Table of contents for 2024-05-16 in Star

HERITAGE Capital has invested in the specialised dairy sector with Fairview Cheese to mark the culmination of its maiden fund investment endeavours. Heritage Capital is a pioneering 100% black female-owned private equity fund manager that has investments ranging from heavy industrial applications to healthcare products. Since its inception in October 2017, Heritage Capital Fund I has been leveraging capital from investors such as the Transport Sector Retirement Fund. The infusion of additional institutional investors in May 2021 empowered the fund to broaden its investment horizon, focusing on sectors crucial for South Africa’s economic transformation, including industrial, services and consumer branded goods. Philile Maphumulo, a managing partner at Heritage Capital, said the fund was committed to fostering job creation, skills development and transformative impact within the South African economy. “Our investment…

SOUTH Africa’s retail trade sector is expected to detract from overall gross domestic product (GDP) in the first quarter of 2024, due to muted consumer spending after activity slowed on a quarterly basis. Statistics South Africa (StatsSA) said yesterday that seasonally adjusted retail trade sales decreased by 0.9% in the first quarter of 2024 compared with the fourth quarter of 2023. “Three of the seven retail groups reported negative growth rates over this period, with textiles and clothing the biggest drag on growth,” said Raquel Floris, StatsSA’s deputy director for distributive trade statistics. However, retail sales expanded by 2.3% year-on-year in March, following a revised decline of 0.7% in February, likely boosted by holiday-related consumer shopping activity. StatsSA said four out of seven categories recorded an increase in annual volumes.…

Dr Thulasizwe Mkhabela AGRICULTURE is an indispensable sector of the African economy, and it is vital for the livelihoods of many African people, particularly those in rural areas. The Covid-19 pandemic has caused significant disruptions in agricultural pro- duction and related activities, leading to significant breakdowns in supply chains and adverse effects on food supply and security in Africa. Therefore, it is crucial to transform current agri-food systems, pandemic response, and healthcare systems. Agricultural development on the continent has often focused on improvements in farming systems and practices while ignoring the human element of agriculture – the farmer. To feed the current and future population of Africa, transformation in technology and methodology of agriculture and the food value chain must occur holistically, focusing on youth, women and smallholder farmers. Human…

Karen Lumakis DIGITAL systems may be becoming ever faster and more efficient, but not any safer, it seems. For every security improvement brought about by digitalisation – the phasing out of cash, for example – various new forms of thievery evolve, such as data hijacking and phishing. It could, in fact, be argued that modern businesses need more control systems than ever before to safeguard not only their money and stock but their data as well. There are six key controls that any owner-managed business must have in place to prevent fraud and the theft of their data. Back up your systems: Even if all your business’s data is stored in the cloud, it is not immune to ransomware, hacking or accidental deletion. Invest in a back-up system through which…

Tom Brady regrets agreeing to his Netflix roast as he says his children were “affected” by its gags. The retired NFL player, 46, was targeted with a string of close-to-the-knuckle jokes during the live special this month at the Kia Forum, California, about his divorce from Brazilian supermodel Gisele Bündchen, 43, with whom he has children Benjamin, 14, and 11-year-old Vivian. Brady, who had his split from Bündchen finalised on October 28,2022, before she moved on with her jiu-jitsu instructor Joaquim Valente, 34, has now told The Pivot podcast: “I loved when the jokes were about me. I thought they were so fun. I didn’t like the way that affected my kids.” The seven-time Super Bowl champion – who also has son Jack, 16, with his 53-year-old actress ex Bridget…

Critics slam measure, saying input from various bodies was consistently ignored Opposition parties and medical groups have voiced their disapproval to the National Health Insurance (NHI) Bill, with some indicating their intention to challenge it in court. These objections surfaced shortly after President Cyril Ramaphosa formally signed the NHI Bill into law at the Union Buildings yesterday. DA leader John Steenhuisen described Ramaphosa’s move as destructive before the elections, which according to him, was borne out of fear that his party would lose the elections. Steenhuisen vowed that the DA would go all the way to the Constitutional Court to challenge the bill. “Our legal team was briefed months ago and will file our legal challenge against this devastating legislation without delay. “We have built up reams of correspondence, including…

The two murder accused in the case of two boys, Nqobizitha Zulu and Tshiamo Rabanye, whose bodies were found mutilated in a veld in Soweto in April last year, made their seventh court appearance in the Protea Magistrate’s Court yesterday. The accused, Nqobile Ndlovu, 50, and her lover, Mthunzi Zulu, 39, face two counts of murder related to the killings of Nqobizitha, 5, and Tshiamo, 6, last year. Following their brief appearance, the court ruled that the trial date be postponed to May 31 with their next court appearance set for the Gauteng High Court, Johannesburg. Speaking after the postponement, Nomthandazo Zulu, mother of Nqobizitha, said they hope that justice will be served when the matter finally concludes in the high court. “Today, we have learnt that the case…

Prince Mandlakapheli Zulu, the spokesperson of the Zulu royal faction backing Prince Simakade for the throne, has officially joined the uMkhonto weSizwe Party (MKP) ahead of the May 29 election. This comes as the MKP, which is backed by Jacob Zuma, is rocked by internal squabbling between the former president and Jabulani Khumalo, who claims he founded the party. Prince Zulu, who has been seen following Zuma on his recent campaign trails, confirmed to The Star’s sister paper, the Daily News on Tuesday that he had joined the MKP. “Yes I have decided to join the uMkhonto weSizwe Party. This is a party that is our resort to restore the dignity of an African child. A lot of bad things are happening in our country and it is time for…

The Southern Africa Music Rights Organisation (Samro) explains that, according to the Copyright Act, no person may broadcast, cause the transmission of, or play a sound recording to a public audience without permission in the form of a licence. This provision ensures that copyright owners receive compensation when their music is used for public broadcast. Furthermore, amendments to the legislation now encompass digital and online platforms, demonstrating an updated approach to copyright regulation to address evolving technologies. Samro added that it was critical for DJs and event promoters to follow the law because they were powerful players in the music industry who set trends and musical preferences. They may guarantee that the musicians whose songs they play were paid their due royalties by securing a Samro music licence. This would…

Ingredients 30ml vegetable oil 1 medium onion, finely chopped 4 cloves of garlic, finely chopped 1 thumb-sized piece of ginger, finely grated 5ml cumin 5ml coriander 5ml cayenne pepper 10ml Rajah mild and spicy curry powder 1x400g tin chickpeas, drained Juice of 1 lemon Fresh coriander, to garnish Method Heat the oil in a pot over a medium heat. Add the onion, garlic and ginger. Sauté for five to seven minutes, or until soft. Add the Robertsons cumin, coriander, cayenne pepper and Rajah Mild & Spicy Curry Powder, and cook for a further minute. Stir in the chopped tomatoes, water and the contents of the sachet of Knorr Curry Vegetable Soup. Bring to the boil, add the chickpeas, then turn down the heat. Simmer for about five to eight minutes,…

“YOU weren’t supposed to see that yet!” said the South African Jaecoo and Omoda media and PR person when we arrived at our hotel in Wuhu, China. Too late, she cried, with a handful of glistening new Jaecoo and Omoda products neatly lined up, including the J8 and one that particularly attracted our attention, the boxy-looking all-electric J6. With no flowing lines or enormous grilles, think Suzuki Jimny, Ford Bronco and even a hint of the old-school Defender. Jaecoo and Omoda are Chery’s luxury brands, akin to what Lexus is to Toyota and Infiniti to Nissan. Having recently opened an assembly plant in Spain, they are for export only and are not available to local Chinese consumers. They’ve also split them into two very different markets, with Omoda aimed more…

MERCEDES-Benz Vans South Africa recently donated three Sprinter Inkanyezi vehicles to the Ruta Sechaba Foundation as part of their commitment to improving the lives of those in the communities in which they operate. Housed in Cape Town, the Ruta Sechaba Foundation is a non-profit organisation dedicated to empowering South Africa’s brightest young minds by providing opportunities to pupils who deliver academic and sporting excellence, despite their socio-economic circumstances. The donation will enable learners to get to school and extracurricular activities, helping to improve their attendance and academic performance. “We are excited and proud to be part of this initiative,” said Nadia Trimmel, president of Mercedes-Benz Vans South Africa. “By leveraging our resources and expertise, we can make a meaningful impact in the communities where we operate. Through this donation, Mercedes-Benz…

ALTERRA Capital Partners has partnered with Mineworkers Investment Company and Admaius Capital Partners to acquire a majority stake in Chill Beverages from Old Mutual Private Equity. This acquisition by the Alterra Consortium marks the first investment by Alterra’s Africa Accelerator Fund and demonstrates the fund’s com- mitment to supporting African companies in their growth journeys. Chill is one of the most exciting beverage platforms in South Africa and operates in the fastest growing beverage segments through its range of Score energy drinks, Fitch & Leedes premium mixers, and Chateau Del Rei sparkling wine. Chill has market leading offerings, a national footprint, and world class production facilities, and the business has delivered historic growth in excess of 20% per annum. The company has manu- facturing facilities in Gauteng and the West-…

THE JSE RALLIED to its highest level in more than a year yesterday, mirroring its global peers, buoyed by resource-linked stocks on the back of the first monthly decline in US inflation since January. The All Share Index rose 0.9% to 79 361 points while the Top40 Index soared 1% to 73 142 points by 5pm, the highest the JSE has been since early February 2023. Gains in the local bourse were led by heavy metals groups Northam Platinum, which rose 5% followed by Sibanye-Stillwater at 5.5%, as gold prices held steady at $2 383 (R44 068) per ounce, while platinum also built on previous gain to $1 067 per ounce Vodacom, Anglo American Platinum and Discovery also saw their share prices rising by…

SOUTH Africa needs to look at a form of risk insurance that can be put in place that could turn and assist the country and poultry sector during outbreaks of avian influenza (bird flu). This was according to Dr Ziyanda Majokweni-Qwalela, the deputy director for Epidemiology, Biosecurity and Laboratory Services in Gauteng, speaking at the round-table organised by FairPlay Movement about the lessons learned from the deadliest bird flu outbreak in South Africa’s history last year. The South African poultry sector is still recovering in the wake of avian flue outbreaks, which saw millions of poultry birds culled to contain the disease that was financially devastating. Majokweni-Qwalela said that there was an opportunity to help the poultry industry in evolving a comprehensive playbook for bird flu management by learning from…

TWO DAYS AGO, Statistics SA released its Quarterly Labour Force Survey for the first Quarter of 2024, which put our unemployment rate at 32.9%. This equates to an increase of 0.8 of a percentage point between the fourth quarter of 2023, translating to 8.2 million unemployed people. If one were to look at the expanded definition of unemployment, then this figure sits at 12.1 million unemployed, which is worrying. A few months ago, 22 On Sloane published a report on SMME job creation in South Africa. The report reflects on the National Development Plan (NDP) goal of SMMEs contributing between 60% and 80% of the gross domestic product by 2030. The NDP had envisaged that SMMEs would create 90% of all jobs in South Africa by…

NEPI ROCKCASTLE, the JSE-listed real estate investmen trust (Reit) that owns and operates shopping centres across nine countries in Central and Eastern Europe (CEE), said yesterday that its guidance in February 2024 of lifting annual distributable earn- ings a share by about 4% remains in place after the first three months of trading. The dividend payout ratio of the JSE’s largest property stock, of 90%, was also expected to remain un- changed, although the group did warn that the forecast did not consider the impact of greater political instability in the region or major economic disruptions. Its shopping centres valued at €6.8 billion (R135.3bn) as at June 2023 generated a 12.7% uplift in net operating income (NOI) to €135 million in the first quarter to March 31 versus…

Nambitha Ben-Mazwi believes that being an actress is so much more than just enjoying the glitz and glamour of the entertainment industry. The 35-year-old explained to Independent Media Lifestyle that the purpose of her craft is to make an impact in the lives of all those who view her work. “I put so much purpose into what I do and I see my calling as an actress as being a servant to the people, and for me, if I’m not capturing the audience, if what I am doing is not changing lives, if the content is not acting as a mirror to people and if they don’t see themselves in my character, then I haven’t achieved my purpose of showcasing truth in the storytelling. “For me, these are always the…

Caster Semenya said yesterday’s hearing at the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) into whether the double Olympic champion can be required to lower her testosterone levels to compete was an “important day” as her costly legal marathon entered its last lap. The 33-year-old runner won an earlier round at the ECHR, which last July ruled she was the victim of discrimination from the Lausanne-based Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS). “This is an important day in my journey as a human being and athlete. It has been a long time coming,” said Semenya, who was the Olympic 800m champion in 2012 and 2016 and world gold medallist in 2009, 2011 and 2017 for South Africa. “In 2009, I stood atop the podium at the Berlin world championships having just…

A South African man, arrested for allegedly stabbing people aboard a cruise ship in Alaska earlier this month, remains in custody in the US. Ntando Sogoni, 35, has been remanded in custody at the Lemon Creek Correctional Facility in Juneau in Alaska, in the US. Speaking to IOL, public affairs specialist at the US Attorney’s Office in Alaska, Reagan Zimmerman, said Sogoni made his initial court appearance on May 9 before Magistrate Judge Matthew M Scoble. “Judge Scoble ordered he be detained. His next court appearance is scheduled for May 23,” Zimmerman said. Court documents stated that Sogoni was remanded in custody due to the weight of evidence against him, his lack of stable employment, a stable residence, financial responsibility, sureties, family or community ties in the Alaskan…

THE BUILDING contractors of the George construction site that collapsed last week have broken their silence. Liatel Developments was the builder of the five-storey building in Victoria Street. Director of Liatel Developments, Theuns Kruger, said in a statement that May 6 had become synonymous with the disaster. “Liatel has expressed its sympathies with the families and the victims of this tragedy and has had resources deployed at the site after the disaster occurred. “Liatel has ensured that it has representatives at the disaster site to assist with the rescue efforts and unravelling the facts of what had caused the building collapse,” Kruger said. On behalf of the company, Kruger said he visited the offices of the disaster management authorities as well as that of the Department of Labour that were…

COMMUNITIES in the Soshanguve and Rietgat policing precincts have welcomed the national policing intervention. On Tuesday, Police Minister, General Bheki Cele, unveiled additional policing units that will be part of the SAPS stabilisation team. The stabilisation team had been deployed to enhance policing in townships heavily affected by violent crime in the Tshwane District, Cele said. “These units are deployed to counter and combat crime, and to enforce the law in and around the Soshanguve, Rietgat, Loate and Mabopane areas.” Several SAPS units, such as Crime Intelligence, detectives, the Flying Squad, K9, and rapid response teams, and the Private Security and Community Policing Forum, will be supporting the SAPS stabilisation team, including the tactical response team, national intervention unit, and public order policing unit as well as drones. Cele along…

Musa Keys, a renowned musician, has fiercely rubbished rumours pertaining to his sexual orientation after some of his fans implied that he is gay based on the way he presents himself. Although his sense of style has been praised, it appears that some have discovered a means to harass the celebrity, leaving him vulnerable to abuse on social media. In response to the remarks made in a live stream, Keys said his lack of transparency on relationships does not imply that he has no interest in women. He also clarified that his sense of style does do not define his sexuality, slamming distasteful comments directed at him. “I see yalls comments about me being gay because I am dressed in a specific way. Since when does the way I dress…

THE Honda Elevate arrives at a time when the Japanese brand needs a high-value model to drive volumes locally. The importer has been struggling with low sales numbers for years now, with a relatively expensive range of products. However, Honda SA potentially has an ace up its sleeve with the new Indian-sourced Elevate. It’s available in two flavours, with the 1.5 Comfort priced at R371 000 and the 1.5 Elegance stickered at R430 000. Its exterior styling is easy on the eyes, even handsome, though it may appear somewhat generic. Its slightly boxy shape does result in a spacious interior and a generous 458-litre boot. The back of the cabin has loads of room. I’m average sized and sitting behind my driving position, I had space to stretch my legs.…

SOUTH Africa’s coal and platinum group metals (PGM) sectors will likely remain muted in terms of productivity and earnings for the remainder of this year, analysts at BMI Research said yesterday, citing the persistent challenges afflicting the industry and dim prospects for a quicker turnaround post the May 29 elections. This comes as PGM and coal production for South Africa fell 3.6% and 9%, respectively, during the quarter of March, dragging down overall mineral output to an 5.8% nosedive for the quarter compared to the year earlier, according to data from Statistics SA. Analysts at the Fitch Solutions-run BMI Research said yesterday that there was likely to be little respite for South Africa’s mineral productivity post this month’s elections in which the ANC is seen remaining in control of policy,…

IN 2007, PROFESSOR Shadrack Gutto characterised land as a finite and indispensable asset that defines a people’s identity and provides human dignity. He avows that land is an integral component of national sovereignty and a basis for national cohesion. He articulated the words when he was asked to determine how much of the South African land was owned by foreign nationals. His research found that foreign natural persons owned about 3% of the country’s land, with a high proportion of coastal and game farmland. Parallel to the question of land ownership by foreign nationals is the question of how much of the country’s land is owned by black people. Wandile Sihlobo and Johan Kirsten have attempted to assist with this question and estimated that approximately 25% of the country’s land…

MICHAEL Mayalo is a young social entrepreneur and the CEO of Tranquility Group Consultancy and Business Startup Services, a growth consultancy that has more than 10 years’ experience running businesses and developing marketing strategies. In an increasingly interconnected world, young entrepreneurs are finding innovative ways to tap into international trade and expand their businesses on a global scale. One such entrepreneur is Michael Mayalo, a dynamic and visionary individual who has successfully navigated the complexities of international trade to create a thriving business empire. Through his determination, strategic thinking with an understanding of global markets, Mayalo has become a shining example for aspiring young entrepreneurs seeking to make their mark in the international business arena. Early Beginnings Mayalo’s journey into the world of international trade began at a young age.…

SOUTH32 is investing $15 million (R277.4m) into new mining areas for its South African manganese operations, CEO Graham Kerr said this week, as the company studies an expansion programme for its Wessels mine project. Speaking at the Bank of America Securities Global Metals, Mining and Steel Conference yesterday, Kerr said South32 was transforming its portfolio of operations “towards commodities critical for the transition to a low-carbon” future. This will see it focus on aluminium, zinc, manganese and copper production more among other metals. South Africa has been identified by South32 for further investments as the company uplifts its manganese production. South32 also produces manganese from Hermosa in the Patagonia mountains of southern Arizona in the US. In South Africa, South32 is currently “studying options to unlock logistics capacity and…

Holidays are meant to be a time of tranquillity but in the newly-released trailer of The Real Housewives Ultimate Girls Trip – South Africa, it’s anything but. Viewers will be left on the edge of their seats as Beverly Steyn, Christall Kay, LaConco (Nonkanyiso “LaConco” Conco), Lethabo Lejoy Mathatho, Liz Prins, Londie London, Melany Viljoen and Nonku Williams from the various Housewives franchises touch down in Jamaica and the gloves come off. The explosive trailer sees the ladies partying up a storm in their villa and on the beach, before throwing insults at each other left, right and centre. In her confession, Kay says: “Clearly she needs a dildo”. She’s referring to Williams. Seconds later, Kay is locking lips with a man in the back seat of an SUV.…

Legal representatives of the suspects accused of playing a role in the murder of South African musician Kiernan “AKA” Forbes and his friend, celebrity chef and entrepreneur Tebello “Tibz” Motsoane, have vowed to challenge the bail denial for the accused. Suspects Lindokuhle Thabani Mkhwanazi, 30, Lindani Zenzele Ndimande, 35, Siyanda Eddie Myeza, 21, Mziwethemba Harvey Gwabeni, 36, and Lindokuhle “Lindo” Ndimande, 29, appeared in the Durban Magistrate’s Court yesterday to learn that their bail application was denied. They face charges of conspiracy to commit murder, murder of Forbes, murder of Motsoane, unlawful possession of a firearm, unlawful possession of ammunition, and five counts of attempted murder. Two additional charges of money laundering were added by the State. Four of the accused have other pending cases, except for the alleged mastermind…

As the countdown continues to the eagerly-awaited general elections set for May 29, conversations on the importance of encouraging the youth to come out in their numbers to vote have also intensified. Khulisa Social Solutions, a non-profit organisation, has been at the helm of driving critical discussions, emphasising the importance of holding leaders accountable for corruption, wasteful expenditure, and poor service. It is stated that these conversations were critical to promoting youth voting, since only 19% of eligible legal voters under the age of 19 registered to vote in the 2019 elections, and only 15% of them cast ballots. The SA Voter Sentiment Report indicated that just 30% of people aged between 20 and 29 voted. In the under-30 and under-40 age groups, there are about 7 million and nearly…

Internationally acclaimed local designer Thebe Magugu is one of the top creatives from South Africa, Lesotho and Malawi who have made the cut of the Création Africa business incubation programme which seeks to fast-track the entrepreneurial journey of African creatives. David Martinon, the French ambassador to South Africa, Lesotho, and Malawi, said over 700 entrepreneurs from these countries showed interest in being part of the programme. Création Africa is part of a continent-wide initiative launched in 2023 by the French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs focused on the cultural and creative industries in 16 African countries, as part of its renewed engagement to invest in entrepreneurship and creative industries on the continent. Magugu, who was unveiled alongside 11 other creatives at a breakfast event held in Braamfontein on Tuesday,…

You would be forgiven for thinking that Mazda had simply forgotten to create a new-generation CX-5. The current and second-generation Mazda CX-5 is showing its age, having been launched in world markets back in 2017. Its territory has also been seemingly threatened by other new Mazda SUVs that are not radically different in size and concept, from the smaller CX-30 to the US-market CX-50 and even the more upmarket CX-60. Yet despite its age and newfound internal competition, the CX-5 remains the brand’s best-seller worldwide, even in larger markets such as the US where it has to compete with the CX-50. The same is true in South Africa’s albeit significantly smaller market, with the CX-5 finding 107 homes in April 2024, more than double the CX-3’s volume. Contrary to earlier…