Stir…

Another three people have won Powerball jackpots from Tuesday night’s draw. One person won the Powerball jackpot and walks away with R13 309 154. Two other people won the Powerball Plus jackpot and will each get R2 901 985. According to the Ithuba draw sheet, two people had five correct numbers in the Powerball jackpot, second division, and will get R158 338 each. This month, five people won millions of rand in the Powerball and Powerball Plus jackpot from the April 5 draw. Three people shared the R131 million PowerBall jackpot, and each person walked away with a staggering R44 762 152. The other two people shared the Powerball Plus jackpot and bagged R17 372 610 each. Speaking about the multiple jackpot wins, Ithuba’s CEO Charmaine Mabuza said: “Creating five…

TSHWANE Mayor Cilliers Brink is expected to use his second State of the Capital Address (Soca) today to take stock of service delivery objectives achieved under his watch since he assumed office in March last year. He pointed out this week that he would outline plans to improve and build on the work that had already been done. Brink took the reins from his predecessor, Randall Williams, under whom the City incurred an adverse audit report for the 2021/22 financial year from the Auditor-General (AG). While Tshwane’s financial situation is still worrisome Brink is likely to demonstrate during his Soca that his administration is on track to stabilise the metro’s finances. This is in light of the AG report showing that the municipality obtained a qualified audit report for 2022/23,…

Data from the Central Energy Fund indicates that the price of fuel will increase again, by 37c or 38c per litre, in May, the AA says. AA spokesperson Layton Beard said local fuel prices had reached record-high increases over the past three years despite the government not increasing the general fuel levy or Road Accident Fund levy. “Central Energy Fund (CEF) data indicates that unleaded 93 petrol inland in May 2022 cost R21.51 per litre but increased to R23.01 in May 2023. According to current data from the CEF, this price will increase by 37c/litre, in May, pushing the price close to R25.15/litre.” Beard said the outlook for unleaded 95 inland was not much better, with the CEF data showing an increase of 38c/litre. “This will push the price to…

A group of concerned community members of Princess, near Roodepoort, have accused the City of Joburg of wanting to exclude them from the Johannesburg Social Housing Company’s (Joshco) Ekhaya Gardens project which comes with 300 new flats. The project was unveiled by MMC for human settlements Anthea Leitch on Tuesday. Speaking to The Star after the unveiling of the project, a concerned community member who identified himself as Patrick Sebelemetja said they want the city to prioritise the people of the community in their allocation of the 300 units to qualifying individuals and families. “We want the city to prioritise our people and give them at least 60% preference ahead of people who are not from around here. We have not had housing since 1994 and some of our community…

THE brief was simple, take a vehicle built in South Africa and showcase it to the continent. So what do you do? You drive it from the factory up through Africa, stopping along the way to show it to people who matter. And thus Nissan’s Daring Africa 2024 was born. It’s a daring concept as Ramy Mohareb, Nissan Africa’s head of communications and PR, says, one that unashamedly references the parent company’s Dare 90 campaign celebrating its eponymous birthday last year. The vehicles that have been chosen are the Navaras. They are built locally at Nissan’s Rosslyn plant in Pretoria and the marketing pitch is that the engineers in Japan specifically re-envisaged this vehicle for the harshest road conditions imaginable – of which Africa has plenty – and they…

Most things are made up in our minds. Almost always, we fill our minds with “imaginary thinking”, dwelling on either past or future anxieties. If we habitually indulge in imaginary thinking, our limited mind control can imprison us. Why not commit efforts to embrace awareness? With being aware, our thoughts are like having the lights on while we think, being in the present state with a continuous awareness of our thoughts. The most powerful asset we possess is undisputedly our mind. Taking control of your mental health is key to a healthier world, as the World Health Day theme, “My Health, My Right” on April 7 advocated. As our thinking has a significant impact on our well-being, we all have a shared obligation to play a crucial role by empowering…

Orlando Pirates coach Jose Riveiro says they are working hard to find the balance between the DStv Premiership and domestic cup competitions. Pirates have been cup specialists under Riveiro, and last Saturday, they qualified for the Nedbank Cup semi-finals for the fourth time in the last five attempts – with a 4-2 win over AmaZulu. The defending champions will meet Chippa United for a spot in the final, hoping to add to their Ke Yona Cup success and the two MTN8s under Riveiro. In the dress rehearsal for Saturday’s clash, Pirates hammered Golden Arrows 7-1 to keep their aspirations of finishing in the top two in the Premiership alive. Yet Pirates have been struggling to maintain their consistency in the league, unlike in the cup games. Hence, they trail log…

Rory McIlroy denied a published report on Tuesday linking him to an $850 million move to LIV Golf, saying he plans to remain with the PGA Tour “the rest of my career”. McIlroy’s agent, Sean O’Flaherty, called Tuesday’s story in the London newspaper City AM “fake news”. McIlroy addressed the report with Golf Channel from the practice range in Hilton Head, South Carolina, the venue for this week’s RBC Heritage tournament. “I honestly don’t know how these things get started,” McIlroy said. “I’ve never been offered a number from LIV, and I’ve never contemplated going to LIV. “Again, I think I’ve made it clear over the past two years that I don’t think it’s something for me. “It doesn’t mean that I judge people who have went and played over…