Star -julkaisun 2025-01-06 -irtonumeron sisällysluettelo

Eskom continues to meet electricity demand and is not likely to implement load shedding, at least until the end of March this year. The utility has reached 282 consecutive days without load shedding since March 26, last year after improving the performance of its Generation units. Investment in a Generation Recovery Plan and better maintenance has also resulted in year-to-date diesel savings of R16.52 billion, it said in a statement on Friday night. In August, Eskom shared its outlook from September 1, 2024 to March 31, 2025, predicting a likely scenario of a load shedding-free summer. “This outlook remains unchanged. Our year-to-date unplanned outages average is 11 906MW, which is 1 094MW less than our 2024 summer base case of 13 000MW,” Eskom said. On December 30, the Generation Recovery…

Industry warns government to avert the looming shortage of LNG gas in the country South Africa’s looming gas cliff has been brought closer to reality by the electoral conflict impasse in Mozambique, which resulted in “gas-shedding” at the height of the festive season as industrial users warned that the government needed to step up efforts to avert the looming shortage of LNG gas in the country. This comes as petrochemicals giant Sasol confirmed last week to have reduced production of natural gas at its Central Processing Facility (CPF) in Temane, Mozambique. Alex Anderson, Sasol’s senior manager for group media relations and external communication, said the pipeline was not and has never been closed but that under prevailing circumstances in Mozambique, supplies had to be closely monitored. “As a result of…

The Jerry Springer Show might have ended seven years ago but it remains one of the most controversial programmes in television history. Airing for 28 seasons from 1991 to 2018, the talk show became a pop culture phenomenon. Hosted by the late television anchor and former Cincinnati mayor who died in April 2023 at the age of 79, it featured dysfunctional families who came on the show to discuss their problems before a studio audience, who could then offer suggestions to their various dilemmas. This led to scores of fights, with the occasional chair being thrown around, as well as melodrama featuring love triangles and family secrets being revealed in spectacular fashion. To capture the impact the programme’s impact on modern television history, a new documentary called Jerry Springer: Fights,…

Like a sandworm swallowing a spice harvester, Dune ate in 2024. Thank a sequel and then a prequel: first, Dune: Part Two, the mega-blockbuster follow-up to the 2021 space opera Dune, both based on the 1965 novel by Frank Herbert about prophecies, interstellar feudalism and big, big worms. It delighted critics, made more than $700 million around the globe and is in the mix as the annual awards season kicks off. Also: those popcorn buckets. Then came Dune: Prophecy, the prequel set 10 000 years before the events of Dune, which wrapped up its first season on HBO and Max last month with a bloody, techy and sandy episode. Max recently also announced that it had renewed the series for a second season. Reviews of Prophecy were mixed going in,…

The recent statement from the Ministry of Public Works and Infrastructure revealing that Minister Dean Macpherson met the board and executives of the Independent Development Trust (IDT) over alleged corporate governance challenges may have been a misrepresentation on the part of the minister. This move comes amid a wave of news on the IDT's handling of the Pressure Swing Adsorption (PSA) Oxygen Plant bids. While the ministry had initially claimed that MacPherson met the board and executives of the IDT, the parliament’s portfolio committee spokesperson, Jabulani Majozi, revealed otherwise. Throwing MacPherson under the bus, Majozi said the committee was concerned that the minister had not met the IDT and that the minister’s comments in the media lacked substantial evidence, leading to a muddied narrative and casting doubt over the IDT's…

Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi has criticised the South African Police Service (SAPS) for their lack of support and presence at the funeral of Chesnay Keppler, which was held on Saturday in Eldorado Park, south of Johannesburg. Speaking at the funeral, Lesufi also apologised to the family of the late Keppler, a 22-year-old Gauteng traffic warden who was shot and killed on December 26 by her boyfriend, Mandla Buthelezi, who is a police sergeant at the Eldorado Police Station. “We come to you to say sorry. We come to you to apologise. He was not mandated. He was not under our instruction. But it’s painful and we want to say sorry,” said Lesufi. Keppler’s murder came days after the 16 days of activism campaign against women and children. He further said…

Having kicked off the celebrations on New Year’s Day at the Athlone Stadium with the Klopse Jol, spectators can expect vibrant costumes, electric energy, and iconic melodies that bring the Klopse culture to life on January 4 where various teams will take to the streets for the Cape Town Street Parade. The Kaapse Klopse Karnival Association (KKKA) with its partners, the City of Cape Town and Hollywoodbets, have set the stage for its celebrations over the next few weeks. Director of the KKKA, Muneeb Gambeno, said: “The obvious change is the date to 4 January due to the clash with Jum’ah on 2 January. All the organisation for the Hollywoodbets Cape Town Street Parade is in place and we are busy with the build up in the CBD. Spectators…

THE city of Johannesburg has conceded defeat and admitted that its bloated VIP protection services for the city's executive were irregular following a ruling that the city’s VIP protection policy was unconstitutional and invalid. Conceding defeat, the city said in a statement that it would not appeal the ruling, which rescinded the policy adopted in March 2024, allowing for a bloated number of bodyguards for the mayor and speaker and personal protectors for members of the mayoral committee and committee chairs. The judgment came after the Democratic Alliance approached the court, arguing that the policy was unlawful and diverted resources from the much-needed delivery of essential services. The city issued a statement yesterday saying that it would not appeal the ruling and admitting that no policy document governing the implementation…

SABC employee Nobuntu Mkhize may face appearing before the Equality Court with the input of the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) after she was filmed allegedly making racist remarks and physically attacking cabin crew on a FlySafair flight on Day of Goodwill (Boxing Day) from Durban to Cape Town. The SAHRC’s Reverend Chris Nissen told Enca news they would be considering taking action against Mkhize. The Democratic Alliance, together with the air hostess, has since filed criminal complaints against her. Nissen was reported to have said that aviation rules were violated by Mkhize, including the issue of dignity, which had to be addressed. Cape Argus also tried to reach Nissen on Sunday for comment but to no avail. The SAHRC offices are set to re-open on Monday. DA Western…

Finance and Economic Development MEC Lebogang Maile has warned that Gauteng could find itself “R6 billion in the red” by June if urgent financial caution is not exercised. This comes after R15 billion in budget cuts, which has left the province’s finances precarious. Maile has identified the Gauteng Department of Health as the primary driver of the province’s financial problems. The department’s persistent non-compliance with supply chain regulations has been cited as a critical threat to Gauteng’s overall financial stability, with corruption being the root cause of the crisis. Despite these challenges, Maile has assured the public that the provincial government is taking every possible measure to steer clear of bankruptcy. However, Professor Mark Swilling, a sustainable development expert at Stellenbosch University, expressed scepticism about the province’s ability to manage…

The ANC is gearing up to celebrate its 113th anniversary on January 8, but this year’s event is expected to be one of the smallest in over three decades. The party has chosen the Khayelitsha Stadium in Cape Town in the Western Cape as the venue, which has a capacity of only 2 000 people. In comparison, last year’s event was held at the Mbombela Stadium in Mpumalanga, which has a capacity of 43 000 people, and the previous year’s event was held at the Petrus Molemela Stadium in Bloemfontein, which has a capacity of 22 000 people. Despite the reduced turnout, ANC Secretary-General Fikile Mbalula insists that the Khayelitsha Stadium was the party’s first choice due to its strategic location. The ANC’s 113th-anniversary celebration will mark the first time…

Pakistan’s batting remains brittle. It is susceptible to bouts of stupidity; carelessness and possible collapse at any point. But for a session and a half yesterday afternoon, the tourists finally looked like a team that wanted to compete. And this after being dismissed for 194 in response to South Africa’s mammoth 615 that left the Proteas with no option but to enforce the follow-on. Pakistan still trails by 208 runs and face the inevitable on Monday, but they have already bitten a large chunk out of the original 421-run deficit as they finished on 213/1 second time around. That’s largely due to a splendid unbeaten century from captain Shan Masood – the first Pakistan skipper to reach three-figures on South African soil – that formed part of a confidence-boosting 205-run…

Nicola Mawson Gold started 2025 with a bang, notching a gain of as much as 1% so far this year, before closing somewhat lower on Friday when compared with the last day of 2024. The precious metal could also break through the $3 000 (R56 136) mark, having closed at $2 638.30 on Friday. “Gold markets have had a very strong 2024 and I think we’re entering a phase where gold very well could start to go sideways for a while,” Christopher Lewis, FXEmpire analyst, said on Friday. “Gold breaking above the $2 800 level would change everything though, and should send it towards the $3 000 level, which I wouldn’t be surprised to see happen sometime during 2025.” The yellow metal has been boosted by expectations of sustained central…

Cameron Diaz is making her movie comeback after more than a decade alongside Jamie Foxx in Back in Action. The Netflix spy comedy is set to premiere on January 17. The film will see the actors star as retired CIA operatives, Emily and Matt, who are now leading a peaceful suburban life. But they find themselves back in the field when their cover is suddenly exposed and they are thrust back into the world of espionage, while also trying to care for their children. The star-studded cast includes Kyle Chandler, Glenn Close, Andrew Scott, Jamie Demetriou, McKenna Roberts and Rylan Jackson. This is Diaz’s first acting role since she starred in Annie 11 years ago. It marks her comeback after she announced her retirement in 2014 to focus on…

The beginning of a new year is a chance to relax and unwind following an eventful holiday period. With this in mind, here are some top movies and television shows to enjoy this January. Bromance This local reality show centres on four 30-something Johannesburg men as they navigate life, their careers, love lives and the challenges of adulthood. The series will chronicle the group’s brotherhood, friendship, the chaos of growing up in the heart of Jozi, their wild weekend escapades and a thirst for the good life. * Bromance premieres on Tuesday on Mzansi Magic (DStv Channel 161) at 8pm. High Potential This Disney+ original series is based on the popular French series Haut Potentiel Intellectuel. Starring Kaitlin Olson, the show is written by Drew Goddard who also worked on…

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz condemned Elon Musk’s “erratic” comments and his open support for the extreme-right AfD party in an interview published Saturday. The world’s wealthiest man—who owns social media platform X—has in a string of posts, attacked several European leaders and ruffled feathers on the continent. Asked about interference by Musk —who last month called Scholz an “incompetent fool” before calling the German president an “anti-democratic tyrant”, the chancellor told Stern magazine it was important “to keep calm” ahead of Germany’s snap elections on February 23. “In Germany, everything is proceeding according to the wishes of our citizens and not the erratic comments of an American billionaire,” he told the magazine in an interview. “The German president is not an anti-democratic tyrant and Germany is a strong and stable…

Temperatures in four areas in KwaZulu-Natal exceeded 40°C on Saturday. This was revealed by SA Weather Service forecaster Ayanda Nsele who said Mandeni, Mtunzini, Pietermaritzburg and Richards Bay recorded temperatures above 40ºC. Nsele said the scorching weather was not a heatwave as the temperatures needed to have been 5°C higher than the average maximum in that area, over a period of three consecutive days, for it to receive such a classification. “What happened on Saturday was not a heatwave,“ he said. “We had issued an advisory for high discomfort values. “That means because of the high temperatures combined with high relative humidity, it could have resulted in uncomfortable conditions that could result in heat-related illnesses such as heatstroke,” Nsele said. He said temperatures in Makhathini/Jozini reached 38.7°C, while Durban and…

The Road Traffic Management Corporation (RTMC) has recorded 7 448 arrests on South African roads for the current festive season between December 1, 2024, and January 1, 2025. This comes after the RTMC confirmed more than a million vehicles were checked by the authorities across the country. Offenders were arrested for various offences including drunk driving, speeding, and attempted bribery. The highest breath alcohol level recorded was 2.47mg/1000ml on the R61 in Lusikiki, Eastern Cape, on December 27. The legal alcohol limit for motorists on South African roads is 0,05 grams per 100 millilitres. “The arrests were made from 1 December 2024 and 1 January 2025 according to RTMC. Eastern Cape recorded 455 arrests for allegedly driving under the influence of alcohol in December. The highest speed recorded was in…

A widow is pinning her hopes on the Gauteng High Court, Pretoria, to grant her ownership of reproductive material kept at a fertility clinic after her husband died. She now wants to use her husband’s preserved sperm to produce a sibling for her only daughter. The Gauteng woman opted for artificial fertilisation after her husband was diagnosed with Hodgkin's Lymphoma. Before he underwent chemotherapy treatment, he was advised to freeze his gametes (sperm) for later use should he want children in the future. The woman said in court papers that due to the chemotherapy, they were unable to conceive naturally. Her husband donated sperm at a fertility clinic for preservation and 13 straws were frozen. Meanwhile, 16 eggs were retrieved from the woman, but only nine were mature. The other…

Former ANC MP and now uMkhonto weSizwe Party (MKP) leader Mervyn Dirks has been appointed as Chief Whip of the party’s parliamentary caucus in the KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Legislature. Dirks’ permanent appointment was confirmed on Sunday and is effective immediately. This decision by the party comes hot on the heels of the dismissal of Dr. Kwazi Mbanjwa amid allegations over a financial dispute that have caused significant turmoil within the party. The announcement was formalised in a letter addressed to the KwaZulu-Natal Legislature Speaker, Nontobeko Boyce, by the Secretary-General of the MKP Floyd Shivambu. Speaking to IOL on Sunday, Dirks said, “There is no promotion or demotion in Mkhonto Wesizwe. I have simply been given a task that I should perform. As Chief Whip of Mkhonto Wesizwe in the legislature, I…

The symbolism associated with the laying of a wreath at the graveside of fallen uMkhonto weSizwe combatants is not deliberated upon to its fullest extent. His Excellency President Jacob Zuma posits an intriguing praxis in this regard – resuscitating uMkhonto weSizwe but this time around as an overt political party. There are of course a plethora of layers embedded in this praxis that do require some level of analysis and historical background. The essence of an elective conference is that branches of an organisation converge to discuss several matters pertaining to the mother body and thereafter send delegates to a national conference to be the representatives of the collective views of a branch. The delegate essentially becomes an embodiment of the sum total views of each individual branch member. Of…

The Shark Tank is set to host one of the matches of the year on Saturday when a star-studded Toulouse team tackles a Springbok-laden home side in a third-round Champions Cup match. This much became apparent when Toulouse coach Ugo Mola picked a youthful side for the weekend’s Top 14 match against La Rochelle so that he could rest his France superstars for the trip to Durban. Even with the likes of Antoine Dupont, Romain Ntamack and a dozen more international players having their feet up at home, Toulouse went down 22-19 to La Rochelle in an illustration as to why they are regarded as the best provincial side in the world. The Champions Cup is taken with the utmost seriousness in France, much more so than South Africa. Over…

Manchester United rallied to snap a four-game losing streak and halt Liverpool’s romp towards the Premier League title in a thrilling 2-2 draw at Anfield on Sunday. Liverpool move six points clear at the top of the table, with a game in hand to come, over second-placed Arsenal. But this was an opportunity lost for Arne Slot's men after they came from behind to lead 2-1 through Cody Gakpo and Mohamed Salah's penalty. United broke their six-year goal drought at Anfield to open the scoring in spectacular fashion through Lisandro Martinez and got the point a much-improved performance deserved when Amad Diallo levelled on 80 minutes. A point edges the Red Devils up to 13th in the table and seven clear of the relegation zone. Liverpool boss Slot warned that…

Economists predict that Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth for 2025 will be close to 1.6% in 2025, the foundation of which was laid in 2024 with lower inflation and two interest rate cuts. Inflation was below 3% at the end of 2024 and the South African Reserve Bank (Sarb) cut interest rates by 25 basis points in September and November. Rating agency S&P Global have also forecast a positive outlook for South Africa in 2025. Waldo Krugell, an economics professor at North-West University said that he was optimistic about growth prospects in 2025 even though the GDP contraction in the third quarter slightly obscured the forecast a bit. “Overall the current expectation is for growth of 1.5 or 1.6% next year. On the demand side we know some growth will…

The USMCA is a globally significant trade grouping. Mutual trade among its three members – the US, Mexico, and Canada – was worth around $1.5 trillion in 2023, or about 8% of world imports. As a result, the recent threat by US President-elect Donald Trump to put sweeping 25% tariffs on imports from Canada and Mexico, could have potentially huge effects both regionally and globally. We consider the implementation of blanket tariffs, particularly on a permanent basis, as a very low probability scenario, compared to the more targeted tariffs we assume in our baseline. But such a scenario is nevertheless worthy of analysis given the scale of the possible effects and the general uncertainty regarding this issue. We have already illustrated some of the possible regional impacts in recent work,…

Meghan Markle, the Duchess of Sussex’s new cookery show has been billed as an “inspiring” take on the “genre of lifestyle programming”. After months of speculation about her new career move – and following her first Instagram post in years on New Year’s Day – the 43-year-old recently announced online that she is fronting a Netflix series called With Love, Meghan. A show description from Netflix has also stated: “This inspiring series, produced by Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, reimagines the genre of lifestyle programming, blending practical how-to’s and candid conversation with friends, new and old. “Meghan shares personal tips and tricks, embracing playfulness over perfection and highlights how easy it can be to create beauty, even in the unexpected. "She and her guests roll up their sleeves in the kitchen,…

Police in Gauteng and in the North West are on high alert following threats to business people and contractors at the hands of “tender mafias”. The year 2025 could be called a devastating year for entrepreneurs, project managers and contractors as mafia groups continue to violently hijack government projects. Police have told The Star that they would be monitoring the situation in Gauteng and the North West “very closely”. Tender mafia groups have become a pervasive problem in South Africa, undermining the integrity of the procurement process and perpetuating corruption. One such group that has been making headlines in recent years is the SA Gatvol lobby group, operating in the North West province. The term “tender mafia” refers to a network of individuals and companies that collude to manipulate the…

Border Management Authority (BMA) Commissioner, Dr Michael Masiapato, said more than 120 illegal immigrants who tried to enter the country illegally by Saturday were arrested. This, after Masiapato and his team led an operation at the Beitbridge port of entry. Masiapato said many other illegal immigrants were intercepted as they attempted to illegally cross the Limpopo River into Zimbabwe. He said the border experienced a high volume of people and out of the 20 000 people who crossed the border on 4 January, 3 000 were making their way into Zimbabwe. A large number of them were pedestrians crossing the border. “We deployed drones and we have been able to arrest more than 120 people who tried to enter the country illegally,” he said. Speaking at the border on…

KwaZulu-Natal Premier, Thamsanqa Ntuli, has reiterated the call for collective action against gender-based violence (GBV) and social ills during a prayer service at St Martin's Church in Edendale, Pietermaritzburg on Sunday. Addressing congregants at the service, which had the theme Inspiring New Hope, the Premier emphasised the crucial role of faith-based organisations in fostering moral regeneration and combating societal challenges. “The spiritual foundation provided by churches and faith-based organisations is crucial in the fight against the social ills that plague our province,” said Ntuli. “Together, through faith and action, we can create a safer and more hopeful future for all.” During the service, the Premier prayed for an end to GBV, which continues to ravage communities across the province. He urged congregants to actively participate in efforts to eradicate…

Cape Town's stunning coastline has been awarded the title of 'Best Beach Destination' at the Travel + Leisure India’s Best Awards 2024, highlighting its commitment to sustainability and diverse experiences for visitors. The accolade was announced during a spectacular gala held in New Delhi on Wednesday night, shining a spotlight on the city's pristine beaches, vibrant culture, and diverse experiences that continue to attract globe-trotters. With its eight Blue Flag beaches for the 2024/2025 season, including Bikini Beach, Camps Bay, Clifton 4th, Fish Hoek, Llandudno, Melkbosstrand, Muizenberg, and Silwerstroom Strand, Cape Town not only boasts breathtaking vistas but also a commitment to eco-friendly practices and community engagement. Cape Town Tourism CEO Enver Duminy says the appeal of Cape Town’s beaches lies in the myriad of activities they offer, catering to…

The South African Federation of Trade Unions (Saftu) and the Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu) have criticised the decision to terminate the Community Work Programme contracts of workers aged 55 and above. Saftu described the decision as a “cruel act” that was in line with the government’s “broader neoliberal agenda, which prioritises austerity and the so-called fiscal consolidation targets” over the well-being of workers and the majority Black working class. Cosatu said the development was particularly worrying because these participants would be plunged into instant poverty and would struggle to secure other employment in an economy with an unemployment rate of 41.9%. The union federations were also joined by the uMkhonto weSizwe Party (MKP), which said the decision exposed the insensitivity of the Government of the National Unity’s…

South Africa: 615 all out (Ryan Rickelton 259; Mohammad Abbas 3/94) Pakistan: 194 all out (Babar Azam 58; Kagiso Rabada 3/55) Pakistan: 213/1 (Shan Masood 102*; Marco Jansen 1/56) Pakistan trail by 208 runs NEWLANDS, CAPE TOWN - Pakistan captain, Shan Masood, and his predecessor, Babar Azam, led the visitors fightback with a 205-run partnership as the pair capitalised on the flat Newlands wicket in the last two sessions on day three of the second Test. Having been forced to follow-on after being bowled out for 194 inside the first hour of the second session on day three, Pakistan openers, Masood and Azam returned to the crease with a lot of determination. The Proteas bowling attack, along with the Newlands faithful, might have thought bowling out the visitors in one…

WHEN they gather at Chloorkop this morning to inspect the wreckage from their CAF Champions League trip to Morocco, Mamelodi Sundowns will discover that the two players who have generally been their heroes were culpable for their maiden defeat in the continent’s premier club knockout competition’s group phase. The South African champions were beaten 1-0 by Raja Casablanca in an ill-tempered match that saw them losing two players - Bathusi Aubaas and Khuliso Mudau – to sending offs with handbags being thrown about late in the tie. Benaisa Benamar scored the match’s only goal just before half time as the Bafana Ba Style’s attempt at an offside trap got undone by a player who probably should not have been in the box. Lucas Ribeiro Costa is an attacker of…

Orlando Pirates are leaving no stone unturned in the Caf Champions League. But such is the humility of coach Jose Riveiro, he knows they haven’t reached the promised land yet. Pirates entered the second-round robin of the continental showpiece on a menacing note, beating Stade d’Abidjan 3-0 at Orlando Stadium over the weekend. The gallant performance not only saw them go unbeaten in Group C after two wins and two draws, but it ensured they top the group with eight points as well. And with two matches remaining – against CR Belouizdad at home this weekend and away to Al Ahly on January 12 – Pirates are one win away from reaching the quarter-final. A quarter-final berth would be a milestone for the Sea Robbers given the fact that the…