Table of contents for 2023-01-19 in Star

STEINHOFF International’s share price surged up 8.16% early yesterday after it announced that it had raised €315.2 million (R5.79 billion) through the sale of 38 million shares in its Poland-listed, pan-European discount variety retailing subsidiary Pepco. There was strong demand for the shares, and the initial offer of 34.5m shares was later upsized to 38m during the placement. Steinhoff, which has Luxembourg as its primary listing and a secondary listing on the JSE, intends to use the proceeds to reduce its debt, and Pepco will not receive any of the proceeds from the placement. Steinhoff said in a JSE notice that it had sold through IBEX Retail Investments (Europe), an indirect wholly-owned subsidiary, 38 million ordinary shares of Pepco Group at a price of PLN (Polish Zloty) 38.95 per share,…

THE AILING South African Post Office (Sapo) said yesterday it was overstaffed and could not sustain its staff expenses, hence it would seek options to cut staff costs. This as the DA spokesperson Dianne Kohler Barnard, yesterday alerted media that Sapo aimed to cut staff salaries by 40% as of next month. When contacted by Business Report, Sapo did not address the salaries cut, but said several strategies and options were currently being considered as staff cost reduction was unavoidable. The group said it was unsustainable for Sapo to carry staff expenses accounting for 68% of its overall expenditure. The parastatal said that it had over the past number of years seen a substantial decline in letter volumes, which was in line with international trends and a decline in revenue.…

RETAIL activity in South Africa is expected to remain depressed by tough economic conditions in spite of consumers tentatively returning to the shops in November to take advantage of Black Friday discounts. According to Statistics South Africa (Stats SA), shopping activity unexpectedly rebounded in November mainly driven by retailers in textiles, clothing, footwear and leather goods. Data from Stats SA showed that retail trade sales rose by 0.4% year-on-year in November, following an upwardly revised 0.7% decline in September. This retail sales print followed two consecutive months of declines of 0.7% in September and 0.4% in August, and was stronger than market forecasts of a 0.6% contraction. Clothing and footwear volumes jumped by 5.9% year-on-year in November, from 2.9% in October, while household furniture sales increased by 6.0% from 1.7%…

K.O is caught up in a social media saga after fans uncovered a song titled Feeling for You by Ghanaian artist Reefer Tym that has what sounds like the exact same beat as Sete. Feeling for You was released last May, about three months before K.O released Sete. The song, which features Blxckie and Young Stunna, has gone on to break several records on radio, YouTube and a number of other digital streaming platforms. “SETE sounds exactly the same as this joint,” shared @gert_leninja in a widely shared post on Monday evening. Reefer Tym then retweeted the post with a clip from Soulja Boy’s infamous Breakfast Club interview in which he claimed Drake had stolen one of his songs: “He copied my whole f*cken flow, word for word, bar for…

Fikile Mbalula, the ANC secretary- general, promised justice for Mkhondo councillor Sibonelo Mthembu Ntshangase and two others who were brutally murdered. Mbalula visited a number of places within the Mkhondo Municipality in Mpumalanga’s Gert Sibande region following the recent spate of killings in the area that are suspected to be politically motivated. The latest ANC leader to be slain in the area is Ntshangase, 36, who was a local councillor for Ward 12. Sizwe Mbingo, 40, and Sandile Khumalo, 51, were gunned down in Longhomes Township in Mkhondo on Friday, January 13. This killing happened hardly two months after the assassination of another local leader, who was also a councillor, as well as being Gert Sibande’s regional deputy chairperson, Muzi Manyathi. “Thugs have penetrated Mkhondo; they are under the impression…

The South African National Parks has welcomed the lengthy jail terms handed down to three Mozambican nationals convicted of rhino poaching. Lawrance Makamu, 28, Nuno Burros, 31, and George Muyanga, 48, were convicted and sentenced in the Skukuza Regional Court this week for nine counts of rhino poaching. Makamu and Burros were jailed to an effective 22 years behind bars, while Muyanga was sentenced to 33 years. Isaac Phaahla, Kruger National Park (KNP) communications and marketing manager, said the three were living in the country illegally. “They were arrested in July 2022 in the Malelane section of the Kruger National Park after rangers, assisted by the K9 Unit and the Aviators of the Airwing, followed up on the gunshots heard and reported by passing tourists. “A thorough search was launched…

Is there anything that depicts arrogance more than the conduct of the ANC leadership? The vulgar blatant flaunting wealth and power in the face of their most loyal and impoverished supporters must form the subject of a book on contempt and egotism. The lifestyle of these “leaders” who conduct themselves in such an unrefined display of bling, from brandishing designer outfits and luxury cars to five-star hotels and private jets is not only obscene in the extreme, but a slap in the face of the poorest of the poor. However, the arrogance of the ANC has taken on a whole new meaning by insulting its loyal supporters further by now spitting in their faces. While the whole country struggles under continuous level 6 load shedding the ANC head honchos have…

Scores of proud matriculants from the Crawford International College in Lonehill gathered at the school’s premises in celebration of the school’s 100% matric pass rate for 2022. Speaking to The Star, the school’s principal, Reinhard de Klerk, said only 100 matriculants from the school will sit for the exams in 2023. He said some of the learners had to overcome great obstacles in order to achieve a great feat that has put the school in good stead, with two receiving nine distinctions each. “We are very proud of these learners, who have had to overcome challenges and obstacles to achieve this pass rate. Some of these learners lost their parents due to Covid-19. They unfortunately no longer have that support structure to give them moral support and celebrate their achievements,”…

Psychologists are ensuring the matric Class of 2022 that the results do not define anyone – whether you got the marks you were hoping for, passed with distinctions or failed. They said it was time for parents to maintain and encourage a positive outlook and focus on motivating their children to reflect on what could have gone wrong and find means to improve their results. Moreover, they advised that those pupils who did exceptionally well should also get all the support they need, as they might be overwhelmed with the pressure to get into the best universities. Rakhi Beekrum a counselling psychologist in Durban North, advised parents that if their child did not get the results they were all expecting, they must do their best to give them support and…

The Haval Jolion has been a huge success story in South Africa, and now the Chinese carmaker is introducing a perkier version with a design package to match. Priced at R479 950, the Haval Jolion S commands a R33 000 premium over the Super Luxury model that previously topped the range (see full range pricing below story) and also matches the price tag of the entry-level Haval H6. The new Jolion model is powered by what Haval calls a “new-generation” 1.5-litre engine that features an upgraded turbocharger, resulting in outputs of 130kW and 270Nm. That’s a good 25kW and 60Nm more than you get in the regular 1.5T variants. As with the rest of the line-up, power goes to the front wheels only, and the Haval Jolion S comes standard…

FORMER Kaizer Chiefs star Njabulo Blom is looking forward to playing in Major League Soccer for St Louis City. The 23-year-old joined the American club last month and will play under former Bafana Bafana defender Bradley Carnell, who is now coaching at the club. “I’m looking forward to working under coach Bradley and to help the team. I want to get along with the new guys that I will meet,” Blom told Metro FM. Given that St Louis City are playing in the MLS for the first time, Blom and Carnell will form part of its first ever team. Blom becomes the second South African to be playing in the MLS currently, joining Minnesota United’s Bongokuhle Hlongwane, who arrived in North America from Maritzburg United last year. Blom has the…

“For everyone that feels like they are sleeping on the Lions, or that we are not where we should be, we are getting there and once we get there, we are definitely going to be an outfit to watch out for.” That was the confident and defiant decree of Darrien Landsberg as the Lions head into a third regular season clash against the Dragons this weekend after a tormented run of four loses on the trot in all competitions. The Lions have not yet lost to the Dragons, having played to a draw in the EPCR Challenge Cup and two victories in the United Rugby Championship (URC). They face the Welsh franchise yet again on Sunday (kick-off 3pm) at Rodney Parade in a must-win Challenge Cup encounter for both teams.…

Merged company to invest in new brewery in KZN and malt operation in Western Cape DUTCH multinational brewer Heineken’s takeover of South Africa’s alcohol drinks group Distell will result in the merged company investing R5.5 billion into the local economy, the Competition Tribunal heard yesterday. The Tribunal yesterday began its hearings from interested parties in the deal. The Competition Commission said in a statement on its testimony to the Tribunal yesterday that part of the commitments made from the deal included a R3.8bn investment in a new brewery within five years in KwaZulu-Natal, and the setting up of a R1.3bn malt operation in the Western Cape. On concerns of less access to retail infrastructure for smaller rivals, the commission found that the merged entity was unlikely to have the ability…

RICHEMONT’S third quarter sales of its luxury products increased by 8% for the third quarter to December 31 driven in the main by double-digit growth in Japan and Europe. The group, which owns brands such as Dunhill, Cartier, Baume & Mercier and Montblanc, said yesterday that sales for the third quarter were up by 5% at constant exchange rates and by 8% at actual exchange rates, on the back of strong comparatives and disruption of trading in mainland China due to Covid-19. There had been sales growth across all regions except Asia Pacific, which was affected significantly by China’s underperformance, Richmont said in an ad hoc announcement. There had also been growth across all distribution channels, led by the retail and online retail channels. The jewellery maisons and other business…

AFRICAN heads of state and global CEOs have backed the launch of the first-of-its-kind report on how public-private partnerships can work in a bid to support the implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). At the World Economic Forum (WEF) Annual Meetings yesterday, the leaders endorsed the “AfCFTA: A New Era for Global Business and Investment in Africa” report, which highlights the high potential for companies investing in the world’s largest free trade area. The report outlines high-potential sectors, initiatives to support business and investment, operational tools to facilitate the AfCFTA, and illustrative examples from successful businesses in Africa to guide businesses in entering and expanding in this area. It also aims to provide a pathway for global businesses and investors to understand the biggest trends, opportunities and…

The break into the new year has seen bold moves from some entertainment heavyweights including R&B singer Jimmy Nevis, who recently released a new song. The song comes from the Heartboxing hitmaker’s latest album Things We Don’t Talk About, which will only be released on January 27 in celebration of his decade in the music industry. In the meantime, Nevis, whose real name is Matthew Peter le Roux, has released three songs from the upcoming album. AYO is the lead single off the album and Touch Me, a fresh remake of Dawnay’s classic hit single You Touch Me, was released late last year with his most recent, F*ck Boys Anonymous – FBA, being released on January 13. The latest single has left fans moved. It serves raw emotion and daring…

With the 2024 general elections coming, the ANC would have been in government for at least 30 years, which have been characterised by loud rhetorical statements, empty promises, and inaction in the implementation of progressive policies. The never-ending crisis after crisis and the almost total collapse of the state-owned enterprises (SOEs), as well as the inability to turn things around, have led analysts to believe that President Cyril Ramaphosa’s party may have reached a dead end as South Africans become more frustrated by the lack of decisive leadership. However, some analysts also believe that the weakened ANC still has a chance to govern with the opposition in a coalition government. Political analyst and managing director at RE4M Envoy, Yolokazi Mfuto, said: “The ANC lacks the political will to transform the…

Sheba, the eight-year-old tigress that escaped from its farm enclosure on Friday and mauled a 38-year-old man, has been shot dead, according to Gresham Mandy of the De Deur Community Policing Forum. “Sheba is dead. The decision was taken to euthanise her early this morning after she attacked and killed another dog,” Mandy said yesterday morning. On Tuesday, the first victim of Sheba’s wrath, William Mokoena, told eNCA how he escaped from the clutches of the female tiger after he had returned from a local spaza shop and had passed by a relative of his in Walkerville, next to the farm from which Sheba had escaped. Speaking from his hospital bed, Mokoena recalled how Sheba pounced on him and attacked him. He said he bent down to tighten his shoelaces…

A Middle Eastern take on the good ol’ burger. Ingredients: 600g lamb mince 2 tbs (30ml) lamb spice rub 1 packet (70g) salad onions, sliced Salt and milled pepper Salad: 1 packet (80g) wild rocket 1 disc (60g) feta, crumbled Handful mint leaves 1 mini cucumber, diced Lemon juice, to taste Glug olive oil + extra for frying For serving: 4-6 pitas, toasted 1 tub (120g) hummus Method: Mix mince, spice rub and salad onions together and season well. Shape into 8-12 patties and chill in the fridge for 20 minutes to firm up. Toss salad ingredients in a bowl and dress with lemon juice and olive oil. Season. Heat oil in a pan and fry patties over medium heat until cooked to your liking. Halve pitas and spread with…

Sport, Arts and Culture Minister Nathi Mthethwa on Tuesday hosted the indigenous knowledge system panel of experts strategic workshop session at Freedom Park Museum, Pretoria. The two-day strategic planning workshop saw his department and experts deliberate on key objectives of the national inventory, aimed at providing a roadmap and measures to safeguard South Africa’s indigenous knowledge from extinction. The department, in a memorandum to the Cabinet 10 years ago, requested that South Africa ratify the 2003 Intangible Heritage Convention. The Cabinet responded by directing the department to develop a national policy for the identification, protection and promotion of South Africa’s intangible heritage. Mthethwa said the policy provided for the protection, preservation and promotion of all of South Africa’s intangible cultural heritage. “Following the approval of the policy, I appointed the…

The ever-popular Suzuki Jimny has received an enormous boost with the announcement that two extra doors have been added. Revealed at the Auto Expo 2023 in Delhi, India, recently, the attention the new Jimny received was something to behold. We attended the expo and it received the most attention on the media and VIP day by a long margin. There were literally throngs of people armed with cameras, phones and microphones scrumming to get a glimpse, take photos or record videos and commentary for what seemed like thousands of various traditional and social media outlets, blogs, vlogs and videographers sending the message out to the Indian population. It puzzled the South African contingent somewhat until we were told that, despite the Jimny being built in India,it has never been on…

The Polo is Volkswagen South Africa’s export hero, but with the hatchback model facing an uncertain future in Europe, the local division is looking at options to lessen reliance on it. Late last year Volkswagen Passenger Cars global CEO Thomas Schäfer said the company was considering adding a third model to the VWSA production line in Kariega in the Eastern Cape. He added that this model would have an SUV-like body style, and that it would be underpinned by the same MQB-AO platform that forms the basis of the current Polo, but with unique body panels. However, now it appears a half-ton bakkie could be in the running too, with both Engineering News and The Auto Page quoting VWSA’s new CEO Martina Biena as saying that a small commercial model…

Manchester United manager Eric ten Hag has commended the influence of Benni McCarthy within his squad as his side continue their upward trajectory. The former Bafana Bafana forward was roped in by Ten Hag ahead of the 2022/23 campaign as he sought to revive the Red Devils. United are on a run of seven wins in a row in all competitions and have worked their up the Premier League table into fourth place, a point behind Manchester City and nine behind leaders Arsenal. McCarthy was handed the role of attacking coach and while he has been lauded by many for his immediate effectiveness on players like Marcus Rashford, he has also earned the commendations of the Dutch manager. “He has a really good relationship with all the players in our…

IT will be touch and go for Kaizer Chiefs kingpin Keagan Dolly, who has recovered from injury, but there is concern about his match fitness ahead of Saturday’s much-anticipated Premiership encounter against runaway league leaders Mamelodi Sundowns. Dolly was one of three key players who missed Amakhosi’s last match against AmaZulu FC, who ran out 4-0 victors in Durban. The other two players were Khama Billiat, who is still ruled out with injuries, and Sifiso Hlanti, who was suspended but is available once again. In light of Chief’ capitulation against AmaZulu, an experienced campaigner like Dolly will be needed in their ranks to help the team remain calm under pressure at FNB Stadium. Dolly has proved to be a superb team player and has a high work rate that could…

THE COST of living in South Africa will not ease anytime soon as the central bank is expected to maintain its hawkish monetary policy stance a bit longer, in spite of consumer prices softening to a seventh-month low in December. Data from Statistics SA (StatsSA) yesterday showed that the annual headline consumer price inflation (CPI) slowed for the second month in a row in December, easing to 7.2% from 7.4% in November. Monthly consumer prices were up by 0.4%, following a 0.3% rise in November and slightly above market forecasts of a 0.3% increase. StatsSA said the December CPI print was driven by the slowdown in transport inflation, which softened for a fifth consecutive month to 13.9% from 15.3% in November, due to easing fuel prices. Prices in the…

FRIDAY nights on 1Magic have become the home of edgy, boundary-pushing shows about women taking charge of their lives and narratives. This has been seen on shows such as Entangled, Unmarried and Lavish, and now the channel is sticking to this theme with their newest show, Grown Woman, a risqué dramedy. Produced by Red Pepper Pictures, the series stars award-winning actress Linda Sokhulu (Housekeepers, Umkhokha) as Tina Hlatshwayo. Hlatshwayo finds herself having to press the restart button at age 49 and a year into widowhood. She finds herself navigating a new world with a much younger, very hot new lover and has to deal with her family and friends reactions. After the death of her husband Sbu, Tina – known to many as “Mrs H” – has to learn…

DAYS after resigning from the ANC, the party he had been part of for 43 years, Carl Niehaus has set his sights on recruiting former president Jacob Zuma, erstwhile party secretary-general Ace Magashule and Tourism Minister Lindiwe Sisulu to his new Radical Economic Transformation Movement. Niehaus announced the formation of the non-profit organisation (NPO) earlier this month following his resignation from the ANC, during which time he had appealed his expulsion from the party. The ANC national disciplinary committee had wielded its axe and expelled Niehaus last month, days before the governing party’s 55th national elective conference. This was after he was found guilty of six counts of misconduct for contravening the ANC’s constitution and bringing the party into disrepute. Speaking to Independent Media yesterday, the former uMkhonto weSizwe…

William Mokoena, the 37-year-old man recuperating in hospital after he was attacked on Saturday night by Sheba the tiger in Walkerville, south of Joburg, has appointed top lawyer Zola Majavu SC to represent him against the owner of the feline. “The nature of the instructions are two-fold. “Firstly, it is to do a watching brief aimed at ensuring that the criminal investigation that has been opened by the … SAPS is handled in accordance with applicable prescripts. “That is the criminal side of things,” Majola told broadcaster Newzroom Afrika. He said it is hoped the ongoing investigation might lead to the prosecution of the owner of the tiger, “and other identifiable stakeholders”. “The second leg to my instruction is obviously to consider a legal suit which is aimed at recovering…

Mbali Hlongwane, 18, also known as Mbali Vibes, was named the winner of the Smirnoff 1818 Shaya Ingoma Female DJ Search 2023. The glorious moment happened months after a heated competition from Mzansi’s talented female DJs, who battled their way to the top 10 in mid-December. For the finale, the public had to vote for their favourite and Hlongwane captured the audience’s hearts with her energetic performance. Speaking about the experience, she said she was pleased to emerge victorious, and that the experience was incredible. “This has truly been an amazing experience, and it was fantastic to meet such a phenomenal range of DJing talent from across the country. “I am humbled and really honoured to emerge as the winner of this year’s competition. “Thanks to Smirnoff 1818 for providing…

Renowned American music producer Quincy Jones has announced the exciting launch of his global music streaming platform Qwest TV, set to premiere tomorrow on DStv channel 330. The channel will give music fanatics high-end music content, featuring jazz, soul, blues, hip hop, R&B, Afrobeats and dance. Qwest TV is a celebration of unique talents, traditions and rhythms which will give viewers exclusive access to music acts, concerts, documentaries and never-before-seen archived interviews. Its services include three premium linear television channels (in seven languages with global rights), ad-supported video on demand (in seven languages with global rights), a subscription video on demand platform (available globally in three languages), and DStv (channel 330) pay-TV for Africa. Founded in 2017 by Jones, alongside TV and music producer and programmer Reza Ackbaraly, Qwest TV…

The Department of Public Works and Infrastructure (DPWI) has denied generators installed at the Johannesburg high court are malfunctioning, saying the issue is rather with diesel, which is reported to have run out. The non-functioning of the generators has caused the high court to institute virtual case hearings. Department spokesperson Thamsanqa Mchunu said there was no truth to reports the generators were at fault in the matter. “We wish to provide context on the directive given by Deputy Judge President Sutherland on January 12. The generators that have been provided by the DPWI are reliable, and they work. “The generators that are currently there are adequate, and the only problem that arises is the issue of fuel. Regarding the issue at the Johannesburg High Court, DPWI was only informed of…

IT looked a bit like a sad wallflower in a boisterous Bollywood movie standing next to the five-door Suzuki Jimny at the Auto Expo 2023 in New Delhi, India. While journalists and VIPs fawned over its stablemate, the new compact SUV Suzuki Fronx, a Baleno based SUV, also heading to South Africa is actually quite stylish and is the brand’s first new model ranges designed using their new Crafted Futurism design language. You have to wonder how much market research went into the name being tagged to it as a permanent fixture. Based on the Swift and Baleno HEARTECT platform it means the Fronx will have similar levels of performance and safety features. A large front grille framed by LED Headlights and fog lights, a coupe-like sloping roofline and LED…

Davos 2023 got down to business. This, against the backdrop of the opening day’s Global Economist Outlook released by the World Economic Forum on Monday, is why we are here – business. With around a third of the world expected to hit a recession this year, according to the International Monetary Fund, and the continuing pressures on an already strained and outdated financial system, coupled with the destabilisation of the geopolitical landscape, I think it’s fair to say that we are in for a rocky ride in the short to medium term. I do not mean to be the voice of doom and gloom; I am by nature an optimist. But I am also a realist and realistically, we’re in trouble. We all know this, from the ground up…

EMOTIONS were palpable as defending champion Rafael Nadal hobbled out in the second round of the Australian Open in a huge upset yesterday. His wife Mery was in tears as the injury-hampered Spanish great lost to 65th-ranked Mackenzie McDonald at Rod Laver Arena, where the roof was closed because of rain in Melbourne. Nadal, 36, was clearly hindered by a hip issue that required a medical time-out as he surrendered 6-4, 6-4, 7-5 to the American. It was the reigning champion’s earliest exit from a Grand Slam in seven years and will lead to more questions about whether injury and age are catching up with the record 22-time major champion. The men’s title now looks Novak Djokovic’s to lose. Nadal said defeat “hurt” and acknowledged that injuries were taking a…

TEMBA Bavuma will lead the Proteas in the three-match one-day international series against England in Bloemfontein next week. Bavuma’s leadership of the Proteas’ white-ball teams was under scrutiny after Cricket South Africa named Rob Walter (ODI and T20I) and Shukri Conrad (Test) coaches of the respective national teams last week. But Proteas convener of selectors Victor Mpitsang confirmed Bavuma would remain at the helm for the foreseeable future. “The captaincy was not something that was touched on a lot (in the selection meeting) but we are quite happy with where (Bavuma) is at the moment,” Mpitsang said. “He is in a good space. In the one-day format, he has a good record. We are quite happy with where he is at the moment,” Mpitsang said. Bavuma is not part of…