Star -julkaisun 2024-12-02 -irtonumeron sisällysluettelo

QUANTUM FOODS made a strong turnaround in the year to September 30 after its management had to deal with extraordinary headwinds at South Africa’s biggest egg producer following the outbreak of the bird flu. On Friday, the company reported headline earnings per share increased significantly to 80.4 cents from a 17.4 cents headline loss per share the year before. The share price was unchanged at R8.50 on Friday, but investors appeared to have foreseen the turnaround because the price is 95.6% up on the same time last year. “Financial 2024 will be remembered for the severe impact of (highly pathogenic) avian influenza (HPAI) on our layer farming and egg businesses, the Malmesbury feed mill explosion, leadership changes and dramatic fluctuation in our share price on the back of shareholder activity,”…

siphelele.dludla@inl.co.za Sizwe Africa IT (Sizwe) has denied being involved in the conflict of interest in a more than R500 million contract for the procurement of 55 000 Samsung Galaxy Tab A 8.0-inch LTE tablets for schools in the Eastern Cape. This comes after media reports from weekend newspapers that the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (the Hawks) were investigating Dr Naledi Mbude-Mehana, a senior national education department official, and her husband Reverend Vukile Mehana, the former chairman of IT group Sizwe Africa, for their involvement in payments allegedly for an illegal contract. According to reports, the contract’s estimated price increased from R160 million to R537.4m, and the State Information Technology Agency (Sita) found it unlawful and invalid as it had not been taken through the appropriate channels. Sizwe yesterday said…

Zimbabwe’s Finance Minister Mthuli Ncube last week unveiled a suite of new taxes, including taxes on sports betting and popular fast-foods such as French fries, burgers and pizza, in a bid to grow the government revenue collections amidst persistent fiscal challenges plaguing the country’s economy. Zimbabwe has long struggled for fiscal stability, with the country’s efforts to grow the formal economy frustrated by incessant power outages. So dire have blackouts been in Zimbabwe that Ncube’s 2025 Budget presentation in Parliament on Thursday was disrupted by a power outage, with companies and businesses adjusting to daily production disruptions. “Government is aware of the country’s electricity supply gap which continues to weigh down on economic growth and social progress,” Ncube said. As Zimbabwe counts its losses from the power outages, private sector…

An unforgettable experience, the ISIbalo School Programme is a powerful initiative in the lives of South African children that can shape and yield different and better outcomes. Launched by Statistics SA in 2009 as a legacy of the 57th Session of the ISI, has the potential to shape a brighter future. The aim of the legacy program was to undo an apartheid legacy of Hendrik Verwoed, a key figure in the apartheid government. In 1953, Verwoed, then Minister of Native Affairs, declared in Parliament, “What is the use of teaching a Bantu child mathematics when it cannot use it in practice?” Sakhile Mpanza of Stats SA, based in the Ilembe District, has maintained faith in the legacy changing programme. I had the opportunity to discuss the program with learners mentored…

teen acting sensation Katleho Mabote is relishing the success of his starring roles in Youngins and Outlaws. “I am living my wildest dream,” he said in a recent interview. “I am so grateful for everything, my career and life, everything is good so far.” The 20-year-old Bloemfontein-born star gave an emotional performance as Tokollo, an innocent Grade 8 student at the fictional Olifantsfontein High School in season two of the hit youth drama. He appears alongside Ayakha Ntunja, Thabiso Ramotshela and Kealeboga Masango on the Showmax Original, which is garnering a significant following, stealing hearts and racking up award nominations. The series focuses on the issues Gen Z experiences daily, such as sexuality, family traumas, popularity, teenage pregnancy and the abuse of power. “I believe that every young actor…

OVER 40 firearms, loads of ammunition, and luxury vehicles were some of the items confiscated from businesswoman and TV personality Shauwn Mkhize’s properties in Durban, Pietermaritzburg, and Johannesburg during a raid by the South African Revenue Service (Sars) last week. While the information shared came from an impeccable source following the raid that took place on Tuesday, Sars spokesperson Siphithi Sibeko said he was yet to get the list of all items taken. “Right now we are consolidating the register of everything that was found there,” said Sibeko. He said the raid was part of Sars’s ongoing investigation of Mkhize’s non-compliance with the tax laws. “Non-compliance includes everything such as owing Sars, not filing tax returns, filing wrongly, and misrepresentation during filing,” said Sibeko. The source said Mkhize told police,…

In a stunning turn of events, former president of Botswana, Ian Khama, has returned home after a three-year self-imposed exile, only to have criminal charges against him dropped by a magistrate in Gaborone. Khama told the media that his lawyers informed him on Friday that the possession of weapons of war charges against him was dropped by the state following an ongoing welcome ceremony at the Serowe sports complex. “I am glad that the charges against me have been dropped because the case against me was flawed. I was told by my lawyers that the case against me had been dropped. The case against me is now over, and there is no one else who will come after me after this,” he said. Khama fled Botswana in 2021, after reports…

Bloem, the former ANC and Cope leader, said he raised the issue out of deep concern. He pleaded with the leaders of both political parties to come together and address their differences maturely. These sentiments came after EFF leader Julius Malema publicly declared MKP enemy number one. Malema said that he wanted no association with the MKP because its leader, Jacob Zuma, had focused on mass-recruiting EFF members from his party. His statement came amid the mass exodus of high-profile members such as Floyd Shivambu, Dali Mpofu, Mzwanele Manyi and Busisiwe Mkhwebane, who have all joined MKP. The latest departure from the EFF was founding member Alfred Motsi, who also joined the Zuma party. Both parties share similar economic policies, including land expropriation and state ownership of mines and banks.…

Marking the end of their schooling journey, thousands of teenagers have flocked to the sun-soaked coasts of KwaZulu-Natal to revel in the annual Rage Festival. Kicking off on Saturday, this highly anticipated eight-day event in Ballito is expected to bring together roughly 4 000 participants – many of whom have travelled from Gauteng. Passports, essential tickets granting access to the vibrant festivities, vary significantly in price. From R1 900 for a three-day pass to R5 500 for an exclusive Black Passport VIP experience. The Sound Factory, the festival’s primary venue located at the Lawns Ballito near Sugar Rush Park, will serve as the hub of excitement and electrifying dance floors. Among the local and international artists to perform at the festival are Amy Wiles, Matthew Mole, Lady Zamar, Sun-El…

Liverpool delivered an emphatic statement in the Premier League yesterday, overcoming arch-rivals Manchester City with a commanding 2-0 victory at Anfield. The win not only extended Liverpool's lead to nine points at the summit of the table but also plunged City into a worrying slump, marking their seventh consecutive match without a win. This result is particularly damning for manager Pep Guardiola, as it represents City's first four-game losing streak in the Premier League since 2008. The defeat places them in an uncharacteristically low fifth position, sitting 11 points adrift from Liverpool — who have emerged as their greatest rivals in recent years. Buoyed by a resounding midweek Uefa Champions League win over Real Madrid, Liverpool came out of the blocks with palpable energy, almost sealing the match before half-time.…

A South African company is taking on a Russian insurance giant in a multimillion-dollar court matter over the Russian company’s refusal to pay out an insurance claim, with wrangling over the issue dating back to 2012. South Africa’s Global Aviation Investments, a company that provides charter flights including for the UN, is arguing that Russia’s insurance company, Ingosstrakh, owes it money after one of its aircraft suffered engine damage before take-off when the motors were at full throttle. The matter went all the way to the Constitutional Court, which ruled in January 2022 that Ingosstrakh could not appeal a Supreme Court of Appeal (SCA) ruling, which allows Global Aviation Investments to proceed with a default judgment for a claim worth millions. In 2012, Ingosstrakh agreed to provide insurance to Global…

The turnaround of South African Airways (SAA) is a remarkable testament to South Africa’s ability in the face of great adversity, to hit rock bottom and to recover. SAA’s 90 years, are definitely worthy of a book and perhaps a movie. It was built by workers with strategic state support over many years. It won the admiration of the world, scooping many international awards. Then came our chapter of state capture across the state and SAA too. We witnessed the tragic collapse of this once proud airline. No amount of state bail outs, estimated at about R50 billion, could stem its freefall. Covid-19 seemed to mark the final blow. This was a devastating moment for the then 10 000 employees in the SAA Group. Countless voices demanded it be privatised.…

South African crime drama Die Byl first aired on kykNET in 2016. Loosely inspired by the work of legendary detective Piet Byleveld, the show follows Colonel Piet van der Bijl (played by Waldemar Schultz), nicknamed Die Byl, a brilliant but deeply flawed investigator known for his ability to crack complex murder cases. The series combines intense psychological drama with gripping crime storytelling, making it a firm favourite with viewers. The character delves into the darker side of human nature, often solving gruesome crimes by understanding the minds of the killers. With its dark themes and layered storytelling, the show has consistently kept audiences on the edge of their seats. Returning for its sixth season in January, it will make history as kykNET’s longest-running drama. The upcoming season pits Die Byl…

Economic growth in South Africa is expected to have ticked up slightly by 0.5% in the three months to end September. This comes as Statistics South Africa (Stats SA) will tomorrow publish the gross domestic product (GDP) figures for the third quarter of 2024 after the economy grew by 0.4% in the second quarter. In the second quarter, seven industries recorded positive growth, with the finance industry increasing by 1.3% followed by the trade industry and the manufacturing industry, which increased by 1.2% and 1.1%, respectively. Economists now expect that the persistent absence of load shedding and other logistical advances created a more favourable producer environment during the third quarter. Eskom has suspended load shedding for more than eight months (247 consecutive days) since March 26, due to ongoing structural…

Former Eskom chief executive Matshela Koko wants the Gauteng High Court, Pretoria, to give him a chance to clear his name and revoke the order made earlier this year. The high court declared a controversial contract for work at Kusile power station that multinational ABB for Eskom unlawful and invalid. This was after the Special Investigating Unit (SIU), Eskom and ABB went to court seeking to nullify the contract and replace it with a new one. Koko, who entered as an intervening party, said the court order was in response to allegations of criminal conduct against him, adding that this heavily impacted the ruling. He said this indicated that he was directly implicated in the reasons for the court order that was issued on April 5. He said the…

ON October 29, the Department of Home Affairs revealed that it had started the process to revoke the South African identity and travel documents of the beauty queen Chidimma Adetshina and her family. Following this, Progressive Forces of South Africa released a statement on October 30 asking the Miss Universe organisation to prevent the Nigerian model from participating in the global beauty pageant. However, this did not prevent Adetshina’s victory of finishing second place in this year’s Miss Universe. In heightened efforts to dismantle any potential for shining on the global stage, the group launched a petition that garnered hundreds of signatures for the Miss Universe organisation to forbid Adetshina from participating. Political analyst and senior lecturer at the University of Limpopo, Dr Metji Makgoba, said Adetshina’s high profile status…

THE City of Tshwane’s Adopt-a-Spot Programme has received recognition for its efforts in combating illegal dumping having been shortlisted for the 2024 National Batho Pele and Innovation Awards. Launched in 2021, this initiative encourages individuals and businesses to take responsibility for maintaining and beautifying open spaces in the city. Illegal dumping has long plagued Tshwane, despite the municipality imposing heavy fines. The cost of clearing waste from illegal dumping sites amounts to millions of rand annually. MMC for Environment and Agriculture Management, Obakeng Ramabodu attended the awards ceremony in Ekurhuleni and praised the programme’s potential to address this issue. The Adopt-a-Spot Policy, approved by the Tshwane Council on January 28, 2021, encourages public participation in environmental care, including removing illegal dumping, cutting grass, and removing alien vegetation. Ramabodu stated: “These…

While a lot of attention may be placed on Mpilo Gumede’s red card, the performance from the Bulls in their 28-14 bonus-point United Rugby Championship victory over Connacht in Galway should receive the necessary plaudits, too. Connacht may have been missing Irish Test players Bundee Aki, Mack Hansen and Finlay Bealham, but the Bulls also didn’t have the likes of Kurt-Lee Arendse, Elrigh Louw, Wilco Louw, Marco van Staden and captain Ruan Nortjé available. The weather conditions are difficult to handle at The Sportsground as well, which is exposed to the elements as it’s an open arena used for dog racing too. Yet, the Bulls overcame all those challenges to score four tries – and it should have been many more, considering their efficient lineout and scrum, and general forward…

NASREDINNE Nabi’s frustration at Kaizer Chiefs' failure to kill off a match knew no bounds after Amakhosi dropped two valuable points against Royal AM at the weekend. And understandably so, for Chiefs had no reason to draw their Betway Premiership clash against the KwaZulu/Natal side they hosted out at Polokwane’s Peter Mokaba Stadium. When they raced into a 2-0 lead with the match not even a quarter of an hour old, courtesy of strikes by Ashley du Preez and Wandisile Duba – ironically the two players who scored in the 2-1 victory over Richards Bay three days before at the same venue – you expected them to win by an avalanche of goals. They created enough scoring opportunities to have rendered the match a no contest before the break. But…

If tariffs were to be imposed, the repercussions could be punitive for South Africa US President-elect Donald Trump has threatened to impose punitive tariffs on imports from BRICS member states, potentially putting billions of rand of South Africa’s exports at serious risk. This warning comes at a time when South Africa’s trade surplus was the highest in three months, showing signs of economic resilience. Trump posted on social media on Saturday that his administration will punish BRICS member states who are trying to de-emphasise the US dollar as the world’s reserve currency. “We require a commitment from these countries that they will neither create a new BRICS currency, nor back any other currency to replace the mighty US dollar or, they will face 100% tariffs, and should expect to say…

By PPS Investments Given the current market environment, investors should prepare for modest central bank easing and steady economic growth in 2025 while remaining mindful of inflation risks that lean to the upside. A pro-growth portfolio strategy is essential, but flexibility and adaptability are equally critical to navigating a shifting landscape. For example, recent developments, like the US election, could shape future economic policies, contributing to market volatility in the near term. Rather than focusing on a single outcome, investors should consider multiple scenarios to account for uncertainty. On a positive note, the normalisation of interest rates and an expanding range of opportunities beyond equities make diversification more accessible than before, offering investors a solid foundation for building resilient portfolios. What’s next for Local and Global Equities? The outlook for…

South African financial markets ended the week in mixed territory:uncertain and mostly weaker. The Trump victory in the US presidential election, along with the Republican landslide in both the Senate and the House of Representatives, brought negative sentiment toward emerging markets, particularly China and South Africa. The fragile situation in the Middle East and the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine also shifted market sentiment, affecting expectations regarding the magnitude and speed of interest rate cuts in most developed countries, particularly by the US Federal Reserve (Fed). The US markets were closed on Thursday and after lunch on Friday. The dollar weakened in thin pre-holiday trade as markets remained nervous, assessing the risk that President-elect Donald Trump might initiate a tariff war that no one would win. On the JSE,…

COPPER 360 said on Friday that it was making significant strides in its operations as it transitions towards steady state production at its newly commissioned Rietberg mine in the Northern Cape. This shift comes at a time when copper is experiencing unprecedented demand in global markets, and the company is optimistic about achieving improved ore grades in the process. With copper emerging as a highly sought after commodity, Copper 360 CEO, Jan Nelson, has previously said that the company already has “offtake agreements in place for all the ore” to be produced from Reitberg. On Friday, Nelson said the commissioning of the Rietberg mine was “a major milestone for any mining company but even more so for a junior mining” company. “We are now building production to steady state and…

Award-winning actress Kgomotso Christopher is back on SABC1’s Generations: The Legacy. The actress took a break from the character earlier this year and is now stepping back into Keabetswe Moroka-Moloi’s shoes. In March, Christopher entered the show as Keabetswe, in a storyline that shook things up in the Moroka household. Keabetswe is Khumo Moroka’s (Aubrey Poo) twin sister but, unlike her scheming brother, she is open, honest and passionate about using her position as a Moroka to help people and do good in the world. Christopher is one of the busiest actresses in the country, even currently filming in Cape Town for another production. The seasoned actress described joining Generations: The Legacy as a “full circle moment”. When she initially joined the long-running soapie, casting director Russel Savadier remarked…

CALLS for dignified and equal access to health care for all South Africans, transcending barriers of economic status, gender, ethnicity, or sexual orientation, were made during the official commemoration of World Aids Day in Buffalo City Municipality, Eastern Cape. Deputy President Paul Mashatile, chairperson of the South African National Aids Council, underscored the theme for this year’s event: “Equal Rights, Equal Care”. Mashatile signed a memorandum with the Treatment Action Campaign to provide a six-month supply of antiretroviral medication for HIV-positive patients, marking a significant step in the fight against HIV/Aids. The agreement transitions from the current three-month supply of antiretroviral (ARV) medication to a six-month supply, aimed at easing the logistical burdens faced by those on treatment. During his address yesterday, Mashatile emphasised the government’s commitment to winning the…

PUBLIC office-bearers such as Cabinet ministers, their deputies, premiers, MECs, MPs, mayors, certain categories of MPLs, judges and traditional leaders enjoy free electricity at the state’s expense for up R5 000 monthly. This is despite Eskom demanding tariff hikes of between 36.15% and 43.55% for next year depending on whether the power utility supplies them or their municipalities. In its latest review of the perks enjoyed by politicians, judicial officers and traditional leaders, the Independent Commission for the Remuneration of Public Office-Bearers states that the cost of ministers and their deputies’ state-owned residences is the responsibility of the Department Public Works and Infrastructure, including those associated with the provision of water and electricity. This is provided that such cost is limited to the amount to be determined per month per…

ORLANDO PIRATES 0 STELLENBOSCH (1) 1 Titus 33 There will be no 'invincibles' or any team that comes close to completing the entire season unbeaten this time around, after the remaining perfect record of the 2024/25 Betway Premiership season was shattered at Orlando Stadium yesterday afternoon. Stellenbosch FC killed the proverbial two birds with one stone with this hard-earned victory. Steve Barker's team ended Pirates' unbeaten run, while also earning sweet revenge for the controversial MTN8 final defeat they suffered against Jose Riveiro's team. Barker could not hide his excitement as he met the final whistle with a massive fist pump and shout before walking over to hug Riveiro. It was a victory achieved against the run of play. Indeed, Stellies scored on the break via Devin Titus in the…

An action-packed game at a chilly Thomond Park had passed the hour mark already when the Lions began their ‘dad’s camp’ inside the Munster 22. The match was on the line, with the Lions trailing 17-10 and primed to land the knockout punch on a Munster pack that showed great tenacity throughout, but were arguably punch-drunk by then from the visitors’ intense physicality. The Lions pack had come to play all right. Led by barnstorming tighthead prop Asenathi Ntlabakanye – who’s surely going to become a Springbok in 2025 – they had shoved the hosts back in the scrums, climbed into the breakdowns and ruled the air in the line-outs. So, coach Ivan van Rooyen’s team had Munster on the ropes, and just needed to land the knockout blow to…

John Plumtree walked into the Kings Park post-match press conference in a bemused daze that would be akin to him having seen his family lined up for execution only for a messenger to ride in on a horse waving a last-minute reprieve from the governor. The Sharks had been outplayed for most of the match but a combination of their stoic defence and the wastefulness of the Stormers meant the Durbanites were comfortably ahead at 21-8 with a few minutes to go. Nobody could quite believe it because the Sharks’ pack had been surprisingly outplayed. Still, the visitors insisted on butchering opportunities while the Sharks were spectacular in how they seized a pig’s ear thrown away by the Stormers and turned it into a silk purse. Andre Esterhuizen and Makazole…