Table of contents for 2023-06-19 in Star

THE SOUTH African Property Owners Association (Sapoa) said municipalities had been charging exorbitant commercial property rates that contravene National Treasury guidelines, were way above inflation, and which had slowed the economies in five metropolitan areas. Levying rates that prejudice national economic policies, economic activities across municipal boundaries or the national mobility of goods, services, capital or labour, was also unconstitutional, Sapoa said over the weekend. The association said the increases were not only inflationary, as alluded to by the SA Reserve Bank (SARB) recently, but also threatened the viability of commercial property tenants who form the bulk of ratepayers in most metropolitan municipalities. Municipalities have regularly increased rates by more than 10% per annum over the past few years, far more than the annual consumer price index (CPI). Water…

PPC, A PRODUCER and distributor of cement, further reduced debt and saw positive cash generation in the year to March 31, putting it in a strong position to weather the weakening local economic cycle, CEO Roland van Wijnen said in an operational update on Thursday. PPC’s headline earnings per share, including discontinued operations, was expected to be a loss of between 8 cents per share and 10.5c, compared to the 13c a share loss the period before, being an improvement of between 38% and 19%, respectively, the group. Van Wijnen said an enhanced infrastructure investment programme and a stronger economic climate was required to enable the group to more effectively use its production capacity. “We remain hopeful the South African government will roll out its infrastructure development plans and…

INDIA is South Africa’s second largest trading partner within the BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) grouping. In 2022, China accounted for 9.4% of South Africa’s exports, while India had less than half that at 4.5%, according to the South African Revenue Service. China dominated South Africa’s imports with a 20.2% share while India’s share was around a third of that at 7.2%. In rand terms, exports to China totalled R188.4 billion, while exports to India were R90.1bn. South Africa imported R367.4bn from China and R130.6bn from India, resulting in a trade surplus in favour of China worth R179bn and in favour of India of R40.5bn. In 2010, South Africa still enjoyed a trade surplus with India of R1.4bn as trade with India was only starting…

As was widely expected, the US Federal Reserve (Fed) abstained from increasing its bank rate last Wednesday. The Fed announced that it would, for now, pause the upward trend. Global equity and bond markets continued their recovery in anticipation of the Fed’s decision as most markets moved strongly already from last Tuesday. As expected, emerging markets currencies also immediately appreciated against the dollar. The rand to dollar exchange rate moved from R18.71 the previous Friday to trade at R18.18 last Friday afternoon. On the JSE, equity prices started to move positive in anticipation of the Fed’s decision as the all share index gained 2.9% since last Monday. On the capital market the 10-year bond yield decreased further last week from 10.82% to 10.74% last week. The sentiment towards a pause…

As South Africa celebrates Youth Day, the high levels of inequality, unemployment and economic inactivity remain endemic. As in all countries, the effects of inequality and economic turmoil are often felt by those with the weakest attachment to the market – particularly young people. The role of entrepreneurship has frequently been heralded but the prospects remain challenging. The challenges facing Young South Africans are significant. With rates of unemployment exceeding 30% combined with further shares of a population being inactive, the economy is clearly not working to integrate young people. Not least, the skills needed to gain formal employment or to establish a business are not there. The risks of exclusion and long-term scarring are considerable – the process by which periods with no work have long-term effects on economic…

The 14th annual Durban FilmMart (DFM) will be held from July 21 to 24, under the theme “African Constellations”. The festival aims to showcase and celebrate the talent and diversity of the African film industry. This year, the festival is returning to a physical edition, taking place over four days at the Southern Sun Elangeni in Durban. The festival programme will feature various thematic strands that have been popular in previous editions. These include “DFM in Conversation”, which likely involves panel discussions and talks with industry professionals, providing insights into the world of film-making. “Durban Does Docs” will focus on documentary films, highlighting their significance and impact. “Animation@DFM” will explore the world of animation in African cinema, while “SA in Focus” will showcase the South African film industry. In…

SUPERMODEL Bella Hadid says there is not “one definition of beauty”. The Charlotte Tilbury ambassador loves working with the 50-year-old make-up artist and her brand because she is on “a mission” to make all sorts of looks “easy and accessible” to everyone wanting to get involved. The 26-year-old told Harper’s Bazaar’s online edition: “I don’t think there is one definition of ‘beauty’ – that’s why I love partnering with Charlotte. She really believes in the power of beauty to unlock confidence for people and has always been on a mission to make beauty easy and accessible to people everywhere. “When I was younger and starting to explore with beauty and make-up, I would use products more to create a look or different persona. Now I see it as more of…

What’s the quickest way to find out if people genuinely care about you? Stage your own funeral. Or at least that’s what Belgium dad David Baerten did as a prank. He pulled out all the stops to fake his own death. Roping in his wife and children, the 45-year-old TikToker orchestrated every detail. First, his daughter took to social media to post a tribute to her father, writing: “Rest in peace Daddy. I will never stop thinking about you. “Why is life so unfair? Why you? You were going to be a grandfather, and you still had your whole life ahead of you. I love you! We love you! We will never forget you,” The Times reported. The post set the wheels in motion for Baerten’s funeral which was staged…

Disgruntled ANC supporters in the Free State have reportedly reacted with anger at the expulsion of former ANC secretary-general Ace Magashule. Magashule, who was last week expelled from the party for having brought the party into disrepute, has been mum on his future following this expulsion. However, many have speculated that Magashule could become one of the latest “senior people” that EFF leader Julius Malema is courting. This comes after Malema revealed this past week that they were in advanced negotiations to rope in the former ANC secretary-general. If this courting exercise yields positive results for the EFF, Magashule’s move to join the red berets could become one of the biggest political moves since Malema was expelled from the ANC and went on to form the EFF in 2013. According…

The ANC in Joburg has welcomed the budget presentation delivered by the MMC for Finance, Dada Morero, last week. In a statement, it said the budget was based on robust and pragmatic assumptions in line with their prudent approach as the Government of Local Unity. “The budget increase is not only funded by tariff increases, but also funded by efficiencies such as reductions in water and electricity losses from over 30% to 25% on average,” the region said. According to the ANC, the budget had provided for water and electricity infrastructure renewal to reduce losses. “It is also important to explain that expenditure will be closely monitored so that it can be managed down until the expected revenue is realised. This is unquestionably prudent financial management. By managing the budget,…

The Gauteng provincial government is in the process of filling about 8 000 funded vacancies through the “Nasi Ispani” programme that exists across various provincial departments. On Youth Day, Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi announced the start of the application process for the previously declared thousands of vacancies across the Gauteng provincial departments. Young people in the province queued to submit job applications and some grew impatient while waiting for Lesufi to arrive. According to the EFF, this staffing process is important for the capacity of departments so they can effectively execute their mandate. The party’s provincial chairperson, CMSR Nkululeko Dunga, said the EFF had long been calling for this to take place, as these vacancies had existed and accumulated for many years. “However, the ANC government has seized the…

Five rehabilitated turtles have now been successfully released into De Hoop Nature Reserve – a marine-protected area – as part of an ongoing release programme at the Two Oceans Aquarium Foundation’s Turtle Conservation Centre. This came just a few days ahead of World Sea Turtle Day on Friday. The Two Oceans Aquarium’s Turtle Conservation Centre, CapeNature, the Morukuru Family De Hoop, and Morukuru Goodwill Foundation worked together to release two (green) turtles Amigo and Zelena on May 3, into at De Hoop after they were rescued off the coast. The teams then returned on May 24 to release three more turtles, Siriti and Amber (hawksbills), and Coral (another green turtle) from the centre – making De Hoop the latest release site for rehabilitated turtles. Talitha Noble, conservation manager of the…

PARTS of Tshwane were plunged into darkness after the Koedoespoort sub-station suffered a transformer explosion on Youth Day. In a statement, municipal spokesperson Selby Bokaba said transformer 1C inside the Koedoespoort sub-station exploded on Friday, causing damage to a nearby transformer. “As a result, transformer 1B also exploded, causing a power outage which affected a number of areas in Regions 2, 3 and 6. “The Tshwane Emergency Services was informed about the incident, and resources from two fire stations were dispatched to the scene. “Firefighters managed to extinguish the fire as soon as technicians switched off the power supply and rendered the area safe for operations,” Bokaba said. He said the affected areas included Waverley, Moregloed, Bergtuin, Koedoespoort Industrial, Koedoespoort, Weavindpark, Lindopark, Eastlynn, Jan Niemand Park, Silverton Industrial, Kilnerpark…

After a year of planning, a photography project for the youth was launched to coincide with Youth Day. The brainchild of Pretoria-born film-maker and professional photographer Kenny D Mdluli, the initiative is titled My Hood Teen Photography Exhibition, and is destined to make a mark in the art scene. “The country is struggling with job creation and access to tertiary education. Covid-19 made things worse, so this idea came when the lockdown ended in 2022,” Mdluli said. “That’s when the planning started. The project aims to assist young people with skills related to photography. It seeks to empower young people with leadership skills and professionalism while they’re young.” Mdluli is collaborating with four other professional photographers, who will be mentoring beneficiaries aged 15 to 18. Each mentor will be…

On the eve of South Africa’s Youth Day, international advocacy organisation Global Citizen honoured 15 young people from Nigeria, Kenya, and South Africa following the completion of its year-long fellowship programme. Originally announced by Tyler Perry and Ivy McGregor at the Global Citizen Festival: Mandela 100 on December 2, 2018, the Global Citizen Fellowship Programme powered by BeyGOOD is an in-depth work experience opportunity aimed at skills development and empowering African youth. Over the past five years, the programme has trained and skilled 50 young people from across the continent. The fellows have created their own community programmes that have affected the lives of more than 1 000 people across the continent. The programme, which is also endorsed by Beyonce Knowles- Carter through her foundation BeyGOOD, takes young leaders…

Opting to select their best team for most of the Currie Cup eventually took its toll on the Blue Bulls, according to assistant coach Hugo van As following Saturday’s 39-10 semi-final defeat in Bloemfontein. The Bulls came up short on all three fronts this season, going down in the Champions Cup round of 16, United Rugby Championship (URC) quarter-finals and Currie Cup semi-finals. The only real consolation for Jake White’s outfit is that they qualified for next season’s Champions Cup by finishing sixth on the URC log. But there will be a lot of soul-searching in the corridors of Loftus Versfeld over the next few months about their player corps, coaches, gameplans and team goals for the 2023/24 season. It was clear that the Bulls lacked a cutting edge on…

South Africa’s Brad Binder crashed out of the German Grand Prix, ending a potential podium finish yesterday. At the time of the crash with 11 laps to go, the Red Bull KTM rider was in third, fighting off the interest of Johann Zarco. Binder went wide while taking one of the Sachsenring’s famous high-speed corners, hitting the gravel trap which ended his race. A clearly discombobulated Binder stumbled away from the incident, towards the tyre barriers, aided by track-side marshals. Jorge Martin, meanwhile, edged world champion Francesco Bagnaia after a cut-and-thrust battle over the last 10 laps to claim victory, trimming the Italian’s lead in the standings. It was Martin’s second victory. His last was in the Styria Grand Prix in Austria in 2021. “Emotional moment after almost two years…

COMMERCIAL property groups are up in arms about soaring municipal rates that have driven up rentals for tenants, driven up the cost of doing business in the country, and eroded the returns of property owners. Growthpoint Properties CEO Estienne de Klerk said last week that muni- cipal rates had escalated in excess of 10.5% compounded over the past 10 years for JSE-listed real estate investment trusts (Reits) and their tenants, and materially eroded the returns for property owners. Currently, the high municipal rates come at a time when rentals are already under significant pressure due to the weak economic environment. He said raising tenant costs further could result in more business failures, higher vacancies, and decreased investment. “Above-inflation increases in the costs of rates, taxes, and utilities along with decreasing…

ANGLO American said on Thursday it and Jiangxi Copper Company (Jiangxi Copper), one of China’s largest copper producers, had signed a memorandum of understanding to work together to provide greater assurance on the way copper was mined, processed, and brought to market. According to Anglo American, the agreement was signed during a visit to Jiangxi Copper’s headquarters in Nanchang, China, and is part of Anglo American’s work with customers to create sustainable value chains beyond its mining operations, recognising consumers’ increasing expectations for sustainably sourced and supplied raw materials. Anglo American marketing CEO Peter Whitcutt said: “We are developing a series of partnerships to shape a more sustainable and customer-centric value chain – one that meets consumer-driven demand for copper with demonstrably strong provenance credentials. “That value chain begins with…

“OKUNGAPHELI kuyahlola” is what we say to emphasise that nothing is permanent in life. Observing the buzz around the BRICS currency lately amid the 15th annual summit, which is scheduled for the 22nd to the 24th of August brings this phrase home. South Africa will be chairing the BRICS group of countries under the theme, “BRICS and Africa: Partnership for Mutually Accelerated Growth, Sustainable Development, and Inclusive Multilateralism”. A theme that could not have come at a better time, especially after the war between Russia and Ukraine has put pressure on prices of goods and energy and changing the status quo in global trade dynamics. The buzz also comes after some advice to developing countries to promote and use their national currency when trading, investing and other transactions. A way…

BY DESIGN, railways serve two purposes – commerce (freight) and social (passengers). Therefore, a complementary funding formula is necessary for these assets’ long-term operational sustainability. Despite the government’s continuous oversight of Transnet and Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (Prasa), both have not been very efficient in their operations. Therefore, they have not been able to accumulate the efficiency gains needed to grow the economy. Investment in a railway is generally determined by the amount of traffic. This may be an indicator of cargo discoveries or ridership statistics for passenger trains. To prevent political quirks that can lead to expediency, careful cash flow estimation is needed when evaluating these numbers for the bankability of a railway project to curb any possible rent-seeking opportunity. Governance inconsistencies in railways arise from…

RAPPER and music producer Kanye West thinks Bianca Censori “truly gets” him. The 46-year-old rap star reportedly married Censori, 28, earlier this year, and he’s loving life with the brunette. A source told Us Weekly: “Things couldn’t be better for Kanye and Bianca and they’re doing amazing. Kanye feels like he finally met someone who truly gets him and loves him for the person he is." Censori has served as the architectural designer for YEEZY since 2020, and West thinks they work really well together. The insider shared: “Bianca complements Kanye on so many levels and he loves that they can work and collaborate together on projects. “He appreciates and respects her opinions, even if they don’t always agree. She really keeps him grounded and he’s feeling better than ever.”…

Microplastics containing toxic pollutants and chemicals are increasingly getting deposited in our human respiratory tract and can pose serious health risks, a study has warned. In 2022, researchers showed that humans might inhale about 16.2 bits of microplastic every hour, which is equivalent to a credit card over a week. And these microplastics – tiny debris in the environment generated from the degradation of plastic products – usually contain toxic pollutants and chemicals. To understand its effects, a team of Australian researchers developed a computational fluid dynamics model to analyse microplastic transport and deposition in the upper airway. They explored the movement of microplastics with different shapes and sizes and under slow and fast breathing conditions. The findings, published in the journal Physics of Fluids, showed that microplastics tended to…

Ramaphosa’s ill-fated peace mission slammed PRESIDENT Cyril Ramaphosa has received a tongue-lashing from political parties which have described his trip to Ukraine and Russia to negotiate a peaceful settlement between the two warring countries as a “waste of taxpayers’ money”. On Thursday, Ramaphosa, along with African heads of state from Zambia, the Comoros and Senegal, and heads of government from Congo Brazzaville, Egypt and Uganda, travelled to Kyiv, Ukraine, and St Petersburg, Russia, to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. Ramaphosa said the trip, which saw a group of journalists and other officials grounded in Poland, was impactful. On Friday, he called for the de-escalation of fighting in Ukraine at the Mariinsky Palace in Kyiv, while a contingent of South African journalists meant to cover the…

Durban snake catcher Nick Evans has gone to town with the two puff adders he recently rescued. Since rescuing the two puff adders at the end of May in Assagay, Evans has shared a close-up photograph of one of the puff adders, a rescue and release video and more photographs. “My friend Dylan Leonard and I spent some time recently photographing these two, before watching them go free,” Evans said. Explaining the photographs, Evans said that in the first two photographs, the male, which, as often is the case in puff adders here, was more brightly coloured than the female. The tails in male puff adders are also longer and more slender than the short, stubby tails which females have. So telling sexes apart is quite easy. In the video…

KZN Social Development Department MEC Nonhlanhla Khoza has reaffirmed her department's commitment to creating an enabling environment in which individuals with albinism can thrive. Khoza called on society and community leaders to bolster and enhance their efforts to protect individuals living with albinism. MEC Khoza joined millions of global citizens in commemoration of International Albinism Awareness Day last week. Highlighting the importance of Albinism Awareness Day globally, Khoza emphasised the significance of recognising and prioritising the rights and well-being of individuals with albinism within society. This year’s Albinism Awareness Day was celebrated under the theme “Inclusion in Strength”, and the focus was on promoting inclusivity and equal treatment for persons with albinism in all aspects of life. “It is essential that we make conscious efforts to protect, include and treat…

to raise awareness of mental health issues and its negative effects, the newly formed Riky Rick Foundation has released a song titled Stronger. The song follows his last tweet, “I’ll return a stronger man.” The foundation that prides itself on the promotion of artivism is behind the release of the track. In the past few months, Riky Rick’s family and fans have been doing their best to keep his legacy alive. It is no secret that Rikhado “Riky Rick” Makhado, an icon, rapper, producer and hip-hop artist, lost his battle with mental illness. His mother, Louisa Zondo, hopes the song will inspire people and organisations to care for young people. “Our hope is that the Riky Rick Foundation for the Promotion of Artivism will inspire individuals and organisations to care…

Bafana Bafana coach Hugo Broos says it will be important to up the ante for their Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) preparations following their victory over Morocco. South Africa were lukewarm at best in the Afcon qualifiers before their clash against the Atlas Lions at FNB Stadium on Saturday as they had won one, drawn one and lost one. They were expected to be no match for the mighty Morocco, who finished fourth in the Fifa World Cup in Qatar in December and are the No 1 team on the continent. Bafana were the underdogs for the ‘dead rubber’ qualifier as both nations had already qualified for the finals, but they threw out the script and played their hearts out to win 2-1. Percy Tau gave Bafana the lead before…

Italy claimed the consolation bronze medals at the Uefa Nations League finals, and added to a disappointing week for hosts the Netherlands, as they edged the Dutch 3-2 in yesterday’s third-place playoff tie at the Twente Stadium. Federico Dimarco thrashed the ball home at the far post in the sixth minute and Davide Frattesi doubled the score from in-front of goal in the 20th minute to give Italy a comfortable halftime lead. But the Dutch launched a concerted second-half comeback, making three attacking changes at the break, laying siege to Italy’s goal and seeing Steven Bergwijn pull a goal back in the 68th minute. Federico Chiesa restored the two-goal advantage at the end of a 73rd-minute counter-attack, but there was an exciting conclusion as Georginio Wijnaldum got a second for…

The decision to send an “under-strength” Sharks team to play Western Province in the final round of the Currie Cup was a bad mistake and contributed significantly to the loss to the Pumas in the semi-final. That was the admission by Sharks coach Joey Mongalo after the Pumas shocked the Sharks 26-20 in Durban on Saturday evening. “It’s 100% my fault, and I mean that,” said Mongalo. “I’m the one who decided to tinker with the squad that went to WP, and I didn’t have to do that. “I could have chosen the same team that would have gained momentum going into the semi-final.” The term “under-strength” is used loosely because the Sharks team that went to Cape Town and were beaten 44-5 were mostly United Rugby Championship (URC) players.…

GROWING up as a boy in Lesotho, herding calves and donkeys and later looking after cattle, one aspired for adulthood. The ambition was to have the authority over how the whole chicken was distributed. It came down to who got the breast and thighs of the chicken, which was a symbol of manhood and of being the head of household privilege, whereas the legs, head and gizzards were distributed to the children. Another past time dream was of eating bread and drinking tea, which were privileges largely preserved for the men and manhood. These were cohort ambitions. Demography teaches us about cohorts, which are sets of regiments measured in terms of age. Cohorts can be measured against specific attributes, which reflect progress or a lack thereof. A cohort approach to…

Let's be CLEAR and upfront about this: we are going downhill as a country. The rot is visible everywhere because the State is failing us. However, crime, grime and decline can never be accepted as the new normal. As a citizenry, we should neither fall silent nor close our ears and eyes to the failings of those in charge of the state. If their actions, utterances, and policies undermine and destroy our human dignity, freedom, quality of life and future, then we must question the constitutionality of it and oppose it because it is the State's job to honour, uphold and guarantee the values and ideals as defined in our National Constitution. It all starts with State leadership. The ‘’new normal’’ of indecisive leadership speaks volumes of State leadership, whose…

Actor Bill Cosby faces a new sexual assault lawsuit, this one in the state of Nevada. A case in the name of nine women was filed in the US District Court for Nevada, alleging that the disgraced actor and comedian exercised his “enormous power, fame and prestige” to isolate and sexually assault the individuals named in the case, reports Variety. As per NBC News, a group of the women will speak in an interview on NBC News Daily. Pam Joy Abeyta, Lili Bernard, Rebecca Cooper, Janice Dickinson, Linda Kirkpatrick, Janice Baker Kinney, Angela Leslie, Lise-Lotte Lublin and Heidi Thomas are named in the case. Cosby was convicted of a criminal sexual assault charge in Pennsylvania in April 2018. However, in 2021, the actor was released from prison after spending nearly…

Actress Sibusisiwe Jili has joined Uzalo as one of the soapie’s newest characters, Nomkhosi Mhlongo. Jili, who is known for her role as Georgina in The Queen, left the tele- novela after two years of being part of the cast. Her role was written out before the final season of The Queen after Mzansi Magic cancelled the show. Now, Jili takes on the role of the fierce and visionary leader, Mhlongo, who is advocating for gender equality. She plays the strong-willed daughter of Chief Shepherd Mhlongo, a natural-born leader with a fierce sense of justice. The actress shared with IOL Entertainment that she had dreamt about portraying a royal. “I wasn’t quite sure about it as it was in KwaZulu-Natal and everything I knew was back in Johannesburg, but I…

Balancing work and life is essential for our overall well-being, but finding that equilibrium can be challenging. Research has shown that individuals who prioritise work-life balance have higher job satisfaction, less stress, and better mental health. However, with the rise of technology and the expectation to be constantly connected, it can be difficult to disconnect from work and prioritise personal time. In fact, a survey by the American Psychological Association found that more than half of working adults feel that they do not have enough time to do the things they enjoy. How can we find a better balance? Juggling your work and personal life can feel like an uphill battle, especially for those who are self-employed. Mentalist Larry Soffer shares some advice on striking a healthy work-life balance, something…

It has become the norm for Father’s Day to turn into a continuous conflict of opinions, whether the subject is about deadbeat fathers or women claiming it is a refashioned Mother’s Day. It is no surprise to see “Happy Father’s Day to My Mom” as a way to highlight fathers’ absence. This has been denounced with claims that it all changes the significance of the day, which is to celebrate and show love to fathers who play a meaningful role in their children’s lives. Father’s Day is not only dedicated to fathers, but also to relevant father figures and the influence of fathers in society. In the past few years, we have seen many fathers step up to meet their family and childcare duties. To emphasise the importance of fathers,…

The National Union of Metalworkers of SA (Numsa) has managed to avert a strike at Eskom. The union has secured a 7% wage increase for workers there. The wage agreement comes as the embattled power company has seen a number of leadership changes and is currently undergoing an investigation into allegations of corruption and reports of criminal syndicates operating at the company. The profitability of the company was also another issue during the negotiations with the unions. Numsa spokesperson Phakamile Hlubi-Majola said the agreement was a three-year agreement that was valid from July 1, 2023, to June 30, 2026. Wages will be increased by 7% across the board for year one, 7% for year two, and 7% for year three. “The increase for year one will be implemented from June…

IN A BID to mitigate and turn around the dismal reading and literacy levels of school-going children in the country, the Department of Basic Education is to peg its hopes on its new strategy centring on African languages. After South Africa’s performance in the most recent Progress in International Reading Literacy Study (Pirls) – which revealed that Grade 4 pupils in South Africa had the worst reading ability in the world, with 81% unable to read with understanding – the department said initiatives and plans had been looked into to address the issue. Especially as education experts and public discourse have criticised the government for an inadequate, underfunded, and unco-ordinated approach to addressing learning losses in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic. Kulula Manona, chief director for Foundations for Learning…

Bongani Mzizi has been handed a prison sentence of 11 years by the Evander Regional Court after reaching a plea deal with the State. He was convicted on charges related to tampering with essential infrastructure, theft of petrol from a pipeline and possession of suspected stolen petrol. Mzizi’s sentencing stems from an incident that took place on July 2, 2022, when a sudden drop in pressure was detected in a pipeline, leading to the dispatch of security personnel to investigate. During their investigation, the security team noticed a tanker approaching from the area where the pressure drop had occurred. They attempted to halt the tanker’s progress, but their efforts proved futile as the driver and crew of the vehicle sped away. This resulted in a high-speed chase. Eventually, in Springs,…

A GROUP of SACP supporters marched to the Department of Correctional Services’ offices in Pretoria to reiterate their call for an inquest to be held into the death of the party’s general secretary, Chris Hani, who was assassinated 30 years ago. They insisted that their memorandum calling for an inquest must be brought to the attention of the Minister of Justice and Correctional Services, Ronald Lamola, who was unavailable to receive it. Senior department official Kenneth Mthombeni, who received the memorandum, promised that it would eventually reach Lamola. During the march, held on Friday, SACP spokesperson Mpho Mogakane said: “We are here to demand a response to our memorandum and to reiterate our demand for a full inquest into the assassination of Chris Hani as a matter of urgency.” The…

More than 400 South African Working On Fire firefighters (WOF) have been deployed to the province of Alberta in Canada to assist with halting wildfires which have been raging since March and have affected 11 provinces. The request for urgent assistance came from the Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Centre in terms of an existing memorandum of understanding between Canada and South Africa which provides for the exchange of wildland fire management resources. The wildfires were believed to have been caused by either lightning or accidental human activity. At least 30 000 people have been evacuated from their homes, and smoke emitted from the wildfires has caused air quality alerts and evacuations in the US and Europe. Some of the firefighters were trained under the Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP in…

I do think that Karyn Maughan is a beautiful woman, but I do not think that she is innocent or trustworthy in her role in the Zuma issue which was before the courts recently. Let us not fool ourselves here, journalists are not saints, and the media are not wells of goodness and righteousness. I have always argued that the only role of the media in any society is to report only according to facts, and not to take sides, but slowly and surely, the media are digging their own grave with the way they continue to demonise some and protect others. Also, this belief that the media are powerful is foolishness. If that is the case why do the media (not) use this power to end drug addiction, racism,…

Pumas coach Jimmy Stonehouse believes his team’s stunning defeat of the Sharks in Durban has made a statement that his men must be given another tournament in which to compete. Stonehouse says that the Pumas – along with Griquas – are effectively in pre-season mode for most of the year before their only competition, the Currie Cup. “It’s tough for the guys sometimes at the Pumas, and what we’re doing here is to say to SA Rugby, ‘just give us an opportunity’. “We cannot play URC (United Rugby Championship) or those competitions because we don’t have the money, but just give us something, another competition, so that we don’t have another seven months of pre-season, and so that we can get another sponsor to invest in us. “That’s what we’re…

Australia captain Pat Cummins starred with both bat and ball as the Ashes holders had the better of a rain-marred third day in the first Test against England at Edgbaston in Birmingham yesterday. The lower-order batsman made a useful 38 in a total of 386 that left Australia just seven runs behind England’s first innings score. The fast bowler then dismissed Ben Duckett before England also lost their other opener Zak Crawley in a dramatic 20 minutes’ play between the showers. England were 28/2 in their second innings, a lead of just 35 runs, at stumps after a huge downpour at 4.50pm had sent the players from the field. They had made steady progress when an initial rain delay stopped play for an hour-and-a-quarter. But after the match resumed amid…