Inhoudsopgave van 2024-06-24 - Star

CORONATION Fund Managers has successfully appealed in the Constitutional Court and had a Supreme Court of Appeal judgment on a tax matter with SA Revenue Services (Sars) set aside, the full impact of which amounted to R794 million for the company. The asset manager said in a statement on Friday that the Constitutional Court had delivered its judgment on the international tax matter, ruling in favour of Coronation Investment Management (Cimsa) and setting aside the orders of the Supreme Court of Appeal. Coronation said it welcomed the judgment of the Constitutional Court, which confirmed that Cimsa’s interpretation and application of the relevant tax legislation had been correct and appropriate. The R794m had been provided for in Coronation’s financial accounts in prior financial years. The Constitutional Court had indicated on September…

THE HELEN Suzman Foundation (HSF) has hailed the decision by South Africa’s highest court to refuse the Minister of Home Affairs leave to appeal against a ruling that success- fully challenged the decision to terminate the Zimbabwean Exemption Permit Regime (ZEP). “The Constitutional Court last week refused the Minister’s application for leave to appeal the ZEP case, bringing to a close our challenge of the unlawful termination of the ZEP regime, which affected some 178 000 people who had been living, working, and building families in South Africa for almost 15 years,” it said. In April 2009, South Africa established the Dispensation of Zimbab- wean Permit (DZP) to regularise the status of thousands of Zimbabwean nationals who had fled political and economic instability in their country, mostly between 2007…

THE AGREEMENT between the ANC and other political parties managed to get a thumbs up from the rest of the world. The financial markets – namely equities, property equities, the rand and the bond market – all had a stronger-than-expected run last week. Although some analysts and politi- cal commentators are a bit worried about what the new Cabinet will look like, such as how big it is going to be and who will get the important portfolios of finance, trade and industry, labour, mining and education, financial markets appeared not to be too nervous at the close on Friday. The all share index on the JSE gained 3.5% last week and reached a new record high of 80 713 points on Thursday. The financial 15 index, as…

THE US JUSTICE Department (DOJ) has made no decision yet on whether to pursue a prosecution of planemaker Boeing (BA.N) for violating the terms of a 2021 settlement related to two fatal 737 Max crashes in 2018 and 2019, a top Department of Justice official said in an email. Glenn Leon, chief of the Justice Department’s fraud section, said in an email on Friday to lawyers representing family members of victims of the crashes: “The department has not made a decision on how to proceed or whether to pursue prosecution of Boeing.” The Justice Department and Boeing both declined to comment. In May, the Justice Department said Boeing had violated a 2021 agreement with prosecutors that shielded it from criminal prosecution over the fatal crashes. The 2021 DPA (deferred prosecution…

Award-winning actor, director, and producer Thabo Rametsi has ventured into the comic book industry. Together with publishing company Dark Horse Comics, Rametsi and his partner, Thabiso Mabanna of Nguniverse Studios, have co-created Imbokodo, the first of a four-part comic book series. Rametsi is known for his commercially successful films like Kalushi, Amandla and Silverton Siege. Now, as he ventures into comic book writing, he hopes to one day create a cinematic universe. Imbokodo is a thrilling Afro-futuristic adventure featuring the greatest warriors in Ndawo. The new comic series is co-written by Rametsi and Mabanna, with illustrations and art by Katlego Motaung and logo art by Gil Lazcano. According to a statement: “Imbokodo is set in the land of the pyramid sun, Ndawo, where a single step for the Badimu (Gods)…

The SAPS has refuted recent social media posts about gang violence in certain problem areas in Gauteng. While the posts claimed that 13 people had been killed in gang-affected areas in Joburg in the last week, the SAPS said there had been just three cases reported in that period, and only in Westbury, Sophiatown. Police said there were no gang-related murders in areas such as Riverlea, Eldorado Park, Noordgesig and other areas as claimed in the social media posts. Furthermore, one of the most wanted gang suspects, Morgan John, otherwise known as “Big John”, was arrested for murder on Thursday and appeared in the Johannesburg Magistrate’s Court on Friday. He is set to appear in court again on June 29. The province said it had interventions in place in all…

AS residents of Joburg braced for intermittent water supply for 37 days due to “extensive maintenance” by Rand Water on its infrastructure, concerned activists are calling for heightened communication from the City of Joburg as the situation can potentially cause panic among community members. IOL reported earlier last week that the extensive maintenance will impact water supply to Joburg Water’s systems supplied by the Palmeit and Eikenhof pump stations, as well as the Daleside Booster station. Rand Water, the bulk water supplier, announced that it will undertake an extensive proactive maintenance of its infrastructure from Saturday to July 29. Rand Water said the initiative was to preserve the quality and integrity of the infrastructure and to extend its lifespan. Following that, Joburg Water issued a statement cautioning residents about…

Despite concerns about instability stemming from coalition governance, the Sovereign Africa Ratings has accorded the City of Tshwane a stable outlook for the long-term ratings following its recent assessment of the metro’s creditworthiness. The local rating agency said the stable outlook applied to both the international and national long-term scale ratings. On the other hand, the agency’s recently released report pointed out that the outlook for the short-term ratings was negative. The City’s latest ratings came on the back of the Moody’s ratings agency report which gave the municipality an improved outlook from negative to stable. In April, Finance MMC Jacqui Uys commented that rating by Moody’s was a positive development that would assist the City in stabilising its finances. Uys, however, didn’t respond to a request for comment on…

THE Gift of the Givers Foundation and private healthcare provider Bonitas have jointly donated a borehole to Kalafong Hospital in Atteridgeville, Pretoria. The borehole will provide water to the hospital’s reservoir and supplement the municipal water supply by 150 000 litres a day. It currently yields 8 000l an hour and is literally “a fountain of life” for this healthcare facility. In addition, eight 10 000l water storage tanks have been installed. According to Bonitas, the water was tested using the South African National Standard 241 test, a drinking water specification that outlines the minimum requirements for potable water to be considered safe for human consumption, after an ultraviolet system was installed. Principal officer of Bonitas, Lee Callakoppen, said the partnership between Gift of the Givers and Bonitas began…

The first episode of Born Into Fame premiered on Showmax, giving viewers a front-row seat into the lives of young local stars with famous parents as they navigate their own paths and achieve success. The star-studded cast includes AJ Mafokate and Owami Mafokate, who are both Arthur Mafokate’s children; Phila Madlingozi, who is the son of Ringo Madlingozi; Robbie Malinga Jr, who is the son of the late Robbie Malinga; Shamiso Mosaka, who is Azania Mosaka’s daughter; and last but not least, Tank The Rockstar, who is DJ Tira’s son. Malinga Jr shares interesting details on being born into fame, its privileges and disadvantages. “I would describe being born into fame as a privilege because it is not a norm, it is a blessing, and it is something that…

WITH overnight and early morning temperatures already hovering close to 0°C and in some occasions dipping slightly below the freezing point, the primal instinct of needing to keep warm has naturally kicked in. And true to the universal principle of causality, City Power, Johannesburg Metropolitan’s energy utility on the other end, has already started feeling weighed down by the high electricity consumption burden on the network. Over the past few years, the population of Johannesburg has been growing at an average rate of more than 2% each year, deepening the demand for electricity services even further. This, mingled with myriad challenges such as illegal connections and the overall carefree culture of high electricity consumption, have brought City Power to a critical juncture. The current surge in energy demand has reached…

SOUTH African fund managers are now optimistic of returns from local equities, with a large number prepared to bring back offshore funds, said Bank of America (BofA) in its June 2024 South Africa Fund Manager Survey. There had been lingering uncertainty in the run-up to and immediate aftermath of the May 29 election, in which the ANC scored badly, leading to it partnering with the DA and other smaller opposition political parties in a Government of National Unity (GNU). With President Cyril Ramaphosa now sworn-in and concerns about the ANC partnering with radical political parties such as the EFF and MK Party dissipating, there has been a positive shift in fund manager sentiment. BofA on Friday said about 71% of surveyed fund managers were optimistic about equities over the next…

THE SOUTH African Transport Workers Union (Satawu) has called for deeper investigation into others who may have been involved with the suspended CEO of Transnet National Ports Authority (TNPA), Pepi Silinga. This comes after the utility confirmed at the weekend that it had taken disciplinary action against Silinga for appointing his former employer, the Coega Development Corporation (CDC), to erect fences around the ports of Durban, Richards Bay and Saldanha Bay in a tender whose value controversially ballooned from R80 million to more than R300m. Silinga, who was previously the CEO of CDC, joined TNPA in October 2020 after being with the CDC for 22 years. Satawu, one of the largest workers’ union at Transnet, had already called for Silinga’s outright dismissal when President Cyril Ramaphosa signed a proclamation…

CARCASSES of impala, kudu and wilde- beest hang from a slaughterhouse rail, ready to be turned into steaks, sausages and burger patties of the kind South Africa wants to see more of on the dinner table. The abattoir in Bela Bela, north of Johannesburg, is among only a handful in the country dedicated to game meat. Authorities say the untapped sector could create jobs and help preserve wildlife – while pleasing the palates of climate-and health-conscious meat eaters. “We want to add a dimension on to your dinner plate by giving you an organic game meat from the wild,” said Khorommbi Matibe, the environment ministry’s biodiversity economy chief. A top wildlife tourism destination, South Africa produces around 60 000 tons of game meat a year – equivalent in weight…

WHAT IS QUITE clear is South Africa is going to follow the Lesotho route in having too many political parties. Some label this trend the maturation path of democracy, but is it really, or is it the disintegration of democracy? In the Sixties, when asked: “Why this tiny country in the middle of South Africa?”, Lesotho poli- tician Ntsu Mokhehle responded: “Lesotho is a gizzard whose task is to digest”. In that respect, everything South Africa swallows is the task of Lesotho to digest. How prophetic the words of Mokhehle have been, as the path Lesotho followed in its multiple fallout seems to have been ingested by South Africa. From the early 60s up to the early 2000s, Lesotho had two major parties. These were the Basotholand National Party (BNP)…

Donald Sutherland, one of Canada’s most versatile and gifted actors, who charmed and enthralled audiences in movies such as Klute, Ordinary People and The Hunger Games, has been remembered for his legendary contributions to the industry. The actor, whose lengthy career spanned from the 1960s into the 2020s, died on Thursday at the age of 88, his actor son, Kiefer Sutherland, said on social media. A tall man with a deep voice, piercing blue eyes and a mischievous smile, the renowned actor switched effortlessly from character roles to romantic leads opposite the likes of Jane Fonda and Julie Christie. He also played his share of oddballs and villains. One of the biggest stars in Hollywood in the 70s, he remained in demand for film and TV projects into his 80s.…

JOHANNESBURG power utility, City Power, has filed an appeal against a court decision ordering it to pay more than R1 billion to Eskom. This comes after the ruling in the Gauteng High Court, Johannesburg, on Thursday after Eskom approached the court on an urgent basis last month in a bid to recover outstanding payments for servie since October last year. City Power has accused the power utility of over-billing it R3.4bn. However, the court on Thursday ruled against City Power and ordered it to pay R1.073bn to Eskom. Last month, Eskom said that from March last year, City Power’s debt had swelled to more than R1.073bn. In a statement, City Power spokesperson, Isaac Mangena, said there were critical aspects that were not accounted for fully in the…

On Saturday, during a panel discussion on the country’s 30 years of democracy as part of “We the Purple” exhibition at the Unisa Art Gallery, controversy-prone visual artist, Ayanda Mabulu, called out white people and other institutions for sucking the creative talents of black artists. Mabulu, who in 2017 caught media attention due to his descriptive portrayal of former president Jacob Zuma’s genitalia, said he chooses to cease being an artist while white people continue to control the industry. “I cease to be an artist as long as whites continue to suck the blood of black artists and their creativity. “It is these institutions that teach how to speak and to create and so, we miss things because we use their accent and language to articulate our struggle. “We are…

Ingredients 750ml flour 15ml baking powder 5 ml salt 330ml beer 125ml cheddar cheese, grated 125ml biltong, roughly chopped 1 egg, beaten Method Preheat the oven to 180°C and grease a baking sheet. Combine the flour, baking powder, salt and beer in a large mixing bowl and mix until a dough forms. Lightly knead the cheddar cheese and biltong into the dough. Lightly dust the work surface with flour and divide the dough into 3 equal pieces, roll each piece on the work surface to create a roll of about 20cm x 30cm. Place all 3 rolls next to each other and on one end pinch together all 3 pieces. Plat the rest of the dough and pinch again on the other end to avoid the bread breaking open…

THe Joburg Theatre is poised to present a rendition of Oleanna, penned by Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright David Mamet and directed by James Ngcobo. This Mamet masterpiece promises to enthral audiences in its exploration of power dynamics, breakdown in communication, and gender relations in the academic sphere. In choosing to stage Oleanna, the theatre recognises the importance of presenting works that tackle pressing issues head-on. Mamet’s incisive exploration of power dynamics, communication breakdown, and gender relations within the academic sphere strikes a chord in our current social climate where discussions surrounding consent, authority, and accountability are more pertinent than ever. By bringing this play to the stage, Joburg Theatre aims to foster dialogue, encourage introspection, and provoke meaningful engagement among theatregoers. Moreover, this production serves as a testament to Joburg Theatre’s…

How the mighty have fallen is a eulogy for a hero whose valour and singularity of purpose in battle is embodied in his larger-than-life frame lying supine, still and lifeless on the rugged plains of skirmish. The ANC, however, may not deserve such an ode to heroism. It has been planning to fall for a long, long time. And fall they did, arguably in the worst manner they had long contemplated and masterfully crafted. Information wars, as they countenance protagonists and sworn ideological adversaries, are facets of psyop tactics, reminiscent of the British psychological warfare, cultural dehumanisation and propaganda onslaughts against Sinn Féin and the IRA in Northern Ireland, in much the same way the apartheid regime was on a virulent campaign against the liberation forces in general and the…

THE West Indies and South Africa have faced each other in 22 T20 International matches prior to their clash in Antigua on Monday morning. Out of these 22 games, the score was deadlocked at 11 each after the Windies’ 3-0 clean sweep in the Caribbean last month. They have also met four times previously at the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, starting with the very first game of the competition 17 years ago. We take a look back at these T20 World Cup previous encounters. The Wanderers, September 11, 2007 WI: 205/6 (Gayle 117) | SA: 208/2 (Gibbs 90*, Kemp 46*) – South Africa won by eight wickets (with 14 balls remaining) The opening match of the inaugural ICC Men’s World T20 – as it was known back…

THE NATIONAL Treasury has made a commitment to maintain the current fiscal strategy, which aims to stabilise public finances, and ensure sustainable and inclusive economic growth on the back of anticipation that the incoming administration will bring its own perspectives and policies. The Treasury on Friday said that it has recognised the need for a comprehensive review of the budget process with the objective to identify and implement reforms that will enhance the efficiency, transparency, and effectiveness of the budget process. The Treasury said the 2025 Budget will see a debt-stabilising primary surplus achieved in 2025/26, a reduction in the fiscal deficit to pre-Covid levels, and a stabilisation of debt-service costs as a percentage of revenue. “Resources will be available only within the parameters required to meet the objectives of…

FORMER Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development Minister Thoko Didiza has started in her new role as Speaker of the National Assembly at Parliament, leaving behind a sector that is in good shape. From 2019 to 2024, Didiza led the agricultural sector, providing political leadership and strategic oversight in the implementation of policies and programmes designed to drive inclusive growth, job creation, competitiveness, export expansion and transformation. Didiza will be remembered for her confidence-inspiring leadership, which allowed government, industry, labour and civil society to work together in building a prosperous and sustainable agricultural economy. The Agbiz/IDC Agribusiness Confidence Index, which reflects the perceptions of the sector’s industry captains, shows Didiza was successful in implementing policies and strategies that inspired confidence and attracted investment to the sector. The index hit the…

COCOA prices on the financial markets have soared, but the rise is benefiting cocoa growers, bean processors, speculators and chocolatiers in unequal measure. In March, prices rocketed to more than $10 000 (R183 337) a ton in New York, after a poor harvest in West Africa due to a combination of bad weather conditions and disease devastating ageing plantations. They have since fallen back from the peak, yet are still three times higher than last year. Wide gaps between producers In Ivory Coast and Ghana, the world’s largest cocoa producers, prices are set by the authorities in October on the basis of the previous months. But by that point the harvests “have already been largely pre-sold”, said Tancrede Voituriez, of the French agricultural research and co-operation organisation, Cirad.…

Some of Africa’s leading music artists will be lending their voices to a good cause. They will perform in the concert series, Music for Wildlife, which premiered on Trace Africa (DStv channel 326) as well as the network’s streaming platform from last Friday. It will see multi-award-winning artists like Davido, 2Baba, Musa Keys, Focalistic and Dalie hitmaker, Kamo Mphela, among 150 other chart-topping artists from across the continent, come together to perform to protect the continent’s wildlife. Each concert will also include special features from African and international stars from sports, comedy, television and the film industries. They include the likes of Jackie Chan, Sir Richard Branson, Lupita Nyong’o and Danai Gurira. These artists will use their voices and influence to speak out against the threats facing wildlife. Through the…

RECENTLY sworn-in DA MPs Ian Cameron and Renaldo Gouws should be “kicked out” of the party for bringing it into disrepute, says University of Stellenbosch political science professor and analyst Amanda Gouws. However, the DA has not indicated what action, if any, it will take against Cameron after footage and photographs emerged of him in blackface. IOL reported at the weekend that Cameron was recorded in blackface at an AfriForum Youth protest outside of the Department of Higher Education and Training in 2012. The group had reportedly claimed that the university’s admissions policy eroded the rights of white South Africans. The incident comes as the DA is under pressure to remove Gouws for using derogatory language, including the k-word, in a 2009 video. The party had only suspended him. DA…

TEN parties have now joined the Government of National Unity (GNU), the latest being the year-old RISE Mzansi. Yesterday, the party confirmed it had signed the GNU Statement of Intent. According to party leader Songezo Zibi, RISE Mzansi senior executive members had agreed the party should join the unity government. The election result was a clear indication that South Africans wanted change, service delivery, ethical leadership and new faces in government, Zibi said. He said forming part of the multiparty government would vocalise the party’s call for ethical leadership, in both national and provincial government. Among key issues RISE Mzansi is committed to address are countering crime, ensuring food security, job creation, spatial justice and land reform in urban and rural areas for economic emancipation. “Through the election campaign…

The reason the Democratic United Movement (UDM) joined the Government Of National Unity (GNU) was because it understood the terms and conditions set out in it, the party’s secretary-general Yongama Zigebe said yesterday. Zigebe told The Star that the party got the clarification it sought from the ANC following the letter it sent to the governing party seeking clarity on the GNU after the first invitation they received from the ANC. “As you will recall, we wrote a letter on June 17, 2024, seeking clarity on certain elements of the statement of intent sent by the ANC. “Following our meeting with the ANC on June 21, 2024, we received the necessary clarifications, as detailed in our response letter to the ANC SG,” he explained. Zigebe, however, said the party’s decision…

Gen Z is one generation that continues to shock from their fashion sense to their lingo, their instant technology adaptation and their spending habits. Franchise principal and financial adviser at Consult by Momentum, Marnus Mostert, said that millennials and Gen Z approach money very differently. Born between 1981 and 1996 during economic turbulence, millennials have cautious spending habits, they are inclined towards saving money and long-term investing, such as house bonds and bank investments. Millennials strive for financial stability and security. “While they were trying to get a foothold in adulthood, the world’s financial systems collapsed around them, taking with it the housing market. This instilled a sense of financial insecurity, as the safety nets millennials were told to expect in life – job security, trustworthy banks – evaporated.…

HENNESSY, the global cognac maker, has identified South Africa as its third largest market after the US and China, highlighting its strong performance in this region. The reputable luxury brand has been present in South Africa since its first shipment in 1866 and has a strong global presence in 160 countries. Laurent Boillot, the global president and CEO of Hennessy Cognac, spoke with The Star last week on his two-day visit to South Africa about the brand’s remarkable sales and its ongoing support of the cultural economy. Boillot said since 2001, sales have been growing locally. “South Africa has the largest volume in terms of achievements. It is performing well. “South Africa became our third-largest country in the world in terms of volume, which is quite an achievement. It’s just…

When political parties were coming together to form a Government of National Unity (GNU) to take the country forward, out pops a racist pig, snorting and grunting the K-word, spoiling the GNU broth. Renaldo Gouws is seen on video hurling racist abuse at black people. What makes his behaviour monstrous is that he is a DA member of Parliament. How could a man who uses such derogatory language in reference to his fellow human beings sit in a democratic institution such as our Parliament which is highest legislative authority in the land? The video was made 16 years ago and lay hidden from public scrutiny. It now surfaces at the most inopportune time for the DA in the midst of negotiating its position in the GNU. It could weaken its…

Red Bull’s three-time world champion Max Verstappen won the Spanish Grand Prix yesterday from McLaren’s pole-sitter Lando Norris to extend his lead in the world championship. Lewis Hamilton completed the podium at the Barcelona-Catalunya circuit for the Mercedes seven-time former champion’s first podium of the season. This was Verstappen’s 61st career win, seventh of the season, and fourth at the track where he first shot onto the F1 scene as a teenager in 2016. It pushed him another step further to a fourth straight title with Austria and Silverstone coming up over the next two weekends. Fourth-placed George Russell in the other Mercedes enjoyed a stunning start. With Verstappen to the left of Norris, and Russell to the right of him in the charge into the first turn at the…