Table of contents for 2023-01-27 in Star

SA CANEGROWERS yesterday ratcheted up its call to Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana to eliminate the sugar levy when he delivers the National Budget on February 2. This after it issued a statement yesterday, saying data it had compiled showed that the South African sugar industry was set to lose R723 million in 2023 due to load shedding. Godongwana faces a tough Budget. Ratings agency Moody’s Investor Services said last week that gross domestic product in South Africa was now likely to track below their previously downwards growth forecast of 1% in 2023, as a result of severe power cuts which continue to cripple productivity. SA Canegrowers said load shedding affected 1 135 irrigated growers who employ more than 10 000 workers. “Growers need a minimum of six hours of continuous…

WESTERN countries have moved with speed to counter any possible influence of the Russian government in South Africa’s Just Energy Transition Programme (JETP) on the heels of Russia’s foreign affairs minister’s visit. This comes as US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen and a delegation of the European Union (EU) met with South Africa’s government ministers to discuss the JETP yesterday. Yellen held bilateral talks with Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana and Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Gwede Mantashe early in the day, before speaking with President Cyril Ramaphosa in a closed meeting and visiting a US-owned Ford car plant in Pretoria. South Africa is the first country in the world with a Just Energy Transition Partnership which aims to wean it off fossil fuels and encourage investment into renewable energy, thus achieving…

TRUWORTHS International’s shares leapt yesterday after it said that group retail sales increased during the first 26 weeks of its 2023 financial period, despite a record level of load shedding in South Africa and increasing pressure on consumers’ disposable income in both South Africa and the UK. In late afternoon trade yesterday on the JSE, Truworths shares traded up 5.18% at R66.86, and have increased by 20.4% in the past six months. In its business update for the 26-weeks ended January 1, 2023, released yesterday, the fashion retailer said group retail sales increased by 13.7% to R11.3 billion compared to the first 26 weeks (from June 28 to December 26) of the 2022 financial period. According to the group, which owns the YDE and Identity brands, all of its…

STAGE and TV actor Dr John Kani is stepping down from his lead role in the theatre production Fences due to health concerns. August Wilson’s Fences premières at the Joburg Theatre on February 2 to commemorate Black History Month. “It is with great sadness that I have to announce that I will be stepping down from the role of Troy Maxson. It is a role I have long dreamed of playing,” said Kani. “However, a bout of vertigo and the concurrent imbalance that it causes is precluding me from stepping on stage in this demanding role. “I will, however, continue to play a significant role as a co-producer and continue to be part of the rehearsals working closely with the director and the cast.” Kani added he was confident Tumisho…

The ANC has thrown its weight behind minority party leader Thapelo Amad to become the new mayor of the City of Joburg. This comes after DA mayou Mpho Phalatse was voted out of office in a motion of no confidence. Phalatse was removed with 140 votes, with 129 opposing her departure. The spat for the mayoral position was so fierce that Phalatse confirmed that she had received a suitcase on Wednesday afternoon from the Speaker of Council, Colleen Makhubele, with a note telling her to pack up. The Star spoke to the ANC’s provincial secretary Thembinkosi “TK" Nciza, who said the party was supporting Thapelo Amad to become mayor. “We have one candidate, and that is Thapelo Amad. Our aim is for our people to be served,” Nciza said. Nciza…

With the country’s basic education calendar now in its third week of the new academic year, President Cyril Ramaphosa addressed the first day of the 8th annual Basic Education Lekgotla, which was attended by various stakeholders within the sector, including policymakers and academics. The three-day summit brings together MECs for education, heads of departments and other stakeholders to address challenges faced by the country’s public education system. Part of the president’s keynote address touched on the recent introduction of learner assistants as part of the presidential employment stimulus package in 2020 during the Covid-19 pandemic, as well as the need for skills development to ensure jobs were created. Ramaphosa also said in spite of the improvement in the national matric pass rate to 81%, he remains concerned by the number…

SOUTH Africa’s sugar industy is facing a “catastrophic” loss of R723 million this year due to load shedding, according to SA Canegrowers’ data. The canegrowers said that with milling giant Tongaat Hulett in business rescue and the destructive Health Promotion Levy already hampering the industry, these losses are potentially catastrophic for growers and the industry’s workers. “SA Canegrowers is appealing to the government to put in place short-term measures to mitigate the impact of load shedding on growers while long-term solutions are considered. “Load shedding affects 1 135 irrigated growers who employ more than 10 000 workers. An estimated 34% of South Africa’s sugar cane is produced in irrigated areas, including Komatipoort and Malelane in Mpumalanga and Pongola in KwaZulu-Natal,” the organisation said. Chairperson Andrew Russell said that…

Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Academic Hospital management says it is working hard to resolve the parking problems at the hospital. This has in the past resulted in the DA slamming the Department of Health and the hospital management for their lackadaisical approach to solving the parking issue and the general lack of progress in the restoration of the hospital’s parking. The issue of parking has become an issue after parts of the hospital were gutted by fire in 2021. DA shadow MEC for Health Jack Bloom said staff and patients continue to face parking issues at the hospital due to a lack of parking bays. However, the hospital’s spokesperson, Tabudi Madisha, told The Star the parking problem was being resolved, saying the construction of the P3 parking bay was now…

A Cape Town resident who works in the retail sector is R25 million richer. The person won the Lotto Plus 1 jackpot from the January 21 draw. National Lottery Ithuba said the ticket had been purchased at Pick n Pay and the winner walked away with R25 564 050. 40. The purchaser chose his numbers manually and found out through the internet that he was the lucky winner, Ithuba said. The man said he had “always had a feeling” that he would win one of the lottery jackpots someday. The winner, who works in the retail sector, said he would continue working and planned to pay off his debt and buy property. He had no plans to tell anyone that he had won. The first Lotto jackpot winner for the…

This article is written to bring the reader on an inner journey to have an enhanced understanding of the deep sense of life’s purpose. Thereby, moving into the core of oneself to contribute and make a significant difference in the external world. In addition to other recent events, the Covid-19 pandemic has altered the perception of the world we live in. This pandemic has prompted individuals to re-evaluate their daily priorities and make the required adjustments to the new standard for the 21st century. Moreover, this writing will better equip readers to take the full initiative of their lives and adapt successfully to the new normality. Therefore, the art of focusing on oneself emerges as the pivot to help facilitate this transformation as we move pass this point of transition.…

RICHARDS Bay Coal Terminal (RBCT) said yesterday that last year’s coal export volumes decreased to about 50 million tons, the lowest level in 30 years, due to cable theft, the Transnet strike and wagon derailments. Speaking at a presser to unpack RBCT’s performance, CEO Alan Waller said Transnet Freight Rail (TFR) managed to rail 50.43 million tons (Mt) of coal to the terminal last year, which is down from 58.1Mt in 2021. He said the terminal exported 50.35Mt, compared to 58.72Mt in 2021. RBCT had forecast that TFR would rail 70Mt last year. The total throughput capacity of the terminal has been 91Mt per year since 2010. It achieved its best performance in 2017 when it exported 76.5Mt of coal. Waller said the biggest factor affecting the terminal’s performance was…

OUTSURANCE Holdings (OHL), formerly Rand Merchant Investment Holdings, said yesterday its earnings for the six months to December 31 would primarily be derived from its 90%-held subsidiary and owner of OUTsurance South Africa, and the Youi Australia insurance operations. The results follow the group’s disposal of Hasting Group and the settlement of preference debt in 2021, and the unbundling of the interests in Discovery and Momentum Metropolitan Holdings in April, 2022. OHL said in a trading statement that normalised earnings per share (Neps) – from continuing and discontinued operations – was expected to be more than 20% lower than the Neps from continuing and discontinued operations of 125.5 cents per share reported in the comparative period. OHL said its performance for the six months included a significant increase in Youi’s…

ANGLO American yesterday announced that its newly launched LNG dual-fuelled Capesize+ vessel, the Ubuntu Harmony, had loaded its first cargo of iron ore from its Kumba operations in South Africa. The vessel completed bunkering in Singapore in early January with LNG provided by Shell Eastern LNG. It arrived in Saldanha Bay, on January 19 to load a full cargo of iron ore that would be transported to customers in China, Anglo said. The vessel is the first of 10 LNG dual-fuelled new-build ships that Anglo American will introduce to its chartered fleet during the course of 2023 and 2024, delivering an estimated 35% reduction in CO2 emissions compared to ships fuelled by conventional marine oil fuel. Anglo said the Ubuntu Harmony would be followed by its sister ship, Ubuntu…

Cape Town will be showing off its beauty as A-listers flock to the Kenilworth Racecourse for the annual World Sports Betting Cape Town Met tomorrow. As always, fashionistas, party-goers and horse-racing enthusiasts will be gathering and, aside from the annual sporting event, it’s all about the fashion and getting ahead with the theme. This year’s theme is Mardi Gras so you can expect an array of gold, purple, green, glitter, feathers and an entire day of fashion parades. This means that everyone can expect high fashion and frivolous fun, in addition to the very best in horse racing as the field bids for a share of the R2 million purse. The event will showcase not only the best in racing but also phenomenal dining experiences, prizes for the best-dressed and…

Employing more doctors should be unquestionable in a country where state hospitals are plagued by structural inefficiencies, gross under-staffing and poor service delivery. It was for this reason that the South African Medical Association Trade Union, the Young Nurses Indaba Trade Union and Cosatu have taken the plight of unemployed community doctors to the doorstep of the Health Department in Thaba Tshwane. General secretary of the SA Medical Association Trade Union, Dr Cedric Sihlangu, said it was a tragedy that more than 1 000 doctors were sitting at home, with no prospects of employment. Sihlangu said considering that the government had a constitutional responsibility to ensure health care was provided to the population, it was not proper for communities to be stuck with hospitals and clinics that have no doctors.…

South Africa is among countries that received global awards from the World Health Organization for their efforts to achieve important milestones towards malaria elimination. The national Department of Health said this is the first time it had been given the prestigious award. It was handed out during the 4th Annual Global Forum of Malaria-Eliminating Countries, taking place in Cape Town. The other countries that got awards for achieving malaria-free status included China and El Salvador. The department’s spokesperson, Foster Mohale, said the South African government was committed to eliminating malaria, and as such, a solid investment case was developed and it resulted in a conditional grant. “The country has put these resources to good use and ensured that its programmes were capacitated and necessary resources were availed to implement its…

A green turtle called Bob that arrived at uShaka Marine World just a few days ago is ready for release to a marine protected area on the East Coast of South Africa where he can be monitored. The turtle was transported from the I&J Ocean Exhibit in Cape Town to KwaZulu-Natal so that the turtle team could determine whether Bob was ready to return to the wild. Two Oceans Aquarium conservation manager Talitha Noble said Bob went through a traumatic experience. She said he was rescued after he suffered from severe bruising and a possible fracture of the plastron (stomach area) and was experiencing loss of scales, exposed bone, and was also positively buoyant. Furthermore, the fracture had developed an infection and the bacteria had spread to the blood and…

A RESURGENT Sekhukhune United have nothing to lose as they make the short trip to Loftus Versfeld to face runaway Premiership leaders Mamelodi Sundowns tomorrow. Sundowns look for a record-extending 13th consecutive league win against Babina Noko. With a 19-point lead over second-placed Richards Bay, Rhulani Mokwena’s Sundowns are all but assured of a sixth straight league title. Brandon Truter’s team may not make things easy for Sundowns. They are in-form in the league, with only the Pretoria-based team, enjoying a better record. Sekhukhune have won their last four games and are unbeaten in six. Sekhukhune are a shadow of the team they were earlier in the season, when they struggled for consistency and looked as though they would face a relegation battle. They head into the game against Sundowns…

FORMER Real Madrid forward Gareth Bale has made no secret of his passion for golf and his game has received a ringing endorsement from one of the world’s best ahead of his debut at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am in California next month. The 33-year-old Bale ended his glittering football career this month, leading to speculation that the Welshman might try to become a professional golfer. Spaniard Jon Rahm got a close up view of Bale’s golf game when partnering him at the Pro-Am ahead of this week’s Farmers Insurance Open at Torrey Pines and was clearly impressed. “I told Gareth you can’t be so good at professional football and golf at the same time, that doesn’t seem fair,” Rahm, the 2021 US Open champion said. “You can’t be dedicated…

THE double white-ball world champions are in town. But when once an England tour was the blue riband prize of the summer, they have now been relegated to the backwaters of Bloemfontein, where the first of the three-match one-day international series gets under way today, and Kimberley. Such is the lay of the land in South African cricket at the moment. The craze is SA20 and everything else has to suckle off its hind tit. It becomes even more bizarre with the fact that Proteas Men’s white-ball captain Temba Bavuma, who will spin the coin at the Mangaung Oval, has been resting up on Cape Town’s beaches while the new action-packed tournament has been under way after being overlooked at the inaugural auction. In contrast, his English counterpart Jos Buttler…

Steel prices have fallen fast in the past few months, indicating difficult global economic conditions ahead and lower margins for local producers struggling against a range of issues such as the devastating impact of the ongoing load shedding. In response to Business Report questions about the implications of falling steel prices, the Steel and Engineering Industries Federation of SA (Seifsa) said while it did not bode well for the sustainability of local producers, the low prices also indicated low consumption which was, in turn, a function of the global economy. Factors intensifying global headwinds include a possible recession in the US, inflation which, while it had started levelling off, was stubbornly high, and tighter financing conditions. “Domestically, the issues of the energy crisis, which has major implications for steel producers,…

NASPERS and Europe-based subsidiary Prosus’s share prices increased by more than 3% and 2.5%, respectively, on the JSE yesterday even though they had announced plans to retrench up to 30% of their corporate staff across their global internet businesses. The planned job cuts over the next 12 months, however, did not indicate their managements had been caught flat-footed in a much weaker than expected trading environment, Andrew Bahlmann, the chief executive corporate and advisory at Deal Leaders International Trust, commented yesterday. With the two firms being the latest in a series of global tech firms announcing job cuts recently, Bahlmann said Naspers had already disclosed trading conditions “that were bad enough”. “The group announced last year that headline earnings are expected to decrease in the current financial year mainly due…

EFF demands change in higher education sector THE EFF Student Command (EFFSC) is calling for the expansion of the higher education sector and scrapping of all student debt. This is despite assurances by Higher Education, Science and Technology Minister Dr Blade Nzimande that the post-schooling sector was on the ball with handling key student issues, the student movement has said. It demonstrated this by embarking on a 16-hour walk from the party’s headquarters at Winnie Madikizela’s House in Johannesburg to the Union Buildings in Pretoria. EFFSC president Sihle Lonzi, speaking after the arrival of the party members at the Union Buildings, said it was important for the student formation to embark on a walk to highlight the plight of students. Lonzi said there was an enrolment crisis in the higher…

An elderly woman and a young man were arrested in Wentworth for being in possession of suspected stolen property and contravening the Medicines and Related Substances Act. On Wednesday, Durban Metro Police Service spokesperson Senior Superintendent Boysie Zungu said the metro police executed a search warrant at a flat in Wentworth, Durban. Zungu said a 67-year-old woman and a 24-year-old man were arrested for being in possession of suspected stolen property. He said police recovered R26 452.70, 45 bottles of Xanax, six boxes of Stilpane tablets, phenorant cough syrup, 84 bottles of Dequa-Coff syrup and 78 bottles of Lenazine cough syrup. Zungu said there were a total of 276 bottles (100ml) of cough syrup. Meanwhile, the Durban Metro Police Service tactical support unit and task team arrested a suspected…

A 57-year-old SANDF soldier has been arrested and charged after dozens of homes were set alight. The man, who lives in a village in Majola, Port St Johns, was arrested on Tuesday afternoon by a special investigating task team. Police said more than 50 homesteads and 97 houses were burnt down by unknown suspects in Bhuje Locality. After the attack, the Eastern Cape police commissioner Lieutenant General Nomthetheleli Mene visited the area, including eNyandeni kingdom, and spoke to local leaders and residents of several villages. “During the visit, Lieutenant General Mene made a commitment to act against anyone found to have been involved in the atrocious crimes committed in the villages of Majola in Port St Johns,” said police spokesperson Brigadier Tembinkosi Kinana. This week, Mene hailed the work of…

Ingredients: Glug olive oil + extra for cooking 2 tbs honey 1 tsp smoked paprika 2 cloves garlic, grated Salt and milled pepper 1 (about 200g) sirloin or porterhouse steak 2 tbs butter 1 red pepper, sliced (60ml) 1 lemon, juiced For serving: 2 beetroot wraps beetroot hummus (or regular hummus) Shredded red cabbage Handful rocket or baby spinach Method Combine oil, honey, paprika and garlic. Season steak well and rub with honey mixture. Heat oil in a large pan and sear steak until golden-brown on all sides and cooked to your liking (about 3-4 minutes per side for a medium doneness). Remove steak from pan and rest for 10 minutes before slicing. Add butter and red pepper to the same pan and cook for 2 minutes. Add lemon…

The repeated deployment of senior US government officials to South Africa, for high-level engagement with Pretoria officials is part of Washington’s bid to regain lost ground in terms of influence and partnership with African nations. This is according to independent analyst Khaya Sithole, who was speaking to broadcaster Newzroom Afrika. He said the growth of Chinese and Russian influence in Africa was giving the US sleepless nights. “If you look at the past 20 to 25 years in particular, China, for example, has grown its influence in Africa in many ways. What you will remember is that China has obviously, over the past 30 years, emerged as the competing super power to the United States, and it also wanted to grow its influence across many alliances,” said Sithole. “A lot…

THE local footballing fraternity must have temporarily forgotten about loadshedding after Lyle Foster lit up the social media streets on Wednesday night. The 22-year-old Bafana Bafana striker joined English Championship outfit Burnley this week for a reported fee of €7-million after leaving KVC Westerlo FC. This was a historic move for both Foster and Burnley and it went viral thanks to a brilliant, animated clip of his unveiling. While that was a masterstroke from Burnley’s media team, Foster still has a long way to go before he can be regarded as one of the best in England. And that’s why even amid the euphoria and hype that he is getting on social media, Foster should keep himself grounded and focused at all times. The local fans have reacted in an…

PAKISTAN captain Babar Azam yesterday bagged the Sir Garfield Sobers Trophy after being announced as the ICC Men’s Cricketer of the Year for 2022. Babar continued to raise the bar for himself in 2022, breaking more personal records while making sure Pakistan’s star shone brightly. Babar blew beyond that milestone while accumulating a huge 2 598 runs at an intimidating average of 54.12. He was the only player to surpass the 2 000-run barrier throughout the calendar year across all formats. His haul of eight hundreds and 17 fifties during the calendar year was Babar’s best of his career to date and there’s no doubt the dynamic right-hander is currently at the top of his game. The 50-over format was ruled by the 2021 and 2022 ICC Men’s ODI Player…

Brad Binder will begin his fourth year in MotoGP when the season commences in late March, and yesterday Red Bull KTM unveiled the machine they hope will put the South African onto the podium with more consistency. Binder will start his senior year with the manufacturer, and will be joined in his endeavour with a new teammate in Australian Jack Miller. The pair will do so on an upgraded KTM R16, which they have been developing and racing since 2016. The 27-year-old Binder had a somewhat underwhelming 2022. Although consistent throughout the season, he managed to secure only three second-place finishes – at the season-opening Qatar, the late season Japanese GP and the season-ending Valencia GP. He retired just once last year – in Portugal – and finished just two…