Table of contents for 2023-03-20 in Star

MINER AngloGold Ashanti said on Friday, for the year ended December 31, 2022, it elected not to award salary increases to its leadership team due to restructuring. According to the group, non-executive directors also elected not to receive a fee increase for 2022 to align themselves with the executive and senior management teams. In its integrated report released on Friday, the mining firm said it experienced significant changes during 2022, with a great deal of restructuring needed to place performance on a more favourable long-term trajectory after especially challenging conditions in the prior two years. It said: “The beginning of the year saw the conclusion of an operating model revamp under CEO Alberto Calderon and Lisa Ali, the new chief people officer who joined in April. “This restructuring was accompanied…

AARTIFICIAL Intelligence (AI) has taken the world by storm and is developing at an exponential rate. It was only about four months ago that the San Francisco-based company Open AI made ChatGPT, the AI chatbot based on the GPT-3 family of large language models, available to the public. Within two months ChatGPT reached 100 million users and overtook all previous app growth records. The implications of the versatile ChatGPT are far-reaching, with many people becoming concerned about their profession, while academic institutions are rethinking their assessment strategies. Meanwhile, Microsoft is embedding ChatGPT in many of its products, such as Bing, Azure, Excel and Word. The new ChatGPT-4 On March 14, OpenAI released ChatGPT-4, a much more powerful tool, as successor to ChatGPT. Open AI describes it as “a massive leap…

From music studio to kitchen, multi-platinum award-winning artist, Holly Rey ventures into baking in her new TV show, Baking With The Reys, set to air on S3 next month. In time for the school holidays and Easter, this fun show is the perfect treat for parents and children to enjoy together. Baking is a craft that is handed down from one generation to the next and a beautiful way to pass on family traditions. However, many parents struggle to find recipes that are easy enough to spark an interest and get their children started in a way that feels rewarding. Baking With The Reys is a 10-part cooking series filmed in the family kitchen with Rey and her little sister Mimi. This series aims to inspire a love for baking…

Founder and president emeritus of the IFP and traditional Prime Minister to the Zulu nation, Prince Mangosuthu Buthelezi, said his dearest wish was for the ANC and the IFP to reconcile and re-establish historic ties. Relations between the ANC and the IFP soured in the 1980s when Inkatha refused to abandon the liberation movement’s founding principle of non-violence. Buthelezi also refused to support sanctions and disinvestment, knowing the damage it would cause to the economy. The chasm widened when black-on-black violence engulfed KwaZulu-Natal and the then-Witwatersrand as the ANC’s People’s War was unleashed on South Africa. In an exclusive interview with The Star, Buthelezi said he had been working tirelessly since the dawn of democracy to get the IFP and the ANC to sing from the same hymn book once…

A 16-year-old girl has been arrested for the murder of her mother in Lesedi Park, Limpopo. The teenager reportedly ordered a hit on her mother as she wanted “freedom”. Westenburg police seek information that can assist in locating a man who allegedly killed a woman, 44, after he was asked by the victim’s daughter, 16, to eliminate her mother, Brigadier Motlafela Mojapelo said. The incident happened on March 15 at about 10pm. The girl allegedly met the man outside Polokwane and reportedly told him her mother was denying her freedom and she wanted to get rid of her. “The two then went to the house to wait for the girl’s mother. The mother arrived home and was attacked with a frying pan and collapsed. It is reported the suspect strangled…

Gauteng pastor Siva Moodley has been buried, 579 days after he died. Photographs from the funeral, which was conducted with the assistance of Destiny Church, were circulated on social media last week. In an earlier article, IOL reported that Moodley’s body had been kept at a Johannesburg mortuary since his death on August 15, 2021. Moodley, 53, the founder of The Miracle Centre in the north of Johannesburg, died after falling ill. The Star’s sister paper, the Post reported that his family and members of the church used to visit the funeral home to pray for his resurrection. At the time, funeral home manager Martin du Toit lodged an application with the Johannesburg Magistrate’s Court to grant him permission to have Moodley buried or cremated. The Post said since…

BORN in 1994, Kganya Mogashoa is a self-taught multidisciplinary artist who creates mixed-medium paintings focusing on portraiture and figures. She is the founder of Koranges Art (Pty) Ltd and says she is inspired by personal experiences. Among her desires is to change the trajectory of behavioural patterns that affect mental health and women in society. Mogashoa is also part of the 2022/23 Incubator Programme, where she is being mentored by the acclaimed visual artist Nomaza Nongqunga Coupez. In 2019, Mogashoa left her interior design job to follow her passion for fine art. She registered her company, Koranges Art, and currently works from a studio at Ellis House Art Building in Johannesburg. In the first quarter of 2022 she was invited by the South African State Theatre to hold her first…

There has been a lot of discussion and media commentary regarding the EFF’s political campaign which has been camouflaged as a national shutdown. We are not oblivious to the fact that this is also a voter registration campaign, as circulating EFF posters have such messages. In addition, let me point out that the EFF has also hijacked and weaponised genuine concerns of vulnerable communities in order to achieve their political objectives. It is important to do this characterisation in order to ensure that members of the public are not hoodwinked into thinking that the EFF has their interests at heart. Regarding the political climate in the province and the country as a whole, it is important to acknowledge that all political parties have different views on many issues, including the…

The return of David Miller, Aiden Markram, Heinrich Klaasen and either Sisanda Magala or Wayne Parnell promises to strengthen the Proteas ahead of the third ODI against the West Indies and also for the all-important Netherlands series. The loss to the West Indies in East London created an excitement amongst the fans in anticipation of what a full-strength Proteas side could achieve now that the captain, Temba Bavuma, is on song. The team that suffered a loss to the Windies on Saturday had only Bavuma, Quinton de Kock, Rassie van der Dussen and Lungi Ngidi as regular senior players, while the rest of the players were auditioning and fighting for spots. Tabrazi Shamsi was dropped for the West Indies ODI series due to poor of form, including last month’s series…

Sheffield United came from behind twice to edge Blackburn Rovers 3-2 in an entertaining FA Cup quarter-final after Tommy Doyle's superb 91st minute strike yesterday booked a Wembley trip. With the score at 2-2 in added time, Doyle fired a shot from 25 metres that arrowed into the top corner with keeper Aynsley Pears unable to palm it away despite getting a hand to it. In a contest between two second-tier teams vying for promotion to the Premier League, Blackburn took the lead in the 21st minute when they were awarded a penalty for Jack Robinson's handball after a VAR check, which was converted by Ben Brereton. Blackburn's Sam Gallagher then scored an own goal seven minutes later after Max Lowe's shot from range took a deflection off the striker's…

SA CORPORATE Real Estate (SAcorp), which last week proposed to acquire residential real estate investment trust (Reit) Indluplace, declared a 5.5% higher distribution, to 24.15 cents per share (cps) at a 90% payout ratio for the year to December 31, over last year’s 22.89 cps at the same payout ratio. SAcorp’s portfolio consists of 157 industrial, retail and residential properties, with 1 350 666 square metres of gross lettable area valued at R15.2 billion; a 50% joint venture interest in three Zambian entities with properties valued at R1.4bn; and, listed investments of R169 million. Post financial year-end, the listed investment in Safari Investments RSA was disposed of for R112m. A further R400m interest rate swop agreement was entered into and a R50.9m US dollar…

RAPPER K.O recently said he’d be releasing a “Pan African remix” of his smash hit single Sete, alongside Diamond Platnumz, Oxlade and Young Stunna. Nigerian singer, Oxlade, and Tanzanian bongo flava star Diamond Platnumz, are two new additions to the original song and their inclusion is a result of K.O’s desire to help expand the song across the continent. “I was never big on remixes, but I believed it could be a great chance for us to take Sete to the next level, especially bringing in some amazing acts from the continent,” he said. “I chose Oxlade and Diamond Platnumz because I wanted to make it organic, and they both bring the West and East of Africa together which is what I had hoped for.” However, their involvement has come…

AZAPO and the PAC have teamed up to commemorate Human Rights Day, also known as Sharpeville Day, tomorrow. In March 1960, 69 people were killed when scores of people took to the streets to protest against pass laws. The apartheid police sprayed bullets at the crowd when they threatened to enter the Sharpeville police station. There were 180 people injured. The two liberation movements signed an agreement to work together in February last year. In a joint media statement released yesterday, the parties said they had established a task team to mobilise members to take part in the commemoration. PAC’s Apa Pooe said in the joint statement that the PAC had initiated and led the action campaign against the pass laws. “The aim was to dismantle the economic base of…

THABO Bester, dubbed the “Facebook serial rapist”, who was allegedly spotted shopping in Sandton, has set tongues wagging across the country. While some thought he died in a fire at a Department of Correctional Services (DCS) facility, many believe he is alive and living it up in Joburg. The DCS emphasised the investigation into Bester’s death was still ongoing and that the agency had not yet received the autopsy results. Unconfirmed reports suggest Bester could be linked to three robberies while in a facility in Mangaung, Free State, where he was serving a life sentence. Sources said Bester is alive, and there are reports of people who have had encounters with him – despite reports that he was dead. An image of a man resembling Bester in the company of…

MUSIC, arts, poetry, film and human rights will once again feature at Constitution Hill with a stellar line-up of events to celebrate Human Rights Month, with the return of the 5th edition of the Human Rights Festival on March 25 and 26. For the festival event Constitution Hill CEO Dawn Robertson has promised to cater to the wide-ranging tastes of festival-goers, who will enjoy two jam-packed days of art, film, and live performances by Msaki, BCUC and many other top artists. “This 5th edition of the Constitution Hill Human Rights Festival takes place at a time when our country is in crisis and our Constitutional vision of social justice and human rights is being stretched to breaking point. “For this reason, the theme is Seize the Power! Seize your…

The suspended public protector, Busisiwe Mkhwebane, has unequivocally expressed her hardships at the Public Protector’s Office. There is no guarantee of independence. The suspended public protector, who is supposed to protect the public from the abuse of power by the government, is brought to Parliament by politicians in an impeachment inquiry when she should be preparing for a handover to her successor. Isn’t that ironic? She has even likened what she endured to a “political witch-hunt”. Have we not learnt from the commission of state capture, that without independence, government institutions will be infiltrated by undue political interference and become easily captured? The ad hoc committee to be established to look into the Phala Phala matter will probably be susceptible to this undue political interference. What South Africa needs is…

Orlando Pirates coach Jose Riveiro agreed with SuperSport United coach Gavin Hunt’s sentiment that Matsatsantsa played good football, but was also happy with the way in which his team countered the threat of their opponents. “In terms of toughness, the game was played over small margins,” Riveiro said of the 1-0 victory on Saturday. “The organisation of the opponents was good. It took time to occupy space ahead of their back three. “We didn’t start well, and they had three corners and throw-ins in the opening minutes of the game. The game was played pound-for-pound. It was a real football match. It was an excellent performance with their style. I am proud that we managed to counter-attack that type of football.” Two players who appeared to struggle to get going…

The unions trans-Vaal have a taxing fortnight ahead, more so than the Sharks and Stormers in many respects. The United Rugby Championship – after a hiatus due to the Six Nations finishing up – restarts this weekend, with all the South African franchises in action abroad. The Bulls travel to Kingspan Stadium to face Ulster, while the Lions find themselves in northern Italy hosted by Benetton – both on Saturday. The Sharks also play on Saturday against Scarlets at Parc y Scarlets. The Stormers, meanwhile, will contest a top-of-the-table clash against Leinster a day before, taking on the tournament favourites at RDS Main Arena. The pressure, however, will be focused on the two Gauteng sides – the Bulls and Lions – as they must overcome issues on and off the…

AFTER three long months of implementing intensified power cuts, Eskom this weekend finally suspended load shedding for the first time this year due to some recovery in generation capacity. This was a welcome relief for businesses and households who have had to endure heightened levels of rotational load shedding for the better part of the past six months. Eskom on Friday said it would suspend load shedding during the day on Sunday, after implementing Stages 1 and 2, due to recovery in capacity and lower expected demand. The struggling utility said the lower expected weekend demand had allowed it to reduce the required stages of load shedding and suspend where possible. The recovery of Eskom’s generation capacity has been significant as breakdowns were at 14 256MW, down from 17…

BALWIN Properties sold fewer apartments in the year to February 28, but its gross profit margin improved and cash and loan-to-value positions were well within targets, the group said in a business update and trading statement on Friday. Management said the 6.1% reduction in apartments sold, to 2 780 units, was from adopting a more defensive strategy in the handover to owners, to ensure the forward sales position remained robust. “This is to provide sales protection into the new financial year, which is anticipated to present challenging trading conditions,” they said in the statement. Consolidated headline earnings per share was expected to increase by between 16% and 21%, translating into an increase from the prior financial year’s 75.88 cents to a range of between 88 and 91.8c per…

Drew Barrymore is set to host the 2023 MTV Movie and TV Awards on May 7. In a video clip posted on the Twitter account of her talk show, Barrymore said: “I am so honoured to have been chosen, especially this year, when the show is all about the fans. I’m a fan!” The Hollywood star – who first found fame as a child in E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial – said: “It is going to be an epic night. Big moments, huge movie stars!” Barrymore has won three Golden Popcorn statues at the awards during her career. The actress won the Best Kiss gong for The Wedding Singer and two awards for Best On-Screen Team for Charlie’s Angels and 50 First Dates. Barrymore launched her talk show in 2020 and said…

THE Pretoria Magistrate’s Court has postponed a perjury case hearing against suspended Public Protector Busisiwe Mkhwebane, who is currently facing a Parliamentary inquiry into her fitness to hold office. Last week, the Parliamentary hearing was adjourned to Thursday to allow Mkhwebane to attend to the case, which is in relation to her 2017 SA Reserve Bank (SARB) report. The report recommended that the mandate of the SARB be changed. On Friday, the magistrate postponed the perjury matter to October 26 to allow for a decision in a high court review application Mkhwebane lodged to have the charges withdrawn. She originally faced three charges of perjury for allegedly lying under oath about the number of times she had met former president Jacob Zuma during her investigation into the SARB and Absa.…

The Deputy Minister of Trade, Industry, and Competition, Nomalungelo Gina, has cautioned customers about the risks and adverse effects of making impulsive purchases, saying doing so can result in debt and serious socio-economic repercussions. The theme of this year’s World Consumer Rights Day (which fell on Wednesday) was “Empowering Consumers through Clean Energy Transitions”. South African regulators added another theme, “Creating a Fair Market- place”, to reaffirm their commitment to protecting South African consumers. The theme was a reminder to suppliers of goods and services of their responsibilities when marketing or providing goods and services to ensure that they do so in a fair and just manner, according to the National Consumer Commission, which spearheaded the celebrations. Gina stressed the critical importance of educating consumers to be prudent when making…

Mzansi has an abundance of diverse cultures and traditions, many of which are reflected in how people enjoy their food. As Easter approaches, the question once again arises: What is the best way to indulge in a traditional Easter egg? Cadbury is an expert chocolatier, with years of experience crafting delicious treats. The egg-citing Cadbury Easter range is back with something for all egg lovers to enjoy! It wouldn’t be a true Cadbury Easter without everyone’s favourite, the melt-in-your-mouth, Cadbury Fluffies Chocolate Coated Mallow Eggs. There’s also the yummy Cadbury chocolate Hollow Eggs filled with Whispers or Astros. Not forgetting the scrumptious, candy-coated Cadbury chocolate Hen’s Eggs, Cadbury Dairy Milk 170g Top Deck Bunnies slab as well as delicious Cadbury Mini Eggs. The next time you bite into a Cadbury…

After Ronwen Williams' early howler, the conspiracy theories have spread like wildfire and Mamelodi Sundowns head coach Rulani Mokwena was bombarded with insinuations of sabotaging Al Ahly's attempt to qualify for the CAF Champions League play-offs. The match between Sundowns and the Sudanese giants Al Hilal ended in a drama-filled 1-1 stalemate at the Blue Jewel Stadium in Omdurman, Sudan, on Saturday. The result could easily have been different because Al Hilal were awarded a penalty in the final minute by Tunisian referee, Sadok Selmi, who seemed to favour the Sudanese in the latter stages of the game. Had Al Hilal scored it would have wrecked Al Ahly's desperate attempt to reach the play-offs. In the Egypt, with its 107-million football-crazy fans, the failure of the 10-time Champions League winners…

Arsenal surged eight points clear at the top of the Premier League as Bukayo Saka's brace inspired a 4-1 rout of Crystal Palace yesterday. Gabriel Martinelli opened the scoring in the first half at the Emirates Stadium to put the leaders on course for a sixth successive league victory. It was redemption for Martinelli, whose missed penalty condemned Arsenal to Europa League last-16 defeat in their shoot-out against Sporting Lisbon on Thursday. Mikel Arteta's side needed just 45 minutes against struggling Palace to erase the bitter taste of that loss. Saka followed Martinelli's goal by doubling Arsenal's lead before half-time. Granit Xhaka netted the third after the interval and Jeff Schlupp's reply was no consolation as the influential Saka's second capped Arsenal's stylish display. Arsenal now have a substantial eight-point…