Starの 2024-05-17 の目次

AT THE RECENT passing of its founder, Dr Sam Motsuenyane, Africanbank is stepping into a new era of growth and innovation. Yesterday it unveiled a revamped logo and a new campaign message, “Africanbank backs you”. For major long-standing South African brands, it takes great deal of courage to change a logo, key messages and other accoutrements of corporate identity, as the brand could lose or even alienate its existing client base that has been built up over a long period of time with the previous branding. “We celebrate this growth at a time of sadness as we remember our founder, Dr Sam Motsuenyane. “His triumph in establishing South Africa’s first black bank was a victory for us all and his story remains a source of inspiration,” Africanbank group chief…

JUST SA’s WEEKLY jargon buster aims to give simple, plain English explanations for typical words and phrases used in the financial industry, in particular, words relating to guaranteed life annuities and living annuities. This week, we look at the letter: T Source: Just Retirement SA, info@justsa.co.za The jargon buster is intended for information purposes only. It should not be regarded as advice as defined in the Financial Advisory and Intermediary Services Act 37 of 2002 or any form of advice in respect of the policy, retirement, tax, legal or other professional service whatsoever. You are encouraged to seek advice from an authorised financial adviser or to independently decide what financial product is appropriate for you, based upon your own judgment and understanding of your financial needs. Just Retirement Life (South…

IN THE last few years, Mzansi artists have taken it to another level by making their presence known internationally. But this year, award-winning amapiano star DBN Gogo will make history when she becomes the first female amapiano DJ and producer to perform at Tomorrowland. Tomorrowland is one of the biggest annual music festivals in the world. According to the line-up on the large-scale annual electronic dance music festival’s website, DBN Gogo, real name Mandisa Radebe, will perform on Friday, July 19 on the Crystal Garden stage alongside prominent artists and DJs. They include London’s Alan Dixon, Tanzania’s Kayumba, Berlin-based DJs, producers and artists, Keinemusik, Meera, Samm and pop trio, WhoMadeWho. More than 400 world-class musicians are included in this year’s line-up. They include Swedish House Mafia, David Guetta and Deadmau5,…

MOTORISTS will heave a sigh of relief after economists and the AA predicted that a petrol and diesel price decrease is on the cards. There had previously been four consecutive increases in the fuel price and experts believe that the predicted decrease for petrol would be around 60 cents a litre, while diesel is expected to decrease by around 74 cents a litre. They have attributed the decrease to lower oil prices and a stronger rand. Layton Beard, spokesperson for the AA, said that significant decreases in fuel prices across the board were expected in June. “Mid-month data from the Central Energy Fund (CEF) indicates that 95ULP is expected to drop by around 61c/l, and 93ULP by around 63c/l. The wholesale price of diesel is expected to decrease by around…

ANC first deputy secretary-general Nomvula Mokonyane says she is confident that there’ll be a high voter turnout on May 29. She said the majority of voters she had interacted were concerned about the current coalition government, saying they were not ready to experience this at the national level. “We have gone throughout to explain, share and finally interact with everybody how together we can shape the way forward. There’s never been such an intense consultation. I’ve been part of the ANC election machinery since 1994 and there has never been such an intense campaign,” she added. Mokonyane said this was fuelled by the fact that the party was aware of an agenda that sought to undermine the ANC. She said there were also attempts at a regime change, citing the…

THE Franschhoek Literary Festival takes place this weekend, offering a plethora of literary delights for book lovers. Imagine streets buzzing with book lovers creating a vibrant ambience as they move between a variety of village venues – all within walking distance of each other. The Franschhoek Literary Festival runs annually on the third weekend in May, starting today and ending on Sunday. It provides a platform for open and progressive discourse, with participation from renowned local and international authors and thought leaders. Informal discussions are the hallmark of the festival, with spirited debates on a variety of topical issues. Not forgetting the lighter, inspirational and fun sessions guaranteed to stimulate the senses. A storytelling festival, business breakfast, live performances, documentaries and writing workshops complete the vibrant offerings of the festival.…

Quantum Body – The New Science Of Living A Longer, Healthier, More Vital Life Deepak Chopra Loot (R297) Rider MY JOURNEY with Deepak Chopra began with a serendipitous encounter in a second-hand bookshop in Durban. Among dusty shelves, Ageless Body, Timeless Mind beckoned me, and with my last few coins I secured a treasure that would shape my understanding of the universe. Since then, Chopra’s wisdom has been a guiding light on my path of personal growth and self-discovery. This is a great book to understand the difference between accepting to grow old and youthful in mind and heart using some practices for living a longer life. In his latest collaboration, Deepak Chopra co-authors Quantum Body with physicist Jack Tuszynski and leading endocrinologist Brian Fertig, MD, to reveal the new…

RUST on a new vehicle became the subject of a legal wrangle in the Gauteng High Court, Pretoria. Rust on the floor of a brand new vehicle was detected two months after the vehicle was purchased. The company which sold the vehicle refused to repair it at their own cost, claiming the buyer spilled pool acid in the area which caused it to rust. The owner of the vehicle, Robert Williams, relied on the Consumer Protection Act in his bid to have the vehicle fixed. The act establishes a broad and comprehensive scope for consumer protection. Its purview includes developing and maintaining a consumer market in such a way as to ensure fairness, accessibility, effectiveness, sustainability and responsibility for the benefit of consumers. The Lazarus Motor Company turned to the…

In a remarkable stride towards improving sanitation in South African schools, Rotary District 9400, under the leadership of district governor Riana Pretorius, has launched an ambitious project to eradicate unhealthy and dangerous pit latrines. This initiative, a significant milestone for the district that includes Botswana, Eswatini, Mozambique and the northern provinces of South Africa – Gauteng, Mpumalanga, North West and Limpopo – aims to install modern, dignified toilet facilities in schools by the end of 2024. The project, officially kicked off at Shayindlovu Primary School in Mbuzini, near Komatipoort, marks a historic moment for the community. Mbuzini, known as the site of the tragic plane crash that claimed the life of Mozambique president Samora Machel on October 19, 1986, now stands as a beacon of progress and hope with the…

Through teaching South Africans and the rest of the globe about the critical role in solving the sustainability and e-waste crises, the “Children vs Champions” campaign addresses the pressing issue of e-waste that the country and the continent are grappling with. In this day of unparalleled technological advancement, the issue of e-waste is a global concern that necessitates attention and action. This programme, which is supported by Dell Technologies and three of its licensed distributors, Tarsus, Pinnacle, and Axis, aims to promote a sustainable mindset among all generations in addition to recycling devices. The E-Waste Recycling Authority (ERA) has made teaching people about e-waste amusing and educational by having kids compete in a tough quiz against Springbok Rugby players Eben Etzebeth, Deon Fourie and Manie Libbok, in keeping with the…

When there was an outbreak of cholera in Hammanskraal, I said in one letter that it would be good if there would be a way to calculate the cost of treating those patients to give the Department of Health and Finance Minister an idea of how difficult it is to have a realistic picture of how costly health care services are. One trauma patient needing resuscitation can keep doctors and nurses busy for longer than expected while consuming a lot of intravenous fluids, drugs, gloves and more – just on one patient – and all of it is very costly. Emergency tragedies like the Usindiso fire, the Boksburg gas truck tragedy that destroyed part of the hospital, killing and injuring many others, and now the collapsed George building are all…

University responses to the war in Gaza headlined news reports the past weeks, most notably on a recent decision by the Senate – the penultimate academic oversight body at universities – at Stellenbosch University. It rejected a motion to condemn the destruction of academic institutions and call for an immediate ceasefire, among others. The argument that won centred on academic freedom, meaning that a university should protect the freedom of diverse views rather than take singular positions as if it is a political lobby. The decision was widely condemned, with Dr Blade Nzimande, Minister of Higher Education, Science and Technology leading the charge. The minister rejected the decision, declaring it to be shameful, blatantly racist, repugnant and one “that takes us back to the dark days of apartheid”. In the…

Jakarta: Indonesian authorities yesterday raised the alert status of a volcano in the archipelago’s east to the highest level after it spewed ash and smoke five kilometres into the sky for the second day in a row. Mount Ibu, on remote Halmahera island in eastern Indonesia, belched a tower of volcanic ash 5 000m above its peak. Ibu has been showing increasing volcanic activity since mid-April and a series of earthquakes indicated mounting pressure because of magma rising to the volcano’s surface, the geology agency said. Ibu is one of Indonesia’s most active volcanos, erupting more than 21 000 times last year. | AFP…

Brussels: European consumer groups yesterday accused Chinese shopping app Temu of using “manipulative techniques” to make users spend more and other violations of a landmark EU tech law. Temu only entered the EU market in April 2023 and says it has around 75 million monthly active users there. Europe’s BEUC consumer rights group filed a complaint with the European Commission while 17 member organisations in Europe have done the same. BEUC charged that Temu fails to provide enough information about traders on the platform. The company said it took the complaint “very seriously”. | AFP…

Stellenbosch FC’s highly-anticipated match against reigning Premiership champions Mamelodi Sundowns tomorrow (3pm kick-off) has been moved to the austere Athlone Stadium, which has fond memories for the Danie Craven Stadium-based side. The PSL, the guardians of the Premiership, have learnt a lesson from last month’s Nedbank Cup semi-final between Stellenbosch and Sundowns at the Winelands venue. After the final whistle, there was a pitch invasion and broken fences around the Danie Craven Stadium. The switch of venue is a good omen for Stellies. It was at the Athlone Stadium that Sundowns last lost a match in domestic opposition, when Stellenbosch inflicted a 2-1 defeat on the Tshwane giants in last year’s Nedbank Cup quarter-final. This time, however, the teams will have very different agendas for the match, which will be…

KAROOOOO, the JSE-listed multi- national with an outstanding 15% average earnings growth over 10 years, is optimistic about its prospects in South Africa, both in capturing market share and in growing new market, chief executive Zak Calisto said yesterday. The founder of the vehicle tracking and asset management company said in an interview that the group, which also has fast-growing operations in Asia-Pacific, Europe and the rest of Africa, had invested R450 million in infrastructure in the past year in South Africa. “We believe this country is a great destination to invest in. We have about 40% of the South African market, and we believe we can grow this,” Calisto said. They employed about 4 500 people globally, and he expected this might increase by 1…

Zayn Malik’s Tinder account has been suspended. The 31-year-old singer – who was previously engaged to Perrie Edwards and has a 3-year-old daughter, Khai, with former partner Gigi Hadid – tried to find a partner using the dating app but he was accused of “catfishing” and impersonating himself. He told Nylon magazine of his experience: “Everyone accused me of catfishing. They’re like, ‘What are you using Zayn Malik’s pictures for?’ I’ve been kicked off once or twice.” But the What I Am singer is no longer looking for love as he's been trying to understand himself better. He feels he’s always thrown himself into relationships in a bid to be a “grown man” and lead a normal life outside of his fame. He said: “I’m really content and happy with…

Zuma is the face of MKP as South Africans overseas gear up to vote While South Africans living abroad are preparing to cast their vote as part of this year’s national and provincial elections, former president Jacob Zuma’s image has been confirmed to be on the ballot paper. This after there was widespread confusion regarding the pending Constitutional Court case involving his eligibility to stand for Parliament brought to court by the Electoral Commission of SA (IEC). Zuma is the leader of the ANC breakaway uMkhonto weSizwe Party (MKP), where he is number one on the party’s candidate list to Parliament. The party will be launching its manifesto ahead of the elections at the Orlando Stadium tomorrow. In contention at the apex court is whether Zuma is eligible to be…

The ANC’s control in the Mangaung metro in Bloemfontein hangs in the balance as community members demand the ousting of controversial municipal manager Sello More. Community members have vowed not to vote unless More is removed. A provincial government official and ANC member, whose name is known to The Star, said yesterday: “This guy is going to cost us (the ANC) votes in the upcoming elections. He doesn’t have the slightest idea of what he’s doing in the municipality. We are struggling to fix mere potholes, water leakages. Go to Batho location – sewage is running all over. Councillors report these things, but nothing has been done.” Lucky Malebo, a resident of Ward 29 in Mangaung, expressed his frustration with the municipality and ANC leaders. “This municipal manager (More), not…

The Land of Lost Things John Connolly Loot ( R369) Hodder & Stoughton I HAD always thought that John Connolly was purely a thriller/mystery writer with a touch of the supernatural. When I picked up The Land of Lost Things I was expecting a racy thriller. Imagine my surprise when I entered the world of adult fable and found myself falling into an unexpected rabbit hole ... Grimm, Hans Christian Andersen, Perrault were all part of my childhood. I do remember being a bit scared sometimes but there were lessons to be learnt, perhaps subliminally, but always imaginatively. The differences between right and wrong, good and evil marked in a young mind. Folklore merging with the real world, parables or metaphors they made their mark. The stories that emerge in…

When Love Kills – The tragic tale of AKA and Anele Loot (R235) Melinda Ferguson Melinda Ferguson Books Any book about AKA is poised to draw attention and controversy. Kiernan Forbes was a man who attracted attention wherever he went. Colourful, controversial, naughty, sometimes salacious, sometimes simply tragic, he was indeed the master of his own destiny, and Melinda Ferguson’s hot new book has certainly reignited the flame and put the spotlight back on a son of our country, whose star had shone so brightly and was dimmed too early. When AKA, then aged 35, was gunned down in February last year together with his friend Tebello ‘Tibz’ Motsoane, 34, on Florida Road, Durban, society mourned the loss of a man who had become regarded as something of a legend.…

THOUSANDS of defaulting customers in the City of Tshwane are at risk of losing their valuable assets and properties after the municipality threatened to initiate legal steps to attach these should they fail to settle their outstanding municipal bills. MMC for finance Jacqui Uys said at least 14 000 customers whose municipal accounts were in arrears had been issued with Section 129 notices as formal demand for payments. She said the notices given to residents, businesses, government entities and embassies marked “the start of the debt-collection process that will ultimately end in the attachment of assets, including properties of defaulting payers”. “A Section 129 notice is a legislative process that the City is embarking on to support and bolster our relaunched Tshwane Ya Tima revenue-collection campaign where we disconnect services…

DISABLED student Ntshavheni Khangale recently received his Bachelor of Commerce degree at the Unisa Autumn Graduations 2024 in Polokwane after defying all odds, including writing his exams in an ambulance. On what it takes to be a Unisa graduate, the resilient student from Nzhelele in Limpopo says every Unisa student has a story to tell. Some, like him, do not allow challenges to stop them from completing their qualifications. “Character is seen during difficult times. I had to keep my focus on completing my qualification,” says Khangale. Apart from his disability, Khangale also experienced other health complications while studying. “I was hospitalised most of the time in my final year, and I would ask my doctor to discharge me to go home for my exams. I wrote two of my…

“Come, dear children. Your aunt and uncle are coming from Pietermaritzburg today. What will they say if they see the house in a state like this? Quick! Help me clean up the house.” Likewise, municipal workers can be seen all over the city, mending the potholes, marking the roads, cutting the overgrown verges, sweeping and picking up the piles of litter. Gosh! I have never seen them as busy as this, cleaning up five years’ dirt. Normally, you would see them with one hand on the broom and the other on their cellphone or gone off to sleep under some shady tree after an early lunch. But this past couple of days, they have been as busy as bees. I thought the clean-up campaign was because of the coming elections.…

The UN in South Africa welcomes the signing of the National Health Insurance (NHI) Bill into law and considers it as a significant milestone in the journey towards universal health care that leaves no one behind. The law ensures that all citizens have access to quality health care services, regardless of their socio-economic status through the establishment of the National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF). Nelson Muffuh, the UN Resident Co-ordinator in South Africa, said that in line with its co-operation framework and advocacy interventions with government, the UN believes that the implementation of the NHI law stands as a beacon, guiding us towards the realisation of the Sustainable Development Goals, particularly Goal 3.8 which aims to achieve universal health coverage, including financial risk protection, access to quality essential health care…

AMONG the achievements of the sixth Parliament that will be remembered as a first in the history of Parliament is the successful removal of the head of a Chapter 9 institution – advocate Busisiwe Mkwebane, now the former public protector. The committee exercised its mandate successfully despite several disruptions resulting from challenges, including several postponements. Following a motion adopted in the National Assembly (NA) on April 7, 2021, the Committee for Section 194 Enquiry into Mkhwebane’s fitness to hold office was established. The charges in the motion included allegations of misconduct relating to a PP report involving the South African Reserve Bank and ABSA Bank; misconduct relating to the investigation and reporting on the Vrede Dairy Project; incompetence…

Seoul: A Seoul court yesterday rejected a request by doctors and medical students to stop a government plan to increase medical school quotas, as a months-long strike by junior medics drags on. Thousands of medics stopped working on February 20 to protest government plans to train more doctors, causing chaos in hospitals. The government is seeking to train hundreds more doctors each year, prompting a backlash from junior medics and students, who have taken the case to court. The Seoul High Court yesterday dismissed the doctors’ and students’ request.” | AFP…

Copenhagen: A Danish coin collection decreed to be kept off the market for a century will finally go under the hammer late this year. Denmark’s National Museum paid €1 million (R20m) for seven of the collection’s around 20 000 coins. In 1922, Lars Emil Bruun, a Danish entrepreneur and coin expert, bought the collection from the aristocratic Bille-Brahe family, agreeing to respect the National Museum’s pre-emptive right to the collection. He died the next year. The seven pieces acquired by the museum date from the end of the 16th and early 17th centuries. | AFP…

now and then the systems in place in South African cricket produce talent from environments many would not have gone to in search of talent. As much as the systems running the game are questioned, they do present opportunities to players and East London-born wrist spinner Nqaba Peter is a prime example. Peter was spotted bowling to the Proteas in the nets at Buffalo Park during the ODI series against West Indies last year and the youngster was on his way to signing his first major professional contract when he joined the Lions in Johannesburg. A little over a year later, the 22-year-old is set to don the green and gold when South Africa take on West Indies in three T20s in Jamaica next week. “It’s still sinking in and…

Safa head of referees Abdul Ebrahim has rushed to the defence of officials who’ve been the subject of scrutiny and criticism for their poor calls in recent months. Matches have been coming thick and fast for clubs in the DStv Premiership and Motsepe Foundation Championship, as the pretenders are separated from contenders. And while Mamelodi Sundowns and Magesi FC have since been crowned champions of their respective leagues, the fate of some teams continues to hang by a thread due to poor refereeing. The poor decisions also reached fever pitch in the Nedbank Cup, with AmaZulu coach Pablo Franco Martin bemoaning some calls in back-to-back matches against Orlando Pirates. Martin’s Spanish compatriot and Pirates coach Jose Riveiro, Sundowns boss Rulani Mokwena and the coach of the relegated Cape Town Spurs,…

Nomzamo Mbatha is thrilled to have starred alongside Hollywood actor Bruce Willis in the sci-fi thriller, Assassin, which premiered on Showmax this week. In the film, which was Willis’s final movie, the local actress stars as Alexa, a woman on a mission to uncover the truth behind her lover’s mysterious demise. In a recent interview, Mbatha said that portraying this type of character allowed her to navigate complex emotions, which included profound grief and hope. “For me, it was the idea of grief, but not grieving for someone who has left the earth, but rather for someone who still has a chance to come back to me,” she was quoted as saying. “But there’s also the complexity of hope, the hope that he will get better, that he will come…

Who can forget that moment when legendary singer Vicky Sampson serenaded Mzansi and the world at the 1996 African Cup of Nations? Now the Afrikan Dream hitmaker is back to offer the nation another inspiring single, titled You Are the Light. Sampson teamed up with rising star Mahlatze Vokal on the new record, which is set for release on Wednesday, May 29, the day on which South Africans head to the polls to vote. Born in Limpopo, Vokal describes himself as an Afro-urban soul artist. According to a statement: “His journey has seen him explore various creative avenues before returning to his first love – music. His stage name, Mahlatze Vokal, translates to ‘blessings’, and his talent is a true gift to the South African music scene.” South Africans will…

WHILE more than 26 million people rely on the ANC government for social grants, more than half of them will not vote for the party in the May 29 elections. This is according to the Centre for Social Development in Africa, which released research this week revealing that more than 50% of social grant beneficiaries supported opposition parties rather than the ANC. The party has been on the campaign trail trying to persuade voters that it’s the right party for the job. This week President Cyril Ramaphosa signed the National Health Insurance Bill, while the country hasn’t experienced load shedding in over 50 days.Social media has also been abuzz with videos and pictures of ANC politicians washing and hanging up voters’ clothes to dry while on the campaign trail. Previously,…

Only the Brave Danielle Steel Loot (R260) Macmillan In 1949, when Danielle Steel was just a toddler, Theodor Adorno declared that “to write poetry after Auschwitz is barbaric.” It took her a while, but Steel has proved Adorno’s point. Not that there’s anything poetic about her new Holocaust novel, Only the Brave, but using the Final Solution as the setting for a sentimental melodrama is profoundly unseemly. It’s not good for the Jews. It’s not good for anybody. But the publicity machine grinds on. Half a century ago, Steel published her first book, Going Home, and over the decades she’s become one of the best-selling novelists in the world, with more than a billion copies in print. Perhaps no other writer is so widely read and so rarely reviewed. It’s…

Tipping Point: Turmoil Or Reform? – South Africa’s Political Economy After 2024 Edited by Raymond Parsons Loot (R219) Jacana Media What is your stake in the upcoming 2024 election in South Africa – the most crucial election since 1994? As a businessperson, consumer, worker or farmer, you will be affected by the election results and the significant changes that are likely to appear in South Africa’s political economy. The 2024 election gives South Africans the opportunity to decide what the country and its political leadership will look like in the future. Tipping Point – Turmoil Or Reform? examines some critical questions about the country’s political and socio-economic landscape today and whether the 2024 election outcome is likely to signal more gloom or will it rather pave the way for positive…

the finish line Loot (R240) Gail Schimmel Pan Macmillan South Africa A LIFELONG friend and rival. Local author Gail Schimmel’s latest novel, The Finish Line, centres on characters Brenda and Denver and how their competitive streaks got the better of them. As an only child, Brenda Critchley had many odd traits. From calling her parents by their first names because no one sent a memo to tell her they should be referred to as mom and dad, to holding grudges for years. As an only child she struggled to make friends and be accepted by those she considered as friends until she met her first true friend in standard one, Gabriella. Brenda came from a public school and was awarded a scholarship at a prestigious boarding school in Johannesburg. She…

A court order stopping the taxman from installing cameras in cigarette factories is a green light for gangsters to continue looting South Africans of R74 million every day, Tax Justice SA (TJSA) has warned. A law allowing the South African Revenue Service (Sars) to install 24/7 CCTV in all cigarette warehouses has been interdicted by the Gauteng High Court, Pretoria. This followed a case brought by several local producers, some of them represented by the Fair-Trade Independent Tobacco Association. TJSA founder Yusuf Abramjee said this court order is yet another gift for the illicit tobacco barons who are robbing South Africa of over R27 billion a year by flooding the market with tax-evading cigarettes. “For too long, these criminals have been able to flout the laws and hide their industrial-scale…

The DA has suffered a setback just days ahead of the May 29 election. The governing party in the Western Cape has made “the Western Cape works” a slogan of its election campaign, flaunting its employment figures and placing emphasis on job creation as a key part of its plan to “rescue South Africa”. It was thus a rude wake-up call when the first quarter unemployment numbers for 2024 were released by Stats SA this week. The national unemployment rate had risen by 0.8% to 32.9%, or by 330 000 to 8.2 million people. But rather than bucking the trend, the Western Cape was the biggest culprit, shedding 18 000 jobs from January to March, more than any of the other provinces. And this during the summer when the tourism…

Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin condemned what they cast as increasingly aggressive US behaviour yesterday and pledged to deepen their countries’ already close defence and military ties. In a clear snub to Washington, whose top diplomat flew into China last month to try to persuade Beijing to scale back its relationship with Moscow, Xi signalled Beijing and Moscow saw eye to eye on a range of important issues, including on Ukraine, and would resist Western pressure to downgrade their ties. “The China-Russia relationship today is hard-earned, and the two sides need to cherish and nurture it,” Xi told Putin. “China is willing to ... jointly achieve the development and rejuvenation of our respective countries, and work together to uphold fairness and justice in the world.” A…

AMSTERDAM: The incoming Dutch government led by nationalist Geert Wilders’ PVV party will aim to pursue its curbs on immigration by opting out of EU migration rules, setting up a clash with Brussels. Wilders won an election nearly six months ago and reached a deal this week to form a coalition with three right-wing partners. The four-party coalition says it will aim for the “strictest-ever asylum regime” with stronger border controls and harsher rules for asylum seekers who arrive in the Netherlands. Wilders said the plan would make the Netherlands less attractive for asylum seekers. | Reuters…