Table of contents for 2023-06-06 in Star

BUSINESSES in South Africa have remained optimistic about the year-ahead outlook in spite of activity plunging deeper into contractionary territory for the third month in a row in May. The S&P Global South Africa Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) released yesterday fell from 49.6 points in April to 47.9 points in May. This PMI reading was the steepest decline in business activity since July 2021, pointing to the third consecutive month of contraction in the country’s private sector activity. S&P said that underlying the downturn was a sharp and quicker contraction in business activity, which decreased to the greatest extent since July 2021. The declines were seen in the industry, construction, wholesale and retail, and services sectors, with survey panellists saying the contraction in output was again mainly driven…

OPERATIONS on the Transnet Freight Rail (TFR) Iron Corridor had been severely dis- rupted due to a derailment and a separate incident of cable theft the Transnet subsidi- ary said in a statement. The iron ore railway line is 861km long and runs between Sishen in the Northern Cape and Saldanha in the Western Cape. The line was specially built to be able to run heavy iron ore trains. Min- ing clients that use TFR, include Exxaro, Kumba Iron Ore, Thungela Resources among others. Both events had significantly impacted its ability to continue with normal operations, causing inconvenience and delays to its customers. “At approximately 02:05 (yesterday morning), 20 iron-ore loaded wagons derailed between Loop 9 and 10. Our teams are on the ground currently trying to establish the cause…

THERE’S no doubt that so far 2023 has been an Artificial Intelligence (AI) year. This is not to say the implementation of AI only arrived in 2023. It’s been around since 1950 when the Turing Test was conducted. ChatGPT just brought the technology to the mainstream and kick-started a wider conversation and implementation of AI across industries. Coupled with this excitement there’s an increased discussion about the regulation of AI which highlights a concern by some. A number of organisations are contemplating a future where everything will be driven by AI, and therefore are imagining their existence through the AI prism. While all of this has to be welcomed, it’s also important to take a step back and focus on what truly matters. Let me elaborate further. The adoption of…

THE DECLINE of the South African freight rail network should be considered a national tragedy. Current estimates are that freight volumes have declined by 30% over the past five years, with Transnet recently announcing that it intends to reduce the freight network even further as it targets more profitable cargo loads. A well-functioning and well-maintained rail network is essential for economic growth because it offers more cost-effective transport and simplified logistics. Currently, large parts of the rail network are inoperable, because of mismanagement and cable theft, as well as a shortage of locomotives and rolling stock. This represents a massive impediment to a number of industries, including citrus. Without an optimally operating rail system, the vision by the Citrus Growers’ Association of Southern Africa (CGA) of exporting up to 260…

ACTOR Jamie Foxx will give fans an update on his health condition “when he’s ready”. The 55-year-old Ray actor’s close friend Nick Cannon, 42, made the declaration while opening up about the Oscar-winner’s ongoing health scare after he was hospitalised in April for a still unspecified “medical complication”. He told Extra TV: “One thing I’ve always respected about how Jamie’s moved throughout his entire career, if you’ve noticed, he’s always been somebody who is extremely professional and extremely private. “I mean, you don’t ever really hear anything other than just the great work that he puts forth as a professional and the fact that, you know, he’s handled this situation with the same manner, you only can respect that. “I believe when he’s ready, he’s going to address the awaiting…

Every woman wants to look and feel beautiful. That is why in recent years we’ve seen the rise of beauty brands. People like Mathebe Molise, a qualified chartered accountant, left the corporate world to join the world of beauty because although there are thousands of beauty brands out there, there is still something unique to offer within that industry. Founder of Pastry Skincare, Mosile launched Beauty on TApp, a digital platform she says is revolutionising the beauty industry in South Africa. She was inspired by how people had to rely on digital stores for their needs during Covid. “Beauty on TApp was well positioned as we had a range of products people were looking for, complemented by outstanding customer service and efficiency,” says Molise. Digital stores are still very much…

SOCIAL Development Minister Lindiwe Zulu said the brutal killing of children cannot be a normal thing. The minister said this as Child Protection Week came to an end, calling for communities to be more vigilant for possible perpetrators, at an event at the Manzini Community Hall in Mpumalanga. She said that in Mpumalanga, the areas of KaNyamazane, Matsulu, KaBokweni, Mganduzweni, Chochocho, Nkomazi and Bushbuckridge have been identified by police as hot spots for child killings after numerous children went missing and were later found murdered. The minister told children gathered at the event that perpetrators of abuse, rape and violence might be in their midst in schools, communities, streets and homes. “Beware of these kinds of people, never allow them to touch you where they are not supposed to,” she…

The National Cancer Survivors Day Foundation said all cancer survivors deserved a life with fewer complications and more celebration. Sunday was National Cancer Survivors Day. The foundation said more people than ever were surviving cancer. However, in spite of their growing numbers, cancer survivors must often contend with continuing physical, psychological, social, emotional and financial struggles. The foundation said cancer survivors may contend with limited access to specialists and promising new treatments, rapidly rising medical costs, denial of health and life insurance coverage, difficulty finding or keeping jobs, increased risk for developing second cancers and other health conditions, and economic burdens because of mounting medical expenses, lost wages and reduced productivity. In a statement, the foundation said physical, emotional and financial difficulties often persisted for years after cancer diagnosis…

Award-winning, internationally- acclaimed South African documentary Blood Lions is now freely available for worldwide public viewing to further increase awareness around the exploitation of captive-bred lions and other predators in South Africa. The film, which premiered in 2015, debunks false claims made by the South African predator breeding and canned hunting industries, say the makers. This public unveiling is part of a global, collaborative effort to raise awareness about South Africa’s captive predator breeding, “canned” hunting, live trade, and lion bone industries, as well as activities such as cub petting, lion walking, and voluntourism. The film has been viewed by millions of people in over 180 countries and territories and has been subtitled in six languages. In May 2021, Minister Barbara Creecy of the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the…

As THE death toll from cholera rose to 24 in Hammanskraal, Tshwane, bikers from the South African Female Riders Forum and Triumph Motorcycles descended on the township at the weekend to distribute millions of litres of water to the residents They were among many volunteers from various charities who donated water to locals. More than 500 families benefited from 1.5 litres of water after an overall amount of close to R340 000 was spent to bring the idea to fruition. Deputy Minister of Water and Sanitation, Judith Tshabalala, who was present, thanked the bikers and Triumph Motorcycles for their generosity and for coming together to help the people in need. She said at least 1.5 million litres of water were donated, and she urged other organisations to follow suit. “As…

EXPERTS in the field of child protection and child rights say despite the country marking Child Protection Week, too many children are still abused and/or killed and the crime statistics should not be celebrated as they paint an unrealistic picture. They also lament the statistics announced by the government which show a 20% decrease in child murders, adding that the stats do not show the unreported or concealed child deaths. Child Protection Week is an opportunity to identify barriers and remedies to improve the safety and protection of children, but the experts add that far too many children experience child rights violations daily. Head of advocacy at Women and Men Against Child Abuse, Luke Lamprecht, said the crime stats often did not include concealed deaths because the government is uncomfortable…

PopulAr radio personality Sizwe Dhlomo has refuted the alleged breakthrough into Kiernan “AKA” Forbes’ fatal shooting in Durban on February 10. Dhlomo was responding to claims that AKA and Tebello “Tibz” Motsoane were tailed from the King Shaka Airport to the restaurant, Wish on Florida Road, where they had their last meal, leading to their demise. Sources allegedly told a weekend newspaper that the murders were linked to a “feared and powerful” KwaZulu-Natal family with ties in the taxi and construction industries. “Already, those sources are incorrect because Tibz and AKA didn’t arrive on the same flight. They weren’t even in Durban for the same reason. Tibz wasn’t even supposed to be in Florida that night; he was supposed to be in uMhlanga,“ Dhlomo tweeted. Last month, the KwaZulu-Natal police…

News headlines are usually glutted with all sorts of corrupt activities. In its midst, sharing good news can improve cardiovascular health and even lengthen our lifespan. I wonder if our business community still considers corporate social investment serious. I grew up kicking a football fashioned out of plastic bags and papers. No doubt, the majority of this land is fanatic about this sport. The Sowetan on Wednesday published the competition amounts received by our 16 Professional Soccer League (PSL) clubs. It’s pathetic. Our racially inclusive soccer body was re-admitted on July 3, 1992 by the Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) after about 30 years sanctioned hiatus. The previous white national body SAFA was compelled to integrate by the international football fraternity. It’s undisputed that our economy is dominated by…

ABSA GROUP’S R10 billion black economic empowerment (BEE) at recent share price values, one of the largest empowerment transactions in recent times, has been given the green light by its shareholders to proceed and possibly be implemented by September. Yesterday the share closed 1.35% up at R158.23 on the JSE. However, the share price has fallen roughly 22% since the BEE deal was first announced, shaving nearly R1bn off the proposed transaction, with Absa’s market capitalisation currently sitting at R132bn. South African banking shares have taken a beating as the rand falls against a stronger dollar and as the country’s fiscal outlook deteriorates amid an escalating power crisis. Absa first announced the deal in March. The bank said yesterday that its shareholders last week voted in favour of the…

MONDI yesterday said that it terminated a 95 billion rouble ($1.17 billion or R23bn) deal to sell its largest plant in Russia to an investment vehicle owned by Russian billionaire Viktor Kharitonin due to a “lack of progress” in getting approvals. London-listed shares in Mondi, a British paper and packaging firm, yesterday had fallen 3.29% on the JSE by the end of the day. The company had agreed to sell Mondi Syktyvkar, a pulp, packaging paper and uncoated fine paper mill located in the capital of the Komi Republic in Russia, to Augment Investments in August last year. While the deal with Augment Investments was off, Mondi said on yesterday that it “remained committed to divest the plant and will continue to assess all alternative divestment options”. Many companies…

LEGO 2K DRIVE delivers a sense of childhood joy, but its microtransactions are still a choking hazard Lego 2K Drive is a kart racing game developed by Visual Concepts and published by 2K Games. It was released on May 19, 2023, for all major platforms. The game is set in an all-Lego open world, and players can race around in a variety of vehicles including cars, trucks, boats, and planes. The Lego company has spent years developing virtual Lego construction tools for its own designers, and their games capitalise on this to bring the boundless joy of brick-based building to the digital world. Lego 2K Drive comes with a robust creator tool that lets you build any go-kart, clown car or rickety raft you can imagine. The gameplay borrows from…

THE OCEANA Group more than doubled headline earnings per share to 313.5 cents (140.4c) after financially struggling consumers diversified their sources of protein to the more afford- able canned pilchards. Different fish species, geographies and currencies, and benefits of higher inventory levels of canned fish, fishmeal and fish oil also boosted earnings for the six months to March 31. The interim dividend was raised to 130c from 55c. “While the weaker rand affected Lucky Star margins, despite record sales, this was more than offset by strong demand and price improvements for most of our products, with the benefits of the weaker currency on our US and export directed operations,” CEO Neville Brink said in a statement. He said demand for affordable and shelf-stable protein, promotional activity and good opening…

Prince Harry will become the first senior British royal to give evidence in court for 130 years when he testifies next week in his lawsuit against a newspaper group he accuses of unlawful behaviour. Harry, King Charles’s younger son, will appear in the witness box at London’s High Court as part of the case he and more than 100 other celebrities and high-profile figures have brought against Mirror Group Newspapers (MGN), publisher of the Daily Mirror, Sunday Mirror and Sunday People. It will be the first time a senior royal has given evidence since Edward VII testified as a witness in part of a divorce case in 1870 and 20 years later in a slander trial over a card game, both before he became king. Harry, who is fifth-in-line to…

According to a study by the National Sleep Foundation, the prevalence of insomnia increased by 13% between 2000 and 2010, with an estimated 30-40% of adults reporting symptoms of insomnia each year. Another study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found that up to 35% of adults in the US get less than the recommended seven hours of sleep a night, increasing their risk of developing sleep disorders such as insomnia. There are several reasons why insomnia seems to be in full swing in recent years. One contributing factor is the high demand placed on modern society, including longer work hours and more demanding schedules, leading to increased stress, anxiety and depression. This, in turn, makes it harder for people to relax and fall asleep. Additionally, the increased…

l Doctor mulls appeal after ruling Dr Nandipha Magudumana’s legal team is considering options to appeal the Bloemfontein High Court ruling, which dismissed her application to declare her arrest in Tanzania unlawful. Judge Phillip Loubser yesterday ruled that her application was dismissed with costs. Judge Loubser ordered Magudumana to pay costs, including those of the two counsels. Magudumana will, therefore, remain in custody at Kroonstad Prison as her court battle unfolds. She is expected back in court on June 20. She last appeared at the Bloemfontein Magistrates Court on May 16 and the case was postponed for further investigation. Her lawyer, An- ton Katz SC, a top international advocate, argued that her deportation from Tanzania was disguised as an extradition. According to unconfirmed reports, Katz’s rate is about R70…

AfriForum writes to Transport Minister about licence machine AfriForum has written to Minister of Transport Sindisiwe Chikunga regarding the broken licence printing machine. The civil society organisation said that it was reported on May 3 that South Africa’s only licence printing machine had broken down again — less than a year since this happened the last time. AfriForum said the department said it would print driving licence cards again within two to three weeks. “However, it’s more than a month later, and the department has not issued any updates on whether the machine has been fixed. “AfriForum’s more than 310 000 members, as well as the public at large, deserve answers and clarity when it comes to this critical service the government is supposed to provide without complications or serious…

A recent study has revealed that the dwindling size of birds across the globe is primarily due to climate change and shifting temperatures. However, new research conducted by a team of Yale University scientists reveals that smaller birds are diminishing much more rapidly than their larger counterparts. So what is happening? Why are birds shrinking, and why are the smallest species most affected? Since at least 2021, when a study revealed a significant decrease in their body sizes, scientists have known that something strange has been occurring with the world’s avian populations. This study, published in the journal Science Advances, found that every one of the 77 Amazonian bird species examined over a period of four decades had a reduced average mass, indicating they had shrunk in size. But the…

THE Minister of Human Settlements, Mmamoloko Kubayi, who was so upset that she had to spend about an hour trapped in a faulty lift that she fired her deputy director-general, has been ordered by court to reinstate her. The Labour Court in Johannesburg made it clear that the minister’s conduct was unlawful as she had not followed procedure when firing Nelly Letsholonyane. Acting Judge M Makhura said: “The minister’s conduct was unlawful. Such conduct should not be condoned by courts of law. This court cannot and should not turn a blind to the injustice and lawlessness.” Not only did the judge give the minister a tongue lashing, he also slapped her and her department with Letsholonyane’s legal costs. Letsholonyane, 61, who is only a few years away from retiring, turned…

Ingredients Glug vegetable oil About 1kg chicken pieces (thighs, drumsticks, breasts) 1 onion, chopped 1 packet (500g) butternut 1 packet (500g) sweet potatoes 1 can (400g) chopped tomatoes 2 cups (500ml) chicken stock 1 packet (400g) butter chicken cook-in sauce Salt and milled pepper Handful fresh coriander, chopped For serving: Steamed rice Method Heat oil in a pot over medium heat. Tip in chicken pieces and brown all around, about 10–12 minutes. Remove and set aside. Fry onion in the same pot until soft, about 5–8 minutes. Add chicken back into the pot along with butternut, sweet potatoes, tomatoes and stock. Add more water if needed, making sure ingredients are covered. Simmer for 20–25 minutes with the lid on. Add cook-in sauce and simmer for a further 15 minutes.…

While other countries may regard sex as a taboo subject, Sweden has become the first country in the world to register sex as a sport. It was also revealed that, under the supervision of the Swedish Sex Federation, a European Sex Championship was scheduled to take place on Thursday. The matches will reportedly last 45 to 60 minutes and span several weeks. The contestants will be from different European countries and will compete in 16 different disciplines to show their talents. Radio Mirchi reported that the judges will look at seduction, body massages, exploring erotic zones, prelude, oral sex, penetration, endurance, physical appearance, pose execution, creativity in position changes and the number of orgasms within a given time to determine who wins. This also includes other factors such as artistic…

Country’s main airports accused of wanting to raise some charges by 38% and 63% AIRPORTS Company South Africa (Acsa) yesterday refuted statements by the International Air Transport Association (Iata) that the local airport operator intended to increase airport charges by 38% with Air Traffic Control slated to implement a 63% hike in navigation charges. This at a time South Africans are confronted with higher air fares in the wake of Covid-19, which devastated the sector, and after players, such as Comair, in the local aviation sector, hit the wall. In his address at the Iata Annual General Meeting and World Air Transport Summit held yesterday, the director-general of Iata, Willie Walsh, said some airports and air navigating service providers were shifting costs to airlines. He said there were “grievous examples…

IT IS WELL-known that human sight and vision are vital in how we view the world around us. Although often treated as synonyms, sight and vision are two very different concepts. Sight is physical – it is a sensory experience in which the reflected light from shapes and objects enters through the cornea and lens to reach the retina via the optic nerve. Signals are then sent to the brain where it is converted into images. Vision is how the mind – a person’s ability to think and reason – interprets these images, often based on past learning and memories. Vision is therefore a metaphysical concept. Sight enables a person to witness an event, but vision helps the person to understand the significance of the particular event and draw interpretations…

A global study has revealed shocking statistics, showing that South African children cannot read for meaning or understanding, in any language, including their native languages. The news moved a young avid reader turned author, Bokang Yamikani Phiri, to write a series of books to encourage his peers to read. Yami and The Ball is inspired by true life events which include Phiri’s tuberculosis (TB) diagnosis at age 2, his passion for storytelling and his love for football. It’s the first of the Yami series to promote a culture of reading at home and in schools. The book tells a story of Yami, a soccer fanatic, but his life is turned upside down when he is suddenly admitted to the hospital due to TB. The 12-year-old author told IOL Entertainment he…

SCORES of United African Transformation (UAT) and International Pentecostal Holiness Church (IPHC) Jerusalem faction members protested outside the Palm Ridge Magistrates Court ahead of IPHC leader Michael Sandlana’s court appearance yesterday. The court inside was also packed with traditionally clad men and women who followed Sandlana around as he strutted his stuff minutes before his court appearance on allegations of fraud and corruption. However, the court case could not proceed as the presiding magistrate was not available yesterday. Sandlana’s estranged wife, Magalane Benedicta Sandlana, opened a case of fraud and corruption against him in April this year. Magalane has accused Sandlana of changing the ownership details of her Mercedes-Benz C-Class W205, which was previously registered in her name, without her knowledge or consent. Early this year, IPHC’s Jerusalem division rubbished…

CITY of Joburg mayor Kabelo Gwamanda is expected to take part in a procession to the Johannesburg Council Chambers as part of the annual State of the City Address (Soca). The address comes much later than other municipalities across Gauteng, mainly because of the instability in Johannesburg. The procession to the Johannesburg Municipal Chambers takes place today as residents struggle daily with filthy streets in the inner city, which make walking and breathing difficult. The procession is expected to be a spectacle and will begin on Jorissen Street in Braamfontein. The Star understands that Jorissen Street has been well prepared to ensure that the mayor has a smooth drive to the Johannesburg Metro Centre. At a media briefing held at the Metro Centre, the City of Joburg’s Speaker, Colleen Makhubele,…

Volunteers from the SANParks Honorary Rangers undertook a sensitive conservation project this weekend with the Freshwater Ecosystems Project, building boardwalks over a key habitat area of the Table Mountain ghost frog, a critically endangered species on the International Union for the Conservation of Nature red list. The Table Mountain ghost frog is a rare and elusive frog species endemic to a small section of Table Mountain. The weekend’s conservation activities were possible thanks to a collaborative effort and forms part of the larger Freshwater Ecosystems Project to improve the quality of freshwater ecosystems on Table Mountain, ensuring the survival of the species. Joshua Weeber, conservation ecologist at the Endangered Wildlife Trust, explained that although the species was listed as critically endangered since 2004, no detailed study could be undertaken to…

THE City of Tshwane wants to step up its clean-up campaign called Re Kaofela (working together) through collaborative efforts with various stakeholders, including ward councillors, by targeting illegal dumping sites in townships. The campaign is running parallel to the EEF’s recently launched clean-up initiative named after the late activist Andries Tatane, who was gunned down by police officers in 2011 during a service delivery protest in Ficksburg in the Free State. While advocates of both clean-up campaigns were working to achieve the same goal, they have expressed reluctance to work together. Recently, EFF’s councillor Benjamin Mathevula tried in vain to invite the MMC for Environment and Agriculture Management, Ziyanda Zwane, to join hands with his party councillors in their next clean-up campaign. “We have started a cleaning campaign upon…

FORMER BRICS Business Council chairman Dr Iqbal Survé was recently presented with the Russian Foreign Ministry’s medal for co-operation by that country’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Sergey Lavrov, who was in Cape Town for the meeting of the BRICS foreign affairs and international relations ministers. Survé, a South African business leader, has been recognised for his contribution to peaceful co-operation, sustainability, and international friendship by Spain, the US, Finland and Saudi Arabia. Survé emphasised “the significance of non-alignment, the pursuit of peaceful co-operation, and the promotion of international friendship”. During the ceremony, Lavrov presented Survé with the prize, remarking on the important part Survé played in the BRICS Business Council. Throughout the course of his career, Survé has been honoured by more than seven different nations and prominent figures from…

Their fate, and a spot in the semi-finals of the Currie Cup, is still in their own hands, but the Blue Bulls are wary of not looking too far ahead, especially when they are playing a “dangerous” Free State Cheetahs outfit in the final round-robin match of the competition. After a massive turnaround in form, after losing their first four matches, the Loftus side will pack down against the high-flying Cheetahs on Saturday in Pretoria, looking to seal a berth in the semis. The Cheetahs and Sharks have already secured home semi-finals, with the Bulls, Pumas, Griquas, Western Province, and mathematically the Lions, fighting for the final two spots. Bulls defence and breakdown coach Sean Everitt said they’ve put themselves in the best position to secure a place among the…

Beatriz Haddad Maia battled from a set and 3-0 down to defeat Sara Sorribes Tormo in the third longest women’s match ever played at Roland Garros to reach a maiden Grand Slam quarter-final yesterday. The 27-year-old Brazilian left-hander came through 6-7(3) 6-3 7-5 against her 132nd-ranked Spanish opponent on Court Suzanne Lenglen after three hours and 51 minutes. The match was just 16 minutes short of the record four hours and seven minutes it took Virginie Buisson to beat French compatriot Noelle van Lottum in the first round at Roland Garros in 1995. Haddad Maia is the first Brazilian woman in a grand slam quarter-final since seven-time major winner Maria Bueno in 1968 and will face world No 7 Ons Jabeur of Tunisia for a place in the semi-finals. Bueno…

A local hero and inspiration or a divisive figure who turned his back on his hometown? Either way Zlatan Ibrahimovic's retirement from football, just like his career, leave few in his native Malmo unmoved. "It's very sad that he's retiring. It's an end of an era," 18-year-old Mohammad Salem said in front the Eleda stadium, home to local team Malmo FF, where "Ibra" started his professional career in 1999. A steady stream of tributes have poured in after the 41-year-old football star announced late Sunday that he was retiring from the sport. Janne Andersson, coach of the country's national squad, dubbed him "Sweden's greatest player of all time". "The athlete and sportsman Zlatan is something out of the ordinary, a unique footballer and I am grateful that he chose to…