Table of contents for CT-2021-04-22 in Cape Times

EDWARD WEST edward.west@inl.co.za ZAK CALISTO, founder and chief executive of Karooooo, was scratching his head in puzzlement yesterday after the shares debuted on the JSE by trading at about a 90 percent discount to the Nasdaq price, before correcting. The South Africa-based international fleet and asset-tracking software company started trading at R59 a share in thin volumes on the JSE yesterday morning, but moved to R441 after midday. The share trades at around R500 on Nasdaq. The company has its primary listing on Nasdaq and a corresponding inward listing on the JSE, following a delisting and restructuring of Cartrack. Calisto said he was not sure why the share had traded at such a deep discount initially, possibly some shareholders were dumping shares for reasons unknown, there was some technical…

The group sees this as a significant first step on a journey to help investors make more informed choices OLD MUTUAL Wealth is the first Linked Investment Service Provider in the South African investment industry to publish the Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) ratings of its own locally domiciled unit trusts. The Old Mutual Wealth ratings were developed through a collaboration with MSCI, a global leader in investment research, in response to a growing demand for more transparency and a greater variety of sustainable investments. “We’re very excited about collaborating with MSCI to produce ESG ratings for the Old Mutual Unit Trusts funds on our platform,” says Farhad Sader, managing director of Old Mutual Wealth. “Responsible investing is a core value that has long underpinned the investment philosophy and process…

SOUTH Africa was ranked 110 out of 115 countries in the World Economic Forum’s Energy Transition Index published this week, reflecting the slow progress towards a sustainable and affordable energy system. The 2021 edition of the report, titled Fostering Effective Energy Transition, ranked 115 countries according to their readiness for a just transition based on economic development and growth, energy security as well as environmental sustainability. Sweden led the rankings, followed by Norway, Denmark and Switzerland. Among the world’s top economies, only the US and Italy featured in the top 10 ranked countries while China was ranked at 68. The term just transition is commonly defined as the move towards an environmentally sustainable economy while contributing to the goals of decent work for all, social inclusion and the eradication of…

Viwe Ndongeni-Ntlebi viwe.ndongeni@inl.co.za IN SOUTH Africa there is a debate about flu injections, yet up to 11 000 people die from the flu annually. With Covid-19 spreading, experts say it’s important to get flu vaccines because flu symptoms are similar to Covid-19 symptoms. While the range of symptoms for the two viruses is similar, the fraction with severe disease appears to be different. For Covid-19, data suggests that 80% of infections are mild or asymptomatic, 15% are severe and require oxygen and 5% are critical infections, requiring ventilation. Dr Morgan Mkhatshwa, head of operations at Bonitas Medical Fund, says this is an important point of difference between flu and the coronavirus. Flu has a shorter incubation period and can spread faster than Covid-19. Further, transmission in the first 3…

Nicola Daniels nicola.daniels@inl.co.za CHALLENGES posed by front companies that misrepresent their true shareholders by falsely claiming black South Africans as owners continues, the first annual Black Industrialist Report highlighted. The report, released by the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition (DTIC), provides details of approximately 100 black industrialists and entrepreneurs who have been supported by the National Empowerment Fund (NEF), and the Industrial Development Corporation (IDC), with case studies covering a range of productive sectors including food production; clothing and textiles; and mining metals machinery equipment, among others. “Fronting practices continue in which companies misrepresent the position of true shareholders and beneficiaries by falsifying black South Africans as owners. “In some cases, black-owned firms have lent, and continue to lend, their names to tender documents, while the work is done…

Samkelo Mtshali and Chevon Booysen AS voting stations for by-elections around the country closed last night, President Cyril Ramaphosa announced that local government elections will be held on October 27. In a statement, the Presidency said October 27 will mark the sixth time under South Africa’s democratic dispensation that voters will elect leadership and public representatives at metropolitan, district and local levels. “The Minister of Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs will follow the necessary legal process to proclaim the date and undertake other requirements. “The president urges eligible – and especially first-time voters – to ensure they are registered to participate in the elections which provide the basis for development and service delivery closest to where citizens live,” the Presidency said. The Electoral Commission (IEC) said the by-elections held…

IT’S ironic that Public Enterprises Minister Pravin Gordhan, who hides behind state capture whenever he is asked to account, is now having to defend himself against claims of attempting to meddle with the judiciary. That Gordhan had asked Chief Justice Mogoeng Mogoeng about how his friend Judge Dhaya Pillay performed during 2016 interviews for vacant posts at the Supreme Court of appeal, is too serious to be ignored. “He (Gordhan) came, I do not have a clear recollection of what the purpose of the meeting was, but what stuck to my mind and left me puzzled was the following: he asked me how did my friend Dhaya Pillay perform? “Why did the honourable minister make an effort to meet me? We are not friends. Why did he seek an audience…

RUSSIAN President Vladimir Putin warned the West yesterday not to cross Russia’s “red lines”, saying Moscow would respond swiftly and harshly to any provocations and those responsible would regret it. At a time of acute crisis in ties with the US and Europe, with Russian troops massed near Ukraine and opposition leader Alexei Navalny on hunger strike in jail, the Kremlin leader used his State of the Nation speech to project a message of Russian strength and defiance in the face of outside threats. “We want good relations … and really don’t want to burn bridges,” Putin told both houses of parliament. “But if someone mistakes our good intentions for indifference or weakness and intends to burn down or even blow up these bridges, they should know that Russia’s response…

DAMASCUS: Syria was yesterday stripped of its voting rights by member states at the global chemical weapons watchdog after its forces were found to have repeatedly used poison gas during the civil war. A majority of nations voting at the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) supported a decision to revoke Syria’s privileges at the agency. The proposal was initiated by 46 out of 193 member countries on the OPCW’s governing Conference of States Parties. Iran, Russia and Syria were among those to vote against. The move sends a political signal to Syria that breaches of the 1997 Chemical Weapons Convention will not be accepted. | Reuters…

Maseru: After barely a year in office, the Lesotho prime minister’s future hung in the balance yesterday after an overnight split of his ruling party risked upsetting the parliamentary majority he needs to stay in power. Moeketsi Majoro took power in May last year following the dramatic departure of his predecessor, Thomas Thabane, who resigned amid allegations that he conspired to murder his wife in 2017. A cabinet minister and deputy leader of the ruling All Basotho Convention (ABC), Nqosa Mahao, claims that almost half of the ABC’s 47 MPs in the 120-seat parliament are jumping ship to join his new party. | AFP…

Colombo: A Mrs World winner facing criminal charges after an on-stage fracas at a Sri Lankan beauty pageant has relinquished her title, organisers said yesterday. Caroline Jurie made international headlines after yanking the crown off the winner at the local segment of Mrs World in Sri Lanka at a Colombo theatre this month. Jurie won the entire Mrs World competition last year in Las Vegas but California-based Mrs World Inc said she had now voluntarily stepped down and the 2020 crown has now gone to runner-up Kate Schneider of Ireland. Jurie had faced calls to give up her title after being arrested following the unruly scenes on stage.Jurie had claimed that this year’s Mrs Sri Lanka winner Pushpika de Silva was ineligible for the prize as she was divorced.…

MIHLALI BALEKA Orlando Pirates will need to win or draw their last match of the group stage, or a result for Group A counterparts Enyimba against Ahli Benghazi this afternoon in order for them to reach the quarter-finals of the CAF Confederation Cup this season. That waiting game could have been avoided though. But Pirates were held to a 0-0 draw by ES Setif in their penultimate group stage match at Orlando Stadium yesterday – as they moved on to nine points, one behind their next opponents Enyimba. Pirates had won all their last three games in the competition at home – two coming in the group stage against Enyimba and Benhgazi. Against Setif, they started well as expected, making forays into the visitors’ final third in the first half…

RENERGEN has entered into an agree- ment with DPD Laser for the manufacture and purchase of the first 110 Cryo-Vacc cases, following the launch of its Cryo-Vacc storage solution. DPD Laser is one of South Africa’s leading express courier companies that has been serving South Africa for more than 30 years. Renergen said yesterday that the key terms of the agreement are a fixed purchase of 110 Cryo-Vacc cases in a combination of all three sizes and the Cryo-Vacc cases will be delivered in May. The agreement has been completed ahead of the launch of Phase 2 vaccination programme for South Africa and Renergen has commenced construction of the 110 Cryo-Vacc cases for delivery to DPD Laser, which is expected to be completed by the end of May. Renergen chief…

INTEGRATED facilities management company Servest has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with eThekwini Maritime Cluster (EMC) that would enable both parties to expose unemployed graduates to the maritime industry by re-skilling and upskilling talented graduates to bridge the skills gap in the sector. Despite South Africa having a vibrant maritime industry, professional skills in many areas of the sector were in short supply, with many skills being limited to unskilled areas, a statement said yesterday. A study by Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University found that the oceans economy had the potential to create about 316 000 jobs and contribute R5 billion to the country’s GDP. In terms of the agreement, the EMC would be responsible for recruitment and selecting graduates who would be upskilled. The areas of potential…

Sandile Mchunu sandile.mchunu@inl.co.za QUILTER plc yesterday reported a 26 percent increase in assets under management and administration (AuMA) in the first quarter to the end of March, boosted by improved net flows, positive investment performance and markets. The UK-based wealth manager saw its AuMA climbing to £119.9 billion (R2.39 trillion) during the quarter, up from £95.3bn compared with the same quarter last year, and up 2 percent compared with the quarter to the end of December. Chief executive Paul Feeney said he was delighted with the significant improvement in both their gross flows and net flows in the first quarter of this year, with the UK business, excluding Quilter International, delivering annualised net client cash flow of 5 percent of opening AuMA 2021, led by…

Thobile Mazibuko thobile.mazibuko@inl.co.za American actress and film director Regina King is the first woman to be on the cover of a non-retouched Greek magazine. For the May issue of Vogue Greece, which is photographed by Sonia Szóstak, the multi-award-winning star is styled by Wayman + Micah. Latrice Johnson did her make-up while Larry Sims handled her hair. What’s extraordinary about this issue is that it is not retouched so as to spread the message of self-love. Thaleia Karafyllidou, the editor-in-chief of the glossy mag, explained the two covers and the aim behind the issue. “Vogue Greece breaks stereotypes with an entirely unretouched May issue. “For the first time in the history of a Greek fashion magazine, none of the photographs gracing the editorials has undergone even the slightest processing,…

Gerry Cupido geraldine.cupido@inl.co.za We’re constantly using our phones to take pictures of our loved ones. Most of the time those pictures only exist in virtual space and are rarely get printed any more. The only photo albums this generation knows are the album folders on our phone or Facebook! Gone are the days when you could sit down with a dusty photo album flipping through old photographs and take a trip down memory lane. Fortunately there are still some people who take the time and effort to have their favourite camera phone pictures printed. Professional photographers are more readily available now as well so it’s not uncommon to see folks doing elaborate family photoshoots. The best way to do justice to those amazing photographs is by displaying them creatively…

Chevon Booysen chevon.booysen@inl.co.za THE Open CCMA Campaign has again called for the full functionality of the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration (CCMA) to return to attend to what it said was a huge backlog of cases, and for budget cuts to be reversed. Yesterday, the Open CCMA Campaign, supported by a number of worker organisations, demonstrated outside four CCMA offices across the country, saying it would continue such protest action until its demands were met. Campaign spokesperson Songezo Mazizi said the picket occurred at offices in Cape Town, Benoni, Johannesburg and Welkom. “We want the CCMA offices to reverse their budget cuts, in which they deducted R90.1 million from the 2020/21 budget, with projected cuts over a three-year period having been reduced from over R600m to R301m. “They had…

Reuters The US Justice Department yesterday launched a sweeping civil investigation into policing practices in Minneapolis, following a jury’s verdict that former city police officer Derek Chauvin murdered George Floyd. The probe is the first major action of attorney general Merrick Garland, after President Joe Biden vowed to address systemic racism in the country. It will consider whether the department engages "in a pattern or practice of using excessive force, including during protests," he said. He added that it will also examine whether the department "engages in discriminatory conduct and whether its treatment of those with behavioural health disabilities is unlawful." A 12-member jury on Tuesday found Chauvin, 45, guilty of second-degree murder, third-degree murder, and manslaughter, after considering three weeks of testimony from 45 witnesses. These included bystanders,…

Staff Reporter ONE OF the most devastating unintended consequences of the response to the Covid-19 pandemic in South Africa is the spread of hunger. Large numbers of people, estimated in the region of about 3 million, lost their jobs last year and were added to the growing unemployment figures of the country. In a study by Ipsos, on behalf of the Centre for Social Development in Africa based at the University of Johannesburg, it was found that almost half (46%) of adult South Africans agreed with the statement: “Adults and children in my household often had to go hungry during the Covid-19 pandemic, as we did not have enough money for food.” Fieldwork was conducted from November 19 to December 30 last year, with 3 469 face-to-face interviews…

Kennedy Mudzuli kennedy.mudzuli@inl.co.za ZELDA VENTER zelda.venter@inl.co.za THE man who killed ANC member of the Gauteng legislature Mapiti Matsena stabbed him at least 11 times with a knife because he wanted to take revenge for the bad treatment he claimed he had received from Matsena. This emerged yesterday when Monoko Thoka, 30, pleaded guilty in the Pretoria high court to the murder of the ANC’s former deputy regional chairperson and housebreaking with the intent to commit murder. He told the court he repeatedly stabbed Matsena in his bedroom in Doornpoort, north of Pretoria. Matsena’s wife, Matema, was under a blanket which Thoka had thrown over her. Thoka said that while he accepted he could face a life sentence behind bars, he wanted to plead guilty and spare the family from testifying…

Pritesh Ruthun The all-electric Volkswagen ID.4 minivan has been named as the 2021 World Car of the Year (as voted for by 93 motoring journalists from 28 countries that make up the World Car Awards jury panel). Ralf Brandstätter, the chief executive of Volkswagen Cars says: “We are particularly pleased about our ID.4 being named World Car of the Year. Not only because it is one of the most important car awards in the world but because the jury also honoured a great idea and a great team. “The first ID. Model for the key markets of Europe, China and the USA carries our electric offensive around the world. A convincing car, a great idea – and the World Car of the Year award? That goes well together for…

It is with shock that the news of Absa Group chief executive Daniel Mminele’s resignation was announced in a press statement released by the bank. This comes as a major surprise to many in the finance and banking industry as Mr Mminele only served one year at the helm of one of South Africa’s top banks. Despite the agreement which was made for Mr Mminele to step down as chief executive of the Absa Board and group executive, the reason for this falls short of inspiring confidence in the sector and the bank’s transformational agenda. Some of the reasons made known to the public was that there was no alignment in terms of their strategy and culture between himself and the board; however, how was he in the employ in…

Chad woke up to an uncertain future yesterday as the son of slain president Idriss Deby Itno took charge. Itno had ruled the country with an iron fist for three decades. The presidency moved swiftly to put the reins of power in the hands of General Mahamat Idriss Deby Itno and tear up Chad’s constitution, establishing a “Transition Charter” that lays out a new basic law for the desert country of 16 million people. The new charter issued yesterday proclaimed that Mahamat 37, a career soldier like his father, will “occupy the functions of the president of the republic” and also serve as head of the armed forces. Mahamat had already been named the head of a military council on Tuesday soon after the announcement of Deby’s death in…

Kaduna: Gunmen on Tuesday attacked a private university in Nigeria’s northern Kaduna state, killing one staff member and kidnapping students. Since December, criminal gangs known locally as bandits have increasingly targeted schools and colleges for kidnapping attacks, hoping to squeeze ransom payments. A university staff member was killed in the Tuesday evening attack on Greenfield University, police said. Schools targeted are in remote areas where students stay in dormitories with only watchmen for security, making them easier targets. Since December, 730 students have been abducted, disrupting the studies of more than 5 million children, Unicef said. | AFP…

HUSAVIK: The tiny Icelandic town of Husavik, which was propelled to global fame by a hit Netflix comedy, has rolled out a red carpet on its main street in anticipation of even greater glory on Oscars night. The power ballad Husavik (My Hometown), which featured as the climactic moment in the movie about a couple bumbling their way through the Eurovision Song Contest, is nominated for Best Original Song. Schools and shops will be closed on Monday to give residents a chance to watch the awards show live the night before, when it is broadcast from Hollywood. The mayor said schoolchildren could be heard singing the song daily. | Reuters…

COMMENT BY MIKE GREENAWAY mike.greenaway@inl.co.za At one point there was the possibility of South Africa’s Rainbow Cup teams basing themselves in Croatia – the players wouldn’t have minded a resort on the sunny Adriatic Sea one bit — such was the range of options the organisers exhausted before finally admitting defeat. No fewer than 16 venues across the UK, Ireland, Europe, and even the Middle East were considered as base camps for our teams but all were ultimately kicked into touch by a persistent pandemic, and one that on a sporting level has sentenced South African teams to pariah status. Of course everybody was desperate to see intercontinental rugby competition, especially governing rugby bodies close to perishing from lack of broadcasting revenue, but also coaches and players growing stale from…

HERMAN GIBBS CAPE Town City scored a notable 2-1 victory at FNB Stadium as a wasteful Kaizer Chiefs’ dreadful run of form in the Premiership continued yesterday. After City had taken a 2-0 lead, Chiefs had a glut of scoring chances, but only midfielder Kearyn Baccus, a second-half substitute, found the net in the 67th minute. Chiefs took the initiative at the start and managed a few early sorties into the opposition goalmouth without setting up scoring chances. City took some time to settle down. When they did, their attacks, mostly down the right flank, proved penetrative. An 18th-minute corner provided City with a chance for a breakthrough when Chiefs made a hash of clearing their lines. The ball spun free and City striker Tashreeq Morris, from five metres…

HAMMERSON had reached agreement on the portfolio sale of its seven retail park assets to Brookfield for £330m (R6.57 billion) cash, representing an 8 percent discount to the December 31, 2020, book value of £357m. The transaction concluded Hammerson’s exit from the UK retail parks sector, a statement said yesterday. Hammerson also recently disposed of Brent South Shopping Park and its minority interests in Nicetoile and Espace Saint Quentin, which were sold in line with December 31 valuations. The transaction with Brookfield took total gross proceeds of Hammerson’s disposals in 2021 to £403m at an average discount to December 31 valuations of 6 percent. The proceeds would further strengthen Hammerson’s balance sheet, reduce debt, which was £2.2bn at Decem- ber 31, and increase liquidity, which stood at £1.7bn…

Lutho Pasiya lutho.pasiya@inl.co.za Vitamin C is one of the most important antioxidants for our bodies. It helps boost our immune systems. When we consume food rich in vitamin C, we are likely protecting ourselves from several chronic diseases. It is common for many of us to reach for vitamin C to help protect us from things like the common cold or the flu. This is because vitamin C has been shown to enhance cellular immunity by promoting the infection-killing ability of white blood cells. While it does not usually prevent infection, it can reduce the severity of cold symptoms and can shorten the duration of an infection. But do you know which foods contain the most amount of vitamin C that will help fight the flu this season? From our…

From page 1 The decision to open a probe into systemic policing problems marks a sharp contrast from the administration of former president Donald Trump, which curtailed the use of court-enforcement agreements to prevent police departments from violating people’s civil rights. Garland rescinded that policy on Friday, saying the department would be returning to its traditional practices of investigating state and local police departments, and allowing unit heads to approve most settlements and consent decrees. Yesterday, Garland said Justice Department officials had already started to reach out to community groups in Minneapolis, to ask about their experiences with law enforcement, and they also plan to speak with police officers there about the training and support they receive.…

Sihle Mavuso sihle.mavuso@inl.co.za IN a move that has been on the cards for days, former president Jacob Zuma yesterday parted ways with his high- powered legal team. The split, which Independent Media understands was amicable, happened weeks before Zuma returns to the Pietermaritzburg High Court to face his corruption trial which emanates from the multibillion rand arms deal of the late 1990s. Announcing its split from Zuma, Eric Mabuza of Mabuza Attorneys in Johannesburg wrote to the court and informed it. But Mabuza, who was Zuma’s instructing lawyer, did not give any reasons for the firm’s withdrawal in the letter and refused to discuss the matter when asked about it. “Be pleased to take notice that Mabuza Attorneys hereby withdraw as the attorneys of record for Accused No 1.…

Okuhle Hlati okhule.hlati@inl.co.za THE fight continues over the City’s plan, in the pipeline for nearly two decades, for a new road link along the Noordhoek wetlands, despite environmentalists believing it will cause the extinction of the already protected Western Cape Leopard Toad. The City wants to construct the proposed Houmoed Avenue Phase 1 Extension, to link Noordhoek Main road with Kommetjie road, that will run along Noordhoek Wetlands, and is opposing a legal application to halt the development. The Noordhoek Environmental Action Group (NEAG), backed by the Noordhoek Ratepayers Association (NRPA), launched an application at the Western Cape High Court for the approval of the road by environment MEC Anton Bredell to be reversed. The project was first approved after an application process in 2002, but the decision was overturned…

Athandile Siyo and Zanele Mvana THE family of murdered 22-year-old Lonwabo Jack has welcomed the arrest of a suspect in his murder. Jack was stabbed to death before allegedly being raped on his birthday in a suspected hate crime. His body was discovered on a pavement in Mau-Mau, Nyanga East, in the early hours of Sunday. A 17-year-old was arrested in Eerste River yesterday, a day after the community took to the streets to call for justice and an end to hate crimes. Police spokesperson Noloyiso Rwexana said: “After a search that took the Nyanga detectives from location to location, the suspect was apprehended early morning in the Eerste River area.” Nomvula Loku, Jack’s aunt, said the family was grateful for the arrest and that they wanted justice. “The…

Okuhle Hlati okhule.hlati@inl.co.za THE attempts of the school governing body (SGB) of Heathfield High to personally appeal for the new provincial Education head of department, Brent Walters, to consider dropping charges against principal Wesley Neumann were dashed yesterday. Neumann’s supporters, including pupils and teachers, picketed outside the Western Cape Education Department (WCED) offices yesterday, where Neumann appeared for a disciplinary hearing. Neumann is facing six charges, including that of failing to carry out an instruction of the employer, after refusing to reopen the school at the peak of the Covid-19 pandemic last year. SGB spokesperson Brandon De Kock said the charges must be dropped or the hearing must be opened to the public. “We wanted to hand over the petition to Walters because we have made a number of attempts…

Isaac Shai Law played a decisive role in the dispossession and oppression of African people in South Africa. In post-apartheid South Africa, law was once again poised to play a central role as an instrument for radical transformation. The Constitution is regarded as a lodestar that guides the process of transformation. However, it appears there are fundamental questions that as a country we either forgot to ask, or took for granted. One critical aspect that is scarce, particularly in public discourse on the nature and trajectory of our constitutional democracy, is the tension between transformation and “the deeply entrenched attitudes towards and thinking about what the ‘The Law is’, how it works and its function in the legal system and society”. The majority of legal scholars, legal practitioners, judges and…

Trading your way out of recession, to an economic turnaround One of the key drivers of getting the global economy on the road to recovery from the disruptions of the Covid-19 pandemic is trade. The mantra is to trade your way out of recession to an economic turnaround. The essence of Global Britain, for instance, is seeking new trading partners and agreements following Brexit and the absence of a final EU-UK trade pact. Global trade was projected pre-pandemic to expand by 2.7% last year, but contracted by 9.2%. The International Monetary Fund’s (IMF) pre-pandemic forecast similarly for world GDP growth last year was 3.3%, only to contract by 3.5%. The result for continental Africa is that it suffered its first economic recession in 25 years. Capital outflows from South Africa…

At least 22 patients died yesterday in a hospital in western India after a disruption to their oxygen supply caused by a leaking tank, the health minister said, as a nationwide surge in coronavirus cases soaks up supplies of the gas. The incident in the city of Nashik, one of India’s worst-hit areas, happened after the tank of oxygen leaked, said Rajesh Tope, the health minister of Maharashtra, the richest state, where the city is located. “Patients who were on ventilators at the hospital in Nashik have died,” Tope said in televised remarks. “The leakage was spotted at the tank supplying oxygen to these patients. The interrupted supply could be linked to the deaths of the patients in the hospital.” The world’s second-most populous nation reported 295 041 new…

Paris: Disneyland Paris, normally Europe’s biggest tourist attraction, will from Saturday host a mass Covid vaccination site at its convention centre as France seeks to speed up its inoculation drive, officials said. The amusement park east of the capital has been closed since October 30, when non-essential businesses were ordered to close amid a surge in infections, putting its 17 000 employees out of work. It had originally planned to re-admit visitors on April 2, but worsening conditions forced it to postpone this. The vaccination site will be housed outside the amusement park proper at its Newport Bay Club, a convention centre near its hotel complex. | AFP…

Nigeria’s commercial hub of Lagos is preparing to establish its own electricity market to ensure more reliable power supply. The plan would be a first in Nigeria, where energy generation, transmission and distribution is overseen by the central government. Lagos hosts headquarters of most large international and domestic businesses present in Africa’s largest economy, contributes about 25% of gross domestic product and more than half of industrial and commercial output. Lagos’s government is proposing that generation, transmission and distribution functions “be owned and operated substantially by the private sector” and supervised by a regulator, state Commissioner for Energy and Mineral Resources Olalere Odusote said in a consultation paper. Companies using gas and renewable energy will feed the Lagos grid, which will be connected to its national counterpart and complemented by…

MIHLALI BALEKA mihlali.baleka@inl.co.za It won’t come on a silver platter for the South African Under-23 men’s team, but they will know that they can’t afford to fall at the first hurdle of the Tokyo Olympics like the teams of 2000 and 2016 did. The South Africans were yesterday drawn in Group A for the Olympic football tournament alongside hosts Japan, Mexico and France. The Japanese have qualified for the last six editions of the Games, with their best finish being semi-finalist nine years ago. Their disappointment of a fourth-place finish in London was due to eventual winners Mexico, who have qualified for the tournament on six occasions since 1992 – despite being bundled out of the group stage at the last edition in Rio. France, though, are the underdogs in…

ZAAHIER ADAMS AmaZulu 0 Mamelodi Sundowns 0 BENNI McCarthy’s AmaZulu missed the chance to close the gap at top of the DStv Premiership table to just three points as they only managed to hold the league-leaders Mamelodi Sundowns to a 0-0 stalemate at Kings Park yesterday. The first half was a cagey affair as both teams adopted a tactical approach that hinged on the other making a mistake. There were a couple of chances that fell to Sundowns’ Thapelo Morena and Peter Shalulile, but neither could direct their shots on target. Thabo Qalinge endured the same misfortune for the hosts after the winger burst inside the box before over-hitting his strike at goal. However, the second half begun in complete different fashion as AmaZulu’s Augustine Mulenga cut through…

Stuart Hess stuart.hess@inl.co.za While five provincial unions have given firm backing for the creation of a Board of Directors at Cricket SA that is primarily made up of independent officials with an independent chair, the Northerns Cricket Union yesterday sought to walk a fine line in which it tried to satisfy everyone. That may seem diplomatic but it is also confusing. The NCU released a statement yesterday indicating its support for a majority independent board with an independent chair, but that the latter has to “be someone with the skill and experience to lead CSA”. The NCU also proposed that a former international player serve as an independent director, while two of the other independents had to have served in sports structures. Quite how those requests will go down remains…