Table of contents for 2023-10-02 in Star

MINISTER of Electricity Dr Kgosien- tsho Ramokgopa has warned that partial load losses remain the most significant threat in Eskom’s battle against rotational power cuts, in spite of succeeding in suspending load shedding for two consecutive days. Partial load losses are when generation units run at below optimal levels usually as a result of a fault that requires the unit to be run at lower speed, or load, either because the fault results in the unit being unable to run at higher load, or because running the unit at full load with the fault could result in the unit breaking down. Ramokgopa yesterday said partial load losses were the main challenge that Eskom was facing now as it was making small gains in other spheres of generation capacity. “An area…

RENERGEN, the JSE-listed company operating South Africa’s first onshore helium and liquefied natural gas (LNG) field, said LNG production increased by a substantial 88% to 1 564 tons in the second quarter over the same period last year. “We have seen consistent production increases quarter-on-quarter,” CEO Stefano Marani said in a quarterly update on Friday. The share price closed 1.45% lower at R17 on the JSE on Friday after the release of the update. Year-on-year, the price has increased 40% as production starts to ramp up at the company. The big second-quarter LNG in- crease was attributed to fewer plant interruptions and breakdowns, as was typically experienced when commissioning a new facility. “We expect this rate of production to remain stable until the next jump in production as…

THE CLOCK is ticking. Humanity has less than five years to prevent irreversible global temperature increases beyond 1.5°C, a point of no return, as illustrated by the Climate Clock in New York’s Union Square. In 2023, alarm bells are ringing louder as we grapple with record-breaking temperatures and unprecedented flooding in many parts of the globe. As we approach COP28 in Dubai this November, the urgency of climate action couldn’t be more evident. COP, established in 1994, aims to combat climate change by uniting countries and stakeholders worldwide. The summit has been held every year for almost three decades, with the aim of tackling climate change and advancing towards halting an increase in global temperatures. In reality, the opposite has occurred. The month of July 2023, for instance, was the…

The stars of Harry Potter have led tributes to Sir Michael Gambon – hailing him a “magnificent trickster” and his acting “complex” and “vulnerable”. Actors including Jason Isaacs, Fiona Shaw and James Phelps shared glowing memories of working with quadruple Bafta-winning Gambon within hours of the announcement from his family on Thursday that he had died in hospital aged 82 after losing a battle with a bout of pneumonia. In a statement given to Variety, Daniel Radcliffe said: “With the loss of Michael Gambon the world just became considerably less fun. “Michael Gambon was one of the most brilliant, effortless actors I’ve ever had the privilege of working with, but despite his immense talent, the thing I will remember most about him is how much fun he had doing his…

October is going to be an exciting month for TV enthusiasts as there is a diverse range of entertainment options across genres. Whether you're in the mood for suspenseful drama, spine-tingling horror, passionate telenovelas or light-hearted comedy, you'll likely find a show or film that keeps you entertained throughout the month. Below are some of our suggestions on your best options for the month. Kandasamys: The Baby (Netflix) Kandasamys: The Baby is a delightful addition to the Kandasamy family saga, filled with humour, family dynamics, and a touch of chaos. Set in Mauritius, newlyweds Jodi (Mishqah Parthiephal) and Prishen (Madhushan Singh ) are preparing to welcome their first child while dealing with the interference of the dynamic mom duo of Jennifer (Jailoshini Naidoo) and Shanti (Maeshni Naicker). The “mom…

THE Basic Education Department has moved to tighten security systems to prevent paper leaks during the 2023 matric exams. As the National Senior Certificate (NSC) exams draw closer, Basic Education Minister Angie Motshekga has outlined security plans that have been put in place to curb the illegal release of exam papers. “We have put in place a lot of measures to protect the sector because the NSC is a national paper. With technology, a paper can be leaked in the Free State and reach other provinces, making it hard to investigate,” she said. Motshekga addressed the media at the department’s conference centre in Pretoria yesterday. On a yearly basis, the department, as well as thousands of learners, are affected by the question paper leaks during the NSC exams, which impacts…

It did not end with a successful release for Amazing Grace, a southern African python with a spinal injury under the care of FreeMe Wildlife. Recently, the wildlife sanctuary said that it had to be one of their saddest moments this year. FreeMe Wildlife said: “She sadly died one night, much to our disbelief. Grace had started to shed her skin, and it seemed this had all been too much for her on top of the massive trauma to her spine, the reason she was admitted in the first place. “The necropsy revealed unseen damage to her heart, which was directly below the smashed vertebra. The top two chambers of the heart were compromised, likely as a result of severe bruising sustained from the original blow that crushed her spine.”…

FORMER Nelson Mandela Bay Metro police chief Yolanda Faro is set to head the Tshwane Metro Police Department (TMPD) after the council last week approved a report recommending her appointment despite the EFF’s criticism that she lacked recent experience for the position. Her appointment came under attack from the EFF despite the fact that she was at the helm of the Nelson Mandela Bay Metro Police Department from 2016 to 2022. Faro possesses a national police diploma, traffic national diploma, a bachelor of technology degree in policing and has vast experience in safety and security experience. She will take over the reins from acting police chief Basil Nkwashu, who assumed the role after former police chief Johanna Nkomo’s term of office expired. Faro will join the municipality at a time…

Following the addition of two African parks to the list of World Heritage Sites, Jean Labuschagne, director of conservation development at African Parks, discussed the significance of preserving biodiversity. In his explanation, Labuschagne goes into depth on how the Democratic Republic of the Congo’s Odzala-Kokoua National Park and Rwanda’s Nyungwe National Park were chosen as Unesco World Heritage Sites. In addition to stating that the sites must be of great universal importance and satisfy at least one out of 10 selection criteria, he said its biodiversity is the reason they were recognised. In this instance, “to be outstanding examples representing significant on-going ecological and biological processes in the evolution and development of terrestrial, freshwater, coastal and marine ecosystems and communities of plants and animals”, and also “to contain the most…

Both internationally and in South Africa, demand for plastic surgery continues to boom as clients seek to turn back the clock on ageing and enhance their looks. But while it’s easy to assume that surgery is the best and most permanent solution to reverse the signs of ageing, that’s not always the case, emphasises a medical expert. According to anti-ageing and aesthetics specialist Dr Reza Mia, the owner of the Anti-Ageing Art medical aesthetic and holistic wellness centre in Joburg, non-invasive aesthetic treatments offer a far more affordable and safer option for enhancing one’s features while delivering natural and lasting results. “We caution against anything that makes the proportions of the face look unrealistic. If you don’t see it commonly in nature, people will immediately realise that you’ve had work…

There will be dark days ahead for 100 families from the Leopard Rock estate in Midrand after Joburg City Power disconnected electricity at the apartment block, as the body corporate owes the city over R5 million in an unpaid light bill. This comes as the City of Joburg intensifies revenue collection efforts around the municipality, with residents and businesses owing the city over R10 billion in unpaid electricity bills. Two weeks back, City Power’s revenue protection team targeted some businesses and residents who owed exorbitant amounts to the city. One of these was the 100-unit Leopard Rock estate, whose body corporate owes the City of Joburg R5.1 million in unpaid electricity bills. Officials have disconnected the power supply to the estate, which uses a bulk meter system. The 100…

South Africa Women 209 all out Kapp 72, Tryon 25; Devine 3/33, Tahuhu 3/43 New Zealand Women 210/4 Kerr 100*, Halliday 37*; Mlaba 2/41, Tryon 1/33 New Zealand win by six wickets; SA win the three-match ODI series 2-1 The New Zealand Women registered a consolation win yesterday, defeating South Africa at Kingsmead Stadium to avoid a series whitewash. Yesterday’s game was an important occasion as the awareness of Gender-based Violence took centre stage, with South Africa donning all black to make a stand against this type of violence in the country. This was the third edition of the Black Day and prior to yesterday’s match, South Africa had never been beaten wearing black. Going into the match, coach Hilton Moreeng made one change in his playing XI,…

ORGANISATIONS go through their own natural cycles and changes where key decisions, such as who leads the organisation, are made in the interest of the organisation. These are always important decisions for the organisation as they determine the direction and posture both inside among staff members and outside to external stakeholders. One always assumes that based on all probabilities and calculations, the decision is always taken in the best interest of the organisation. When it comes to state owned entities, the decision must also take national interests into cognisance. The decision ought not to only be in the best interest of the organisation but it must also drive specific national agendas. One of the national agendas for South Africa that is supposed to be a non-negotiable is the transformation of…

SOUTH Africa is facing a deepening crisis impacting all areas of the economy due to load shedding, which has a snowball effect on everything from food security to logistics to service delivery, with very little done by the government to mitigate this. This was according to almost all of the respondents in the Franchise Association of South Africa’s (Fasa’s) eighth independent survey. Fasa CEO Fred Makgato said the only way to avoid an impending disaster in South Africa was for the government to deal with load shedding and to recognise that it was businesses, both large and small especially, that were keeping the economy going. “On the back of such a strong survey of the franchising sector, that is prepared to safeguard its position as a significant contributor to the…

DJ MAPHORISA has stayed true to his word and paid R100 000 into amapiano DJ and producer Mduduzi Mangena, who goes by the moniker Mdu aka Trp’s bank account, as a thank you for changing the game. Maphorisa took to X and tweeted his appreciation for “Mdu aka Trp for his contribution to amapiano”, which is coming up with the log drum, which has helped take the genre to greater heights. “Thank You “Mdu aka Trp” for changing our lives with Dat LOG DRUM forever be grateful mfanaka,” he tweeted. The pioneering amapiano producer is known for his spin on amapiano’s signature log-drum sound. Top amapiano producer Kabza de Small, speaking on the sub-genre’s development in a previous interview, credited Mdu with getting the formula that changed the game.…

Nelson Mandela’s grandson, Mandla Mandela, has called on his family and the public at large to allow his cousin Zoleka Mandela to rest in peace. This is despite him defying Zoleka’s dying wish for people she did not want to attend her funeral. He expressed sadness at her passing. Zoleka died last Monday after a long battle with cancer and was buried on Friday at the Fourways Memorial Park, north of Joburg. In what was supposed to be a dignified send-off, drama was the order of the day as Zoleka’s body had to be exhumed. She was not buried alongside her grandmother, Winnie Madikizela-Mandela, at the Fourways Memorial Park as initially reported. This was due to Zenani Mandela sr obtaining a court interdict to stop Zoleka from being buried at…

ELECTRICITY Minister Kgosientsho Ramokgopa said South Africa was finally turning the corner in generating enough energy capacity to benefit the economy and millions of households and businesses. During his weekly update of the country’s Energy Action Plan (EAP) yesterday, Ramokgopa detailed efforts being made to restore a stable electricity supply and ensure adequate energy generation. He said progress was made as a result of the exemption granted by the minister following a request from Eskom to exceed the licence emissions parameters at the Kusile power station in light of issues associated with the flue gas desulphurisation unit. He explained that the flue gas desulphurisation unit was an engineering component meant to reduce the amount of sulphur content emitted into the atmosphere. For this reason, he said, units 1, 2 and…

Two security guards have been dismissed after they were allegedly caught on video assaulting a 13-year-old patient at Ladysmith Hospital. In the video, which has been shared on social media, the patient in a hospital bed can be heard asking for forgiveness and pleading with them to stop hitting him. The KwaZulu-Natal Department of Health confirmed in a statement yesterday that the two security guards had been dismissed by their employer, who is contracted to provide security services at the hospital. It added that it had instituted an urgent investigation into the incident, and internal disciplinary processes against the nursing staff implicated in the matter were under way. “It is believed that the incident took place on Thursday evening, and was brought to the attention of hospital management on Friday.…

LIFE has been travelling at ‘galactic speed’ recently for South African Timothy Nash who, in a historic first, took two fossils of ancient human relatives to space with him last month. The entrepreneur, adventurer and conservationist told Independent Media that taking the fossils along with him on the third Virgin Galactic commercial space flight was a bid to pay tribute to the contribution of all human ancestors and ancient human relatives for their contribution in making space flight possible. “I’m passionate about the Cradle of Humankind World Heritage Site and spend a lot of my time helping to ensure that it will be protected in perpetuity, because of its importance to all of humankind in understanding our origins,” said Nash, a South African-born citizen who also has British residency. “It…

Makes 4 naan pizzas Ingredients 4 naan breads 1 whole head of garlic 250g portabellini or button mushrooms, sliced 1 tin crushed tomatoes 4 tsp curry powder 300g bocconcini or fior di latte fresh Mozzarella 1-2 fresh chillies, sliced Olive oil or ghee, for cooking Salt and pepper, to taste Diced tomato and onion, for serving Fresh coriander, for serving Method Preheat the oven to 180ºC. Slice the top third of the head of garlic off. Place on a square of tinfoil. Drizzle with a little olive oil and season with salt. Wrap up the garlic tightly and place in the oven for 1 hour. After an hour remove the garlic from the oven and squeeze the roasted cloves out of their skin. Heat a drizzle of olive oil in…

The Proteas pace attack will have one final opportunity to find unity, understanding of their defined roles and their killer instinct in a warm-up match against New Zealand in a warm-up match today at the Greenfield Stadium in Thiruvananthapuram. Sri Lanka await in the 50-over World Cup beyond that when they start the tournament on Saturday against Sri Lanka and the Proteas have six days left to tighten up their game plans in the hopes of bringing the trophy home. On the batting front, the Proteas have looked sound throughout the year with captain Temba Bavuma, Heinrich Klaasen and Aiden Markram scoring big hundreds. Quinton de Kock at the top of the order has looked good, particularly in the Australia series. David Miller also had a fantastic start to…

After the 3-1 hiding at the hands of Cape Town City on Saturday, Cape Town Spurs is at their lowest ebb and serious questions loom about their long-term future and top-flight survival. The defeat means Spurs have run up seven successive losses since the start of the season. This is a new all-time low for the PSL-era after Kaizer Chiefs long held the unwanted record at six games. In South African football, the coaches are always the first casualties when the clubs fail and Spurs mentor Shaun Bartlett may become the scapegoat sooner rather than later. After Saturday's match, he commented on his future: "We will see in the next 48 hours." Bartlett's fate may be decided by someone who is a total stranger to him after Spurs announced the…

Tottenham Hotspur manager Ange Postecoglou said he is not a fan of video assistant referee (VAR) as the system complicates matters, after his team benefited from an error by the officials in Saturday's clash against Liverpool. The referee group Professional Game Match Officials Ltd (PGMOL) admitted it had been the wrong decision to disallow Liverpool winger Luis Diaz's goal in the first half of the match in Tottenham's 2-1 home win, blaming human error. "I think I'm on record saying that I've never really been a fan of it since it came in," Postecoglou, who previously managed Scottish Premiership club Celtic, said after the game. "Not for any other reason than I think that it complicates areas of the game that I thought were pretty clear in the past but…

ASCENDIS Health, the board of which is considering a JSE delisting, announced on Friday that for the first time since 2013, its balance sheet was unencumbered following the recapitalisation, debt restructuring and other corporate activities that were required. In its results for the year to June 30, the group said tangible net asset value amounted to 81 cents per share by year-end, which is well up from 62c at the same time a year before. A consortium led by Ascendis’s current CEO Carl Neethling has expressed interest in the delisting, but Ascendis last week warned shareholders that a large premium from the 69c share price at the time was unlikely in the event of an offer being made to shareholders prior to delisting. By year-end, the group was in…

SOUTH African and global share prices remained under pressure for the fourth consecutive week. The sharp rise in oil prices during the month had led to warnings by central banks that higher inflation rates are on the horizon and they remain hawkish towards higher interest rates. Brent oil had increased by $11.20 from $84.44 (about R1 596) per barrel on August 29 to $95.64 per barrel on Friday. Oil is up by more than 20% in the third quarter. Opec, Saudi Arabia, and Russia, in a joint effort imposes cuts of 1.3 million barrels per day to the end of the year. This is fueling fears of a wider market deficit in the fourth quarter. US crude inventories continued to decline by another 2.4 million barrels last week…

Kourtney Kardashian has branded her sister Kim Kardashian a “f****** witch” and “narcissist” in a fierce row. The 44-year-old reality star was seen arguing with her sister, 42, over the phone as the tense exchange was sparked by a conversation about the latter’s collaboration with Dolce and Gabbana, which came just six months after the fashion house designed Kourtney’s wedding dress. In scenes that aired on The Kardashians recently, the siblings clashed over the situation, and things blew up when Kim told her: “It’s not that original. Everyone does ’90s, it’s not a new concept.” Kourtney snapped, ranting: “You’re talking about the bulls*** details because it’s all your egotistical, selfish mind can think about it. “You cannot stand someone else being the centre of attention. You came to my wedding.…

Build One South Africa (Bosa) leader Mmusi Maimane has announced his intention to contest next year’s general elections as president. Maimane, who launched his campaign in Pretoria, told his supporters on Saturday that he was “preparing to change the occupants of the Union Buildings in 2024 and elect a new government that builds South Africa”. He said the time for change had come, which was why he had elected Pretoria for the launch of Bosa’s election campaign. “This may seem an audacious task to some, but I believe this is a moment the nation is ready for. History teaches us that there comes a day where David must confront Goliath and indeed see a nation born in a day. Now is that time. Together we can build to win,” Maimane…

A Mozambican national has been sentenced to 10 years behind bars for killing a rhino at Kruger National Park in Skukuza while serving another jail sentence for a similar offence. The Skukuza Regional Court has sentenced, Lucky Mabunda, 47, to 10 years of direct imprisonment for killing a rhino in Skukuza National Park in 2019. This is after Mabunda pleaded guilty to the offence. The court heard that between February and September 2019, the accused entered the park using the Malelane Section and began hunting. “Field Rangers were patrolling and found the accused in possession of a firearm, axe, ammunition, and other items geared for hunting,” NPA regional spokesperson, Monica Nyuswa said. “They continued their search and found two rhino carcasses. This led to the arrest of Mabunda,” Nyuswa…

A THIRD suspect has been arrested in the space cookie case that saw more than 90 pupils from Grades R to 7 complaining of nausea, stomach cramps and vomiting at Pulamamadibogo Primary School in Soshanguve, Block Y. Two suspects, Amukelani Nyulunga, 19, and Ofentse Maluleka, 21, were initially arrested for allegedly selling muffins laced with a narcotic effect to children, National Prosecuting Authority spokesperson Lumka Mahanjana said. A third suspect, Katlego Matlala, 29, appeared along with Nyulunga and Maluleke in the Soshanguve Magistrate’s Court on Friday. The trio were remanded in custody for a formal bail application on Wednesday. Mahanjana said the three were facing 28 counts of attempted murder, after 19 more charges were added. “It is alleged that the children started vomiting, experiencing stomach cramps and behaving strangely…

Black Lawyers Association (BLA) has extended its heartfelt condolences on the death of Regional Court Magistrate and Acting Judge, Mamello Thamae. “The BLA takes this opportunity to convey its message of heartfelt condolences to Thamae’s family, her child, and friends. We also wish to express our message of condolences to the members of the BLA to whom she belonged, the Judiciary and all fraternal structures which she was part of,” it said. The lifeless body of Thamae was found in the boot of her husband’s car, Lehlogonolo Maketoane, at a guest house in Lesotho last Saturday. He was immediately detained in Lesotho awaiting handover to the South African Police Service (SAPS). He appeared before the Mokhotlong Magistrate’s Court in Lesotho on Tuesday, where he was remanded in custody. It is…

THE month of October is associated with bravery, as many events that shaped the direction of this country occurred in this month. l The Rivonia Trial, officially known as the State versus Mandela and Others began on October 9, 1963, and lasted 86 days. l On October 17, 1963, Reverend Arthur William Blaxall was charged under the Suppression of Communism Act. He was accused of assisting the SACP and the ANC. l ANC leader Walter Sisulu was arrested on October 17 for not being in possession of a reference book. l On October 15, 1973, a racial segregation legislation was extended by the South African government to include private gatherings. l In October 1977, about eight organisations and three newspapers that advanced the Black Consciousness Movement were banned by the…

Is the honeymoon over? Or was this one of the setbacks that Orlando Pirates had to endure so they could bounce back stronger? These are some of the questions that Pirates fans will be asking themselves after Friday’s shock result. Pirates crashed out of the CAF Champions League at Orlando Stadium after losing 5-4 on penalties to Jwaneng Galaxy, the two-leg second round of the preliminary qualifiers having ended 1-1. It was a disappointing result that extended Pirates' winless run to four matches in a row. But while Pirates could be forgiven for the first three losses as they didn’t cause much damage – given that they progressed to the MTN8 final – this recent defeat is catastrophic. The 1995 African champions are regarded as the one of powerhouses of…

Springbok veteran Duane Vermeulen is not looking too far ahead just yet, but life in the coaching box next to the rugby field could be where he finds himself when he retires after the World Cup. Although his focus is on giving his all until South Africa have run their course - and hopefully defend their title - at this year’s tournament in France, the loose forward is slowly thinking of life after rugby. He got a taste of the coaching booth in the Boks’ Pool B loss to Ireland just over a week ago, and the thrill of experiencing what the coaches do on a match day piqued his interest. So much so that the 37-year-old is now considering switching to the sidelines, with a whistle in hand, when…

When the Ryder Cup comes to Europe, the home team has been unbeatable. Tommy Fleetwood of England landed the decisive blow yesterday afternoon for Team Europe to finally vanquish the US team and win the 44th Ryder Cup 16½-11½ at Marco Simone Golf and Country Club outside Rome. Europe have claimed eight of the last 11 Ryder Cups, as the Americans failed to end a Ryder Cup road drought that dates to 1993. "Proud, proud, proud moment for me. They play for more than themselves, they play together," emotional Team Europe captain Luke Donald said after the victory. Team Europe led 10½-5½ entering yesterday's 12 singles matches needing four points to win, with the US required to get 8½ points to retain the cup. After falling behind 14-7 yesterday, the…