Table of contents for 2024-09-03 in Star

THE AUDITOR-GENERAL (AG) has raised concerns over Transnet’s financial health after the State-owned logistics operator reported a loss that widened from R5.1 billion last year to R7.3bn in the year to March, a decline that it said yesterday was because the high court had ruled that it must pay Total SA and Sasol about R6bn after the petroleum companies accused it of breaching a 1991 pricing contract. Transnet, which has made a R9.3bn provision for the estimated claim, interest and legal fees, is appealing the ruling on “various grounds”. In addition to the appeal in the matter with Total SA and Sasol, Transnet and the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) have jointly taken Nedbank to the Gauteng High Court, Johannesburg, to set aside interest rate swop transactions, which took place…

THE UPGRADING of China and South Africa’s Comprehensive Strategic Partnership to an All-Round Strategic Co-operative Partnership spelled a new era that would elevate mutually beneficial political and economic ties for the benefit of both countries and their people. Giving his opening remarks at the official talks with President Xi Jinping on occasion of the State visit to China yesterday, President Cyril Ramaphosa said the two countries have witnessed an increase in their bilateral trade. “However, as South Africa, we would like to narrow the trade deficit and address the structure of our trade. We were encouraged by the inward procurement mission of Chinese companies last year,” Ramaphosa said. “We urge for more sustainable manufacturing and job-creating investments. Development co-operation between our two countries continues to grow, covering many areas. We…

CONNECTIVITY is the lifeblood of innovation. Yet, in an ecosystem burdened by trust deficits, access gaps, fragmented markets and opaque power structures, building and leveraging networks is anything but straightforward. Leadership at all levels, particularly at the executive tier, must prioritise a continuous activation of high-value connections – both local and global – to unlock the full potential of Africa’s digital and mainstream economies. However, this need for robust networks presents its own set of challenges. Africa’s vast and culturally diverse markets face numerous geopolitical risks, regulatory complexities and an uneven distribution of critical knowledge and opportunities. So, how do we, as African and Africa-focused ecosystem innovators, foster collaboration and navigate this intricate terrain? The answer lies in mainstreaming connectivity as a core discipline – an everyday practice, rather than…

CA SALES Holdings is confident of growth opportunities in east and southern Africa, hoping to capitalise on its deep understanding of the regional markets after the company raised half-year revenues and earnings by 9.2% and 19.2% respectively. The integrated fast-moving consumer goods company operates in South Africa, Botswana, eSwa- tini, Mauritius and Zimbabwe, among others. It offers fast-moving consumer goods selling and distribution services in addition to retail execution and advisory, retail support, technology as well as data solutions. The company said yesterday that it was “confident of the opportunities southern and east Africa present” with its “deep understanding of these markets” expected to assist it to “navigate” the associated regional risks. “With a steady economic growth rate averaging at 3% across most markets, these regions boast fast-growing economies. Investments…

FORMER president Jacob Zuma believes the case involving the 10 people who represented his uMkhonto weSizwe Party (MKP) in Parliament should be thrown out of court because none have proved their party membership. The MKP was taken to court after 10 of its former members had their party membership terminated and were removed as MPs. They want the court to stop the National Assembly from filling their positions, and the termination of their membership to the party and National Assembly be reviewed and set aside. In his replying affidavit, Zuma said none of the expelled MPs have said that they were members of the MKP. “Even if they did, no evidence has been furnished to the court to prove such membership, which is the obvious gateway to their application,” he…

ANC secretary-general Fikile Mbalula says Justice Minister Thembi Simelane will appear before the party’s integrity commission in response to claims of questionable activities surrounding the VBS scandal. A business that purportedly obtained “illegal” money from VBS Mutual Bank lent Simelane R575 600, according to reports. The loan was used to buy a coffee shop in Sandton, Johannesburg. During this time, Simelane served as mayor of Polokwane, Limpopo. Mbalula said Simelane must provide a full report on the allegations brought against her. “We are expecting a full report from her in terms of what has been reported. “She must report,” Mbalula said in an interview with eNCA over the weekend. The secretary-general said the ANC was in a renewal process and dodgy dealings should not form part of their agenda. He…

MTN Foundation yesterday launched its 2024 edition of Women in Digital Business Challenge to tackle the poor representation of women in the information, communication and technology (ICT) industry. The challenge aims to foster the participation of women in South Africa’s ICT sector. After vetting and shortlisting 20 applicants, the challenge absorbed a cohort of 10 women who are small business owners, with R1 million invested. Each contestant received R100k towards developing their businesses. MTN South Africa Foundation general manager, Arthur Mukhuvha, said the challenge is set to run for six months, offering participants the chance to strengthen and grow their small businesses into sustainable, thriving enterprises. “The prize money will be used for working capital, business development, purchasing assets, investing in business technology hardware, software or intellectual property (IP), and…

TOGETHER with members of the Palestine Solidarity Group (PSG) of Pietermaritzburg, I was fortunate to participate in a panel discussion with Al Jazeera journalist Youmna El-Sayed about what is it like being a journalist living in and covering the mass humanitarian disaster in Gaza. According to El-Sayed, who visited Pietermaritzburg on Friday last week, the genocide unfolding in Gaza caused by apartheid Israel is different from previous brutal attacks on Palestinians as journalists are being targeted from the very first day. Covering stories from the front lines, reporters face huge challenges to report on lived realities in war zones. According to the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), at least 116 media workers were among the thousands killed since apartheid Israel’s attack on Gaza began, making it the deadliest period for…

Amidst the vast and diverse energy landscape of Africa, South Africa stands as a nation with a well-established nuclear industry, yet one whose ambitions in the realm of nuclear power generation have been mired in stagnation. Despite possessing the technological prowess and institutional knowledge, the country’s pursuit of nuclear energy has been marked by controversy, delays, and shifting priorities, a stark contrast to its pioneering role in harnessing the atom’s potential. This paradox is particularly striking when one considers South Africa’s rich history in nuclear endeavours, from its apartheid-era weapons programme to its ambitious efforts to develop the Pebble Bed Modular Reactor (PBMR) technology. The nation’s nuclear odyssey has been a tapestry woven with moments of bold vision and technological triumphs, interspersed with setbacks and controversies that have cast a…

The AUTOMOTIVE industry in South Africa is now hoping that the looming interest rate cuts would signal a positive shift to stimulate economic activities after new vehicle sales fell by 4.9% in August compared to the same month last year, following a 1.5% uptick in July. Data from the Automotive Business Council (Naamsa) yesterday showed that aggregate domestic new vehicle sales in August fell by 2 266 units, or 4.9%, to 43 588 units, down from the 45 854 vehicles sold in August 2023. This decline comes at a critical time for the automotive sector as the industry expects consumer appetite to tick up towards the festive season. Naamsa said the stronger July performance in the new vehicle market could not be sustained in August as consumers…

RCL FOODS will focus on growing organically and by acquisition and partnerships in the next part of its strategic journey following recent portfolio realignments that included listing Rainbow on the JSE. This was according to CEO Paul Cruickshank, who said in an interview that the food and sugar group, which has brands such as Bobtail, 5 Star, Pieman’s, Selati and Yum Yum, had seen an upturn in market demand in the two months after the June 30 financial year end in particular, although it “is not nearly enough yet” to indicate that consumers’ dire financial situation might have improved significantly. In the past year, there were two milestones to reshape the group’s portfolio around its value-added components. The first was disposing of Vector Logistics in August, which Cruickshank said was…

INTERIM earnings in Sibanye-Stillwater are expected to dive by about 100%, with the company’s gold production for the half-year to June down by 21% and platinum group metals (PGM) prices, especially palladium, still depressed while it was affected by a R7.4 billion write-down to its US platinum business. Although its South African PGM operations – largely affected by lower prices – raised output for the 2024 first half by 4% to 878 606 ounces of 4E metal, Sibanye-Stillwater’s managed gold operations in the same country, excluding DRDGold, declined by 21% to 265 179 ounces. The South African gold operations had a lower output for the period, mainly as a result of the closure of the Kloof 4 shaft and increased seismic activity which restricted access to high-grade…

X (FORMERLY known as Twitter) is now officially banned in Brazil. It’s not the first time the app is banned. X and its former incarnation, Twitter, have been banned in several countries, such as Russia, China, Iran, Myanmar, North Korea, Venezuela and Turkmenistan. Other countries, such as Pakistan, Türkiye, Nigeria and Egypt, have also temporarily suspended X before. Twitter was banned in Egypt after the Arab Spring uprisings, which some dubbed the “Twitter revolution”, but it has since been restored. The X ban in Brazil, however, is different. The ban has also affected another Elon Musk-led business, Starlink. The bank accounts of the satellite internet company have been frozen to pay for X penalties. This ban seems to mark the beginning of an internet with boundaries. When the internet became…

SOUTH African youth radio station YFM has changed its on-air line-up to usher in a new era. The radio station has also announced the launch of its new midday show, Lunch League, from noon to 3pm, hosted by Fresh By Caddy and Yvette Floss. The changes started yesterday. Floss, a familiar voice on the station, previously hosted Nights Like This on Tuesday and Wednesday nights from 10pm to midnight for the past two years. She also stood in for daytime presenters. According to a statement from the station: “The new show promises an invigorating blend of entertainment, music and interactive segments designed to make lunchtime a highlight of the day for listeners.” In addition, listeners can anticipate an engaging and lively show that will set the tone for the rest…

The annual 4-day kykNET Silwerskerm Festival always concludes with a glitzy award ceremony. Last year, the channel decided to go big with the kykNET Silwerskerm Awards for Film and TV by holding it at the Cape Town International Convention Centre (CTICC), thereby allowing fans an opportunity to attend the blue carpet event. The 12th iteration of the festival, which ran from August 28 to 31, was another roaring success. Aside from the mind-blowing films that premiered alongside short films, documentaries as well as panel discussions, the celebration of the hard work that goes on behind the scenes was unmistakable. On Saturday night, the who’s who from the Afrikaans film-making industry were in attendance at the awards ceremony. The foyer echoed with animated banter as the celebrities posed on the blue…

ANC secretary-general Fikile Mbalula has once again defended his party’s decision to for the Government of National Unity (GNU) with the DA. Mbalula said the party’s reason to do so was a tactical one. “These are uncharted waters and we’ve explained that this is just like when the armed Struggle was suspended. We supported the suspension of it and even then, the suspension of it was tactical and strategical. “We kept on saying this GNU can be switched on and off any time. We had many options at our disposal, including to become a back-bencher party. We chose to work with the DA purely in the interest of SA,” he said. Mbalula made these remarks during a media conference in Johannesburg at the ANC headquarters yesterday. He also cautioned members…

SAPS have through their high density operations arrested 13 949 suspects for crimes such as murder, rape, assault GBH (grievous bodily harm), drug dealing and more. SAPS national spokesperson Brigadier Athlenda Mathe said through detectives and crime intelligence tracing operations, roadblocks as well as stop and searches – police have taken a bold and decisive approach in protecting the communities that they serve. All operations are led by the provincial commissioner of each province. Last week alone, 4 233 wanted suspects for crimes such as murder, rape, possession of illegal firearms and business robberies were arrested A total of 117 suspects were arrested for murder. About 118 were arrested for attempted murder, a total of 280 suspects were arrested for rape, 116 of them were arrested in KwaZulu-Natal. While…

Nearly 18 years after the murder of Cape Town music legend Taliep Petersen, his wife, Najwa Dirk, who is in prison for being the mastermind behind his death, has admitted to his children that she had a part in the killing by bringing a “dirty and dodgy deal” into their home, and asked for their forgiveness during parole proceedings last week. Taliep’s daughters, Fatiema Petersen, a social worker, and A’eesha Petersen, were part of the Victim Offender Dialogue (VOD) in April and were called to be at an extension of the parole process held at Pollsmoor Prison earlier last week. It became an emotional and healing moment for them where they accepted what had happened and forgave Najwa in order to set themselves free and for the sake of their…

Ingredients For the potjie Sunflower oil, for frying 8 chicken pieces Salt and pepper 2 onions, chopped 3 carrots, cut into 3cm pieces 3 garlic cloves, crushed 5 cups hot chicken stock 2 sprigs thyme + extra 2 eggs, beaten 60ml chutney For the dumplings 500ml self-raising flour 5ml salt 2 eggs, beaten 125ml milk Method: For the potjie, heat a splash of oil in a 23cm flat-bottomed cast iron potjie over medium-hot coals and fry the chicken for about 5 minutes or until browned all over. Season with salt and pepper. Stir through the onions and fry for 5 minutes until browned. Add the carrots, garlic, 1 litre (4 cups) of the stock and thyme. Bring to a simmer, cover with a lid and cook for about 45…

BRAD Binder and the Red Bull KTM team secured handy points in a much-improved showing by the RC16 at the Aragon Grand Prix on Sunday. The South African rider picked up a handy 13 points from the Sunday’s main race to add to the four he picked up with his sixth-place sprint finish on Saturday. Binder is currently sixth in the riders’ championships standings, and he trails his future teammate Pedro Acosta by three points. Binder improved three places from his initial seventh-place start and kept up with championship challenger Francesco Bagnaia for most of the race after his slow start from third position. Bagnaia swiftly manoeuvred his way through the field and gave Binder full exposure to Acosta in the latter stages of the race, but the 29-year-old couldn’t…

SANLAM Life Insurance plans to acquire a 25% stake in African Rainbow Capital Financial Services Holdings (ARC FSH) for R2.41 billion cash and part of the deal will be the sale of its 25% stake in ARC Financial Services Investments (ARC FSI) for R1.49bn. The sale in ARC FSI would be done via the issue by ARC FSH of ordinary shares to the value of R1.49bn, to Sanlam Life. Sanlam’s share price fell 3.46% to close at R85.81 yesterday. ARC FSH is the investment holding company for all the financial services investments of the Ubuntu-Botho Investments (UBI) group of companies, other than its shareholding in Sanlam, which is held directly by UBI. The deal generated some comment on the X social media platform with, for instance, Michael Jordaan (@MichaelJordaan)…

HOTELS, gaming and entertainment group Sun International is expecting to report an increase in earnings for the half-year to the end of June, boosted by its diversified operating portfolio that has embedded the company’s resilience amid a stronger performance from urban and resort hotels, Sunbet and urban casinos. Shares in the company on the JSE closed 2.85% up at R43.01 yesterday, maintaining its strong mo- mentum in the past week, month and year-to-date periods. This came as shareholders reacted positively to Sun International’s interim trading update in which it said it expected earnings for the June 2024 interim period to rise. The company sees its headline earnings per share for the half-year period increasing from the same period last year by between 5.4% and 12.4% to a range between 182…

APPLE’S partnership with India’s second-biggest telecoms firm will give the iPhone maker a sorely needed boost in a content market where it lags far behind the likes of Spotify and Walt Disney. The US technology giant, working to boost revenue globally from services including apps, payments and media, is set to offer free music and video streaming to many of Bharti Airtel’s 281 million customers. The deal is likely to greatly expand the user base for Apple TV+ and Apple Music in a country where Apple has long emphasised the manufacturing side of business to diversify its supply chain beyond China. Apple builds many of its iPhones in India, yet its handsets make up just 6% of the country’s 690 mil- lion smartphones, versus around 2% in 2019,…

SOUTH African musicians Nkosazana Daughter (real name Nkosazana Nzama) and Wanitwa Mos (Master KG’s alter ego) have teamed up to launch their much-anticipated album, Makhelwane. Meaning “Neighbour” in English, Makhelwane was inspired by the creative journey of the iconic duo who have successfully worked together since 2021, releasing hit singles like Sofa Silahlane and Dali Nguwe. Coming from different backgrounds – Pedi and Zulu – their collaboration signifies the spirit of unity as they give people what they want by releasing a full body of work. “I’m from KZN. I’m a Zulu girl. And here I am. I have big songs from Limpopo and people love that music. And then there’s a friendship between Wanitwa Mos and I, and that’s how Makhelwane came about. “We named it so that the…

Between April 1 and June 30, political parties have declared close to R200 million for the first quarter of 2024/25 and the DA has once again reported the highest amount in donations. The Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC) yesterday released the latest data which revealed that a total of 14 political parties declared donations, and while there were a few first-time donors, many were repeat donors. “Totalling a colossal R189 950 829, this is by far the highest value of donations across all years and quarters since the introduction of the Political Funding Act, as amended,” the IEC said in a statement. “Furthermore, many of the repeat donors made significant donations across several political parties, targeting mainly new or recently established political parties.” The DA recorded…

Amid the surcharge being under review, City Power has implemented initiatives for alternative energy transmission to mitigate the effects of climate change. The MMC for environment and infrastructure services, Jack Sekwaila, said alternative energy was the city’s choice to reduce electricity consumption and maintain energy infrastructure. “The city is committed to achieving net-zero emissions as part of its strategic objectives. Transitioning to a cleaner energy mix and promoting energy efficiency will help the city reduce its energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions,” said Sekwaila. City Power has begun the process of sourcing alternative energy from Independent Power Producers (IPPs) to reduce its dependence on Eskom. “City Power secured 92 megawatts of power from four IPPs through a short-term power purchase agreement. The council approved a groundbreaking plan to enter…

Three months have passed since the destructive tornado swept through the Thongathi on June 3, leaving a trail of devastation in its wake, and many households continue to grapple with the aftermath as they struggle to rebuild their shattered lives. The tornado tore through the area, leaving 12 people dead, uprooting trees, and affecting 7 000 households. The Star’s sister paper, The Mercury, visited the Newtown area of Thongathi – the worst affected area – yesterday and found that recovery efforts are ongoing. While some households have completed their repairs, others are still in the process of rebuilding and removing rubble from their property. Many homes still have roofs and windows covered in plastic as a temporary measure of protection. Hlengiwe Msweli, 61, has not had any repairs done to…

THE male baboon that recently went on a walkabout through the streets of the southern suburbs has been euthanised after failing to integrate with a troop. This was revealed by community group, Baboons of the South, after it made enquiries to the Cape Peninsula Baboon Management Joint Task Team about the animal’s condition. The joint task team consists of representatives from SANParks, CapeNature, and the City of Cape Town. In a statement, Baboons of the South posted the response they received from the Task Team on their Facebook page. “The dispersing male baboon (TK67) failed to integrate with any of the available northern subpopulation troops after a previous capture and return to his natal range and remained lingering in Constantia for months. “TK67 has been euthanised following deliberation by the…

THE Tshwane council’s resolution to rescind the failed 2003 sexual harassment policy collective agreement has been hailed as a step in the right direction to deal with harassment facing workers in the municipality. The decision to revoke the policy was taken after it was concluded that the City has not benefited from a thorough policy review since its inception despite several high-profile cases involving senior officials previously implicated in sexual harassment. The resolution paved the way for the municipality to comply with the code of good practice in the prevention and elimination of harassment in the workplace, published in the Government Gazette in 2022. ANC councillor Donald Tsela said his party commended the City on the code of good practice intended to prevent, eliminate and manage all manner of harassment…

Jazz music lovers attending the upcoming Standard Bank Joy of Jazz (SBJOJ) can expect a multi-layered performance from award-winning jazz trumpeter Mandisi Dyantyis, who will be accompanied by a string quartet. This year, the two-day jazz festival will celebrate its 25-year milestone armed with a bold line-up of performances which includes Feya Faku, Sibongile Mngoma, Lizz Wright, Yvonne Chaka Chaka, Tutu Puoane, Spha Mdlalose, and many others. The 2024 edition takes place on September 27 and 28 at the Sandton Convention Centre in Johannesburg. At least 50 world-class musicians from more than 10 regions including Africa, Europe, the Americas and East Asia will perform across five stages over two days. Speaking to The Star, Dyantyis said that his performance on the Conga stage will reflect both his South African and…

THE 2024 World U20 Championships might have drawn to a close but they have opened the door to many young South African athletes to make their mark on the world stage. Hannah van Niekerk, 19, achieved a childhood dream and won a bronze medal at the recently-concluded championships in Lima, Peru. Finishing third helped Team South Africa to a sixth-place finish with a total medal tally of seven (three golds, two silvers and two bronze medals). Van Niekerk became the only female athlete to win a medal in the campaign for Team SA. The former Afrikaans Hoër Meisieskool learner powered through to a personal best time of 56.98 in the 400m hurdles final to win her maiden international medal. The overjoyed bronze medallist had a lot of praise for her…