Table of contents for 2024-02-19 in Star

TECH GIANTS including Meta, Microsoft and TikTok signed a pledge on Friday to crack down on AI content intended to deceive voters ahead of crucial elections around the world this year. The accord commits the companies, including Google and OpenAI, to develop ways to identify, label and control AI-generated images, videos and audio that aim to mislead voters. “I think you need all the players from the source of the generation to the actual consumption by the user involved and that’s why I think having everybody, 20 companies, sign up to this is so impactful,” said Nick Clegg, the president of global affairs at Meta. Among the 20 signatories of the deal, presented on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference in Germany, were also X, formerly known as Twitter,…

Africa will account for eleven of the world’s 20 fastest-growing economies in 2024 – AfDB SOUTH Africa is missing out on Africa’s growth boom as the Africa Macro-Economic Performance and Outlook (MEO) report by the African Development Bank (AfDB) released on Friday said Africa would account for 11 of the world’s 20 fastest-growing economies this year. Africa was set to remain the second-fastest-growing region after Asia. The expectations for higher growth this year came as Africa's economic growth fell to 3.2% in 2023 from 4.1% in 2022. This was below the 3.4% growth the AfDB had forecast in November as geopolitical volatility, Russia-Ukraine war and China’s economic slowdown after Covid-19 knocked growth. On a continental level, Africa’s gross domestic product growth will amount to 3.8% this year, before rebounding…

WHEN WE THINK about globalisation it’s usually either about hundreds of millions of poor, mostly Chinese, people who were lifted out of poverty or the number of jobs lost in the domestic economy, because those jobs have been moved elsewhere, usually to China. Little is spoken of how many things consumers have which improve their lives, which are only affordable because of globalisation. Although the iPhone was conceived in the US, almost no one would be able to afford one if it was also made in the US. At its simplest, globalisation means that everyone who produces a product is potentially in competition with the world, and competition is what drives innovation. Monopolies are low innovation environments because why would they care what their client thinks. They can only buy…

Nampak’s chairperson, Peter Surgey, has resigned as an independent non-executive director, effective from February 15, 2024, and independent non-executive director André van der Veen had been appointed chairperson. The board of Africa’s largest packaging group on Friday welcomed Van der Veen to his new role and said they were confident that his leadership would prove invaluable. Also, Clifford Raphiri resigned as an independent non-executive director, and as chairperson of the Nominations and Remuneration Committee and as chairperson of the Social, Ethics and Transformation Committee effective from February 15. At the group’s annual meeting in Cape Town last week, all resolutions were passed barring the remuneration report and the group planned to engage shareholders on the report. | Edward West…

Charlotte Hope has captivated viewers with her roles in Game of Thrones and The Spanish Princess, and now she is at the helm of a South African production. The British actress is the lead in Catch Me A Killer, which has been adapted from Micki Pistorius’s memoir of the same name. Pistorius is South Africa’s first serial killer profiler. The first episode of the true crime show, which premiered on the streaming platform on Tuesday, has already received rave reviews. Hope is not surprised by the positive response from viewers, as she believes this genre is a source of intrigue and fascination for viewers. “The fact that these serial killers and victims were all real people, and the crimes took place in such recent history, is shocking to me in…

VARIOUS political parties have weighed in on the third-quarter crime statistics, revealing that the SAPS and government are losing the fight against crime, pointing out that communities are at the mercy of criminals. According to criminal statistics, there have been nearly 8 000 murders in the last three months, yet only 1 500 people have been found guilty. Rise Mzansi labelled the 19% conviction rate mediocre and worrisome, calling for President Cyril Ramaphosa and Police Minister Bheki Cele to be removed. “The murder rate, at current trends, will see almost 10 000 more cases of murder when compared to when Ramaphosa was first elected in 2018, when 21 022 cases of murder were recorded. Ramaphosa and Cele should be removed on this basis alone.” Commenting on the stats, ActionSA said…

SOUTH Africans will head to the polls on May 24, according to the country’s deputy president, Paul Mashatile. In what looked like “a slip of the tongue” but a deliberate move, he said ANC members should be prepared when they go out and canvass for the party. “We must go out, united with one common purpose, to ensure that come May 24, when we go to the elections...” the deputy president said in a clip doing the rounds on social media. As per the long-standing rule, the country’s president should announce the election date. Various political parties have been calling on President Cyril Ramaphosa to release the voting date. IFP spokesperson Mkhuleko Hlengwa is the latest to urge him to do so. On Saturday, DA leader John Steenhuisen also called…

In a departure from traditional cultivation methods, the cannabis industry is witnessing a shift towards synthetic production techniques, with companies exploring novel approaches to manufacturing cannabinoids like THC and CBD. Among these pioneers is Boston- based Ginkgo Bioworks, which recently secured a groundbreaking deal with Cronos Group, a Canadian cannabis company, valued at around $100 million (about R1.8 billion). Leveraging synthetic biology, Ginkgo aims to produce marijuana's active ingredients using genetically modified microorganisms, particularly yeast. Much like yeast’s role in brewing beer, Ginkgo plans to genetically engineer yeast to convert a concoction of sugar, vitamins, and other nutrients into cannabinoids. This process, conducted in large fermentation vats akin to those used in breweries, promises greater scalability, purity, and cost-efficiency compared to traditional cultivation methods. Jess Leber, Ginkgo’s head of business…

ORLANDO Pirates’ coach Jose Riveiro has lifted the lid on their aspirations for the rest of the season after blowing hot and cold in the first half of the campaign. Pirates started the season on a high as they defended the MTN8 crown, painting a picture of a team that would compete for all the honours up for grabs. But that proved to be a false dawn as Pirates crashed out of the Carling Knockout and blew hot and cold in the DStv Premiership in the first half of the season. That proved to be costly as Mamelodi Sundowns tightened their grip at the top of the table, leading Pirates by 13 points with two games in hand before the break. Pirates had an opportunity to trim the gap when…

COSATU said last week it was “deeply disheartened” by the slaps on the wrists sought by the German prosecuting authorities and judiciary for the Steinhoff corruption scandal, and by the even worse lack of action by South African authorities. The South African umbrella labour union organisation on Friday described the 3½ years with one year suspended, and two years wholly suspended sentences, that had been meted out to date by the German courts on two former Steinhoff executives as essentially “meaningless”. Today will see the third trial start in Germany in response to the corruption at the international furniture retail group Steinhoff that shocked the world in 2017 and saw up to R12.5 billion worth of South African workers’ hard-earned pension funds looted. To date, Germany has concluded two…

COVENANTS come in different forms. The air we breathe is a natural covenant over which living beings have no influence, except hitherto in decimating its quality and bearing the nasty consequences of among others, diseases from pollutants. Other covenants are manufactured. This is done with an intention to achieve common goals towards which society mobilises itself, such as a National Development Plan. An imperative for a national covenant is almost impossible to escape because human beings have a lot in common that is determined by evolution. What we do as humanity is adaptation through techniques and modi- fications to coexist with other forms of nature. Public goods are grounded and codified through written and unwritten covenants to comply with what are nature’s laws. These laws are difficult to change. That…

PRESIDENT Cyril Ramaphosa’s signing of the South African Postbank Amendment Act into law will target ordinary consumers amid high expectations that it will foster greater financial inclusion than the banking system currently provides. The Treasury says financial inclusion refers to a State in which all individuals and small, medium and micro enterprises (SMMEs) have access to and can effectively use a range of quality products and services provided by the regulated financial sector. In the context of South Africa, this includes reaching those segments of society who are historically excluded from the formal financial sector as well as those who underutilise financial products and services. At an individual and household level, financial inclusion is a necessary component towards reducing inequality and improving the quality of life of low-income earners, the…

The Polokwane High Court has sentenced a widow, Tubake Sister Maesela, 44, and her boyfriend Mmamoraba Jacob Mashiba, 41, to life imprisonment for the murder of Maesela’s husband, Warrant Officer Mogokolodi Cleopass Digama, 53. The court convicted lovebirds Maesela and Mashiba for the March 2021 murder of Digama, a warrant officer based at the Apel police station in Limpopo. Mashudu Malabi-Dzhangi, spokesperson for the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) in Limpopo, said that Digama was shot and robbed of his SAPS pistol and vehicle while he was at his Somalian friend’s tuckshop. “Investigations revealed that the deceased was shot dead with an unknown pistol … and his vehicle was set alight,” said Malabi-Dzhangi. “The deceased’s wife (Maesela) shared a love child with her co-accused lover (Mashiba). Investigations further revealed that prior…

DINAH Botes, 42, was sentenced to 15 years in prison after being convicted on 126 counts of theft in the Rustenburg Magistrate’s Court on Friday. North West spokesperson for the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (Hawks), Lieutenant-Colonel Tinyiko Mathebula said Botes’ troubles started in 2022, when she was working for a mining company. “Reports indicate that between 2014 and 2019, while still an employee at Sitona Mining, she allegedly transferred over R9 million from the company’s coffers into her personal bank accounts,” said Mathebula. After an investigation by the Hawks’ Rustenburg-based serious commercial crime investigation, a warrant of arrest was issued for Botes, and it was executed on June 13, 2022. She appeared in court on the same day and was released on R30 000 bail, said Mathebula. “After making…

Principals are allowed to apply for foreign languages to be taught at their respective schools, the Gauteng Department of Education has said. Last Monday, the Patriotic Alliance (PA) staged a protest at Esikhisini Primary School in Saulsville to prevent management from introducing the Zimbabwean language Shona into the curriculum. PA deputy president Kenny Kunene said the demonstration was primarily aimed at preventing the teaching of Shona at Esikhisini. The party argued that Shona is not part of the official curriculum, and that the department should not entertain such requests. Zimbabweans reportedly constitute 20% of Esikhisini’s population according to Kunene, who held talks with school management during the picket. “This is a public school; Shona is not in the curriculum. We are here to demonstrate our anger and dissatisfaction at what…

The Gauteng Department of Health is going the extra mile to protect girls’ health with a comprehensive vaccination programme, ensuring that all girls have access to the HPV vaccine and other essential health interventions. Cervical cancer remains a significant threat to women’s health in South Africa, ranking as the second-leading cause of cancer-related deaths after breast cancer, according to the UN Children’s Fund (Unicef). Particularly alarming is its prevalence among adolescents and women aged 15 to 44, with more than 70% of cases attributed to the Human Papillomavirus (HPV), a sexually transmitted infection. An extensive effort to vaccinate girls against HPV has been started by the Gauteng Department of Health in an attempt to address this urgent matter and maintain the long-term health of girls. This programme is being conducted…

After many days of anticipation, the long-awaited Cairo talks on a Gaza ceasefire never materialised, and no deal was reached. The Hamas leadership refused to be bullied and pulled its delegation out of Cairo, having come to the conclusion that Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu was only playing for time. Meanwhile, the intensification of Israel’s assault on Rafah, and the promise of an imminent ground invasion in this southernmost part of Gaza, point to a deep frustration on the part of Israeli leaders. Such indiscriminate and merciless punishment of the Palestinian civilian population has become a pattern in this war. Yet, the Hamas delegation remained for some time in Cairo, apparently keen not to be seen as the party responsible for destroying the prospects of a ceasefire deal mediated by Qatar…

After completing back-to-back victories this past Saturday over their Juskei rivals, Bulls coach Jake White noted something that should be a major concern for the Lions and their supporters. “They don’t play any rugby in their half,” said the former Springbok mentor, after the 25-10 victory at Ellis Park. “They are not dangerous. They didn’t put us under pressure once in multi-phase attack this week, or the last time (referring to the narrow 30-28 win at the end of last month) … It wasn’t like we were under the pump for five, six, seven phases.” The loss was arguably the Lions’ worst performance this season in a defeat that now threatens to derail their United Rugby Championship (URC) campaign, with the added worry of the team slipping into the familiar…

Mauricio Pochettino said Chelsea can go into next weekend’s League Cup final with greater belief after ending Manchester City’s 11-game winning run with a 1-1 draw at the Etihad on Saturday. Raheem Sterling put the visitors in front against his old team as Chelsea upset the odds to provide another twist in a tight Premier League title race. Rodri’s late equaliser extended City’s unbeaten run at home to 34 games, stretching back to November 2022. But Pep Guardiola’s men fell four points behind leaders Liverpool and two adrift of Arsenal at the top of the table. A point was only enough to edge Chelsea back up to 10th. But the Argentine is sensing the chance to lift his first trophy in English football at Wembley next weekend against an injury-hit…

ECONOMISTS have warned that Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana might have to dip into the country’s foreign currency reserves – amounting in total to around R500 billion – to raise additional revenue to shore up the fiscus instead of tax hikes. Market participants have raised the option of using the unrealised gains from the revaluation of gold and foreign exchanges to either cover redemptions on maturing government debt or to finance government expenditure. This comes as Godongwana this week will table the 2024 Budget Review in Parliament amid a pivotal election cycle, possibly the most significant since South Africa’s democratic elections in 1994. Current fiscal indicators show gross tax revenue falling short by an estimated R55bn to R60bn compared to projections outlined in the 2023 Budget Review. PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) South Africa…

OUR COUNTRY is making every effort in line with our Energy Action Plan to address our energy challenges. Interventions are under way to bring new sources of electricity online as well as ensure a reliable energy supply from existing generation units. Our efforts to reduce the frequency of load shedding in the short term and achieve energy security in the long term are, however, being undermined by unscrupulous individuals bent on making a quick buck. A network of coal smugglers operating across the country have been diverting coal trucks destined for power stations to coalyards where the high-grade coal on these trucks are replaced with low-grade coal. The low-grade coal is often blended with scrap or other materials and then delivered to our power stations. When this inferior coal is…

MORE AND MORE evidence is building up in favour of US interest rates staying high for longer. The hawkish sentiment is growing that the US Federal Reserve (Fed) will abstain in lowering its bank rate at its next meeting in March. This follows the sharp increase in US non-farm payrolls that kept US unemployment rate on 3.7%, and well below the “target” of the US Federal Reserve rate of 4.2% as well as the worrying increase in wages by 4.6% year-on-year in December. This news saw the rand to the dollar depreciate quickly from R18.51/$ to R18.90/$ on February 2, 2024. The release of US core inflation rate data last week, amplified this sentiment even further. US core inflation in January remained on 3.9% and was higher than the expected…

ANGLO American’s Amandelbult and Mototolo platinum group metal (PGM) operations in South Africa have become the first in the country to undergo audits against the Initiative for Responsible Mining’s (Irma) Standard for Responsible Mining. The results were released on Friday by the Irma. The audits were conducted by independent firm ERM-CVS. Amandelbult was assessed at Irma 50, while Mototolo achieved a higher rating of Irma 75, indicating their substantial compliance with the Irma Standard’s criteria for social and environmental responsibility, business integrity, and planning for positive legacies. These assessments, which encompassed rigorous evaluations of various operational aspects, mark a significant step forward in promoting transparency and sustainable mining practices in the region. These achievements contributed to Anglo American’s broader goal of having all its mining operations…

LAST YEAR AS Copper 360’s CEO, Jan Nelson, celebrated the listing of the copper mining company on the Alternative Exchange (AltX Board) of the JSE, little could he have predicted the beating the company’s share price would take on Friday as it plunged 22.29% to close at R2.65. During the day the share hit a low of R2.30, plummeting as much as 33%. The firm’s market capitalisation is valued at R1.8 billion. Copper 360, when it debuted on the JSE last April, closed the first day of trading at R5, a 5.2% percent gain on its opening price of R4.75 per share. That means its share price has haemorrhaged 54% since listing, meaning that it has lost half of its value. An attempt at the weekend to contact Copper…

Spaza shops belonging to foreign immigrants remain closed in parts of Tsakane, Ekurhuleni, following the death of six-year-old Refiloe Usman after allegedly consuming poisonous cakes bought from a local spaza shop last week. Refiloe was on Saturday laid to rest following a sombre funeral service held at the Theisa Burgers Pre-primary School in Tsakane. The funeral was attended by members of Operation Dudula, the community and Dudula leader, Isaac Lesole, who vowed to kick illegal immigrants out in honour of the Grade 1 learner. Lesole said the life of Refiloe was cut short by an uncaring government that has allowed illegal foreigners to operate spaza shops without operating permits. “The life of Refiloe was cut short and we, as Operation Dudula, insist that this was not supposed to be. As…

Consumers who purchase tyres for their vehicles that do not meet regulatory standards can face safety risks themselves and it can impact other motorists. So says the AA, commenting after the issue of sub-standard tyres was recently raised. The Department of Trade, Industry and Competition says illicit tyres are not only used tyres found in the informal market but also new tyres that slip through the regulation process. Department spokesperson Bongani Lukhele told The Star’s sister paper, The Mercury: “There are tyres that are supposed to be issued with approval (Letter of Authority or LOA) before being in the country, and they find a way through to the markets without going through this process.” Lukhele said the challenge with regulating the sector was that tyres were sold as “used”…

THE Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment has back-tracked on its bid to use sub-lethal chemicals to rid the Vaal River of invasive alien species following a public outcry over the long-term effects on the river. Since December, the Vaal River has become overrun with water lettuce and water hyacinth, an invasive aquatic species originating in South America. As a result, Rand Water was given an urgent general authorisation by the Department of Water and Sanitation to manage the water lettuce, including physical removal, bio-control and chemical application. Rand Water initiated the use of chemical glyphosate to clear the species, and avert further spreading. Some applauded the action, while others raised concerns over the long-term impact on the river’s water quality. It was argued that in 2015 the World…

A Johannesburg businessman has been arrested after he was allegedly found in possession of a City Power owned 11KV mini-substation, which disappeared from the power utility’s Booysens premises 10 years ago. The power utility said officials made the discovery of the allegedly stolen mini-substation during a revenue collection drive in Lenasia on Thursday. City Power spokesperson Isaac Mangena said the mini-substation was found connected in the businessman’s residential premises in Lenasia. It is alleged the customer initially applied for a three-phase meter, but he obtained a mini-substation illegally. “The utility’s records show that at the time, four mini-substations were procured, however, one disappeared without a trace. “The local energy supplier team found the missing mini-substation at the businessman’s premises after a request by a new business nearby to be connected…

The saying goes that sometimes you’ve got to cut your suit according to your cloth. And when you have Springbok stars such as Kurt-Lee Arendse and Canan Moodie in your ranks, you might expect a rugby team to adopt an all-out attacking policy in trying to run the opposition off their feet. But the Bulls opted for a more cautious path initially in the past weekend’s United Rugby Championship clash against the Lions, and while they probably overdid it initially, they found their groove to pull off a 25-10 bonus-point win at Ellis Park. Arendse and Moodie were playing their first game in nearly two months after observing their Bok resting protocols, and they hardly got the ball against the Lions. But that doesn’t mean it will be the case…