Star -julkaisun 2025-02-24 -irtonumeron sisällysluettelo

With US tariffs threatening global trade and South Africa’s fiscal reserves depleted, Nedbank chief economist Nicky Weimar laid out a pragmatic plan for economic survival on Friday. She called for sharp cuts in government spending, a boost in efficiency, and a deft diplomatic strategy to counter America’s economic pressure—warning against populist tax hikes or a reckless tit-for-tat with the Trump administration. Her remarks come amid a fiscal crisis underscored by last week’s unprecedented delay of Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana’s Budget, now postponed to March as Government of National Unity partners scramble for consensus. A proposed 2% VAT hike—scrapped after backlash over its impact on the poor—exposed the government’s dire straits. “They’re finally out of money. Solidly,” Weimar said, noting debt at 76% of GDP and a struggle to shrink the…

The government has committed to continue exploring all possible avenues to avert job losses in the steel industry and support affected workers on the back of ArcelorMittal South Africa’s (Amsa) decision to wind down its long steel business. This comes after the National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa (Numsa) staged a picket outside the Industrial Development Corporation (IDC) on Friday to voice their demands. The picket was also joined by workers from SA Steel Mills who are demanding that the business rescue process must be wrapped up quickly so that workers can get the money due to them. The Department of Trade, Industry and Competition (the dtic) on Saturday said the government was doing all it can to ensure the resilience of South Africa’s steel sector. The dtic said…

South Africa is hopeful about boosting tourist arrivals from China following the arrival of the first group of 15 tourists visiting the country under the recently implemented Trusted Tour Operator Scheme (TTOS) just six months after announcing the rollout of the programme. The TTOS initiative was launched by the Department of Home Affairs in response to the ongoing visa challenges that have historically deterred tourists from countries with significant travel potential, such as China and India. The department said the first group of 65 successful tour operators from South Africa, China, and India, who were accepted in the first phase of the TTOS have been able to start making visa applications for individuals and groups. In 2023, South Africa welcomed only a mere 37 000 tourists from China and 79…

The government needs to deliver a Budget that will capacitate the state, unlock economic growth and create jobs when it returns to Parliament on March 12. While Wednesday’s events at Parliament were clumsy, it was better to stop a Budget that would have inflicted the pain of a 2% VAT hike upon the working class and allow space for more progressive alternatives. Cosatu is pleased that Cabinet showed the humility and political maturity to listen to its objections to a VAT hike. A little humble pie for government is never a bad thing, especially when workers have long been aggrieved that their voices have been ignored. With the exception of unacceptable proposal to hike VAT by 2% and a callous refusal to adjust the SRD Grant for inflation, the…

Harmony Gold on Friday confirmed the loss of an employee following a severe fall of ground caused by a seismic event at its Mponeng mine, near Carletonville. This incident underscores the inherent dangers linked with underground mining, an industry that has faced scrutiny over safety standards in recent years. The miner said all relevant authorities and stakeholders have been informed and an investigation, led by the Department of Mineral and Petroleum Resources (DMPR), has begun. Beyers Nel, Harmony Gold CEO, committed the company to zero harm. “The safety and wellbeing of our employees is, and will always be, our number one priority. This tragic loss of life is devastating. We extend our heartfelt condolences to his family and friends. “We are committed to zero harm, and yet recent events remind…

Sibanye-Stillwater slumped nearly 7% on the JSE on Friday despite narrowing down losses for the year to December although it opted not to pay a dividend, with adjusted earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation from its South African gold operations surpassing that from its platinum group metals (PGM) activities in the country. Market analyst Martin Rodgers said the gold and PGM company “dropped over 9% on their results” on Friday morning after profitability as expressed on an adjusted earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (Ebitda) basis “came in lower than analyst estimates and management decided to not pay” a final dividend. Sibanye-Stillwater’s shares on the JSE fell 6.96% to R15.90 by the close of Friday’s trade session, extending its 9.45% and 16.05% weaker run in the past seven…

The fate of the popular long-standing SABC2 telenovela, Muvhango remains uncertain. Viewers may have to say goodbye to their favourite Tshivenda soapie, which has kept them entertained for over two and a half decades, at the end of July, when its current contract with the SABC comes to an end. The public broadcaster has confirmed to Independent Media Lifestyle that only one season of the revamped soapie had been given to producer Duma Ndlovu of Word of Mouth Pictures. “The SABC can confirm that only one season of Muvhango is currently contracted and that the current contract is set to end on 31 July 2025. The SABC cannot comment on the future of the programme at this stage,” said Mmoni Ngubane, head of communications at SABC2. According to online…

In a significant breakthrough, Wits University management and the Students’ Representative Council (SRC) reached an agreement on Thursday regarding the historic debt challenges that have impacted numerous students. This development comes on the heels of a week-long hunger strike by two individuals advocating for students grappling with financial hardships. Wits communications officer Tiisang Monatisa said the meeting resolved that the university would extend the registration deadline to the close of business tomorrow. Monatisa stated that a joint task team established by the parties would consider the registration of undergraduate students with outstanding debt of less than R150 000. This is applicable only to academically deserving students with PCD and RET codes and is subject to approval by the task team and availability of resources, she emphasised. In addition, those qualifying…

With more than a year until the 2026 local government elections, the ANC in the Greater Johannesburg Region has announced the dates for its upcoming elective conference, with the event set to take place from June 20 to 22 this year. According to a statement released by the Regional Executive Committee (REC) after a special meeting recently, the conference will be preceded by a series of branch general meetings, which will take place from March 21 to May 15. The membership cut-off date has been set for March 20. Sources within the region have revealed that the elective conference is expected to be highly contested, with two candidates – current regional deputy secretary Loyiso Masuku, and present chairperson and City of Johannesburg mayor, Dada Morero – vying for the position…

The Special Investigative Unit (SIU) head, Advocate Andy Mothibi, has promised to look into the matter of businessman Tuwani Mathews Mulaudzi, who was acquitted of fraud, theft, money laundering, and racketeering charges in 2022. Mulaudzi’s assets, worth millions of rand and R105 million in cash, have been frozen since his acquittal. Mulaudzi, the executive chairperson of Luvhomba Group, had written to the SIU seeking their intervention in the matter. In response, Mothibi assured Mulaudzi that his case would be considered, copying Advocate Vanara, the SIU chief legal counsel, on the e-mail. “Thank you for your e-mail with the attached SCA order… I have copied Advocate Vanara who is the SIU Chief Legal Counsel. He will consider and revert to you,” Mothibi wrote in an email. Mulaudzi’s woes began in 2014…

Tragedy struck Sebokeng on Saturday morning when gunfire erupted at TK’s Tavern, commonly known as Sgureng, in Zone 10 – leaving five people injured and one dead. According to eyewitness Sello Theka, the suspect, along with his friends and girlfriend from the Golden Gardens area, arrived at Sgureng in the early hours of the morning. They sat down, enjoyed their drinks, and socialised before the tragic events unfolded. He said the suspect got into an argument with his girlfriend over a beer. When others tried to intervene, he was reprimanded and eventually chased away. Theka said a few moments later the suspect came back and was carrying four firearms, in both hands, the other two on his waist. He then started shooting randomly. “One of the people (the deceased) tried…

Kagiso Rabada believes the Proteas will need to have “their wits about them” when they face Australia in a crucial ICC Champions Trophy clash on Tuesday. Australia showcased their world-champion status over the weekend by chasing down a record 352 with five wickets and 15 balls to spare against arch-rivals England. The Proteas are equally full of confidence after their comprehensive victory over Afghanistan in the Group B opener in Karachi. However, Rabada knows the intensity will rise when these two great rivals meet in Rawalpindi. “Australia will be a different challenge—obviously a higher quality of batters, that’s pretty obvious,” Rabada said on Sunday. “We'll have to adjust to the conditions in Rawalpindi, so we'll take a good look at what the pitch will do in tomorrow's game. I think…

Willie le Roux has been called many things in his illustrious rugby career, but not always positive. There should be much more respect on his name, though, for everything he has achieved – not the least of which are 98 Test caps for the Springboks. Now in the late autumn of his time on the pitch at the age of 35, he has been asked to not only reinvent himself as a flyhalf, but pull the strings of a Bulls team missing three captains due to injury. Le Roux had a few hairy moments against the Stormers and Sharks in the last fortnight, but showed his class in conducting the Bulls orchestra in the 31-19 bonus-point victory over the Lions at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday. It was almost as if…

IQRAAM RAYNERS. LUCAS RIBEIRO. PETER SHALULE. These are the frontmen Mamelodi Sundowns are set to put out for their clash against Kaizer Chiefs. Rayners, Ribeiro and Shalulile are the deadliest trio in the Betway Premiership, having scored 24 goals of Sundowns’ 42 so far this season. And so given that they are set to ve unleashed for their league clash against Chiefs at home in Atteridgeville on Saturday, Amakhosi need to have their best rearguard. That seems to be a lot of ask and cause for concern for Chiefs and their fans as the team hasn’t been sound defensively this season after conceding 27 goals across 31 matches. To make things worse, they’ve already conceded four, unanswered, goals against Sundowns in the Carling Knockout last eight at home, FNB Stadium.…

South Africa is on course to exit the Financial Action Task Force’s (FATF) greylist by October after having addressed nearly all the deficiencies that were identified in the country’s financial security systems, National Treasury said Friday. To meet the final obligations that will enable South Africa to exit the greylist, the FATF wants South Africa to demonstrate “a sustained increase in investigations and prosecutions of serious and complex money laundering and the full range of TF (terrorist financing)” - these are usually the most demanding goals of every country’s systems. On Friday, the FATF announced the upgrade of four of the six outstanding action items for South Africa at the conclusion of its latest plenary meetings in Paris, France. South Africa was now deemed to have addressed or largely addressed…

Looking at South Africa’s macro outlook, consensus expectations are for GDP growth to come in between 1.5% and 2.0%. This would be a respectable improvement from the circa 1% growth the country has experienced over the past decade, being driven by improving confidence in the wake of a broad-based coalition government (fundamental policy differences amongst the major parties aside). As a result, optimistic expectations for businesses tied to the domestic economy appear reasonable, and most domestic assets have rerated meaningfully from what had been undemanding levels. South African listed property has been one of the major beneficiaries of this turn in sentiment. SA economic prospects compare favourably to Europe’s Juxtaposing SA’s growth expectations with those of advanced economies, where some JSE-listed property companies generate all their earnings (such as the…

As South Africa prepares for the unveiling of the revamped Consumer Price Index (CPI) on Wednesday, there is growing concern about the increasing costs of staple food items, particularly for the nation’s most vulnerable communities. The new basket reflects significant shifts that could have lasting implications for household budgets, especially in poorer areas. According to early insights released by Joe de Beer, deputy director-general for economic statistics in the Department of Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation, cereal products such as maize meal, white and brown bread, and white rice show the most considerable increase by weight. Expenditure on these essential food items has risen from 17.1% to 18.2% of total expenditures. While a 1.1% shift may seem minor, the nuanced impacts can be transformative for families already grappling with tight budgets.…

I ended 2024 with a busy schedule that was accompanied by an unending series of accolades from authorities in South Africa and Lesotho and institutions of higher learning. Kind of nice. This affirmation always compels one to look at the person in the mirror to seek balance. But I had a bitter moment that I had to endure. I took time to think it through and to come to conclusions that are not different from the time I decided that I would respond. As I worked on this in the passage of time, my initial commitment to respond, which I communicated with Pew Research Centre was affirmed. The Pew Research Centre is a non-partisan American think tank based in Washington, DC. It provides information on social issues, public opinion, and…

Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway, opens new tab on Saturday said operating profit set a record in the fourth quarter and for the third straight calendar year, bolstered by improved underwriting and higher investment income in its insurance businesses. Much of that income came from Berkshire’s enormous cash stake, which ended 2024 at a record $334.2 billion, twice as much as a year earlier. In his annual letter to Berkshire shareholders, the 94-year-old Buffett assured that Berkshire would prefer investing in businesses to holding cash. But he also said his Omaha, Nebraska-based conglomerate “did better than I expected,” though 53% of its 189 operating businesses posted lower earnings. He attributed the improvement in part to higher yields on U.S. Treasury bills, and improvement at the Geico car insurer, which benefited from…

Suits is one of my all-time favourite comfort shows. I rewatch it whenever I need to escape and I was delighted when it was announced that the renowned legal drama would be getting a sequel, Suits LA, almost six years since the original ended. As the spin-off is set to premiere on M-Net this week, I recently got the opportunity to watch the first few episodes, courtesy of NBC and Showmax. Like its predecessor, this brand-new offering from the original series creator, Aaron Korsh introduces viewers to the brilliant and ruthless lawyers who represent an elite clientele in the world of entertainment, sport and real estate. And as a fan of Suits and Harvey Specter (Gabriel Macht), the series’ leading man, I wondered how the new show would live up…

Loyiso Sidimba loyiso.sidimba@inl.co.za The City of Johannesburg has approved a new by-law to regulate privately-owned closed-circuit television (CCTV) surveillance in public spaces and private property and enforce their registration including drones, body cameras and automatic number plate recognition. The municipality explained that this is required as a mechanism to deter crime and prosecute perpetrators of crime and to ensure the safety and security of individuals and property in the City of Joburg while promoting the use of CCTV cameras. The by-law will be applicable to use for camera-related surveillance equipment including automatic number plate recognition, body-worn video or body cameras, unmanned aerial systems or drones, and other systems that capture information about identifiable individuals or information relating to individuals. In addition, the city may also determine tariffs, charges or surcharges…

Alarming findings on Eskom in Scopa briefing IN A damning virtual briefing to the Standing Committee on Public Accounts (Scopa) this week, the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) laid bare the extent of corruption, maladministration, and systemic failures at Eskom, South Africa’s embattled power utility. The revelations – which included collusion with state capture actors, procurement fraud and widespread conflicts of interest – have raised urgent questions about accountability and the recovery of billions of rand lost to corruption. The SIU’s investigation into the state-owned power utility has uncovered a labyrinth of corruption involving senior executives, employees and external vendors. According to advocate Andy Mothibi, the head of the SIU, the unit has identified 5 464 Eskom employees who failed to complete declaration of interest forms, with 334 employees found to…

As South Africa grapples with a severe healthcare crisis, the National Department of Health’s decision to spend R28 million on advertising the National Health Insurance (NHI) has drawn sharp criticism from the DA. The revelation was made in a parliamentary reply dated February 6, after DA spokesperson on health Michele Clarke asked Health Minister Dr Aaron Motsoaledi about the total amount spent on advertising the NHI from 2019/2020 to date. “From April 1, 2024, to date, the amount spent is R28 462 209.00,” Motsoaledi said. Motsoaledi said R77 790 588.80 spent during the 2019/20 financial year was addressed in a reply to Question: 964 on September 13, 2024, where it was noted that during 2022 the NHI allocation spent through Digital Vibes was meant for Covid-19 communication. This sum is…

The mayor of Tshwane, Dr Nasiphi Moya, has announced that the Pick n Pay store at the Blu Valley Centre in Centurion has been shut down due to non-compliance with health regulations. In a video posted on X, Moya said that no matter the size of the business, they all have to follow health guidelines. “We have said that we will not only be chasing spaza shops and small establishments because big establishments also have a responsibility to comply. From those who buy their baked products from Pick n Pay, this is how it is made,” she said showing baking tins with cockroaches. In the clip, the mayor is seen pointing at the bugs. “Just look at the dirtiness of this. It is not even the worst that we have…

A man who was sentenced to a fine of R500 or six months imprisonment for stealing shoe polish, had his jail term reduced to 30 days. A jail sentence of six months is too harsh for the offence of stealing two tins of shoe polish, a judge said in reducing the thief’s sentence to 30 days behind bars. Nhlakanipho Mtshali was earlier convicted by the Magistrate’s Court in Newcastle, KwaZulu-Natal after he pleaded guilty to stealing the shoe polish, valued at R170. The magistrate sentenced him to a fine of R500, or if he could not pay the fine, to spend six months in jail. The matter came under automatic review before the KwaZulu Natal-High Court, sitting in Pietermaritzburg. Judge Robin Mossop expressed his concern about the case – not…

Lions coach Ivan van Rooyen believes that Saturday’s Jukskei Derby against the Bulls in the United Rugby Championship was not lost in the opening 20-minute blitz by their neighbors. The Bulls won the match 31-19 at Loftus Versfeld after storming out of the blocks with three tries in 13 minutes, courtesy of Springbok speedster Canan Moodie, Willie le Roux, and Sebastian de Klerk. However, the Lions fought back, reducing the deficit to 17-14 at half-time through tries from Henco van Wyk and PJ Botha. Moodie and flank Marco van Staden added two more tries for the Bulls, securing them a bonus point. “We spoke about it the whole week. We knew they were going to be fired up,” Van Rooyen said after the match. “To allow them to get off…

Star batsman Virat Kohli struck an unbeaten 100 to lead India to a six-wicket win over arch-rivals Pakistan on Sunday and push the title holders to the brink of elimination from the Champions Trophy. Chasing 242 for victory, Kohli hit a boundary to seal the match with 45 balls to spare and register his 51st ODI ton after an innings which also saw him pass 14 000 runs in one-day international cricket. Kohli, 36, removed his helmet and raised his bat to the Dubai International Stadium crowd after taking India closer to the semi-finals with two wins in two outings in Group A. Pakistan have lost both their matches and will need Bangladesh to beat New Zealand on Monday to have any chance of staying in contention for a last-four…

Winning only one game away from home in the United Rugby Championship (URC) could come back to haunt the Stormers if they can't change that statistic, starting with the trip to Loftus Versfeld this weekend. From their four wins in 11 matches so far, three were at home in Cape Town, while five of the seven losses came on the road, which started with another poor display in the United Kingdom in the opening away games. Generally not a good touring side, the inaugural URC champions have it all to do over the next few matches where the DHL Stadium under Table Mountain won't be their ally. After successive losses to the Bulls and Lions, their campaign won't get any easier as they head to Loftus Versfeld for the return…

Efforts must be made to ensure that the benefits of growth are equitably distributed across society The World Bank Group has called on the South African government to enhance the efficiency of public spending to facilitate high-quality and affordable infrastructure services, a move essential for driving inclusive economic growth. This call comes in light of Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana’s recent decision to postpone the tabling of the 2025 Budget Review in Parliament to allow for further consultations over proposed tax increases, including a potential two-percentage-point rise in value-added tax (VAT) due to persistent spending pressures. In a forthcoming report, titled “Driving Inclusive Growth in South Africa: Quick Wins with Competitive Markets and Efficient Institutions,” the World Bank emphasises that recent political and economic shifts present a pivotal opportunity for policymakers.…

Through a three-step dance, Steinhoff and related companies managed to fudge the purchase and sale price of a group of furniture companies and related properties. This process allowed Steinhoff to reduce the value of receivables that it created for “various business reasons” as well as use the rationale of commission on the sale of the properties to manipulate money flows. One of the accounting techniques Steinhoff used before it imploded to manipulate its accounts included selling technical “know how,” or expertise from one Steinhoff entity to another, when this knowledge was without economic value. In the case of the kika Leiner property companies, a lengthy PwC investigation lays bare how Steinhoff moved money around to balance its books and to appear to comply with German regulations. The three-step process started…

The news that the National Budget that could not be presented by the Minister of Finance last Wednesday brought much controversy amongst politicians, economists, market analysts and investors during the latter part of last week. The Rand exchange rate, bond rates and share prices on the JSE initially reacted in a sceptical and negative manner after the announcement by the speaker of parliament that the Budget Speech would not be read and was postponed. The JSE All Share Index (ALSI) quickly lost 0.8% of its value and the Rand depreciated by 20c against the dollar. As the main reason for the postponement became clear — that the 2.0% increase in VAT was not acceptable to opposition parties and even members of the ANC — sentiment started to turn positive as…

Shares in Altvest Capital, a JSE-listed investment firm, plunged after it announced it has made its first foray into cryptocurrency, acquiring Bitcoin as part of its treasury strategy. The shares closed 9.23% lower at R5.90 on Friday on the JSE. According to a Stock Exchange News Service (SENS) announcement released on Friday, Altvest, through its subsidiary Altvest Bitcoin Strategies Proprietary Limited, purchased 1.00464 Bitcoin for R 1.81 million. The Board of Altvest said it has conducted a comprehensive risk assessment and determined that Bitcoin aligns with Altvest’s alternative asset investment philosophy. “It offers long-term growth potential while serving as a hedge against macroeconomic risks, particularly the depreciation of the South African Rand. Additionally, Altvest has implemented a structured risk management framework to monitor and optimise Bitcoin exposure in line…

Dis-Chem Pharmacies increased group revenue by 7.2% in the five months to January 31, 2025, and the recovery in retail that was seen in January continued into February. "The retail revenue recovery seen in January, largely driven by the availability of medical aid benefits, continues into February, countering weaker November trade," chief executive Rui Morais said in a trading update on Friday. Group revenue increased by 7.2% during the period, with retail revenue rising by 5.6% and wholesale revenue increasing by 11.1%. External wholesale revenue saw a significant increase of 18.8%. Morais noted that efforts to better manage retail employment costs, the group's largest expense, are ongoing. The group now operates 333 retail stores, including 286 Dis-Chem Pharmacy stores and 47 Dis-Chem Baby City stores in South Africa. “These incremental…

A DISGRUNTLED North West ANC member is set to square off against the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) over its decision to decline to prosecute Deputy President Paul Mashatile for fraud, forgery and perjury. ANC member Sello Molefe, through his legal representatives Zisiwe Attorneys, informed North West Director of Public Prosecutions Dr Rachel Makhari that he intends to institute legal proceedings against the NPA to review and set aside her decision. In November last year, Makhari wrote to Molefe informing him of the NPA’s decision to “decline to prosecute the suspect Mr SP (Shipokosa Paulus) Mashatile on the available evidence”. Makhari said: “Kindly take note that after careful consideration of the facts of the case and having consulted with the investigating officer, I am of the view that there are no…

The newly appointed board of the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) has vowed that those who have been involved in corruption activities and maladministration would be brought to book. The board said it has been instructed and mandated to clean the system after it was appointed following an announcement by the Minister of Higher Education and Training, Dr Nobuhle Nkabane. The department said the appointment underpins Nkabane’s unwavering commitment to ensuring that the financial scheme is led by highly qualified individuals with the expertise necessary to drive efficiency, accountability and transparency. In recent years, NSFAS has faced many challenges, including unpaid loans from graduates, reduced funding for current students, and an ongoing corruption crisis. The challenges resulted in the institution being placed under administration and the dissolution of the…

Former Finance ministers Nhlanhla Nene and Malusi Gigaba have shed light on the unique political factors that contributed to the postponement of the national Budget. On Wednesday, Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana was forced to delay the announcement of the national Budget until March 12 after the cabinet failed to agree on the measures he had proposed. National Assembly speaker Thoko Didiza said the lack of consensus may have been linked to the two percentage point increase in VAT which Godongwana was expected to announce. Gigaba said the postponement of the budget was an unprecedented situation. “The international markets and ratings agencies would have been watching carefully how the first Government of National Unity’s budget was going to look. The postponement is a blow,” he said. Gigaba said his understanding from…

Recent catastrophic flooding across South Africa has brought the issue of disaster management to the forefront. AfriForum said it long ago warned about the poor maintenance of stormwater drainage systems in towns and surrounding areas, the importance of risk assessment in preparation for floods and municipalities’ negligence in securing vulnerable areas on time against floods and heavy rain. However, this came down to having an effective disaster management plan, emphasises AfriForum. AfriForum disaster management specialist Tarien Cooks said the inability of municipalities to effectively implement disaster management was once again strongly highlighted in the past week’s heavy rain in the north of the country where numerous roads were washed away and people were trapped or had to be rescued – all while local authorities remained slow, disorganised and often completely…

The Students’ Representative Council (SRC) at the University of Cape Town (UCT), and the UCT EFF Student Command (EFFSC) have welcomed the Council’s approval of a joint proposal aimed at dealing with student debt. The plan was tabled by the executive and the SRC, and is aimed at addressing 2024 fee debt issues affecting financially vulnerable students. Chair of UCT Council, Norman Arendse (SC) announced that the decision was taken at a special Council meeting held on Thursday. “The proposal submitted by the executive and SRC was the outcome of a collaborative effort aimed at balancing the need to ensure that the university caters for financially vulnerable students who are also academically eligible, but whose debt exceeds the R10 000 threshold. It also sought to ensure that the university remains…

Jose Riveiro is a realistic coach. As such, he knows games in hand are not points guaranteed, hence he wishes they were on the same league games as most teams. Pirates have been tipped to knock Mamelodi Sundowns off their perch, and win the Betway Premiership this season, ending a 13-year wait. But such has been the roller-coaster of their schedule in the league, Pirates have had to deal with the postponement of some matches. These include against Royal AM whose matches have been suspended indefinitely due to the club’s curatorship by SARS. Their last postponed game was against Golden Arrows last Wednesday due to severe rains which poured in KwaZulu resulting in the Mpumalanga Stadium being waterlogged. Meanwhile, the Brazilians haven’t had such concerns, which they've capitalised on as…

GAVIN Hunt was nonchalant about it all. Deep in the bowels of this Atteridgeville venue — named after one of South Africa’s greatest exponents of the game, the late Lucas "Masterpieces" Moripe — Hunt accepted the fate that had befallen him on the occasion of his milestone 1 000th match as an elite coach. SuperSport United’s Betway Premiership clash against Arrows was abandoned prior to the start of the second half after load-shedding plunged the venue into darkness. Match referee Siyabulela Qunta blasted his whistle to signal the abandonment at a time when he should have been blowing for the restart. Incredibly, just three minutes later, the lights came back on while both teams were still in the dressing rooms. However, SuperSport United officials' pleas to match commissioner Lebogang Daniels…

After the sting of defeat against TS Galaxy earlier this month, Mamelodi Sundowns came back with vengeance and delivered sweet revenge against the Rockets at the Lucas Masterpieces Moripe Stadium on Saturday. Sundowns cruised to a 4-1 victory over TS Galaxy, restoring their 12-point lead over Orlando Pirates. Barely a fortnight ago, the two sides clashed with Adnan Beganovic’s troops producing their most impressive performance with a shock 1-0 win over the defending champions. However, as the battle lines were redrawn this past weekend, the home side was determined to set the record straight, delivering an emphatic performance that was effectively sealed by the 48th minute. Goals from Peter Shalulile, Iqraam Rayners, and Jayden Adams cancelled out Sphiwe Mahlangu’s tenth-minute strike, giving the home side a commanding 3-1 lead at…

Newcastle blew Nottingham Forest away with four goals in 11 minutes as Alexander Isak's double inspired a vital 4-3 win in the race to finish in the Premier League's top four. Eddie Howe's side recovered from Callum Hudson-Odoi's early opener to run riot with a first half goal spree at St James' Park on Sunday. Lewis Miley bagged Newcastle's equaliser, sparking an astonishing spell of dominance as Jacob Murphy put the hosts ahead. Isak netted twice in less than two minutes to reach 50 Premier League goals and leave Forest in tatters. The Sweden striker has 19 league goals this season, taking him level with Manchester City's Erling Haaland in second place behind Liverpool's Mohamed Salah in this season's scoring chart. Nikola Milenkovic and Ryan Yates scored for Forest in…