Inhoudsopgave van 2024-04-26 - Star

Grammy award-winning musician Zakes Bantwini is thrilled to commemorate Freedom Day with the inaugural Sikelela Festival. Through the event, the platinum-selling singer, songwriter and producer aims to celebrate South Africa’s rich heritage as the nation celebrates 30 years of democracy. He explained that he and his business partner, Sibo Mhlungu, came up with the idea as a way to mark the nation’s hard-won freedom. “Music is my first love so naturally it made sense for us to celebrate the occasion through music,” he told Independent Media Lifestyle. “Our goal is to make this an annual celebration that brings all South Africans together in one place.” The specially curated event will take place at the Johannesburg inner-city’s Constitution Hill, renowned for its historical significance. The Mama Thula hitmaker will be…

The uMkhonto weSizwe Party (MKP) has dismissed reports that former president Jacob Zuma is unwell as it awaits a decision by the Constitutional Court on its request for an extension to file an answering affidavit to the application for leave to appeal by the Electoral Commission of SA (IEC). This as the Council for the Advancement of the South African Constitution (Casac) filed an application to be admitted as a friend of the court in the matter. The Constitutional Court on Tuesday issued directions to the party and Zuma or any other parties opposing the IEC’s urgent bid to appeal against the Electoral Court order that allowed Zuma to stand for Parliament, to file answering affidavits by yesterday. Zungu Incorporated wrote to the court on Wednesday, saying it wanted to…

ESKOM has burnt diesel to the tune of R64.78 billion in order to keep the lights on during load shedding over the past five years. The utility spent over half the amount, R44.63bn, in the last two financial years, 2022/23 and 2023/24. This was revealed by Public Enterprises Minister Pravin Gordhan responding to parliamentary questions from DA MP Farhat Essack. Essack asked Gordhan about the amount spent on diesel for each of the past five years since May 2019. Gordhan said R5.8bn was spent on diesel in 2019/20, R5.75bn the following year, R8.6bn in 2021/22, R21.25bn in 2022/23 and R23.38bn in 2023/24. He said the amount spent in the financial year ending in March 2024 was still to be audited. About R6.5bn was recovered from the National Electricity Regulator…

An abundance of wild roses Feryal Ali Gauhar Loot (R339) Canongate Feryal Ali-Gauhar’s UK debut An Abundance of Wild Roses is a novel that combines lyrical storytelling with contemporary themes of gender violence, tradition and patriarchy. In the Black Mountains of Pakistan, the discovery of an unconscious, unknown man is the first stone in an avalanche of chaos. The head of the village has numerous problems – including the injured stranger – and failing to find his way out. A lame boy foretells disaster, but nobody is listening. Trapped in terrible danger, a wolf-dog is battling ice and death to save a soldier’s life. Beaten by her addict husband for bearing him only daughters, a woman is pregnant again. In a land chained with tradition and afflicted by war…

Fly Away Alan Haller Loot (R265) Meteoric The first book in the series following the life and adventures of Dr Sopwith Jones. The story explains why this South African bears such an unusual name, originated from the World War I fighter aircraft, the Sopwith Camel. We learn, too, how the Joneses, of Welsh heritage, migrated to South Africa and Sopwith’s introduction to the world of flying. Armed with a doctorate in aeronautical engineering, Sopwith leaves formal employment and develops a solar-powered Cessna 172, which attracts the attention of a corrupt South African government employee, who tries to claim the design for his own benefit. Sopwith flees South Africa rather than lose his dream. The British government, keen to benefit from his innovation, assists his flight, conveying him to England aboard…

THE arrest of a suspect linked to the illegal sale of a City of Tshwane-owned property in Mabopane has sparked suspicions that a criminal syndicate is in cahoots with municipal officials and councillors to engage in such fraudulent schemes. MMC for Corporate and Shared Services, Kingsley Wakelin said the suspect was arrested after the City’s Group Property and Audit and Risk authorities investigated the alleged sale of erf 10409, which is zoned as a commercial property. “Investigations established that the said property was indeed illegally sold to the tune of R400 000. However, after police alerted the conveyancer who oversaw the transfer of the property, he co-operated and the transfer was reversed into the ownership of the City through a court of law,” he said. Wakelin commended the proactive work…

Call it farm killings, taxi killings, femicide, political killings or any other name but the fact remains – South Africa is fast becoming the world’s murder capital. Everybody in the country knows a household that has lost someone to the uncontrolled, horrific and unending killings. Some 84 people are murdered while 88 survive an attempted murder every day. In the last quarter of 2023, Minister of Police Bheki Cele revealed that 7 710 people were murdered in just three months. It is clear that no one is safe in South Africa, besides politicians who are surrounded by armed bodyguards whenever they are in public. The daily killings have instilled trauma and communities have lost their conscience. They have, in a way, become so desensitised that they are no longer scared…

It is self-evident that mountains of cash have played a pivotal role in the election of leaders in our money-infested political system. Tainted cash lured most of our leaders from virtually all the major political parties. In 1994, our nation – after decades of oppression – became a constitutional democracy and began a process of breathing the fresh air of wisdom. None thought that this very fresh air would turn foul, and with time get so contaminated it would poison the whole of the country’s democratic set-up. And that the people to whom the responsibility of governing the country was given would be the fountainhead of such contaminated air. Law is the fulcrum of democracy, and democracy is what holds people together without force. Many of our leaders resort to…

THE Bela Bill battle is far from over. In a new twist in the adoption of the controversial Basic Education Laws Amendment Bill, the National Council of Provinces Select Committee on Education and Technology this week amended proposed changes to the South African Schools Act. In the amendments tabled on Wednesday, the committee handed authority back to school governing bodies (SGBs) to decide on the language policy of public schools. However, the provincial heads of department (HODs) would still have powers to decide if a school can have one or two languages. The bill had proposed transferring decision-making authority on language and admission policy from the SGBs to the HODs, in order to address “discriminatory admission practices”. Critics said the bill, which would see national government once again making rules…

Moscow: Ukrainian and Russian forces exchanged drone and artillery fire yesterday, leaving at least seven dead, regional officials on both sides of the front line announced. The uptick in civilian deaths came as Russian forces are pressing in hard in the eastern Donetsk region of Ukraine, ahead of events in Moscow on May 9, hailing the Soviet Union’s victory in World War II. A Ukrainian attack drone left two dead in southern Zaporizhzhia and two more were killed by Ukranian artillery fire in the southern Kherson region, officials said. The Kremlin claimed to have annexed both regions in 2022. | AFP…

LONDON: Britain’s King Charles has given his assent to legislation central to Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s plan to send asylum seekers to Rwanda. Royal assent is the final stage in the legislative process, and effectively rubber stamps the decision taken by parliament earlier this week to approve the bill after a long battle between the government and opponents of the plan. The Royal Assent was announced in the House of Lords yesterday, meaning the Safety of Rwanda Bill will now become law. Sunak said he expected the first flights to Rwanda to take off in 10 to 12 weeks. | Reuters…

When Jenny van Wyk sits down to watch the Telkom Netball League (TNL) in the coming weeks, she will have to do so without revealing her predisposition towards the defending champions, the Gauteng Jaguars. That will be difficult, because the Tshwane-based outfit are the undisputed queens of the TNL, and former coach Van Dyk is one of the reasons they have become so formidable in the past seven years. That is in the past for Van Wyk, who was promoted to head coach of the Proteas earlier this year after the departure of Norma Plummer. She will now experience the TNL with a critical eye as she searches across the teams for the next big star, the next X-factor, the next leader of the national team. One of the skills…

IN THIS WEEK’S Personal Finance Saturday Page, we look at how the Pension Funds Adjudicator can help with unpaid pension contributions. Muvhango Lukhaimane, the Pension Funds Adjudicator, has recourse and can order employers to pay benefits that are due, and this order can be executed by a sheriff of the court. ■ On investing offshore, we answer whether an investor should wait for the rand to strengthen before taking their money offshore. ■ We also look at the world of cryptocurrency, and why there are fewer Bitcoin billionaires than you think. ■ South African learning institutions have been plagued with corruption for years. In this week’s edition, we look at how corruption at these learning institutions is much worse than anyone anticipated. ■ If you have…

JUST SA’s weekly jargon buster aims to give simple, plain English explanations for typical words and phrases used in the financial industry, in particular, words relating to guaranteed life annuities and living annuities. This week, we look at the letter: N Source: Just Retirement SA, info@justsa.co.za. The jargon buster is intended for information purposes only. It should not be regarded as advice as defined in the Financial Advisory and Intermediary Services Act 37 of 2002 or any form of advice in respect of the policy, retirement, tax, legal or other professional service whatsoever. You are encouraged to seek advice from an authorised financial adviser or to independently decide what financial product is appropriate for you, based upon your own judgment and understanding of your financial needs. Just Retirement Life (South…

Award-winning news broadcaster Thembekile Mrototo has announced his new TV venture after resigning from Newzroom Afrika in January. Taking to social media, the newscaster shared that he will be back on screens to host the popular SABC3 show The Big Debate, from May 9. “I’m baaaaack! Excited to be back on TV and presenting the new season of The Big Debate, focusing on elections and 30 years of democracy in SA,” he wrote on Instagram. Mrototo spent four years as the anchor on the news channel. The renowned journalist was also the host of the Showmax series, Unfollowed. The Big Debate was previously hosted by award-winning journalist, Siki Mgabadeli. The series tackles pertinent political topics in South Africa and is conducted in a “town hall debate” style, where key guests…

Overcoming Life’s Challenges – A PERSONAL MEMOIR OF A CAPE TOWN MAYOR Gordon Oliver Loot (R229) Austin MacAuley The Bard tells us that some men are born great, some achieve greatness and others have greatness thrust upon them. Gordon Oliver had greatness thrust upon him when he assumed the Cape Town mayoral chain in 1989 for a two-year term. This was a tumultuous time in our city and country, and Gordon, a thoroughly decent man from a humble background, handled the tumult with grace and courage. This is his story. This slim volume is divided into three parts. For me the strongest and most interesting part is his time leading the city as mayor. I found it profoundly moving in parts to read about his struggles in doing the right…

The Psychology Of Money – Timeless Lessons On Wealth, Greed And Happiness Morgan Housel Loot (R279) Harriman House I found The Psychology of Money by Morgan Housel to be an eye-opening exploration of the connection between money and human behaviour. Housel’s use of real-life stories to illustrate key concepts really struck a chord with me. He emphasises the importance of recognising the emotional and psychological factors that influence our financial decisions. The author tries to present facts here through studies and real life examples which is a good way to convince readers. One of the key ideas in the book is that money is more than just numbers, it is deeply emotional. Our feelings about money shape how we use it, whether we are aware of it or not. Understanding…

Kissing does not mean consent to sex, and no remains no, the Supreme Court of Appeal (SCA) ruled in a groundbreaking rape verdict. The court found that even in circumstances where consent has been given to a specific sexual act, it may also be withdrawn during the sexual act. This case raised important questions around how courts respond to matters of intimate partner violence. In October 2021, the Eastern Cape High Court acquitted Loyiso Coko, who had earlier been found guilty of raping his then-partner by the regional court. He was sentenced to seven years’ imprisonment in the lower court, but he successfully turned to the high court to appeal his conviction. Although the complainant had said “no” to sexual intercourse and had cried in pain and tried to…

TWO PRETORIA lawyers opened their hearts to the plight of the mother of a boy aged 11, who sufferers from severe autism. The child is in a centre which cares for him, and the lawyers approached the Gauteng High Court, Pretoria free of charge to obtain an urgent order, securing the care of the boy at the facility. Shani van Niekerk, an attorney who specialises in family law at the law firm Adams & Adams, read about the mother’s plight on Facebook, where the mother, through BackaBuddy, asked for urgent help for her son. The mother, who is not identified to safeguard the identity of her young son, urgently needed money so that her child, who has severe intellectual disabilities, could remain in the full time care of the centre…

The Police and Prisons Civil Rights Union (Popcru) in Gauteng has criticised the absence of consultation regarding police staff relocation. This follows the recent closure and evacuation from the SAPS headquarters at Telkom Towers in Pretoria Central. The union said it had concerns about mismanagement and neglect observed in government-owned properties. Popcru president Thulani Ngwenya said the union was calling for formal discussions between the relevant stakeholders. “The union insists on being involved in discussions to ensure that the rights and concerns of workers and our members are adequately addressed in light of the recent events at Telkom Towers,” he said. He further said there must be transparent communication and consultation with all parties involved. Ngwenya said the responsibility for managing public buildings, such as the Telkom Towers complex, should…

After turning 40 in December, DJ Zinhle promised herself she would live life to the fullest and that’s exactly what she’s doing. The popular South African DJ and entrepreneur recently took to Instagram to share a reel of her solo date while on a trip to Hong Kong. She said that following a week of travel to destinations such as Dubai, Hong Kong and China, she decided to treat herself to a solo date and went roller-skating and to a spa for a pamper session. Her post, captioned “How I spent the last Sunday of my trip in Hong Kong. Investing in some self love is so important”, proved that the mom of two doesn’t skimp on self-care Sundays, no matter where she is in the world. “So over the…

AS PART part of the Savanna and Showmax Laugh Africa Comedy Festival, Minnie Dlamini was roasted by her peers from the industry. Leading the charge as roastmasters were comedy heavyweights Tumi Morake and Jason Goliath, who brought their A-game to the stage. Joining them on the panel are Trevor Gumbi, Shahan Ramkissoon, Celeste Ntuli, Lasizwe, Penny Lebyane, Da L.E.S, Siv Ngesi, and Robert Marawa. With such a talented line-up, you know it’s going to be comedy gold. Stuart Taylor, the creative genius behind the festival, carefully curated a panel of roasters who not only knew Dlamini but also brought their unique brand of humour to the table. Taylor said: “Minnie is gorgeous, personable, she enjoys laughing at herself and knows how to hit back with her own jibes. We use…

When I read about all the promises of considerable increases in social grants and salaries of domestic workers, it is clear that the country will be doomed to fail in no time. The same mistake that has caused serious problems for the ANC was the assumption that the government had a lot of money and, therefore, ministers and deputy ministers qualified for salaries of no less than millions. By the time people discovered the shocking realisation of the truth, it was too late for them to change the unrealistic salary scales and other packages. It seems the reason we have so many political parties is based on this false assumption. They will realise how wrong they were only when service delivery comes to a sudden standstill because the funds…

My journey in acquiring a dog was an incredibly fascinating one with twists and turns. If you are a South African and lucky enough never to have been mugged, raped or had your home burgled in your presence, you will not understand my primeval fear. Some drug addicts had scaled my precast wall and one of them brazenly entered my house and stole my cellphone. I reported the incident to our WhatsApp group. Someone advised me to get a dog. Burrowed into mind was a comment made by one of the delegates at an international railway conference in Sydney, Australia, about the new employment contract. He said employers must not expect loyalty from their employees anymore. “If you want loyalty, buy a dog.” Incidentally, someone advertised the sale of puppies…

Palestinians yesterday mourned over people killed in Israeli bombardment of Rafah, the southern Gaza city where Israel says it is advancing plans for a ground invasion. Global concern has mounted over the looming operation against Hamas militants in Rafah, where much of Gaza’s population has sought refuge from more than six months of war in the narrow coastal strip. Aid groups warn any invasion would add to already-catastrophic conditions for civilians. Israeli officials have for more than two months vowed to enter Rafah, near the Egyptian border, but even before any ground operation the area has been regularly bombed, including overnight Wednesday-yesterday. At the city’s Al-Najjar Hospital yesterday, two men knelt in front of a white body bag in grief, among other mourners gathered at the site. Elsewhere in the…

Edinburgh: The leader of the pro-independence Scottish National Party (SNP) yesterday ended a coalition deal with the Greens, leaving him facing fresh pressure as the head of a minority government in Edinburgh. The announcement by First Minister Humza Yousaf came a week after the devolved government abandoned a climate pledge sparking tension with its junior partner. It is the latest setback for the SNP, which has been hit by internal squabbling, resignations, fraud claims and a fall in support before this year’s UK general election. AFP…

CLICKS, which has proven resilient through the tough economy due to the defensiveness of its core health and beauty business, is accelerating its expansion by opening 50 to 55 stores in the 2024 financial year. CEO Bertina Engelbrecht said yesterday they had expanded the footprint to 902 stores, with the opening of a net 41 new stores in the past year. A further 10 to 20 pharmacies were also planned to be opened this year. In the six months to end-February 2024, 27 pharmacies were opened, extending Clicks’ pharmacy presence to 718. Currently 51% of the country’s population live within 5 kilometres of a Clicks pharmacy. Engelbrecht said in an interview on the release of results for the six months to end-February that they would spend R920 million…

Award-winning actress, Didintle Khunou will be showing off her acting prowess in her upcoming role on SABC1’s Generations: The Legacy. Khunou will play Tumelo Gcabashe, a high-powered financial expert with links to business and criminal elites. She will appear in the soapie in June on the exit of seasoned actors Muzi Mthabela and Ronnie Nyakale, who play Nkosiyabo Cele and Cosmo Diale (Uncle Cosmo), respectively. Mthabela will be seen on the show until June 5, exiting in a spicy story- line, and Ronnie will be seen until August 28. Mthabela has left the long-running TV show to pursue a radio career. He will be one of the hosts of Ukhozi FM’s YouTube podcast, Ukhozi FM TV. The television star will host the podcast alongside award-winning radio and television presenter, Neliswa…

In 2020, Morero Nhlanhla Moloi had a lot on his plate. Despite facing personal challenges with dyslexia and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), he was able to establish his own food business, McMore International, which specialises in making premium quality muffins. Affectionately known as “The Muffin Man”, Nhlanhla Moloi is a determined and charismatic entrepreneur from Soweto in Johannesburg and is making waves in the franchising industry, having started from humble beginnings in a back room at his great-grandmother's house. He was inspired by his grandmother, who was a street vendor, and the teachings and books by Dr Myles Munroe. “I spent most of my years in entrepreneurship as a serial entrepreneur. My journey was very much selfish, if I may say so myself. I was not feeling fulfilled,…

“DO you really have all those books on your shelves?” This was a question I was asked recently and, most importantly, the enquirer wanted to know if I had read them. My reply was short and simple: “Absolutely, yes.” My love of reading stems from an early age. As a teenager I would get lost in the adventures of Enid Blyton’s Famous Five and Secret Seven. Solving mysteries was my go-to read. As I grew older, I became a fan of Stephen King and Agatha Christie, and as writers and genres evolved, so did my choice of reads. I am not so much into horror, but still enjoy a good crime and mystery story. Novels documenting journeys and friendship have now become my solace. I find that I’m in a…

AFRICA stands as one of the richest continents globally, not just in terms of natural resources but also in its vibrant youth population – a powerful asset often overlooked. While industrialised economies grapple with shrinking youth demographics, Africa holds the promise of harnessing its youthful energy, creativity, and talent to drive economic growth. However, the stark reality is different. In South Africa alone, youth unemployment has surged to a staggering 59.4%. Recognising the urgency of this growing crisis, the University of Pretoria’s Centre for the Future of Work has taken a stance in positioning itself as a key player in shaping the current and future landscape of employment. The centre has announces the launch of its online strategic initiative aimed at fostering collaboration among diverse stakeholders, including the private sector,…

The former spokesperson of the Eastern Cape Department of Health has been granted bail after he appeared in court this week, accused of using a fraudulent matric certificate to qualify for the post of deputy director of communications. Sizwe Kupelo, 47, was arrested by the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (known as the Hawks) on Wednesday. He appeared in the Zwelitsha Magistrate’s Court and was released on R30 000 bail. He is facing charges of fraud, forgery and uttering. Eastern Cape Hawks spokesperson Warrant Officer Ndiphiwe Mhlakuvana said Kupelo applied for the position of communications officer in the Eastern Cape premier’s office in Bhisho in March 2002, and was hired in April that same year. In November 2002, the Department of Health in Bhisho named him as the deputy director…

It is election season and spring cleaning in winter has begun in earnest. Like the World Cup in 2010, when the country went into overdrive getting ready for soccer’s showpiece, a hive of activity has gripped the nation. Politicians are up to their old tricks again, buzzing around the country, trying to win over voters. They walk the cleaned streets in the townships, smile and shake hands with the gullible masses, spread goodwill and cheer among the electorate and hand out goodies and promises to the poor. The ANC has mastered the art of deception and knows when to rise and shine. Verges are being cut and gangs of workers are filling potholes. Eskom has miraculously stopped load shedding, at least for the time being, and the Passenger Rail Agency…

Mr President ... you and your party do not deserve my or anyone else’s vote, for that matter. When Covid started, my business closed its doors, and 15 of my employees lost their jobs while you and the government that you preside over took actions to assist these people with scant regard for the small business owners that were left destitute overnight. Your only concern were the “workers”, and to hell with the thousands of small entities and their owners that were destroyed financially overnight. I and thousands of others throughout this country have gone broke while caring governments throughout the rest of the world stepped forward with financial assistance to keep small businesses going. You did nothing! No, Mr President, in my eyes you and your inner circle are…

The one subject in which I differ wildly from most of those who find value in my work is immigration. I favour a significantly less burdensome immigration system, and a far more open embrace of foreigners without government interference. Seemingly without exception, when the virtues (or otherwise) of immigration are discussed, a core group in the discourse is at pains to emphasise some distinction between “legal” and “illegal” immigration. This group would always say they only wish to stop illegal immigration, not legal immigration. But, in my experience, these individuals – with only a handful of exceptions – also seek a more (legally!) burdensome immigration system. Coincidence? I think not. To say one opposes illegal immigration and favours legal immigration is actually to say nothing at all. Everyone favours legal…

PORT-AU-PRINCE: Haitian Prime Minister Ariel Henry has resigned, his office said yesterday, and a transitional council prepared to take power with the aim of returning stability to a country where gang violence has caused chaos. Henry’s finance minister, Michel Patrick Boisvert, will be interim prime minister. The formal swearing-in of the transitional council started yesterday. Haiti’s outgoing government formalised the transition process two weeks ago, a month after Henry said he would resign once the council was in place. Henry was stranded outside the country as gangs threatened to take over. | Reuters…

NAIROBI: Kenya’s government has advised MPs against banning TikTok over concerns about content shared on the platform, and instead recommended stricter oversight by regulators. A panel in parliament has been considering a petition from a Kenyan citizen to ban the Chinese-owned platform. The recommendation follows accusations from the interior ministry that the platform has been used to spread propaganda, carry out fraud and distribute sexual content. The ministry proposed requiring TikTok to screen content to ensure compliance with Kenyan laws and file reports to government. | Reuters…

SIMON Sibeko is feeling no pressure as he prepares for the weekend’s Athletics South Africa (ASA) Marathon Champ- ionships as the country’s reigning king of the 42.195km distance. Champion last year when he was wearing the distinct “Chappies” colours of Central Gauteng Athletics, Sibeko will toe the start line on Sunday during the Durban International Marathon, which incorporates the national championships, in Eastern Province’s red kit. The move to join the revered Ikhamva Training Group under renowned coach Mike Mbambani was not surprising, given the Eastern Cape business- man’s track record of taking athletes to a higher level. Expectations are, understandably, that the 29-year-old Sibeko could well add his name to that short-list of runners who have held on to their marathon titles. The late Zithulele Sinqe, Willie Mtolo,…