Pretoria News 2022-11-09

THE SOUTH African National Roads Agency Limited (Sanral) has confirmed that it will continue collecting e-tolls fees until the government decides otherwise. Sanral yesterday provided “clarity” on the next steps on Phase 1 of the Gauteng Freeway Improvement Programme (GFIP), colloquially known as e-tolls. In a statement, Sanral said that the GFIP Phase 1 was funded as part of the toll portfolio and not as a ring-fenced project. Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana last month announced that Sanral’s debt would be split 70/30 between the national and provincial governments, respectively. Sanral said the national government had affirmed that direct road user charges were the most effective, equitable and efficient way to finance road infrastructure. It said the decisions expected by the Gauteng government would include the treatment of legacy matters…

Engineering and contracting group sells Australian investment for A$350m THE MARKET yesterday cheered the announcement by Murray & Roberts (M&R) that it had agreed to sell its Australian subsidiary, Clough, to Webuild for R4 billion as it pairs debt and secures an urgent working cash injection. The news sent its shares surging to an intraday high of R6.10, rising by a whopping 32%. The shares closed at R5.42 on the JSE yesterday. They have dipped by 57.22% in the past six months. Henry Laas, M&R group chief executive, said: “This is a critical step, as the ERI (energy, resources and infrastructure) platform is in immediate need of a significant cash injection to service their order book and commercial commitments, which Murray & Roberts is not able to provide.” Yesterday,…

EMERGING economy leaders yesterday called for the developed world to fulfil its pledges and commitments toward financing initiatives aimed at dealing with climate change. The world leaders were delivering their national statements during the first part of the high-level segment of the 27th Conference of the Parties (COP27) United Nations Climate Change Conference (UNCCC) in Egypt yesterday. COP27 is a gathering of UN member states who have pledged to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to well below 2ºC and work hard to keep the 1.5ºC, in a bid to limit global warming. The Paris Agreement outlines long-term goals that guide governments towards limiting the global temperature increase to well below 2°C, while pursuing efforts to limit the increase even further to 1.5°C. According to a recent report by UK NGO Debt…

RENTAL property firm Hammerson’s share price surged almost 10% yesterday after it said rental collections had increased and were expected to improve even further. The shares traded at an intraday high of R4.87 but later closed lower at 7.32% up at R4.63. They have decreased by 21.02% in the past six months. In its third quarter trading, operational and rent collection update, the group said rent collections to date were at 93%. “Year-to-date, 221 leases have been signed, and this represents £17 million (R346.5m) of headline rent, 43% ahead of previous passing rent and 2% ahead of estimated rental value on a net effective basis.” More than half of leasing had been to non-fashion categories, including food and beverages, leisure and services. Best-in-class fashion brands and new concepts remained…

The World Health Organization estimates over 700 000 people worldwide commit suicide each year. That works out to one person every 40 seconds, on average. Globally, suicide is the fourth-leading cause of death for people aged 15 to 19. In South Africa, it accounts for 9% of all adolescent deaths, and the rate is rising. The problems young people presently encounter have been intensified by daily stressors, which have been aggravated by, among other things, bullying, ignorance, and isolation. Nkazimulo Zitha, head of School Achievement, says at SPARK Schools: “We constantly aim to create a community of well-informed and mentally healthy scholars who embody SPARK core values, are aware of wellbeing challenges and can communicate them. It starts by being well-informed and willing to have open conversations.” The goal is…

SELENA Gomez says her breaking up with Justin Bieber was the “best thing” that ever happened to her. The 30-year-old singer, who split from Bieber 28, in 2018, makes the declaration on her new Apple + documentary My Mind and Me. She said: “Everything was so public. I felt haunted by a past relationship that no one wanted to let go of. Then I just moved past it, and I wasn’t afraid anymore. “I feel like I had to go through the worst possible heartbreak ever and then just forgetting everything at the drop of the hand, it was really confusing. But I just think that needed to happen and ultimately it was the best thing that ever happened to me.” Gomez dated Bieber on-off for eight years and the…