Índice para 2024-08-16 em Star

■ In this week’s Personal Finance Saturday Page, we look at the real-life effects of fraud. Cisca Kaasjager, a registered professional accountant, had her identity stolen. She recounts the numerous hoops she went through to try to have the resultant issues with her credit record resolved. ■ Life Insurer Liberty said it paid R9.14 billion in insurance claims in 2023. The group said the top five claim conditions in 2023 were spread across cancer, cardiac and cardiovascular diseases and disorders, respiratory disorders, strokes, and traumatic injuries. ■ It’s election time, we consider the question: Should investors be worried? ■ If you have questions on investment, tax, and insurance matters, we have experts from PSG to answer these questions for you. ■ For all your…

As the new government seeks economic growth, it is self-evident that it needs to withdraw policies, like the sugar tax, that stymie it. President Cyril Ramaphosa recently said that the drive for inclusive economic growth is at the heart of the Government of National Unity’s agenda. Minister of Agriculture John Steenhuisen similarly said the agricultural sector should work to enable farmers to flourish, and for small farmers to become self-sustainable and productive as fast as possible. SA Canegrowers strongly supports this approach as small-scale growers are at the heart of our industry. SA Canegrowers is an industry association of sugarcane growers that represents over 24 000 small-scale growers and 1 200 commercial growers. But to fully realise this inclusive economic growth, the government will need to create a cohesive, forward-looking…

With the implementation of the two-pot retirement system in September 2024, experts are urging employers to apply a gender-sensitive lens to their employee engagement strategies to ensure equitable outcomes for all employees. “Treating all people equally doesn’t necessarily result in equal outcomes. Traditional gender roles and societal expectations can exacerbate the pressure on women to prioritise family needs over their own financial security,” says Samantha Jagdessi, head of advice and best practice at Old Mutual Corporate Consultants. “Employers have a key responsibility to educate women employees on the new system and to understand the social nuances and potential implications for women.” Reports suggest that women are more likely than men to use their retirement savings to support their families in emergencies. During the Covid-19 pandemic, for example, Australian women were…

Women dominate the South African property market, outnumbering men as property owners. This is according to a recent report by Lightstone, which provides data to the property and vehicle industries. In its latest research, Lightstone found that women-only buyers account for 2 154 000 (38%) properties and that women co-own 1 883 000 (33%) properties. Men-only owners account for 1 694 000 (29%) properties. Ten years ago, Lightstone reports, mixed-gender couples buying property outnumbered both male-only and female-only buyers. In 2016, female-only buyers surpassed male-only buyers and the number of female property owners has steadily increased, while the number of male property owners has remained relatively unchanged. In 2022 female-only buyers surpassed couple buyers too. However, although more women are buying property, the research shows they are doing so at…

South African musician and Africa Now Radio host, Nandi Madida, took to social media to share some valuable information for parents of “neurodivergent” kids, whose brains work differently. Madida is married to Grammy Award-winning producer Zakes Bantwini and the couple have a son, Shaka, 8, and a daughter, Queen Nefertiti, 6. The Organic hitmaker, who has always been vocal about her experiences as a mother of two beautiful neurodivergent children, urged parents to cater to their children’s needs rather than putting them into a mould. “It’s so important for us to empower our kids, the wiring of their brains is different and most of the time this is genetic. It is beautiful when your kids feel accepted and not compared. “I look at my kids and they go to different…

love letters to a serial killer Tasha Coryell Loot (R285) Orion When a book doesn’t pique your interest immediately, it often becomes a struggle to stay engaged, flipping back and forth through the chapters just to keep up. But Tasha Coryell’s thriller is a book that makes you want to finish the 316 pages in one sitting. Love Letters to a Serial Killer had me on tenterhooks from the very first page – the heading “Undisclosed Location” was already a mystery. The novel screams, “Do not skip this beginning!” The real twist is in who the true killer turns out to be. Don’t be fooled by the pretty pink cover and the promise of an unconventional love story; instead, be prepared to look over your shoulder once in a while.…

Patient 12A – A Memoir Lesedi Molefi Loot (R260) Picador Africa PATIENT 12A is Lesedi Molefi’s absorbing memoir, reflecting on his time spent in a psychiatric clinic in 2016. Molefi reflects on the moments, large and small, that led him there. In Patient 12A, Molefi allows himself to filter out the noise in his head to find the truth, however uncomfortable that may be. MOLEFI is a Soweto-born writer, documentary filmmaker, photographer and copywriter. Here’s an extract of the book: “What are you in for?” Kevin asks me, ignoring the group discussion. “Depression and anxiety,” I respond, shifting nervously. “Do you have a lighter for me?” I continue, hoping to go unnoticed by the larger group. “Tshwara.” He quickly reaches for a lighter on the table and extends it to…

The signing of the Presidential Health Compact this week offers a significant step forward in terms of the Government of National Unity’s commitment to public-private partnerships in SA. While a critical undertaking to address the challenges in our health-care sector, similar announcements have been made in the private sector, regarding efforts to address our energy crisis as well. Open Access Energy (OAE), a Cape Town start-up and software company focused on optimising energy transactions, recently secured R13.6 million in funding from US investment firm, Factor E Ventures. The start-up is in the process of scaling software solutions that will improve and facilitate transactions between independent power producers (IPPs), energy traders and consumers, as well as larger offtakers. The start-up aims to transform our energy sector, by enabling wheeling in a…

MAYBE it is not surprising that the Government of National Unity (GNU) led by President Cyril Ramaphosa is under so much under strain. There have been several reports of tensions within. For example, the DA argues that it is on par with the ANC in this arrangement – something which the ANC has heatedly denied. But the other angle is from smaller parties in this GNU. For example, the PAC has come out to denounce the arrangements, accusing its leader Mr Nyhontso, who is now the minister of land affairs, of having taken a unilateral decision to join the GNU, against the wishes of the party. Now the question that should trouble South Africans is: If there are all these intra-party conflicts about the legitimacy of the GNU, what…

Fans flocked to London’s Wembley Stadium yesterday ahead of Taylor Swift’s return to the stage a week after her Vienna concerts were cancelled due to a foiled suicide attack plot. Hundreds of ecstatic so-called “Swifties” streamed towards the stadium hours before the American mega-star was due to wrap up the European leg of her Eras tour with the first of five sell-out shows. “It doesn’t feel real, that it’s actually happening!” excited ticket-holder Katie Moulson, 24, said as she arrived at Wembley mid-afternoon. About 90 000 fans will again pack the venue each night, with additional ticket checks and restrictions in place after the scare over the Austrian plot. Revelations of an Islamic State- inspired plan to launch an attack using explosives and knives there led to the cancellation of…

Japan yesterday lifted a warning that a “megaquake” potentially causing colossal damage and loss of life could strike, with the government telling people to “go back to normal”. The week-old alert that such a catastrophe might hit the archipelago of 125 million people prompted thousands to cancel holidays and stock up on essentials, emptying shelves in some stores. “The people of Japan are free to go back to normal lifestyles,” disaster management minister Yoshifumi Matsumura said as he announced the lifting of the advisory. However, he said people should not forget measures such as securing furniture, ensuring family members know the location of evacuation shelters, and stockpiling emergency foods. “The special call for attention ended but it doesn’t mean the risk of a major earthquake has been eliminated,” Matsumura told…

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said yesterday he wanted to press ahead with a national common civil code of law, a proposal bitterly opposed by Muslim activists as an attack on their faith. India’s 1.4 billion people are subject to a common criminal law but rules vary on personal matters such as marriage, divorce and inheritance. The proposed civil code would standardise laws across all religious communities but has been bitterly opposed by Muslim activists and liberals as an attack on the largest religious minority. However, the Hindu nationalist leader said during an annual Independence Day address that the different laws divided the nation.…

Pension funds play an important role in securing the futures of minor beneficiaries of members who die prematurely. This is the view of Danie Hattingh, principal officer of the Building Industry Bargaining Council’s (BIBC’s) Pension and Provident Fund, who says a pension fund is so much more than saving for retirement; it is also a crucial vehicle for ensuring the minor children of employees who pass away have a solid financial platform able to meet their daily living requirements. However, he says that where pension funds were once viewed as part and parcel of most employment agreements, this is no longer the case for many South Africans. A survey of more than 5 000 employees last year established that only 36% of respondents were able to access a retirement fund.…

As South Africa today marks the anniversary of the Marikana massacre that claimed the lives of 34 miners 12 years ago, a legal tussle is looming between the government and a public interest law centre representing the families of the miners. The Socio-Economic Rights Institute of SA (Seri), which is representing the miners’ families, is gearing up to institute a civil claim suit for constitutional damages. Scores of the miners’ families have yet to be compensated. This week, Seri said the Office of the Solicitor-General had claimed to have settled about R71 million in loss of support to 34 of the families, but of the 315 claimants, about 129 have received nothing.The R71m formed part of the R330m the solicitor-general reported to have been paid as at last year. Seri…

Whisper of Death David Lambkin Loot (R225) Penguin Random House Whew – Whisper of Death by David Lambkin is hardly a whisper, more a shout, as this roller-coaster, action-packed thriller sweeps from the late 1930 war years to the early 2000s. There’s a Bond-like feel to this novel, which has all the ingredients of adventure – lust, spies, exotic locations, shoot-outs and a layer of interlocked stories that the reader can get hooked on. I learnt a lot about Zanzibar, East Africa and Tanzania (on my bucket list) as well as conservation, the horror of hunting and how to load a gun – oh, and some of the specific gun types. Lambkin packs an awful lot of information into this novel so it does require a certain degree of concentration…

Killing Karoline Sara-Jayne King Loot (R279) Melinda Ferguson BORN Karoline King in 1980 in Johannesburg, Sara-Jayne (as she will later be called by her adoptive parents) is the result of an affair, illegal under apartheid’s Immorality Act, between a white British woman and her black South African employee. Her story reveals the shocking lie created to cover up the forbidden relationship and the hurried overseas adoption of the illegitimate baby, born during one of history’s most inhumane and destructive regimes. Killing Karoline follows the journey of the baby girl (categorised as “white” under South Africa’s race classification system) who is raised in a middle-class corner of the South of England by a white couple. It takes the reader through the formative years, a difficult adolescence and into adulthood, as Sara-Jayne…

A WOMAN who threw a bag of groceries at her father-in-law was vindicated after the KwaZulu-Natal High Court, sitting in Pietermaritzburg, overturned her conviction of assault with the intent to do grievous bodily harm. The court said that the incident was so minor that Sadia Rahim should not have even been convicted of common assault, let alone assault to do grievous bodily harm. In fact, the judge said the matter should have never even turned in court. Rahim successfully appealed her conviction and subsequent sentence of a R5 000 fine or five months imprisonment, wholly suspended for five years. The basis of the charge was an incident which occurred on December 24, 2019, when her father-in-law sustained an injury – swelling – to his right ankle. Rahim lived in a…

MPUMALANGA woman, Ntombelanga Pretty Labane, will go on trial in October, on allegations of fraud after she earned more than R1.2 million working as a school teacher. Allegations are that Labane, 40, does not have a matric, although she holds a Bachelor of Education degree. She allegedly used a fraudulent matric certificate to apply to the Walter Sisulu University, where she obtained her degree. Mpumalanga spokesperson for the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), Monica Nyuswa, said the case was postponed to October 3 for trial. Labane, who is not in custody, made another court appearance this month in the Amersfoort Magistrate’s Court following her arrest by the Hawks on charges of fraud. Previously, Mpumalanga, Hawks spokesperson Captain Dineo Sekgotodi said Labane had been working as a teacher since 2016. It is…

There is a rare opportunity to right a lot of South Africa’s wrongs in one go. Corruption and unemployment are two major roadblocks. Permit me to explain how they can be simultaneously addressed within the current administration. I suggest an amnesty largely on the ANC’s past wrongdoing in office in return for liberalisation of labour laws. This may be for a bit further down the line. Futuristic citations here are hypothetical plays on how the interactions could unfold. Many in the ANC have engaged in acts of corruption during its time as the dominant party. It is risky, then, for the centrist and former opposition parties – including the DA – to now be partnering with the ANC, as revelations on past malfeasance continue to trickle out. These risk overwhelming…

South African journalists should always be applauded for speaking up against xenophobia and Afrophobia. I don’t know whether it’s ignorance, illiteracy or whatever you may call it. Truth be told, ordinary South Africans think it’s a right, a mandate or an obligation to be xenophobic. This is shameful behaviour, especially in the light of how we defeated apartheid in South Africa. If it’s not journalists speaking out against xenophobic tendencies, and dynamics, arrogant, pompous attitudes towards foreigners, it’s our musicians. But it’s the politicians who should be doing this, instead, they turn a blind eye – when not fuelling it themselves. The hatred directed at would-be Miss South Africa contestant Chidimma Vanessa Onwe Adetshina leaves much to be desired. She’s hated not for her foreign background, but for her…

Throughout the country, during this past National Women’s day long weekend, South Africans came together to celebrate the place, prospects as well as problems facing females in society. Up and down the land, diverse groups and innumerable civic organisations marked the critical contributions of women, be it in politics, law, commerce, education, the professions as well as other priorities like gender- based violence, sexist chauvinism and social discrimination. While these celebratory gatherings rightly focus on these salient facets affecting women and girls, this is, however, not the complete picture. Far too often, the crucial subject of religion, belief and faith is relegated and rarely talked about or properly addressed on National Women’s Day. For the vast majority of people, there is little doubt that spirituality and religiosity is an intrinsic…

The UN rights office said yesterday it had asked Moscow for permission to visit Russian regions affected by a cross-border attack by Ukrainian forces. “I can confirm that the UN Human Rights Office has sent a request to the Russian authorities to facilitate access by the Office to areas of the Russian Federation affected by the hostilities, including Belgorod, Bryansk, and Kursk regions, further to our human rights monitoring and assessment mandate,” Liz Throssell, a spokesperson for the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights said in an email. The request was sent on Wednesday. The office has already asked Russia on several occasions for access to both Russian territory and to Ukrainian territories under Russia’s control, to no avail, she said. The Ukrainian army entered the…

Sydney: New Zealand will shake up its defence forces and “reset” its foreign policy to align with traditional allies, the country’s prime minister said yesterday. In his first major foreign policy speech since taking office last year, premier Christopher Luxon said the country could no longer depend on the “splendid isolation” provided by its geography. “The foundation of our foreign policy reset is our collaboration with long-standing partners,” he told the Lowy Institute, a foreign policy think tank in Sydney, Australia. He said the country would look to strengthen links with traditional partners – a notable shift after years of closer economic ties with China – citing the US, Britain, Nato, and Pacific neighbours as those “we know best and with whom we have deep reservoirs of trust”.…

IN the world of combat sports, confidence and self-belief are at the core of any athlete’s success. The slightest signs of doubt in the world of mixed martial arts will get exposed inside the octagon. From the moment Dricus du Plessis, the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) middleweight champion, set foot in the octagon, he has displayed the utmost confidence in his skill-set. And now, going into his first title defence at the RAC Arena in Perth on Sunday against the two-time middleweight champion, Israel Adesanya, Du Plessis believes he will come out on top. The South African has adopted a slightly different mental approach to the fight, one he believes will see him emerge victorious this weekend. “In my mind, I’m going to fetch that belt. I’m not going out…

This is the final article in a series that summarises findings from Just Retirement Insights 2024, a tracking study conducted by retirement income specialist, Just SA. The findings of Just Retirement Insights 2024 indicate a very real need for income certainty in retirement. When asked what they would most like from their retirement income, respondents showed a strong preference for retirement income that will last throughout their lifetime, keep pace with inflation, and be minimally impacted by market volatility. Interestingly, these features are characteristics of most types of life annuities. A life annuity provides a regular monthly income stream in retirement for the rest of your life and doesn’t require you to manage the underlying investments year on year. This steady passive income can protect a retiree from some of…

LOCAL actor Carlo Radebe has once again fallen on hard times and is appealing to South Africans to help him out. Radebe became a household name for his portrayal of Duke Ngcobo in Backstage and Sello Mvuyane in SABC1’s Generations. He has also acted in local movies such as Mrs Right Guy, How to Steal R2 Million and Amandla. But the destitute artist, who has been trending on social media, is struggling to make ends meet as he tries to secure an acting gig. In a recent Facebook post, he said it had been years since he last worked and he was desperately seeking donations. “Letting u know as my fans that I am still holding on to my game with dogged determination, waiting for the dam to burst &…

The Future – More than 80 key trends for South Africa Dion Chang, Bronwyn Williams, Faeeza Khan Loot (R255) Tafelberg The 2020s were meant to usher in a “roaring new decade”. Instead the world was hit with a pandemic and a two-year lockdown which caused untold changes in our thinking and behaviour. Instead of a bright new future, we were confronted by the possibility of WW III, an artificial intelligence apocalypse, global climate catastrophe, and we turned to algorithms to provide us with a grasp on our lives and future. Dion Chang’s business, Flux Trends, spots global trends and offers ways to introduce these into corporate culture. “Trends” spells out six pillars: technology; retail and marketing; economy; natural world; diplomacy; and socio culture. The book is divided into these six…

In Transit Cas de Villiers POETRY used to be a main part of literature, and lately it’s become popular again. My recent return to poetry feels like discovering a new kind of art and love language. The collection In Transit by Cas de Villiers brings poetry back into focus. In Transit is a collection of poems that look at life’s ups and downs – the transitions we all go through. De Villiers uses simple but powerful words to capture moments that are often hard to put into words. Poetry can sometimes feel distant or hard to connect with, but In Transit is direct and easy to follow. Unlike novels or memoirs that you can finish quickly, poetry needs a different kind of attention. You have to take your time and…

A BITTER legal tussle has erupted over the multimillion-rand estate of a woman who died and gave instructions in her will that a trust be established to take care of her beloved pets: two dachshunds, named Prince William and Prince Harry; and two African grey parrots, named Charlie and Frankie. While the pets are being taken care of in what is called a dog and bird haven, funded by the trust to ensure their best care, numerous legal battles have raged about who is the actual executor of her estate. Another battle – over the legality of the apparent two wills she left – is due to be decided later by the court. But in the latest round of litigation, the neighbour of the deceased Violet Evans turned to the…

Bonolo Matjila and Patience Kunene, who share a determination to become successful entrepreneurs, detailed their venture into the world of beauty and skincare as a team. The best friends founded their inclusive skincare brand after identifying a gap in the market. They cited their complementary natures as the basis of their successful partnership. With skincare taking centre stage as more individuals seek to find visibility within this space, they launched Golden Hour Skincare, a brand that creates environmentally sustainable, gender-inclusive skincare kits designed to address targeted skincare concerns holistically. Matjila leads the strategic and operational development of the venture, while Kunene oversees tax, finances, inventory management, strategic growth and development, as well as company compliance. The duo discussed their motivation for starting the skincare brand and how their legal…

THE South African criminal justice system has egg on its face this week. Jeremy Sias, the man who stood trial for the 2019 murder of Meghan Cremer was released on parole after serving just 14 months in prison. Sias had been convicted of theft of the showjumper’s vehicle, and defeating the ends of justice for abandoning the car with her body inside. The court found him not guilty of her murder. This after testimony from a witness who revealed that Meghan had a drug problem, and that suspicious characters had been seen lurking around the Philippi farm she frequented prior to her disappearance. If Sias did not murder her, it means five years on, police have failed to arrest the real killers. Even more shocking was the acquittal of Yanga…

A new round of Gaza ceasefire talks was under way in the Qatari capital Doha yesterday, an official briefed on the meeting told Reuters, with Israel’s spy chief joining his US and Egyptian counterparts and Qatar’s prime minister for the closed-door meeting. The talks, an effort to end 10 months of fighting in the Palestinian enclave and bring 115 Israeli and foreign hostages home, were put together as Iran appeared on the point of retaliating against Israel following the assassination of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran on July 31. In Tel Aviv, families of some of the hostages protested outside the headquarters of Netanyahu’s Likud party. “To the negotiating team – if a deal is not signed today or in the coming days at this summit, do not return…

France commemorated the 1944 Allied landings in Provence yesterday, an event overshadowed by the D-Day Normandy landings two months earlier, but still key to the World War II endgame in Europe. Six African leaders joined official events as President Emmanuel Macron singled out the contribution of soldiers recruited – often forcibly – in French overseas colonies, notably in Africa. It took decades for France to highlight the crucial role of non-white soldiers in the fighting. Speaking at the ceremony, Cameroon President Paul Biya said that their effort had been decisive. “There would have been no Allied victory without the contribution from the other peoples, without the foreigners,” he said. “The fight was conducted together, to defend the universal values and ideas of peace and justice.” Much of the second part…

Algiers: Twenty-one people have been arrested in Algeria following an alleged attempt to smuggle weapons aboard a commercial ferry coming from France, the defence ministry said. Two people, a man named Moussa Zaidi and his wife, were initially arrested on August 4 in Bejaia, some 220km east of Algiers, after authorities found weapons inside their car upon their arrival from Marseille, said the ministry. “Security services proceeded to arrest 19 other members of the same terrorist network and seized another significant quantity of weapons discovered in a clandestine weapons cache near Bejaia,” it said. The defence ministry said the group were part of the Movement for the Autonomy of Kabylie, which Algeria classifies as a “terrorist organisation”.…