Inhoudsopgave van 2023-05-31 - Star

SHARES in Tiger Brands, which owns brands including All Gold, Black Cat and Koo, nosedived 19% after it delivered interim earnings which were below market expectations, and flagged load shedding cost and operational headwinds. In its six months ended March 31, 2023, South Africa’s biggest food producer said despite strong revenue growth, its performance for the reported period was impacted by a challenging operating environment due to prolonged periods of load shedding, while high levels of inflation and lower disposable income adversely impacted consumer behaviour in terms of volumes and basket mix. The shares yesterday hit an intraday low of R153.88. The shares later closed 16.83% lower at R157.82 on the JSE. However, they have increased by 33.47% in the past year. During the reporting period, its load shedding costs…

THE BATTLEFRONT for the control of Eskom intensifies, and the three ministers (the three mouse-kateers) placed in charge of Eskom are about to bash heads over the split mandate as to who is responsible and controls what in Eskom. In a short media statement, the president announced the transfer of powers to the Minister of Electricity. The statement reads: “The president has signed a procla- mation that transfers to the Minister of Electricity certain powers and functions entrusted by the Electricity Regulation Act (Act No 4 of 2006). Specifically, this relates to all powers and functions contained in Section 34(1) of the Electricity Regulation Act, which were previously entrusted to the Minister of Mineral Resources and Energy. “Section 34(1) of the Electricity Regu- lation Act empowers the minister to…

SIBANYE-Stillwater this week announced that it had concluded its first power purchase agreement (PPA) and achieved financial close for an 89-megawatt (MW) wind energy project. This clean energy will be generated by the Castle Wind Farm, the largest private wind farm constructed in South Africa to date, located near the town of De Aar in the Northern Cape province of South Africa. This will supply the mining firms South African operations via a wheeling agreement with Eskom. Construction of the Castle Wind Farm is expected to commence in June 2023 and was scheduled for commercial operation in early 2025, Sibanye-Stillwater said in a statement. The project consortium consists of African Infrastructure Investment Managers, through its renewable energy project development and delivery platform, African Clean Energy Developments and Reatile Renewables.…

SOUTH Africa has set a target to generate 18GW of renewable energy by 2030 according to the Integrated Resource Plan released by the government in 2019, which outlines the country's energy mix and goals for the next decade. The food and beverage industry is a significant sector in South Africa, heavily reliant on energy for refrigeration and processing, and therefore, the transition to renewable energy has both challenges and opportunities for this industry. The Renewable Energy in South Africa: Boosting Economic Growth and Enhancing Energy Security report by the World Bank Group highlights the potential economic benefits of renewable energy, including job creation and increased energy security. However, the progress has been slow, and policy certainty and regulatory reform are needed to unlock its full potential. As such, the transition…

A GAUTENG-based solar energy firm, Pacific Solar Technologies, had agreed to pay a R200 000 administrative penalty, the Competition Tribunal said yesterday. Pacific Solar is a small business and has not previously been found guilty of having contravened the act. This after the solar firm was accused of collusion by the Competition Commission. The alleged collusion related to two separate tenders involving the Council for Geoscience and the Department of Mineral Resources and Energy (DMRE), respectively. The tender issued by the Council for Geoscience in 2021 was for the supply and delivery of multi-functional drill rigs with service and maintenance for a period of three years. The DMRE tender was for the ap- pointment of a panel of non-grid service providers to supply, install and maintain solar home systems…

The DA in Gauteng is demanding that the Gauteng Department of Education review the school safety strategy to ensure the safety of pupils and teachers inside and outside school premises. This follows the increasing number of incidents of violence against and murder of teachers and pupils across the province. Last week, 17-year-old Palesa Malatji, a pupil from Ntsako Secondary School in Soshanguve, was brutally raped and murdered near the school. “Gauteng schools are no longer safe places for learners, which clearly indicates that the current safety strategy is not working and must be reviewed,” the DA’s Khume Ramulifho said. Ramulifho said the DA has been calling on the department to review the school safety strategy and implement an integrated safety plan. In addition, the DA has been requesting that the…

Ingredients 1kg lamb knuckles 2 tsp crushed garlic 1 tbs crushed ginger 2 tsp ground turmeric 1 tsp ground cumin 1 tsp ground coriander 1 tsp chilli powder 1 tsp mother-in-law masala or atchar masala 1 tsp salt 2 tbs canola oil 2 large onions, chopped 1 tsp cumin seeds 2 cinnamon sticks 3 cardamom pods, crushed 2 large salad tomatoes, chopped 1 green pepper, deseeded and chopped 2 cups (500ml) water or beef stock 4 medium potatoes, peeled and quartered 2 tsp cornflour Handful fresh coriander, chopped Rice, naan or rotis, for serving Method Combine the lamb, garlic, ginger, ground spices and salt in a large bowl and marinate for 30 minutes. Heat the oil in a large pot and fry the onions, cumin seeds, cinnamon and cardamom…

An exciting new urban retail experience is awaiting city dwellers and visitors, as leading South African property investor and developer Atterbury Property has embarked on a project to link two of its already successful retail precincts in Hazelwood, Pretoria. The vision is to create a connected urban retail experience with a special character. The Village Walk will connect The Village – an eclectic food, drink and leisure hub – on 16th Street with The Club precinct, which stretches between Hazelwood and Dely roads. The heart of the Village Walk development will be the pedestrian walkway linking The Village to The Club Precinct. This will enable easier and more fluid movement between the two hubs, while providing a distinctive attraction in the form of restaurants and boutique retail stores along the…

ENTREPRENEUR Sipho Batyi is the toast of the town in the automotive industry, especially after he succeeded in starting a company in 2017 to supply motor vehicle parts to Ford in Rosslyn, north of Pretoria. Batyi graduated from an incubation programme under the Gauteng government’s automotive industry development centre several years ago. Through the programme, he learnt the ropes of running a successful automotive business, including creating vehicle parts. His automotive company, Batyi Automotive Component Supplier (Bacs), manufactures vehicle components and supplies them to Ford. Ford in the area was manufacturing at least 500 vehicles per day and Batyi was responsible for supplying it with components. He is currently managing two shifts for his company, and employs at least 30 people. Yesterday, Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi officially opened the Bacs…

American-born Pan Africanist Dr Umar Ifatunde, formerly Johnson, has urged South Africans and Americans to resist participating in the 2024 elections. Ifatunde said there was no incentive for African populations in either country to take part in the elections as there was no concerted effort to resolve structural issues affecting these communities. “I would like for the South Africans to do what I would like for the black Americans to do. The next presidential election for Americans is next year. The next presidential election for black South Africans is next year. “I would wish all my South African brothers and sisters, just like all my American brothers and sisters, to not vote for either party. “Show them your power. If nobody shows up to vote in the next elections, whoever…

Celebrated political analyst, broadcaster, author and social commentator Eusebius McKaiser has died after suffering a suspected epileptic seizure. The sudden death of McKaiser has sent shock waves in the media fraternity. His death was confirmed by his manager, Jackie Strydom. “It all happened so quickly. His partner Nduduzo Nyanda is at the mortuary with his family.” Strydom expressed disbelief and said she was distraught at the news. Just hours before midday, McKaiser had been in good spirits, sharing on social media that he was wowed by South African amputee dancer Musa Motha, who appeared on the hit UK show Britain’s Got Talent, dancing with his crutches. McKaiser was a robust and celebrated commentator, appearing on TV broadcasters such as eNCA and SABC News, providing political commentary. He was also a…

As the build-up to the World Cup escalates, the mini-battles are being fought on the psychological front. And after last weekend's United Rugby Championship final it is Ireland who will have perked up considerably while South Africa will have shrugged their shoulders in indifference. That is because Munster winning was vital to an Ireland psyche that had taken a hammering after a Leinster side that is not far off the national team lost a URC semi-final to Munster, who they regard as their cousins, and the following week were bullied up front by La Rochelle in the Champions Cup final. In turn, the Stormers lost the battle of the breakdown in the URC final, which contributed significantly to their ultimate demise, but the reality is that the Springboks will inherit…

Danny Jordaan, the SA Football Association’s battle-hardened administrator, knows a thing or two about World Cup and Olympic bids. In the early 1990s, he was the director of the Cape Town Olympic Bid Company, which targeted the 2004 Summer Olympics. Later, after he was elected as the CEO of Safa, he headed up South Africa’s unsuccessful 2006 Fifa World Cup bid – where SA lost narrowly to Germany, but gained great respect internationally. He led South Africa’s 2010 Fifa World Cup bid, this time successfully, and now 13 years on, he is again on the World Cup bid trail. This time, he is spearheading the country’s efforts to secure the host status of the 2027 Fifa Women’s World Cup. On the eve of his departure to Egypt on Monday night,…

The proliferation of illigal trade poses a significant ‘top 5’ risk to the local economy SOUTH Africa’s economy is bleeding billions of rand every year due to rampant illicit activities such as illegal mining, trade in counterfeit goods, wildlife trafficking, bootlegged fuel, and illicit alcohol and tobacco. These are the findings of a new report on “organised crime, corruption and illicit trade” published yesterday by the Transnational Alliance to Combat Illicit Trade (Tracit). The report, which was released in partnership with Business Unity South Africa, shows that illicit trade is one of the biggest threats to stability and economic growth in South Africa. Tracit said South Africa faced challenges from illicit trade on multiple fronts, including, but not limited to, alcohol, cigarettes, fishing, mining, counterfeit electronics, pharmaceuticals, food and apparel.…

SOUTH Africa is in an unnecessary energy crisis, because nobody wants to follow the democratic outcomes of the country’s Energy Planning. In particular, the electricity crisis is a result of the vicious circle. The failure is a result of not sticking to the democratically agreed Integrated Resource Plan (IRP). This can only be informed by the most updated Integrated Energy Plan (IEP). This plan in itself is a product of the White Energy Paper of 1998. The White Energy Paper reads as follows: “South Africa is a country endowed with abundant energy resources. Fossil fuels, such as coal, uranium, liquid fuels and gas, play a central role in the socio-economic development of our country, while simultaneously providing the necessary infrastructural economic base for the country to become an attractive…

JSE-LISTED Pepkor said yesterday that its interim performance was knocked by load shedding with its core customer base under financial pressure amid a weak economy. Customers in South Africa, with an unemployment rate of 32.9%, have less discretionary income to spend with the main spend on food and basic items, such as transport. Pepkor CEO Pieter Erasmus said: “Factors such as high levels of unemployment, rising inflation, and disruptions in social grant payments have negatively impacted our customers’ ability to earn an income, and they are telling us that they are compelled to prioritise their spending on essential items. “The situation has been further exacerbated by electricity load shedding, which sees many customers not able to earn a full wage. “Their shopping patterns are also disrupted as they have to…

THE NATIONAL Energy Regulator of South Africa (Nersa) has announced its approval for Eskom’s plan to purchase 344.5MW new generation capacity from solar photovoltaic (PV) and battery energy storage. The announcement comes after a meeting on May 25, amid a power crisis which has seen unprecedented load shedding in the country, with devastating impact on the economy. Nersa gave the green light to Eskom to procure 75MW of new generation capacity from Solar PV at Lethabo Power Station in the Free State, and 19.5MW of Solar PV at Sere Wind Farm in the Western Cape. It could also go ahead with the procurement of 100MW of Solar PV as well as 150MW battery energy storage system at the Komati Power Station in Mpumalanga. Nersa said the electricity procured should…

Showmax has announced a new luxury-filled reality show, The Mommy Club, and have whet appetites for drama with a teaser trailer. The Mommy Club sees five glamorous Jozi momfluencers navigating the challenges of parenting and the cut-throat world of “it moms”. These “it moms” may seem like they have it all together, but they don’t do it alone. Between the five women, they have 15 children – and 13 nannies. The cast includes former The Real Housewives of Johannesburg season two breakout star Mpumi Mops, who did not return for the reality show’s third season. The actress now introduces Mzansi to a new circle of Jozi elite on the reality show. They are Tshego Manche, known as Ms Manche, a businesswoman and one of South Africa’s first influencers; and Happy…

FORMER SAA board members and employees who have left the airline, but are implicated in the Special Investigating Unit’s investigations and findings, will be pursued and face civil litigation. SIU head, advocate Andy Mothibi, said this during a briefing to Parliament’s standing committee on public accounts (Scopa) on the SIU’s investigations of corruption, maladministration and malfeasance at SAA. During a briefing to the committee in November last year, the SIU said it was probing issues with at least 23 contracts at SAA. These ranged from dodgy jet fuel purchases and aircraft leases to board and staff corruption. Yesterday, Mothibi said that, from their investigations so far, it appeared most of those that may be implicated in wrongdoing had left the airline. “We will pursue them if there’s any evidence of…

The community of Eldorado Park, south of Joburg, has accused the police of ordering a hit on a man who was due to testify against another community member involved in a murder case that was supposed to begin in court this week. The witness, Oswald Pretorius, 37, was killed as he was going to testify on behalf of his dead cousin, residents claimed. Residents who were at the scene believed he was an innocent man who had screamed “I am surrendering myself to you!” moments before he was shot while lying on his back. Several witnesses at the scene said the police simply turned him up and shot him a couple of times while he screamed for his life. Others alleged that police planted a gun in his hands after…

A Limpopo man who cheated on his wife and spent money from their family business with his mistress will not be getting a share of his ex-wife’s government pension fund. The former couple were married in community of property in October 1985. After 31 years of marriage, Mr M instituted divorce proceedings in the Limpopo High Court in Polokwane and claimed 50% of the joint estate. Mrs M brought a counter-claim where she wanted Mr M to forfeit her government pension fund. However, her claim was dismissed and Mr M was granted 50% of her pension fund. She appealed the ruling, which was denied. Disenchanted, she approached the Supreme Court of Appeal. In her appeal, Mrs M mentioned how Mr M cheated on her with their former employee for nine…

The City of Tshwane has approved the release of funds to install the bulk water system and complete unfinished housing projects in Olievenhoutbosch Extension 60. This was said yesterday by the DA’s MPL and provincial human settlements spokesperson Mervyn Cirota during his oversight visit in the area to assess the progress of building of the RDP houses. 468 RDP houses remained incomplete since the construction project started in 2020. The Extension 60 settlement is not formalised owing to several delays in building houses, roads and the completion of the bulk water system. Cirota expressed satisfaction that the construction of the houses and the installation of the bulk water system had resumed after long delays. He said the DA-led municipal administration was accelerating the delivery of houses and bulk water systems…

A VETERINARY specialist from the University of Pretoria (UP) and the Onderstepoort Veterinary Academic Hospital has performed South Africa’s first transvenous electrical cardioversion on a horse. It is believed this is the first time this procedure was performed in Africa. Dr Christina Eberhardt, an internal medicine and cardiology specialist for horses and senior lecturer in equine medicine at the UP Faculty of Veterinary Science, led a team that performed the procedure on Skye, a 17-year-old Warmblood. Transvenous electrical cardioversion is a new and advanced treatment for horses with atrial fibrillation – an irregular heartbeat. During this procedure, synchronised electric shocks are delivered directly to the heart to restore a normal, regular heart rhythm. “To date, this procedure is only performed by a small number of equine specialists in the world,…

TSHWANE mayor Cilliers Brink has maintained that the City of Tshwane municipality is still making every effort to establish the source of the cholera outbreak in Hammanskraal. Brink said the municipality was aware that the situation in Hammanskraal had coincided with a major breach of trust between the government and the people, which was part of the reason why they were trying everything to mend that trust. He said the leadership of the city had to start by finding the source of the cholera outbreak, which had resulted in numerous deaths. “While we have said Hammanskraal water is a serious problem and has been for many years, we have not detected the source of the cholera, and it’s important to make that point. “If we say it is the Rooiwal…

Wastewater management has been neglected for too long by water services authorities. Our rivers and streams have been turned into dumping sites for all kinds of toxic waste in our communities and wastewater leads in the pollution of our water resources. This compromises the quality of waste water, as shown in the Green Drop status report issued by the Department of Water and Sanitation last year. This needs to end and the time to turn the tide is now, before it’s too late. Even though the source of the cholera outbreak in Hammanskraal in Tshwane and other parts of the country is not yet known, pending the outcome of numerous tests, the fact that various authorities have said tap water is not fit for human consumption is alarming. This…

The year 2023 marks the diamond jubilee of the establishment of the Organisation of African Unity (OAU), currently known as the African Union (AU), which was founded in Addis Ababa. The visionary founders, including President Kwame Nkrumah and Emperor Haile Selassie, aimed to bring about political change in African states and restore the dignity of African people, who had long suffered under colonial subjugation and disenfranchisement. Their vision encompassed a united Africa, free from oppression, governed by self-determination, and destined for prosperity. Over time, the OAU transformed into the AU, with the intention of accelerating the dream of African unity and eradicating the social, political and economic challenges that had begun to define African states. Pan-Africanism emerged as a beacon of hope, inspiring many who understood its significance at the…

Rulani Mokwena was in his element after claiming the PSL Coach of the Season award, congratulating everyone who made the recognition a success – especially his players. Mamelodi Sundowns were at it again last season, winning the Premiership title for a record sixth successive season – a feat they achieved with seven games to spare. It was a milestone that exposed how much of a well-oiled machine they are compared to their rivals, who still have a long way to go if they are to knock them off their perch. And while it was a collective effort to achieve that feat, kudos should go to individuals such as coach Mokwena, who grabbed the bull by the horns after being made the sole head coach in October. The 36-year-old incredibly won…

Orlando Pirates coach Jose Riveiro has opened up about his and the club’s plans for continental competitions as they look ahead to competing in the Caf Champions League. The Buccaneers, winners of the tournament in 1995, have not competed in the competition since the 2018-19 season when they crashed out in the group stage. Spanish coach Riveiro seems to have steered the Sea Robbers ship to calm tides this season, guiding the club to a second-place finish in the DStv Premiership in his first campaign in charge. On top of booking their place in next season’s Champions League , the 47-year-old also lifted the MTN8 and Nedbank Cup competitions but has now set his sights on a goal some might deem unrealistic. Riveiro revealed, immediately after his team’s Nedbank Cup…

THE JOBS FUND has requested an additional allocation of R3 billion from the National Treasury’s already constrained fiscus in a bid to keep the youth employed as the prevailing economic climate in South Africa has dealt private sector businesses a signifi- cant blow over the recent years. This comes as the Jobs Fund on Monday said it was looking for experienced Private and Public Sector organisations and NPO intermediaries to submit applications for its 11th funding round titled: Breaking Barriers: Future Proofing South Africa’s Employment Options. The fund was started more than 10 years ago with R9bn recapitalisation. It co-finances projects by public, private and non-governmental organisations that will significantly contribute to job creation. This involves the use of public money to catalyse innovation and investment on behalf of…

DAIRY giant Clover will reap the bene- fits from a servitisation deal at its Queensburgh mega-factory with energy solutions company, Energy Partners (EP). As part of this industry-leading partnership, EP designed, invested R360 million and constructed the integrated refrigeration, power and steam plant, which it will operate and maintain over the next 20 years. Servitisation, whereby clients pay for a service rather than the equipment itself, means that Clover will only pay a fee per unit of the refrigeration and steam it uses, enabling the dairy company to lower its operational costs by as much as R792m over the period of the agreement. EP CEO Manie de Waal said yesterday in a statement that the model highlighted an opportunity for commercial and industrial businesses to increase their bottom line…

BOTSWANA wants to maintain its partnership with De Beers and is confident that ongoing negotiations for a new diamond sales agreement will succeed, a government spokesperson said yesterday. Botswana is negotiating a new sales deal with Anglo American’s De Beers ahead of the expiry of its current agreement, signed in 2011, later this year. President Mokgweetsi Masisi’s threats to walk away from the negotiations if Botswana fails to secure a bigger share of rough diamonds produced by Debswana, their 54-year-old diamond mining joint venture, have fuelled speculation that the government may end the relationship. But in a statement, government spokesperson William Sentshebeng said the negotiations between the government and De Beers “are ongoing, and we are confident that they will result in a deal that will benefit both parties”. Botswana’s…

MOMENTUM Metropolitan said yesterday in an operational update for the nine months ended March 31, 2023, that its earnings surged 29% boosted by lower claims in its life insurance business following the Covid-19 pandemic impact dropping. This despite a challenging economic environment. The listed life insurance and asset management group, which this month announced Jeanette Marais as Group CEO effective August 1 to succeed Hillie Meyer, delivered R3.4 billion of normalised headline earnings for the reported period. Normalised headline earnings per share increased from 169.6 cents to 224.4c. “This growth in earnings was supported by the improved mortality experience in the life businesses, bene- fiting from the less severe impact of Covid-19, net of the release of Covid-19 reserves, in the current period,” it said. Operating profit…

Breakout Events has announced that Deacon Blue will be heading to South Africa for the first time, in February next year. The legendary Scottish pop rock band are due to perform in Cape Town and Johannesburg. The first show is set for Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens in Cape Town on February 22, followed by a performance at Marks Park, Emmarentia in Johannesburg on February 24. Tickets are available through the Breakout Events website. Scottish singer-songwriter and Deacon Blue lead singer Ricky Ross said the band was thrilled to embark on Deacon Blue’s debut tour of South Africa. “We are excited to announce our first ever shows in South Africa, it’s a country that we have wanted to get to for many years and these shows, both outdoors in beautiful parks,…

Crime stats have revealed that Gauteng, the Western Cape and KwaZulu-Natal have the highest number of cases, with the top 10 police stations in these provinces. According to the head of police crime research and statistics, Lieutenant-General Norman Sekhukhune, there has been an increase in the number of serious and violent cases reported in these areas in the fourth quarter of the financial year under review. Sekhukhune told Parliament that Johannesburg Central police station was sitting at number one, with 1 054 cases reported in the first three months of the year, which is a 6.7% increase compared to January-March last year. It was followed by Mfuleni, Nyanga and Mitchells Plain in the Western Cape. In Mfuleni, 959 cases were reported between January and March this year, which is a…

A resident from Clare Estate in Durban was left shaken after a frightening encounter with a Mozambique spitting cobra in a kitchen on Monday. Local snake catcher Nick Evans said he went to the home on Monday afternoon for what sounded like a black mamba in a kitchen. He said he had caught a few there before. “The large snake had given the resident a fright, and vice versa, so the snake moved under a floorboard,” said Evans. He said he peered under, lighting up the space with his torch and saw the distinctive scales of a Mozambique spitting cobra. “After running back to my car to fetch my visor, two friends from the neighbourhood watch assisted me in moving a fridge that was on the floorboard, and watching that…

Marietjie Bothma, the iconic South African TV personality, radio broadcaster and comedian, died on Monday, after a long illness. Two weeks ago, Bothma travelled from her home in Tembisa to her close friend Thabang Mochela’s home in the Vaal to “rest”, not knowing that these would be the last days the two friends would spend together. Yesterday, Sauma HD Radio, where Bothma delighted thousands of listeners with her quirks over the air, issued a statement confirming her death. “It is with sadness that we announce that one of our radio family presenters, Marietjie Bothma, passed away today (Monday). Lala ngoxolo Sisi Marietjie Bothma. Good night,” the statement read. Bothma was hailed by many as lively and enjoyable. There’s no disputing that her vibrant personality will be missed by South Africans…

In celebration of MHD (Menstrual Hygiene Day ), the Imbumba Foundation’s Caring4Girls programme, in partnership with Comfitex, hosted a menstrual hygiene dialogue and sanitary pad distribution activation at Sitintile Secondary School in Kanyamazane, Mpumalanga, on Friday. “Further to our successful MHD collaboration in 2022, at Mqhawe High School, Iqadi, Inanda, KwaZulu-Natal, we immediately knew we had to make this a part of our annual outreach,” said Salomé Makgato, senior brand manager for Comfitex, Lion Match Company. The event empowered more than 800 girl beneficiary learners. The programme included professional menstrual hygiene practitioners and inspirational speakers, who engaged the young women in conversation about their menstrual challenges. An interactive debate was also facilitated as part of the day’s activities and beneficiaries each received six months’ supply of sanitary pads as well…

South Africa is the land of milk and honey for state capture operatives and is now becoming a fantasy destination for visiting dignitaries. Even the king of Dubai recently took over parts of the Eastern Cape when he arrived with a glittering entourage to satisfy his every whim and fancy, all with the knowledge of the ANC government. Not since the invasion of a plane load of Gupta wedding guests at Waterkloof Air Base have we seen such a high falutin and pompous guest list. The ANC-led eThekwini Municipality want to woo international guests, politicians and heads of state at an exclusive cigar and whiskey lounge, The Pencil, at upmarket uMhlanga, costing taxpayers R16 000 a day. What a waste of money! For the visitors, though, it will be the…

Bafana Bafana coach Hugo Broos has a nice selection headache at the start of their pre-camp today ahead of their last Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Morocco next month. The curtain on the domestic season was drawn last weekend as Orlando Pirates claimed their second trophy, the Nedbank Cup, after already winning the MTN8. The Premiership crown, though, once again belonged to Mamelodi Sundowns, who won the league with seven games to spare, falling just a point short of their 2016 record of 71 points. While Sundowns and Pirates duly walked away with the respective honours, players, coaches and referees were also rewarded for their performances at the virtual annual awards ceremony on Sunday. And to the delight of Broos, the duo of Teboho Mokoena and Monnapule Saleng were…

It was a pity that the Stormers couldn’t go all the way and defend their United Rugby Championship title last weekend as they went down 19-14 to Munster in the Cape Town Stadium final. But John Dobson’s team were again the South African flag-bearers, winning the SA Shield by going unbeaten against the Bulls, Sharks and Lions. Our rugby gurus Leighton Koopman (Stormers), Ashfak Mohamed (Bulls), Mike Greenaway (Sharks) and Morgan Bolton (Lions) assess the four SA teams’ URC seasons ... Stormers RECORD: Played 18 Won 12 Drew 2 Lost 4 Points For 531 Points Against 391 Points 68 POSITION: Finalists THE SEASON: The Stormers can be proud of their second place, although it does feel like their campaign ended on a disappointing note by losing to the visiting Munster…

Marius Louw is not looking for any sort of comeuppance when he runs out for the Lions against his old team the Sharks this weekend – not when there is a semi-final spot on the line in a tightly contested Currie Cup. “I have never been a guy who has had that type of attitude, but any team that comes our way, we want to make a statement,” Louw said. Indeed, the Lions captain and his team must remain singularly focused on the task at hand – beating a Sharks team full of confidence due to a six-match winning streak. The Durbanites top the standings, a healthy 12 points ahead of the visitors, ahead of Saturday’s clash at Kings Park. The Lions cannot overtake them with two games remaining. Instead,…