Inhoudsopgave van 2025-01-30 - Star

Company’s shares were suspended in October 2019 “after a reconstitution of the entire board” Artificial Intelligence (AI) software solutions provider, 4Sight, on Wednesday celebrated the moving of its listing from the JSE’s Alternative Exchange (AltX) to the Main Board under the general category, with its stock trading at 70 cents per share shortly after the market open. The company, which kept its share code of 4SI, was founded in 2013 and was trading at 70c as of Tuesday’s close. Speaking ahead of the blowing of the kudu horn, chairman Kamil Patel said “wow, we’ve done it”. Patel, a Mauritian former professional tennis player, added that the move was a once in a lifetime milestone. “This moment is more like a reward in the way I see it. It reflects hard…

In a move that could stave off a looming crisis in South Africa's steel sector, government and industry sources have confirmed that negotiations are advancing regarding a significant R1 billion rescue package for ArcelorMittal South Africa (AMSA). This initiative, which emerged partially from discussions at the recent World Economic Forum (WEF), aims to salvage the company's longs steel operations, potentially protecting around 100 000 downstream jobs that hang in the balance. Officials from the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition (the dtic) have stated that Minister Parks Tau has assured meetings with AMSA’s Group CEO, Lakshmi Mittal, during the recently-concluded WEF Annual Meetings in Davos, Switzerland. While the specifics of the deal remain under wraps, sentiments from financial sources suggest optimism regarding the Newcastle plant’s future. “Yes, there is credence…

As South Africans transition into 2025, an unexpected wave of optimism surrounds their financial futures despite the seasonal trend of overspending during the festive December holidays. A recent survey conducted by research company InfoQuest shed light on consumer behaviour, revealing that nearly 60% of respondents overspent their budgets in December, with only a third managing to adhere to financial limits. Claire Heckrath, managing director of InfoQuest, said Wednesday that many South Africans were approaching 2025 with surprising optimism overall. “What’s not surprising is that many South Africans overspent during the December holidays – and the most popular goal for the year is paying off debt,” she said. This financial conundrum becomes particularly pressing as families face early-year expenses, like school uniforms and stationery, due to the timing of January paydays…

The average cost of a data breach in South Africa rose to R53.1 million in 2024, a 10% increase from 2023, according to research by IBM. Cyberattacks are also becoming more frequent, and according to a recent article titled Unmasking cyber threats in Africa, local organisations are facing an average of 1450 weekly attacks, translating to a 4% year-on-year increase. Despite the growing prevalence and cost of these threats, a recent Santam survey reveals that only 26% of commercial entities have cybercrime cover in place. “This is particularly concerning as South Africa has been identified as a hotspot for crimes such as identity theft, data breaches, malware and phishing scams,” said Thabo Twalo, the chief underwriting ffficer at Santam Broker Solutions. The issue of cybercrime is especially relevant as…

Last year, South Africa’s creativity was showcased at six of the country’s biggest arts festivals. The kykNET Fiëstas, which honours the exceptional work presented at arts festivals like KKNK, Suidoosterfees, Innibos, Vrystaat Kunstefees, Klein-Karoo Klassique, Momentum Beleggings Aardklop and Toyota Stellenbosch Woordfees, has released the list of nominations for the annual awards. Among the 14 categories, which include Best Actor and Best Actress, Best Director, Best Musical Production and Best Festival Production among others, are a host of familiar names. The winners will be announced on February 27 at the Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden in Cape Town. The awards will be attended by nominees and other role players and will not be televised but inserts for various programmes will be recorded. Hedda Gabler by Henrik Ibsen leads the nominees list…

Eskom is set to face a rigorous examination before the Portfolio Committee on Electricity and Energy this Friday to explain dismal findings presented by the Auditor-General, Tsakani Maluleke and Deloitte executives on Wednesday on the utility’s 2023/2024 financial year. The implications of the audit are serious, calling into question the utility’s ability to remain a viable entity amidst escalating municipal debts and findings of glaring disregard to implementing recommendations made by auditors over the years to address the underlying root causes of its underperformance. In the report, which precludes Eskom’s now more than 300 days of no load shedding, Maluleke said commitments made over the years by those charged with governance to address these matters have not materialised due to a lack of accountability at various levels in the…

Women within the South African Police Service (SAPS) are breaking boundaries, making an impact, and improving livelihoods in the country. From putting the perpetrators of Gender-Based Violence and Femicide (GBVF) behind bars to identifying suspects with precision, and uplifting communities through soup kitchens and e-learning. This was highlighted during the recent SAPS National Excellence Awards held at the Durban ICC. Among them is Sergeant Nombi Bokamoso Peter, a detective attached to the Mangaung Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences Investigations (FCS) unit in the Free State, who received a Ministry Award. She also forms part of the Mangaung District’s serial rape task team. Police Minister Senzo Mchunu described Sergeant Peter as one example of the calibre of detectives who work tirelessly throughout the country to prevent and combat incidents…

Five Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) members are out on R5,000 bail each on allegations that they were part of a group of people that stormed the uMhlathuze Municipality’s offices on Thursday last week. Yesterday, Sabelo Khubisa, Simphiwe Ndlela, Simo Gumede, Vusimuzi Cele and EFF provincial chairperson Mongezi Twala made a brief appearance in the Richards Bay Magistrates Court where they were granted bail. Last week the uMhlathuze Municipality filed a case at the Richards Bay SAPS against the EFF following an “illegal gathering”. The gathering, the municipality stated, was not sanctioned under the Gatherings Act No. 205 of 1993. According to the municipality the accused handed themselves over to the police. The accused face the following charges: Illegal gathering: Non-compliance with the Gatherings Act No. 205 of 1993; Assault for…

A disturbing trend of brazen attacks has targeted clinics in Tshwane in recent years with the latest incident occurring at Hercules Clinic in Pretoria’s Daspoort area, where a woman security officer was shot and rushed to hospital during a robbery. The incident occurred on Monday night, and the police have launched an investigation. MMC for Health, Tshegofatso Mashabela, condemned the incident, saying, “These acts of vandalism and violence target the very core of our public health infrastructure. The Health Department is committed to restoring the clinic swiftly and ensuring that it continues to serve the community with excellence and dedication.” Despite the incident, the clinic reopened its doors after the crime scene was cleared. Mashabela said the injured guard has since been discharged and is recovering at home. “The clinic…

THERE is a growing appreciation among collectors and investors of old South African coins, underscored by the demand for and escalating value of rare Zuid-Afrikaansche Republiek (ZAR) coins in the global numismatic market. The trend and historical significance of such pieces was illustrated by the recent sale of the ‘Single 9' Kruger Pond for $2.15 million (R40 million) at a Heritage Auctions event. Heritage Auctions said the ‘Single 9' Kruger Pond was "a singular treasure within the realm of ZAR coins and the most prestigious piece in South African numismatics". Numismatic experts, who appreciate the coin's unique place in history and its impact on the market, agree. The Numismatic Guaranty Company, the world's largest and most trusted third-party grading service for coins, tokens and medals, called the ‘Single 9' Pond…

Rita de Sonsa wipes the sweat from her brow as she stands behind the counter of her once-bustling liquor store in Stilfontein. The rhythmic hum of customers that once filled the air has been replaced by an eerie silence, punctuated only by the occasional creak of the door. Business, she says, has never been this slow. “I take it one day at a time,” she sighs, her eyes scanning the empty store where miners once flocked. “But without the Zama-Zamas, the situation is tough,” she said. For decades, illegal miners known locally as Zama-Zamas – were both a lifeline and a lifeblood of Stilfontein and Khuma township about seven kilometres away. Their hard-earned cash flowed into businesses, supported families, and even helped sponsor local sports teams. But all that…

The enforcement of annual roadworthiness tests for all vehicles in South Africa has been widely mooted as a potential solution to the country’s alarming road death rate but there are some heavy question marks over the effectiveness of such a move. Following Transport Minister Barbara Creecy’s recent announcement of the 2024/2025 festive season road death statistics, which showed a 5.3% increase in fatalities versus the previous year, the Automobile Association (AA) has called for mandatory annual vehicle inspections that would form part of the vehicle licence renewal process. These inspections, it says, could be done in collaboration with independent, but reputable organisations. While the AA describes this as a “highly effective recommendation”, long-standing road safety advocate Rob Handfield-Jones, who is managing director of driving.co.za, says the data simply does not…

Thalente Mbatha is living the dream at Orlando Pirates and reaping the fruits of his hard labour following a turbulent spell at former club SuperSport United. Mbatha is one of the best midfielders in the country. He doesn’t only boss the engine room – bringing stability – but he also has a knack for goal. He has scored important goals for both club and country, Pirates and Bafana Bafana, contributing to the CAF Champions League and Afcon qualifiers campaigns. His resurgence has set tongues wagging given that he wasn’t playing at former club SuperSport United in his last few months, before surprisingly surfacing at Pirates last January. The tough spells at SuperSport under coach Gavin Hunt could have easily broken him had Pirates not come calling during the summer transfer…

It wasn’t just Lance Klusener who noticed that his Durban’s Super Giants team lacked a killer instinct in Season 3 of the SA20. Pretoria Capitals’ newly appointed captain Kyle Verreynne is of the same view about his own team. Verreynne was reflecting on their win against Joburg Super Kings on Tuesday night, and wished they did things differently earlier in the tournament, which could have perched them up in a better position leading up to the playoffs. The Capitals thrashed Joburg by six wickets at SuperSport Park in Centurion with the help of some lethal wicket-takers on their roster. Joburg could only reach 99/9 in 20 overs, with Migael Pretorius claiming 3/22, while Senuran Muthusamy and Gideon Peters both bagged 2/15. Marques Ackerman then scored 39 off 22 balls as…

Anglo American will use the $1 billion (around R19bn) cash from the disposal of its steelmaking coal mines in Australia to strengthen its balance sheet as it forges ahead with a new strategy focusing on copper, premium iron ore and crop nutrients. Other assets being disposed of or divested out of under the strategy include Anglo American Platinum, De Beers, among others. Anglo American, whose shares traded 1.28% weaker at R546.92 in afternoon trade on the JSE on Wednesday, is in line for a $4.9bn windfall from the disposal of its steelmaking coal operations. Last year, the company reached an agreement to spin off some of its Australian steel-making coal assets to United States-listed Peabody Energy for $3.77bn. On Wednesday, Anglo American announced the completion of the sale of the…

Stocks & Strauss Fund Manager has announced the establishment of the University Technology Fund II (UTF II) in a bid to bolster the commercialisation of groundbreaking research and technology at South African universities. Reaching a significant milestone in December 2024, all agreements have been concluded with a substantial portion of the funds already committed, marking considerable progress towards the ambitious R400 million target fund size. Anchor investors in UTF II include notable names such as the SA SME Fund, Stellenbosch University, and Allan & Gill Gray Philanthropies Africa, reinforcing a collaborative co-investment model built on a shared vision of innovation and advancement. This collective effort strengthens the initiative that boasts additional university participation, including the University of Pretoria, the University of Cape Town, and WITS University, underlining a robust commitment…

Renewed activity from first-time homebuyers in the last quarter of 2024 is an indication that the property market might be significantly more buoyant in 2025 compared to the past two years, home loans data from home loan comparison service, ooba, showed. The data from 2020 to date showed a declining trend in home loan application activity due to the higher interest rate environment and economic uncertainty. Activity particularly dipped from the fourth quarter of 2022 after inflation surged, prompting a series of interest rate hikes by the South African Reserve Bank, which weakened the economy and weighed on household finances. “Our fourth quarter data revealed a number of key trends pointing to the steady recovery of the property market, led by solid demand from the first-time homebuyer segment, along with…

Since the announcement by Minister Parks Tau from the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition (the dtic) on the establishment of the R100 billion Transformation Fund to support Micro, Small and Medium enterprises (MSMEs), many stakeholders in the broader ecosystem have been up in arms with many calling it unlawful, while some resorted to calling it an expropriation of 3% of private sector profit. Many have also slammed it for being racially discriminatory for focusing on black businesses. The detail around the Fund is still not clear to many, but one thing is clear and certain, South Africa needs a Transformation Fund that will support the establishment of micro, small and medium enterprises. The lack of access to finance experienced by many black South Africans remains a concern. In 2018,…

The third season The Sex Lives of College Girls, which is currently streaming on Showmax, returns to Essex College for sophomore year. It sees Bela (Amrit Kaur), Kimberly (Pauline Chalamet), Leighton (Reneé Rapp) and Whitney (Alyah Chanelle Scott) facing major changes in their lives after the turbulent season finale. Rapp is focusing on her music career, so viewers will be seeing less of her character this season but the rest of the group is all back. Created by six-time Emmy nominee Mindy Kaling (Never Have I Ever and The Office) and Brooklyn Nine-Nine writer Justin Noble, the 18SNL-rated series has been nominated for two GLAAD Media Awards, a Casting Society of America award and the MTV TV Awards’ Here for the Hookup prize. As Collider says: “While ‘sex lives’ may…

DEFENCE and Military Veterans minister Angie Motshekga has denied claims that South African National Defence Force (SANDF) troops deployed in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) ran out of food and ammunition during their United Nations peace mission. The conflict in the region has resulted in the deaths of 13 SANDF soldiers who were caught in a battle between M23 rebels and DRC soldiers. Speaking on the sidelines of a Cabinet Lekgotla in Pretoria on Wednesday, Motshekga said: “I went to our logistics centre and there was no stage where they said: 'Minister, we have no food’.” Motshekga's comments come amidst growing concerns over the safety and well-being of SANDF troops deployed in the DRC. President Cyril Ramaphosa yesterday said he was concerned about the speculation about the state of…

South African YouTuber Tinyik Tshabalala, known online as MsTee, spillled the tea of a shocking story of betrayal and heartbreak that left a woman in doubt about her self-worth as a human. The storyteller said the woman was Mandisa who requested to have her full name be withheld. Mandisa excelled in academics and got a great job. In seeking to reach the next phase of her life, she met a man, got married but unfortunately did not live happily ever after. “We were happy and met at work and we eventually had two kids. Everything was going smoothly. Kumnandi (it was good). “It felt like a holiday every day,” she quoted Mandisa. In her late 30s, the career-driven woman remembered that she had always wanted to work overseas. When the…

A former senior municipality clerk will serve four years behind bars after he was convicted and sentenced in the Bellville Specialised Commercial Crimes Court in Cape Town on Tuesday for fraud amounting to over R1.3 million. Having pleaded guilty to 435 charges of fraud, Pieter Jacobus Adams, 57, was sentenced to 10 years, of which six years were suspended for five years. Adams defrauded the municipality to the total amount of R1 310 507, 40. Hawks spokesperson Siyabulela Vukubi said in addition to the prison sentence, Adams’ municipal workers retirement fund was confiscated. “Furthermore, confiscation order in terms of the Prevention of Organised Crime Act (POCA), Act 121 of 1998, full pension fund benefit amount of R510 106, 31 held in the Municipal Workers Retirement Fund will be deposited to…

The stalled R49 million Lusaka Clinic project in Mamelodi township is severely impacting the community, leaving residents with no choice but to endure lengthy queues, often starting as early as 5pm, to access essential healthcare services at the nearest available clinic. This was a picture painted by Ward 10 Councillor Thabang Masemola, who this week conducted an oversight visit to the project with City of Tshwane Mayor Nasiphi Moya. He said construction delays at the health centre continue to put pressure on the Stanza Bopape Clinic, which is approximately 5km away from the area. According to him, once completed, the health centre will provide much-needed medical services to the local community, reducing the burden on the other clinic. “If you go to Stanza every morning at 5am there are always…

The 2025 South African Car of the Year contest is in full swing with the announcement of 17 finalists that will all be competing for the grand prize. The competition, which is staged by the South African Guild of Mobility Journalists (SAGMJ) and sponsored by Old Mutual Insure, is now in its 39th year, having been launched in 1986. The vehicles, voted for by the jurors from an initial list of 29 semi-finalists, represent a variety of segments, from entry-level SUVs to performance cars and bakkies. Besides the coveted overall prize, category awards will be handed to those vehicles that perform exceptionally within their segments. The 17 finalists will be put through their paces during an “intense” three-day evaluation process that's due to be held in Gauteng in early…

THE Soweto Derby, pitting two giants of South African football – Kaizer Chiefs and Orlando Pirates – against each other, has long been more than just a game. It is a cultural phenomenon, a clash reverberating far beyond the confines of the football pitch. Every time the two sides meet, stadiums explode with passion, loyalty, and, at times, tension that mirrors the socio-political landscape of South Africa itself. But does this storied encounter still hold the same weight in the modern era of football, or is it merely a relic of a bygone age? The game of football has long been understood to be about the supporters that watch closely, whether at the stadium or on television every week, and this was made even more clearer during the COVID-19 pandemic.…

Joburg Super Kings coach Stephen Fleming believes his team’s quest to reach a SA20 playoff spot has now become a “mental” challenge. The Super Kings were primed to book a spot in the knockout stages prior to meeting a revamped Pretoria Capitals side at Centurion on Tuesday evening. A victory would have ensured JSK’s qualification, but instead, the Capitals reversed the result with a bonus-point win that kept the highveld rivals very much in the reckoning for the next round. The Super Kings don’t have any time to over analyse the blow-out which saw them reach just 99/9 in their allotted 20 overs, with league leaders Paarl Royals waiting in the wings for the next encounter this evening at the Wanderers (5.30pm start). With such a short turnaround, Fleming and…

The latest preliminary report from the Crop Estimates Committee (CEC), released on Tuesday has raised concerns for some summer crops, particularly wheat and barley, which are forecast to yield less than last season. However, farmers and industry experts cautioned that it was still premature to predict the outcome of the season, emphasising that the forthcoming month of rains will be pivotal for crop viability. According to the CEC’s report, expected production for wheat has been slightly downgraded to 1.925 million tons, reflecting a decrease of 0.52% or 10 100 tons from the previous estimate of 1.935 million tons. The Western Cape, a crucial region for wheat farming, anticipates a yield of 1.067 million tons, which is a 1.69% drop, equating to 18 400 tons less than predicted earlier. For canola,…

In 2024, more than 1 400 South African businesses entered liquidation, including The Cross Trainer, due to mounting financial pressure. Professor Waldo Krugell, an economist at North-West University, pinpointed the impact that high inflation, increasing interest rates, and the energy crisis had on consumer spending over several years as a driving factor behind the closure of many of these businesses and particularly those in retail. It would be easy to blame the economic challenges but I’m sure if we dig a little deeper, we will see that some of these businesses lacked financial resilience. Small and medium enterprises (SMEs), especially, need to ensure they plan for times of higher expenses or reduced income as we’ve just experienced these last few years when consumers tightened their belts and reduced non-essential spending.…

Justin Baldoni apologised to Blake Lively in a voice note allegedly sent to her after they had a disagreement over the rooftop scene in It Ends With Us. The actress recently filed a lawsuit against Baldoni, claiming he sexually harassed her on set and subjected her to a smear campaign after the release of their movie last August. Baldoni, who acted in and directed the feature, denied the allegations and filed a lawsuit against Lively, her husband Ryan Reynolds and publicist Leslie Sloane. The lawsuits are to be addressed at a trial set for March 2026 in New York. In the latest development, TMZ published a seven-minute-long audio clip in which Baldoni can allegedly be heard apologising to Lively after a disagreement over the script for the pivotal rooftop…

The Brasse Vannie Kaap documentary, written and directed by Lauren Scholtz, brings to life the essence of the iconic hip hop group that took the Cape Flats by storm in the 1990s. The group originally composed of Deon “DJ Ready D” Daniels, Roger “Hamma” Heunis, Enver “DJ E20” Pietersen and Ashley “Mr Fat” Titus, who died in 2007. Breakdancers Cheeze, Baby-L and Levi also joined in recent years. DJ E20 left the band soon after the formation of BVK and was first replaced with DJ Big Dre, whose appearance in the group was short-lived as he was replaced by DJ Azuhl (real name Ricardo Nunes). BVK, who are renowned for hits like Jy Smaak My and Kaap Van Storms, remain one of the most successful hip hop bands in the…

MEMBERS of Parliament expressed their unhappiness at the postponement of their oversight visit to KwaZulu-Natal to meet with King Misuzulu, the Ingonyama Trust Board (ITB) and other stakeholders after being advised against doing so by the parliamentary presiding officers. The visit was initially planned for late last year in order to attend to developments that were taking place within the ITB, but matters escalated when the King dissolved the board, fired the CEO, and CFO and appointed lawyers to run the affairs of the ITB. In a statement, Land Reform and Rural Development Minister Mzwanele Nyhontso stated that the King does not have the power to dissolve the board as the authority to do so resided with the minister. Briefing the Parliament’s land and reform portfolio committee on Wednesday, chairperson…

THE Office of the Auditor-General said yesterday that the City of Johannesburg (CoJ), which has either been on an upward trajectory or regressed in recent years, was currently stagnant in terms of audit outcomes. Auditor General South Africa’s business unit leader in Gauteng Dumisani Cebekhulu said their office was not seeing an improvement. Cebekhulu said from a culture shift point of view, they acknowledged the areas of focus are on the financial health of the city. “We have noted for a number of years that the City has had challenges on issues of financial health. This is one matter we are elevating to the committee. “This talks to how the CoJ as a metro has for a number of years struggled with issues of collection of debt, revenue and dealing…

The imminent project to upgrade the Alandale/ Ebenhaezer route in Elarduspark, east of Pretoria, with a view to alleviate the traffic congestion that has plagued road users during peak hours for years, has been hailed as a win for the community. This follows an approval from the Gauteng Department of Roads and Transport, that a contractor hired for the ongoing project to repair and widen Boeing Road can now include the Alandale/Ebenhaezer route, previously excluded from the initial plans. Ward 47 councillor Lida Erasmus of the City of Tshwane, said a specific stretch of Boeing Road, spanning from Alandale Ebenhaezer Road to Solomon Mahlangu Road, was unexpectedly omitted from the original upgrade contract. “This section of the road forms a bottleneck and causes a lot of congestion and frustration. The…

The Cabinet Lekgotla convened in Pretoria yesterday, bringing together ministers from the Government of National Unity (GNU) to discuss priorities and plans for the year ahead of the State Of the Nation Address (Sona). The two-day meeting comes amid rising tensions among GNU partners over several bills enacted by President Cyril Ramaphosa recently. The G20 meeting, job creation, sustainable energy, reviving the economy, and the recent killing of South African National Defence Force (SANDF) members in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) are expected to top the agenda. The meeting’s outcomes will shape the Sona scheduled for next month. Contentious issues such as the National Health Insurance (NHI), Basic Education Laws Amendment (BELA) Act, and the recently signed Expropriation Act will also play centrestage. Speaking on national television, Wits University’s…

With estimated losses exceeding R150 million due to the arson attacks that destroyed 51 Putco buses in the Nkangala district on Monday night, the company has suffered a significant setback. However, it has assured commuters that more buses will be made available. Speaking to The Star, Putco spokesperson Lindokuhle Xulu revealed that the company suffered losses exceeding R150 million due to the arson attacks, and some employees were assaulted in the process. “The company is estimated to have lost over R150m in terms of this arson attack; we also had injuries on some of the employees. One was shot in the leg and the other was hit with a chair on the head and two security guards were subdued and after that, they were poured with diesel,” Xulu said. He…

SURPRISE! South African Association for Marine Biological Research (Saambr) staff found six thorntail stingray pups fluttering around the Open Ocean exhibit at uShaka Sea World on Monday morning. The litter has three male and three female pups. Saambr spokesperson Ann Kunz said: “The pups have been transferred to the nursery in our quarantine facility for the time being and we will keep you updated on their progress.” Last January, clinical veterinarian Dr Francois Lampen joined his colleagues, Dr Justin Hart and Dr Ryan Daly, in the Open Ocean Exhibit armed with an underwater ultrasound machine to perform underwater ultrasounds on some of the stingrays under Saambr’s care. During the examination, Lampen observed that one of the large females, Miss Cape Town, was carrying pups. “He continued to monitor her progress…

Mitsubishi’s long-awaited new compact SUV challenger has finally arrived: meet the Outlander Sport. Badged as the XForce in many overseas markets since its debut in 2023, the 4,390mm-long Outlander Sport is larger than the ASX which it inevitably replaces, while also casting a slightly larger footprint than vehicles it will likely rival, such as the Toyota Urban Cruiser, Chery Tiggo 4 Pro and the Kia Seltos. Mitsubishi Motors South Africa has positioned the Outlander Sport at the upper end of the segment, kicking things off at R429,900. That places it at a premium to the Chinese-built Chery Tiggo 4 (from R269,900) and Indian-built Urban Cruiser (from R342,500), but it is competitive against the slower-selling South Korean options, with the Hyundai Creta starting at R449,900 and the Kia Seltos from R467,995.…

PITSO Mosimane is back home in South Africa, no doubt wondering if he should ever accept a coaching position in the Arab world again. ‘Jingles’ has had his ambitious eye on adding the Asian Champions League title to the four African ones already in his cabinet, and has for the past half a decade picked projects that would help him realise that goal. But twice now he has had to abandon the dream before he could even challenge for domestic honours in leagues whose clubs are eligible for the Asian Champions League. On the one occasion, when it appeared he was coaching a club – Al-Ahli Jeddah – he could conquer Asia with, the former South African national team coach was sent packing despite having helped them return to the…

Kaizer Chiefs legend Bernard Parker has questioned the club’s scouting criteria, insisting that’s been the root cause of their downfall in the last 10 seasons. Chiefs haven’t won trophies for almost a decade, which has seen playing and coaching personnel join and leave the club without success. They were hoping that would change this season as they attempt to rebuild while winning trophies under new coach Nasreddine Nabi and his technical team. That hasn’t been the case, though. Chiefs have been inconsistent, so much so that their only chance of winning a trophy rests on the Nedbank Cup. They have bolstered the squad for the second half of the season, signing striker Tashreeq Morris, attacker Makabi Lilepo and midfielder Thabo Cele on respective deals. From the lot, only Cele comes…

SuperSport United coach Gavin Hunt has expressed a measured optimism regarding the recent addition of Christian Saile, highlighting the potential of the on-loan Kaizer Chiefs forward to embody the club’s ethos. Saile, who was unveiled during a press event on Tuesday, made an immediate impact by scoring on his debut in SuperSport’s 2-0 victory over Magesi FC on the same day in the first round of the Nedbank Cup at the Old Peter Mokaba Stadium. The transfer, which saw Tashreeq Morris move to Kaizer Chiefs in exchange for Saile, had Hunt reflecting on the “different dimension” the 25-year-old brings to the squad. Though he acknowledged his sadness at Morris’ departure, Hunt is eager to utilise Saile’s unique strengths to enhance the team’s attacking options. “You’ll never know if I’ll get…

The International Cricket Council (ICC) recently named their Test Team of the Year. There was not a single South African in the XI, despite the Proteas topping the ICC World Test Championship table and being the first team to qualify for the final at Lord’s later this year. While the Proteas’ march to the ‘Home of Cricket’ has been built on the collective rather than the individual, the omission of Temba Bavuma and Kagiso Rabada left me flabbergasted. The judging process involves an independent global voting panel – which incidentally I am a part of – and fans from around the world. My feeling is that the minimal Test cricket which the Proteas play, which of course is none of the players’ fault, has once again played a pivotal role…