Table of contents for 2024-11-28 in Star

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) said South Africa’s economic outlook was improving and activity was recovering, driven by recovering domestic demand supported by renewed post-election confidence, improved power generation without load shedding since the end of March, and declining interest rates. An IMF team led by Delia Velculescu visited South Africa from November 11-25 to hold meetings with the economic authorities and other counterparts from the public and private sectors for the 2024 Article IV annual consultation. Following discussions on policies to ensure macroeconomic stability and the required structural reforms to durably lift potential growth, create jobs, and facilitate the transition to a greener economy, the IMF revised South Africa’s GDP growth projections from the 0.9% predicted at mid-year to 1.1% now. The IMF’s statement follows other positive outlooks for…

Lamola says airline’s current strategy is marked by a conservative approach to expansion South African Airways (SAA) is positioning itself to be a conservative, lean and agile national carrier, but with big ambitions of growing its fleet of 16 aircraft to 43 over the next five years through a combination of savings, debt and strategic partnerships. This follows a remarkable financial turnaround, where the airline posted a net profit of R252 million for the 2022/23 financial year, significantly boosting total revenue by 183% from R2.0 billion to R5.7bn. SAA interim CEO John Lamola yesterday said SAA was committed to becoming a prudent and financially self-sufficient national carrier. Lamola said the airline’s current strategy was marked by a conservative approach to expansion. “There’s a very strong element of conservatism on the…

The price of Arabica coffee reached the highest level since 1977 in trading on Wednesday on concerns of limited supplies caused by drought in Brazil this year. A pound of Arabica beans listed in New York hit 320.10 US cents (R5 808), extending the commodity's rally over the past year and pushing past a nearly 30-year high the day prior. The all-time recorded high was 337.50 US cents in 1977. Brazil, the world's largest coffee producer, faced a record-breaking drought this year, which has raised significant concerns about the production potential for the crop in 2025/2026. The concerns come even after crops benefited from "significant rains" that returned in October, leading to an "excellent flowering", according to Guilherme Morya, a senior analyst at Rabobank. Price rises have also been buoyed…

This past week, the Gallagher Convention Centre in Midrand became the epicentre of South Africa’s entrepreneurial ecosystem as the National Presidential MSME & Cooperative Summit and Awards 2024 unfolded. Dubbed the premier platform for small business excellence, the event brought together policymakers, industry leaders and trailblazing entrepreneurs under one roof. The shared goal? To transform the country’s small business landscape and fulfil the bold ambition of creating one million startups and SMMEs by 2030. At the heart of the summit was the recognition of SMMEs as the backbone of South Africa’s economy. Small enterprises already account for 90% of businesses across Africa, contributing 50% to Africa’s GDP, yet the potential remains largely untapped. With unemployment in South Africa at 32.1% in quarter three 2024 and 8 million people out…

Virgin Mobile is perhaps South Africa’s best known mobile virtual network operator (MVNO) – not only because of the home company’s charismatic CEO – but also due to the waves it made when it launched in 2006 before seemingly fading from existence. Recently, two new companies have entered this space, targeting different demographics yet seeing a space for them to own a share of a market that, at first glance, may seem congested. In August, SIM-only offering C-CONNECT announced its arrival with offer of prepaid deals that reward users with 10% back (Cha-Ching) whenever they buy airtime that can be used on items such as electricity vouchers. Melon Mobile snuck into the market about 18 months ago, advertising itself on billboards, before an official media launch towards the end of…

The Bapedi nation is experiencing internal conflict after the appointment of former minister and ANC heavyweight advocate Ngoako Ramathlodi as its first prime minister. The announcement was made by the Bapedi royal family during a media briefing in Sandton yesterday, leaving some elders shocked and feeling excluded from the decision-making process. Critics within the royal council expressed their discontent, stating they were unaware of the announcement and had not been consulted about the selection of a prime minister. The controversy intensified as the announcement was made by Kabelo Matsepe, now known as Prince Mampuru Sekwati, who is embroiled in the VBS scandal. Matsepe is one of the 14 accused in the R2.3 billion scandal that devastated many investors, leaving them penniless after alleged looting. Matsepe’s involvement raised eyebrows, particularly as…

The Border Management Authority (BMA) announced that the ongoing protests have led to the partial closure of a road leading to the Maputo Harbour in Mozambique, which is affecting the movement of trucks passing through the Lebombo border. This comes after the BMA was forced to close the border between South Africa and Mozambique for a few days earlier this month due to safety concerns after sporadic tensions and protests in the small town of Ressano Garcia, which is located close to the Lebombo Port of Entry, erupted after the Mozambican elections. In a statement yesterday, BMA spokesperson, Mmemme Mogotsi, said both the BMA and the South African Revenue Service (SARS) have been informed by customs officials in Mozambique of a protest action affecting the road between Ressano Garcia and…

The November 2024 Household Affordability Index, released yesterday, showed a steady increase in the price of essential groceries, putting further strain on already stretched household budgets. Mervyn Abrahams, the programme coordinator of the Pietermaritzburg Economic Justice & Dignity Group, said: “Data from November indicates that while the household food basket is subdued, due mostly to lower vegetable prices, the basket on average continues to increase, albeit slowly. “At a total average cost of R5 361.04, the household food basket is still unaffordable for many, and with the additional volumes required to be bought, and the competition with Christmas clothes, and the January school opening, this period will be a hard one for most South African families,” Abrahams added. Month-on-month the average cost of the Household Food Basket increased by R12.39…

Children’s rights organisations have expressed outrage at the significant increase in crime against children in South Africa, as 315 were killed and there were attempts on the lives of 490 others. As the country marked the start of the 16 Days of Activism campaign on Monday, police crime statistics shows that 957 women were murdered between July and September 2024, an increase compared to the second quarters over the past two years. In the Western Cape, 96 children were killed in three months compared to 59 children in 2023 and 55 in 2022. There were also attempts on the lives of 245 children and 398 suffered from Grievous Bodily Harm (GBH), meaning they experienced assault that caused serious physical harm. Provincial police commissioner Thembisile Patekile said the majority of the…

AFTER nearly two years of closure, the Rebecca Street Crematorium in Pretoria West is set to resume operations on December 2, bringing much-needed relief to bereaved families in need of cremation services. The crematorium has undergone significant refurbishments and upgrades to enhance operational efficiency and comply with environmental regulations. Mayor Nasiphi Moya, who announced the facility’s reopening during a public meeting, said it has secured a five-year licence paving the way for the resumption of cremation service. In the past the municipality was inundated with complaints from residents and undertakers that the facility was dysfunctional, leading to a project to refurbish it. Many bereaved families and undertakers had to travel long distances to access cremation services outside the municipality, incurring unnecessary transport costs. Moya said the facility has been closed…

In a resounding affirmation of its growing stature as a leader in academic excellence and innovation, Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University (SMU) celebrates the remarkable achievement of Emmanuel Mukisa Kiyonga, who emerged as the overall winner of the 2024 EDHE Entrepreneurship Intervarsity Awards. Emmanuel Mukisa Kiyonga, emerged as the overall winner of the 2024 EDHE Entrepreneurship Intervarsity Awards The EDHE Entrepreneurship Intervarsity Awards is an annual competition organised by the Entrepreneurship Development in Higher Education initiative in South Africa. The awards aim to identify, celebrate, and support the brightest entrepreneurial talents from South Africa’s 26 public universities. It provides student entrepreneurs, or “studentpreneurs,” with a platform to showcase their ideas and ventures to investors, mentors, and industry leaders. Over the years, the competition has grown into a prestigious platform that…

The North West provincial Department of Social Development has received information indicating that about 96 undocumented children had been arrested and are detained as part of the illegal miners at Stilfontein. “Most of the illicit miners, including undocumented children, are suspected to be originating from SADC countries, namely Mozambique, Namibia, Zimbabwe and Lesotho,” said social development spokesperson, Bathembu Futshane. He highlighted that the Department of Social Development, in terms of the Constitution of South Africa, the Children’s Act, Child Justice Act and the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) is mandated to protect the rights of children. Based on the outcomes of the court proceedings, Futshane said the department will seek to place all identified and legally declared undocumented children in accommodation, and provide for their…

The flagship model of the Audi Q family, the Q8, has gone for cosmetic surgery, with improvements to the design and technology offering. Up front is a new single frame grille with an octagon design and vertical inlays. The inlays are arranged in a teardrop shape in the base version, and an L shape in the higher-end S Line exterior package as well as the flagship SQ8 TFSI. The redesigned headlights option- ally feature HD Matrix LED technology, an additional laser light and digital daytime-running lights. Fitted as standard are high-intensity LED headlights. Available for the first time in the Q8 are digital OLED taillights which feature four digital light signatures in conjunction with the headlights. The S Line exterior package is now closer in appearance to the SQ8…

THE EFF leadership thinks there is a plan to manage defections by staggering them over time. For them, this is dishonesty. It is an unfair attempt to sustain a narrative of an EFF that is bleeding. We do not know if that is true but we do know that the EFF is in an awkward position of having to defend and redefine itself on changing dynamics. South African party politics have changed in significant ways since the emergence of the MK Party (MKP). But this is not the first appearance of some realignment of politics happening. When Jacob Zuma rose to leadership, the governing ANC went through a rocky period that changed much in our politics. The emergence of Cope garnering more than a million votes in 2009 was a…

South African manufacturers’ confidence levels have lifted by a healthy eight points to reach 36 index points during the fourth quarter of this year, even though this remains below the 50-points expansion threshold. According to the Absa Manufacturing Survey for the fourth quarter of 2024, this was the highest level since the first quarter of 2022. This survey, released yesterday, shows that production, domestic and export sales, as well as new orders, have improved and recorded levels better than initially expected. While both domestic and export selling price inflation eased, the total cost of production per unit also declined significantly. The reduction in the raw material price per unit contributed the most to the overall production cost dropping sharply by 20 points, quarter-on-quarter. Justin Schmidt, the executive for the manufacturing…

The uptake of smoke-free nicotine products is improving across Africa although regional policy positions in some countries such as South Africa are holding back speedy impacts in harm reduction associated with tobacco products. Companies such as British American Tobacco, Philip Morris International and others are moving away from combustible cigarettes and rolling out smoke-free nicotine products in markets such as South Africa. This comes as there are global efforts to reduce deaths related to tobacco use. While it has become “extremely challenging to stop tobacco use,” the “use of newer products to encourage users to move away from combustion tobacco” is gaining traction across the African continent, said Mercy Korir, a Kenyan medical expert, told harm reduction experts in Nairobi yesterday. However, there are regulatory hold-ups in regional countries such…

Renergen is known as a company that owns a potentially large gas project near Virginia in the Free State. This gas project is claimed to contain the highest concentration of helium worldwide. Renergen owns an onshore petroleum production plant right to the Virginia Gas Project that is rich in methane (LNG) and helium, and the group is developing in a two-phased approach. Renergen is in a formidable position to move up the value curve as Phase One nears first production. Importantly, the Virginia’s Phase Two could be multiples the size of Phase One and unlock staggering value in the group. However, this will require substantial capital which the company to date has been unable to secure. There have been huge expectations from the company. Notwithstanding the massive, stated reserves and…

Anglo American Platinum (Amplats) share price ticked 2.9% lower to R582.13 in afternoon trade on the JSE after its parent company, Anglo American, announced yesterday it had trended down its interests in the South African platinum group metals (PGM) miner by 6% in a deal criticised by watchers as negative for shareholders. Anglo American is disposing of its steel-making coal, platinum, diamonds and nickel operations as it restructures its operations to focus on copper and crop nutrients. After announcing the disposal of its Australian steelmaking coal operations on Tuesday, the focus for Anglo American is now on the demerger of Amplats. This gathered speed yesterday when Anglo American announced that it had “sold 17,500,000 ordinary shares (in) Anglo American Platinum,” representing 6.6% of the total issued ordinary share capital of…

The Randburg Magistrate’s Court has postponed the contempt of court case against Longwe Twala, the son of ace producer Sello ‘Chicco’ Twala, to December 4. Longwe made a brief appearance yesterday, following his re-arrest for failing to show up in court on housebreaking charges over two months ago. During a brief appearance, Longwe attempted to explain his absence from the October 25 hearing regarding the alleged theft of his father’s studio equipment. He claimed that he had been unwell and had instructed his aunt to inform the court of his condition. However, the presiding magistrate, Hleziphi Mkhasibe, sought further clarification. She inquired whether he could provide a doctor’s certificate to substantiate his claims, which he was unable to produce. As a result, the magistrate postponed the case to allow the…

Celebrated media personality Somizi Mhlongo has signed a one-year contract with Kota Festival as their new ambassador following a media briefing held in Newtown, Johannesburg, on Tuesday. In another move, the Kota Festival Tour will be powered by a strategic partnership with leading brands such as Albany and All Gold. Following a three-year partnership deal, Albany will step in as the title sponsor with a remarkable R12.9 million investment. During the media briefing, Somizi expressed his enthusiasm for the festival, highlighting the importance of contributing positively to society. “As much as I know that the festival is growing, we need to look further down the line and say in three years what has been our contribution to this programme. We must not just be the face of the brand but…

Award-winning entrepreneur Teboho Nthoana has said that the township economy was a misunderstood concept, adding that there were a lot of things that people were missing when it comes to the township market and economy on its own. Speaking at the PSG Think Big Seminar on Tuesday, Nthoana said one of the things Statistics South Africa released in 2020 was the size of the township economy, which was worth R400 billion then. “That on its own speaks to the informal sector, which contributes about 28% to the GDP of the country according to the South African Reserve Bank,” Nthoana said. “So that on its own goes to show the township market retail size of R120bn. That shows there is untapped potential that can be taken advantage of. One of the…

In the world of football, stories of triumph over adversity resonate strongly, and few narratives embody this more poignantly than that of Mohau Nkota. Born in Kimberley, this young winger has swiftly risen to prominence at Orlando Pirates, transforming from an under-the-radar talent to a key player with lofty ambitions, all within a mere six months. Since stepping onto the senior stage, Nkota has made an indelible mark, contributing significantly to a Sea Robbers team who are making waves not only domestically, but across the African continent. Teaming up with fellow prodigy Relebohile Mofokeng, the pair of 20-year-olds have electrified fans with their dynamic play, evoking memories of legendary duos in South African football history. Nkota’s ascent to glory, however, has not been without its challenges. A pivotal moment arrived…

RAIN saved South Africa’s batting innings at Kingsmead in Durban yesterday as the visiting Sri Lankan team had the hosts reeling on 80/4 inside the first two hours of play of the first Test. At some point, due to the moisture in the air at Kingsmead and the pitch having been under covers overnight, it seemed almost impossible to survive at the crease long enough, let alone score runs. Right-arm fast bowler Lahiru Kumara was lethal with his express pace, and the sharp in-swingers that he was able to deliver at the Proteas batters. As a result, the quick grabbed two wickets as he got Tristan Stubbs (16) caught in the slip cordon and uprooted David Bedingham’s (4) off-stump. Sri Lanka’s opening bowlers, Vishwa Fernando (1/17) and Asitha Fernando (1/22),…

The Bulls have pushed themselves to play an exciting attacking style during the Jake White era, but may have to again rein themselves in for Saturday’s United Rugby Championship clash against Connacht in Galway (7.30pm start). It has been a tough old slog for the Pretoria side this season, with three out of their five matches so far being up north, and with their next two weeks also being on the road. The Connacht encounter will be followed by their Champions Cup opener against Saracens in London on December 7, and then they travel back home to finish the year against Northampton at Loftus Versfeld and the Sharks in Durban. Their schedule resulted in their Springboks having to be away from home for two more weeks, after the 45-12 win…

The CSA Four-Day Series is slowly starting to take shape, and the Lions have set the early pace in defence of their title as they prepare to welcome the Warriors at the Wanderers today (10am start). The table-toppers will be out to carry their momentum against the winless Eastern Cape side at the Bullring, where they have maintained a 100% record, with wins against the Titans in the first round by 153 runs and Western Province by 125 runs last week. The Joburg side, currently on 60.40 points, lead the Titans (46.4), followed closely by the Knights (44.18), with Western Province rounding off the top four on 39.5 points. One of the stars for the Lions this season has been fast bowler Codi Yusuf, who claimed 5/71 against WP. The…

Three large pathology companies, Ampath, PathCare and Lancet Laboratories, yesterday denied before the Competition Tribunal that they had charged excessive prices for COVID-19 PCR tests and instead asked that the allegations against them should be dropped. During the pandemic, the Competition Tribunal signed agreements with the three pathology firms to lower the price of a PCR test from R850 to R500 following an investigation into the prices by the Competition Commission. The Health Funders Association (HFA) and medical schemes have subsequently applied for an order from the competition authorities that the laboratory firms had engaged in excessive pricing through the pandemic. The HFA and medical schemes intend to make damages claims against the pathology companies in court. Legal counsel for the HFA and medical schemes argued that they were not…

The Insurance Sector Education and Training Authority (INSETA) is set to host its Annual General Meeting (AGM) on Friday at the Sandton Convention Centre. The event will mark the fourth year of its 2019/20 to 2024/25 strategic plan, highlighting its achievements and unveiling future goals. INSETA has positioned itself as a critical driver of skills development in South Africa's insurance sector. The authority has supported 61 961 beneficiaries to date and aims to reach 80 000 by the end of the financial year. “INSETA has fundamentally repositioned itself as a catalyst and contributor to transformation through skills development within the financial and insurance sector,” said CEO Gugu Mkhize. Despite challenges posed by the Covid-19 pandemic, which saw performance dip to 72% in 2020/21, INSETA said in a statement it had…

Everyone knows about Black Friday and Cyber Monday, but have you heard of Small Business Saturday? Falling on November 30 this year, Small Business Saturday is a day where shoppers are encouraged to go local, choosing quality and community support over mass-produced goods. For South African small business owners, this is a chance to showcase the distinctive offerings that only homegrown enterprises can provide – whether that’s personalised service, proudly South African products, or a direct contribution to the community. Here are five ways to leverage Small Business Saturday to benefit your business: Market your participation Communicating to customers that you’re participating in Small Business Saturday is crucial, so start promoting early and highlight any exclusive offers or unique products available on the day. Social media storytelling can help amplify…

Uber’s platform contributed approximately R17 billion to South Africa’s economy in 2023, according to the e-hailing giant's first Impact Report for the country, released on Wednesday. The report examined Uber’s role in driving economic value across sectors, including tourism, restaurants and the nighttime economy. It estimates that drivers and delivery people using the Uber app earned an additional R2.3bn annually – averaging 57% more than their next-best alternative. The flexibility of Uber's gig model added a further R1.4bn in financial value. Uber Eats created R1.6bn in additional value for local restaurants by enabling them to leverage delivery as an additional revenue stream, while the Uber app created R1bn in additional value for the South African tourism industry, supporting millions of tourist journeys. Uber Eats also reported saving consumers 12.7…

The music world is often described as a brotherhood, a unity that binds artists together, especially in times of adversity. The sentiment was beautifully captured recently when South African rapper Da L.E.S, known as The North God, received a heartfelt visit from some of his industry colleagues after a harrowing health ordeal that saw him hospitalised after a stroke. In July, the hip hop star was admitted to the hospital, marking the beginning of a challenging chapter in his life. He has since emerged from the experience with a renewed sense of gratitude and resilience. This week, a tweet by online user @MalumeRichie went viral, showcasing a touching moment as some of Mzansi’s leading stars – Cassper Nyovest, L-Tido, Maggz and Kabelo Mabalane – stopped by his house to check…

AS South Africa marked 247 load shedding-free days, power utility Eskom received more good news yesterday as S&P Global Ratings upgraded the state-owned entity’s credit ratings, moving Eskom’s long-term global scale foreign and local currency ratings from stable to positive. Eskom’s national scale issuer credit rating also improved from ‘zaBBB’ to ‘zaBBB+’, while its short-term national scale rating of ‘zaA-2’ was reaffirmed. S&P said: “The stable outlook reflects our view that the group’s creditworthiness will continue to benefit from explicit and timely support from the South African government, facilitating a strengthening of Eskom’s liquidity position and less risk of default as the debt relief agreement is implemented as stipulated.” However, the ratings agency warned: “Eskom’s operating performance and cash flow will remain under pressure, even though the expected injections will…

A heartfelt letter from a survivor of the 1972 terrorist attack by the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP) – Juan Rodriguez – is challenging the Joburg municipality’s proposal of renaming Sandton Drive to Leila Khaled. The survivor of the Lod Airport Massacre detailed how a bloodbath ensued when he went on a religious vacation to Israel, which led to the murder of his then 20-year-old girlfriend, Carmen Crespo. The PFLP terrorist attack also killed 26 other people. “When we landed at the Lod Airport, we joined other passengers in the arrivals hall. “Then out of nowhere, gunfire erupted. I was shot in the leg. It was terrifying, but I was lucky – the bullet did not go deeper. “My girlfriend, Carmen, was not as fortunate. She was…

The Gauteng government has rolled out a fleet of new police vehicles as part of its ongoing efforts to combat lawlessness in the province. Premier Panyaza Lesufi delivered an emphatic keynote address at the vehicle handover ceremony held in Midrand, highlighting the critical need for action against escalating crime rates. Speaking to a gathering of community leaders and law enforcement officials, Lesufi emphasised that the newly allocated vehicles would significantly bolster the South African Police Service (SAPS) in its ongoing battle against crime. “Today we are declaring something that is really important, no excuse,” he asserted. “We have done everything humanly possible to turn around the tide of lack of resources to be where we are.” Lesufi’s remarks were complemented by a report on the substantial investments made in police…

As South Africa marks the 16 Days of Activism for No Violence Against Women and Children, a new study revealed that alcohol plays a significant role in gender-based violence (GBV), especially in areas such as Ga-Rankuwa outside Pretoria. The joint study done by the Southern African Alcohol Policy Alliance and the South African Medical Research Council highlights the urgent need to address alcohol’s role in GBV. The study maps alcohol outlet density and outlet trading times in Ga-Rankuwa and Thembalethu in the Southern Cape. The findings reveal an alarming prevalence of alcohol outlets in residential areas, contributing to harmful drinking patterns and increased violence. “In Ga-Rankuwa, 92.7% of the 178 identified outlets operate in residential zones, while in Thembalethu, 96% of 205 outlets are similarly situated,” Dr Leane Ramsoomar, one…

Dr Elizabeth Mkandawire, Network and Research Manager for the Food Systems Research Network for Africa (FSNet-Africa), has warned that the escalation of food insecurity demands immediate intervention and a coordinated global response. Newly released data paints a grim picture of global food security, with nearly 9% of the world’s population suffering from undernourishment in 2023. The crisis has deepened in recent years, with approximately 735 million people now facing hunger and 2.4 billion lacking reliable access to nutritious food. In Africa, the situation is particularly dire, with over 129,000 individuals currently experiencing famine conditions, highlighting the urgent need for decisive action. "The current food crisis requires urgent attention and collaborative intervention from all stakeholders," states Mkandawire. The network, established through a strategic partnership…

In a celebration filled with love and nostalgia, Thelma Owen marked an extraordinary milestone this past weekend, ringing in her 100th birthday surrounded by family and friends. A seasoned seamstress and entrepreneur, Owen attributes her longevity to a healthy lifestyle, a positive attitude, and the love of her family. “I feel very blessed to have reached this age,” Owen expressed. “My body is failing me with arthritis in my knees, but I am lucky my mind is still okay. My family is very proud to have me reach 100, and they have all rallied around me at this time. I appreciate it very much the celebration party they had for me.” The celebration was not just any ordinary gathering but a heartfelt reunion that brought together loved ones from far…

The scourge of gender-based violence (GBV) continues to cause harm in society daily, affecting millions worldwide. The World Health Organization estimates that nearly one in three (30%) women worldwide have experienced physical and/or sexual violence at the hands of their intimate partners or non-partners. Framed by the gruesome realities women go through, the fight against GBV calls for sustained commitment, extending beyond a yearly 16-day campaign. While GBV is recognised to be affecting women the most, it is crucial to acknowledge that there are men who are also victims of GBV. Stigma is cited as one of the factors that discourage men from reporting abuse, leading to under-reporting and inadequate support for male victims. Therefore, recognising and responding to the experiences of all genders is essential to addressing GBV effectively.…

As we reflect on South Africa’s 30-year democratic journey, we cannot ignore the challenges that continue to impact our society. Among these, gender-based violence (GBV) remains one of the most pressing. The Gauteng Department of Social Development has played a crucial role in addressing GBV. Its committed to creating safe communities, empowering victims and holding perpetrators accountable by working with law enforcement to ensure strict enforcement of laws, providing survivor support services and establishing confidential reporting systems. The department also promote public awareness and continues to advocate for specialised GBV courts. The department supports rehabilitation programmes for offenders, engages men and boys in prevention efforts and fosters partnerships with communities to challenge harmful norms and promote accountability. This has transformed lives and paved the way for meaningful, long-term societal change.…

ON the face of it, Mamelodi Sundowns’ goalless draw in their CAF Champions League Group B opener against SC Maniema Union is a big blow to the Brazilians’ quest for glory in the continent’s premier club knockout competition. After all, don’t they always say that to be successful in such a team, they need to make sure they win their home matches and at least get a draw on the road? And with Maniema regarded as the weakest team in the group that also includes Moroccan teams Raja Casabalanca and AS Far Rabat, not being able to beat the Congolese at Loftus Versfeld on Tuesday night would seem to suggest that the South African champions are not as good as their coach would like us to believe they are. Manqoba…

Talk of their past success at the Dubai SVNS hasn’t been part of the conversation for the Springbok Sevens as they put the final preparations in place for the first tournament of the new season. While the Blitzboks have won the opening event of the fast-paced tournament for the past five years in a row, they know that will count for little when they open their account on Saturday in the United Arab Emirates. Olympic bronze medallist Tristan Leyds will be making his debut appearance at The Sevens Stadium and he is eager to make a telling contribution when the Blitzboks face Australia (8.50am), Kenya (12.58pm) and Olympic champions France (6.44pm) in the group stages. All eyes will be on the 27-year-old playmaker, who will be the general in the…