Índice para 2023-12-06 em Mercury

THE RAND retreated to its lowest in two weeks yesterday and stocks on the JSE extended losses, in spite of improving metals prices, after economic growth in South Africa surprised on the downside in the third quarter of 2023. Statistics South Africa (StatsSA) said yesterday that gross domestic product (GDP) for the three months ended September fell into contraction, dipping by 0.2% in the third quarter compared to the downwardly revised 0.5% growth in the second quarter. StatsSA said economic growth was being hobbled by the deepening energy crisis and the logistics bottlenecks as agriculture, manufacturing and construction were the most impacted sectors. PPS Investments portfolio manager Reza Hendrickse said although growth continued to be unimpressive, it had managed to exceed expectations in most quarters during recent years. “Going forward,…

DOVES Group has concluded an underwriting partnership with African Unity Life, a collaboration that aims to signal the start of revitalisation following the challenges posed by the curatorship of 3Sixty Life. Doves Group runs a national network with more than 160 branches in all nine provinces, providing insurance, funeral services, and related products. African Unity Life is a life insurer and financial services provider insuring more than three million lives. “This partnership with African Unity Life is not just a business strategy; it is a leap into a future where we see our company not only recovering from the loss of 3Sixty Life, but also thriving,” Doves Group executive director Minki Rasenyalo said in a statement yesterday. The focus going forward would be on selling both short and long-term…

THE AGRICULTURAL sector gross value added for third quarter surprised on the negative as it declined nearly 10%. After an encouraging recovery of 2.8% quarter-on-quarter in the second quarter, South Africa’s agricultural gross value added contracted by 9.6% in the third quarter. Paul Makube, senior agricultural economist, FNB Commercial, said South Africa’s overall GDP growth fell short of expectations and contracted 0.2% in the third quarter, from a 0.5% rise in the second quarter. Makube said despite some of the earlier indicators pointing to a potential upswing in Q3 agriculture GDP, the sector surprised on the downside with a biggest and sharp contraction of 9.6%. “This was underpinned by a slowdown in economic activity for field crops, animal products, and horticulture products,” Makube said. He said however, the bulk of…

THE UN SECRETARY-General Antonio Guterres, when meeting President Cyril Ramaphosa, was quick to point out that the UN was so pleased that out of all the countries in the world, SA was the only country that had submitted a plan to the UN Inter- governmental Panel on Climate Change to end the use of coal and fossils fuels. The plans entail closing down half the coal-based power stations initially, starting with 12 000 megawatts and, eventually, all the coal power stations in SA, and repurposing the land for various alternative renewable energy projects. What the UN doesn’t know is that SA is great at making plans and promises, but bad in implementing them. The government is under heavy pressure from all sectors of society who are up in…

SABVEST Capital’s board said yesterday it was sad to advise shareholders that Eric Ellerine (90), who had also founded the Ellerine Holdings furniture retail group that listed in 1969, passed away on Monday.When Sabvest Limited (Sabvest) was listed on the JSE in 1988, Ellerine was the first new material shareholder in Sabvest and the first Family Office investor. Ellerine opened his first store at the age of 16 in Johannesburg’s Cyrildene. The business grew and eventually included other retail brands such as Beares, Dial-a-Bed and Furniture City. In 2007, African Bank Investments bought Ellerines for R10.6 billion. Sabvest said Ellerine had been very supportive of the Sabcap Group over 35 years, including being a co-investor in a number of Sabvest/Sabcap investees. His family entities are together currently one…

South Africa’s socio-economic imbalances, political instability, and constrained economic growth, not to mention the logististical nightmare posed by load shedding, could significantly impair both the pace and scope of innovation. This was according to the latest BCX Digital Innovation Index Report 2023. The report aims to guide businesses by evaluating their innovation strategies and shed light on the dynamic landscape of digital transformation in South Africa. Regulatory hurdles and a lagging alignment between compliance and technological advancement could also severely constrict experimental forays into innovative solutions, the authors of the index said yesterday. Drawing upon data from questions and interviews with senior leaders from 42 institutions, the report delineated the multifaceted challenges and prospects tied to the pursuit of digital innovation. The study classified South African organisations into four…

VARIOUS political leaders have been visiting Amazulu King Misuzulu kaZwelithini to gather political support from him ahead of what is expected to be a hotly contested election in the province next year. Yesterday, an EFF delegation led by leader Julius Malema paid a courtesy visit to the king, saying it wanted to strengthen its relationship with the royal family and traditional leadership and work closely with them to ensure services are delivered to people. Recently an IFP delegation visited the king while the DA is expected to pay a courtesy visit today. Political analysts pointed to recent census data which showed Zulu remains the country’s most predominant language, spoken by almost a quarter (24.4%) of the country’s households, and the ethnic group being the majority in KZN, as one of…

Hamas broke the ceasefire. The peace-for-now deal was only between Israel and Gaza. West Bank is another world – the “third estate”, if you like – which did not qualify for any special temporary or permanent truce. The boom banging and willy-nilly murder and wanton arrests of mostly innocent Palestinians there were religiously accepted and kosher. But with a simple unwritten precondition: whatever violence was committed on any Palestinian man, women and child, in any of God’s name, on the holy shores of the West Bank would not qualify to incur any retaliation (First, Second and Final Testament stuff!). Any semblance of the simplest violent reaction by any God-forsaken Palestine from the West Bank against any Israeli soldier or settler would immediately, electronically short-circuit ignition fuses on automatic Israeli bombing…

“MY SON (in his early twenties) seldom talks to me. We used to be very close in his young years. He’s cut me out and it’s painful for me. He talks a little to my husband but it doesn’t seem to bother my husband too much. How do I get him to trust me again?” Mothering ends. Yes, you will be his mother forever but the acts of mothering him have ended. He’s apparently made that decision. When the mother (or the father) needs to provide mothering (or fathering) more than the adult son or daughter wants or needs, there is a problem (for the parent). Your adult son and everything about his future is in his hands. It would be a good thing for him (and you) if he…

CiviL rights organisation AfriForum applied for leave to appeal in the Gauteng High Court, Pretoria, against a judgment that found the validity period of driving licence cards should not be revised. Currently, driver’s licences in South Africa are valid for five years and motorists have to renew them at least four weeks before the expiration date. Those who renew after the expiration date have to apply for a temporary driving licence at an additional cost. AfriForum went to court to challenge the five-year validity period. It said the court action aimed to prevent road users, who had not received their renewed driving licence cards on time, from being fined. Acting Judge Jacob Strijdom dismissed AfriForum’s initial review application on October 30. However, AfriForum’s legal team argues in its appeal application…

Gauteng police have arrested five people in connection with the brutal murder of seven people in vigilante attacks in Diepsloot, Johannesburg. Colonel Dimakatso Nevhuhulwi, Gauteng, police spokesperson, said the five alleged killers were arrested on Monday. “Following the death of seven people in Diepsloot, a team of detectives, led by the provincial serious and violent crimes unit was activated. “The team followed up on all information received. On Monday, one suspect was arrested after being identified by an eye witness. He led the police to four more suspects.” She said the five arrested suspects, aged between 30 and 38, are due in the Randburg Magistrate’s Court this week. “More arrests are expected as the police investigation continues,” said Nevhuhulwi. The seven were found burnt to death in two separate…

The Public Service Commission (PSC) has been dealing with hundreds of grievances filed in relation to unfair treatment, filling of posts, performance assessments and salary problems among public servants. According to the latest PSC quarterly report for July 1 to September 30, 302 grievances were registered. Commissioner Anele Gxoyiya said the referral of grievances by employees was an indication that departments had failed to resolve these grievances internally within the prescribed time-frames. Of the 78 unfair treatment grievances, 45 (58%) were from national departments and 33 (42%) were from the nine provinces. Unfair treatment cases mostly emanated from strained relations between supervisors and employees, resulting in employees perceiving any action by supervisors, such as questioning the employees’ failure to meet deadlines or quality of work, as victimisation or bullying. Gxoyiya…

THE Government is expected to appeal the recent Gauteng High Court, Pretoria judgment which directed it to halt load shedding at schools, hospitals, and police stations by the end of January, on grounds that it will be impractical, say energy experts. On Friday, the court ordered Minister of Electricity Kgosientsho Ramokgopa to take all reasonable steps by no later than January 31 to ensure police stations, public hospitals, clinics, and schools were not affected by load shedding. The court also declared that load shedding breached the rights to human dignity, life, freedom, and security of the person, to an environment that was not harmful to people’s health and well-being, the right to access to health-care services, food, and water and the right to basic education. President Cyril Ramaphosa said he…

Resources were exploited by European corporations WITHIN a few years of independence, African governments asserted sovereignty over their metal and mineral resources. Before this, the resources were exploited by European mining corporations. Since the 1990s, transnational corporations have again become the dominant force as owners and managers of major mining projects. Stage 1: Blame the African state In the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), president Joseph- Désiré Mobutu took steps early to place resources under state control. The Bakajika Law of June 1966 required all foreign-based companies to establish their headquarters in the DRC, then known as Zaire, by the end of the year. In addition, the largest Belgian-owned colonial mining subsidiary, Union minière de Haut Katanga, was nationalised the same year. By 1970, the Congolese public sector controlled…

Nigeria’s President Bola Tinubu yesterday ordered a thorough investigation into a weekend military drone attack that killed at least 85 people, including women and children in northern Kaduna, the latest military assault to hit civilians. Nigeria’s military, which is backed by the US, Britain and other non-Western allies in a long war against Islamist insurgents in the northeast, has also been unleashing deadly aerial assaults in other parts of the country. Kaduna is 163 km from the capital Abuja and among northwestern and north central states grappling with kidnappings for ransom and killings by armed gangs, which security forces have been targeting using aerial assault. The National Emergency Management Agency said yesterday that at least 85 people had died during the attack and 66 were injured, giving the first official…

LONDON: Prince Harry has been subjected to “unlawful and unfair treatment” by the British government over the decision to take away his police protection when he is in Britain, his lawyer told London’s High Court yesterday. Harry had received full protection from the state before he decided to step back from royal duties and move to California with his US wife Meghan in 2020. But the Home Office decided he would cease to automatically receive personal police security while in Britain. | Reuters…

PARIS: Teenagers’ mathematics and reading skills are in an unprecedented decline across dozens of countries and Covid-19 school closures are only partly to be blamed, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) said yesterday in a survey. It said it had seen some of the steepest drops in performance since 2000 when it began its usually triennial tests of 15-year-olds’ reading, maths and science skills. Nearly 700 000 youths took the test last year in the OECD’s 38 mostly developed country members and 44-non members. Compared to 2018, reading performance fell by 10 points on average in OECD countries. | Reuters…

LONDON: Thames Water yesterday pledged a “radical” turnaround but warned it would take time to deliver change after a slump in profits and mounting debt during its first half. Profit after tax tumbled 57% in the six months to the end of September despite an emergency financial rescue, Britain’s biggest water supplier said. Net debt grew 7% for the company that supplies 16 million homes and businesses in London and elsewhere in southern England. Auditors warned that the company risks running out of money by April without further support. UK regulators recently ordered water companies to return a combined £114 million (about R2.7 billion) to customers. | AFP…

SOUTH African private sector business activity flatlined in November, with a cooling of price pressures counteracted by supply chain disruptions due to a port crisis, a survey showed yesterday. The S&P Global South Africa Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) rose to 50 points in November from 48.9 points in October. A reading above 50 points shows growth, below 50 points reflects a contraction and 50 points is considered neutral. Both input costs and output charges rose at their softest rates since December 2020 and the cooling of price pressures supported weaker falls in output and new orders, S&P said. However, supply chain disruptions continued in November due to a port crisis and many firms faced longer waits for their inputs, the survey showed. “Downside risk…

SIX OF THE world’s largest dairy companies will soon begin disclosing their methane emission levels as part of a new global alliance launched at the UN climate summit in Dubai yesterday. Livestock is responsible for about 30% of global anthropogenic methane emissions, from sources like manure and cow burps, according to the UN’s Food and Agriculture Organisation. Advocacy groups have said that tackling livestock methane should be a priority at this year’s COP28 summit. The five members of the Dairy Methane Action Alliance – Danone, Bel Group, General Mills, Lactalis USA, Kraft Heinz and Nestlé – will begin reporting their methane emissions by mid-2024 and write methane action plans by the end of that year. Methane is nearly 30 times more potent than carbon dioxide, according to the US Environmental…

AS BUSINESSES plan for 2024, no doubt one of their priorities will be to fill critical roles in their organisations. With the usual spike in resignations towards the end of the year, many, especially those seeking to fill critical IT job vacancies, will be interested in recruitment trends and whether they can use any insights or knowledge to boost their recruitment efforts. They can. But it requires the bravery of shifting their mindset. We are loking down the barrel of an interesting, but dangerous, dilemma. Companies need skilled people and they can’t find them. Skilled people need jobs and they can’t get them. The dilemma needs careful consideration, because there needs to be a viable connection between the two sides. A notable trend in 2023 that will be extrapolated into…

In an effort to tackle crime in and around Durban, eThekwini Municipality has spent around R100 million to repair and upgrade closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras. Mayor Mxolisi Kaunda conducted an oversight inspection of the City’s camera control room where he received a detailed demonstration of how the cameras would help to tackle crime. The mayor was joined by metro police acting commissioner Sibonelo Mchunu and head of Disaster Management Vincent Ngubane. Kaunda said the municipality had cameras in the CBD as well as surrounding areas including Jacobs, KwaMashu, Verulam and Glebelands Hostel in uMlazi. He said the repairs cost the City about R100m and cameras in other areas still needed to be repaired. “We are continuing to repair others, we have got a bigger number but our priority was to…

There’s a stretch of busy road in Chatsworth that has been neglected. The road has water leaks, potholes and an uneven surface. For many year, it has been a nightmare for the residents and the thousands of motorists who use the road daily. Driving from Malvern towards Chatsworth Erica/Astral, the road just before the bridge at Westcliffe narrows and becomes a bottleneck, causing a traffic jam during morning and afternoon rush hour. It’s about a 300m stretch which could have been widened many years ago but the municipality says there’s no need to improve the small section of the road. Yet there’s an electricity department depot on the road which couldn’t care less about the traffic jam. Only one or two months ago, the municipality’s road department decided to…

I THINK I echo South African sentiments when I say it is shocking and terrifying that a Hamas delegation has been allowed into South Africa to participate in a conference organised by ANC MP Mandla Mandela, the grandson of Nelson Mandela. Among this delegation, is Khaled Qaddoumi, a Jordanian national and long-time Hamas member, who currently serves as Hamas’s representative to Iran in Tehran, and has been sanctioned by the US Department of Treasury. The admittance of extremists and terrorists into our country by the South African government raises serious concerns about their potential involvement in fomenting extremism within our borders. Qaddoumi, acting as the liaison between Hamas and the Iranian government, actively fosters and strengthens relations with Iran. His role includes attending delegation meetings and engaging with high-ranking Iranian…

It’s December and the festive season is upon us. Schools are closed and children are at home. Factories and companies are closing and other workers are on leave to enjoy the holidays. The weather is hot and the country has been experiencing heatwaves of late, which might tempt people to dip into watercourses for a cool down. It is therefore important to be responsible and always put safety first around watercourses in order to prevent unnecessary disasters and to have an enjoyable festive season. Drownings are a major cause of fatalities, so it is critical that people are extra cautious around watercourses. Swimming skills are required to enjoy watercourses and swimming pools. Children must always be supervised by an adult who can swim, to prevent a drowning. Don’t drink and…

Safety was the main concern expressed by members of the public regarding the Koeberg Nuclear Power Station Long-Term Operation (LTO) licence application. This came to light as South Africa’s nuclear safety watchdog, the National Nuclear Regulator (NNR), hosted a media briefing on the status of the LTO licence application. On May 10, 2021, the NNR received an application from Eskom to operate Koeberg beyond the current licence term of July 21, 2024 for an additional 20 years, to July 21, 2044 for Unit 1 and to November 9, 2045 for Unit 2. NNR programme manager Peter Bester explained: “The plant life extension process involves replacement, maintenance and/or modifications to major structures systems and components (SSCs) to support safe operation. Depending on the national licensing framework, LTO may be approved for…

KwaZulu-Natal police have seized cocaine worth more than R150 million during another bust in the Durban harbour. National police spokesperson, Brigadier Athlenda Mathe, said officers intercepted the container, en route from Brazil, on Monday night. “A multidisciplinary team inspected the container at a cold storage facility and found 433 blocks of cocaine disguised in meat boxes, valued at R151 million. “No arrests have been made and the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (DPCI or Hawks) has taken over the investigation.” This is the third major drug bust in KZN in the last two months. In October, cocaine valued at R80 million was confiscated from a warehouse at the Dube Trade Port, in the King Shaka International Airport. Mathe said officers had been tracking various containers arriving in the country via…

CHIEF Justice Raymond Zondo has called on the judiciary to put their heads together to find ways to improve the country’s legislative arm. He said this should be done by reflecting on some of the mistakes the country as a whole made in the past and to ensure that as we enter the fourth decade of our democracy, we don’t repeat our mistakes. Justice Zondo was speaking at the opening of the judges conference at Sun City. The last conference was held in 2012. Justice Zondo said what makes this conference different, was that it only consists of members of the judiciary, whereas in the past other stakeholders also attended the conference. During the three-day conference, the legal fraternity will discuss matters of interests to the judiciary in relation to…

A developer may, on application for the opening of a sectional title register, reserve the right to extend the scheme in terms of Section 25(1) of the Sectional Titles Act 95 of 1986 (the ‘Act’). The Developer is required to stipulate the period for which he reserves the right to complete the extensions. The Act does not impose any limitations in relation to this period, and the Developer is at liberty to reserve a period to meet his requirements. If, however, the period for which the right of extension was reserved lapses by an effluxion of time, can a Developer apply to a Court for the extension of the said period. In the case of SP & C Catering Investments (Pty) Ltd v The Body Corporate of Waterfront Mews and…

Israeli forces battled Hamas militants in southern Gaza yesterday, prompting a UN warning of an “even more hellish scenario” as fighting pushes civilians into a steadily shrinking area of the besieged territory. After initially focusing its assault on the north of Gaza, the army has now sent ground forces into the south and dropped leaflets telling Palestinian civilians in more districts to evacuate. Israeli tanks, armoured personnel carriers and bulldozers were seen on Monday near the southern Gaza city of Khan Yunis, which is packed with displaced civilians, witnesses said. The Israeli army said it was taking “aggressive” action against Hamas and other militants in Khan Yunis, warning that the main road in the north and east of the city “constitutes a battlefield”. Hamas claimed via Telegram its militants had…

Chest-high water surged down the streets of India’s southern city Chennai yesterday, with eight people killed in intense floods as Cyclone Michaung made landfall on the south-east coast. The cyclone hit the coast of Andhra Pradesh state as a “severe cyclonic storm” with winds up to 100km/h the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) said. Cars were seen floating on raging torrents in Chennai, homes were flooded and a crocodile was seen swimming in the streets in the city. People in some parts of the flooded city used boats to get out of their flooded neighbourhoods to the safety of government relief shelters. The IMD warned of “exceptionally heavy rainfall” in some areas. “We are facing the worst storm in recent memory,” said Tamil Nadu state chief minister MK Stalin. Police said…

WASHINGTON: US President Joe Biden kicked off a December fundraising blitz yesterday that showed off the Democratic Party’s star power and was expected to raise millions of dollars, according to invitations and planning sources. The sprint included at least nine fundraisers before the end of the month starting yesterday in Boston, where Biden will hold three events, capped with an evening concert by James Taylor. On Friday, he heads to California where he will tap the deep pockets of Hollywood stars like directors Stephen Spielberg and Rob Reiner, two sources said. The event is also expected to draw wealthy donors from the legal, technology and political worlds to the home of Michael Smith, a celebrity interior designer. Musician Lenny Kravitz is to perform at the event. | Reuters…

Agam: The death toll from a volcano eruption in Indonesia has risen to 22 after nine more bodies were discovered, a search-and-rescue agency official said yesterday. Mount Marapi on the island of Sumatra spewed an ash tower 3 000m into the sky on Sunday. Hundreds of rescuers have worked for days to find missing hikers, which numbered 10 yesterday, before the local rescue agency’s said most had been found, bringing the search closer to an end. The dead were carried down the mountain in bodybags, rescue officials said. Some of the 75 hikers on the mountain during the eruption were found alive and also carried down, with burns. | AFP…

AmaZulu head coach Pablo Franco Martin has issued a subtle warning his players that if they do not recover their form and focus, they could end up facing a relegation battle. Usuthu will host Mamelodi Sundowns in the unfamiliar setting of King Zwelithini Stadium today at 7.30pm, looking to avoid a third defeat in a row. It seems like a while ago when the KwaZulu-Natal-based outfit had all of their ducks in a row with back-to-back wins over Golden Arrows, scoring six goals in the process. Two weeks later, Martin and his men fell at the feet of first Stellenbosch in league action and then TS Galaxy in the Carling Knockout Cup semi-finals. If Usuthu were to collect yet another loss against the Brazilians, it would see the Spanish-born…

Never in her wildest dreams did Janine van Wyk think she’d be among the highest capped international players in Africa – let alone hold that record. Van Wyk made her 185th appearance for Banyana Banyana in the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Burkina Faso on Monday, and made history in doing so. It was a befitting record-breaking swansong for Van Wyk, who’s retiring from football, as Banyana beat the Stallions 2-0 (3-1 on aggregate) to qualify for the finals in Morocco next year. Van Wyk was also glad that Banyana will return to the biennial showpiece where they’ll defend their African crown. “Today wouldn’t be joyful without a win and qualifying for another Wafcon,” she said. “But it wasn’t about me today. Yes, we celebrate the 185th cap…

Squad depth will be the buzz word bandied about by all the South African franchises, and their European counterparts, this week as they start their campaigns in either the EPCR Champions Cup, or the second-tier Challenge Cup. The reality of the travel over the next fortnight will present its own challenges, especially for the Lions and Sharks, who will both participate in the Challenge Cup. The Free State Cheetahs, invited to play in the Challenge Cup once more, will be based in Amsterdam for their “home” games but that brings with it a different financial burden. While the Sharks, due to their poor form and the fact that they face Pau at home on Saturday, could foreseeable select their strongest match day 23 for that game in the hopes of…

Bertus Schaap is the envy of all his mates right now. The Cape Town resident is preparing to play in the Turkish Airlines World Golf Cup Amateur Series at the picture-perfect Gloria Golf Resort today in Antalya, Türkiye. It’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, but Schaap is not getting carried away by all the hype. “Golf is fun,” Schaap told Independent Media in an exclusive interview. “It’s a time to meet up with friends and that’s the most important thing for me. You play golf to meet new people, make new connections, and that’s the ultimate for me. That brings me happiness.” Fate also played a part in Schaap’s journey to Antalya. “I played in a four-ball with some colleagues of mine,” he said. “We were invited to it. “I didn’t plan…

The country’s overall contraction was dragged down by the performances of agriculture, manufacturing and construction SOUTH Africa’s economy is at the risk of slipping into a technical recession in the last three months of this year if the energy and logistics crises are not dealt with as gross domestic product (GDP) contracted in the third quarter of 2023, dragged by agriculture, manufacturing and construction. A technical recession is when a country faces a back-to-back decline for two consecutive quarters in the GDP output, a situation it narrowly avoided in the first quarter of this year. This comes as GDP fell more than expected by 0.2% in the three months to September, after two consecutive quarters of growth, following a downwardly revised 0.5% growth in the second quarter. Statistics South Africa…

TRANSACTION Capital’s minibus taxi financing subsidiary SA Taxi’s woes worsened after it reported a R3.7 billion headline loss for the year to September 30, this after a R2.1bn loss was reported in the first half. Notwithstanding this, SA Taxi’s operational restructure, focused on stabilising the business through cost reductions and repositioning the business in the pre-owned minibus tax market, was on track for completion in March 2024, the group’s directors said in the annual results yesterday. They said the headline loss was driven mainly by a R1.1bn increase in repossessed vehicle stock write-downs as further material changes were made to SA Taxi in the second half. Subsequent to these once-off provisions, the net asset value of SA Taxi was R1.6bn, including a R2.2bn non-interest bearing shareholder loan to be…

SHAFTESBURY Capital PLC has signed a £300 million (R7.11 billion) unsecured loan agreement, with an initial maturity of three years, with the option to extend the tenor by a further two periods of one year each, subject to lender approval. Shaftesbury, the London West End commercial property group that is listed in London and on the JSE, said yesterday the proceeds of the facility, combined with existing cash, would be used to repay the remaining £376m of the unsecured loan that was arranged at the time of the merger with Capital & Countries that completed in March, and which was drawn in April to fund the repayment of the Shaftesbury secured bonds. The unsecured loan is due to mature in 2024. Cash balances at September 30, 2023, adjusted…

LESAKA Technologies, the fintech with a secondary JSE listing and a primary listing on Nasdaq, has appointed Ali Mazanderani as chairperson, Kuben Pillay as lead independent director, while Chris Meyer will conclude his tenure as group CEO in February 2024. Lesaka said in a statement yesterday that during Meyer’s nearly three years as CEO, he had led a successful turnaround and building of the Lesaka fintech platform. Meyer will remain a director of Lesaka. “I have dedicated all my energy over nearly three years to the turnaround and rebuilding of the Lesaka platform, spending the majority of that time apart from my family in the UK. The vibrant and energised Lesaka of today looks very different to the business we took on almost three years ago … the Consumer division…

THE latest water quality report compiled by the Department of Water and Sanitation has revealed that there has been a decline in drinking water quality and a deterioration in the performance of municipal wastewater treatment systems since the last report in 2014. The Blue Drop and No Drop Water Report and Green Drop Progress Assessment Report findings were released yesterday amid growing complaints about severe water cuts in several municipalities across the country. The department has requested that those in charge of water or wastewater systems in a critical state submit detailed corrective action plans. The department said that Blue, Green and No Drop Certification programmes are aimed at improving municipal drinking water quality and wastewater management. The Blue Drop report is a comprehensive assessment of the state of all…

The residents of Durban have been living in the dark about the horrifying levels of bacterial contamination at their beaches. A recent report by a newspaper has uncovered the fact that the City has been concealing vital information about the safety of the water, endangering the health and lives of its residents. And it’s not just a failure to act, or negligence, it’s a cynical and deliberate move to keep the tourism dollars flowing. The mayor has been aggressively promoting the safety of Durban’s beaches, even going so far as to swim in the water for the cameras. But it’s all just window dressing. He knows full well that the city is putting people’s lives at risk, yet he’s done nothing about it. Worse yet, it seems clear that he’s…

Spring is sprung, Da sun is riz, I wonder where da boidies is. Da boids is on da wing, Or so I hoid. But dat’s absoid, Da wings is on da boid. “RIZZZ”, meaning romantic appeal, has been chosen as the Oxford 2023 word of the year, according to Sky News. A team of experts and tens of thousands of public votes in Old Blighty selected “rizz” as the word which most captures 2023. And, if you don’t know, it’s used to describe someone’s ability to attract a romantic partner. The slang term beat seven other contenders to win word of the year, including “Swiftie” which is, of course, the word used to describe fans of singer Taylor Swift. (Though in my circle, it’s also used to describe a quick…

President Cyril Ramaphosa says an overhaul of laws governing the public service is sought in a bid to fight corruption, and in one major initiative, a task team has been set up to track all public servants who have been fired or resigned. This is contained in the report released by Ramaphosa this week on work being done to implement the Zondo Commission’s recommendations. The state wants to crack down on corruption and prevent any future cases of state capture. Ramaphosa said they have already tabled two pieces of legislation to deal with corruption in the public service. Parliament is currently finalising the Public Service Amendment Bill. Two weeks ago, Minister of Public Service and Administration Noxolo Kiviet said the Public Service Amendment Bill was aimed at preventing officials in…

A 28-YEAR-old man was arrested for the attempted murder of his younger brother in the Vhembe District, Limpopo police said. The incident happened on Sunday, police spokesperson, Brigadier Hlulani Mashaba said. “The victim, the younger brother of the suspect, alleged that he arrived home from the tavern, and the two got into a heated argument. The 28-year-old man allegedly poured (hot) water on the victim,” said Mashaba. “It is not known what led to the incident, but police investigations will determine the cause.” The burnt victim was rushed to hospital. He sustained multiple burn injuries to his body. Meanwhile, provincial commissioner of police in Limpopo, Lieutenant General Thembi Hadebe, condemned the incident. She urged families to resolve their differences amicably “rather than by harming one another”. The 28-year-old brother…

THE possible auctioning of Nelson Mandela’s key to his Robben Island prison cell and other artefacts associated with him has led to legal action in the Gauteng High Court, Pretoria. The SA Heritage Resources Agency (Sahra) has asked that Mandela’s daughter and his former prison warder be interdicted from selling the items. This was after a British newspaper, the Daily Mail, published a story in December 2021 in which it said the key was set to fetch millions of rand at an auction by US auction house Guernsey’s. The key was the headline item at the auction. Guernsey’s earlier said on its website that the key would be included with one of Madiba’s iconic shirts, a signed copy of the South African Constitution, and other gifts given to Mandela by…

THAT this Cyril Ramaphosa-led government had to be told by the courts to provide uninterrupted power supply to schools, hospitals and police stations by end of January should be enough to demonstrate how the state has failed to deliver the basic services, especially to those who need them the most. Ramaphosa may downplay the significance of this judgment, with his remarks that the ruling is what the government had always wanted to see, but the fact of the matter is that it was his Public Enterprises Minister Pravin Gordhan who arrogantly stated their intention to defend the application brought by the United Democratic Movement and civil society, labour and other political organisations. A government that is having to be hauled to court to protect dying patients, pupils and police officers…

British interior minister James Cleverly signed a new treaty with Rwanda yesterday in an attempt to overcome a court decision to block the government’s controversial policy of sending asylum seekers to the East African country. The Rwanda plan is at the centre of the government’s strategy to cut migration and is being watched closely by other countries considering similar policies. The UK’s Supreme Court last month ruled that such a move would violate international human rights laws enshrined in domestic legislation. The new treaty will include an agreement that Rwanda would not expel asylum seekers to a country where their life or freedom would be threatened, one of the court’s major concerns. There will also be a monitoring committee to enable individuals to lodge confidential complaints directly to them and…

Battle lines on fossil fuels hardened at UN climate talks yesterday despite scientists warning that global warming could breach the 1.5°C threshold within seven years. A new COP28 draft agreement in Dubai included the options of phasing out fossil fuels or not addressing the issue at all, setting the stage for tough negotiations due to end next week. Saudi Arabia, the world’s biggest oil exporter, said it would “absolutely not” agree to phasing down fossil fuels. The thorny debate over the future of fossil fuels, the biggest cause of global warming, is the key battleground at the COP28 meeting hosted by the oil-rich United Arab Emirates. At least 2 400 fossil fuel lobbyists registered for this year’s summit, the NGO Kick Big Polluters Out, said. The lobbyists outnumbered the 1…

Manila: A magnitude 5.7 earthquake shook the Philippine capital Manila yesterday, the US Geological Survey (USGS) said, sending people rushing out of buildings and halting train services in the city. The strong quake struck off the country’s main island of Luzo at a depth of 77km, about 94km south-west of Manila, the USGS said. It comes after a series of powerful earthquakes and aftershocks off the country’s southern island of Mindanao following a magnitude 7.6 quake late on Saturday that briefly triggered a tsunami warning. At least three people were killed and 17 were injured after the quake hit, with thousands still in evacuation centres. | AFP…

Washington: A 3-month-old infant was killed by the family hybrid wolf-dog pet in the US state of Alabama, authorities said. The incident occurred last week in Chelsea city, Shelby county. “Shelby County 911 received an emergency call reporting an animal attack involving an infant. TThe animal is described as a wolf-hybrid, reportedly kept as a pet by the family of the infant,” the office said. “The animal was euthanised by a vet.” The International Wolf Center in Minnesota, said a wolf-dog hybrid is the offspring of a domestic dog and a wolf. Federal law in the US classifies wolf hybrids as domestic animals, making it legal to own one as a pet.…

Proteas Women’s assistant coach Thandi Tshabalala wants his team to “go back to basics”, especially in terms of bowling and playing spin in the second T20 against Bangladesh in Kimberley today. Tshabalala, who played T20s for the Proteas Men’s team, believes this will allow the home side to regain the advantage after their 13-run loss in the opening match in Benoni. “We didn’t hit our straps. We had a great powerplay but after that didn’t keep the momentum on our side and we let them back into the game, and once they were back in the game, I felt they wanted it more than us,” Tshabalala said. “I feel we need to go back to basics. We’ve had chats in the changeroom and are looking to improve and implement everything…

Home Tests against an undermanned Pakistan may struggle to excite even the most ardent Australian cricket fan but angst over David Warner’s farewell tour has given the series a much-welcomed boost. Since his Test debut against New Zealand in 2011, Warner has been front and centre in Australian cricket, whether as a poster boy for brilliance or a whipping boy for the team’s occasional transgressions. The 37-year-old is in the spotlight once again as he looks to bow out of Test cricket on his own terms amid considerable doubt over his place in the side. Former teammate Mitchell Johnson gave voice to that doubt with a sledgehammer column that highlighted Warner’s waning output in Tests and suggested selectors were too close to the left-hander. While Johnson’s take-down drew a scathing…

Where Ottniel Baartman hails from, ostriches are more famous than people ... and particularly cricketers. But over the past few years, the Oudtshoorn-born seamer has quietly gone about forging a reputation as one of the most distinguished white-ball bowlers in the country. Baartman, 30, was ultimately rewarded for his consistency – he averages 23.11 per wicket in List A cricket and 17.39 in T20s – when he received a maiden call-up to the Proteas T20 and ODI squads for the upcoming series against India this week. “It was quite surprising,” Baartman told Independent Media. “I didn’t expect it all. I was just focusing on red-ball cricket and didn’t expect to feature in the series at all. “It really came as a surprise to me. It was only after a chat…

While John Dobson lamented the Stormers’ defensive effort in their recent loss to Cardiff, their statistics don’t actually look too bad in the United Rugby Championship. They have conceded 17 tries, which is the joint second fewest, and 128 points overall, which is the third-least. But there is no doubt that defence coach Norman Laker would not have been pleased with the errors that the Capetonians have made throughout the season, which has not been up to his high standards. Laker is known for his doughnut reward for the players if they don’t concede a try, and he will hope that he can go to his “local market” soon to buy more sweet treats for the Stormers. “It’s still part of the culture,” he said yesterday. “But it’s an 80-minute…