Inhoudsopgave van 2023-10-27 - Star

CONSUMERS should brace for higher prices on the shelves this festive season as the producer price inflation (PPI) quickened further to a four-month high in September and above market forecasts. The PPI is a good pre-indicator of consumer inflation, because it measures the costs to produce consumer goods, and when producers are faced with input inflation, those rising costs are passed along to the retailers and eventually to the consumer. Data from Statistics South Africa (StatsSA) yesterday showed that the annual headline PPI accelerated for a second consecutive month, rising to 5.1% in September, from 4.3% in August and 2.7% in July. StatsSA said the main contributors to the headline PPI annual inflation rate were food products, beverages and tobacco products; metals, machinery, equipment and computing equipment; paper and printed…

THE AFRICAN Growth and Opportunity Act (Agoa) Forum taking place in South Africa next week will include trade unions for the first time, with more than 80 workers’ representatives to discuss matters that impact workers in trade and investment decisions. Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition Ebrahim Patel yesterday confirmed that there would be a labour forum for the first time with trade unions from South Africa, the US and other countries from the African continent. Patel was briefing the media on the state of South Africa’s readiness to host the 20th Agoa Forum in Johannesburg, and how it was set to deepen the trade corridors between South Africa, Africa and the US. To date, 360 delegates from the US business sector, including the US Chamber of Commerce, together with…

Although the beneficiary nomination form serves as a guide, retirement funds are required by law to check that the needs of a deceased member’s dependants are taken into account when distributing a death benefit, whether they are nominated beneficiaries or not. However, a nominee does not need to prove dependency to be allocated a portion of the benefit. The benefit a retirement fund pays on the death of a member is made up of their accumulated retirement savings plus a life insurance payout if the member belonged to a group life scheme. Distribution of the money can be a headache for funds and is frequently a matter of contention among relatives of deceased members. Complaints about death benefits made up 6.6% of the complaints handled by the office of the…

THERE was a great deal of drum beating at the African Energy Week this year as delegates rallied to the plight of 600 million Africans with no access to regular electricity by pledging to exploit the continent’s unexplored oil and gas resources as fast as possible. That there is a need for universal access to electricity in Africa is beyond dispute, with most of those 600 million people living in sub-Saharan countries. Even in South Africa, where electricity access is close to 100%, the high price means that many families need to burn paraffin or wood for cooking and heating and will use electricity only for lighting. The point that concerned me most through the conference, however, was the zeal that government leaders, including our own Mineral Resources and…

The City of Johannesburg is buzzing with events left, right and centre. Whether you want to exercise, watch beauty pageants, groove at a concert or look for something that will help you spice up your sex life, there’s something for everyone this weekend. Sinach Live in South Africa Catch internationally acclaimed Nigerian gospel music sensation Sinach at Centre Court, Emperors Palace, on Sunday at 2pm. The Way Maker and I Know Who I Am hitmaker said she plans to take fans on a musical journey. “I am looking forward to being back in South Africa and making special memories. I hope that my music can bring comfort in such troublesome and trying times and that I can inspire people and inspire their faith in God. “My music comes from…

Former President Jacob Zuma’s legal team yesterday told the Pietermaritzburg High Court that Zuma believes he will not get a fair hearing if State advocate Billy Downer, who leads the prosecution in the arms deal case, is allowed to remain in that role. This is Zuma’s second attempt to have Downer removed from the case and the former president’s counsel, advocate Dali Mpofu, said his client’s “human rights” had been affected. Zuma has lost four court matters regarding his separate private prosecution against Downer for allegedly leaking his details to News24 journalist Karen Maughan. Zuma claimed Downer breached the National Prosecuting Authority Act by doing so. Zuma and his co-accused, French company Thales, face charges related to fraud, corruption and money laundering in connection with the arms deal that took…

THE City of Tshwane has urged all residents, particularly motorists and travellers, to exercise caution and “be extra vigilant” when travelling in areas that have been identified as crime hot spots, including the Pretoria CBD, Sunnyside, the Mabopane R80 highway and Mamelodi. Spokesperson for the Tshwane Metro Police Department, Senior Superintendent Isaac Mahamba, said it was critical for community members to be wary of the criminal activities, while the TMPD was increasing its efforts to protect residents. “The safety and well-being of the residents remains the city’s top priority. It is critical that the residents co-operate with the city to make sure everyone lives in a secure environment and reduce their chances of becoming victims of crime,” said Mahamba. “A recent joint crime operation by the SAPS and the Tshwane…

THE North-West University (NWU) has bestowed an honorary doctorate on Professor Herman Hubert van der Spuy for his exceptional contributions that have helped shape the South African musical landscape. Van der Spuy’s influence and contributions as an adjudicator, examiner and adviser at music institutions throughout South Africa earned him this recognition yesterday. “This honorary doctorate came very unexpectedly, and I consider it to be the biggest recognition in my career. I have always wanted to complete another doctorate, and when this came, I felt fulfilled. I have worked with students from various universities throughout my career, including with many talented Master’s degree and doctoral students from the NWU, and this makes it even more special,” said Van der Spuy. Over his career, Van der Spuy has made outstanding contributions in…

THE SunBet Arena at Time Square will be turned into a battlefield when music titans Sjava and Focalistic go head-to-head for the Red Bull SoundClash champion title tomorrow. The duo will take to two stages, across seven rounds, vying for crowd appeal and votes. Will it be African Trap Music or Amapiano? Winning the crowd will determine who wins the crown. Red Bull SoundClash is a concert, unlike any other performance that challenges musicians to go beyond their comfort zones. Fans have been talking about the death of African Trap Music in Mzansi and how Amapiano has taken over. However, artists such as Sjava have proved otherwise. His latest studio album, Isbuko, has surpassed an impressive 42 million streams on major music platforms since its release. This showcases not only…

Julius, the Great Dictator, is once again doing what he does best, and that is pretending to be this influential, world-renowned revolutionary leader who orchestrates world affairs with his superior logic. Expecting immediate response to his ridiculous demands and outrageous threats, he has to say something, no matter how inane, in order to inflate his over-inflated ego. Fortunately, no one, especially those overseas, takes any notice of his asinine rants. Malema has no international standing, is not a member of any international body, and does not represent South Africa at any international forum or summit. He is a non-entity. His latest bluster against Israel is not only laughable but ludicrous. In times of war “shoot to kill” is his main objective. His usual threats against Woolworths – removing Israeli products…

Imagination has the potential to transport us to different futures where anything is possible. This concept is centred on openness, curiosity and a sense of adventure. Being a winner requires having the courage to dream, the intelligence to create a realistic plan, and the will to achieve success. Each of us has our own way of being a genius. By looking around, it is evident that those who consistently succeed tend to think like winners. They are dedicated to always thinking, planning and preparing for their next milestone. For winners, the path to success is considered a marathon, not a sprint. Every individual has the power to be the individual they choose to be. Winning is a matter of choice, not destiny. Life teaches us to be…

Despite some important players missing out on the World Cup final, the collective goal far outweighs that of the individual for the Springboks. Bok coach Jacques Nienaber raised eyebrows with his bold selection of a bench split of seven forwards and only one back for tomorrow’s title decider in Paris (kick-off 9pm) against the All Blacks. Halfbacks Manie Libbok and Cobus Reinach were dropped for 2019 winners Handré Pollard and Faf de Klerk, respectively. Willie le Roux is the sole back substitute. It’s the most experienced 23-man squad the Boks have ever selected and it’s the group that will have to fight tooth and nail against the All Blacks for a record fourth Webb Ellis Cup – and to become only the second team, after their old rivals, to go…

Springbok legend Os du Randt feels that despite Ox Nche’s incredible impact off the bench, Sa director of rugby Rassie Erasmus and coach Jacques Nienaber did the right thing to keep Steven Kitshoff at No 1 for tomorrow’s World Cup final against the All Blacks. Nche has been outstanding in his “Bomb Squad” role, with last week’s semi-final seeing the Sharks loosehead prop almost single-handedly changing the game for the South Africans with his scrummaging against England in the second half. The 28-year-old front-rower from Bloemfontein won a string of penalties against English tightheads Dan Cole and Kyle Sinckler, which helped the Boks pull off a 16-15 triumph to advance to tomorrow’s title decider against New Zealand at Stade de France (9pm kickoff). At the same time, Kitshoff wasn’t at…

“Mamelodi Sundowns are a very good team. They have very good players and a very good structure. They are a very strong team and they can win this competition.” Alexandre Santos was not trying to curry favour in the hope that he gets considered should a coaching job opportunity arise at Sundowns in the future. No, the Petro de Luanda coach was genuine, having seen his team struggle to get anything out of their African Football League clash with the multiple Premiership champions. “We needed the goal the match, but it never came. We did our best,” Santos said following their 0-0 draw at Loftus Versfeld on Tuesday, a result that saw Sundowns progressing to the semi-finals via a 2-0 aggregate win, courtesy of their first-leg victory in Luanda last…

Board chairperson Andile Sangqu outlines plans to rationalise its loss-making activities ROILED by executive resignations, tender scams and a R130 billion debt, South African rail and port company Transnet is knocking on the doors of the South African Treasury for a bailout as its board chairperson, Andile Sangqu, outlines plans to rationalise loss-making activities, dispose of non-core assets and rope in private players in a turnaround bid. Sangqu’s board has just clocked 100 days since its appointment in July, but the parastatal has been rocked by massive resignations of executives in the past few weeks. Resignations include: CEO Portia Derby, chief financial officer Nonkululeko Dlamini, Transnet Freight Rail CEO Sizakele Mzimela and Ali Motala, the head of Transnet’s coal line. This has left Hlengiwe Makhathini as the acting CFO,…

IN METROFILE Holdings’ annual 2023 report, its management team celebrated achieving a significant milestone, with turnover in excess of R1 billion for the first time, and has grown its digital footprint to include Australia, New Zealand and Ireland. Metrofile provides records and information management services in South Africa (its main market), Kenya, Botswana, Mozambique and the Middle East. Phumzile Langeni, Metrofile’s chairperson, said increasingly many organisations had devoted more resources to expand their digital and technological capabilities and had invested in the digitising of their data to ensure economic viability and to remain sustainably competitive. “Metrofile is well positioned as a leader in the provision of digital solutions for data preservation, cloud services, disaster recovery and cybersecurity to its growing customer base,” she said. The introduction of cloud services,…

HEINEKEN Beverages yesterday night held a #100DayStakeholderDinner to celebrate passing all regulatory hurdles on April 26 as it raised a glass to the future. Earlier this year, Heineken finalised the acquisition of Distell and Namibia Breweries, which were to be combined with Heineken South Africa into a new Heineken majority-owned business, Heineken Beverages. Brands in its stable include Heineken, Savanna, Windhoek, Amarula, Nederburg and many more. Jordi Borrut, the new managing director of Heineken South Africa, said it was a long journey, but “the marriage has gone very well”. Borrut also said despite the South African competition authorities stipulating that a maximum of 166 employees could be retrenched, the beer firm had managed not to retrench anyone, despite 57 voluntary retrenchments, jobs it aimed to replace. “This dream of shaping…

On October 10, 2023, the Constitutional Court (CC) in EB (born S) versus ER (born B) and Others; and KG versus Minister of Home Affairs and Others (2023), ZACC 32, confirmed an order of constitutional invalidity relating to section 7(3) of the Divorce Act, 1979 (the act) handed down in two interconnected cases. The judgment provides indigent spouses financial protections post the dissolution of their marriage. For ease of reference, and to be consistent with the court’s approach, any reference to an “ANC marriage” refers to marriages subject to an antenuptial contract (ANC), which excludes community of property, profit and loss and accrual sharing (as applicable), and any references to “old” and “new” ANC marriages refer to ANC marriages entered into before and after November 1, 1984, (the commencement date…

Fake news is swirling that controversial gossip blogger Musawenkosi “Musa” Khawula has been sentenced to 15 years for the murder of his ex-boyfriend. “Musa Khawula has been sentenced to 15 years for the murder his ex-boyfriend Wandile Khambule. Musa confessed to fatally stabbing his ex-boyfriend Wandile. Currently Musa’s instagram account is being managed by Inno Morolong,” read a tweet by @AdvoBarryRoux. However, Khawula appeared at the Vredenburg Magistrate’s Court on October 5 where the matter was postponed to January 23, 2024 for a pretrial hearing. Khawula is accused of stabbing Wandile Khambule in March last year after the pair had a quarrel outside the deceased’s home. As the news spread like wildfire, fans are trying to put the pieces together and find out where Khawula is. He last uploaded a…

EFF leader Julius Malema says he will not apologise for his condemnation of the magistrate who presided over his firearm discharge case. Malema, along with his bodyguard, Adriaan Snyman, was accused of discharging a firearm at an EFF rally at the Mdantsane’s Sisa Dukashe Stadium in 2018. Last week, Malema lost his legal challenge to have the case struck off the court roll in the East London Magistrate’s Court. However, magistrate Twanet Olivier said she believed the two had a case to answer and denied Malema’s bid. This led to Malema’s scathing attack on the Olivier, calling her “an incompetent magistrate”. He further accused Olivier of being a “sponsored judge”, claiming that her decision was “politically influenced”. “A magistrate who adjourns the court during judgments to go and receive Pravin…

THE TRANSFORMATION Alliance has hauled the City of Tshwane to the regional office of the public protector, blaming the metro management for the Hammanskraal cholera outbreak that claimed 29 lives earlier this year. It said Tshwane MMC for Economic Development and Spatial Planning Alderman Hannes Coetzee revealed, during his visit to Rooiwal, that it was the City of Tshwane’s fault that the deaths took place. The party’s national chairperson Tlhogi Moseki said ActionSA had confirmed that the City of Tshwane was responsible for the cholera outbreak in Hammanskraal. Moseki said that in a video posted recently on Facebook by former City of Tshwane’s MMC for Human Settlements, Kgosietsile Kgosiemang, who had joined Coetzee on an apparent oversight visit to Rooiwal on October 19, 2023, Kgosiemang asserts that the cholera in…

Local comedian Donovan Goliath is serving Rugby World Cup content, showcasing his creative knack. Goliath has had fans in stitches with his skits and graphics that have been aligned with the games. With a “local is lekker” feel, one wouldn’t be wrong for thinking he had a content plan in place at the first whistle. “Haha not at all,” he admitted. “A lot of it has been reactive and just playing off of and being inspired by the hype and energy during this time.” Goliath, in his capacity as a creative consultant, has added some of his razzle to content that we are currently seeing. “Everything that was dope was probably me but you’d never know,” he coughed and laughed. The winner of the Thumb-Stopping Award at the 2023 DStv…

MUSIC is My Life – Joseph Shabalala and Ladysmith Black Mambazo, a directorial debut documentary feature produced by veteran film-maker Carolyn Carew from Free Women Films and directed by Sowetan-born director Mpumi “Supa” Mbele, has secured South Africa’s submission for the Academy Awards. This is the first time a documentary has been selected since South Africa began submitting films for nomination in the International Feature Film category in the Annual Academy Awards since 1989. The documentary was recently announced as the National Film and Video Foundation’s (NFVF) submission for the 96th Annual Academy Awards. Shining a spotlight on Ladysmith Black Mambazo’s frontman, the legendary Joseph Shabalala, the film explores his rise to international fame with his iconic isicathamiya acapella group following their musical contributions to Paul Simon’s award-winning album Graceland.…

Coach Jacques Nienaber is departing the Springboks for a new position at Ireland giants Leinster but he has hinted that the door is not closed on him one day returning to the green-and-gold. The defence guru made some significant changes to the Bok side yesterday for tomorrow’s World Cup final against the All Blacks at the Stade de France. Handré Pollard and Faf de Klerk replace Manie Libbok and Cobus Reinach at halfback, while there is just one back in Willie le Roux on the bench. But it might not be the last Bok team that Nienaber has selected. “It’s funny. I went for a run this morning and I was thinking about it,” the head coach reflected yesterday. “In 2011, I spent time with the Boks (as a defence…

The Lions have selected arguably their strongest match-23 – barring a few injuries here and there – for their second United Rugby Championship (URC) clash this weekend. The Joburgers will face a determined Edinburgh, coached by former Sharks boss Sean Everitt, tomorrow (kick-off 6pm), who started off their URC campaign with a solid victory away against the Dragons. The Lions had no such luck, inflicting self-harm during a 35-33 loss to the Stormers at home. To rectify that defeat, Lions coach Ivan van Rooyen has made a handful of changes to bolster his team at the DAM Health Stadium. Ruan Venter and Henco Venter have been promoted to the starting XV, while one of their best players last season – Edwill van der Merwe – has recovered from injury and…

Sergio Perez will have the crowd on his side and a championship-winning car beneath him, but the dream of becoming the first Mexican to win a home Formula One Grand Prix may remain just that. If Sunday is a chance for “Checo”, in a season where Red Bull have won every race bar one, the odds favour dominant teammate Max Verstappen in the rarefied air of Mexico City’s Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez. “I don’t think Max is going to get the warmest reception in Mexico,” commented team boss Christian Horner after Verstappen won to boos in Austin last Sunday. “But that’s water off a duck’s back.” Perez, with “Never Give Up” prominent on a specially-designed helmet for the occasion, remains positive despite a run of poor form. “Mexico is my most…

Orlando Pirates coach Jose Riveiro has pleaded for patience as his players try to rediscover their scoring touch in the Premiership amid a busy schedule. Pirates were held to a 0-0 draw by AmaZulu in the league on Tuesday, exposing their inconsistency after back-to-back domestic Cup triumphs. A fortnight ago, Pirates won their third successive trophy, the MTN8, under Riveiro before progressing to the Carling Knockout quarter-finals last Friday. But while they are Cup specialists, they have struggled in the league as they are in 13th position on the standings with only eight points, 16 behind leaders Mamelodi Sundowns, who have two games in hand. Despite their shortcomings in the league, Riveiro has claimed that they still want to knock perennial champions Sundowns off their perch this season. Those aspirations…

Cavin Johnson is set for an acid test when Kaizer Chiefs play high-riding Golden Arrows in a DStv Premiership match tomorrow (kick-off 3.30pm) at the Mpumalanga Stadium. Johnson, who has previously mentored clubs such as Platinum Stars, SuperSport United, Platinum Stars, AmaZulu and Black Leopards, said he is relishing the prospect of coaching “one of the world’s great footballing institutions” after he was appointed interim coach. Nothing in his South African experience would have prepared him for what it is like when Chiefs fans turn on the coach in anger when the team suffers defeat, though. Johnson would have had a taste of that kind of fan fervour when he was the assistant coach at Egyptian giants Al Ahly a few months ago. After many periods of frustration, the Chiefs…

CLICKS’ share price surged 8% yesterday after it reported record market share gains and a hike in earnings. The shares closed 6.06% higher at R261.75 on the JSE yesterday, but have decreased by 20.21% in the past year. In its annual group results for the year ended August 31, 2023, the pharmaceutical retailer flagged that adjusted headline earnings increased by 11.5% to R2.5 billion, while retail sales grew by 12.2%. The board declared a 6.6% higher dividend of 679 cents. Clicks reported that retail turn- over, excluding Covid-19 vaccinations, increased by 12.2% as group turnover grew by 8.2% to R41.6bn. Group operating profit, adjusted for the insurance recoveries related to the 2021 civil unrest, increased by 9% to R3.6bn, while the group’s adjusted operating margin increased by 30…

AFRIMAT, the construction materials, bulk commodities and industrial minerals group, lifted headline earnings per share (Heps) by 4.4% to 263.4 cents in the six months to August 31 in a period of substantial investment towards the future of the company. Group revenue increased 9.6% to R2.8 billion. An interim dividend of 40c a share was declared. Net cash from operating activities came to R577.5 million. Deputy chief financial officer André Smith said they had expected slightly higher growth in Heps, but they had hoped that the Nkomati mine would have made a bigger contribution to earnings at this stage, as its commissioning was taking longer than expected. However, investment into the anthracite mine by opening the underground shaft, the first underground shaft for the group, in addition…

THE NATIONAL Treasury has amended its original proposals on the two-pot retirement system, which would permit members of retirement schemes to access their pension funds before retirement, and proposed that it be implemented in 2025. The new proposed two-pot system intends to allow members of retirement schemes the flexibility to access one-third of their savings before retirement while keeping the other two-thirds for retirement. In the new system, members of schemes will have three “pots”: vested (built up before the legislation becomes effective), savings, and retirement. The Treasury now wants the system implemented on March 1, 2025, as opposed to the original implementation date of March 1, 2024, because of the magnitude of the reforms and the necessity to ensure that the new system operates seamlessly. The final legislation has…

THE DEPARTMENT of Small Business Development had an interest in franchise business models that gave access to markets for the country’s small and medium business sector, the department’s Minister, Stella Ndabeni-Abrahams, said yesterday. Giving the keynote address at the the Franchise Conference held by Franchise Association of South Africa (Fasa) yesterday, Ndabeni-Abraham elaborated on small business and franchise initiatives recently signed with Fasa and other government entities. She said for this sector to succeed, the country needed to provide a far more comprehensive business support system and drastically improve access to effective participation of small, medium and micro-sized enterprises (SMMEs) to the economy. For the majority of potential entrepreneurs, the mainstream franchise market remained expensive and beyond reach. “This requires deliberate efforts by stakeholders.” She said: “I have listened…

Mzansi Taylor Swift fans have been left disappointed after finding out that the multi-award-winning singer will not be coming to South Africa. Despite an email from Discovery having all the clue words that could hint at the Shake it Off singer performing in South Africa, that was not the case. “We’re entering a new era in 2024…Are you ready for it?” began the email. “Moving swiftly towards 2024 we’re shaking off the year that was and heading into a whole new era of health, happiness and evolved benefits.” Now if you are a Swiftie, then it’s no surprise that the words “era”, “shaking” and “swiftly” would have raised alarm bells. But sadly, the mega-star is not coming to South Africa. Big Concerts announced the news after teasing for weeks that…

The good news keeps rolling in for the Springboks ahead of their Rugby World Cup final against New Zealand in Paris tomorrow. Not that they were distracted by the allegations of racism made against one of their own as they prepared for the finale, but World Rugby officially called off the investigation into the alleged incident against hooker Bongi Mbonambi yesterday. They cited insufficient evidence to make a charge and that the case is closed until such evidence is forthcoming. SA Rugby welcomed the decision and said Mbonambi denied the allegations from the outset. “Mbonambi is an experienced, respected, and decorated Test player and, needless to say, denied the allegations from the outset. SA Rugby has absolute faith in the honesty and integrity of Bongi,” the governing body said in…

AS THE legal tussle between Unisa and Higher Education Minister Dr Blade Nzimande lingers on, the fate of the university hangs in the balance after a court interdicted the minister from placing it under administration. A damning 300-page report completed in March recommended that Unisa be placed under administration and the vice-chancellor (VC), Professor Puleng LenkaBula, be relieved of her duties. However, following a series of legal challenges by the Unisa council and its VC, this has been put on hold, rendering the minister stunted. Early this month, following an announcement by the minister of his intention to place Unisa under administration, the university, through the Gauteng High Court, Pretoria, was able to lodge a successful application stopping him from appointing an administrator to take over the running of the…

Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi has committed the province to becoming a cashless province as of April 2024. Lesufi, who has advocated an end to cash-based payment systems due to the high levels of crime, particularly cash-in-transit heists, also called on tech businesses and retailers to innovate and adopt a digital economy. He said even though a cashless business and government environment would not eradicate crime completely, it would help boost safety, transparency, security and financial inclusion while also addressing concerns surrounding cash-related crimes. He said some industries, including illegal mining, and the domination of the township economy, especially spaza shops, by illegal immigrants, were enabled by the preference for hard cash instead of a digital economy. He also said a cashless society would help to foster collaboration among government departments,…

HIS GRACE Bishop Dr Engenas Joseph Lekganyane, the esteemed Spiritual Leader of the St Engenas Zion Christian Church will become the latest eminent person to join the list of illustrious Unisa alumni when the university confers on him the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Theology (Honoris Causa) at a graduation ceremony today. The Unisa council resolved at its meeting on June 29 to confer the honorary doctorate on Lekganyane in recognition of his outstanding achievements and globally impactful societal contributions to peace, social cohesion, social capital, as well as successful and resilient African-initiated institutions in the 21st Century. This include the primacy of peace as a principle and value for human interaction and spirituality, the foregrounding of African-conscious theology and philosophy, anchoring the moral fibre of society in our…

BRICKFAIR 2023 stands as Africa’s premier LEGOⓇ exhibition, presented in partnership by Menlyn Park and the Menlyn LEGO Certified Store. It boasts a grand showcase of LEGO creations crafted by passionate enthusiasts hailing from the country’s top three LEGO User Groups (LUGs). This event offers a unique opportunity to not only admire the incredible LEGO structures but also to connect with the talented individuals who breathe life into these bricks. Furthermore, this year’s expo will be covered by Beyond The Brick TV, the international YouTube sensation dedicated to LEGO enthusiasts which is a Brickfair and Menlyn Park first. This Brickfair is set to be bigger than in previous years – which is fitting as Menlyn Park is the biggest shopping centre in Africa with a gross leasable area of over…

Among the important international wave of solidarity with Palestine, Morocco has taken the initiative, in accordance with the instructions of the Moroccan Monarch, to deliver emergency humanitarian aid to the Palestinians, in order to participate into the effort aiming at easing the humanitarian crisis in the Gaza band. Indeed, this aid come at extremely deer time in the Gaza band where the disruption of the essential and basic services like water, food and medication has led to a health crisis, with the Palestinian Ministry of Health reporting outbreaks of smallpox, scabies, and diarrhea due to poor living conditions and the use of unsafe water sources. In this regard, the two Moroccan Military aircraft carrying this emergency aid, that took off from the Kenitra Military base have arrived on Wednesday, at…

Like most black South Africans who lived nearly all their lives under apartheid, nothing upsets my karma as much as a whiff of oppression by one people over another. Totalitarianism gets my goat! At the last count, the mayhem in Gaza had claimed more than 5 000 lives, many of them children. The BBC, which I watch reluctantly, is in the habit of showing the political map of the Rafah Crossing, to depict the point in the border between Gaza and Egypt at which the aid trucks are being allowed to trickle in to ferry much-needed supplies to the devastated land of the Palestinians under the jackboot of Israel. I stare unseeingly at Khan Younis on the map. Just as in the Russia-Ukraine conflict, the BBC often shows locations of…

The Springboks are taking a massive gamble with their seven-one bench split in a World Cup final that could come back to haunt outgoing coach Jacques Nienaber and several players who will play in their last match. What makes this selection even riskier is that the Boks are facing a team that has already played against such a split, and has surely, since losing that day at Twickenham two months ago, made plans to never be on the receiving end again. Even more worrisome is that this forwards-overloaded bench for the Stade de France final tomorrow (9pm kickoff) did not work out against Ireland during the pool stage. That match will provide the All Blacks with a better blueprint on how to stop the Boks and their “Bomb Squad”. Look,…

It normally takes a while for a “big fish in a small pond” to make his name at a major union, but Sebastian de Klerk intends to hit the ground running at the Bulls. The 23-year-old centre and wing was one of the mainstays of the Pumas over the last few years, but has made the move to Pretoria this season and is keen to command a place in the starting line-up. De Klerk had a chance to familiarise himself with his new teammates during a two-week pre-season camp in his native Western Cape – he hails from Durbanville and attended Boland Landbou school in Paarl – and it was the best possible situation following a long knee-injury layoff. “It was obviously an adjustment from the Pumas. There are things…

Banyana Banyana’s growth as a team was highlighted on Wednesday when they salvaged a draw in hostile Kinshasa against Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) in their second-round first-leg Olympic qualifier. After the DRC had taken the lead before half-time, Banyana fought back with an early second-half goal. The eventual 1-1 stalemate was a pleasing result for the South Africans and coach Desiree Ellis was delighted that her charges will have the advantage of an away goal going into Monday’s second leg at Orlando Stadium. One of the heroes for South Africa was goalkeeper Kaylin Swart, who was supported by a new-look backline, which included four newcomers in the untried combination. Ellis had high praise for the rookies, Karabo Dhlamini, Lonathemba Mhlongo, Wendy Shongwe and Fikile Magama. “There were two…

Manchester United’s season has spluttered into second gear with a run of three successive victories but the sceptics are not convinced – and Erik ten Hag’s side face the ultimate test of their credentials at home to Manchester City this weekend. Dutchman Ten Hag was staring into the abyss when his side trailed Brentford 1-0 with stoppage-time looming earlier this month but two late goals spared his blushes. Another not-too-convincing victory at bottom club Sheffield United last weekend was admirable in its own way, following the news of club great Bobby Charlton’s death before kick-off. Again in midweek, United were unimpressive as they beat FC Copenhagen 1-0 at Old Trafford to kick-start their Champions League campaign – Harry Maguire’s goal and a stoppage-time penalty save by Andre Onana getting them…