Inhoudsopgave van 2023-05-05 - Star

State is trying to shift the blame of South Africa’s escalating cost of food prices to the retailers, says Pick n Pay boss PICK N PAY chairperson Gareth Acker- man has lambasted the government for apparently shifting the blame of escalating cost of food prices to retailers instead of fixing the energy crisis. This comes as food inflation rose to its highest in 14 years in April, driven by rising irrigation costs for farmers and additional expenditure on diesel by retailers amidst rotational power cuts. Load shedding in South Africa has severely disrupted business activity, with retailers having to trade less hours and risk having their stock getting spoiled if they do not have alternative sources of electricity, which come at a great cost. Speaking at the presentation…

CONFIDENCE in South Africa’s manu- facturing industry has dipped to its lowest in 11 months as private sector businesses remain pessimistic due to capacity constraints from load shedding and supply shortages, in spite of an uptick in demand. The S&P Global Purchasing Managers Index (PMI) yesterday showed that South Africa’s private sector activity contracted for the second consecutive month in April, falling short of market estimates of a near-stabilisation. The PMI posted at 49.6 points in April, dropping fractionally from 49.7 points in March and below the 50 points neutral mark which separates contraction from expansion for the second month running. This reading affirmed Absa’s PMI released earlier in the week, which remained in the contractionary territory at 49.8 points in April, in spite of the…

Reality TV star Tebogo “Pinky Girl” Mekgwe has acknowledged the lessons she has learnt from her cousin, media personality Bonang Matheba, despite the recent rumoured Molebogeng conflict between them. During a recent interview with Bonolo “Bee Sting” Molosiwa on Kaya 959, Pinky Girl said that if there’s anything she learnt from her cousin it would be consistency, an important trait she hopes to apply in her life and career. “I learnt a lot (from her). Consistency. You need to tell yourself, this is what I want to achieve and do it. As long as you put it in your mind… you are going to achieve it,” she told Bee Sting. The Pretoria-born star also opened up about losing her father. “I have been home for six months after losing my…

The Ekurhuleni Metro Police Department (EMPD) attended to a scene yesterday where the driver of a white Audi lost control of the vehicle and it landed on the roof of a shack. At the time of publishing, EMPD spokesperson Constable Marie Mashishi said the police had not ascertained the condition of the people who were travelling in the car. Mashishi said the accident occurred in Andrew Mapheto Drive, near the Endulweni fire station when the driver lost control of the car, and the vehicle “overturned and landed on top of the roof of a shack”. “We are not sure how many occupants are inside the vehicle. We are still waiting for the rescue truck to come and bring it (the car) down to the ground. The paramedics are on…

The rainy season is behind us and we need to use the available water wisely. Climate change negatively affects reliable water supply due to reduced rainfalls and extremely hot weather conditions leading to high evaporation. High evaporation leads to high water losses in our water resources thereby negatively affecting water security. We must also prevent unnecessary loss of precious water by fixing leaks in our households and reporting leaks in the bulk systems to the authorities. Leaks are cited as one of the major contributors to water losses in the country, so it is important to quickly attend and deal with them to prevent the loss of precious water as every drop counts. We must build and promote a culture of water conservation to prevent water wastage and work towards…

Isn’t it amazing that immigrants who have fled their bedevilled countries, have no sooner landed in the country of their choice, and who have unselfishly been received by the citizens of that country, start moaning and groaning about their new home? They also start demanding all sorts of rights and privileges. This is a sign of immense ungratefulness and disrespect towards their hosts. Immigrants must realise that they have to adapt to their new homes – language, culture, customs and lifestyles – even in keeping their own traditions and culture. The hosts don’t have to adapt to their traditions and customs. Immigrants are the guests. In a Christian country, citizens believe in God and Christian principles. If immigrants are offended by this, then they should find another country. Most countries…

As a token of appreciation to informal traffic controllers who alleviate congestion at multiple intersections, the founder of Mitch Wear sneakers, Johnny Modiba, initiated a campaign to acknowledge their hard work. Modiba said the initiative will take place at the identified busy intersections across all the provinces where informal traffic controllers will be given meals, safety reflective vests and warm clothes as the winter season approaches. Modiba explained that this initiative was driven by the impact of the controllers in ensuring safe and smooth traffic flow. “They also need to be recognised and acknowledged and be appreciated for the work that they are giving back to society. We thought it would be a token of appreciation to them.” As the country struggles with various stages of load shedding, most of…

Renowned amapiano sensation, Lady Du, is leading a TikTok challenge to create awareness about hearing loss in children and address the need for accessible, clinically sound hearing tests. Notable network provider, Vodacom collaborated with amapiano musician Duduzile “Lady Du” Ngwenya, and hearZA – an app that was developed in South Africa in bringing this challenge to life. The aim of the challenge is greater socio-economic bearing – to ensure that every child has the opportunity to reach their full potential. According to Professor De Wet Swanepoel, lead inventor of the hearZA app, a hearing challenge is socially relevant way to quickly assess a person’s hearing ability by using a speech-in-noise test. During this test, a person listens to a recording of speech, while a background noise like static or music…

PARIS – The Memoir Paris Hilton Loot (R260) HQ Paris Hilton’s website describes her as a businesswoman, influencer, activist, DJ, designer, investor, recording artist, philanthropist, host, actress, chef, model and author. She is the great-granddaughter of Conrad Hilton, founder of the Hilton hotels empire. Growing up in the limelight could not have been easy, coupled with Paris having attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). She will also be remembered as a “naughty girl” in her late teens and twenties. “ADHD is exhausting and exhilarating, and it is how God made me, so it must be right. Most people sigh, drum their fingers, and let me know how insanely frustrating it is to be sucked into the endless spin cycle of my life.” I mention Paris having ADHD right from the start…

This condition is one of the most recognised but less understood chronic brain disorders affecting how people think, feel and behave. Being diagnosed with schizophrenia is a terrifying thought to digest. This condition requires lifelong treatment that can be extremely disruptive to an individual’s life. Globally, schizophrenia affects 24 million people, or 1 in 300 people. It is seen as one of the most crippling illnesses affecting humanity. Schizophrenics often feel that their minds trick them to believe in their hallucinations. They may hear, see, smell, taste or feel things that others don’t feel, believing it to be real. They think their hallucinations are normal or they are blessed or cursed with special insight. Schizophrenia implies psychosis, meaning they cannot differentiate between what is real from what they imagine. The…

Sudan’s conflict is likely to be protracted, US intelligence warned yesterday, as the Sudanese army tried to dislodge the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) paramilitary from its positions near central Khartoum installations in fierce fighting. Each side appears to be battling for control of territory in the capital ahead of any possible negotiations, though the leaders of both factions have shown little public willingness to hold talks after more than two weeks of fighting. “Both sides believe they can win militarily and have few incentives to come to the negotiating table,” US Director of National Intelligence Avril Haines told the Senate Armed Services Committee in Washington. With fighting having continued despite both sides agreeing to repeated ceasefire deals, the White House yesterday said it may sanction those responsible for destabilising Sudan.…

ADDIS ABABA: The UN World Food Programme has paused food distribution in Ethiopia’s war-ravaged Tigray region in response to reports that significant amounts of aid were being diverted, the agency said. The announcement follows a similar one by the US Agency for International Development, which said it had discovered that food intended for people in Tigray was being diverted and sold. Tigray’s interim regional government urged humanitarian agencies to reconsider suspending aid, saying that the moves would “hurt our people who are facing grave challenges”. | Reuters…

KAL GROUP (KAL), previously known as Kaap Agri, saw its diversification strategy bear further fruit in the six months to March 31, with revenue up sharply and in spite of a knock in recurring earnings from load shedding. “Irrespective of poor economic conditions and unrelenting load shedding, and three years where business has had to face disruptions from Covid-19, looting in KwaZulu-Natal and the impact of SOE (State-owned enterprise) failure on agricultural customers, KAL has managed to achieve sustainable growth in recurring headline earnings,” CEO Sean Walsh said in a telephone interview yesterday. Recurring headline earnings grew 18.1%, but if load shedding costs were excluded, recurring headline earnings increased by 27.2%. An interim dividend of 50 cents per share (46c) was declared. Walsh said there were plans to reduce…

Media personality Moshe Ndiki has found love again after a public split from his musician husband Phelo Bala. Taking to his Instagram this week, the Gomora star announced his new relationship when he shared a cute loved-up picture with his new beau. He simply captioned the post: “Something about when love locates you.” Industry colleagues and celebrity friends, including Thando Thabethe, Omuhle Makaziwe Gela, Londie London, Tshepi Vundla and Simz Ngema, shared messages in celebration of Ndiki’s newly found romance. Last year, in a previous interview with IOL Lifestyle’s sister publication Isolezwe, Ndiki confirmed that he was no longer married to Bala. He said despite his marriage with Bala not working out, he still believes in love and marriage. “As a person who was married before, I am still intending…

In a different world, 13-year-old girls are not too concerned about what they would want to be in the future, but beauty queen Molebogeng Peu is already eying the Miss SA crown. Molebogeng, from Soshanguve, is currently the first Princess of the Face of Little Miss Township SA Teen 2023 finalist representing Pretoria. She is also a model who dreams of being a medical doctor, and describes herself as a young, beautiful and bubbly girl from the township. However, she says, because of her petite stature, she was bullied at school, prompting her to get into modelling that has boosted her confidence. “I started modelling last year where I bagged the fourth position of Junior Miss Cosset. This year I was crowned Miss North Angelos Christian College in Pretoria North…

When colleagues overseas asked me to contribute a chapter to a management textbook, I opted to write about suspension management. I argued that most of our state-owned entities (SOEs) are leaderless or rudderless because the leader has either been fired or is on precautionary suspension. Since the dawn of democracy, we have seen leaders ascending and descending the corporate ladder, thanks to their malfeasance or their attempt to enforce clean governance upon corrupt organisations, as a result being pushed out by the king of the jungle. The corporate instability warrants our attention as a society. The corporate ascension and dissension in SOEs was unheard of during the apartheid era, although professional jealousy cannot be ruled out. The book, The Infernal Tower: The damage to people, careers and reputations in…

A DOG owner will have to cough up just under R100 000 for the medical bills of a woman who was bitten by his Siberian husky when she had visited their home in 2014. The Western Cape High Court awarded Micayla Marshall costs for past and future medical bills she had incurred and could still incur as a result of Theo Pillay’s dog attacking her shortly after she arrived at Pillay’s home for a social visit with his son. Marshall was 17 at the time she was bitten on her forearms, and suffered a number of injuries as she tried to protect herself from the dog, which allegedly lunged at her throat. The judgment read: “She testified that on the day in question, she and her sister were invited…

Vantage Point Scott Thornley Loot (R321) House of Anansi The highly anticipated fourth instalment in the MacNeice Mysteries series finds MacNeice and his team on the hunt for a sophisticated serial killer who draws his inspiration from classic works of art – perfect for fans of Dan Brown, with a historical twist. Two bodies have been found in the master bedroom of a mansion in Dundurn’s old-money neighbourhood under the mountain. Howard Terry and his son, Matthew, have both been shot twice in the chest. Under Matthew’s body is a doll with blood-red cotton wadding spilling out of its head. Nearby, a mannequin in a nightshirt lies on its back, bullet holes in the chest. On the other side of town, a body is discovered below the Devil’s Punchbowl waterfall.…

All I ask Eva Crocker Loot (R336) House of Anansi Press All I Ask by Eva Crocker is a defining novel of a generation. A little before seven in the morning, Stacey wakes to the police pounding on her door. They search her home and seize her computer and her phone, telling her they’re looking for “illegal digital material”. Left to unravel what’s happened, Stacey must find a way to take back the privacy and freedom she feels she has lost. Luckily, she has her friends. Smart and tough and almost terrifyingly open, Stacey and her circle are uncommonly free of biases and boundaries, but this incident reveals how they are still susceptible to society’s traps. Navigating her way through friendship, love and sex, Stacey strives to restore her self-confidence…

Parachinar, Pakistan: Five teachers and two labourers were gunned down yesterday at a school in north-west Pakistan, in an attack linked to Sunni-Shia sectarian tensions. Two shooters entered the school in the remote border town of Teri Mangal as teachers gathered exam papers that had been completed. “When the two attackers went inside (the school), they identified Shia people and separated them before opening fire,” police said. The shooting occurred after news spread that a man from the Sunni Muslim community had died from wounds he suffered in an attack on his car earlier in the day. | AFP…

WASHINGTON: A jury yesterday convicted four members of the far-right Proud Boys militia group, including its former leader Enrique Tarrio, of seditious conspiracy, finding they plotted to attack the US Capitol on January 6, 2021, in a failed bid to block Congress from certifying President Joe Biden’s election victory. The convictions after a trial lasting nearly four months handed another victory to the US Justice Department as it pursues criminal charges against more than 1 000 people arising from the Capitol rampage by supporters of then-president Donald Trump. | Reuters…

It’s not every day that the Lions go into a match in which they can boast superior experience and knowledge, but that will certainly be the case when they travel to Kimberley for today’s Currie Cup encounter against Griquas (3.30pm kick-off). The likes of Manuel Rass, Rynhardt Jonker, Stean Pienaar, Gianni Lombard and Morné van den Berg in the backline; plus Travis Gordon, Emmanuel Tshituka, Darrien Landsberg, Ruben Schoeman, Asenathi Ntlabakanye, Jaco Visagie and Rhynardt Rijnsburger in the pack all possess United Rugby Championship (URC) experience this season. The bench, as selected by Mziwakhe Nkosi yesterday, is equally as impressive, and even the briefest of glances at the team over the last fortnight indicates that the Joburgers have given the head coach a healthy injection of personnel to select from…

THE late soccer star Senzo Meyiwa’s murder scene was allegedly tampered with by one of the neighbours who cleaned up empty cans of alcohol before the police’s arrival for investigation at his singer girlfriend Kelly Khumalo’s home in Vosloorus. This surfaced yesterday during cross-examination led by advocate Sipho Ramosepele, representing Muzikawukhulelwa Sibiya and Bongani Ntanzi, who are implicated in Meyiwa’s killing on October 26, 2014. Sibiya and Ntanzi are among five men on trial in the North Gauteng High Court in Pretoria. They are facing charges of premeditated murder and attempted murder. Others are Sifisokuhle Ntuli, Mthobisi Prince Ncube and Mthokoziseni Ziphozonke Maphisa. Ramosepele was cross-examining Meyiwa’s long-time friend Mthokozisi Thwala when he suggested that there was “scene tampering” after the shooting. “There is evidence that is going to be…

Local politicians will ascend to the Johannesburg Municipal Council Chambers once more today to elect the eighth mayor in the City of Johannesburg since 2016. The merry-go-round of mayors is expected to continue today as council sits once more after Tuesday’s meeting to elect a mayor collapsed because of ill preparation from the ANC coalition, which was in disarray over disagreements over the preferred mayoral candidate. Some ANC councillors had threatened to boycott council or even resign if an Al-Jama-ah candidate was chosen. The Star understands that a faction in the ANC was pushing for Kabelo Gwamanda from Al-Jama-ah to become mayor, but this was met with resistance, especially from supporters of ANC regional chairperson Dada Morero. Three candidates from the minority parties aligned to the ANC had raised…

Dr NANDIPHA Magudumana is not a victim, says the civil rights movement #NotinMyName. Spokesperson Mo Senne said the narrative that Magudumana was a victim invalidated and delegitimised the experiences of those who were subjected to her choices. It also absolved her of accountability. Senne said: “Magudumana also denied several families closure as she carried out plans to aid and abet Thabo Bester. “Suggesting that she is a victim will set the precedent and pave a pathway for other masterminds to undermine our civil liberties and Constitution.” Since her arrest last month, with her sweetheart, convicted murderer Thabo Bester, many South Africans have expressed sympathy and concern for Magudumana. It became evident when a video, showing Bester shouting at Magudumana, went viral on social media platforms. Some people even went as…

It is very concerning that an unfortunate, embarrassing situation, first reported a year ago, when Bara patients were starved of something as basic as bread to the extent that doctors had to step in to save the situation by buying bread for the patients, is happening again. Back then we learnt that Chris Hani Baragwanath Academic Hospital was allocated a R3 billion budget for the year. Change that into dollars or pounds and you realise that it is a tiny drop in the ocean, especially as some hospital supplies and equipment, bought from overseas, are actually paid for in much stronger currencies which reduces the value of the rand. Playing the blame game will not solve the problem: the buck stops with the finance minister and the hospital managers. Bara…

UNLIKE other celebrities who do not hesitate to be at the centre of feuds on social media, well-known radio personality Sibusiso “DJ Sbu” Leope says he has no beef against those with negative opinions about him. In a video doing the rounds online, he explains that he loves everyone – including Sizwe Dhlomo, who took aim at him. Dhlomo, who is known to speak his mind, shared his thoughts on DJ Sbu’s idea of going back to the SABC to “serve” his country. He is also not new to social media battles and recently had a lengthy spat with entrepreneur and motivational speaker Vusi Thembekwayo which ended acrimoniously. “Sbuda must just say he wants to be on a national platform again ... simple. Lol,” said Dhlomo. Responding to the remark,…

The Half Burnt House Alex North Loot (R249) Michael Joseph Katie always looked after her beloved younger brother Chris – until she left him alone for one selfish afternoon, and their picture-perfect family fell apart. Although Chris survived the attack, the scars ran deeper than the ones left across his face. Now they’re adults, and they haven’t spoken in years. Then she gets a call, from Detective Laurence Page. Page is facing an unusually disturbing crime scene. Alan Hobbes, a distinguished and wealthy philosophy professor, has been brutally murdered. Hobbes was living in a sprawling mansion – but one that remains half-ruined by a decades-old fire. Page only has one suspect: Chris, caught on CCTV at the house. But he has plenty of questions. What could cause a man as…

The coronation of the UK’s King Charles will take place tomorrow. It will involve two carriages, many collectible tea towels and something called a “coronation quiche” – not to mention a tax bill estimated in the tens of millions of pounds. If you’re studying up for the occasion (and already tore through both Spare and The Royal We), here are some books to turn to next. 1. The Palace Papers, by Tina Brown The former New Yorker and Tatler editor followed up The Diana Chronicles with this sprawling group portrait of the family. Starting with Diana’s death and ending with Prince Philip’s, its main incidents will be probably familiar to the most avid Windsor watchers. But for the rest of us, it’s the perfect primer. Brown’s sympathy for the imperatives…

The tweet was typical Pitso Mosimane – bold and unflinchingly confident though his detractors would say cocky and arrogant. But when you have delivered on your promises, why should you be reticent or humble? Mosimane secured Saudi Arabian club Al Ahli a promotion to that country’s elite league this week and in true Jingles fashion, he celebrated by sharing the news on social media, posting a picture of himself and his lieutenants on the pitch proudly brandishing the South African flag. “Navy Seals! We deliver big projects in any league, country or continent. Bring it on! Also the flag is always with us,” he tweeted yesterday morning. South Africans reacted by showering the coach with congratulatory messages, one of which suggested he should be given the Chelsea job – Mosimane…

Johannesburg: The coronation of Britain’s King Charles III has rekindled calls for Britain to return to South Africa the world’s largest diamond, the centrepiece of the sceptre he will hold at tomorrow’s ceremony. The 530-carat First Star of Africa was unearthed in 1905, when South Africa was under British rule, and donated two years later by the colonial government to King Edward VII for his 66th birthday. MP Vuyolwethu Zungula, African Transformation Movement head, said: “People had to die, blood had to be spilt for those diamonds to find their way to Britain.” | AFP…

AMSTERDAM: A crackdown on international art trafficking has recovered 11 049 stolen artefacts, including ancient coins and books and a marble bust believed to represent the niece of a Roman emperor, European police force Europol said yesterday. Sixty people were arrested in the raids across 14 European countries last year, part of so-called Operation Pandora launched by Europol in 2016. Among the recovered artefacts were over 3 000 ancient coins, 77 ancient books stolen from the archives of a monastery, 89 religious sculptures. | Reuters…

Ten years is a lifetime in rugby, and John Plumtree says that the incarnation of himself that returns to Kings Park on July 1 is very different from the 47-year-old who departed in 2013. “I have changed quite a lot,” the 57-year-old New Zealander said from his home in Wellington yesterday. “The way I coach is way different. I have learned so much over the last decade. I have changed the way I coach and manage people … I have changed much of the detail and simplified what I do.” Older, wiser and certainly enriched by coaching stints with Ireland, the All Blacks and the Hurricanes, Plumtree said that he has returned to Durban to win trophies. “These days expectations are high anywhere you go. There is more pressure in…

Shabnim Ismail ended a glittering 16-year international career by announcing her retirement from the Proteas women’s team this week. Here we choose three performances where the fast bowler showed her class. February 2023: 2/26 against Australia in the T20 World Cup final If you would ask Ismail which moment she cherishes the most in her international career, she would probably refer to her last outing in the green and gold – the T20 World Cup final at Newlands in February. She was the pick of the bowlers in the South African attack with figures of 2/26 in four overs as she claimed the wickets of Ellyse Perry and Georgia Wareham, bowling the 20th over of Australia’s innings. She conceded 10 runs in the first two deliveries of that over,…