Table of contents for 2022-02-01 in Star

Edward West edward.west@inl.co.za IRONGATE Group’s (formerly Investec Australia Property Fund or IAP) share price shot up 13.5 percent yesterday after it received a $1.3 billion (R20.25bn) cash bid buy-out offer from Charter Hall Managed Partnership that will open the door for a suitor that IAP’s board has rejected three times already. The Charter Hall partnership, which comprises Dutch pension fund PGGM and Charter Hall, said yesterday the offer at A$1.90 (R20.68) per share would also allow IAP’s shareholders to retain a distribution for the year to March 31 of up to 4.67 cents per share – the distribution amount represents the top end of guidance provided by IAP on December 9, 2021. IAP’s share price traded at R19.94 on the JSE yesterday morning. The offer includes an…

Average Brent crude oil price increased from $76 to $87 per barrel in period under review Siphelele Dludla siphelele.dludla@inl.co.za SOUTH African consumers are set to continue feeling the pinch of elevated consumer prices as international oil prices rose to a record high while commodity prices eased. The Department of Mineral Resources and Energy (DMRE) yesterday announced the first fuel price hike for this year, kicking off tomorrow. High fuel prices, together with headline inflation at an elevated 5.9 percent and interest rates at 4 percent have already stretched consumer finances and dented real earnings. The DMRE said the price of petrol would increase by 53 cents per litre while diesel would rise by 80c per litre, and illuminating paraffin would jump by a massive R1.01 per litre.…

Philippa Larkin philippa.larkin@inl.co.za OLD MUTUAL once more was victorious against former chief executive Peter Moyo as the Gauteng local division of the High Court yesterday found in favour of the insurance group and threw out the R250 million damages claim. Following Moyo’s initial interim reinstatement application in July 2019, yesterdays’s decision added to numerous judgments finding Old Mutual acted lawfully in terminating his contract. Moyo was back in court earlier this month in his bid for reinstatement and damages following his dismissal twice from the insurance and investment group in 2019 for alleged conflict of interest. In his judgment yesterday, after two weeks of hearings, Judge Gregory Wright found that Moyo had failed to produce evidence on which it could be held that Old Mutual did anything wrongful in…

DUE TO improved medical care and other factors that contribute to the life expectancy of people, it is estimated that the global population of those over 60 will grow with 65 percent to 2 billion people from 2021 to 2040. Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, many of these older consumers realised the benefits of the digital world when they were forced online to stay in contact with family and friends, as well as to do their shopping. This relatively wealthy age group thus became more familiar and comfortable with technology and the use of online services. As they gained more experience and confidence they became empowered to make online purchases and to use online services. Now the elderly are increasingly choosing to adopt more technology- driven solutions to assist…

Kedibone Modise kedibone.modise@inl.co.za Amapiano artists 9umba, Mdoovar and Toss’s single uMlando recently sparked a viral challenge across social media, instantly solidifying their presence on the local music scene. The trio became an overnight sensation when the uMlando challenge started topping the social media trends just a few weeks into the new year. It all started when Toss shared a topless video of himself shaking his hips sideways, dancing to uMlando. The original video, which garnered over a million views on Twitter, saw men and women taking up the challenge, as they danced the January blues away on rooftops, moving cars, on top of furniture. “We grew up doing this dance, ekasi lam (my hood) we used to call it 2by2. “After we recorded the song, u9umba shot the video of…

Staff Reporter WHILE disgraced TV and media personality Katlego Maboe’s publicist has announced that he has been absolved of allegations of misconduct, made by his former girlfriend Monique Muller in October 2020, Muller said this was a “false narrative”. Publicist Lerato Maleswena said Maboe had been absolved of the charges against him in the Cape Town Magistrate’s Court.“The court agreed with the submission of a Point in Limine from Mr Maboe’s legal team, ruling there were no grounds for obtaining the protection order. “The court has not made a finding of acts of domestic violence allegedly perpetrated against Ms Muller, and as such, the matter has been dismissed. This is a great victory for Mr Maboe, who has maintained his innocence throughout the two-year ordeal.” Muller, however, said the judgment…

Accused of nepotism after son received a tender and graphics design deal in Parliament Itumeleng Mafisa THE Institute for Democracy and Transformation has joined the call for ANC Chief Whip Pemmy Majodina to get the chop. The institute has now complained to Public Protector Busisiwe Mkhwebane, requesting her to investigate ANC chief whip Majodina and her son Mkhonto Wesizwe. This follows an exposé of how Majodina’s son received a PPE tender and a graphics design deal with Parliament. ANC MP Lawrence McDonald has also laid a criminal complaint of fraud and corruption against Majodina at the Cape Town Central police station. The Institute has accused Majodina of suspending ANC MP Mervyn Dirks as revenge for Dirks’ complaint about Majodina junior’s tender to procure thermometers for ANC constituency offices, an…

Tarryn-Leigh Solomons tarryn-leigh.solomons@inl.co.za NATIONAL Assembly Speaker Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula says preparations for the hosting of the State of the Nation Address (Sona) are at an advanced stage. Yesterday, in an official ceremony, the City Hall was officially handed over to Parliament ahead of Sona, which will be delivered by President Cyril Ramaphosa next week. “We will not divulge much at this moment regarding the ongoing preparatory work, as a special media briefing on the state of readiness will be conducted closer to the date of the Sona,” she said at the event. An alternative venue was sought after a fire the National Assembly and Old Assembly buildings in early January. Judgment against the alleged arsonist, Zandile Mafe, is expected to be heard on Friday. “One of the greatest losses South Africans…

Anita Nkonki THE unveiling of the contestants on the upcoming season of MasterChef SA has sparked viewers’ interest, particularly those who can blissfully spend hours creating culinary masterpieces in their kitchens. Fans of the show won’t have to wait much longer as Season 4 will be gracing their screens on M-Net on February 28. A total of 20 contestants will battle it out for the title. The winner will walk away with the R1 million grand prize. MasterChef SA was discontinued in 2016 but is now making a bold return – and home cooks are ready for it. The contestants, who are a diverse mix of people, have a common goal – to impress the new judging panel of Zola Nene, Gregory Czarnecki and Justine Drake. M-Net channel director Jan…

Goitsemang Tlhabye goitsemang.tlhabye@inl.co.za THE SA National Roads Agency has pleaded with Tshwane residents to drive cautiously around a sinkhole along the N1 South in Centurion, and to avoid stopping to take pictures of it while work is under way to repair it. Sanral’s northern region manager, Progress Hlahla, said the agency warned motorists to slow down and take heed of the signage around the area, in which a sinkhole developed earlier this month. Hlahla said Sanral strongly dissuaded residents in and around the area from stopping at the site to take pictures of the sinkhole, as such conduct was dangerous. “There are many complexities to consider when dealing with sinkholes. Hence we urge people not to stop to take pictures, as the ground may give in to reveal the sinkhole,…

Wynona Louw wynona.louw@inl.co.za Stand-in Blitzboks captain Impi Visser says he believes that everybody in his team “just wanted it more” after winning their sixth straight tournament final in Seville, Spain, at the weekend. The reigning World Sevens Series champions beat Australia 33-7 in the final of the Seville tournament on Sunday evening to claim their fourth title in the 2022 season, while equalling the second-longest winning streak of all time set by New Zealand’s 2001/02 team with 34 straight wins. The South Africans reigned supreme in Vancouver and Edmonton in the 2021 season, and continued their dominance by doubling up on tournament gold medals in Dubai, before making a clean sweep in Malaga and Seville as well. Visser - who took over the captaincy from Siviwe Soyizwapi after he was…

Morgan Bolton morgan.bolton@inl.co.za The Bulls will be on double duty this week as they tackle the Currie Cup tomorrow and then face the Emirates Lions in the return fixture of a United Rugby Championship (URC) at the weekend. The Bulls have not split their squad for either tournament, opting to keep their player base together, so their veterans, for all intents and purposes, should be eligible for the Free State Cheetahs clash midweek (kick-off 5.45pm) and the Lions encounter on Saturday (3pm), both at Loftus Versfeld. And their recent success against their neighbours – a 34-10 victory at Emirates Airline Park – and a 40-21 whipping of Western Province in the Currie Cup a fortnight ago, should be the perfect morale boost and momentum builder for both clashes. Nonetheless, Bulls…

Edward West edward.west@inl.co.za MTN’S SHARE price was one of the big movers in the JSE yesterday, climbing more than 8 percent after subsidiary MTN Nigeria Communications reported a 45.5 percent increase in earnings per share to Naira 14.67 (about 55 cents) for the year to December 31, 2021. Mobile subscribers fell by 8 million to 68.5 million, but returned to positive net additions in the fourth quarter. Active data users increased by 1.7 million to 34.3 million. Fintech subscribers rose sharply by 4.8 million to 9.4 million. Earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation grew by 27.9 percent to N877.1 billion (R32.8bn). Taxed profit increased 45.5 percent to N298.7bn. A final divi- dend of N8.57 per share would bring…

Dieketseng Maleke dieketseng.maleke@inl.co.za IN AN EFFORT to embark on a transformation and diversify its portfolio, junior coal producer Wescoal proposes to change the company’s name to Salungano Group Limited. The name change is subject to the shareholders’ approval. Salungano was a Venda word for passing on knowledge, heritage, a vision, and generational mission through storytelling and now assets, Wescoal said. The JSE-listed coal miner Wescoal is currently exploring opportunities in the renewable space. The group’s strategy is to transition into a diversified energy group. According to the company, the name change came about as it was embarking on a transformation that would spearhead an evolution that would see it invest in multiple industries and diverse sectors of the economy underpinned by a strong focus on ESG (environmental, social and governance).…

LAST week, Transparency International, a global movement working towards ridding businesses, governments, civil society and ordinary people of corruption, released its annual Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) report, which showed that South Africa is among the 131 countries that have over the past decade stagnated in the ranking. The country scored 44 on a scale of 0 to 100. President Cyril Ramaphosa also authorised the public release of the final report of local forensic investigation and civil litigation agency, the Special Investigating Unit’s (SIU’s) probe into the procurement of goods, works and services associated with the Covid-19 pandemic by all spheres of government. The SIU said it had investigated close to 5 500 contracts awarded to more than 3 000 service providers, valued at R14.3 billion. While South Africans have been…

Tom Holland has reportedly purchased a R62 million London pad for him and his girlfriend, Zendaya. The Spider-Man: No Way Home star and his co-star – who already owns a luxurious Los Angeles mansion – are said to be keen to splash the cash on renovating the house, with plans for a cinema, gym, and even a man cave. The six-bed home is near the 25-year-old actor’s hometown of Kingston upon Thames, where his parents still live. A source told The Sunday Mirror: “They are over the moon about the property and getting their first home together. They are very much in love and wanted their first home to be in London where Tom grew up. Everyone is thrilled for them.” The pair’s romance became public last year, and the…

Bongani Nkosi bongani.nkosi@inl.co.za A FRIEND who was with Muzikayise Malephane just hours before he murdered Tshegofatso Pule has taken the stand to testify about calls he alleges the killer received ahead of the crime. Muzi Khumalo, who grew up with Malephane in Soweto, testified that the incessant calls to the murderer’s phone were from Ntuthuko Shoba, accused of ordering a hit on Pule. Shoba, an axed JSE analyst, faces counts of murder, alternatively conspiracy to commit murder and defeating the ends of justice. He is accused of arranging for Malephane, a self-confessed criminal who used to break into homes and hijack cars, to kill Pule because he wanted to hide her pregnancy from his full-time partner. He had an on-off romantic relationship with Pule, 28, who was eight months’ pregnant…

Itumeleng Mafisa THE DA has called for a public-private partnership to help fund repairs to the Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Academic Hospital, which needs at least R1 billion to again become fully operational. The hospital suffered damage a few months ago after it was gutted by a fire that led to its closure and patients being moved to other hospitals. The hospital has been partially functioning but important sections such as the heart, cancer and respiratory wards have not been opened. This has led to a backlog in specialist surgeries and the treatment of some illnesses. DA spokesperson on health Jack Bloom said Charlotte Maxeke was a specialist public hospital that played an important role in specialist services for the people of Johannesburg and other parts of the country. He called…

Lehlohonolo Mashigo lehlohonolo.mashigo@inl.co.za CIVIL society organisation the Assembly of the Unemployed (AoU) said it was disappointed to learn President Cyril Ramaphosa’s economic advisory council warned against the implementation of a permanent basic income grant. The Assembly said they and other civil society movements had campaigned tirelessly for the implementation of a Basic Income Grant of R1 500 per month for all unemployed between the ages of 18 to 59, including caregivers, home-based workers and precarious workers who earned below the national minimum wage. “This will bring much-needed relief to millions of South Africans who are languishing in poverty,” said AoU. AoU also said there seemed to be a lack of political will from the government to act on this. It said Ramaphosa had raised hopes when he introduced the R350…

Anita Nkonki anita.nkonki@inl.co.za A FEW days after media personality Bonang Matheba shared her legal victory against the social media star Rea Gopane, he posted on his social media account that he will not pay Matheba a single dime. Gopane was embroiled in a legal battle with Matheba after he alleged publicly that the former Metro FM host introduced her ex-lover, rapper Kiernan “AKA” Forbes, to cocaine. In a statement shared by Matheba it was revealed that he would have to pay compensatory damages to her over his several unjustified attacks on her reputation. Gopane recently made a video and shared it on social media, making it clear he will not pay a cent to Bonang. “Let me tell you something real quick; come closer. She is not getting a cent.…

THERE are talks in media circles of whether France is behind the recent coups that have plagued French West Africa. Some are even suggesting that this signals a return to coups in Africa as in the past. The question that needs to be asked is: Are these coups happening in isolation or there is someone behind them? A closer look at the events unfolding in many of these former French colonies – or should we rather say, still French colonies – seem to be pointing at France as being behind these military take-overs. Starting from Mali, Chad, Sudan, Guinea, and now Burkina Faso, the trend seems similar. First, all the officers who have led these coups with the exception of Sudan (which is an appendage of certain Gulf countries and…

FACED with house arrest and possible beheading for the blasphemy of stating scientific facts, after judgment Galileo Galilei said eppur si muove – meaning “yet it moves”. So was the opposing voice in the leaked social policy position on the basic income grant (BIG) – eppur si muove. Amid everything that leaks and stinks in our Stinkwater tribal authority is the alarming but unsurprising leak of the Presidential Economic Advisory Council document a mere two weeks from the State of the Nation Address (Sona). Stinkwater is our latter day South Africa. This is where everything leaks and stinks in the physical and the virtual space. The stink and leak are what join us as a nation from the highest to the lowest levels of our public and private…

Virginia Giuffre’s lawyer has warned Prince Andrew he is in for an uncomfortable two days when he sits for a deposition. Giuffre – formerly known as Virginia Roberts – has accused convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein – who took his own life in August 2019 – and his one-time girlfriend Ghislaine Maxwell of arranging and forcing her into having sex with the Duke of York in 2001, and as part of the civil case, the 61-year-old prince will sit for a deposition in London before the July 14 deadline set by the judge. Giuffre’s attorney, David Boies, suggested the questioning under oath would be uncomfortable for Andrew, who has insisted he did nothing wrong. Asked what he is expecting from the meeting – which he said will likely last a…

Lehlohonolo Mashigo lehlohonolo.mashigo@inl.co.za Self-proclaimed Bishop Bafana Zondo has come under fire from non-governmental organisation (NGO) Sister’s Keeper Movement after allegedly having a birthday celebration at his Rivers of Living Waters Ministries Church. Sisters Keepers Movement and gender-based violence (GBV) activist Lebo Moemisi said that kind of celebration did no good for people like him. “I know that our law says you are innocent until proven guilty, but because there are people who have accused you of a crime like this, how about you lay low and we don’t see you partying up a storm,” she said. Moemisi said she was bewildered at how the bishop can be seen celebrating life after being accused of such. She says she is not happy. She said the self-proclaimed bishop was not showing any…

Kailene Pillay kailene.pillay@inl.co.za CONSTITUTIONAL Court Justice Mbuyiseli Madlanga will be the first to take the hot seat as the long-awaited interviews to select South Africa’s next chief justice start this morning. The other shortlisted candidates for the job are Deputy Chief Justice Raymond Zondo, Supreme Court of Appeal Judge President Mandisa Maya and Gauteng Judge President Dunstan Mlambo. The four will this week appear before a Judicial Service Commission (JSC) panel. The interviews are set to take place at The Capital on the Park hotel in Sandton, Joburg. Tomorrow, Judge Maya will be interviewed followed by Judge Mlambo on Thursday and Justice Zondo on Friday. Saturday has been set aside for deliberations, which will not be publicised. The top job became vacant when former Chief Justice Mogoeng Mogoeng’s term ended…

Loyiso Sidimba loyiso.sidimba@inl.co.za THE investigation by Public Protector Busisiwe Mkhwebane into comments made by President Cyril Ramaphosa into a high-level ANC national executive committee (NEC) meeting may take longer than planned. Mkhwebane yesterday declined to give assurances on whether her office’s probe into Ramaphosa would be concluded within 30 days. She is probing Ramaphosa over comments he apparently made at an ANC NEC meeting last year on the use of public money to fund party campaigns. The public protector released several reports yesterday but also took time to provide updates on some of the cases she was investigating and related litigation. Suspended ANC MP Mervyn Dirks is fighting to have Ramaphosa hauled to the National Assembly’s Standing Committee on Public Accounts (Scopa) to provide an explanation on the comments, which…

Dr Thabisi Hoeane | Pretoria The view by Julius Malema that placing the State Security Agency (SSA) under the direct control of the Minister in the Presidency Mondli Gungubele is because the president wants to get hold of the R4 billion allocated to the agency should be seen for what it is: inevitable machinations by an opposition leader to undercut the ANC. But what is ironic is that beyond hyperbole, it is often the case that we should not just dismiss outright such statements. Why do politicians in power think they should have direct and total control of sensitive and important areas such as state security? They should not confuse their being in “government” as also being in charge of the “state”. The state is a much broader…

Rafieka Williams rafieka.williams@inl.co.za TO celebrate the annual World Reading Aloud Day (WRAD), The City of Cape Town has partnered with a number of organisations, including Nal’ibali, to host a storywalk at Nantes Park in Athlone this week. The city’s librarians from Athlone, Bridgetown, Bonteheuwel and Rylands will gather with Nal’ibali, Book Dash and Mikhulu Trust to take 90 children on a storywalk through the park. Community and health Mayco member Patricia van der Ross said: “The day aims to shine a spotlight on the benefits of reading aloud to children. “This activity, which can help parents and children bond as they share words, has an immense impact on the child’s development.” The storywalk will include an interactive storytelling experience where children will be able to live the story as it…

Not only did Rafa Nadal’s staggering comeback victory over Daniil Medvedev in the Australian Open final earn him a men’s record 21st Grand Slam title, it also showed once again the folly of assuming a new order is seizing power in men’s tennis. When Medvedev ambushed Novak Djokovic’s hopes of reaching 21 and a first men’s calendar-year Slam since 1969 in last year’s US Open final, it felt like a seismic shift with the Russian leading a takeover at the top. That looked even more likely when the 35-year-old Nadal arrived in Melbourne after almost six months out with a foot injury as the lone rider of the fabled ‘Big Three’. Roger Federer was back in Switzerland rehabilitating his injured knee, while nine-time Australian Open champion Djokovic was embroiled in…

Zaahier Adams zaahier.adams@inl.co.za Proteas convener of selectors Victor Mpitsang is hoping to sit down with a host of national team hopefuls at next week’s Cricket South Africa T20 Challenge in Gqeberha. Although the Proteas Test squad will be in New Zealand preparing for their two-match series against the world champions, there have been a plenty of performances in the recent rounds of the CSA 4-Day Series that have excited Mpitsang and the national selection panel. The batters have certainly taken responsibility with Sibonelo Makhanya (Titans), Jonathan Bird (Western Province), Ryan Rickelton (Lions) Stiaan van Zyl (Rocks) and Rudi Second (Warriors) all striking centuries this past weekend. Equally, the bowlers have toiled well with particularly the spinners such as Kyle Simmonds, Siyabonga Mahima and Simon Harmer stealing the limelight. Despite the…