Table of contents for 2023-11-04 in Saturday Star

COULD inmates writing their exams this year outshine regular students as they take on their matric exams? If the last few years are anything to go by, prisoners could very well outperform regular citizens out of prison. Last year, prisoners achieved a higher pass rate than citizens out of prison, with a pass rate of almost 90%. In 2020, prisoners also outperformed regular students by achieving a higher national pass rate. Prisoners who wrote their final exams behind bars in 2020 achieved a pass rate of 86.3%, compared to the national pass rate of 76.2%. This year, a total of 198 inmates will be sitting for the 2023 National Senior Certificate (NSC) final exams within correctional facilities. The inmates began with Computer Applications Technology on October 24 and went full…

IT’S BEEN a good week for the girls at Treverton College, with not one but two of them earning top spots in some of KZN’s cricket teams. Grade 9 pupil Amy Hughes has been selected for the U19 Inland Girls Cricket Team for the second time. She is also playing for the Inland women’s side and played matches against Mpumalanga two weekends ago. Hughes was also invited to the SA U19 Women’s Cricket Trials for the U19 World Cup last week in Durban. She opens as a batswomen and is also a wicketkeeper. Hughes loves the game and is passionate for other girls to join in and get bitten by the bug. Tana Sinclair, a Grade 8 pupil, has been selected for the KZN Inland U16 squad. Sinclair started at…

Not only has he transitioned seamlessly into a family man following the birth of his daughter Asante, his music has been booming since he broke away from Black Motion to launch his solo career. The Mohigan Sun star has been closing off the year on a high note, too. Recently, Mörda was named Apple Music’s Isgubhu cover star. This comes after the release of Asante II, a project dedicated to his daughter which was released in September. “So 2023 was a year where I could spread my wings freely,” he said proudly when we speak. “Building the Mörda brand was nerve-racking, but 2023 was an easier year because people looked at me as Mörda.” The breakout single from Asante was the smash hit Mohigan Sun featuring Murumba Pitch and…

Bookmakers paid out millions to South Africans on Monday. The lucky winners were steadfast in their belief that the Springboks would bring home the Webb Ellis Trophy. SunBet CEO Simon Gregory said that during the Rugby World Cup, punters could bet on as many as 200 different markets per game. These included match scores, the number of tries scored in a match or for the tournament, and who would score tries. They could bet before and during live games. The world of online betting sees people from all walks of life taking a chance on the outcomes of rugby and soccer matches, or even political races. To the well-versed, or well-clicked, there are even bets on third-division Bolivian soccer matches, Asian handball games and Eastern European table tennis matches. In…

Revealed at the Tokyo Mobility Show, the Nissan Hyper Force concept car is described as a “game-changing hyper EV”. Although Nissan makes no mention of its famous GT-R acronym, it’s clear that the sports car was intended as a battery-powered successor to the legendary “Godzilla”. However, at this stage, there’s no word on whether Nissan intends to launch a production version of the concept. Nissan hasn’t gone into too much detail about the new concept car’s powertrain, but we do know that it’s capable of producing up to 1 000kW and it features Nissan’s e-4ORCE all-wheel control technology. Drivers can choose from just two driving modes: “R” (racing) and “GT” (grand touring). Picking up any GT-R hints yet? It should be relatively light for an EV too, as the body…

Every so often, a major financial scandal hits the headlines. We’ve had Masterbond, Fidentia, Barry Tannenbaum, Mirror Trading International and VBS Bank locally, to name a few of the big ones. Overseas, Bernie Madoff and Sam Bankman-Fried’s FTX stand out. The latest one to emerge is the BHI Trust operated by Craig Warriner in Sandton. What’s odd about his “investment” was that the returns were fairly pedestrian – circulating news reports put the figure at about 13% a year since the 2008 financial crisis. In a column following the recent United African Stokvel scam, which promised outrageous returns of three or four times one’s money back within six months, I cautioned that there was no such thing as a high-return, low risk investment. Risk and return go hand in hand:…

FINANCE Minister Enoch Godongwana said this week personal income tax collections were marginally better than expected due to near‐term gains. In his Medium Term Budget Policy Statement (MTBPS), Godongwana said personal income tax was expected to surpass the Budget forecast of R640.3bn by R6.4bn due to the recovery in earnings and higher bonus payments, with employee tax from the finance sector a strong driver of year-to-date growth. According to the National Treasury, a sustained recovery in earnings and higher bonus payments had benefited personal income tax collections, with employees’ tax from the finance sector driving the strong year‐to‐date growth. “Sars will continue its focus on enforcing compliance in areas such as debt collection, fraud prevention, curbing illicit trade, voluntary disclosures and encouraging honest taxpayers to comply voluntarily. “Every additional rand…

The dream of a small boy from Humansdorp to represent his country at the Rugby World Cup came true, and Manie Libbok is grateful to those who assisted him on the way to realising one of his goals as a rugby player. Libbok, 26, played a pivotal role in the Springboks’ quest to become the first nation to win the Webb Ellis Cup four times and go back-to-back after winning it in 2019 in Japan. But the triumph in France was made all that more spectacular as the Boks were under pressure to defend their title successfully while missing key players in certain positions. Libbok held the fort in the absence of 2019 flyhalf Handré Pollard, who joined late in the tournament after recovering from his calf injury that almost…

When Quinton de Kock called an end to his 10-year one-day international career following the conclusion of the ongoing World Cup, it was met with mixed reactions. When he walked off the Wanderers during the fifth and final ODI of the series against Australia in September, it was just as emotional for the 60 000 fans that filled up the Bullring on that Sunday morning as it was for him. Moreover, following the impressive start that De Kock has had in the World Cup – where the opening batter has smashed four centuries in seven games – questions were asked about whether his form would change his mind about retiring in the format. Also, with Cricket South Africa looking to explore the idea of one-format contracts in the future, De…

The opportunity to end a 14-year trophy drought beckons for KwaZulu-Natal teams in the quarter- finals of the Carling Knockout Cup. Richards Bay FC will open the day’s proceedings at 3pm against tournament favourites Orlando Pirates in the first of two matches at the Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban today. The long-standing rivalry between Golden Arrows and AmaZulu will take centre stage at 7pm at the same venue, as all three KZN outfits look to bring pride and joy to the province. Abafana Bes’thende are currently the most fierce side in the Kingdom of the Zulus as they boast not only an impressive set of results this season, but also dominance over their rivals. Arrows haven’t lost to Usuthu for over two years now, and have collected three wins and…

One of the clips doing the rounds from the Springbok changeroom at the Stade de France is Eben Etzebeth addressing the squad, gold medal around his neck after the back-to-back World Cup triumphs. He says with a catch in his voice: “No other team has done it the hard way like we have. We are the greatest rugby team in the history of the sport.” The next night, at the World Rugby Awards in Paris, Etzebeth was the only South African named in the tournament’s Dream Team. It featured five Irishmen, five Frenchmen, four New Zealanders and a solitary Springbok. South Africans understandably were shocked, but I think it was a backhanded compliment. If you look at that Dream Team, each one of those players deserves his place. I can’t…

At times, the hustle and bustle of city life can be overwhelming and the fast pace can be exhausting. Year-end fatigue can also increase the desire for “respite far from the madding crowd” and escaping the city can be an alluring prospect. According to Shaun Lamont, the managing director of First Group Hotels and Resorts, urban living can be stressful and we seldom have the time to stop and smell the roses. However, being able to pause and appreciate life’s simple pleasures that often go unnoticed in the rush of daily living is important to our overall well-being. “That’s why a holiday at a destination far removed from urban chaos encourages people to slow down and de-stress in tranquil and beautiful surroundings,” said Lamont. Here are five reasons…

MARIETTE Wheeler, a science teacher at Protea Heights Academy in Cape Town, has been named a top 10 finalist for the Varkey Foundation Global Teacher Prize 2023. The prize is organised in collaboration with Unesco and Dubai Cares, a UAE-based global philanthropic organisation. Wheeler was selected from more than 7 000 applications from 130 countries. She trained as a scientist, obtaining a PhD in zoology, and spent two years on the sub-Antarctic Marion Island. As she started sharing her knowledge and experience with younger generations, she realised teaching was her true calling. Now her creativity in the classroom, mixing science-themed charades, class debates, and science apps, helps students excel at science and her broadcasts on marine life reach 400 000 people. In its eighth year, the $1 million (about R18m)…

OCTOBER was World Food Month, and Food & Trees for Africa (FTFA), in partnership with Tiger Brands, announced the champions of the EduPlant competition. The occasion celebrated the outstanding achievements of schools in the realm of permaculture food gardening for food security and environmental education. As advocates for sustainable living and environmental stewardship, FTFA and Tiger Brands are committed to empowering the youth and under-resourced schools across South Africa. The EduPlant Programme, a flagship initiative that promotes sustainability through hands-on learning, continues to flourish under their guidance. In announcing the winners, Mary-Jane Morifi, chief corporate affairs and sustainability officer of Tiger Brands, said: “Our success as a business is inextricably linked to the prosperity of society. EduPlant is rooted in Tiger Brands’ mission to be a force for good and…

The life of a driver of Tshwane Bus Services (TBS) came under threat in the early hours of yesterday morning when he was held at gunpoint by an unknown perpetrator who also ordered commuters to get off the bus before setting it alight in Olievenhoutbosch. The incident took place just before 6am, according to MMC for roads and transport Katlego Mathebe. She said the perpetrator, who was armed with a gun, boarded the bus pretending to be a commuter. All of a sudden, he ordered all occupants to alight from the bus and pointed a gun at the driver, who eventually escaped unharmed. Mathebe said that the perpetrator went on to burn the bus “to ashes” with the assistance of “his people”. “The driver is doing well. He is receiving…

THE most memorable destinations begin with an unforgettable journey. And this is what travellers are promised in Qatar Airways’ (QA) award-winning business class. Qatar Airways is the national airline of the State of Qatar and one of the aviation industry’s success stories. Operations began in 1994 when the airline was a small regional carrier serving a handful of routes. It was re-launched in 1997 under the mandate of the then Emir, Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, who outlined a vision to turn QA into a leading international airline. QA has since become one of the fastest growing carriers in the world. Under the leadership of group chief executive officer Akbar al Baker, appointed in 1996, QA has earned admirers around the world for its high standards of service. From…

WE had arrived in the Champagne province from Paris driving the new Range Rover Evoque Autobiography P300e and were due to swop it for the bigger Range Rover Velar Dynamic HSE P400e for the drive back the following day. That’s right, the place where those bottles of bubbly are made, that makes you wonder whether it’s worth spending all your hard-earned money on. Having been given a tour of the Veuve Clicquot cellars, with its 24km of underground tunnels and storage rooms, and heard the history and effort that goes into making it, I reckon there’s no harm in occasionally splurging on it for a special occasion. There was also the small matter of a Rugby World Cup quarter-final match against hosts France. Sitting at the dinner table receiving updates…

While interest rate hikes hit consumers where it hurts the most – their wallets – they are specifically enacted to stabilise and thus protect the economy, says Sonja Steyn, the head of Wealth Management Strategy at Consult by Momentum. Steyn’s comments come on the back of the Medium Term Budget Policy Statement (MTBPS) tabled by Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana this week. She said: “By increasing the ‘cost’ of credit, consumers are deterred from borrowing to fund their expenditure, thus driving down goods demand and subsequently inflation. Unfortunately, consumers with existing debt – in the form of home loans, car repayments and clothing accounts, for example – are now paying a lot more for what they purchased.” Steyn said that given global macro-economic factors such as the Russia-Ukraine conflict and the…

After South Africa’s greylisting in February by the Financial Action Task Force (FATF), and the introduction of more stringent measures for trusts by the South African Revenue Service (Sars), the extent of the lack of South African trust compliance became apparent. Trustees, trust service providers, accountants, and tax practitioners are struggling to meet all the new requirements, and often they have to catch up with historical non-compliance first. Although some believe that the government’s perceived lack of action to get us off the greylist by the targeted January 2025, with only one (of two) years to go, means they will not enforce the new measures (with their punitive consequences for non-compliance) and that trustees and trust service providers are ‘off the hook’ so to speak, Minister of Finance Enoch Godongwana…

Springbok utility forward Deon Fourie is still pinching himself and taking in every moment after becoming a world champion at the ripe age of 37. The World Cup winner and his teammates took to the streets of Cape Town yesterday to parade their medals and Webb Ellis Cup, and received a hearty and loud reception in the city centre as thousands of avid Bok supporters lined the streets to receive their heroes. Fourie is one of the success stories in the Bok set-up under coach Jacques Nienaber and director of rugby Rassie Erasmus, after receiving his call-up following years of grafting. He had to leave the South African scene for French club rugby, and then returned to help the Stormers to a first-ever United Rugby Championship win in 2021, before…

Under-fire Manchester United boss Erik ten Hag cannot afford another damaging defeat when his troubled side face Fulham today. Tottenham’s Premier League title challenge will get an intriguing test as the leaders’ former boss, Mauricio Pochettino, returns with Chelsea. Arsenal also harbour title aspirations, making their showdown with top-four contenders Newcastle one of the weekend’s marquee match-ups. Crisis-torn Man United have to ‘stand up’ Ten Hag urged his Manchester United flops to “stand up” to the pressure as the Dutch coach battles to stop their season imploding. United have made their worst start since 1962-63, and a loss against Fulham at Craven Cottage could push Ten Hag to the brink of the sack after less than two seasons in charge. Hammered 3-0 by Manchester City last weekend, United were brushed…

The focus shifts to the longer format of the game as the Cricket South Africa 4-Day Series gets under way today. This tournament follows the conclusion of the One-Day Cup, which was won by Western Province at Newlands last weekend in what was their first piece of silverware in almost a decade. The Capetonians have had a light preparation during the week, purely because the recently concluded 50-over competition is similar to the longer format in many respects. Western Province bowling coach Rory Kleinveldt told the media yesterday that the side are looking to establish themselves as one of the toughest teams to beat across all formats this season. “It’s been pretty chilled, to be honest. Coming off the One-Day Cup campaign, we felt we needed to give the guys…

There is nothing that can be taken for granted when Mamelodi Sundowns and Wydad Athletic Club of Casablanca clash, such is the nature of how evenly-matched the two teams are. Those who bet on such things risk losing it all should they pick one side over another, but they will do it anyway. Tomorrow’s first leg clash in the final of the inaugural African Football League (AFL) out in Casablanca will mark the 13th time the two sides go head to head. And to use the previous 12 clashes between the two as an indicator of what might happen would not be of that much help either – with none of those matches ever producing a victor by more than a one-goal margin. On those 12 occasions that the South…

Netflix and chill. Or just hang out with his dad Koos, who trained both him and his twin brother Duan since they were little, back in Potchefstroom. That’s Marco Jansen’s simple method of coping with the stress of playing in his first World Cup. “If you know me, and the players here know me quite well, they know that Marco likes to think. I do think a lot,” the Proteas all-rounder told reporters yesterday. “I become very jittery and nervous, and that could affect the way I play. “So, my old man is here (in India), and I’ll spend a bit of time with him because he knows how to calm me down. “Be in my room, and try not to do too much, because if I do a lot,…

There are plenty of activities available on cruise vacations and one of those is learning about the culture and history of a place. Today’s cruise holidays offer more than relaxation, a fabulous floating resort, or a hassle-free holiday. They are gateways to discovering the world’s most fascinating historic sites and natural wonders. For travellers eager to delve into the past while enjoying laid-back luxury, cruises visiting the Mediterranean, Middle East, and Asia top the list. These regions are steeped in the legacy of great civilisations, legendary conquerors, artists, and philosophers that shaped them. According to Norwegian Cruise Line spokesperson Kevin Bubolz, Vice President & Managing Director Continental Europe, Middle East, and Africa (CEMEA), immersing yourself in these globally renowned historic ports and UNESCO sites inspires awe for humanity’s diverse…

In today’s health-care landscape, where precision and speed are key, two powerful forces are conspiring to change how diagnostics and patient care are delivered. Medical tests can be done at home, providing results faster than sending samples to a distant lab. People all over the world turn to Google products like Search, YouTube and Fitbit for insights about their health and well-being. At the recent Africa HealthTech Summit in Kigali, Rwanda, digital health innovators and public health experts gathered to discuss AI-powered health-care tools. Siya Madikane, Google South Africa communications and public affairs manager, talks about the transformative influence of AI on health care in Africa. Searching for skin conditions using images It might be difficult to accurately describe skin rashes or moles with words alone. People can take a…

When 38-year-old Phakisa started acting out of character 26 years ago, preferring to be alone and participating less in family activities and chores, his family, in particular his wife, got concerned and contacted his family. What would follow was months of visits to doctors, and then a diagnosis – depression. He lost his accountancy job for being unreliable and failing to meet targets. Doctors in Pretoria West referred him to Weskoppies Psychiatric Hospital where, for the first few months, he was an outpatient. “But after almost a year they called the family in and suggested he be admitted,” his nephew Abel said. "My aunt said that he had completely withdrawn into a world of his own, would be aggressive sometimes, and this unsettled his children,” Abel said, requesting that the…

: True to its Anchor Strategy philosophy, the Mangosuthu University of Technology (MUT) came to the aid of three Umlazi high schools when they had problems with their computers. The problems arose as the schools were approaching the final year exams. One of the school’s computers was stolen. Thanks to a quick-thinking university head, about 100 Grade 12 learners from Velabahleke High School, Embizweni High School, and Zwelibanzi High School wrote their Grade 12 computer applications technology (CAT) exams at the university’s chemical engineering computer laboratories. Senior director of the department of marketing and communications, Mbali Mkhize, said what chemical engineering head Njabulo Zulu had done spoke to their strategy. “As MUT, we are sensitive to the needs of our communities, particularly our immediate communities, that we want to grow…

Very few rugby fans, if any, would have been able to predict the fashion in which the Springboks would won the Rugby World Cup. That’s because no team in the history of the Rugby World Cup has ever won their quarter-finals, semi-finals and finals by just a single point. But it wasn’t just this record that was broken by the Springboks during their historic campaign at the Rugby World Cup in France. It turns out the Springboks broke various records at the spectacular event. According to Bettingexpert.com, the Springboks broke a whopping six new records in France. These records include becoming the only nation to have won the World Cup after previously losing a match in the pool stages. South Africa also became the only country to do so twice…

SOUTH African actor Cantona James has described how he had to fully immerse himself in his latest role as Ethan in the new hit show, Spinners. The series, which debuts on Showmax next week, follows Ethan (Cantona James), a 17-year-old driver working for a gang on the Cape Flats. Needing to support his younger brother but increasingly disgusted by gang life, Ethan discovers a possible way out via spinning, the extreme motorsport where he can put his driving skills to better use. James went to extreme lengths to perfect his role as Ethan, even by eating only once a day and relocating close to Lavender Hill, Cape Town, where the show was shot. “Because I am a method actor, I had to first undergo letting go of myself and who…

Mazda’s iconic rotary engine is back where it belongs – in a sports car – but not in the way you might have envisioned it before the EV revolution came along. The Mazda Iconic SP concept, which made its global debut at the Tokyo Mobility Show, shows how the Japanese brand aims to keep its sports car flame alive in the electric era. Like the Mazda MX-30 R-EV, it’s an electric vehicle that uses a rotary engine as a range extender, and it’s powerful too, with Mazda quoting an output of 272kW. Although its 4.81m length and 1 450kg kerb weight make it portlier than the current MX-5, the Iconic SP concept is impressively light for an EV. Mazda says the powertrain format, with a two-rotor rotary EV system, is…

WE ARE thrilled to announce that Dieketseng Maleke is taking the reins as our new Personal Finance (PF) Content Editor, succeeding Ruan Jooste. With over a decade of experience in the journalism industry, Dieketseng is a seasoned multimedia journalist, editor, and storyteller. Throughout her career, Dieketseng has made significant contributions to the world of journalism, covering a diverse range of beats including companies, technology, business, finance, general news, and politics. Her compelling stories have graced the pages of newspapers and online publications, earning her recognition for her insightful and thought-provoking work. Dieketseng’s expertise extends beyond writing; she has previously served as a multimedia editor, where she not only managed but also trained fellow journalists in various multimedia storytelling techniques. Her skills in video and audio production have been instrumental in…

Since the advent of the digital age, digitisation and digitalisation have been buzzwords. Lately, digital transformation has also become a popular phrase in business and technology circles. Digitisation is the process of converting analogue information to digital format. Is the ordinary man on the street affected by these developments? The answer is a resounding yes! Unbeknown perhaps to some, the digital age has been with us for the last two decades at least, and it has affected people from all walks of life, from city dwellers to the most remote areas, but even in the most remote areas cellphones have become a part of every body’s life. The advent of smartphones has accelerated this phenomenon. Long gone are the days when a person would buy a newspaper to see what…

Indian seamer Mohammed Shami said there was no rocket science behind his spectacular five-wicket haul in Thursday’s 302-run World Cup demolition of Sri Lanka, and credited his success to finding rhythm and keeping his mind uncluttered. After India scored a commanding 357/8, Shami ripped through Sri Lanka’s line-up and finished with figures of 5/18, while pace colleague Mohammed Siraj grabbed 3/16 to bundle out the island nation for 55 – their lowest total in a 50-overs World Cup. India’s seventh victory in as many matches meant they booked their place in the semi-finals ahead of tomorrow’s clash against South Africa in Kolkata (10.30am SA time start). “All the hard work we’re putting in, the rhythm we’ve found, it’s because of that you’re getting to see this storm (on the cricket…

The competition for this year’s African Bank Soweto Marathon women’s race has just been elevated another notch with the last-minute addition of two top runners to the already star-studded start list. Following the mess up by Athletics South Africa (ASA), which saw the country sending just four athletes instead of 10 to the IAU World 50km Championships in Hyderabad, India, Nedbank Running Club’s Adele Broodryk and Galaletsang Mekgoe will now participate in the People’s Race tomorrow. The duo were supposed to have been in South Africa’s five-member female team, but pathetic administration meant their visas were not ready in time for them to travel. Their club manager, Nick Bester, acted swiftly to ensure that all the hard work the athletes put into preparing for the global event does not go…

The Bulls hope that being able to play on a regular grass pitch will help them find their groove on attack once more in today’s United Rugby Championship clash against Zebre in Parma (3pm SA time kick-off). The Pretoria side went down 26-19 to Ulster in Belfast last weekend, where a new 3G pitch at the Kingspan Stadium – as well as rain and wind in the second half – made life a little more uncomfortable for Jake White’s team. They won’t have to contend with those issues at the Stadio Sergio Lanfranchi this afternoon, so they will be eager to find the rhythm they displayed in a 63-21 triumph over the Scarlets at Loftus Versfeld a fortnight ago. “We had a perfect first game where we scored a lot…

Cruise holidays are easy to plan and offer great value for money since you get all-in-one deals, and packages for food, accommodations, daytime and evening entertainment and transportation between destinations. As a pack-up-and-go holiday, cruising is one of the best ways to travel as cruise ships are also family-friendly and offer safety, luxury, fun and the opportunity to mingle with people from all walks of life. South Africa has beautiful ports in Cape Town and Durban where cruise ships dock and travellers get the opportunity to explore our cities. For instance, MSC Splendida will be arriving in Durban and South Africa at the end of November for the first time. This will also provide South Africans with the perfect opportunity to set sail and enjoy the cruise life this summer.…

Walt Disney Co. is set to open the world’s first Frozen-themed land at Hong Kong Disneyland Resort as the entertainment giant prepares to unleash $60 billion in spending across parks and resorts worldwide. Based on the popular animated films, World of Frozen will open on November 20 and recreate landmarks from the fictional kingdom of Arendelle including Elsa’s Ice Palace. The attraction will have two rides – a boat trip through a winter wonderland featuring music from the movies, and a sleigh-themed roller coaster – as well as a restaurant serving Nordic-inspired food. World of Frozen is a big bet for Disney in Hong Kong, with the firm already helping fund a HK$10.9 billion ($1.4 billion) expansion of the park that also includes a Marvel-themed attraction. The operation has reported…