Indice dei contenuti per 2024-01-22 in Star

SOUTH Africa’s car industry is supportive of anti-dumping duties imposed on shipments of vehicle windscreens, saying imported automotive glass should be controlled to control safety standards. In a general notice published at the end of last week, the International Trade Administration Commission said Minister of Trade, Industrious and Competition Ebrahim Patel had “approved” its recommendation for the imposition of anti-dumping duties on imported vehicle windscreens. “The five-year period that the anti-dumping duties may stay in place before the duties lapse, if a sunset review is not initiated, will be counted from the publication date of the notice in the Government Gazette by Sars,” the commission said in General Notice 2277 of 2024. Patel had now “requested the Minister of Finance (Enoch Godogwana) to amend Schedule No 2 to the…

GLOBAL leaders have remained optimistic that trade will recover “towards normalisation” this year, after slumping considerably in 2023, unless ongoing geopolitical tensions worsen or a major war breaks out. At the closing of the World Economic Forum (WEF) Annual Meeting on Friday, delegates pondered the global economic outlook. Earlier in the week, the WEF Chief Economist’s Outlook report warned global economic prospects remained subdued and uncertain, with challenges including tight financial conditions, geopolitical rifts and the rapid development of generative artificial intelligence (AI). The report highlighted that 43% of chief economists predicted unchanged or improved conditions, while a significant majority expect labour markets and financial conditions to relax in the coming year. However, it was the current state of global trade that took centre stage on Friday, with leaders saying…

FROM SOUTH Africa to Rwanda to Nigeria, African countries put on a show of force at the World Economic Forum this week, seeking to transform their image by grabbing private investment rather than development aid. This year in Davos there were no panels on development aid, and African policymakers at the Swiss Alpine resort instead discussed free trade, investment and the energy transition. With the fastest-growing population of young people in the world, African officials and business-people believe the continent provides an unparalleled opportunity for investors. “There is the story of all of these challenges and risk, but there is also a formidable story of the amazing investment opportunities that the continent offers,” said Marie-Laure Akin-Olugbade, a senior executive at the African Development Bank. “We think that we need to…

MINISTER of Basic Education Angie Motshekga announced the 2023 matric results on Thursday last week. Her excitement was understandable with an 82.9% pass rate result, having improved from 80.1% in the 2022 results. Considering that the matric results have been on an increasing trajectory under her tenure, this result is a reflection of her performance on the portfolio. As often the case every year when the matric results are released, debates ensue about the quality of the basic education that our children are receiving, especially those from vulnerable communities and poor areas of our society. Debates about whether the pass rate is a true reflection of competent young minds being developed or the results are a reflection of a standard that has been lowered to give an impression of success.…

ASCENDIS Health, on the verge of another controversial shareholder buyout, this time by a consortium led by CEO Carl Neethling, on Friday resorted to official JSE notice to refute information carried on the X social media platform. This followed a week during which a key misrepresentation on the circular to shareholders brought a postponement to the shareholders meeting to vote on the buyout and possible delisting. Listed company directors typically do not comment on views on the company carried on social media, but the use of X by a growing number of active retail shareholders in South Africa has seen more JSE companies having to put out official announcements, to counter certain information published on social media. Ascendis had a shareholders meeting scheduled for last Thursday to approve the buyout,…

THE tantalising trailer for the fourth season of The Real Housewives of Durban (RHOD) just dropped and, from the looks of it, things are about to get spicier. The new season sees three new housewives, Ameigh Sibahle Thompson, Nqobile “Angel” Ndlela and Zamaswazi Ngcobo, alongside OGs Jojo Robinson, Maria Valaskatzis, Nonku Williams Sorisha Naidoo and Silindile Wendy Ndlovu. From Valaskatzis’ dissolving her lip-fillers to newbie Ndlela putting people in their place, it’s already clear that Housewives fans can expect some salty lip-service and Durban spice. It also reveals that the “Joko” effect is still intact, while shade and soft living is the order of the day. And a new gusband has joined. Williams, who has been on the reality show since its inception, says she’s ready to claim back her…

After an unprecedented sell-out season at the Artscape Opera House, Pieter Toerien and Cape Town Opera’s stunning production of the world’s most-loved family musical, The Sound of Music, ended its record-breaking, month-long run on January 14. Seen by over 51 000 delighted theatregoers of all ages, the acclaimed musical saw every show sold out, with nightly standing ovations. Starring Cape Town Opera House soloist Brittany Smith as Maria, Nadia Beukes as Frau Schraeder, Craig Urbani as Captain von Trapp, Wiliam Berger as Max and Janelle Visagie as the Mother Abbess, it begins previewing on January 27 at the Teatro at Montecasino. Performances: Tuesday to Friday at 7.30pm, Saturday 2.30pm and 7.30pm, and Sunday at 2pm and 6pm. Tickets at Webtickets and Theatre Box Office at 011 511…

JOHANNESBURG, the City of Gold once known as Africa’s richest city, has become a shadow of it former self, with an infestation of derelict buildings haunted by crime. At one point the economically thriving city was the pride of South Africa, but now it is a burden, with an ever-changing local government having no clue what to do with it. The city is incessantly plunged into darkness, with residents, who are largely undocumented foreign nationals, also complaining of water shortages. It has more than 600 hijacked/illegal buildings and workers, and the arrival of thousands of migrants each month does not help the situation. The buildings range from abandoned to derelict office buildings and factories. Residents live in slum-like conditions and pay rent and protection money to gangs who make their…

THE start of the school year has yet again brought to the fore issues of learner’s transport and its safety and dangers, with those in the transport sector and parents calling for safety to always be at the forefront. Over the years social media has been flooded with reports and footage of overcrowded vehicles transporting learners, in addition to road accidents involving mostly young children. In one video which went viral online, traffic officers were seen off-loading more than 30 children and their school bags from a 12-seater while there was also evidence that some in the vehicle were not headed for school. This has caused, among others, police officers and school governing bodies to call on parents to pay particular attention to the modes of transport they entrusted their…

Mpumalanga, which has experienced decades of misrule under the ruling party, is an administrative nightmare for the Auditor-General of South Africa (AGSA). Following a dismal report in 2023 from the AG’s office on the financial state of municipalities in the province, it is evident that in most aspects where the province and its municipalities are expected to be improving, they are either retaining the unbearable status quo or regressing where minor progress has been made during previous financial years. Mpumalanga is a classic case of what transpires when there is blatant disregard for rules and where the state is left to its own devices. But exactly how much damage has been caused and how does the province of Mpumalanga fare when compared to other provinces across South Africa? The province,…

“Guys, this is a big competition. I just don’t understand why people don’t get it. This is Champions Cup rugby. This is where footballers leave clubs in the Premier League, because they don’t get to play against the best players in the world (if their teams don’t qualify).” That is how Bulls coach Jake White described the stature of the Champions Cup, and now he will have to back up the talk with how he manages his players ahead of the round of 16. The Bulls qualified for the play-offs on Friday night already after Connacht beat Bristol, and got more good news on Saturday night – having beaten Bordeaux 46-40 at Loftus Versfeld – that they will enjoy a home game on the weekend of April 5-7 after Saracens…

THE Proteas are on tour in New Zealand for their second series of the new World Test Championship cycle, following the drawn series against India here at home over the summer. This time around, the Proteas go to the Land of the Long White Cloud as underdogs, seeing that the team selected for the tour has very little experience, with key Proteas players left behind to complete the second edition of the SA20. Due to the inexperienced nature of coach Shukri Conrad’s squad, the team have copped a lot of flack and have had their competence for Test cricket questioned. Batter Keegan Petersen feels they have been disrespected, to a large extent. “To a certain extent, yes (I feel we have been disrespected),” he said. “I believe the team that’s…

SURELY that was not how Cedric Bakambu envisioned it all going. Surely, the Democratic Republic of Congo striker scored that imaginary penalty. He missed the real one, though. Four minutes before the half-time break of the Leopards’ second Group F match against Morocco at the Stade Lourent Pokou in the coastal city of San Pedro in Ivory Coast, the Galatasaray striker wasted a glorious chance to get his country on level terms after Achraf Hakimi had scored right at the start of the match. Bakambu’s low kick hit the base of the upright and went wide, to join South Africa’s Percy Tau in miserable company of those who missed from six yards. Unlike Bafana Bafana’s star, though, Bakamu was saved by his teammates who scored a second-half equaliser that leaves…

The ratings agency has warned that the country needs to ramp up its structural reforms Ratings agency Fitch has warned that South Africa needs to ramp up its structural reforms to address weak economic growth outlook in the medium-term. The agency on Friday said the country’s gross domestic product (GDP) would remain below 1% again this year as a result of the ongoing energy crisis, logistical constraints and high levels of income inequality. Fitch’s primary ratings analyst, Thomas Garreau, said they were forecasting that real GDP growth would accelerate to 0.9% in 2024, and 1.3% in 2025, from an estimated 0.5% in 2023. If the economy grows by 0.5% in 2023, as forecast by Fitch, it would be below all other estimates as the SA Reserve Bank and the National…

THE CITRUS Growers Association South Africa was cautiously optimistic about 2024 as fruit on the trees indicated an increased crop, but there were concerns about getting the fruit to markets, CEO of the association Justin Chadwick said on Friday. In South Africa the citrus season starts with lemons in February and ends in September. The pome fruit sector is also looking to 2024 more optimistically due to lower exports from other major pome producing regions following hail damage in 2023. “There certainly is potential for another record-setting amount of cartons exported. As things stand, our growers have, under difficult circumstances, ensured there will be large amounts of citrus when harvesting truly ramps up starting in April, supplying consumers around the world with our sought-after fruit,” Chadwick said on Friday in…

WHEN PLATO decried the rule of the masses and dismissed the system of politicians elected by popular vote as democracy, it was for a good reason. He made an infamous, but a true assertion when he claimed that “within Athenian democracy, ordinary people do not elect the wisest and ablest to offices of power, but they vote to the demagogues best versed in oration and rhetoric”. He claimed that democracy is a danger. And that is due to excessive and unbounded freedom. He further argued that, “in a system in which everyone has a right to rule, all sorts of selfish people who care nothing for the people, but are only motivated by their own personal desires are able to attain power”. Socrates went further to argue that ruling is…

FORTRESS Real Estate Investments said on Friday that its scheme to simplify its dual share structure into one was approved by shareholders. The scheme would be done through repurchasing and cancelling all Fortress B shares in issue in exchange for shares of Nepi Rockcastle, at a share-swop ratio of 0.060207 Nepi Rockcastle shares per B share. Once implemented, there will be a single class of ordinary share with no impediments to the declaration of distributions. “We are grateful to our shareholders for their overwhelming support of the proposed transaction to simplify our capital structure. We have consistently emphasised the importance of simplification and specialisation,” Fortress CEO Steven Brown said. He said in a statement that the vote represented a major step forward for Fortress. “This single-share structure has a host…

TRUSTCO, the Namibia-based investment group that last week announced a planned R950 million cash-for-shares injection, had an 18.1% average net asset value growth since listing, but faces litigation and other uncertainties in the new financial year. Writing in the company’s latest annual report, chairman and advocate Raymond Heathcote said the JSE had issued a directive for Trustco to restate its annual financial statements that had resulted in a legal dispute. “During the previous reporting period, Trustco complied under protest with the JSE’s directive, although this matter remains under appeal and Trustco was granted leave to appeal against the judgment, delivered by the High Court of South Africa, by the Supreme Court of Appeal in Bloemfontein,” the chairperson said. He said there was also legal action with the Namibian Revenue…

Award-winning Afrosoul musician Thandiswa Mazwai is in Washington, DC, making big moves at the NPR Music office. This comes after her successful stage performance at GlobalFEST, which was held at the Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts in New York earlier this week, where she had the crowd eating out the palm of her hand. In December, Mazwai teased fans on X about a request that came through for her to perform on NPR Music’s Tiny Desk Concert series. Tiny Desk Concerts is a video series of live concerts hosted by the creator of NPR’s popular All Songs Considered podcast. The concerts are known for their raw, unfiltered performances, where artists are stripped of the grandiose elements of stage shows, bringing their music back to its purest form. The…

Newly-appointed Eskom Group CEO Dan Marokane will have his work cut out for him to keep the lights on as the utility’s generation capacity dwindles, with the energy availability factor (EAF) teetering around 50%. Eskom confirmed on Friday that Marokane would assume office as the Group CEO on March 1 after his appointment in December. Marokane, who is currently the interim CEO of the troubled Tongaat Hulett, will take the reins from Eskom chief financial officer Calib Cassim, who steered the ship on an interim basis since André de Ruyter resigned in December in 2022 after making claims of massive looting at the power utility and the involvement of senior political figures in corruption. Business Report reported in February last year the CEO position was a poisoned chalice as De…

Citizens 4 Change leader Dudu Ngcobo-Letseli said the future of the country was bleak, more especially for graduates as they were facing the possibility of being unemployed as the government did not have a tangible plan to address the high rate of unemployment. “The situation is dire, there’s no hope. We have graduates this year who have just finished their degrees, and some post-graduates, and we know that in terms of absorbing all these graduates will be near-impossible. “We have a programme that we think is going to be doing great for job creation. This programme seeks to close the gaps in unemployment. With this programme, we will be looking at empowering township economy,” Ngcobo-Letseli said. She said once they were in power, they would implement policies that force government…

GLOBAL animal welfare organisation Four Paws returned to Sudan earlier this month for the urgent rescue of 15 lions, four hyenas and other wild animals from the Wad Madani area. They were among 47 wild animals evacuated by Four Paws from a rescue centre in Khartoum to Dinder National Park and Um Barona National Park in November. While nearby Wad Madani was safe at the time, it became a new front in Sudan’s civil war recently. This put the lives of the already weakened animals at risk once more, Four Paws said. The organisation has worked tirelessly to find a swift solution with the Sudanese wildlife authorities and is now planning their relocation to a safe place at one of its sanctuaries. “On the request of the Sudanese wildlife authorities…

Taste Explorers Cookbook B-Well created in partnership with dietitian, Dr Monique Piderit B-WELL, an oil products manufacturer, and Munchie Monster’s friends have collaborated to create the wonderful culinary book, Taste Explorers, which will benefit many families as the school year begins. The extensive collection of recipes in the Taste Explorers Cookbook come with nutritional explanations to help parents better understand how food is fostering the development of their children. With delicious recipes from Egg-Free French Toast Fingers and Sweet Potato Fish Cakes to Creamy Veggie and Potato Salad and Mac ’n Cheese Slices, there’s plenty of inspiration within the free downloadable cookbook. With over 25 recipes created in partnership with dietitian Dr Monique Piderit, as well as nutrition tips and a time-saving two-week meal plan that shows you the ideal…

Despite falling short in their match against Oyonnax after playing with 14 men, the Cheetahs did enough to secure vital bonus points to progress to the play-offs of the European Challenge Cup. They showed some grit after winger Munier Hartzenberg was sent off, but could not hold on to the lead as the French side scored at the death to clinch the game, winning 28-27. Hartzenberg scored the opening try, but received his red card in the 18th minute, after his winger mate Dan Kasende was shown a yellow a few minutes before him. Playing with 14 men for over 60 minutes was always going to be difficult, playing with 13 even more so, but the Cheetahs showed fight and took the game to their opponents. “You get games of…

There were heart palpitations in the Stormers’ coaching box when Stade Francais launched a late onslaught on their tryline to almost clinch the Champions Cup match in Paris on Saturday evening. But some trademark resolute defence by the Cape side saw them close out another nail-biting win 24-20 and secure a home play-off match. Two solid tackles in front of his tryline with time almost up on the clock by fullback Warrick Gelant, plus a second-half injection of grunt by the replacement forwards, closed out the game for the visitors. It was also the Stormers’ first win in Europe this season and, hopefully, the tough match will turn their fortunes around when travelling for the rest of the season. “The last two minutes were unbearable, the blood pressure was high,”…

APPLE is prepared to open the iPhone’s ability to tap-to-pay to rivals – in the EU – after coming under fire for keeping users in its own ecosystem, the European Commission and the company said on Friday.The commission, the European Union’s (EU’s) market regulator, said it was weighing Apple’s proposal, which was made after Brussels determined that the Cupertino company enjoys a dominant position in iOS mobile wallet transactions by shutting out competitors. Such transactions rely on technology called Near-Field Communication (NFC), which allows users to tap a smartphone on a vendor's payment terminal instead of a credit card with a microchip. An Apple spokesperson said: “We have offered commitments to provide third-party developers in the European Economic Area (EEA) with an option that will enable their users to…

FRENCH television and streaming giant, Canal+ could be forced to attempt a takeover of pay-television giant, MultiChoice to build a “quasi- monopoly” at a time PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) has projected South Africa’s entertainment industry to hit R231 billion in value. MultiChoice last year announced a streaming partnership with Comcast’s NBCUniversal as it takes streaming competition directly to rivals such as Netflix. And Despite suffering a 7% decline in subscriber numbers in the South Africa market between the first and third quarters of 2023, Multi- Choice is seeking to revamp its offerings through next month’s relaunch of Showmax, helping it broaden its opportunities. But for Canal+, which already holds a 31.7% stake in the South African pay television company, a critical consideration would be to raise its shareholding and ultimately attempt…

At its essence, multiple award- winning series The Bear is an age-old underdog story. And with its universal life lessons, it comes as no surprise that it has been receiving so many accolades. The FX dramedy series cleaned up at the 2023 Emmy Awards this week, after also winning big at this month’s 81st Annual Golden Globes. The series centres on a young chef – played by the ever in-vogue Jeremy Allen White – who returns to Chicago, from the fine dining world, to run his family’s fast food restaurant after a heartbreaking death in his family. Created by Christopher Storer, the Hulu show revolves around Carmen “Carmy” Berzatto, who is forced to contend with the soul-crushing realities of small business ownership in the wake of inheriting his family’s…

Netflix has two local releases making their way to the platform in the next few weeks. The race is on to find love in Net- flix’s upcoming Valentine’s Day release, A Soweto Love Story. The story will take viewers on a hilarious journey with the Ngubeni brothers who are up against the clock to become the heir to the family home. Starring Lunga Shabalala, Sparky Xulu and Ray Neo Buso as the three brothers, and Duduzile Ngcobo as their mother, Bongekile, the rom-com sees her make a proposition to her unmarried sons. The Ngubeni matriarch decides to take drastic measures to expand the Ngubeni family and instil the significance of genuine love and companionship in her all-boys household, so she promises the family home to the first one who ties…

Rise Mzansi leader Songezo Zibi told thousands of his supporters at the weekend that corruption was so rife in the country that the “so-called” leaders saw politics as a meal ticket. Zibi said these politicians went to the extent of killing each other just so that they could put their hands in the cookie jar. He pointed out that the level of unemployment was now higher than it was 20 years ago, adding that the number of violent crimes was also far greater now than it was 20 years ago. “We do not trust the police any more. We do not trust government officials. Too many people in our society tolerate and defend corrupt people,” he said. “We are a violent society. We are no longer shocked by violence and…

Ingredients 4–6 hake fillets Salt and milled pepper 1–2 Tbsp harissa paste 2 Tbsp honey Juice (120ml) and grated peel of 2 lemons ½ tsp smoked paprika 1 cup double-cream plain yoghurt 2 packets mini pita breads, toasted For serving: Spring onion, sliced Cucumber, sliced Chopped coriander 1/3 cup mayonnaise mixed with 2 Tbsp harissa paste Method Season hake and set aside. Combine harissa paste, honey, lemon juice and peel, paprika and yoghurt. Coat fish well with the mixture and marinate in the fridge for 30–45 minutes. Bake fish at 200°C for 25–30 minutes. Serve pitas filled with flaked fish, spring onion, cucumber, coriander and dollops of spicy harissa mayo (or serve mayo on the side). Pick n Pay…

THE City of Tshwane’s first ever deputy mayor, Dr Nasiphi Moya, was elected unopposed during Thursday’s special council sitting in spite of allegations that she previously defrauded the municipality of an amount of R10 000. Blowing the whistle on the alleged misappropriation of funds was Tshwane regional EFF leader Obakeng Ramabodu, who told council that his party was in possession of proof to back up its claims. Moya has been asked by council Speaker Mncedi Ndzwanana to answer to the EFF’s claims in writing. Unimpressed by Ndzwanana’s call on the matter, the EFF believed the council missed an opportunity to test Moya’s ethical morals and behaviour by not allowing her to give a prompt response. Ramabodu said the funds were linked to a cancelled Saudi Arabia trip which Moya and…

Following the resounding success of the last edition, the Johannesburg Film Festival returns for its sixth edition from February 27 to March 3, bringing together filmmakers, industry experts, and cinema fans for a celebration of storytelling through film. The Youth and Audience Programme dates and venues have been confirmed by the organisers who have also opened submissions for the Young Voices Competition. A series of workshops aimed at empowering and developing the abilities of young film creatives and content creators will once again be conducted by the programme, in line with the festival’s ongoing ambition to prioritise the growth and development of young South African filmmakers. This year, the programme will screen more than 60 feature films. In addition, it will feature a variety of engaging industry and audience initiatives…

Ndebele world-renowned artist Esther Mahlangu will be exhibiting her work at Cape Town’s Iziko Museum with a retrospective, titled Then I Knew I Was Good at Painting. The exhibition will open to the public on February 18. It is curated by Nontobeko Ntombela, and highlights Mahlangu’s long career of more than 50 years and her meteoric rise as a contemporary artist, earning her global acclaim. The monumental retrospective will be open to the public at the Iziko South African National Gallery from February 18 until August 11. From there it will then begin its global tour, stopping first at Wits Art Museum in Johannesburg before moving to the US in early 2026. The Melrose Gallery, Mahlangu’s global representative, was tasked with implementation of the retrospective exhibition. Through the language of…

THE Pretoria Capitals head to Gqeberha for their fifth fixture of the SA20 season and their third assignment away from home this season, having been beaten by the Paarl Royals at Boland Park and by the Joburg Super Kings at the Wanderers earlier in the competition. The hosts, Sunrisers Eastern Cape, return from a set of successful away trips, having emerged victorious at Newlands Stadium against MI Cape Town, and at Kingsmead Stadium against Durban’s Super Giants last week. As the Capitals look to improve their performances away from home today, the Sunrisers look to rectify their performances at home in front of the loud orange army, after losing against the Super Giants in Gqeberha earlier in the competition. Having had a rained-out opener, which was followed by the…

INNOCENT Maela has made peace with his failure to make Bafana Bafana’s final Africa Cup of Nations squad and wants to help Orlando Pirates finish the season on a high. Over the years, there’s been a huge cry for quality left backs in the country as the national team coaches chopped and changed personnel in the position. Many believed that Maela’s older brother, Tsepo Masilela, was the last fully-fledged left back Bafana had, with his exploits taking him to countries like Israel and Spain. But Maela proved that he’s cut from the same cloth as Masilela, with Bafana coach Hugo Broos rating him as his first-choice left back in recent months. Broos liked Maela so much that he called him up for the national team even when he wasn’t a…