Starの 2024-05-14 の目次

JSE-LISTED Vodacom declared a dividend of 590 cents per share, consistent with its policy of paying 75% of headline earnings per share to shareholders, for the year to March 31, despite suffering what CEO Shameel Joosub called “big knocks”. The mobile telecoms giant – which is still embroiled in a legal battle over the “Please Call Me” service that is again in the Constitutional Court, reported R151 billion in revenue – a 26.4% gain year-on-year, thanks largely to its purchase of the Egyptian operation in 2022 for R41bn. However, one of the big knocks Joosub referred to was the result of devaluing that operation, an exercise that is now over. Net profit was R19.26bn, a 6.4% gain on the prior year, while the key measure of profitability,…

Anglo American is looking for a better valuation – including that of its South African-focused iron ore and platinum group metals units – from BHP after rejecting the Australian resources giant’s revised and improved offer yesterday. BHP has raised the valuation of Anglo American to nearly $43 billion (R805.5bn from R741bn previously) in its revised offer, which was tabled to the Johannesburg- and London-listed diversified mining group on May 7. However, Anglo American yesterday rejected the new offer, which still insisted on the unbundling of Kumba Iron Ore and Anglo American Platinum as conditions precedent, leaving BHP “disappointed” and scrambling for a way forward in its quest to grow its portfolio and exposure in copper. Analysts told Business Report yesterday that the board of Anglo American firmly believed that…

The STEEL sector has committed to a wage agreement which its signatories, the Steel and Engineering Industries Federation of Southern Africa (Seifsa) and the National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa (Numsa), have hailed as “smooth and historic” as it involves a housing consideration for workers. This is as Seifsa’s nemesis, the Natio- nal Employers’ Association of South Africa (Neasa), scoffed at the wage agreement “as another nail in the coffin of an already collapsing industry”. Seifsa and Numsa yesterday agreed to prompt the Board of Trustees of the Metals Industries Benefit Funds Administrators (MIBFA) to develop a model for providing workers with a housing benefit. MIBFA oversees investments of more than R149 billion on behalf of workers in the steel industry. The wage agreement – as was the case…

MICROSOFT yesterday announced €4 billion (R80bn) in investment for developing data centres in France, joining fellow US giant Amazon in committing to the country’s tech infrastructure. The announcements came on the eve of the seventh Choose France Summit, which aims to attract foreign investors to the country. Macron will host it at the Chateau of Versailles near Paris. Microsoft’s president Brad Smith said the move to strengthen its artificial intelligence and cloud computing infrastructure was the tech giant’s biggest-ever investment in France since its arrival 41 years ago. France’s “longstanding commitment to carbon-free energy markets” and its status as a “critical leader” in Europe explained the decision, Smith said. A new data centre will be created in eastern France, while existing sites in the Paris region and the southern…

The simmering war of words between world-renowned rappers Drake and Kendrick Lamar has been dominating the headlines in recent weeks. As they continue to insult and make scandalous allegations against each other, there is widespread belief that this feud points to something more sinister emerging behind the scenes of the music world. The feud between Lamar and Drake, also known as Champagne Papi, has seen them attack each other’s families and personal lives in a series of escalating diss tracks. Drake recently shared a clip on his Insta stories from the mini-series A Man in Full, which follows a real estate tycoon battling bankruptcy and betrayal as he tries to protect his legacy. The protagonist lies on the ground with his inner thoughts echoing through the screen: “I don’t mean…

The EFF deputy president Floyd Shivambu has dismissed claims that the party advocated for illegal immigrants to enter the country illegally. Shivambu was clarifying a statement by party leader Julius Malema that foreign nationals should find creative ways to get into South Africa. He said the EFF believed everyone in the country must be documented but that did not mean those who did not have proper documentation should be ill treated. “We need to have a legislative framework that protects everyone who’s in SA, whether they are here lawfully or unlawfully. We cannot treat immigrants in a sub-human way,” the EFF deputy president said. On the upcoming elections, EFF’s second-in-command was confident his party would garner more votes than in the past. Shivambu said the EFF had seen phenomenal growth…

IN a last push, as elections edge closer, IFP president Velenkosini Hlabisa got his hands dirty during a clean-up campaign at the eMathinini Transit Camp in Lamontville yesterday. His visit followed The Star’s sister paper, Daily News article last week that exposed the squalid living conditions at the transit camp where some residents have been living since 2008. Hlabisa – accompanied by the party’s senior leadership – including spokesperson Mkhuleko Hlengwa, cleaned the flea-infested transit camp. He bemoaned the poor state of the transit camp and lambasted the ANC for “neglecting” downtrodden citizens. “We came here today because the ANC has completely turned a blind eye to the plight of millions of poor South Africans. This is just not acceptable,” he told Daily News. The transit camp comprises one-room corrugated…

The Police and Prisons Civil Rights Union (Popcru) has expressed concern about the mass exodus of skilled members of the force who are choosing the private sector. The union said highly skilled and specialised members of the Special Task Force and National Intervention Unit divisions were exiting at an alarming rate, leaving the country’s borders vulnerable and posing a significant risk to safety and security. Popcru president Thulani Ngwenya said the SAPS skills drain had reached alarming levels as members retired or left the service for better paying positions in the private sector. The capacity of the force was already stretched due to low wages and difficult working conditions that affected the morale of officers, he said. “While private security firms are luring away our highly trained personnel with…

With Magesi FC already confirmed as champions and earning automatic promotion to the elite division, five teams are set to battle it out with two promotion play-off spots on the line. Here, Obakeng Meletse looks at the crucial fixtures on Sunday that will determine who will win an opportunity to contest the PSL promotion/relegation play-offs. University of Pretoria v Baroka FC: Sunday @ Tuks Stadium, 3pm Bakgakga salvaged a point late on against JDR Stars this past weekend with the match well into added time. Third in the standings, they are tied on 46 points with fourth-placed Stars. The former Nedbank Cup semi-finalists were minutes away from paying the price for indecisiveness in their opponents’ final third when they failed to create any chances in their home encounter. They will…

There is no way that Brad Binder and Red Bull KTM will be pleased with their current performances in MotoGP, regardless of how they try to frame it in a positive light after the fact. Five races into the season and it has gone a bit pear-shaped after a solid pre-season and spectacular opening round in Qatar, which promised consistent runs to the podium. That threat has not materialised. Instead, in the past three races, both rider and team have struggled for top-10 finishes. The Grand Prix of the Americas saw Binder battle to ninth, followed by a sixth-place finish in Spain and an eighth-place finish at Le Mans in the French GP this past weekend. The ambition of Binder and Co is to be among the top three riders,…

THE Proteas Women’s World Cup preparations could take an interesting turn without long-serving coach Hilton Moreeng, after he ended a tenure of more than 11 years last week. Building a “positive and stable environment for the team” has been the most often used statement in the past few days, as the Proteas Women look ahead to a fresh start. The tour to India next month will be the first under new management, and although only temporary, Dillon du Preez will have the chance to prove his worth with Cricket South Africa set to name a new coach before the Women’s T20 World Cup. Moreeng’s exit, ahead of the global showpiece in October, ends a tenure that has seen him take charge of 279 matches across all three formats. He won…

The Bulls are driving their fans nuts with their unfortunate habit of second- half fade-outs but strongman Wilco Louw is hopeful they can eradicate the issue before the United Rugby Championship play-offs. The Bulls almost blew it last week against the Warriors when they went from being in a commanding position to clinging on for their 40-34 win. The Bulls weren’t so lucky a few weeks back when Munster came from behind to nail a famous win. “We can’t say exactly what is going on but it is definitely not what we wanted,” said Louw, who played 14 Tests for the Boks between 2017 and 2021. “I think we are drifting off the game plan and a few mistakes result in a snowball effect. It is not a case of…

SOUTH Africa’s platinum supply to world markets is projected to fall by 2% this year, hammered by shaft closures, reduced investment, and lay-offs. The World Platinum Investment Council (WPIC) yesterday said that this would affect ramp-up output from some expansion projects. With the world’s largest platinum reserves, South Africa’s platinum group metals (PGM) sector has largely struggled for viability and profitability in the past few months. Continuously depressed PGM prices have had a toll on the industry, with Sibanye-Stillwater recording a $2.58 billion (R47.7bn) loss for 2023. Impala Pla- tinum is also considering shutting some shafts after half-year profits for the period to end December, 2023, slumped to R1.7bn compared to R14.8bn a year earlier. Now the WPIC has projected that the capital and production cuts by South African…

SOUTH African business duo Eldrid Jordaan and Goitse Konopi listed their new technology venture, Suppple, on the Luxembourg Stock Exchange on Tuesday. The market capitalisation is £200 million (R4.69 billion) and the share price £2. The listing enhances Suppple’s financial stability and invest-ment attractiveness, facilitating expansion into new markets and sectors. The listing enhances Suppple’s financial stability and investment attractiveness, facilitating expansion into new markets and sectors. Several years ago, I said the poten- tial demographic dividend of South Africa was poised for a demographic disaster. Jordaan and Konopi are staring the challenge in the face. Through their new company, Suppple, they have focused on the mission of education, health and product safety, especially food. They are putting technology to good use. They have challenged not only South Africa, but…

REMEMBERING the late Calestous Juma FRS HonFREng (June 9, 1953, to December 15, 2017) is to recall a Kenyan scientist and academic luminary whose contributions to sustainable development left an indelible mark. Named one of the most influential Africans multiple times by New African magazine, Juma held the esteemed position of Professor of the Practice of International Development and served as faculty chairperson of the Innovation for Economic Development Executive Programme at the Harvard Kennedy School. Globally recognised, Juma was elected to prestigious institutions such as the Royal Society of London, the US National Academy of Sciences, and the UK Royal Academy of Engineering, among others. His academic legacy includes the often-referenced book Innovation and Its Enemies: Why People Resist New Technologies, published by Oxford University Press in 2016.…

IN ITS FIRST published results since listing, WeBuyCars Holdings said it drove core headline earnings a share up 21.1% to 119.9 cents in the six months to March 31, despite the overall weak vehicle trading market. WeBuyCars listed on the JSE on April 11, following the unbundling by Transaction Capital of all the shares it owned in WeBuyCars. The share price increased 4.35% to close at R22.07 on the JSE yesterday, a strong performance consid- ering the All Share Index was up only 0.03% at the same time – WeBuyCars’s share price opened at R20 when it listed. Directors said yesterday they anticipated the difficult local market conditions to continue where there was low consumer confidence, high interest rates, and lower new vehicle sales volumes. This, and political uncertainty…

Award-winning DJ duo Ngcebo Mdima and Karabo Motlogelwa, known as The Billionaires, are ruling Mzansi’s queer party scene with diverse sets and spiritual sounds. Mdima, from KwaMashu, north of Durban, and Motlogelwa, from Orange Farm in Gauteng, are a queer power couple who are electrifying the South African house music scene right now. The couple met through social media in 2016. In 2022, they formed The Billionaires after deciding that it was time to transition from being artist managers, and they then decided to brand themselves as DJs. The idea was inspired by their mutual love for music and entertaining people in general. Speaking to Independent Media Lifestyle, Motlogelwa said: “We are lovebirds and we are also business partners. We believe in building together and the only way to achieve…

AUTHORITIES in George are moving slowly to establish the identities of victims removed from the rubble because those recovered are in a state of decomposition. The five-storey under-construction apartment building in Victoria Street collapsed more than a week ago, with 81 people on site. So far, 54 people have been rescued or recovered from underneath the rubble. Of those, 25 people are deceased, 13 are receiving medical treatment and 27 are unaccounted for. Speaking to the media yesterday, assistant director for Forensic Pathology Services Floyd Herwels said the bodies being recovered were in a state of decomposition. He said this made the visual identification of the deceased difficult. “We normally would not show any pictures to families of bodies in a state of decomposition, but because of the situation we…

The Health Department has confirmed a positive case of monkeypox (mpox) in Gauteng. In a statement yesterday, the department said a 35-year-old man tested positive on May 9. The confirmation has prompted a warning for public vigilance from the Minister of Health, Dr Joe Phaahla. “The case was first tested by Lancet Laboratory which was later confirmed by the National Institute for Communicable Diseases, which immediately notified the department,” the department said. Monkeypox is a rare viral infectious disease in humans caused by the monkeypox virus (MPXV). Although, the virus is not highly transmissible from person-to-person, it has increased in global public health significance and can cause a painful rash, enlarged lymph nodes and fever. Most people fully recover, but some get very sick. “According to the preliminary investigation and…

Umkhonto WeSizwe Party (MKP) leader Jacob Zuma has spoken out about the party’s recent squabbles that led to the expulsion of the party’s founder, Jabulani Khumalo. While addressing MKP supporters in KwaMashu, eThekwini on Sunday, Zuma cautioned that the internal dispute between party members was going to cost the organisation the majority it was seeking. “These ongoing battles within the party may jeopardise our chances of securing a two-thirds majority in the upcoming elections,” he said. Zuma reiterated why he had insisted on having interim structures to minimise the chances of fighting for positions. He said he was now surprised by certain leaders who felt entitled to positions, but when they were offered positions, they never questioned them. “I said we would only have interim structures in the MKP to…

Plumes of smoke could be seen rising over Eldoraigne substation in Centurion on Saturday afternoon due to a burning transformer that caught fire. This comes almost a month after a Mooikloof substation went up in flames, plunging many areas into darkness. The Eldoraigne incident took place around 2pm on Saturday and firefighters from Doringkloof Fire Department were dispatched to put out the blaze. Also at the scene were the affected ward councillors and MMCs, who kept residents abreast about work done at the substation and possible time of power restoration. MMC for Corporate and Shared Services, Kingsley Wakelin informed residents on social media that one of their transformers caught fire and it was quickly extinguished by the City of Tshwane’s dedicated firefighters. For hours many households experienced power outages before…

Two weeks ago, South African artists including Mercy Pakela, Bongani Fassie, Mara Louw, Freddy Gwala and many others marched to Universal Music Group’s offices in Rosebank. According Thobela Dlamini from the Gauteng Cultural and Creative Industries Federation of South Africa (CCIFSA), the march was aimed at getting multinational record labels such as Universal and Sony Music to pay fair digital royalties to artists and songwriters. “Our march was about the industry assisting the musicians who have their music owned by multinationals and are not getting paid their royalties. “Multinationals don’t want to pay the digital rights as they claim it’s not in the contracts, but they go ahead and use the music in digital platforms such as iTunes and Spotify without artist and producers benefiting from it. “Therefore, as CCIFSA…

Electricity Minister Kgosientsho Ramokgopa has commended Eskom for achieving an Energy Availability Factor (EAF) above 70%, a feat last achieved nearly three years ago, as the Unplanned Capability Loss Factor (UCLF) is now less than 10 000MW. In his Energy Action Plan media briefing yesterday, Ramokgopa said consistently good performance from Kusile, Lethabo, Majuba, Matla and Medupi from the latter part of last year had contributed to the EAF trend, but the improvement was also being seen in older power stations with improved performance at Arnot, Camden, Hendrina and Grootvlei. He said the improvement in Eskom’s power generation was reflected in the EAF rising to 62.08% in week 18 this year, from only 49.99% in week 15 last year, and had now reached 70.78%. “As I stand before you today,…

The 2024 elections might see the DA do worse than before under the leadership of John Steenhuisen. He wouldn’t be solely to blame for this, but the DA collectively has had the worst elections strategy. Its political immaturity will cost the party the one, and maybe only, opportunity to enter the Union Buildings. Even the Multi-Party Charter (MPC) sees that the DA cannot be the pioneering force of the coalition. Nonetheless the MPC remains a good move for the DA. The MPC should take the Western Cape and KwaZulu-Natal with no real difficulty. Let’s look at the strategy numerically. Best-case scenario, the DA gets 20% and the MPC 32%. This isn’t anywhere near enough to do anything. Then it has the immature policy that is anti-EFF and anti-ANC. Worst-case…

The United Rugby Championship is drawing to a dramatic end as three South African teams jostle for places in the quarter-finals while the Sharks are readying themselves for the Challenge Cup final. Here, Mike Greenaway looks at four players who stood out over the weekend in advancing their teams’ cause. JC Pretorius The Player of the Match in the Lions’ defeat of Cardiff was outstanding in his breakdown work, support play and carries. So much so that there are growing comparisons with Springbok Kwagga Smith. The similarities are uncanny. Both attended HTS Middelburg in Mpumalanga. Both forged their reputations at Neil Powell’s successful Blitzboks set-up, their physiques are almost the same, and both can change the course of matches by upping the tempo. Siya Masuku The impact Masuku is having…

Royal AM will draw great inspiration from last Saturday’s performance against Mamelodi Sundowns, who came away with a late match-winning goal at the Lucas Masterpieces Moripe Stadium in Pretoria. The two teams cross swords again this evening, this time at the Harry Gwala Stadium in Pietermaritzburg. On Saturday, the visiting Royal AM looked like they could steal a point from the encounter, despite being under the whip for long periods. However, five minutes from the end, ace goal poacher Peter Shalulile headed home the Sundowns winner. On another day, the goal may have been disallowed. TV replays showed that the substitute striker, Argentinian Júnior Mendieta, appeared to be in an offside position when Lesiba Nku’s cross was headed home by Shalulile. After the match, Sundowns coach Rulani Mokwena was prompted…

A MEDICAL Technology (MedTech) Master Plan that aims to create 1 000 new jobs and R1 billion in localising goods that would otherwise be imported was launched yesterday by stakeholders representing the government, labour, and industry. This follows what the Department of Trade, Industry, and Competition (dtic) called the success of master plans in several sectors, including the sugar value chain, automotive, poultry, retail/clothing textile footwear leather, and furniture. Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition Ebrahim Patel said the MedTech industry was currently valued at R21 billion, with more than R4bn in exports. Patel said the industry has the potential to be an important economic contributor, not only because of its economic impact but also because it helps to develop security of supply in key medical…

THE CONGRESS of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu) has escalated the ongoing jobs bloodbath in the mining sector to the Presidency and Cabinet as mineworkers grow increasingly shaken by job losses across the industry. This comes as Cosatu-affiliated National Union of Mineworkers (NUM), marched at the weekend against Sibanye-Stillwater’s pending retrenchments of nearly 4 000 em- ployees from its South African gold mining operations. Anglo American Platinum and Impala Platinum are among the other large South African mining companies that have already said they plan to retrench mine employees and contractors. While the NUM has upped the pressure on Sibanye-Stillwater, with other mining sector labour unions also sharply criticising the corporations for the retrenchments, Cosatu spokesperson Matthew Parks told Business Report in an interview that the union federation has…

THE WORLD is facing numerous challenges and leaders are trying to solve them. There’s just one or two challenges that are being ignored. One is the challenge presented to society by technology. Tech issues are complex, and therefore it’s understandable why they are being ignored by world leaders. The magnitude of harm and complexity of these challenges should be the reason for focusing on them. Locally, cyberattacks alone are threatening businesses, countries, and individuals at unprecedented levels. Cyberattacks alone have the ability to stop payment processes at a na- tional-level and at personal-level. At some point, cyberattacks negatively impacted operations at national ports and disrupting trade. The more we digitise there more we will see challenges related to technology. The sad reality is that few leaders are paying attention to…

CALGRO M3 Holdings shareholders will undoubtedly be pleased with the 9.49 cents a share maiden annual dividend that the residential property and memorial parks developer has declared – the first in the 17 years that it has been listed on the JSE. Adding further to shareholder value, there were share buybacks of 25.91 million shares at an average R2.92 per share. The group’s highest ever net asset value increased 40.60% to R13.37 a share. CEO Wikus Lategan said in an interview they now had a dividend policy of 5% of headline earnings a share a year, so the maiden dividend was not a once-off. He said it was good to be able to reward shareholders with a dividend, given some of them had stood by the group…

Amy Winehouse has posthumously received a BRIT Billion Award after reaching a billion streams in the UK. The late Rehab hitmaker’s parents, Mitch and Janis, accepted the award, presented by BPI, amid renewed interest in the music legend on the release of the movie, Back to Black. 2006’s Back to Black is Winehouse’s most-streamed song in the UK, with over 150 million streams. Certified two times Platinum, the song peaked at Number 8 in the Official Singles Chart and is followed closely by Valerie, Winehouse and Mark Ronson’s cover of The Zutons’ single, with more than 135 million streams in the UK. Tears Dry on Their Own, Rehab, You Know I’m No Good and Love Is a Losing Game from the much-lauded album of the same name have more…

The ANC in the Greater Johannesburg region has appealed to law enforcement agencies to deal with people who commit electoral sabotage by removing elections campaign posters of rival political parties. This comes after the ANC in this region opened a case of damage to property after a “middle-aged man” was caught on camera allegedly removing ANC elections posters from street poles. This was confirmed by Masilo Serekele, who indicated that the case was opened with the Parkview police station after an unidentified man was seen removing and stealing an ANC poster on Sunday. The party said this act of electoral sabotage does not only undermine the ANC in Johannesburg but also the principles of the country’s democracy. “We appeal to law enforcement agencies to take action with utmost urgency regarding…

As the May 29 elections draw closer, political parties have found comfort in churches, seeking prayers and support while campaigning to congregants ahead of the big day. On Sunday, a slew of political parties made their way to churches across the country, praying for a well-run elections day, while urging congregants to vote for their chosen parties. Rise Mzansi KwaZulu-Natal and its provincial premier candidate Nonkululeko Hlongwane-Mhlongo visited the St John’s Apostolic Church in Ladysmith, asking for prayers as the elections draw near. Amid the water-shedding crises in KZN, Rise Mzansi donated a Jojo tank to the church as a temporary solution for residents with limited access to water and sanitation. “Access to clean water is a fundamental human right, and addressing such challenges is crucial for the well-being and…

An employee of the North West Parks and Tourism Board was released on bail in the Mmabatho Magistrate’s Court in connection with the theft of 51 rhino horns. Edwin Thapelo Rangaka was released on R5 000 bail and his matter was postponed to July 24, according to Lieutenant-Colonel Tinyiko Mathebula, provincial spokesperson for the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (Hawks). Mathebula said the 48-year-old man faces charges of business burglary. Rangaka was arrested on Wednesday for his alleged involvement in the theft. “He was arrested at his workplace following an investigation that linked him to a business burglary at the North West Parks and Tourism Board on June 26, 2023, where 51 rhino horns were allegedly stolen,” said Mathebula. “His accomplices, Elias Mangande and Lefa Mankgaba, were arrested last year…

The Airports Company SA (Acsa) has clarified an incident in which an elderly traveller got sick at the domestic departures at OR Tambo International Airport in Gauteng last week. OR Tambo International Airport regional general manager Jabu Khambule said two calls were received, at 12.09pm and 12.10pm, of a medical emergency at domestic departures. “The first call was from the Airlink boarding agent to the Acsa control room, and the second from Mr Christopher Pappas. Paramedics arrived at the scene at 12.16 as per CCTV footage. The passenger was treated on scene, and at the airport clinic before being referred to a hospital.” Following the incident, the DA’s Pappas posted on X. But Acsa said the facts contradict his version. “Mr Pappas’s grievance was a perceived lack of prompt emergency…

This month, Ballantine’s True Music celebrated the 10th anniversary of Boiler Room with a plethora of events tailored to uphold their mission to promote local sounds across the globe. Throughout the years, Boiler Room x Ballantine’s True Music collaboration has been crucial to the globalisation of South African-born genres such as gqom, amapiano, and Bacardi. Through its acclaimed broadcasts, the platform has showcased some of the best local musicians who have become well known and influential on global arenas. Thirashan Naidoo, Ballantine’s marketing manager at Pernod Ricard, said: “Our True Music event showcased the best of local talent and sounds, reaffirming our commitment to uplifting grass-root movements and amplifying them beyond just the music by putting a spotlight on the communities and environments they stem from.” Naidoo added that…

WHENEVER I read of a crazy judgment handed down by our legal experts, I begin to doubt the validity of the age-old adage, “as sober as a judge”. I shall refer to two recent cases. A judge in Limpopo, quoting African law, pronounces in favour of an indigent woman who is claiming compensation from the Road Accident Fund (RAF) for the death of her son, the sole breadwinner. Obviously, we are in sympathy with the woman, who lost her son in a motor accident. What troubles me is the precedent set by the judgment. Dozens of people, most of them breadwinners, are killed on our roads daily. Are their next-of-kin also entitled to compensation from the RAF? Since when is African law the basis of South African jurisprudence? I suppose…

Daily Maverick, acclaimed for its progressive façade and “commitment to ethical journalism” is a veritable testament to the convolutions and contradictions inherent in the modern media landscape. While it presents itself as a bastion of progressiveness and inclusive discourse, a closer examination reveals a publication that is deeply entrenched in neoliberal orthodoxy, catering to the interests of the elite while marginalising dissenting voices. In this way, it perpetuates the interests of systems of power and privilege. This is clearly seen in its unabashed promotional ‘blurbing’, most of which is open to critical (if not incredulous) analysis. Its readership description alone succinctly encapsulates its problematic stance. It reads: “Daily Maverick readers comprises industry leaders, political heavyweights, and bright young minds. The readers are influential, well-read, and well-travelled. To the Daily Maverick…

Manchester City have lost all four Premier League matches they have played at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium but the defending champions must change that when they visit the north London side tonight, manager Pep Guardiola said. Second with 85 points from 36 matches, City are one point behind Arsenal who have played an extra game. A win at Spurs would give City the advantage going into the league’s final weekend as they seek a record fourth title in a row. “If we don’t win we aren’t going to win the Premier League, so this is what we have to do,” Guardiola said yesterday. “It’s always so demanding to play there, especially this season. They are so aggressive. At Anfield they are losing 4-0 but they continue to stick to what…

Novak Djokovic’s shock exit from the Italian Open on Sunday could prove to be a decisive moment in the race for the world No 1 spot, as the top-ranked Serb prepares for his French Open title defence with Jannik Sinner poised to leapfrog him. Two days after accidentally being hit on the head by a water bottle while signing autographs in Rome, an off-colour Djokovic crashed to his earliest defeat in the tournament he has won six times after a 6-2 6-3 third-round thrashing by Alejandro Tabilo. Djokovic will remain 1 090 points ahead of Sinner before the year’s second Grand Slam begins on May 26, but the 36-year-old is on shaky ground as he will be defending 2 000 points in Paris and winning the title may not be…