Table of contents for 2023-08-22 in Star

Curro marked 25 years of commitment towards its independent schools with a strong financial performance in the first half of its 2023 year – recurring headline earnings surged 34% to R203 million. CEO Cobus Loubser said: “Reaching a quarter-century is a significant achievement. These positive numbers are a testament to Curro’s dedication to imparting quality education over the years.” The average number of learners increased 3% in the period, bringing the count to 72 385. This contributed to a 16% revenue increase to R2.4 billion, up from R2.1bn in the first half of last year. Operational expenses were up about 15%, of which just over 1.5% comprised expenses for alternative energy generation such as diesel generators and maintenance, Loubser said in a telephone interview. Employee costs rose 11%…

CUMESH Moodliar has been appointed as the next CEO of Investec Bank. In a statement yesterday, the firm said its board had begun the next stage of its approved executive succession plan. It had previously announced that its current CEO, Richard Wainwright, would step down in 2024 and that it was seeking a successor to fill the role. Cumesh would take the leadership reins on April 1, 2024. Wainwright would at that time remain an executive of Investec Limited until his planned retirement in 2025. Cumesh has been with Investec since 2012 in a number of roles, including regional head of the Private Bank in the Eastern Cape, national banking head, head of the Private Bank and more recently the head of the Private Client Franchise. Fani Titi, Investec Group…

THUNGELA Resources’s interim dividend plunged to R10 from R60 a share after lower coal prices and problems with the freight rail system resulted in much lower profits at South Africa’s biggest exporter of coal for power stations. Profit of R3 billion was well down from R9.6bn at the same time a year before, following a significant decrease from record thermal coal prices a year before. In that year, coal prices had been buoyed by an energy crisis in Europe with the start of Russia’s war with Ukraine, while seaborne coal prices fell sharply this year as European buying slowed on the back of record coal and gas stock levels coming out of a milder winter. “This resulted in the redirection of coal volumes to Asian markets, which also showed…

In future, we will look back at the BRICS gathering in South Africa as something that changed the world. Its impact will depend on some of the key issues that will be discussed and implemented. Implementation of some of the things that are already in BRICS could also make a significant impact if they were to be implemented across member nations. Consider what has been done already by some of the countries in the technology sector. Firstly, China has the capability to disrupt the technological world order. Its technological infrastructure is not reliant on the West. To some extent, the Chinese approach to technology has yielded economic benefits and returns that are threatening those who have been technology leaders for years. In China, it is possible to be online without…

In recent times, an increasingly re- sounding chorus of voices from nations across the globe, particularly those from the Global South, has been advocating for a shift away from their traditional reliance on the US dollar for international trade. The mounting sentiment has been amplified by the disruptive economic consequences stemming from sanc- tions imposed on Russia, which led to its expulsion from dollar-centric trading systems like Swift. Within the dialogue, a prominent suggestion has been to formulate an alternative single currency for the BRICS. Supporters of the idea include business and political leaders in the bloc. “I am in favour of creating, within the BRICS, a trading currency between our countries, just like the Europeans created the euro,” said Brazilian Presi- dent Lula da Silva during a speech in…

THE SOUTH African rand would take the biggest knock from a sudden shift to a BRICS common currency as the bulk of its trade is with the West. This was according to William Gumede, an associate professor from the School of Governance at the University of the Witwatersrand, speaking at a webinar held yesterday titled, “A new BRICS currency? De- dollarisation”. He said the differing scales of foreign reserves of the BRICS member countries did not support the current sentiments for a common currency. He said South Africa’s Achilles heel was the weakest growth among the bloc members and the rapid de-industrialisation faced by the economy. “We are losing growth very fast. The BRICS countries do not hold each other’s currencies, but prefer ‘safe’ currencies. In the peak of…

Doja Cat feels “free” after losing almost 200 000 Instagram followers. The 27-year-old rapper recently experienced a backlash from fans after she criticised her supporters for dubbing themselves “kittenz”, but she's not upset after a reported 200 000 removed her from their social media pages as she described the situation as having “defeated a large beast”. She wrote on her Instagram Story: “Seeing all these people unfollow me makes me feel like I’ve defeated a large beast that’s been holding me down for so long and it feels like I can reconnect with the people who really matter and love me for who I am and not for who I was. I feel free.” Doja – whose real name is Amala Dlamini – incurred the wrath of…

THE controversial IPHC (International Pentecostal Holiness Church) Jerusalem faction leader Michael Sandlana is not returning to the church’s Silo headquarters in the west of Johannesburg. The fraud and corruption accused bishop, who is still facing charges in the Gauteng High Court, Pretoria, had previously said, through his spokesperson Vusi Ndala that he was returning to the church’s glorious seat of power. Sandlana, who for a long time claimed to be the son of the church’s deceased leader MG Sandlana, had his wings plucked when Modise’s biological sons Leonard and Tshepiso united against him. The Modise brothers said Sandlana was an imposter who was maliciously trying to get his hands on their father’s more than R200 million estate. Sandlana rose to church fame when MG Modise died and he (Sandlana) sought…

Minister of Police General Bheki Cele and SAPS National Commissioner General Fannie Masemola yesterday delivered their last message to members of the police and other law-enforcement agencies, including the SANDF and Metro, before the 15th BRICS Summit set to get under way in Sandton later today. It is not yet clear how many police officers have been deployed to ensure the safety of the more than 5 000 people expected to attend the summit at the Sandton Convention Centre starting today and ending on Thursday. The SANDF has deployed troops to form part of the security detail for the summit. The summit is expected to be attended by over 40 heads of state, scores of government representatives as well as local and international dignitaries and delegates. “We are not scared,…

Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi says load shedding will end next year. The government was also committed to getting areas such as Dobsonville, Slovoville and Diepkloof in Soweto that do not have electricity connected by January 2024, he said. “We have committed ourselves that by January 1, 2024 these communities will be connected. “We will do everything within our powers to replace the transformers … and the substations that blew and that the cables that were stolen are replaced come January,” said Lesufi. “We also commit that the power stations that are non-functional or were closed, we have two in Johannesburg, one in Ekurhuleni and another one in Tshwane, we are moving at speed to make sure they join the main grid and are repaired by the end of January next…

Classic car enthusiasts and petrol heads have been invited to register to participate in next month’s rare German classics car collector auction. Billed as “South Africa’s biggest classic car sale of the year”, the auction is scheduled for the weekend of September 23 in Johannesburg. Creative Rides Classic and Collectible Auctions chief executive Kevin Derrick said they expect to have 170 cars on the block, and these will include 54 rare and in-demand German classics, ranging from Porsches, Mercedes-Benzes and BMWs to Volkswagens. Derrick said: “Some German models are so rare that the chances of them appearing on the market again anytime soon are slim to none.” Some examples of the cars set for September’s auction are the BMW Z3 M Coupé (hard top), of which only 831 right-hand drives…

YOUNG women are seizing the initiative and making strides in Mpumalanga’s tourism and hospitality industry. And one of them has even discovered an entrepreneurial streak – defying the odds stacked against them in an area where youth unemployment soars as high as 65%. Thanks to hard work, determination and sheer grit, Lwazi Thobela, Vutivi Mthimkhulu and Mampho Makofane have shrugged off the more difficult circumstances that often come with living in rural villages to become active participants in the burgeoning wildlife economy in and around the Kruger National Park. The luxury and comfort of the Kruger Shalati private lodge – which straddles the Sabie River in Skukuza and offers converted train carriage accommodation on its distinctive Train on the Bridge – is a far cry from the humble streets of…

As World Mosquito Day is observed on August 20, the National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD) has honoured the day with three important mosquito-related facts concerning malaria. 1. A dangerous new mosquito invader The NICD said that anopheles mosquitoes, the vectors of malaria, rarely move into new areas. Recently, however, Anopheles stephensi, a malaria vector native to Asia and the Arabian Peninsula, has invaded parts of Africa and is spreading fast. “This mosquito is particularly difficult to control as it breeds in rural and urban areas, is active outdoors, and is resistant to many insecticides. This species has not been detected in southern Africa, but if it reaches this region, it will make malaria control and elimination even more challenging,” the NICD said. 2. The complex effect of climate change…

Ingredients 200g plain extra-firm tofu, cubed 1 tbs coconut oil 1 onion, peeled and finely sliced 2 cloves of garlic, crushed 1 piece of ginger, peeled and finely chopped 2 tbs Thai green curry paste 200g baby spinach, washed 1 cup hot vegetable stock 1 x 400g tin coconut milk 200g baby broccoli 100g mangetout, thinly sliced 100g mung bean sprouts 1 sweet potato, peeled, finely cubed 2 tsp soy sauce, to taste 1 tsp brown sugar Lime to taste 2 tbs pomegranate seeds, to garnish ¼ cup toasted peanuts, chopped and for garnish Handful of coriander, for garnish Steamed jasmine rice, to serve Method Heat the coconut oil in a heavy-based pot and gently fry the onions, garlic and ginger until translucent. Add the Thai curry paste and tofu…

THE DEVELOPMENT bank founded by the BRICS countries is planning to issue its first Indian rupee bond by October, its chief operating officer said yesterday as the lender comes under pressure to raise and lend more in local currencies. The New Development Bank (NDB) issued its first rand bond in South Africa last week and could consider local currency issuance in fellow members Brazil and Russia, and the United Arab Emirates, Vladimir Kazbekov told a press briefing ahead of the BRICS summit in Johannesburg. “We’re going to tap (the) Indian market – rupees – maybe by October in India,” Kazbekov said. “Now we start thinking seriously … to use one member country’s currency to finance projects with that currency in another member; let’s say, a project in South Africa to…

ABSA YESTERDAY unveiled new bank card designs created in collaboration with its banking clients, as part of its strategy to enhance its value-for-money proposition. The move comes roughly five years after Absa, formerly Barclays Africa Group, launched a new visual identity as it separated from the international Barclays group to form a standalone African bank with global scalability. This as the lender also launched the first-of-its-kind augmented reality card game Card Quest, through which existing and non-Absa customers are offered prizes and giveaways with incentives for transactional and credit card account take up. The bank described the game as similar to the Japanese game Pokémon; one can scan a QR Code to get details of how to play. Absa hopes to appeal to the youth and target the element…

In the age of social media, new avenues for self-expression and communication have emerged, reshaping the landscape of mental health discussions. An unlikely intersection of modern technology and psychology is occurring on TikTok, where individuals with dissociative identity disorder (DID) have found a platform to share their experiences with the world. However, this newfound visibility has raised concerns among clinicians and researchers, leading to heated debates about authenticity, self-diagnosis, and the evolving presentation of mental health conditions online. DID, previously known as multiple personality disorder, is characterised by distinct and separate states of consciousness within a single individual, often stemming from traumatic childhood experiences. While academics have long debated the existence of the disorder, TikTok has now brought this discussion to the forefront. Dr Matthew A Robinson, a clinician and…

City of Joburg council speaker Colleen Makhubele has slammed the country’s justice system for granting bail to Andries Hendrik Booysen, the 51-year-old man accused of assaulting the 13-year-old Crowthorne Christian Academy learner last Monday, pushing her out of the classroom. Makhubele, who visited the family of the learner, said that last Monday’s racial incident, which went viral after it was posted by the learner’s older sister, was not the first such incident at the embattled school. “I was informed this was the third such incident. It was through the video posted by the learner’s older sister that the incident went viral, which is why it has become such an important matter. If it was not for the bravery of this young woman, we would not have known about the latest…

President Cyril Ramaphosa says being a member of BRICS has created opportunities for the country, further enabling it to have a strategic relationship with China. Ramaphosa addressed the nation on Sunday in the run-up to the much-anticipated 15th BRICS summit at the Sandton Convention Centre. The summit is also expected to discuss crucial issues such as the expansion of the membership of BRICS. Forty heads of state, scores of government representatives, as well as local and international dignitaries and summit delegates, are expected. In his address, Ramaphosa said South Africa had benefited from the New Development Bank, established by BRICS in 2015. “Our country has been funded by the bank in several infrastructure projects to the value of R100 billion in sectors such as roads, water and energy,” he said.…

Ingredients: Glug of olive oil 1 to 2 brinjals, cut into cubes 2 spring onions, sliced 1 red chilli, chopped 2 tsp crushed garlic and ginger 1 each red, green and yellow peppers, sliced ½ punnet cut into thin matchsticks ¼ head each red and green cabbage, shredded 1 packet baby marrow spaghetti Salt and milled pepper 1 sachet soy, honey & ginger stir fry sauce 1 packet smoked pork belly bites, cooked according to package instructions For serving: Crunchy mixed sprouts Toasted cashew nuts Handful fresh coriander Lime wedges Method: Heat oil in a wok (or a large pan) until almost smoking. Stir-fry brinjals, spring onions and chilli for about five minutes. Add crushed garlic and ginger and fry for another minute, or until fragrant. Remove and set…

SVA Electronics, one of the biggest electronics manufacturing companies at Ga-Rankuwa Zone 14 industrial site, went up in flames on Sunday night. Tshwane’s Emergency Services Department spokesperson Charles Mabaso said the fire at the factory was reported at approximately 6.37pm. “Emergency Services arrived at the scene to find multiple plants or units of the factory on fire. Firefighters started fighting the blaze while also moving multiple bags and drums of flammable materials to safety,” Mabaso said. He said two water tankers and an aerial ladder truck were dispatched to assist the two fire engines at the scene. “Water tankers had to shuttle water to fight the blaze because of the absence of fire hydrants nearby,” he said. Mabaso said about 20 units or plants of the factory had been burnt…

Polycystic ovary syndrome (sometimes called polycystic ovarian disorder) is one of the most common endocrine and metabolic disorders in South African women of childbearing age. Experts said it is commonly overlooked and, unfortunately, misunderstood. Approximately 15% to 20% of women (one in seven women) will have the condition. Polycystic ovarian disorder includes an imbalance of many female hormones and other hormones, and is part of a complex multisystem illness that has genetic and environmental components. Women will often present to doctors scant to no periods or with difficulty falling pregnant. Women with polycystic ovarian disorder will have minimal ovulation (oligo-ovulation) to no ovulation (anovulation). There is poor maturation of the growing egg, and it is not released, preventing conception. The dietician and founder of Newtricion Wellness Dieticians, Omy Naidoo,…

The Financial Sector Conduct Authority (FSCA) says over the last six weeks members of the public have been targeted and defrauded by an as yet unidentified criminal syndicate claiming to be associated with at least three financial services providers. The FSCA raised the red flag on the syndicate and what they termed “a fraudulent and malicious entity or individuals”, who have been targeting the public through WhatsApp and in one case, Instagram. The FSCA urged “anyone transferring money to bank accounts to be extremely cautious and always obtain proof that the bank account they are dealing with is registered in the name of the entity which it claims to belong to”. The warning came after the three companies – Anchor Capital, Aluma Capital and Emperor Asset Management – separately…

Manchester United forward Mason Greenwood will leave Old Trafford, the Premier League club said yesterday following an investigation into allegations of attempted rape of which he was cleared. Greenwood, who was suspended by United in January 2022 when accusations against him surfaced on social media, was charged with attempted rape, controlling behaviour and assault last October. He had been due to stand trial on November 27 last year but all criminal charges against him were dropped in February. United said their investigation began once charges were dropped, adding that they had taken into account “the wishes, rights and perspective of the alleged victim along with the club’s standards and values”. "Based on the evidence available to us, we have concluded that the material posted online did not provide a full…

Scheduled in a far-flung time-zone and carrying eight extra teams, the ninth Women’s World Cup kicked off in Australia and New Zealand a month ago with some doubts it could deliver on lofty ambitions. Those concerns eased well before Sunday’s final where Spain were crowned first-time champions by beating England 1-0 at a packed Stadium Australia in Sydney. Less than a year after a player revolt tore the Spanish squad apart, La Roja’s triumph was only one of the surprises for record crowds and TV audiences through the month-long festival of women’s football. Fears the first 32-team Women’s World Cup might suffer for its size proved groundless, as did predictions of another processional victory for the US. Sunday’s final was the first without either the US or Germany involved,…

THE INDUSTRIAL Development Corporation (IDC) and Bank of China (BoC) have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to strengthen regional trade and investment as South Africa made a strong case for investing in the manufacturing of green energy components in the country. As part of the MoU, the IDC and BOC are in the process of concluding a R10 billion funding package for tangible projects spread across energy, infrastructure, manufacturing, agriculture and mining sectors over five years. The forum was focused on issues related to funding mechanisms to support industrial value chain, enab- ling greener manufacturing, building a resilient industrial value chain and regional manufacturing hub in South Africa, and green industrialisation Speaking during the manufacturing forum at the BRICS Business Council yesterday, Trade, Industry and Competition Minister Ebrahim…

Jubilee Metals Group is on an ex- citing growth path in South Africa and Zambia after completing de- velopment work for the design of its copper tailings processing solution, CEO Leon Coetzer said yesterday. The diversified metals processor in Africa said yesterday the upgrade and commissioning of a brownfield chrome processing facility on the western limb of the Bushveld Complex has been completed and reached targeted output. The company provided an update of its chrome joint venture expansion project in South Africa and of its Roan Concentrator in Zambia yesterday. Notably, it announced that ad- vanced discussions were under way for its next partnership agreement targeting an additional 600 000 tons a year processing capacity. The existing long-term chrome processing partnership provides potential for additional chrome…

THE 2020 Phala Phala robbery aka Cyril Ramaphosa’s farm burglary or Farmgate Scandal was front page news in South Africa, and made it into the international press too. The now infamous incident which occurred on February 9, 2020, saw an indeterminate amount of cash – US dollars – being stolen from the Presi- dent’s private farm near Bela Bela in the Limpopo province. At this time, the rand was trading at R14.91 to the US dollar (USD). In July 2019, the rand traded at R13.91 to the USD. At the current rate (2023) of R19.09 to the US dollar, there has been an appreciation of 28% in favour of the US currency. The amount the President should have received for selling his buffalo at the time of the transaction had…

Humans are pretty adaptable – well in most cases. Especially in the innovative and fast changing world of technology, humans proved themselves to be very adaptable. Just think of the various industrial revolutions and how we adapted from an agrarian to an urban and mechanised life; electricity and mass production; computers, the internet, automation and nuclear energy; artificial intelligence (AI), Internet of things (IoT), and robotics; and eventually human-machine collaboration. Even on a more personal level the quick integration into the daily lives of people of the telephone, motor car, radio, television, personal computers, mobile phones, the internet, and smart phones, is remarkable. Interesting is that the pace of the adoption is accelerating – from 46 years for electricity to achieve a penetration rate of 25%; 35 years for…

RMH WITHDREW a cautionary notice yesterday after it said terms had been concluded for Atterbury Property Holdings (APH) to repay a disputed loan that dates back to 2016. “All the legal proceedings have been withdrawn and the dispute resolved,” it said. Shareholders were advised that RMH, RMH Asset Holding Company (RMHAH) and APH (collectively, the parties) had entered into an agreement regarding the dispute over the repayment terms of the R487 million loan facility between RMHAH as lender and APH as borrower, it said. The market has been closely watch- ing for the latest developments on this amid shareholder concern that APH might not be able to repay the loan. This was exacerbated by a private conversation between RMH’s CEO Brian Roberts and CFO Ellen Marais, which was mistakenly…

Tupac Shakur’s suspected murderer is said to be facing “imminent charges” after the gangster boasted in a book he killed the rapper. Las Vegas homicide detectives are reportedly “optimistic” they have built enough evidence against Compton Crip gang leader Keefe D, 60, to finally close the Tupac case almost 27 years after the rap icon was fatally wounded and died six days after being shot four times on the Las Vegas strip aged 25 on September 7, 1996. Insiders told The US Sun on Friday that “leading officers, with the backing of the district attorney”, have “allegedly built a strong case against Keefe D”, who previously confessed to helping hunt down and assassinate Tupac. The district attorney’s office is due to present their case to a Las Vegas grand jury,…

The month of August has been a hub of activities focused on women, and Muvhango has also joined the chain in the spirit of celebrating Women’s Month. The popular drama series revealed that Susan and Shaz are set to host a Women’s Month celebration event to acknowledge and celebrate women who work tirelessly to change lives and contribute to the betterment of the community. In a statement shared with The Star, it is further revealed that the series wants viewers to acknowledge the daily struggles women go through in different corners of life. “The event takes place in Waterside, and the guests of honour are the matriarchs of the Royal House, Gugu and Imani, former Miss SA Shudufhadzo Musida, and Phalaphala FM producer and jazz singer Hulisani Muloiwa Phosiwa. These…

The imprisonment of former Pakistani leader Imran Khan will disqualify him from politics and thereby drive Pakistan back into authoritarian rule. Pakistan, literally meaning a “land of noble or pure people”, is a country where two families and the army have mainly dominated the political system. Regrettably, the Pakistani army generals and other authorities’ vendetta against Khan and his populist PTI (Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf) party might bring an end to Khan and his party’s political ambitions. The extent to which these powers have gone with their hate campaign against Khan conveys that they are not alone in this disgusting scheme. Perhaps, the promised benefits that they will receive from their funders and handlers allow them to take such risks. According to many analysts and political commentators, the US administration does not…

The Gauteng High Court in Johannesburg on Friday sentenced a 29-year-old man to 25 years imprisonment for the pre-mediated murder of Mbali Hlongwane after an argument over a WhatsApp status and exam marks. National Prosecuting Authority spokesperson Phindi Mjonondwane said Ntsikelelo Saki and Hlongwane were both students at the Ekurhuleni West College campus in Katlehong. According to Mjonondwane, Saki accused Hlongwane of taking a video of him urinating at a tavern and uploading it on WhatsApp. “An argument ensued between them. The accused and deceased also had another argument concerning qualifying for writing an exam. “The deceased was happy that she qualified and told the members of the WhatsApp group, and those who qualified became excited. Saki wrote on the WhatsApp group that they should not be joyful as…

Abraham Lincoln once said democracy is “a government of the people, by the people, and for the people”. But how can people participate in the government without a free media? The role of a free media in our constitutional democracy is often underestimated. It can either strengthen our democracy or weaken it, and when it is weakened, leaders have the freedom and power to do as they please without being held to account. The media has been essential. Without the media, many court cases would end up in bulky bound books in lawyers’ offices and judges’ chambers. These are the books behind lawyers and judges in interviews and photographs. There is a principle in law that cases must set an example for decisions to be taken by judges in the…

Proteas fast bowler Kagiso Rabada is turning his vision of unearthing fast bowling talent across South Africa into reality as KGR Sport hosted their first fast bowling academy event at the Wanderers over the weekend. From the moment Rabada shot through the ranks under Geoffrey Toyana at the Lions, there were no questions or doubts about his talent. From getting a T20 International debut in 2014, to becoming a fully fledged all-format player in 2015 at only 20, Rabada knows how to turn talent and potential into a successful career. The 28-year-old Rabada told Independent Media that his vision motivated him into setting up his own academy. “What motivated me was the vision to unearth and inspire fast bowling talent across the country and see how far we can go…

It is just as well that Brad Binder has extended his contract with Red Bull KTM until the end of 2026, because it is quite clear that although they have made major strides together, there is still a lot of work to do. Binder claimed a workmanlike podium in Austria on Sunday that saw him finish comfortably second. But as error-free as his ride was, Binder & Co had no answers for the imperious victory of defending champion Francesco Bagnaia. When the Ducati rider pulled the trigger midway through the race, he smoked Binder and the rest of the field, winning his fifth Grand Prix of the season by more than five seconds. There is no doubt that Binder and KTM should be well-pleased with their current form, but the…

Manchester United’s hopes of a first Premier League title for a decade have been dented just a week into the new campaign by an alarming 2-0 defeat at Tottenham Hotspur. New-look Chelsea also suffered a reality check as British record signing Moises Caicedo’s debut ended in a 3-1 defeat to West Ham United. By contrast, Pep Guardiola said Manchester City showed the mentality of champions to beat Newcastle United 1-0 despite a demanding week that saw the treble winners add the Uefa Super Cup to their trophy haul. Here, we look at three talking points from the second weekend of the season. New season, same problems for Red Devils United got away with one last Monday as Wolverhampton Wanderers dominated at Old Trafford only to lose 1-0, in part thanks…