Table of contents for 2025-06-26 in Star

Six of the 10 industries on the production (supply) side of the economy recorded negative gains S&P Global Ratings has downgraded South Africa’s economic growth forecast for 2025 following a subdued gross domestic product (GDP) print in the first quarter. The South African economy kept its head above water in the first quarter of 2025, expanding by a marginal 0.1% compared with the fourth quarter of 2024. Six of the 10 industries on the production (supply) side of the economy recorded negative gains, with mining and manufacturing being the biggest drags in the first quarter. Mining weakened by 4.1%, with platinum group metals the most significant negative contributor. Coal, chromium ore, gold, copper and nickel also disappointed. Iron ore, manganese ore and diamonds recorded gains, but not enough to lift…

The Auditor General of South Africa (AGSA), Tsakani Maluleke has underscored the significance of the country’s distinctive mandate to audit all public institutions annually. This capacity, not commonly shared by her international counterparts, is increasingly admired globally as a model for promoting accountability and transparency in public finance. Addressing the media on the Supreme Audit Institutions of the G20 (SAI20) in Johannesburg, Maluleke expressed concern that the unique perspective of the AGSA often goes unnoticed. "Not every AG sees all the states in the way AGSA does. Sometimes I fear that gets lost when we issue a general report which gives you a sense of not just on municipality but what is happening across the country," she said. "It is the perspective that is unique to AGSA in this country…

THE Business 20 (B20) Task Force leaders are calling for the continent to address the pressing need for improved infrastructure across Africa as well as sustainable economic growth. Sim Tshabalala, chair of the Finance and Infrastructure Taskforce, said Africa holds significant reserves of critical minerals essential for the global energy transition yet currently collects only 40% of the revenue possible from these resources. “However, Africa collects only about 40% of the revenue that could be generated by these resources. Now, I ask you, how about if we got 60%? We need the right business environment, the appropriate social and environmental regulation, and the necessary infrastructure,” Tshabalala said. “In other words, our capacity to drive the world's growth depends to a large extent on our ability to maintain and expand our…

As we close of Youth Month, we’re reminded that the spirit of South Africa’s youth is as vital today as it was in generations past, with those who once fought for freedom paving the way for a new wave of young people who are now crafting their own futures through grassroots entrepreneurship and creating solutions that matter most to their communities. In 2025, many young South Africans are not just chasing jobs - far from it. They are crafting real solutions to power cuts, water shortages, school dropouts, and gender-based violence. From rural villages to township streets, these youth-led enterprises are grounded in the lived realities of the communities they serve. But for many, translating those impactful ideas into sustainable businesses remains difficult — even though support exists, from government…

Prosus has structured plans to increase earnings before interest, tax, depreciation, and amortisation (Ebitda) by 3.5 times in three years from the results reported this week, CEO of the Amsterdam based and JSE listed internet group, Fabricio Bloisi said Tuesday. He said in a presentation at the Naspers subsidiary’s Capital Markets Day that this target would likely also include some acquisitions. He stated that while this was not an overly “aggressive target”, the world remained a place of many uncertainties at present, and they did not wish to provide a detailed description of their plans. He also said that the share buybacks would continue. The group had already bought back 29% of its shares since it listed in 2019. “The discount (to net asset value) that the share is trading…

Showmax has just released the gripping trailer for its upcoming true-crime documentary series, The ABC Killer, which takes an unsettling look into the life of notorious serial killer Moses Sithole. The series revisits a dark chapter in South Africa’s history, offering both a haunting narrative and a fresh perspective on a case that still sends shivers down the spine. Three decades ago, Tamsen de Beer, a rookie journalist at The Star newspaper, received an unprecedented call that would forever alter her life and career. The voice on the other end of the line claimed to be South Africa’s most prolific serial killer, calling himself The ABC Killer – a name derived from his modus operandi of targeting young, black women across vulnerable areas like Atteridgeville, Boksburg and Cleveland in Gauteng.…

Former government minister Malusi Gigaba has temporarily halted the broadcast of a highly anticipated episode of the Showmax series Untied, which features a tell-all interview with his ex-wife, Noma Mngoma. The court’s decision to interdict the airing has caused a stir in both political and entertainment circles, as the episode reportedly reveals damaging allegations against the former minister. Untied, hosted by Relebogile Mabotja, is a new eight-part talk show exploring the realities of divorce through the personal experiences of South African women. The show includes guests such as Sonia Booth, Dawn Thandeka King, and Zandi Nhlapo. Mngoma’s episode was expected to delve into intimate and controversial details from her tumultuous marriage to Gigaba. According to court papers, Gigaba approached the High Court after learning about the episode through a WhatsApp…

The Gauteng Department of Education (GDE) has suspended two inspectors from its Infrastructure Unit following concerns regarding the handling of a repair project at Noordgesig Secondary School in Soweto. This comes in the wake of a devastating fire that occurred at the school on June 27, 2024. Following the fire, which caused significant damage, the GDE allocated funds for urgent repairs and rehabilitation work at the affected school. However, recent reports have suggested that the necessary repairs have either not been completed or that only some of the agreed-upon upgrades have been undertaken, prompting alarm among stakeholders. In response to these troubling findings, the Department has launched an internal investigation to ascertain the full circumstances surrounding the management of the project. A spokesperson for the GDE confirmed that “we will…

The City of Tshwane’s Section 79 Utility Services committee has expressed satisfaction with the Department of Utility Services’ performance in refurbishing the Rooiwaal Wastewater Treatment Plant, which was identified as the source of dirty water supplied to Hammanskraal residents. The committee’s position follows a meeting where they summoned senior managers from the department to account for the ongoing refurbishment work at the under-capacity wastewater treatment plant. Committee chairperson Flora Monama said the wastewater treatment works regulatory requirements report highlighted the importance of ongoing monitoring to ensure water quality meets SANS 241:2015 standards. She explained that the compliance percentage is calculated according to the blue drop certification system, and the reports indicate improvements in bulk water testing, which will provide residents with quality drinking water. Monama said: “The Water and Sanitation…

BRITAIN’S competition watchdog has proposed measures aimed at tackling Google’s dominance in online search, with the US tech giant warning that “punitive regulations” could impact UK economic growth. The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) said it proposes to designate Google with “strategic market status”, subjecting it to special requirements under new UK regulations. A similar tech competition law from the European Union, the Digital Markets Act, carries the potential for hefty financial penalties. Britain’s CMA in January launched an investigation into Google’s dominant position in the search engine market and its impacts on consumers and businesses. It followed the 2025 implementation of Britain’s Digital Markets Competition Regime, which the regulator on Tuesday said “can help unlock opportunities for innovation and growth”. Google’s spokesman on competition, Oliver Bethell, warned that the…

Say what you want about Max Verstappen – cocky, arrogant and sometimes overly aggressive, but you cannot deny that the four-time world champion has a hunger unparalleled to most of his competitors. It’s mid-season and the paddock took a bit of a break to help the mothership market its new movie F1, starring Brad Pitt and Damson Idris. There was a fancy display of the grid in New York and most of the drivers showed up wearing their Sunday best. Hamilton won the best dressed award, as usual… But Verstappen opted to head home to spend some time with Lily and test out a GT3 spec Aston Martin at one of motorsports greatest tracks – Spa. He was not the only one to sit the premiere out, as Mercedes driver…

Utility forward Jean-Luc du Preez last had a taste of Springbok rugby nearly two years ago against Los Pumas in Argentina. On Saturday, the 14-times-capped Du Preez will get a taste of rugby with the world champions again when he wears the No 8 jersey against the Barbarians in Cape Town in a new-look loose trio for the side. He last donned the Green-and-Gold in August 2023, but his ambition to play for the side again never faded. Now, he is ready to embrace the chance to battle against the invitational side at the Cape Town Stadium (5.10pm start). “That desire was always there,” Du Preez said on Wednesday. “The Springboks were always at the back of my mind, and I will always tell myself if I play well for…

“MR PB!!” That was how South African superstar Prudence Sekgodiso reacted after running her fastest ever 800m time in Ostrava, Czech Republic on Tuesday night. The 23-year-old middle-distance athlete clocked a stunning time of 1 minute 57.16 seconds (1:57.16) to clinch victory at the Golden Spike meeting. That eclipsed her previous personal best of 1:57.26 that she posted in Morocco last year, and it is also the second-quickest effort in 2025, behind the world lead of 1:56.64 by Ethiopia’s Tsige Duguma. Having endured a few uncharacteristic defeats in recent weeks, Sekgodiso bounced back to remind her rivals that she is building up to September’s world championships in Tokyo in fine fashion as she inches closer and closer to Caster Semenya’s amazing SA record of 1:54.25. With two pacemakers taking the…

The Pietermaritzburg Economic Justice and Dignity Group (PMBEJD) on Wednesday warned that concerns have grown over affordability despite household food basket seeing a slight dip in June. The PMBEJD released its Household Affordability Index for June on Wednesday, revealing a marginal month-on-month decrease in the average cost of its tracked household food basket, now sitting at R5 443.12. This represents a decrease of R23.46—or 0.4%—from R5 466.59 in May. However, the annual comparison tells a different story: the cost has risen by R190.36 (3.6%) from R5 252.77 in June 2024, raising concerns among civil society groups about the adequacy of such a decrease for struggling households. Mervyn Abrahams, director of the PMBEJD, indicated that out of 44 foods monitored within the basket, 19 saw increases in their prices while 25…

In 2025, as global trade fractures under $1.7 trillion in new tariffs and climate-related losses reach $600 billion annually, South Africa steps into the G20 presidency. It does so not as a bystander, but as a pivotal actor in rebalancing an increasingly fractured multipolar world. With economic uncertainty, geopolitical polarisation and climate volatility redefining global relationships, South Africa's presidency could shape the terms of engagement for a new development compact. The global economy is entering a prolonged and disruptive transition. The United States faces unsustainable debt dynamics, with a debt-to-GDP ratio exceeding 122% and a budget deficit expected to reach 7% by 2030. Its rising tariffs on Chinese goods and intensifying rhetoric are pushing the global economy into a state of strategic decoupling. The resulting…

As small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) approach the midpoint of 2025, they have been urged to conduct a comprehensive financial health check. This proactive audit is essential for navigating the current economic climate and ensuring sustained growth in the second half of the year, according to SME services provider Lula. “The economic landscape continues to present a mix of challenges and opportunities for SMEs,” Garth Rossiter, chief risk officer at Lula said. South Africa’s SME enterprises are the backbone of the economy, contributing over 50% to employment and 34% to GDP, and the macroeconomic outlook in which they operate is certainly improving. The RMB/BER Business Confidence Index hit a five-year high in Q4 2024, while consumer confidence rebounded to pre-pandemic levels. “Positive shifts are definitely emerging, power supply is more…

When Armando Ernesto Chau straps on the futuristic smart glasses that a young Mozambican robotics student is developing in the family dining room, he has a vision of a life less confined to his modest home. Chau is the prototype tester for Joao Antonio Rego, a 24-year-old robotics and electronic engineering student driven to provide visually impaired Mozambicans with assistance that goes beyond a simple cane. Since he lost his sight 20 years ago, the 45-year-old father has not worked and rarely leaves his home in Matola, outside the capital Maputo. Rego’s electronic glasses -- battery-powered devices embedded with sensors that scan for obstacles ahead and emit warning vibrations -- offer the promise of new possibilities. “It is vibrating ... it is those bushes,” Chau said, demonstrating for AFP Rego’s…

Construction industry activity in the first three declined due to high rainfall and no meaningful impact from the marginal drop in the prime overdraft rate since September, according to findings of the first quarter, Afrimat Construction Index (ACI). The ACI is an index of the level of activity within the building and construction sectors, compiled by economist Dr Roelof Botha and commissioned by the mid-tier mining company that produces and supplies construction materials, iron ore, anthracite, phosphate, and industrial minerals, Afrimat. The year-on–year comparison with the first quarter of last year in the ACI showed a decline of 2.6%. Dr Botha said he believes the reading is an accurate reflection of the government’s lack of willingness to spend on economic assets. “Following a sharp drop during the pandemic, the ACI…

A heated exchange between uMkhonto weSizwe Party (MKP) officials has escalated into a legal standoff after its national spokesperson Nhlamulo Ndhlela, has demanded a public apology and retraction from former Secretary General Floyd Shivambu. During an eNCA interview on June 23, Shivambu claimed Ndhlela was “always on drugs” and “always high on alcohol,” further stating he takes pride in lying to MKP President Jacob Zuma. Ndhlela’s legal team, Ndou Inc Attorneys, swiftly responded with a letter of demand, giving Shivambu 48 hours to follow several key demands. The letter demands that Shivambu must issue a clear, unequivocal retraction on his X account, pinned for seven days, stating the allegations were false and regrettable and offer a sincere apology that must be published alongside the retraction, acknowledging harm caused to Ndhlela’s…

The abduction of two babies from public health facilities in Gauteng has amplified the call for heightened vigilance. This comes after the abducted babies were safely recovered as a result of the maximum security and CCTV surveillance, and the collaboration between officials from the Gauteng Department of Health and law enforcement officials. The first abduction took place on May 12, at the Alexandra Community Health Centre when a one-month-old baby went missing from the Paediatric Outpatient Department (POD) after the mother briefly stepped away and left the baby in the care of a stranger. “The woman and the baby were captured on CCTV cameras exiting the premises, and swift action taken by security personnel and SAPS led to the safe recovery of the baby,” the department said. The second incident…

THE Gauteng High Court, Johannesburg, has turned down an application by the City of Johannesburg following the court’s earlier declaration that the municipality’s rates policy is unlawful and constitutionally invalid to the extent that it regulated the categorisation and rating of educational properties. The ruling issued by the court earlier this year follows the city’s removal of a property category that applied to educational institutions, and adopted a property rates by-law and policy that categorised private schools as public enterprises. This led to a drastic increase in property rates and taxes for private schools and other educational institutions. Various stakeholders, including Curro Holdings, the Independent Schools Association of South Africa, and AfriForum, launched the application following the drastic school rate increase. The court found that the city’s public participation process…

Electricity and Energy Minister Kgosientsho Ramokgopa has sounded the alarm over the rising municipal debt owed to Eskom, warning that it is increasing by about R3 billion every month. The minister’s comments come as Eskom continues to face mounting financial pressure, with total municipal debt now standing at around R94.6bn. IOL previously reported that embattled power utility Eskom also revealed that 87% of municipalities approved for National Treasury’s municipal debt relief programme are failing to meet the conditions required for debt write-offs, with only 10 out of 71 municipalities remaining compliant. This is despite efforts by Eskom to ease the burden through measures such as reduced interest rates and structured payment plans. The utility has warned that persistent non-compliance poses a serious risk to its liquidity and overall operational…

SOUTH African adventurer and ocean advocate Chris Bertish set sail from Mission Bay in San Diego today on what he calls one of the boldest solo ocean crossings ever attempted. He is undertaking a 2 800-nautical-mile journey to Hawaii on a production beach catamaran with no cabin, and powered solely by wind and solar energy. Bertish is navigating the Pacific Ocean solo and unsupported aboard a 20-foot catamaran, modified for extreme offshore conditions. The vessel offers no protection from sun, wind, or rain, exposing him fully to the elements for the estimated three-week voyage to Oahu, Hawaii. “Every test, every challenge, every storm I’ve weathered in preparation has brought me here,” said Bertish. “This isn’t just about crossing an ocean. It’s about crossing the boundaries of what’s possible for people,…

Accelerating ferociously with all wheels doing leech impressions on the slightly damp tarmac, the big SUV slingshots forward, still accelerating by the time I have to jump on the brakes to avoid becoming one with the mountain at the end of the estate access road loaned to us for the purpose of getting a teaser impression of the new Haval H6 GT Plug-in Hybrid. Pressing on through the few corners the road allows has all the driver safety systems working in sync to ensure the grip is not lost on the slick surface, and even with some enthusiastic wheel-twirling, the Haval stays smooth and steady with hardly a hint of an unpleasant body roll. New and refreshed GWM South Africa has firmly planted its flag in the burgeoning new energy…

The Proteas may be preparing to play at the Queens Sports Club, but the picturesque Bulawayo ground will be a world away from the Majesty’s Kingdom where they were recently crowned World Test Champions. All-rounder Wiaan Mulder, though, believes the upcoming two-match series against Zimbabwe, starting on Saturday, is the perfect opportunity for the team to “reset” after their heroics at Lord’s last week. “Coming from Lord’s, firstly, the home of cricket, the history, the tradition, everything you want to call it, to Bulawayo … I guess it's different,” Mulder admitted. “But to reset is very important. I think, for some of the guys that played in that Test, because if I tell you a week before that Test, I can't remember much that happened. It was all a bit…

THE pre-season player transfer window comes with performance analysis by numbers as teams look to offload and strengthen their arsenals for the upcoming season. For foreign players, this is usually means a great deal, with the Premier Soccer League (PSL) having foreign-player quotas in place. So,​ Independent Media looked at the best performing foreign nationals from the PSL’s 2024/2025 Premiership season. Boasting names like Peter Shalulile, Riaan Hanamub, Deon Hotto and Elmo Kambindu, it is fair to say that Namibia were yet again the best represented country outside South Africa in the past season. However, not all Namibian players make our top five list of the best performing foreign nationals... Riaan Hanamub (Defender, AmaZulu – Namibia) The 30-year-old left fullback was yet again one of the best, if not the…

Orbit College have made history and booked their place in next season’s Premiership after defying the odds to defeat Cape Town City 1-0 in a tense PSL Promotional Playoff clash at Olympia Park Stadium in Rustenburg on Wednesday. The triumph took the North West-based team to an unreachable tally of eight points from four fixtures, leaving both City and Casric Stars with only one game remaining, set for next Monday, with the Cape outfit now relegated to the Motsepe Foundation Championship. City entered the clash with two matches still to be played, but were fully aware that anything short of a result would leave them in danger, especially after Orbit had seized control of the group with a dramatic late win over Casric the previous weekend. This was Orbit’s maiden…

The Agricultural Business Chamber of South Africa (Agbiz) has issued a stern warning regarding the early maize harvest, noting a significant decline compared to last season's yield. With the agricultural landscape shaped by unpredictable weather patterns, both farmers and agricultural associations are echoing concerns about the implications of the current harvesting conditions. Wandile Sihlobo, chief economist at Agbiz, said that South African farmers and farmworkers were hard at work across the country. “The maize farmers are busy harvesting the 2024-25 crop. In the week of June 13, South African farmers delivered 851 814 tons of the new season maize to commercial silos. This was the seventh delivery for the new season, bringing the overall maize deliveries so far to 3.3 million tons,” he said. Sihlobo said compared with the overall…

South Africa’s sugar industry, which supports over a million livelihoods and underpins the rural economies of KwaZulu-Natal and Mpumalanga, is at risk of being undermined by a flood of artificially cheap, subsidised sugar imports. These imports are not just distorting the local market – they are jeopardising the survival of small-scale and large sugarcane growers and the thousands of families whose lives depend on them. SA Canegrowers, which represents 1 200 commercial farmers and 24 000 small-scale growers, has raised the issue with the government, calling for action to raise the import tariff reference price and prevent further damage to an industry already under enormous strain. It is important to note that cheap imported sugar does not translate to cheaper sugar for retail consumers. Imported sugar ends up on retail…

Running a small business in South Africa particularly these days comes with its own set of challenges. Between rising input costs and increasingly price-sensitive customers, you can quickly find yourself between a rock and a hard place. If you feel like your bottom line is under more pressure than it can take, it might be time to streamline your business. At its core, operational efficiency is about removing unnecessary friction in your business and ensuring that every rand and every resource is working as hard as possible. Here’s how to go about it: Audit your current operations Before you can improve anything, you need to understand what’s actually going on. This means taking a hard look at all aspects of your business. Where are the bottlenecks and which processes are…

The nominal average take-home pay declined to R17 296 in May, 1.3% lower than the previous month as job opportunities and earnings outlook remain grim, according to the latest BankservAfrica Take-home Pay Index (BTPI). The index tracks approximately 3.8 million salary earners in South Africa. However, this figure remained significantly higher than the R15 903 recorded in May 2024. This was third consecutive month that take-home pay slowed reflecting the impact of a subdued economic environment with stalled growth in quarter and a weakening global outlook, currently fuelled by the heightened volatility in the Middle East. Elize Kruger, an independent economist, said, “The upward trend in take-home pay from mid-2024 to early 2025 has been a positive development. However, recent months reflect a U-turn, with 2025 proving to be a…

When I stumbled across We Were Liars, a new release on Amazon Prime Video recently, I wasn’t expecting to be left in tears and still thinking about this powerful series, long after the credits rolled. Having not read the young adult novel of the same name by E Lockhart, I was expecting to escape into a teenage summer romance, much like with shows such as The Summer I Turned Pretty and Outer Banks. But soon into the show, I was pleasantly surprised to discover that it resembled Nicole Kidman-esque psychological thriller such as The Perfect Couple and Big Little Liars, while also featuring elements from Succession – with We Were Liars also centering around a billionaire American family who are desperate for their patriarch's validation. But what set this story…

US singer Summer Walker has netizens raving on social media after she shared a side-by-side picture of influencer and reality TV star Wandi Ndlovu’s BBL, being photoshopped to chicken thighs. Ndlovu’s recent body transformation, which she debuted in March, has been a significant topic of discussion in the past few months. Just recently, the Heart Of A Woman singer shared the picture that compared Ndlovu’s BBL to chicken thighs, sparking online discussion about both their BBLs as they both underwent cosmetic procedures. However, netizens were not impressed with the 29-year-old for throwing shade at Ndlovu’s BBL; they flooded the internet with comments about Walker’s BBL being just as bad. A social media user wrote: “Mind you Summer Walker has a bad BBL herself.” While another user added: “Summer throwing stones…

The National Director of Public Prosecutions (NDPP), in a second failed attempt at the Supreme Court of Appeal (SCA) could not show exceptional reasons to have the court reconsider a decision against costs awarded to a man detained unlawfully. The SCA dismissed the application for reconsideration brought by the NDPP, who were aggrieved by costs they had to pay to the man who successfully petitioned the SCA. In the matter, Khotso Ramabanta, instituted action against the NDPP and the Minister of Police for damages arising from his arrest on 27 February 2019 and subsequent detention until 20 March 2019, when the charges against him were eventually withdrawn by the prosecution. The SCA ordered that the Minister compensate Ramabanta R70 000 while the NDPP was ordered to compensate to the tune…

A group of students from universities and TVET colleges took to the streets yesterday to express their frustrations over delayed funding from the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS), despite previous promises from the Department of Higher Education and Training and NSFAS to address the issues. Accompanied by activists and concerned citizens, students marched to the department’s offices in Pretoria, expressing ongoing frustration over delayed funding. The march follows a similar protest last month by students at Tshwane University of Technology, who demanded that the department and NSFAS take immediate action to address delayed funding. Kemogelo Masike, national president of the South African Students Federation, said students staged the march due to their anger and frustration with the NSFAS and the department. He said students at universities and TVET colleges…

Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi has reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to integrity, transparency, and accountability by acting on the results of lifestyle audits conducted across senior provincial officials. This follows his earlier vow to remove all provincial department heads implicated in unethical conduct, starting with those entrenched in supply chain management. Lesufi said the intention is to restore public trust and purge corruption from government ranks. The crackdown was triggered by a report from the Gauteng Ethics Advisory Council, which exposed a disturbing pattern of senior officials living lavish lifestyles far beyond what their official earnings would allow. “Ethics must not only be verified, they must be lived,” he said. By October 2024, 750 senior managers were in the provincial administration, and 732 of them had completed or were undergoing intensive…

Auditor-General Tsakani Maluleke believes supreme audit institutions (SAIs) like her office are uniquely positioned to provide foresight, insight, and enable oversight in the use of governments’ limited resources for socio-economic development. Maluleke, speaking on the opening day of the SAi20 Summit at Melrose Arch, on Tuesday, said the gathering was not a mere appendix to the chapters of the G20 programme; rather, it is a critical and interrelated component of the very substance of the intergovernmental forum’s deliberations and resolutions. “Therefore, to the extent that the G20 is seized with how to confront and overcome the challenges facing humanity today and thus answering the question of what is required to make a difference to the lives of their citizens; therein is the perspective, expertise and voice of SAIs and how…

A third suspect has been implicated in an online dating scam that saw a woman lose R3 million in the name of fictitious love, back in 2024. The victim said she developed an online relationship with what she thought was a white male called Mark Hermanus, whom she met on Facebook, the South African Police Service (SAPS) said. After exchanging numbers, she and the alleged scammer started chatting on WhatsApp, and once they had “gotten to know each other”, he asked her to lend him money to pay the medical bills of his sick son. But these weren’t modest medical bills, and the complainant eventually parted with R3 million, which was deposited into two bank accounts. After the crime was reported to the Hawks’ Serious Commercial Crime Investigation Unit, an…

It was a mixture of euphoria and disappointment as I drove my Toyota Gazoo Racing South Africa (TGRSA) GR Yaris into the pits after the final race of the fourth round of the GR Cup held at Zwartkops this weekend. Racing can be a cruel mistress and the highs and lows that come with it put you on an emotional rollercoaster. Practice It had been more than a month since we drove at the Aldo Scribante Circuit in Gqeberha and during the first practice at Zwartkops I felt a little detached from the car as I tried to get back into my rhythm with my times reflecting that as well. The previous week I had done a number of laps during a Mercedes-Benz AMG day and with the help of…

The recent SETA debacle in South Africa once again highlights the prevalence of nepotism and the continuation of irregularities in South Africa. The long-term vision of the role of these SETAs seems to be forgotten. Their purpose is closely aligned with minimising the economic gap between citizens through skills development and employment creation thereafter. However, the choices some individuals have made to manage these sects with no application of good governance principles, and a lack of ethics, these national objectives are yet to be met. At the onset of our democracy, both the Congress of the South Africa Trade Union (COSATU) and the National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa (NUMSA) demanded a new approach to skills development. Their stance brought about the establishment of SETAS. South Africa has 21…

“It’s a good job Test cricket is played over five days, isn’t it?” These were the words of England captain Ben Stokes after his team beat India after a thrilling run-chase at Headingley this week. Stokes had even more reason to smile after he asked India to bat on Day 1, and then watched how the visitors raced to 430/3. In another era, Stokes’ decision may have placed him alongside Nasser ‘Insane’ Hussain’s decision to insert Australia on the opening day of the Ashes back in 2002. But the red-ball game has been revolutionised over the last few years. While England’s ‘Bazball’ tactics have undoubtedly brought a refreshing element to a sport that has been “on its last legs” for almost three decades, the expansion of T20 cricket has also…