Table of contents for 2024-02-26 in Star

Precious metals miner announces huge gold resource of 9.1 million ounces in Nevada ANGLOGOLD Ashanti has literally struck more gold in a big way and at a higher grade. The precious metals miner, which raked in $314 million (R6 billion) in cash inflows for the second half period to end-December 2023, has announced a huge gold resource discovery of 9.1 million ounces of the sought-after and safe haven metal in Nevada, in the US. The market welcomed the news with shares in AngloGold closing 3.66% higher on Friday at R346.84. During the day the shares hit an intra-day spike of R356.73, 6.6% higher. Over three years the shares are up 17.01%. AngloGold said on Friday that after spending $73m on brownfield exploration in Nevada and completing 129km…

GLOBALLY there has been an increase in the consumption of olive oil influenced by the consumer’s quest for overall health and wellness. Consumers are turning to what are considered “healthy” vegetable oils in their regular diets, vegetable oils such as olive oil with specific health claims such as high omega-3, monounsaturated fatty acids, vitamin E and antioxidants, among others. The rising demand for vegetable oils with such attributes is likely to support the steady growth of the global olive oil market, which was valued at $14.64 billion (R284bn) in 2023. Given the global growth of the sector, the further development of the industry through policy and funding is likely to lead to the growth of the sector as well as export revenues, employment and the reduction of poverty. This…

WITH THE DEEPENING energy crisis, it is highly unlikely to see a better employment picture this year. Therefore, the promise on jobs by politicians in an election year requires a sceptical reception. The Quarterly Labour Force Survey (QLFS) has historically shown that in a normal year, which is not like an outlier year such as a Covid-19 year, the fourth-quarter employment increases. This employment hike is usually accompanied by, at worst, an unemploy- ment rate equal to the preceding quarter and, at best, one that is lower. Unequivocally, the first quarter always has a higher unemployment rate compared with the fourth quarter. We can expect a first quarter this year that is worse than the last quarter of the year of 2023. With the deepening energy crisis, it is highly…

XA’s 4th IMPORT Duty Investigation Report will drop on Wednesday, according to Donald MacKay, the founder and CEO of XA Global Trade Advisors. MacKay, who is also a Business Report columnist, says: “It’s a doozie! For the first time ever, we explore a full 20 years of data, and boy have we uncovered a lot. The problem is serious, but definitely can be fixed. We propose exactly how to do that,“ he added. Business Report will unpack the report in Thursday’s print editions of: The Star, The Cape Times and the Mercury. Last year in August the third XA Import Duty Investigations report revealed South Africa was taking an average of 25 months to complete tariff investigations. Last year in March the second XA Import Duty Investigations report…

Def Jam’s latest signee and award-winning rapper Blxckie has been confirmed as one of the acts set to join American artist Bas at his upcoming American tour this March. Having received a roaring response to his debut album, EP’s and subsequent music releases – which led to countless award nominations, award wins and global recognition – Blxckie is thrilled to tour and perform in the US for the first time. In tandem with the album, We Only Talk About Real Sh*t When We’re F*cked Up, Blxckie will tour with Bas alongside Reuben Vincent and Hoosh in more than 20 venues in America – starting in Dallas, Texas on March 3. Blxckie shared his excitement with fans on social media: “I’m so happy to take my music to international stages this…

Despite efforts to avoid retrenchments for some employees at its South African platinum group metals (PGM) operations, there remains uncertainty about the future of an additional 1000 workers at one of Sibanye-Stillwater’s Marikana shafts. Mineworkers at this location have been instructed to minimise losses to the break-even point to prevent lay-offs. The lay-offs in this region of the country is a wound in South Africa’s history and the site of the Marikana Massacre, situated near Rustenburg in the North West. On August 16, 2012, police gunned down 34 striking mineworkers at the Lonmin platinum mine outside Rustenburg on August 16, 2012. In total, 44 lives were lost during the six-week-long labour dispute after a protracted wildcat strike of about 3 000 miners demanding a then living wage of R12…

The GOOD Party is to host its manifesto for this year’s general elections online on March 16 via selected digital platforms, broadcasting live at Liliesleaf Farm in Rivonia, Johannesburg. Party founder and Minister of Tourism Patricia de Lille said that the manifesto would tackle and devise possible solutions to South Africa’s triple crisis: slow economic growth, poverty and the surge in unemployment, especially youth unemployment. The GOOD Party was formed in 2019, and partook in the 2019 national elections, three months after its formation. “Despite a late start, the GOOD Party was one of the two parties that contested the 2019 elections to get enough support to win two seats in the National Assembly (Parliament) and enter the Western Cape provincial legislature. “We have continued to show significant growth in…

Just over a week after Pick n Pay recalled certain peanut butter brands over high levels of aflatoxin, Woolworths recalled its peanut butter Dairy ice cream with immediate effect on Friday due to the ice cream containing aflatoxin levels that “exceed the legal limit”. This concerned many consumers and raised several questions on what aflatoxins are and the severity of the case. Woolworths has assured members of the public that only the peanut butter ice cream is being recalled and that other Woolworths products containing peanut butter remain 100% safe for consumption. When asked by a concerned Facebook user if they should go to a doctor for a check up after consumption of the ice cream, Woolworths said: “It is highly unlikely that consuming the peanut butter ice cream…

AS THE prosecution’s case in the marathon sex trial of Rivers of Living Waters Church leader Bishop Bafana Stephen Zondo is drawing to a close, it called well-known forensic psychologist Professor Gerard Labuschagne to the witness stand. He provided psychological insights into the delayed reporting by complainants in this case of their rape claims. The seven alleged victims have testified before the Gauteng High Court, Pretoria, since the start of the trial towards the end of 2021. Most of them only came to the fore regarding their rape allegations years later. The defence initially objected to Labuschagne giving this evidence, but Judge Papi Mosopa allowed his evidence. Labuschagne said many sexual assault victims delay reporting the incident to the police, and even more victims never report this. Research concluded…

A STUDY published in the Journal of Health and BiologicaSWl Sciences reveals that South Africa has the highest rate of urinary tract infections (UTIs) among eight other sub-Saharan African countries. While bladder infections are a common occurrence around the globe, South Africans seem to be struggling more. Overall, the prevalence of UTIs in sub-Saharan Africa is 32.12%, with SA leading with the highest prevalence of 67.6%, followed by Nigeria (43.65%) and Zambia (38.25%). It is also stated that UTIs are common in SA, particularly among women. Factors such as impaired immunity, diabetes and poor personal hygiene, aggravated by poor sanitation, restricted access to clean water and inadequate health-care infrastructure, raise a woman’s chance of acquiring a UTI. Elani van Zyl, critical-care product manager at Pharma Dynamics, says recurring infections affect…

Higher Education and Training, Science and Technology Minister Blaze Nzimande will officially launch the Motheo TVET College National Artisan Development Academy (NADA) in Bloemfontein on March 1. This is the second NADA campus, after the launch of the first of its kind in Bloemfontein in April 2022. According to the college’s communications officer, Lame Morubane, the artisan academy is funded by the Services Sector Education and Training Authority (SETA) board, with an injection of R450 million to bring the vision to life. A construction site was handed over to the college in October 2015. “This marked the beginning of a transformative journey for countless aspiring artisans,” Morubane said. Construction of the first NADA campus began at the start of 2019, and was set to be completed in June of the…

LISTENING to Panyaza Lesufi telling us in his State of the Province Address that the president will sign the NHI Bill into law and that the government will buy back 18 private hospitals, to say we are in a crisis is an understatement. We are faced with a government that doesn’t know whether it is a democracy or a dictatorship. They have never recovered from that spirit of fighting apartheid, are determined to fight anything that isn’t in agreement with their ideology, even though it is done in good faith, to help them to be a successful government. Every aspect of healthcare is shattered, and it will take an arm and a limb to restore it to its former glory. Lesufi’s statement about the government buying 18 private hospitals doesn’t…

Addressing the Central Conference on Work Relating to Foreign Affairs in Beijing on December 28 last year, President Xi Jinping gave an important speech emphasising the important role of China and its diplomatic engagement with its partners in building a community with a shared future. Xi explained the concept of building a community with a shared future for mankind as the noble goal pursued by China in conducting major-country diplomacy with Chinese characteristics for the new era, stating that it is a major historical cornerstone of Chinese foreign policy, including in the context of China-Africa relations. There is no better moment to rally humanity towards a shared future than at this contemporary historical time characterised by polarised geopolitical uncertainty and unpredictability, fuelled by unipolar continuities on the back of rising…

KAIZER CHIEFS 0 MILFORD 0 Milford won 5-4 on penalties after extra time Another cup competition, another heartbreak for Kaizer Chiefs, who relinquished their last opportunity this season to end an eight-year long trophy drought. Chiefs slipped on a potential banana skin, losing in the penalty shootouts to first division side Milford FC in the Nedbank Cup last 32 at FNB last night. The NFD side were the second-best team in terms of possession and chances created but they still held Chiefs to a draw after regulation time. Milford’s goalkeeper Siphamandla Hlezi was the hero of the night for his derring-do, which included saving Ranga Chivaviro’s penalty in the first half of extra-time. Chiefs will now turn their focus to the DStv Premiership with an aim of finishing in the…

QUANTUM Foods, the diversified feeds and poultry business, has calculated the value of its chicken stock affected by an outbreak of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) during the quarter period to the end of January at R37 million, although there has been some respite from a decrease in the cost base for raw materials as well as lesser load-shedding hours. The South African poultry industry has been reeling from rolling electricity blackouts while the avian influenza last year resulted in shortages of table eggs. While there has been an easing off in the outbreak of avian influenza in some key areas, operators have had to decentralise production to less affected areas and provinces of South Africa. Nonetheless, there was a resurgence of avian influenza in the four month period…

COSATU notes the government’s 2024/25 Budget tabled at Parliament. The challenges confronting society are immense and require a delicate balancing act. What is needed is to stimulate the economy, reduce unemployment, provide relief to the poor, rebuild the state, and tackle crime and corruption. We support the government’s agreement with the South African Reserve Bank to release R150 billion to ease the fiscal pressures. It is criti- cal these be used to rebuild Eskom and Transnet. This is a once-off relief and needs to be utilised to grow the economy and reduce unemployment. Key to growing the economy is tackling the network obstacles. We welcome progress in providing Eskom R253bn worth of debt relief and the significant strides in reducing the levels of load shedding and the progress in…

A senior advocate from the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) has been identified as a key player involved in singling out affluent individuals and bringing their cases to the Palm Ridge Magistrate’s Court. The senior advocate, known as “the blue-eyed boy” among his NPA colleagues, is accused of deliberately targeting both willing and unsuspecting victims, coercing them into paying money through false charges and trumped-up accusations. Gary Naidoo, not his real name, detailed to The Star how the “blue-eyed boy of the NPA orchestrated their arrest together with the team of his investigating officers from the Eastern Cape”. Naidoo said that they were arrested in Silverton for an alleged fraud in 2020, which was subsequently struck off the roll due to a lack of evidence. A year later, they were…

POLICE Minister Bheki Cele struggles to differentiate between a political office and the operational office, security expert Willem Els told The Star yesterday. Els’ comments follow the public outcry over Cele’s use of an SAPS chopper to attend a party event at the Moses Mabhida Stadium on Saturday. Els said Cele needed to allow National Commissioner General Fannie Masemola and his team to perform their duties. Since Cele took over as police minister, he seemed to forget that he was not the national commissioner anymore, he said. “Cele was fired as national commissioner, in fact, he was found not to be fit to be a police commissioner. “Then he was appointed as the minister, but whenever there are operational matters, Masemola is always on the sideline, while Cele takes all…

Randburg has been a popular destination for both home and investment purchasers during the difficult market conditions, post the Covid-19 pandemic. One of Johannesburg’s largest suburbs, it provides value in the housing market as it has continued to consistently perform and hold its own in a harsh economic environment. With much of Gauteng suffering in the past few years, Randburg has provided good value for money, investment opportunity and lifestyle, so says CEO of Lew Geffen Sotheby’s International Realty, Cobus Odendaal. “In recent years, Randburg has become increasingly attractive to first-time buyers looking to get a foot on the property ladder, but savvy investors are realising that the area has very diverse housing options to suit all pockets. “Whether you’re a first-time homebuyer, upgrading to a larger property, downgrading…

Ingredients: 3 Tbsp olive oil ½ coil chorizo sarta 1 onion, finely diced 2 red peppers, finely diced 2 small cloves garlic, finely chopped 2 tomatoes, grated 1 Tbsp tomato paste 1 Tbsp smoked paprika 1½ cups arborio rice Salt and milled pepper 3-4 strands saffron (optional) 5 cups hot fish stock (or veg stock) 15 Vannamei prawns, cleaned and prepped to your liking (shelled or whole) 1 packet (500g) West Coast mussels in half shell 400g hake fillets, cut into chunks Fresh parsley and wedges, for serving Crusty baguette and mayonnaise or aioli for serving. Method Pre-heat oven to 180°C. Heat oil in a paella pan over medium-high heat. Fry chorizo until slightly crisp, remove and set aside. Sauté onion and red pepper in the same pan for 8-10…

After Xolani Khumalo’s unpleasant departure as host of the Sizok’thola drug-busting show, Moja Love has announced that the show will return in April with Xolani Maphanga as presenter. Maphanga is well known as the host of X-Repo, a show that assists those who have been harmed on a personal basis, whether the conflict is between friends, ex-partners or family. Speaking about the new opportunity, Maphanga said they will be working tirelessly with communities in the fight against drugs. “I have witnessed the impact of drugs on the youth, including how they leave families scarred for life, and it gives me great honour to contribute to a social justice programme and a show that tackles the scourge of drugs head-on. This is a fight we cannot win alone, so we…

As the media fraternity celebrates the centenary of radio, it’s worth noting that we have come a long way – and amid new technologies, radio still has a long way to go. Like most people who grew up in the rural areas, television was a luxury only a few households could afford, therefore radio became a solace to us. I remember listening to a radio drama that kept us around the radio for almost 20 minutes. Sometimes funny, sometimes sad in such a way that you end up with a teary eye. Same thing with football: we would listen to the commentators like the late Bafana Phillip Zwane of Radio Zulu paint a mental picture of King Zwelithini Stadium – even going further to explain that the other team is…

The legislative framework, appointment process, judicial review, accountability mechanisms, and adherence to professional standards ensure the independence of the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA). Collectively, these mechanisms ensure that the prosecuting authority operates independently and is accountable to the judiciary, Parliament, and the Minister of Justice, rather than being subject to political interference and the influence of business with a bottomless pit of money, especially multinational companies. ​ The president, the head of the national executive, appoints the National Director of Public Prosecutions (NDPP). ​This appointment is made independently of political influence and interference. The Constitution requires that the NPA, including the NDPP, serve impartially and exercise its powers, duties, and functions in good faith and without fear, favour, or prejudice. The NDPP determines prosecution policy and issues policy directives. It…

NIZAAM Carr is the embodiment of a fairy tale for many rugby players in Cape Town who strive to make it big one day. Born and raised in Mitchells Plain, Carr came through the local school and club systems before being offered a bursary by Bishops – and the rest is history. But throughout a storied career with Western Province, the Stormers, Springboks and Wasps in England, he would never have thought that he would end up at the Bulls in Pretoria. And now he has the task of trying to help Jake White’s team to end a horror run of seven consecutive defeats to the Stormers in Saturday’s United Rugby Championship showdown at Loftus Versfeld (5.05pm kick-off). So, there are a few better placed than Carr to provide insight…

Orlando Pirates are starting to embrace the pressure that comes with the expectations of winning week in and week out, says coach Jose Riveiro. Pirates began their Nedbank Cup defence with a bang on Saturday afternoon, hammering amateur side Crystal Lake 6-0 at Mbombela Stadium in Nelspruit. And while that result guaranteed their progression to the last 16 of the country’s premier knockout competition, it also spoke volumes for their quality. Pirates arguably have the most talented squad at their disposal behind Mamelodi Sundowns in the top flight – a characteristic that they have, however, failed to put to good use. Unlike Sundowns, who are chasing their record seventh league championship in a row this season, Pirates have only won four trophies in the last 10 seasons. This season, they’ve…

ON THE face of it, SuperSport United’s CAF Confederation Cup campaign ending on the penultimate match day of the group stage would seem to suggest that Gavin Hunt’s team had a wretched run on the continent. And rightly so, because any team that earns just four points out of a possible 15 surely had it bad. Yet, there is every reason for Matsatsantsa a Pitori to look back at their participation in Africa’s secondary knockout competition as somewhat of a success – at least with regards to the future. Hunt’s fairly young squad saw their chances of progression to the knockout stage go up in smoke following yesterday’s 1-1 draw with Egypt’s Modern Future at the Peter Mokoba Stadium in Polokwane. And even if they were to win at USM…

THE TRANSNET National Port Authority (TNPA) has decided to pause its proposed expansion of a stand-alone berthing facility aimed at increasing iron ore exports volumes by an additional 7 million tons at the Port of Saldanha in the Western Cape. This comes as TNPA wanted to reposition the port by increasing exports capacity in the short-term (2022-2032) through the phase 2 iron ore expansion berth construction project. There are two iron ore berths operational in the Port of Saldanha, with the current installed and theoretical capacity of 60 million tons per annum, respectively. The new berth 100 was aimed to increase handling capacity to 67 million tons per annum, and more than 1.3 billion tons of iron ore have been exported through Saldanha to date. The Port…

Sifiso Ntombela SOUTH Africa’s agriculture uses roughly 2.2 million tons of fertiliser per annum to produce a variety of crops and pastures. On average, about two-thirds of the fertiliser is used to grow grains and oilseeds like maize, wheat, soya beans and sunflower, among others. Fruit and vegetable production use nearly 18% of total fertiliser, and the rest is utilised to cultivate sugar cane and pastures. More than 95% of the country’s fertiliser consumption is imported, implying that South Africa is directly impacted by global market dynamics such as global conflicts, trade distortion policies and economic meltdowns. Impact of global conflicts on agricultural inputs The world price for fertiliser has not recovered from the shocks caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, which constrained the supply of fertiliser. This was exacerbated…

AS I HAD forecast in my article in Business Report last Monday, “Budget 2024: Exciting prospects and realities – Chris Harmse”, the government decided to apply its Gold and Foreign Exchange Contingency Reserves to decrease its gross borrowing requirement. Indeed, the Treasury announced that the SA Reserve Bank (SARB) would provide R100 billion in 2024, and R50bn both in 2025 and 2026 to the Treasury to settle some of its debt. This step will decrease the government’s gross borrowing requirement from R553.1 billion in 2023/24 to R428.5bn in 2026/27. It will contri- bute towards the government’s gross loan debt to stabilise at 75.3% of gross domestic product in 2025/26, slightly lower than the level of 77.7% projected in the 2023 Medium-Term Budget Policy Statement. Initially, just after…

South Africa has appeared on a leaked list of countries that global mega star Beyoncé could visit as part of her world tour next year. Although the list is not yet confirmed, some of her local fans can’t contain their excitement and are already anticipating the concert. “Will I have to withdraw my pension fund just to afford a ticket or will my whole month’s salary be enough?” @VuyoVee09 commented on X. But while many are hoping the Lemonade hitmaker performs in South Africa as part of her Act II tour in 2025, others are not as supportive. The icon, whose full name is Beyoncé Knowles-Carter, performed in South Africa in 2018 at the Global Citizen: Mandela 100 Festival. But some fans are still sour about her not including any…

THE ANC’s six-point plan delivered during the party’s manifesto launch at the weekend was “a recycled failed promise 20 years ago”, says University of Zululand-based political analyst Professor Sipho Seepe. President Cyril Ramaphosa told a packed Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban that the party would create 2.5 million jobs. He told the cheering crowd that there was no shortage of work to make South Africa a better place, saying that in every street, community and village, people were ready and willing to contribute to social and economic development. He said most jobs would be created through public and social employment programmes, industrialisation and support for small enterprises and co-operatives, but Seepe said these were rehashed promises the party made 20 years ago which it never implemented. If Ramaphosa was capable…

The upgrading of the Bram Fischer Drive and Jan Smuts Avenue intersection in Randburg will enhance pedestrian and vehicle movement, improve the quality of the public environment and promote the development of a compact, pedestrian-friendly environment. As part of the Randburg CBD’s Urban Development Framework (UDF), the Johannesburg Development Agency (JDA) has undertaken significant infrastructural improvements which will take place until May. The following works will be conducted: n Asphalt sealing. n Reconstruction of a 700m pavement. n Replacement of stormwater grid inlets and kerb inlets. n Widening of walkways on Jan Smuts Avenue. n Road marking and installation of road signs. n Universal access enhancements. The one-lane road closure will enable the aforementioned projects. Bram Fisher Drive and Jan Smuts Avenue will be reduced to one…

The SANDF says its mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) is about peace and sustainability, and not commercially motivated. Earlier this month, President Cyril Ramaphosa announced the deployment of 2 900 SANDF members to help fight rebel attacks in the DRC, which are creating a serious humanitarian crisis. The mission has been heavily criticised, and shortly after the deployment, two South African soldiers were killed after an attack in the DRC. Siphiwe Dlamini, head of communications for the SANDF, said it was “shocked and dismayed” at claims contained on X (formerly Twitter) “alleging that the deployment of the SANDF soldiers to the DRC is commercially motivated and related to the minerals of that country, in particular the eastern DRC”. “The SANDF wishes to state categorically that the…

RESIDENTS have been urged to stop building houses and other buildings under Eskom’s high-voltage lines. Eskom said it has noted an escalation in homes and other structures being built within their power line servitudes. The power utility said this is not only against Eskom regulations, but also poses a number of safety risks and therefore warns residents to stop. Eskom’s senior corporate manager for occupational hygiene and safety, Miranda Moahlodi, said it is challenging to ensure the safety of those who live within power line servitudes, and residents are prohibited from doing so to protect their safety. “The common belief is that power lines are harmless because of their size and distance from the ground must be corrected,” she said. The utility said that the electric potential transmitted or distributed…

Award-winning guitarist, composer and author Billy Monama has partnered with the SA Music Performance Rights Association to give music lovers the time of their music lives as part of the third instalment of the Back To The Future concert set for the Joburg Theatre on Saturday. Monama looks set to enthral audiences as he picks his singing guitar with a night of music that promises to be a compelling musical journey that reflects his personal life story and 27 years of artistic evolution while offering a message of optimism, renewal for the future and a poignant reflection on Human Rights Month and the nation’s 30th year of democracy. The music maestro says this concert serves also as an autobiographical exploration of his career as a musician. “The Back To The…

THE Natasha Joubert Collective, reigning Miss South Africa’s educational advocacy campaign, has awarded its inaugural bursary to a diverse group of 31 students from across the country. Joubert and Boston City Campus, her alma mater, partnered last year to offer academic scholarships to South African students who are 18 or older for a year of study at Boston City Campus. Joubert said she was moved by the inspirational letters that went with the entries and was astounded by the volume of submissions. “It was incredibly difficult choosing the bursary recipients, as education should never be a privilege limited to the fortunate few. But I am delighted we have been able to play a small part in transforming 31 lives with these study grants. I wish the first class of the…

Mamelodi Sundowns head coach Rhulani Mokwena could not contain his joy after the club sealed qualification for the CAF Champions League knockout stages. The Brazilians qualified alongside Group A leaders TP Mazembe with one match left to play after dispatching Mauritian club Nouadhibou away in difficult conditions. Other clubs to qualify for the quarter-finals are Egyptian giants Al Ahly, 1998 winners of the competition Asec Mimosa from Ivory Coast and Tanzania’s Young Africans, who made it this far for the first time in their history. Sundowns scored a goal in each half as Grant Kekana and Thembinkosi Lorch confirmed their place in the last eight for the sixth time in a row. Speaking after the match at Cheikha Ould Boïdiya Stadium, Mokwena expressed his delight at his players’ performances. “Our…

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta praised his players’ mentality after an impressive response to their last-gasp defeat at Porto as they blew Newcastle United away in the Premier League on Saturday. The Gunners scored twice in each half of their 4-1 home victory to record a sixth straight league win, a run in which they have racked up an aggregate scoreline of 25-3. Saturday’s performance kept the pressure on the Premier League’s top two of Liverpool and Manchester City. “I think we had a great performance. Big credit to the boys after two days and just half a day to prepare the game,” Arteta said. “The way we executed everything, the intensity, the commitment, the determination, the aggression and progression in everything that we were doing with the ball. “They played…