Starの 2023-06-29 の目次

SnapStore Pro places full-service banking in the hands of SA entrepreneurs STANDARD Bank's commitment to supporting South African entrepreneurs by showing up with the right tools at the moments that matter is demonstrated by its ongoing partnership with SnapScan in providing innovative fintech solutions that drive business growth. Ten years ago, Standard Bank’s partnership with Cape Town-based innovator SnapScan put phone-enabled QR code payments into the hands of South Africans. To also help businesses remain relevant as transaction technologies change and payment methods increase, “we’re happy to announce that we’ve extended our fintech partnership with SnapScan in the creation of SnapStore Pro, a point-of-sale machine combining card and gadget pay acceptance with our existing QR offering,” says Jenine Zachar, the head of Enterprise Banking at Standard Bank. Allowing the customers…

PROPERTY price growth remains resili- ent in the lower end of the market while early data shows significant declines in property values above R5.5 million, the latest FNB Property Barometer showed. FNB senior economist Siphamandla Mkhwanazi said yesterday they expect house price growth should slow to around 2% this year from 3.5% in 2022, with risks skewed to the downside. “So far, price reaction to weakening consumer fundamentals has been stronger than expected in the upper end of the market, although financial pressures are more pronounced among lower-income households,” he said. The FNB House Price Index's annual growth decreased in May, averaging 1.9% year-on-year, down from 2.1% in April. He said elevated living costs and higher borrowing and debt-servicing costs continue to erode affordability, particularly among lower-income groups. The…

ADVANCED Health’s share price rose 87.50% to close at 75 cents on the JSE yesterday after it announced an agreement for Eenhede Konsultante Eiendoms Beperk, its biggest shareholder, to acquire all of the issued shares of Advanced Health at 80c per share. The offer excludes the shares held by associates of Eenhede Konsultante: VC Family Trust, the Carl Grillenberger Family Trust and Pres Medical Witbank Proprietary. The offer is by way of a scheme of arrangement that will ultimately lead to the delisting of Advanced Health. Advanced Health listed on the JSE in 2014. Its reasons for listing included access to institutional investment funding and the potential to use its shares as acquisition currency. The company said yesterday that since listing it had been unable to attract significant institutional…

THE FUTURE for South African youth remains bleak currently unless we act now to cultivate entrepreneurs, says Vuleka app founder Brian Makwaiba. The platform recently took first place in the South African edition of the Visa Everywhere Initiative, taking home $50 000 (R925 885) in prize money. Vuleka will progress to Central and Eastern Europe, the Middle East and Africa to represent the continent. The intention of the competition is to highlight unique start-ups that were driving change, solving problems, and accessing new segments. More importantly, the competition created visibility for the fin-techs, both locally and globally, to attract investment and new opportunities to partner. In an interview with Business Report, Makwaiba said it was important to consider that Africa was also a very youthful continent. “So…

BR Reporter SOUTH Africa’s tourism industry has the potential to boost the country’s economy and create significant employment opportunities. An ambitious new private sector initiative launched by the Youth Employment Service (YES) and financial services group, Sanlam, is expected to be a game-changer for this critical sector. The first phase of the project will see youth across South Africa working to promote and support tourist attractions nationally, through showcasing their home towns and surrounds. YES CEO Ravi Naidoo said: “South Africa’s tourism sector is rebounding rapidly from the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic and is a major driving engine to create youth jobs … Through this initiative, we hope to add further momentum to the sector.” Youth4Tourism aims to bring together a range of businesses to help unlock this…

Deputy President Paul Mashatile has embraced Bishop Leonard Modise of the International Pentecostal Holiness Church (IPHC) in Zuurbekom, west of Joburg. This is after the church’s opposition leader, Michael Bhekumuzi Sandlana, failed to provide DNA test results showing that he is the son of the late bishop Glayton Modise. Mashatile told a large crowd gathered at the church’s headquarters that it was his church and he was proud of its expansion and perseverance in trying times. “My mother brought me here when I was still young. Silo (the name often used to describe the church headquarters) became my home. It is still my home,” Mashatile said. The difficult circumstances refer to the controversial Sandlana, the leader of the IPHC’s Jerusalem faction. After the 2016 passing of Glayton Modise, Sandlana installed…

Hostels in Johannesburg should be a thing of the past, Johannesburg mayor Kabelo Gwamanda said. He was speaking at the Diepkloof Hostel, where there has been unrest for days over service delivery. Protests by those living in the hostel have led to a disruption of roads around the hostel, with cars being stoned and trucks delivering goods looted. “It is time that we integrated as communities; hence the City of Joburg is looking at prioritising the Southern Farms that does not only accommodate historically oppressive structures but an integration of people of diverse races, people of diverse cultures, people of diverse religions and living standard measures,” Gwamanda said. He said the Government of Local Unity had taken into account the measures of the previous government with the DA at…

HOW do people who cannot speak consult with their doctor and tell them what is wrong? To answer this, researchers at the University of Pretoria’s (UP) Centre for Augmentative and Alternative Communication in the Faculty of Humanities conducted a study that involved designing a framework to develop health education material for people with communication disabilities. “Those with severe communication disabilities are often marginalised and viewed as people who have nothing to say,” said Augmentative and Alternative Communication director Professor Shakila Dada. “This could not be further from the truth, which is why the centre is committed to ensuring that people have access to various means of communication through augmentative and alternative communication. “We do this in consultation with people who have complex communication needs because we believe that nothing should…

Thirteen drone pilots from the SAPS have received certificates which will enable them to operate drones that will assist in fighting crime in Gauteng. This is part of the Gauteng provincial government’s effort to use cutting-edge technologies like drones, CCTV cameras, and e-panic buttons to stop crime. Community Safety MEC Faith Mazibuko said this was a joint initiative by security company Fidelity ADT and UDS Drone Solutions. Mazibuko said the plan is to train more officers to use drones and deploy them in high crime zone areas like Diepsloot. She also warned officers not to use their certificates to get bribes. “These papers are not for you to open your boots and take bribes. This is for you to go and monitor crime-ridden areas as we are busy rolling…

You couldn’t have scripted the result better if you tried. Take four World Rally Championship Toyota Gazoo Racing Yaris’ to the toughest race on the calendar and come home with all four in one piece taking the top three podium positions and throw in fourth place for good measure. Every driver and team competing in the event that took place in Naivasha, Kenya, in the Great Rift Valley, were at pains to explain that this event, with its tricky terrain, dusty roads, rocks and free roaming wild animals, was unlike anything else they would experience. So it says much for Toyota that when they crossed the line for the final standings it was Sebastien Ogier (France) and Vincent Landais (France) that squeaked in ahead of Kalle Rovanpera (Finland) and Jonne…

THE rampant murders of councillors that has engulfed KwaZulu-Natal is a cause for concern. This war waged by local municipalities’ lawmakers against each other has caused so much pain in many households, leaving relatives and families distraught and traumatised. The onslaught by the local government leaders against each other has got out of hand, so much so it is about time the authorities did something about it. Most of these attacks began as members of the same political party began killing each other, fighting for positions. But it has now escalated to the point the killings occur across most political parties, and some happen because of the fight for the governing of the municipalities. A new case, that of councillor and pastor John Myaka, of the Umhlathuze Local Municipality who…

A FEW years older, more mature and definitely highly experienced, Jermaine Seoposenwe goes to the Women’s World Cup with “revenge” on her mind. The Mexico-based forward is expected to lead Banyana Banyana’s strike force alongside Thembi Kgatlana at the global showpiece as South Africa looks to progress beyond the group stage for the first time. “I am going to try and enjoy the World Cup. 2019 was not the best World Cup for me, so I am taking this opportunity as a revenge run. I am trying to prove what I was capable of, that I should have been in the team starting in the 2019 World Cup and I am trying to do that in this World Cup,” Seoposenwe told the media yesterday. Four years ago, when Banyana made…

KAIZER Chiefs divided opinions yesterday after announcing Molefi Ntseki as the club’s new head coach. While some were pleased with the restructuring, another section of the Amakhosi fan base were left disgruntled as they disapproved of the appointment of a man with little coaching experience in the Premiership. Chiefs’ decision to promote Ntseki from the club’s Head of Development sees an adjustment within the technical team. Arthur Zwane will return to his previous post of assistant coach alongside Dillon Sheppard. Ntseki becomes the seventh head coach appointment in five years at the Soweto club and will immediately take over the reins as they prepare for the new season. The 53-year-old is no stranger to the pressures of a high-stakes job, having been Bafana Bafana head coach between 2019 and 2021.…

HOSTS Zimbabwe and former champions Sri Lanka are in prime position to clinch the final two qualifying spots for this year’s Cricket World Cup, while two-time winners the West Indies risk missing the tournament for the first time. With four wins from four group matches, Zimbabwe and Sri Lanka head into the decisive Super Six stage of the qualifying tournament with four points apiece, carrying over the rewards earned for beating the teams that also advanced from the first round. Backed by strong batting displays, which included making a national record 408/6 against the USA, Zimbabwe will be confident the runs will continue to flow as the stakes mount from today. “We have found our momentum and we are looking forward to carrying it,” said Sean Williams, who scored 174…

Depending on effective implementation of proposed Eskom debt relief plan SOUTH Africa’s electricity crisis could improve markedly from next year if the government effectively implements the proposed Eskom debt relief plan and workers are upskilled with green skills. These were the conclusions of two separate reports released yesterday about South Africa’s three-pronged approach to tackle the energy crisis and the changing labour market in a transitioning economy. Moody’s Investor Services commen- ted about the government’s proposal to take over R254 billion of Eskom’s unsustainable debt over three years from the National Treasury. The government also wants Eskom to write off the municipal debt – the principal debt, interest and penalties – over three years, subject to the municipalities complying with a number of conditions in a bid to prevent…

THE CONGRESS of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu) has slated Thursday next week as a day of a national strike to press demands for a variety of issues affecting the welfare of workers. The Federation confirmed that the strike would be held in all nine provinces with various activities taking place per province with the delivery of petitions to Government Establishments, private businesses including mining houses, Municipal Offices, Premiers’ offices, the South African Reserve Bank (SARB) and Parliament, amongst others. Speaking to Business Report, Cosatu spokesperson Matthew Parks said the socio-economic protests were to press home issues that had been raised before including the high unemployment rate, loadshedding, attacks on national infrastructure including that of Eskom and Transnet, unpaid salaries by some municipalities and employers undermining collective agreements for workers…

MORE THAN 178 000 Zimbabweans settled in South Africa under the Zimbabwe Exemption Permits (ZEP) received a reprieve yesterday when the High Court ruled the decision to terminate the permits – whose validity had subsequently been extended to the end of December this year – as unlawful, brightening income prospects for friends and relatives back home. Expat Zimbabweans settled in South Africa make up a big economic support base for crisis weary relatives and friends back home. Zimbabwe’s economy has made a tail spin back into hyper-inflation, worsened by a runaway exchange rate, rampaging prices and worsening unemployment. “We were facing uncertainty because we all thought that after the December expiry ZEP would not be extended. Now people have time to make a calculated determination; either trying to get…

IN MARCH 2017, the President (then deputy President) of South Africa, Cyril Ramaphosa, was the keynote speaker at the Sandton Convention Centre in Johannesburg at the first-ever Global Entrepreneurship Congress (GEC) to be held in Africa. With more than 6 000 delegates from 180 countries, it was dubbed one of the largest entrepreneurial events to have been held in South Africa and possibly the rest of Africa. It was really special seeing entrepreneurs and the partners come together, forming a local organising committee and making a deliberate decision that this was not just going to be another expensive once-off get-together. It was monumental and grandiose, to say the least. I was in the holding room when Ramaphosa met the GEN Global President, Jonathan Ortmans. During the meeting, Ortmans shared…

AS YOUTH Month ends, shopping baskets reveal young South Africans’ financial struggles. What is the solution? The official theme assigned by the government to this year’s Youth Month was “Accelerating youth economic emancipation for a sustainable future.” In a statement about the Youth Month Programme, the Cabinet urged society to intensify efforts to ensure young people “access opportunities which allow them to enter active participation in the economy.” Announcements on measures to ensure the government’s urging is supported by practical action are yet to be forthcoming. This is not the first time we have heard the government pay lip service to the economic struggles of South African youth. For example, President Cyril Ramaphosa’s 2023 State of the Nation Address promised tax incentives to encourage hiring young people Similar announcements have…

BR Reporter SA NATIONAL Parks (SANParks) and Sanlam this week launched a R10 million programme to provide access to market, finance and business development support to small, micro and medium-sized enterprises (SMMEs) from communities surrounding South Africa’s major national parks. SMMEs that are contracted to SANParks and are interested in accessing the programme should liaise directly with the organisation’s Supply Chain Management unit at the Kruger National Park. Focused on the Kruger National Park the programme aims to impact targeted SMMEs as identified in the SANParks overall supply management plan and will run for a one-year period. It will offer short-term working capital through interest-free loans to SMMEs with whom SANParks can procure goods and services in and around the Kruger National Park.…

Netflix has upped the ante this month, with its latest local offering iNumber Number: Jozi Gold, a reboot of the award-winning original film made with the team from the first iteration. The cops-and-robbers style movie hit the streaming platform earlier this week and is off to an impressive start, bagging the number two spot on the Netflix Top 10 Movies Today chart. The new instalment brought back several members of the original cast, including Donovan Marsh. He is in the director’s seat and wrote the script. The film boasts an impressive cast of A-list actors, among them S’dumo Mtshali in the lead. Mtshali plays the jaded undercover cop, Chilli. The role was previously played by the award-wining actor Israel Matseke-Zulu, who moves behind the camera as an associate producer, and…

Residents of Cato Crest in eThekwini were left in shock after Tuesday’s tornado and heavy rain, as they watched neighbours being swept away by water. Resident Xolani Mancika told The Star’s sister publication Daily News that at about 9pm or 10pm, the rain was heavy and he woke up to pack his important belongings, including his identity document. “Myself and other neighbours tried to call our neighbour when we thought of taking a ladder to go and help her. We could not get to her on time, as water burst from her shack and took her straight to the river. We were able to save her child, but we watched her being swept away,” said Mancika. There was nothing that they could do because none of them could swim and…

THE image of South Africa is negatively affected by load shedding, especially when it’s implemented during live match broadcasts when the world can witness its effects. This was said by Electrosafe director Gareth du Preez during the second day of the Stadium and Facilities Conference hosted in partnership with John Deere Financial Services at SuperSport Park in Centurion. He was addressing participants in the conference on the impact of the current energy crisis on South African stadiums and facilities. The turnout at sports matches was likely to be poor because “people can’t get to the stadium because traffic lights are out and the roads are dark”, said Du Preez. He said safety at night was a major concern among sporting fans. Power infrastructure was often affected negatively by the switching…

UCT has moved up 64 places to be ranked 173rd in the world by the Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) World University Rankings 2024 released yesterday. UCT remains the best university in Africa, according to QS, moving to within the top 12% internationally. The top five universities in Africa are UCT in 173rd place, Wits at 264, Stellenbosch University at 283, University of Johannesburg at 306 and University of Pretoria at 323. UCT said that its improved performance of 64 places can be largely attributed to the change in methodology introduced in this edition of the rankings, which now takes into consideration the university’s international collaborations, excellent graduate employment rates and successful alumni, and evaluates UCT’s contribution to social and environmental impact. “UCT is delighted to record such an impressive jump in…

THE Department of Transport has expressed its dismay after a fatal car crash was reported in Mqanduli in the Eastern Cape and a second one on the R555 Witbank/Ogies Road in Mpumalanga on Tuesday. The two accidents resulted in 14 deaths. The department said the Eastern Cape accident claimed the lives of eight passengers, while six died in the Mpumalanga crash. Minister Sindisiwe Chikunga conveyed her condolences to the families and friends of the deceased and wished those who had been injured a speedy recovery. “Over the years, it has been proven that moving violations and human error are the biggest causes of road crashes. Therefore, road users are urged to take necessary precautions and make it their business to always do so,” said the department. The National Sea Rescue…

A Bloemfontein father has come forward to claim his Powerball jackpot winnings of over R23 million. National Lottery, Ithuba said the winner spent R15 on his winning ticket. Ithuba said the winner carefully manually selected his winning numbers and walked away with a total of R23,044,341.60 from the June 20, draw. Ithuba said the winner – whose identity is being kept private – is employed on a temporary basis. “I couldn’t believe my eyes when I saw the numbers on my ticket matched the winning combination,” the winner told Ithuba. “This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, and I am overwhelmed with gratitude. This windfall will transform not only my life but also the lives of my loved ones.” Ithuba CEO Charmaine Mabuza said: “He defied the odds by selecting his own…

WHILE the world continues to turn its back on sedans in favour of SUVs, thankfully the appetite for vans hasn’t suffered the same fate. Almost every major manufacturer has one in their stable because of their people-carrying ability, car-like driving characteristics and practicality. And when it comes to the pinnacle of vans there’s not much standing in the way of Mercedes-Benz V-Class, that’s become the go-to van for many South African consumers. It’s amusing when you’re behind the wheel of one how many of them you happen to notice on the roads. From hotel shuttles to executive airport transport, funeral services and as daily transport for those lucky enough to own one. Building on the success of the V-Class, Mercedes-Benz Vans have added a limited edition V-Class Special EDITION into…

In the past two years we’ve tried out almost every version of the Volkswagen Tiguan available to local buyers, and we’ve been mostly impressed with what they have to offer, from the new TDI to the popular TSI petrol models and the high-performance Tiguan R. But what’s it like to live with Volkswagen’s best-selling vehicle globally? To find out, we’ll be spending the rest of the year with the Pure White 1.4 TSI Life model you see here. Our test car arrived with an interesting specification mix that keeps it basic in some ways but also packs in more than a few premium features, which highlights the power of choice owners have when buying a Tiguan. For instance, our car has the entry-level 8.0-inch Composition Media touchscreen, as well as…

The detention of the plane carrying extra security for President Cyril Ramaphosa on his trip to join the African peace mission in Ukraine and Russia has caused an uproar beyond proportion. For more than a day, the security detail, alongside journalists and some other state officials, were grounded at the airport in the Polish capital, Warsaw, in a manner very telling about the geopolitical times we are living in today. Warsaw is the city after which the military alliance led by the Soviet Union in the battle for dominance with the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (Nato) alliance was named. The Warsaw Pact, signed in 1955, led to the formation of the Warsaw Treaty Organization, whose key members were the Soviet Union, Albania, Poland, Czechoslovakia, Hungary, Bulgaria, Romania, and the German…

AMAZULU president Sandile Zungu has waved away any questions of regret over the dismissal of ex-coach Benni McCarthy despite the club being on a downward spiral. Usuthu released the former Bafana Bafana striker in the final stages of the 2021/22 season after a string of poor results. McCarthy had become the first coach to ensure the club finished second in the DStv Premiership, also ensuring the club’s first-ever participation in the CAF Champions League the season before. The KwaZulu-Natal club would enjoy relative success on the continent as they qualified for the group stages but their campaign was clouded with poor results in the league. McCarthy, now a coach at Manchester United, openly stated that he would’ve appreciated more support from the club in terms of recruitment but instead, he…

US veteran Megan Rapinoe said the upcoming Women’s World Cup feels like a “paradigm shift” in the global business of women’s sports even as inequities persist. The fight for equal pay by Rapinoe and her US teammates was a backdrop to their 2019 World Cup triumph in France, eventually resulting in a collective bargaining agreement with US Soccer that included equal prize money between the men’s and women’s national teams and more equal benefits in areas including accommodation and travel. Fifa has guaranteed that ever player at next month’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand will earn at least $30 000, with the winners taking home $270 000. At a US media day on Tuesday, Rapinoe said there was still work to be done to ensure the world’s best…

TRADE union Solidarity has scored a major victory against the government’s implementation of the proposed race-based employment equity legislation. The government and the Solidarity yesterday signed an “amicable” Settlement Agreement on the Employment Equity (EE) and Affirmative Action ending a nine-month mediation process. Tension about Employment Equity came to a head last year when Dis-Chem pharmacies issued a moratorium on external appointments and internal promotions of white workers in a bid to achieve employment equity targets. Solidarity had referred a dispute to the International Labour Organisation (ILO) regarding the government’s proposed amendments to the Employment Equity Act after President Cyril Ramaphosa earlier this year signed the Amendment Bill. The union felt that the amended law granted too much power to the Minister of Employment and Labour, saying it undermined the…

PICK N PAY announced yesterday that it had concluded a deal to acquire 100% of the business operations of the Tomis group of companies for R340 million. In a statement, the group will acquire 100% of the Tomis business operations, and this will be split into an upfront cash consideration of R323m, and a fixed capped deferred price of R17m payable on the third anniversary of the transaction. “Tomis’ managing director, Laurie Terblanche, is to remain with the group,” it said. According to the group, the acquisition remains subject to several conditions precedent, including the relevant regulatory approvals, Competition Commission, and others. The group said the acquisition was not a categorised transaction for the JSE listing requirements and, therefore, shareholder approval was not required. Established in 1993,…

THE IDEA OF starting your own business, especially in the face of the challenges that exist within the South African environment, may feel daunting. But don’t be discouraged – every thriving business empire ever built, began as nothing more than an idea. That applies to businesses of every kind and size, from history-making brands like Apple to your local spaza shop. Of course, not all business ideas are innovative or viable. But there are several ways to determine whether it’s an idea you should act on or one you should shelve for a while. Before taking the plunge and exploring how to get small business funding or formulating a launch plan, try these three methods that will help you to determine your next step. Ascertain demand Your first task will…

SOUTH African business incubator, African Innovation Solutions (AIS), will host young technology innovators for a talk aimed at inspiring youth to follow in their footsteps and learn from their experiences. As part of the company’s Innovation Talks series, “Honouring African Innovations”, will take placetomorrow, June 30, in Cape Town. The Innovation Talk series has been created by AIS to not only highlight outstanding accomplishments and contributions made by African innovators in a variety of fields, but to share insider information with aspiring entrepreneurs to help them succeed. Palesa Nangu, the 29-year-old CEO of African Innovation Solutions, said: “There is no doubt that the transformative power of innovation in Africa and its influence on the continent's development is a force to be reckoned with. “In hosting these talks in Youth…

AGRIKOOL, a small agricultural business, is showing exponential growth after securing a deal with the Shoprite Group, delivering fresh produce worth over R3 million to the retailer in just over a year. The Pietermaritzburg-based business solves challenges in the farming value chain, develops small to medium-scale local farmers, and sustains regional food security, by connecting buyers, growers, producers, and transporters of agricultural products. They have also developed an e-marketplace to connect these growers with consumers. Founded by farmer and agricultural engineer Zamokuhle Thwala in 2018, who co-owns the business with agricultural scientist Palesa Motaung, AgriKool, trading as Gro-Agro (Pty) Ltd, currently works with more than 22 farms in the KwaZulu-Natal Midlands and outlying areas. This ecosystem has created a local economy that’s boosted employment within the farming community and…

SEASONED radio presenter DJ Moeti Tsiki, better known as Mo Flava, recently hung out with Sol Phenduka on Podcast & Chill in the absence of the show’s OG, MacG. Flava had the opportunity to clear the air on a beef between himself and MacG that had chillers consumed for years. Flava said it was a “big scam”. “MacG and my history stems way back when he started out. In fact, he started out on my radio show in the evening. “I had an entertainment segment on YFM, The Urban Express, and it was such a cool segment because all he had to do was deliver entertain- ment news … but because Mac is so disorganised, he would never do that. “He would just get on air and just start talking…

The South African premiere date of season 15 of MasterChef Australia has been confirmed. The show will air on M-Net (DStv channel 101) on weekdays from Friday at 6pm. The cooking show was put on hold last month after the death of judge Jock Zonfrillo. Season 15 introduces a fresh batch of 18 culinary hopefuls, all competing for the coveted title and the grand prize of A$250 000 (about R3 million). It is no secret that the highly anticipated season will serve up jaw-dropping dishes and a feast of flavours, but there will also be surprises aplenty as the race commences for the title of “MasterChef Australia 2023”. At the helm, professional judges Andy Allen, Melissa Leong and the late Zonfrillo welcome the hungry hopefuls, who will be inspired by…

The daughter of former president Jacob Zuma, Duduzile Zuma-Sambudla, has been advocating for the president of Russia, Vladimir Putin, to come to South Africa amid vast criticism. Putin was expected to come to South Africa to attend the BRICS Summit, which will bring together heads of state of various nations. But Putin’s visit has sparked controversy, with some countries expressing their concerns that his presence could tarnish the country’s image. South Africa has been doing some political juggling with regards to the Russia-Ukraine issue. But Zuma-Sambudla said there were no two ways about it, calling for Putin to come to South Africa freely. “President Putin must come to SA and save us from those CIA agents in Richards Bay!” Zuma-Sambudla tweeted. Not only has Zuma-Sambudla called for Putin to…

With the rise of digital technology and tools used for the creation of artwork, local Athlone resident and renowned Islamic calligrapher and artist Achmat Soni, 74, reflected on the deeply spiritual, disciplined and emotional nature of his work done by hand. Soni single-handedly painted the domes, mihrabs (prayer niche in the mosque in the direction of Makkah), and walls of several mosques in South Africa and abroad using simplistic methods which included the use of a stick to determine the length and size of the artwork. At 15 years old, Soni left school to work and financially assist his family. Turning 16 made it possible to obtain an apprenticeship at the Simon’s Town Naval Base where he was initially tasked to paint boats and shops. Due to his small stature,…

Following a series of violent protests in Diepkloof, Soweto, City Power has promised that it will complete the installation of electricity to the hostel in the next three months. Disgruntled hostel residents staged numerous protests this month and blocked off nearby highways with burning tyres. At the heart of the protest, hostel dwellers raised issues about lack of housing, proper ablution facilities and a lack of electricity. On Tuesday, the Joburg City Power officials held a meeting with community leaders and promised to fix the issue. “Following the protests in the area. We are ready to complete Phase two of the electrification work at Giyani section, which should take three months,” said City Power spokesperson, Isaac Mangena. Mangena added that phase one at Madala section is already completed. In an…

The recent turmoil in Russia, where the leader of Wagner and his mercenary outfit engaged in mutiny, reveals the deep ignorance of the West about what is happening in that region. The media and politicians from the West were salivating in glee and anticipation, almost cheering Wagner on, with the hope that it would topple Russian President Vladimir Putin. But just as it mysteriously started, Wagner stopped the action. But the naivety of the West had been laid bare for all to see. For Wagner is a mercenary outfit and if it could have succeeded in toppling the Russian government, what could have been the aftermath? The thought of such a gang of maverick criminals is better in power than Putin, and in full control of nuclear weapons of such…

Volkswagen’s ‘Millenium’ Beetle started a whole retro craze around the turn of the century, only to disappear again after two generations that failed to set the sales charts alight. Granted, the modern day Beetles were somewhat niche and not exactly spiritual successors to their utilitarian, rear-engined ancestor that put the VW brand on the map in the first place. But fans of the venerable Bug could be forgiven for getting their hopes up for a new generation model, after Volkswagen created a battery-powered Beetle concept car for the movie “Miracolours: Ladybug & Cat Noir” that was announced last month. But the animated electric vehicle shown in the film is looking set to remain a flight of fancy as the carmaker’s global CEO Thomas Schäfer has confirmed there are no plans…

As we reflected on June 16, during this Youth Month, the day on which South Africans are called to remember and commemorate the young people who sacrificed their lives in the struggle against apartheid, many found themselves considering whether their legacy truly does live on, or whether the impact of their sacrifices has to some extent been forgotten, if not squandered. In 1998, the Employment Equity Act (EEA) was passed with the intent of promoting equal opportunity in employment for all individuals, particularly those who were previously disadvantaged because of race, gender, or disability. The purpose of the act was to address the legacy of apartheid and to bring about transformative change in the workplace, ensuring that all individuals are able to participate fully and equally in employment opportunities. In…

ACCORDING to the South African Football Association (Safa), the implementation of the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) programme is closer than ever. The nation’s football governing body confirmed that they sent a letter to Fifa confirming their intention to move forward with their plans. In the letter to the world football governing body, Safa provided the itemised costs of the programme, including VAR training, referees, technical staff and the equipment. “We sent a letter to Fifa about our intention to implement the VAR process and the world football governing body has confirmed receipt of the letter and will most likely respond to our correspondence anytime from now. They will give us direction on the way forward,” said head of referees, Abdul Ebrahim. Victor Gomes, who was appointed as the chairman of…

RASSIE Erasmus was 100% accurate on Tuesday when he said that with Eddie Jones, “you just never know what you are going to get”. The SA Rugby director of rugby was speaking at a press conference in Pretoria ahead of next week’s Rugby Championship match between the Springboks and Jones’ Wallabies. Jones needs no introduction to Loftus Versfeld. It was the scene of his most humiliating experience in rugby, the Bulls annihilating his Reds 92-3 in a Super Rugby match in 2007. On the other side of the coin, Jones’ finest moment in his career involved a South African team, the Boks. At the Brighton Community Stadium in 2015, Jones engineered the biggest upset in World Cup history when his Japanese team shocked the Boks 34-32. That was how Jones…