Tabla de contenidos para 2025-12-17 en Star

Transnet saw a steady operational improvement in the six months to 30 September as higher rail volumes and increased tonnage throughput breached the 80 million tons, helping to narrow losses. The State-owned logistics group last week reported that rail volume performance increased by 4.4% to 81.4 million tons, compared with 78.0 million tons in the same period last year. Transnet said momentum strengthened towards the end of the reporting period, with September 2025 recording throughput of 14.8 million tons, the highest monthly performance since the 2022 financial year, despite maintenance-related disruptions to manganese volumes. Group CEO, Advocate Michelle Phillips, said the improved operational performance translated into a 17.7% reduction in the reported net loss to R1.8 billion, from R2.2bn a year earlier. “Transnet’s volume performance has been on an upward…

Minister Ramokgopa confident of breakthrough in negotiations to rescue ferrochrome smelter industry Electricity and Energy Minister Kgosientso Ramokgopa has said that he is confident that negotiations to rescue South Africa’s struggling ferrochrome smelter industry are nearing a breakthrough, with electricity tariffs of between 60c and 70c per kilowatt-hour (kWh) emerging as a realistic target. Speaking to the media on Monday, Ramokgopa said the proposed range was significantly lower than the 87c/kWh currently on the table and would bring South African smelters closer to the pricing enjoyed by competitors in other jurisdictions. Ramokgopa said other countries that South African smelters compete with are offering electricity in the range of 60 to 70 cents per kilowatt-hour. He said despite South Africa holding more than 70% of global ferrochrome ore reserves, much of…

As year 2025 is drawing to an end, many in the technology sector are taking stock to examine if their efforts have been worthwhile and impactful. In a year that has been dominated by artificial intelligence it has been difficult to identify a technology product, initiative that is worth celebrating in the African continent. Enter the first electric bus that is made in Uganda, Kayoora Bus, which travelled from Uganda to Cape Town, 13 000km in 13 countries within 20 days, to showcase innovation, then you realise that there’s finally something genuinely worth celebrating. Here’s why. The African continent has never produced a commercial automotive product that reached the market with success. The existence of an African produced electric bus is alone something worth celebrating even though it has been…

South Africa’s Financial Sector Conduct Authority (FSCA) has approved 300 crypto asset service provider (CASP) licences since the formal licensing regime came into effect in June 2023, while stepping up enforcement against firms operating outside the regulatory framework. Crypto assets are defined as a digital representation of value that is not issued by a central bank but is capable of being traded, transferred or stored electronically by natural and legal persons for the purpose of payment, investment and other forms of utility, applies cryptographic techniques and uses distributed ledger technology. In an update issued on Monday, the regulator said it had received 512 licence applications as at 12 December 2025. Of these, 14 applications were declined and 121 were voluntarily withdrawn after engagements with the FSCA raised concerns about applicants’…

It’s the final stretch of the holiday productions before everyone goes on a well-deserved break for the festive season. As such, here’s a recap of what’s still on with Andre the Hilarious Hypnotist back for a long run as well. The entertainer needs little introduction to South African audiences as he’s been consistently entertaining us for well over three decades. Trained in the art of drama, comedy and hypnosis, he never fails to leave audiences gaping in awe. And he’s back to do just that. So expect to be in stitches, amazed and in the best mindset to enjoy the holidays. Also, his show is the perfect vehicle for a bonding session with loved ones. Where: Studio Theatre at Montecasino. When: From Friday until February 8, 2026. Check online booking…

The interim report of the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry, which is expected to be handed over to President Cyril Ramaphosa today following a three-month public hearing, will not be released publicly. However, the final report will be released to the public with the commission advising Ramaphosa on areas that “are of national security sensitivity and how those areas will need to be managed”. This was confirmed by Ramaphosa’s spokesperson Vincent Magwenya during a media briefing on Monday in Pretoria. Magwenya said the reasoning for not releasing the interim report to the public is because some of the witnesses that have already appeared before the commission are going to be asked return to give evidence. “Some (witnesses) have evidence located in specific areas but not as broad as it was meant…

TEREZA van den Berg, 45, faced death, devastation and personal fear as she worked to recover victims from Verulam’s collapsed building. Her powerful first-hand account reveals the physical and emotional toll of rescue work that most will never experience. Van den Berg, of Ballito, is a qualified search and rescue specialist who did not hesitate to step into the rubble that claimed five lives last week Friday. She joined the IPSS Search and Rescue in 2021, and was one of the rescuers who went into the collapsed structure to recover the bodies of those who had been trapped under the layers of reinforced concrete and steel. “The scene was just devastating – from the building collapse to the shock on people’s faces, the heart-breaking emotions and fear,” said Van den…

South Africa’s electricity crisis has, over time, been rendered intelligible through a narrow explanatory frame. Institutional decay, corruption, administrative failure, and political incompetence have become the dominant interpretive categories through which energy shortfalls are understood. These explanations circulate across policy reports, donor-funded research, NGO commentary, and mainstream media analysis. While not incorrect, they have assumed an explanatory monopoly that obscures deeper structural dynamics. Matshela Koko’s paper, South Africa’s 2030 Electricity Capacity Cliff: Institutional Frictions, Sociotechnical Inertia, and the Political Economy of Accelerated Coal Phase-Out, intervenes decisively in this discourse. Rather than centring questions of managerial virtue or institutional ethics, the paper situates South Africa’s looming electricity shortfall within the temporal mechanics of capacity withdrawal and replacement. The crisis, in this formulation, is produced by speed, sequencing, and structural constraint rather…

The ANC Youth League (ANCYL) national elective conference in Polokwane this week concluded with the unopposed re-election of Collen Malatji as president with suggestions that this will reinforce secretary-general Fikile Mbalula’s ambitions of becoming party president. The newly elected Top Five leadership alongside Malatji includes Francisco Dyantyi (31), who moves from provincial secretary to deputy president. Tsakani Shiviti (34), the ANC chairperson of Parliament’s portfolio committee on science, technology and innovation, was elected secretary-general. Zamakhanyase Khanyase (31) was elected first deputy secretary-general, having served as national spokesperson in the previous administration. Jacob Tau will now serve as treasurer-general, and Venus Blennies-Magage (30), the MEC for finance, economic development and tourism in the Northern Cape, was elected second deputy secretary-general. Malatji was re-elected uncontested for a second term yesterday at the…

As families prepare to travel this festive season, one number should put every transport planner, engineer, and policymaker on edge: 41.9%. That’s the share of road deaths over the 2024/2025 holiday period that were pedestrians, according to the Road Traffic Management Corporation. Out of 1 589 fatalities, 654 were people on foot – ordinary South Africans walking to work, public transport, church, or to visit family. These are not random accidents. They are the predictable result of a country where most roads are designed for vehicles, not people. Our roads endanger those on foot South Africa’s roads and intersections are built for speed and volume, not pedestrian safety. Road planning in South Africa prioritises traffic-related factors, such as the speed and volume of private vehicles, over considerations for pedestrian safety…

Fast bowler Anrich Nortje has backed the Proteas “to be better” in today’s fourth T20I against India in Lucknow. The Proteas face a do-or-die situation after succumbing in the first and third matches of the series with India leading 2-1 with two matches remaining. Although the visitors' batting unit failed in the last match in Dharamsala, the new-ball bowlers were also loose which allowed the Indian openers to get off to a flyer in the run-chase. Nortje, though, playing in just his second match upon return to international cricket after an 18-month absence was economical with figures of 0/14 in three overs, and is confident his teammates will bounce back. “We back what we do, 100%,” Nortje said. “We back how we play. Just got to be better, got to…

Abdeslam Ouaddou was undoubtedly the standout coach in the PSL top flight in the first half of the season, winning two trophies — the MTN8 and the Carling Knockout — while also finishing top of the Betway Premiership standings. However, there were five other coaches who impressed, even if their results were not as eye-catching. Here, Mihlali Baleka looks at that shortlist. Arthur Zwane – AmaZulu When Zwane started the season as sole head coach of Usuthi, expectations were high following the departure of co-coach Vusumuzi Vilakazi and a disappointing spell at Kaizer Chiefs. More than 15 games into the campaign, Zwane has delivered solid results. Usuthu finished the year fifth on the table, blending senior players with a mostly youthful squad that has consistently battled for results. Zwane has…

This was the year the Proteas Test side came of age. Under the astute leadership of coach Shukri Conrad and captain Temba Bavuma, the Proteas closed a chapter containing 27 years of hurt, disappointment and trauma to be crowned World Test Champions at Lord’s. It was arguably the most seminal moment in South African cricket history since the first ball was bowled at Eden Gardens upon the team’s return from isolation back in 1991. The WTC final at the “Home of Cricket” was an occasion to savour. The opposition was the arch-enemy Australia, which added to the spectacle, especially as the Baggy Greens were expected to roll a young and inexperienced Proteas team that many believed were not deserving of their place in the showpiece due to the opposition they…

Red Meat Industry Services (RMIS) has partnered with the University of Pretoria and global animal health company Zoetis to investigate the economic and regulatory impact of Foot-and-Mouth Disease (FMD) virus persistence in slaughtered cattle, as the industry seeks science-based reforms to outdated slaughter regulations. The initiative follows Agriculture Minister John Steenhuisen’s announcement that government plans to vaccinate South Africa’s entire national cattle herd of approximately 7.2 million animals as part of efforts to contain ongoing FMD outbreaks. RMIS said the study, titled Evidence-Based Risk Reduction for FMD Virus Persistence at Slaughter, aims to generate the scientific evidence needed to revise current regulations that impose blanket restrictions on meat and by-products from cattle that have recovered from FMD. “These restrictions are not only outdated but also result in significant wastage, especially…

There are years that pass quietly, and there are years that remove our ability to pretend. 2025 was not a year of isolated scandals or unexpected failures. It was a year that exposed patterns we have tolerated for far too long. It revealed the real danger facing South Africa today, which is not simply corruption itself, but ethical neutrality. The posture of watching without acting. The comfort of commenting without consequences. The silence of acquiescence in the face of wrongdoing. Ethical neutrality is one of the most damaging positions a society can take. It is not overt wrongdoing. It is the decision to stand in the middle when the facts are clear. It shows up when leaders acknowledge problems privately while avoiding public accountability. When boards wait for reports, reviews…

Metair Investments is being fined R400 million by the European Union for uncompetitive behaviour after an investigation that started 7 years ago was concluded. The JSE-listed manufacturer of automotive components said Monday that its 100% owned Romanian battery making subsidiary, Rombat SA, had, on December 15, 2023, been levied a fine of €20.2m (about R398.1m) by the European Commission, after the Commission had concluded that Rombat had contravened EU competition law. The Commission also found that Metair and its Dutch subsidiary, Metair International Holding Cooperatief UA, were jointly and severally liable for a portion of the fine, amounting to €11.6m, based on a legal presumption under EU law of parental liability, in that they exercised decisive influence over Rombat since its acquisition on March 14, 2012. The Commission's findings conclude…

2025 was one for documentaries that made me sit up, grab a coffee, and either gasp, cringe or shake my head at how wild reality can be. Some had me laughing at the absurd, others left me seriously thinking about the world we live in. Here’s the line-up that I couldn’t stop talking about this year. Bad Influence: The Dark Side of Kidfluencing This one is a real eye-opener. Watching kids being groomed for clout while parents orchestrate every moment is unsettling, addictive, and deeply uncomfortable. You start wondering who’s really running the show: the kids, the parents or the algorithm. Watching the pressure these children face, parents scripting their lives, and the mental health toll it takes is unsettling when you realise it’s real kids behind those Instagram smiles.…

In a marked response to rampant misinformation regarding farm murders, President Cyril Ramaphosa delivered a powerful message during his Day of Reconciliation address at the Ncome Museum in KwaZulu-Natal yesterday. Joined by KZN Premier Thami Ntuli and Sport, Arts and Culture Minister Gayton McKenzie, the president’s keynote remarks were made under the theme “Reaffirming Reconciliation for Future Generations,” creating a platform aimed at reinforcing South Africa’s commitment to unity, healing, and nation-building. Ramaphosa referenced the controversial comments made by US President Donald Trump, who recently took to his social media platform to accuse the South African government of ignoring what he termed “horrific human rights abuses” against Afrikaners, Dutch, French, and German settlers. Trump claimed that “they are killing white people, and randomly allowing their farms to be taken from…

In a damages claim case with a twist against the Road Accident Fund, when a woman, who was a passenger on the back of an open truck, was struck by a thorn from a tree branch in her eye, the court ruled that the Fund is indeed liable for her damages. Shereen Booysen turned to the Western Cape High Court where she claimed damages against the Fund, as she claimed the driver of the vehicle was negligent by swerving out for oncoming traffic and the vehicle hit the tree branches on the pavement. The driver, on the other hand, maintained that he had stopped before the tree line to drop passengers. The RAF, in defending the matter, claimed Booysen’s eye was not injured by the branch, but by something which…

SCORES of staff members from across the Survé companies attended the launch of the new book by patron and founder of the Survé Family Office and chairperson of the Sekunjalo Group, Dr Iqbal Survé. The new book, A Shared Future For Humanity, details the Survé Family Investments, Philanthropy and Global Initiatives in which they honour the friendships, partnerships, and global connections that have supported the family’s work in business, philanthropy, diplomacy, and nation-building. The reader is invited into the story of the Survé family, which is described as being the story of South Africa itself, “a journey shaped by resilience, sacrifice, heritage, and an unwavering belief that business must serve humanity”. The book takes the reader into how the family legacy was built across generations, inspired by ancestors who crossed…

ActionSA is mulling taking National Prosecuting Authority head Shamila Batohi to court after she allegedly ignored a court order to pursue criminal charges against the Lily Mine owners, senior officials in the minerals and energy department, and Barberton police officers. The move comes nearly a decade after the Lily Mine tragedy, in which three workers – Pretty Nkambule, Yvonne Mnisi, and Solomon Nyirenda – died when a container collapsed inside the mine. Since the incident, the families of the three victims have camped outside the mine, seeking only the retrieval of their loved ones as the bodies remain trapped. The collapse occurred in 2016. The crown pillar located between the roof of level three and four underground collapsed and caved into the old underground workings of the mine. As a…

As the festive season approaches, bringing with it opportunities for celebrations, family gatherings, and holiday traditions, we must also be aware of the increased safety risks for children, particularly in crowded public spaces such as shopping malls, and within the home. In 2024, over 632 children were reported missing to police nationally. Over the past 10 years, nearly 9 000 children were reported missing across the country. In the light of this information, we strongly urge all parents to take the necessary precautions to ensure the safety of their children, particularly during this holiday season​. Safety tips for children • Maintain situational awareness: Do not walk in public spaces, such as streets or malls, with a phone visible or while wearing headphones. Please remain alert at all times. • Travel…

Hugo Broos is far too experienced a coach to be overly concerned by pre-tournament jitters. After watching Bafana Bafana grind out a 1-0 victory over Ghana in their final warm-up match before flying to the Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco, the silver-haired Belgian expressed disappointment with the performance but understood why it occurred. “Many times, a few days before a big tournament, it is not the game you want to see," Broos said. "But I am happy with the result. "It is always better to go to Morocco with a victory than a draw or, in the worst case, a defeat. We can do much better than we did (Tuesday)." The septuagenarian, who won the biennial continental showpiece with Cameroon in 2017, has worked with many players and understands…

Paris Saint-Germain were ordered to pay their former forward Kylian Mbappe up to €61 million (about R1.2 billion) in unpaid wages and bonuses by a French labour court yesterday. France captain Mbappe, who left PSG in June 2024 to join Real Madrid, had been claiming over €260m (R5.13bn) in total from his former club. PSG, in turn, had demanded that Mbappe pay them €440m (R8.68bn). Mbappe, 26, also claimed the Parisian club applied the wrong French legal classification to his contract, but this was rejected by the court. The labour court said the final figure of between €60m and €61m comprised €55m (R1.08bn) in unpaid salary and around €6m (R118m) in holiday payments. Qatari-owned PSG did not immediately indicate whether they intend to appeal. Lawyers for Mbappe said in a…

Australia all-rounder Cameron Green made headlines yesterday after being roped in by Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) for a record R46 million at the IPL 2026 auction, held at the Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi. Due to a mistake by his manager during player auction registration, Green was initially listed as a batter. He later clarified that he would be available to bowl as well during the tournament. By confirming his availability as an all-rounder, he surpassed the previous record held by his Australia teammate Mitchell Starc, who was bought by KKR at the IPL 2024 auction. Green made his IPL debut in the 2023 season after Mumbai Indians (MI) acquired him. At the time, he became the second-most-expensive overseas player in IPL auction history, the third-most expensive player overall, and…

Electricity and Energy Minister, Kgosientso Ramokgopa, has stressed that South African companies will be positioned to secure preferred bidder status in later phases of the country’s 10-year transmission expansion programme, even as international firms dominate the first phase of the landmark Independent Transmission Project (ITP) initiative. Ramokgopa on Monday announced seven pre-qualified bidders for the initial R17 billion, 1 064-kilometre phase of the transmission development programme, selected from 17 respondents to the prequalification process. A request for proposals (RFP) for the first phase is expected to be issued in the second half of 2026. The pre-qualified consortia are: n The Adani Power Middle East–Momentous Energy Consortium, led by Adani Power Middle East Limited, based in the United Arab Emirates; n The AREF Cobra Transmission Consortium, led by the South African…

The Group of Twenty (G20) remains a critical pillar of global economic co-operation but risks losing relevance unless it sharpens its focus and streamlines its agenda, according to a major review released under South Africa’s 2025 G20 Presidency. The G20@20 Review, published on Monday, assesses the bloc’s first full cycle of presidencies since it was elevated to a leaders’ forum during the 2008 global financial crisis. The report concludes that while the G20 has delivered decisive outcomes during moments of global crisis, its effectiveness has declined in recent years due to geopolitical tensions, an overcrowded agenda and weak continuity between presidencies. Commissioned by G20 leaders at the 2024 Rio de Janeiro Summit, the review was conducted through surveys, Sherpa-level discussions and expert input, with support from the OECD, the South…

Videos have been circulating on social media showing job candidates using AI tools to generate real-time interview responses. The clips, spawned by an Instagram account called newschoolboosted, feature someone with an earpiece receiving AI-whispered answers while speaking to interviewers on camera. The account is run by someone who goes by Kagehiro Mitsuyami, who describes himself as CEO of Lockedin AI, the very tool being demonstrated. The content is essentially promotional material dressed up as candid footage, which adds its own layer to the authenticity question. Luiza Jarovsky, co-founder of the AI, Tech & Privacy Academy, flagged one such video, arguing that HR departments are unprepared for this kind of augmentation. Fair point. But I found myself asking a different question: if a candidate can genuinely deliver the work using whatever…

Marshall Monteagle, the JSE-listed import and distribution group, more than tripled headline earnings a share in the six months to September 30, 2025. The company, which holds portfolios of investments in the US, UK, Europe, Far East as well as commercial properties and interests in food processing and logistics in South Africa, said headline earnings came to $22.6 cents a share compared to earnings of $6.2 cents per share in the six months period to September 30, 2024. An interim dividend of US 2 cents per share (33.706 cents) would be paid. Net assets per share increased by 9.4% to $2.67 from $2.44 at March 31, 2025. "Our actively managed global equity portfolio delivered a strong performance attributable to increased equity positions, fair value gains and realised profits on trading…

Police investigating the killing of Warrick Stock, popularly known as DJ Warras, say the primary suspect is a short man with dreadlocks. Video footage shows him approaching Warras as he was leaving Zambesi House in Johannesburg’s CBD and opening fire shortly after noon yesterday, before attempting to flee. According to Gauteng Acting Provincial Commissioner Major-General Fred Kekana, the suspects also left cartridges at the scene. The shooting, which took place opposite the Carlton Centre, was not a drive-by attack. Kekana said video footage shows the suspect sitting near Warras’ car and one other suspect, dressed in some sort of a security uniform. Police are actively tracing both the suspect and the weapon. Kekana highlighted challenges posed by the building near the scene where the majority of occupants are unauthorised. He…

An Estcourt man, who murdered his former partner at a taxi rank in the town in May, has been sentenced to life imprisonment by the Estcourt Regional Court. The 36-year-old pleaded guilty to the murder of his ex-partner which took place in May at the Estcourt taxi rank. National Prosecuting Authority provincial spokesperson Natasha Ramkisson-Kara said the accused and the 33-year-old deceased were in a domestic relationship and had three minor children together. However, the deceased left the accused due to abuse in their relationship. On the day of the incident, the deceased had gone to Pietermaritzburg. During this time, the accused was unable to contact her on her cellphone. “Upon her return to Estcourt, the deceased phoned the accused, and he told her to wait for him at the…

The uMkhonto weSizwe Party (MKP) is considering legal action against what it termed the ‘illegal processes’ followed by KwaZulu-Natal Legislature Speaker Nontembeko Boyce, during the motion of no confidence against Premier Thamsanqa Ntuli, on Monday. The MKP, supported by the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), tabled a motion against Ntuli and demanded a secret ballot, but the Speaker ruled that the vote had to be public. Following Boyce’s decision, the majority of members of the Legislature voted against the ballot and this resulted in Ntuli securing victory which resulted in chaos. MKP and EFF members shouted, sang and banged on tables with their hands. Police officers were called in, and what appeared to be a water bottle was thrown in the direction of Boyce. Bonginkosi Mngadi, MK Party’s KZN Chief Whip,…

In a heartening initiative that merges creativity with compassion, students from Laerskool Kenmare have donated a collection of their artistic masterpieces to the cancer care unit at Netcare Pinehaven Hospital in Krugersdorp. This project is not just a reflection of their talent but also a poignant gesture of support for patients facing challenging health battles. At the helm of this inspiring venture is Elsabe Bell, an art teacher at the school whose own experience with cancer has deeply touched her life. “My own child had cancer, and I know that the journey can be uncertain and scary at times,” she said. Driven by her personal narrative, Elsabe aimed to harness the uplifting power of art to provide emotional comfort and a sense of companionship to those undergoing treatment. The young…

Elon Musk has made financial history by becoming the first individual ever to amass a net worth exceeding $600 billion. For any South Africans wondering, that is over R10 trillion. The technology mogul passed the milestone earlier this week, driven by a massive surge in the value of his private aerospace company, SpaceX, solidifying his position as the world’s wealthiest person by a historically large margin. The dramatic increase in Musk’s fortune occurred after SpaceX reportedly launched a tender offer valuing the company at $800bn – double its $400bn valuation from August 2025. As Musk owns an estimated 42% stake in the rocket maker, the revaluation added approximately $168bn to his personal wealth in a single day, bringing his estimated net worth to $677bn. While Musk is widely known as…

A Chance Encounter J.P. Pomare Narrated by Maddy MacRae Audible Originals J.P. Pomare’s latest audiobook, A Chance Encounter, narrated with whimsical tension by Maddy MacRae, takes listeners on a thrilling ride through shadowed romance and hidden perils. Set in a seemingly idyllic lakeside villa in Italy, this six-hour journey unravels with the slow-burning mystery of a compelling story straight out of a gothic fairy tale. Our protagonist, Katie, embarks on a long-haul flight from Melbourne to New York, where she meets Mr Right – or so she thinks. Richard Sinclair, with his charm and striking good looks, initially appears to be the man of her dreams. However, the cosy ambience shifts palpably when the romance veers into murky waters: he is not only married but claims to have an open…

There’s an old saying, “Once the rain is over, the umbrella becomes a burden.” In the storm, an umbrella is precious, shared, defended, and trusted. But when the clouds clear, it suddenly feels heavy, unnecessary, and awkward to explain. Loyalty often ends when the benefit stops. This old truth hits uncomfortably close to home as South Africans learn that the preliminary report of the Madlanga-led commission will not be made public. The storm seemed to have passed; the groundwork was done. The country waited for sunlight, for truth, only to find the umbrella remained closed. Who holds the umbrella? The question is simple: if the rain has stopped, why are we still being asked to carry the umbrella? Or more pointedly, who is allowed to hold it? Justice Madlanga has…

Mamelodi Sundowns find themselves in an unfamiliar and uneasy position this season, though it is not yet cause for alarm. With much still to unfold, the Brazilians face a challenge unlike any they have faced in recent years. As the Africa Cup of Nations takes centre stage, Orlando Pirates head into the month-long break in high spirits. Their slender lead at the top of the table sends a clear message of intent, and Sundowns, currently second and two points behind, will know that the resumption of domestic action presents a test they may not have fully faced before Miguel Cardoso’s side have been inconsistent at times, and while the title race is far from over, the hiatus in league play for the next month, offers an opportunity to correct mistakes…

SOUTH AFRICA 375/6 Wolvaardt 124, Luus 114, Van Niekerk 88; J Maguire 3/75, A Maguire 2/69 IRELAND 301 all out (47.5 overs) Prendergast 97, Hunter 64; Jones 3/75, Smit 2/40 The Proteas won by 74 runs and lead three-match series 2-0 Proteas Women’s all-rounder Dane van Niekerk has promised an exciting contest in the third and final ODI in Johannesburg later this week, following the team’s 74-run victory in Gqeberha yesterday. The Proteas Women delivered a clinical performance in the second ODI against the Irish at St George’s Park, securing an unassailable 2-0 series lead with one match remaining. Van Niekerk scored 88 at home, while captain Laura Wolvaardt (124) and Sune Luus (111) starred with the bat, helping the Proteas Women post 375/6. Van Niekerk praised her teammates for…