Inhoudsopgave van 2023-11-23 - Star

The spike in the country’s crime is costing South Africa as much as R700 billion per annum SOUTH Africa’s persistently high unemployment, worsening poverty and low growth projections are spelling a bleak economic outlook that, together with elevated inequality, has seen the impact of crime creep up to 10% of gross domestic product (GDP). From kidnappings of business leaders to organised crime and from cash heists to invasion of businesses during strike actions, crime has been spiking in South Africa over the past few years. The World Bank said yesterday that South Africa was consistently among the five countries with the highest homicide rates, with 41.9 intentional homicides per 100 000 people. Between July and September this year, said Police Minister Bheki Cele, as many as 6 945…

PORT CONGESTION is resulting in the loss of billions of rand, and the business sector criticised the government for delaying action on an offer from shipping lines to purchase the necessary equipment for Transnet’s repair. This sentiment was expressed by the business sector as it contemplated the path ahead. The Durban Chamber of Commerce and Industry NPC, along with the Road Freight Association (RFA) and the South African Freight Forwarders Association (Saaffa), among others, have highlighted a concerning situation involving more than 96 vessels waiting at anchorage outside commercial ports. This situation is causing a daily direct cost of R98 million in sunken costs and at least R26m in indirect costs. Additionally, it is obstructing the movement of at least R7 billion worth of goods every day. Palesa…

THE SLOW PACE in ensuring wider access to key markets such as the US, India, Vietnam, Japan and Thailand, in order to absorb the increased production of fruit, posed a real risk to the citrus industry, Justin Chadwick, the CEO of the Citrus Growers Association of Southern Africa (CGA) said yesterday. The organisation, which ensures growers interests were furthered through representation to citrus industry stakeholders-including government, exporters, research institutions and suppliers to the citrus industry, said that in this year’s export season Southern African citrus growers packed 165.1 million (15kg) cartons for delivery to global markets. “While this is an increase of approximately 800 000 from the packed figures of last year, it is still 500 000 cartons lower than the forecast at the start of…

OLD MUTUAL businesses remained well positioned for growth, as evidenced by the strong sales trajectory, with Life APE sales, excluding China, up 13% relative to 2022 and 23% relative to 2021. Group directors said yesterday that strong growth was seen in net client cash flow in its Mass and Foundation Cluster, Personal Finance and Old Mutual Africa Regions in the nine months to September 30. This was offset to an extent by significant outflows in Old Mutual Investments and Wealth Management, where clients required liquidity given the challenging economic conditions, the group said in an operational update yesterday. Gross written premiums grew by 15%, driven by new business growth, premium increases, and renewals, across all divisions in Old Mutual Insure, and the acquisition of Genric Insurance Company. In Mass and…

SOUTH African workers ultimately carried the burden of the manipulation of the rand by South African and international banks through retrenchments and lower salaries, while export companies would also have been impacted, economists and labour unions said yesterday. Standard Chartered Bank last week agreed to pay R42.7 million in settle- ment for manipulating the rand through fixing bids, offers and trades in alliance with other banks between 2007 and 2018. In 2017, Citibank also paid R69.5m in settlement with the Competition Commission for similar charges, while 26 other banks are appearing before the Competition Tribunal for this. The Competition Commission has put up a value of R1 trillion as the value of the manipulated foreign exchange trades by the banks. It alleges that other banks such as Barclays…

The recent release of two remixes for Tyla’s global hit single Water, featuring Travis Scott and Marshmello respectively, seems to have inadvertently drawn a wave of interest, and scrutiny, from black Americans around her racial identity. Over the past few days, black Americans and South Africans have been engaged in a heated debate on X about Tyla’s identity as a coloured woman. Given historical racial connotations of the term “coloured” in the US, black Americans have been arguing that they will refer to her as black and have every right to do so. As South Africans fight back in their numbers, local comedian Dillan Oliphant has joined his compatriots in criticising this stance. “Black Americans Refusing To Call Tyla Coloured,” he captioned his post of a video sharing his views.…

Arthritis is often associated with ageing but it's a misconception that it only affects the elderly, South African health coverage provider Affinity Health explained. “Arthritis can strike at any age, including in young adults,” Murray Hewlett, CEO of Affinity Health said. “However, with the right treatment, support, and a positive mindset, young adults with arthritis can manage their condition and lead fulfilling lives.” What is arthritis? Arthritis, in its many forms, is a group of conditions that cause joint inflammation, leading to pain, stiffness, and reduced mobility, Hewlett said. Although this condition is more common among older adults, it can also affect young adults, sometimes even during their teenage years. “When arthritis strikes in youth, it can be particularly challenging, as it disrupts the active and dynamic lives of individuals…

The competence of Mathematics teachers was highlighted during a panel discussion at a Maths Education Conference hosted by the University of KwaZulu-Natal under the banner of the United States-South Africa Higher Education Network last week. The panel included the founding vice chancellor of Sol Plaatjies University and current chair of the Umalusi council, Professor Yunus Ballim; maths educator from the school of education at UKZN, Professor Sarah Bansilal; former vice chancellor and principal of the University of Witwatersrand, Professor Loyiso Nongxa, who is an emeritus professor of Mathematics and Leonard Mudau, who is the chief education specialist for Mathematics, Science and Technology at the Department of Basic Education. During the discussion, Nongxa said he believed that schools lacked qualified teachers. He said this was based on conversations with people…

IN A MOVE described as having tarnished the independence of the judiciary, the portfolio committee on justice and correctional services has resolved to recommend to the National Assembly that former Western Cape Judge President John Hlophe and Judge Nkola Motata be removed from office. The recommendation yesterday followed findings by the Judicial Service Commission (JSC), which held that each judge had committed gross misconduct on varying charges. Judge Hlophe’s attorney, Barnabas Xulu, said the decision by the portfolio committee exposed blatant interference in judicial matters by Parliament. “We have a situation where, for the first time, the South African public is going to know how politicians interfere in judicial matters. … The independence of the judiciary has been tarnished by the move,” Xulu said. He said he would meet with…

Is it possible to eradicate gender-based violence in South Africa? Craig Wilkinson thinks so. Wilkinson, the founder and CEO of Father A Nation, a non-profit company that works to encourage positive masculinity in South Africa, believes GBV can be eradicated if the country can stop destructive masculine behaviour. He said the solution to toxic masculinity was healthy masculinity. Wilkinson, with Father A Nation, has been working with boys and men over the last 10 years, teaching and inspiring them about healthy masculinity. “Many men and women in South Africa grow up without the presence of a father or positive male figure,” said Wilkinson. “This often results in paternal wounds and destructive beliefs about masculinity, with young men looking to figures such as gangsters, abusers, or absent fathers as role models.…

THE City of Tshwane’s new digitised registration system for recruiting expanded public works programme (EPWP) workers was beset by technical glitches a day after its launch on Monday. At its launch, the system was described by the MMC for community social development services Peggy de Bruin, as being user-friendly and accessible. The would-be job seekers between the ages of 18 and 60 were asked to dial *120*5757# on a mobile phone to register for the EPWP. However, hours after the system went live, the municipality reported that it suddenly crashed owing to a high volume of registrations. De Bruin said the registration system encountered technical glitches as it struggled to handle an unexpected high volume of registrations. She said: “The system was designed to facilitate the registration process for EPWP…

IQ Logistica has announced the launch of its new farm management application tool for businesses, Farmers Friend Enterprise. The application aims to offer farming aggregators, financiers, insurers and product distributors a mirrored experience to Farmers Friend, the company’s existing farm management app, on an enterprise scale, allowing them to manage their farming operations and portfolios from one access point. Farmers Friend Enterprise is IQ Logistica’s transformative solution to bridge the gap between the application for farmers on the ground, and their financiers, by integrating individual farm data points into one, centralised space for the Enterprise-user. They will be able to observe all farming activities, data and financials, helping them effectively manage their business portfolio, react to risk and maximise opportunities, identified to them live. The solution uses tech solutions to…

A Durban University of Technology student who won an award for her research presentation at the 10th International Conference on Social Sciences, hopes that the recognition will open doors. Zizipho Noqazo, 27, received the Best Presenter Award for delivering research that focused on addressing critical global challenges and contributing to sustainable development in Bangkok, Thailand. The public relations and communications student was among 80 students from more than 15 countries which participated at the event. Noqazo’s presentation was titled: “The Uptake of Digital Marketing by Rural Communities in Flagstaff, South Africa”. Speaking to The Star’s sister paper, the Daily News, she said she is excited and hopes the award will open opportunities for her in the public relations space. “I believe the recognition will open doors for me locally and…

As we approach next year’s general elections, many South Africans are wondering what coalitions in government will look like. Recent events in the Johannesburg Metro council have provided some insights into the tactics that the ruling ANC may use to hold on to power. The election of African Independent Congress councillor Margaret Arnolds, who holds one seat, as speaker of the council, highlights the ANC’s strategy of allocating positions to smaller, weaker parties who are eager to have a little status. The parties function as ANC puppets and allow the ruling party to retain control while avoiding responsibility for any failures. The strategy illustrates that the ANC does not need to hold all positions in the government to govern. Better yet, when it comes to any failures, the face responsible…

OUR long-term Volkswagen Tiguan Life has been doing duty almost exclusively as a daily runner, so it was time to fill up, load up and go for a drive outside Gauteng. We’d settled on Kaapsehoop having been invited by a friend who had been singing the town’s praises, and I’ve also been itching to pop into “Nagkantoor” a pub and restaurant owned by legendary investigative reporter De Wet Potgieter. A place where people of the industry gather around and swop war stories and tales of deadlines, scoops and colourful characters. It’s a good thing that there’s 520 litres of boot space because, you know, three bags for the lady and one for me, all of which fitted easily. The plan was simple; drive the N4 and take the turn to…

In a single day, have you had an emotional roller-coaster of mood swings, coupled with crying spells, angry outbursts and anxiety attacks but return to a stable emotional state? Premenstrual syndrome (PMS) is a physiologic process in women where mood swings are one of the symptoms that influence our emotional, physical and behavioural reactions during menstruation. While PMS may seem like a breeze for some women, it can be unbearable for others. In recent decades, women’s health has seen a rise in interest not just in reproductive processes but in all areas of health. Psychology takes on the role of prevention against the effects of menstrual moods. “Mood” is understood as a background emotion that persists over time. Although moods and emotions share many similarities, they are not the same.…

Orlando Pirates will be eager to win three DStv Premiership games in a row for the first time this season when they visit Richards Bay on Saturday. Kick-off is at 3.30pm. Pirates have had a topsy-turvy domestic season. They started well, defending their MTN8 crown – which was a third successive trophy under Jose Riveiro. But the wheels came off for the Spaniard and his troops in the Carling Knockout Cup as Pirates surprisingly lost to Richards Bay in the quarter-final. Amid that loss, Pirates’ league campaign was in a shambles as well, the team having gone three games without a win after two draws and one loss. But prior to the Fifa break, the Buccaneers seemed to have all but turned the tide, winning back-to-back games, including the…

Bafana Bafana’s naivety in their 2026 Fifa World Cup qualifier against Rwanda on Tuesday beggars belief on so many counts. Just like the Proteas in India a few days ago, Bafana failed to play the conditions at the sub-standard Huye Stadium in Butare, Rwanda. When South Africa arrived at the stadium for the match, the playing surface – an ageing 25-year-old artificial grass pitch – was covered with water. An hour or so earlier, a thunderstorm had occurred, and heavy rain left the pitch, which did not have drainage, waterlogged. It did not occur to the visitors that conditions were unplayable and an objection would have been in order. If the match officials did not agree that conditions were unplayable, South Africa should have played the match under protest. Since…

THE SOUTH African government issued a R20.4 billion sukuk domestically yesterday, its first Islamic bond issuance since a debut sukuk in 2014 that listed overseas. The issuance was split into four tranches maturing between March 2029 and March 2036 and with profit rates of between 9.87% and 11.9%, according to auction results shared with Reuters by Standard Bank, one of the banks that arranged the deal. The benchmark local sovereign bond maturing in 2030 currently has a yield of 10.1%. South Africa’s first sukuk, which matured in 2020, was dollar-denominated, but its domestic investors comprise a deep liquidity pool. Its finance ministry forecast in November that the country’s debt-to-GDP ratio would peak higher than previously thought. South Africa’s latest sukuk, a senior unsecured sharia-compliant instrument that will launch on…

EARLIER this month, US Senator Chris Coons publicly released a discussion draft for proposed legislation that would extend the African Growth and Opportunity Act (Agoa) beyond 2025. Among other things, the discussion draft calls for a change in Agoa’s rules of origin that would permit inputs from African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA) members “to count toward the requirement that 35% of a product’s value originate in the region”. This would benefit north African countries who are not eligible for preferential trade benefits under Agoa. The AU Mission to the US has been advocating for the expansion of Agoa to all AU member states. Although the discussion draft does not go that far, the proposed extension in the rules of origin would probably strengthen the economic integration of Africa. And…

Ingredients: 2 cups rice 1½ cup brown lentils ¼ cup oil 3 bay leaves 3 cinnamon sticks 1 tbs breyani mix 1 onion, chopped 2 tbs unsalted butter 1 tbs crushed garlic & ginger paste 3 tbs mixed masala 1 tbs turmeric 4 tomatoes, grated ½ cup water 5 tbs sour tamarind paste or 75g dates soaked in hot water then puréed with juice from one small lemon 2 x 400g cans Saldanha Middlecut or pilchards 4 hard-boiled eggs, cut into quarters ¼ bunch coriander ¼ bunch mint Method Cook the rice and lentils separately. Heat the oil. Fry the bay leaves, cinnamon and breyani mix for 3 minutes. Add the chopped onion. Add the unsalted butter. Once the onion is golden brown, add the crushed garlic & ginger…

The City of Cape Town has refuted claims that one of their traffic officials wanted to experience driving a Ferrari and had purposely impounded it, as claimed by the owner. They admitted the officer had driven the vehicle to the pound after removing it from the possession of a mechanic. The owner of the vehicle, Bruwer Raats, a member of the Cape Winemakers Guild and international award-winning winemaker, is seeking damages and compensation from the city to the tune of R160 000. The vehicle’s interior seating material had apparently been torn. It is alleged on October 1, the Ferrari California T was at a car repair dealership at the V&A Waterfront – and that when the mechanic had taken it for a test drive, he was stopped by the officer…

The Turffontein Racecourse will be a flurry of activity as it hosts the 2023 Betway Summer Cup on Saturday. For those who enjoy the outdoors and horse racing, the much-awaited Summer Cup is one of the most exciting events on the Joburg social and events calendar. It is set to be a fun-filled day and a great way to start the festive season. This year’s theme is “Summer Reign”, so after a challenging year, get ready to own your summer with a fantastic day at the races. Dress in anything that makes you feel strong and powerful. Horse-racing operators 4Racing and global betting company Betway have upped the stakes considerably by doubling last year’s prize money to a whopping R5 million for this race, which will see 20 of the…

Concerns have been raised about the country’s biosecurity system after the outbreaks of several animal diseases in the country over the past two years. Chief Economist of the Agricultural Business Chamber of South Africa (Agbiz), Wandile Sihlobo, said the fact that the country has had so many outbreaks suggested that there were weaknesses in the biosecurity system. The biosecurity system refers to measures to reduce the risk of infectious diseases being transmitted to crops, livestock and poultry. Sihlobo, who is also a member of the Presidential Economic Advisory Council (PEAC), said outbreaks of foot-and-mouth disease in cattle, African swine fever in pigs and avian influenza in poultry had become frequent. He acknowledged that biosecurity breaches were not unique to South Africa, and that the country has had to deal with…

Seven-times world champion Lewis Hamilton said last Saturday’s enthralling Las Vegas Grand Prix, won by champion Max Verstappen, had been the perfect answer to critics of the new race. Verstappen had been the most prominent of those critics of the scene in Vegas this week, arguing that the Grand Prix was over-dominated by the razzmatazz in the party city. But the night-time street race with multiple lead changes as the cars powered down the famous Vegas ‘strip’ showed the event can also deliver sporting thrills. “For all those people that were so negative about this weekend, saying it’s all about the show and blah blah blah – I think Vegas proved them wrong,” said Hamilton, who finished in seventh place. Red Bull team principal Christian Horner agreed. “I thought…

The ANC’s cadre deployment strategy, a relic from the Struggle era, has proven detrimental to the development of a competent public service. As a concerned observer who has consistently voiced apprehensions about South Africa’s trajectory, it is disheartening to witness the nation teetering on the brink of self-destruction. The root cause of this impending crisis lies squarely at the feet of the ANC and its antiquated ideologies. My warnings have not fallen on deaf ears, as a recent two-year study by economists at Harvard University echoes my sentiments. The report, titled “Growth Through Inclusion in South Africa”, authored by the Growth Lab at Harvard University dated November 15 is an extensive and detailed look at South Africa’s problems. It declares that the ANC’s reliance on cadre deployment and the blind…

The rank poor state of football facilities in Africa was again highlighted on Tuesday when Rwanda hosted Bafana Bafana in a 2026 Fifa World Cup qualifier at the Huye Stadium in Butare. Last year, the Confederation of African Football (CAF) banned a total of 23 stadiums in 20 African countries because facilities were deemed unfit to host international matches. Earlier this year, CAF inspectors revisited facilities on the continent, and the number of banned stadiums grew to 30. CAF’s inspectors take their lead from guidelines set out by Fifa for football infrastructure. Stadiums are at the core of this objective, and clear recommendations and requirements to meet the needs of football communities are set out when staging matches. After their shocking experience in Rwanda, Bafana coach Hugo Broos again called…

The Stormers are actually in a better position after five rounds of the United Rugby Championship than in the first season, in which they won the title. That kind of scenario is the reason the Capetonians remain positive despite losing three games on their European tour, and they will go into tomorrow’s clash against Cardiff in Wales with a degree of confidence. Kick-off is at 9.35pm, SA time. It has been a close-run thing for John Dobson’s team over the past three weeks, with narrow defeats to Glasgow (20-9), Benetton (20-17) and Munster (10-3), which sees them in ninth position on the log with 12 points. Outside centre Ruhan Nel is adamant that things can change on the scoreboard at Cardiff Arms Park tomorrow after their display in wet conditions…

Ghana and South Africa both suffered embarrassing defeats in World Cup qualification on Tuesday, while top contenders Cameroon, Guinea, Senegal and Zambia also found it tough on the road as they all dropped points. On a busy day of 15 matches across the continent, there were also wins for Burkina Faso, the Cape Verde Islands, Morocco, Namibia, Tunisia and Uganda. But it was the Comoros, with a population of around a million, and Rwanda, ranked 140 in world football, who tore up the form book in beating Ghana and South Africa. Ghana’s loss in Moroni was a harsh reminder of their humiliation almost two years ago when the Indian Ocean islanders beat them at the Africa Cup of Nations finals in Cameroon to send them home early. French-born attacker Myziane…

Rather bashfully, Sanele Nohamba can only giggle with a knowing twinkle in his eye when asked who or which team he thinks he has managed to peeve off the most with his on-fleek gamesmanship in the United Rugby Championship (URC). The 24-year-old has been known to get under the skin of the opposition, much to the chagrin of opposing supporters and to the delight of South African rugby fans. When in such a mood, you should know, it is an expression of the joy he takes in playing the game. “It’s not something that I plan to do,” Nohamba said yesterday at Johannesburg Stadium with a chuckle after training. “I’m just enjoying playing my rugby. “It’s about having fun. At the end of the day, it is just a game.…

Australia’s World Cup winners have been denied a full-scale heroes’ welcome home by a packed cricket schedule that sees them face India today at the start of a T20 series, four days after meeting in the one-day final. The stunning six-wicket victory on Sunday, against previously unbeaten India in front of nearly 100 000 partisan fans in Ahmedabad, saw Australia lift the ODI World Cup for the sixth time. But celebrations had to be scaled back by the demands of the international cricket calendar. Seven members of the triumphant ODI squad will remain for the five-match T20 series, including Glenn Maxwell, Steve Smith and Travis Head, who scored a century in the final. That meant a low-key return for the rest of the one-day squad as they flew home in…

AmaZulu coach Pablo Franco Martin remains dissatisfied despite his side’s recent upturn in results and momentum. The DStv Premiership returns this weekend and takes centre stage once again until the January Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) break. With the major tournament spectacle imposing tight schedules on domestic leagues, clubs in South Africa will look to gather as many points as possible all the way through Christmas. Among those looking to build on recent progress will be Usuthu, who will resume league action with a home clash against Stellenbosch FC on Saturday at Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban. Kick-off is at 3.30pm. Before the international break, AmaZulu had dismantled KwaZulu-Natal rivals Golden Arrows in back-to-back cup and league matches, scoring three goals on each occasion. The Durban-based outfit lost just one…

ABSA Group’s financial director Jason Quinn is set to become the CEO of Nedbank, the banks announced yesterday. Nedbank said yesterday that Quinn, 49, had been appointed as group CEO-designate of Nedbank Group and Nedbank. The bank had announced on June 2 this year the start of a succession process for the chief executive of the bank. “After completing his notice period with his current employer, he will assume the role of CE on Mike Brown’s planned retirement from the boards at the close of the Nedbank Group annual general meeting, currently scheduled for 31 May 2024,” Nedbank’s board said in a statement. Meanwhile, Absa Group announced Quinn’s resignation, and that he would no longer be an executive director on the boards of Absa Group and Absa Bank, with immediate…

AMONG the many names, such as go-getters, innovators, job creators, small, medium and micro-sized enterprises (SMMEs) and start-ups, that President Cyril Ramaphosa called the entrepreneurs gathered at the 2nd National Presidential SMME Awards, the one that resonated with me was “hustlers”. These awards were very special for many entrepreneurs, not only because many of them walked away with prizes ranging from R100 000 to R1 million, but because they coincided with the president’s 71st birthday. Many were aghast that he took the time to attend and deliver an empowering keynote speech. This pays testament to the dedication he has given to start-up and SMME contributions to the economy. The awards also culminated with the close of the Global Entrepreneurship Week (GEW) 2023, where 40 000 activities took…

BLACK Friday, one of the world’s most anticipated shopping events on the calendar, is just around the corner. For major retailers, this is the time of year to grab the attention of bargain-hunters, early-bird festive gift shoppers and individuals on the lookout for self-care spoils. With some careful planning and strategic thinking, small businesses can also get in on the action. This year, in light of rising inflationary pressures and the cost-of-living crisis, many South Africans are feeling the pinch of the economic downturn. One of the major knock-on effects of the financial realities is that the consumer market has become highly competitive. On Black Friday, in particular, almost every brand and business across the country will be vying for the attention of consumers. There’s no doubt about it, in…

AVENG’S CEO, Sean Flanagan, who has led the construction, infrastructure and contract mining group back to profitability through a massive restructuring, is stepping down. “The company will now turn to its next phase of achieving sustainable, profitable growth over the coming years. With the next phase of growth in mind, Sean has elected to retire as CEO from March 1, 2024, paving the way for a new CEO to own and deliver our long-term strategy,” the group said in an announcement of board changes yesterday. Aveng announced a strategy in February 2018 to simplify its business, de-risk its balance sheet and reduce its debt. This required it to reduce from 23 business units to five business units, and turn around and dispose of non-core assets to allow it to focus…

MULTI-talented South African actress, entertainer, television personality and model Zandi Nhlapo is back in front of the camera as the host of Uncut. BET Africa describes Uncut as a groundbreaking talk show that peels back the layers of fame and fortune to reveal the heart and soul of South African excellence. Nhlapo shared her excitement about her newest journey. “I’ve worked on many projects that have given me joy but none is as close to my heart as Uncut. I can finally say it feels amazing to be back in front of the camera, presenting! “Not only are the guests outstanding individuals whom I’ve always wanted to engage and talk to, but now I get to actually delve deep into their lives,” she shared in an Instagram post. From…

A mom recently shared a terrifying experience when a baboon snatched her 18-month-old son. Petronella Moyo was cleaning her house in West Nicholson in Zimbabwe last week when the baboon sneaked in, bit the baby’s buttocks and dragged him away. “I was scrubbing the floor in the bedroom and the child was playing near the door. Suddenly I heard the baby screaming and when I turned to check what was happening I saw the baboon already dragging him,” Moyo recounted to Voice of America’s Studio 7. She courageously chased after the baboon until it released her baby. “I started chasing after it until it let go of him. The wound is very deep,” she said. Fortunately, the baby is expected to fully recover at Gwanda Provincial Hospital. Baboon attacks on…

As summer kicks in, we tend to spend more time outdoors. This makes it vital to take proper precautions. Heat exhaustion and heat stroke are serious health conditions but they can be avoided with a sufficient water intake. Along with other functions, the body requires water to flush toxins out of vital organs and carry nutrients to the cells. Without enough water, dehydration can stress the body, bringing about fatigue, light-headedness or headaches as the body loses the ability to cool down properly. Here are easy ways to stay hydrated in summer: Add calorie-free flavouring Try fruit or vegetable infusions in water to make it more appealing. Prepare a jug and refrigerate to infuse overnight. This makes filling your water bottle in the morning quicker and easier. Eat foods with…

SOUTH Africa has no water crisis but a water provision crisis due to old and dilapidated municipal water infrastructure, as well as operational failures crippling local government. This is according to Minister of Water and Sanitation Senzo Mchunu, who said his department was working hard to ensure that the country does not have a water shortage crisis by 2030, as predicted by pundits. Mchunu, who visited Independent Media yesterday, admitted that even though South Africa was a water-scarce country and had over the past few years experienced water challenges, his department was on course to intervene through new infrastructure programmes across the country. The minister, who shared some of the challenges regarding his ministry’s mandate of managing South Africa’s water generation compliance and regulation, said obstacles to ensuring water security…

EFF PRESIDENT Julius Malema’s assertions on land expropriation without compensation have come back to haunt him after his adversary, Andile Mngxitama, has taken full advantage of them. The Black First Land First (BLF) leader has launched yet another attack on the Red Berets leader, labelling him a sellout, saying that he lied about land expropriation and keeps misleading EFF followers. Mngxitama, a former EFF MP who later formed the BLF, on Sunday called out his old rival on a reissue of an episode of his podcast series. The two foes had a fallout in 2015 with Mngxitama accusing Malema and his deputy, Floyd Shivambu, of misappropriating party funds. He was expelled from the EFF and lost his parliamentary membership, forming the BLF that same year. Over the years, the two…

THE City of Tshwane and the University of Pretoria (UP) have added another level to their strategic partnership with an initiative which aims to bridge the gap between academia and public policy. The initiative will help to address some of the City’s most pressing challenges through research collaboration between academics and local officials. The two entities recently hosted the first of a planned regular series of workshops between UP’s public policy hub, based in the Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences, and the City of Tshwane’s policy development support committee. The City’s policy development support committee plays a critical role in fostering transformative and evidence- based research that influences policy, and it will act as an initial vetting body before policies are escalated for consideration by the mayoral committee. Its…

Former Bafana Bafana star Thamsanqa Gabuza was reportedly granted R3 000 bail after appearing in court on charges of attempted rape, domestic abuse and malicious damage to property. According to reports, TS Galaxy’s Gabuza made a brief appearance in the Alexandra Magistrate’s Court yesterday. His case was adjourned to December 11 to allow for further investigation. This is not the first time that Gabuza, who has also played for the likes of Orlando Pirates and SuperSport United, has found himself in trouble with the law. In 2017, the striker spent a night in jail after allegedly beating up his then girlfriend. Gabuza’s appearance in court comes a day after former Orlando Pirates teammate Thembikosi Lorch, who is still with the Soweto giants, was handed a suspended sentence after being found…

LOYISO “Lloyiso” Gijana has been featured in Billboard’s 10 cool new pop songs after recently hitting an interesting turning point in his career with recognition at the SA Music Awards (Sama). Gijana won the best pop album, and the recently released I Hate That I Care has been listed among the songs to get listeners through the week. In the new song, he holds nothing back once again, as evidenced by his spirit-rousing performance. The track is produced by Grammy-winning producers Paul Phamous (Jonas Brothers, Dua Lipa, Frank Ocean) and Ethan Schneiderman (Young The Giant, Corey Harper, Tove Styrke). I Hate That I Care arrives on the heels of Real Love with mega DJ and producer Martin Garrix, which has become a TikTok favourite. Garrix shares how their sessions have…

After we spent what was a memorable weekend in an exclusive pre-launch road trip to the Jimny Gathering in Clarens in the all-new Jimny 5-door, we were excited to finally attend the national media launch of the newcomer, on another epic road trip – but this time to Botswana. Our trusted steeds awaited us at Polokwane and were receiving some cleaning from the previous rotation before we’d embark on our trek. Early the next morning, the hotel parking lot was glimmering with the wide variety of colours of the Jimny 5-door that were prepped for what lay ahead. The 5-door Jimny boasts an assortment of new model-specific colours, which include Sizzling Red Metallic, Bluish Black Pearl, Celestial Blue Pearl Metallic and Granite Gray Metallic. There are also other new colours…

Thanks to the pandemic, it can sometimes feel like we’re living in an automotive time warp. The current Hyundai Tucson still feels fresh to us, given that it was launched here in 2022, but now there’s news of a facelifted version abroad. Which is actually right on cue because the fourth-gen model was first revealed overseas in 2020. Luckily we won’t have to wait as long for the updated version, as Hyundai South Africa says it expects the revised SUV to arrive in local showrooms the second quarter of 2024. Of course, Hyundai hasn’t done anything radical on the outside, but we do see a new interpretation of the so-called “parametric dynamics” design language, with claw-like “hidden” headlight elements incorporated into a more rectangular grille. Moving to the side, we…

The camaraderie and international experience among the players of Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies have aided their continued success. That is the view of vice-captain and goalkeeper Andile Dlamini after the Brazilians won the CAF Women’s Champions League crown on Sunday. The Brazilians were crowned the best team on the continent for the second time in three years after beating Sporting Club Casablanca 3-0 in the final in Korhogo, Ivory Coast. It was a historic triumph for the club and the team got a heroines’ welcome at the OR Tambo International Airport on Tuesday as their fans sang and danced. And while individuals such as Dlamini, Tholakele Refilwe and Boitumelo Rabale scooped the goalkeeper, top goalscorer and player of the tournament awards, the team’s victory and fair play award were more precious.…

Nicolas Otamendi scored with a towering header to give Argentina a 1-0 away win over Brazil in a bad-tempered World Cup qualifier that was delayed by half an hour on Tuesday night after police clashed with fans at a sold-out Maracana Stadium. The long-standing sporting rivalry between two of the most successful teams in world football hit fever pitch after the Brazilian police charged Argentinian fans in response to fighting in the stands during the national anthems. The world champions, led by captain Lionel Messi, went over to the terraces to try calm the situation before leaving the pitch and returning to the dressing-room for more than 10 minutes. The players eventually returned, and the match started in a tumult of noise as local fans roared their support of the…

Injuries and stints in sevens rugby have played a role in Stedman Gans not being a Springbok already. But if he continues with his current form, he could find himself in a green and gold jersey next year. The 26-year-old outside centre appears to have regained the touch that made him a genuine Bok contender in 2020 before he was sidelined for a few months. Gans was one of the standouts on the Bulls’ four-match United Rugby Championship tour, and will look to keep showcasing his skills in Saturday’s clash against Connacht at Loftus Versfeld. Kick-off is at 5pm. The former Blitzbok captain has formed an outstanding midfield partnership with David Kriel this season, and puts it down to the ground work being laid before the start of the campaign.…

Reviewing South Africa’s 2023 World Cup campaign, it is safe to say that the Temba Bavuma-led unit has been relatively successful. Only three losses in the World Cup, a campaign which saw the Proteas feature in a semi-final, means South Africa enjoyed a fruitful tournament. Going into the World Cup, there were very few who gave them a chance. To be frank, many were banking on the Proteas featuring in World Cup qualifiers in Zimbabwe as efforts to secure an automatic qualification spot for the 13th edition of the showpiece event looked doomed. The team had suffered an embarrassing series defeat at home to a strong Bangladesh outfit, opponents who had never won a series in South Africa before last year’s tour. Fast bowlers Taskin Ahmed and Shoriful Islam dictated…