Table of contents for 2024-03-30 in Saturday Star

The MK Party has vowed to appeal against the Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC) decision which upheld its earlier objection which bars former president and MKP leader Jacob Zuma from being an MP due to his recent criminal record. Speaking to SABC News yesterday, MK Party head of election Musa Mkhize said the party was still studying the IEC objection. “As the MKP we still stand firm that nothing will stop (former) president Zuma from being an MP – and, essentially, the president of this country – come June 1 when the party takes over with a two-thirds majority. “We will use the law to ensure that this happens … As far as we know, nothing will stop Zuma from being the president. You can consult with the…

The SANDF is making its 20th appearance at one of the premier lifestyle, cultural and commercial exhibitions in the country, the Rand Show. Event organisers invited the SANDF to be part of the show, which attracts thousands of tourists to Soweto. Colonel Selinah Rawlins, Acting Director of Defence Corporate Communication, said this year the SANDF aims to expand its public relations and communication efforts by engaging with the community, particularly the youth around its programmes and constitutional mandates. “Visitors to the Rand Show can expect a diverse array of activities from the SANDF, including performances by the SA Navy Band and displays of landward elements such as artillery, armour, infantry, engineers, signals, intelligence and support capabilities.” Additionally, Rawlins said there will be opportunities to experience services from the SA Air…

YOUNG professionals across the Ekurhuleni have once again joined the “Dr In My Classroom” initiative to give schools learners a much-needed confidence boost and advice on how to navigate the social ills plaguing them and their communities. Launched during 2019 by Pholosong Hospital, the initiative was kick-started to assist learners in schools across Tsakane, Kwa-Thema and Duduza to navigate their myriad challenges. From the high incidences of suicide, teenage pregnancy, bullying and substance abuse, to creating awareness about mental and sexual health, young professionals hold peer-to-peer conversations with learners to empower and instil confidence in the learners. Through this, the hospital conducts weekly visits to schools on Fridays to encourage learners to make smart life choices that would impact positively on their lives and studies. The initiative was halted due…

Health-care manager Bandela Mgoqi has a commitment to provide high-quality services to patients due to his position. Mgoqi has been challenged to be creative and innovative in order to improve the patient experience. Having been appointed pharmacy manager at Kalafong Provincial Tertiary Hospital in Atteridgeville in May last year, Mgoqi has implemented several initiatives to reduce patient waiting time. The facility, which dispenses medicine to about 20 000 to 25 000 patients a month across the main pharmacy, immunology pharmacy and outpatient department pharmacy, which previously operated from 7.30am to 9am, has significantly reduced its operating hours. The pharmacy now dispenses medicine to all patients at 4pm daily. “One strategy we have implemented here at Kalafong hospital was to move correctional services inmates from collecting medicine at the main pharmacy…

SURFING the web has helped a Durban family come across an heirloom that they might not have found without logging into Facebook. The family of surfer Colin Doveton has been collecting the many surfboards he shaped by hand since the 1980s. The surfer with an engineering background pioneered the shaping of channels on surfboards to make them more aerodynamic, according to his daughter Michelle. Doveton died a few years ago. Another well-known surfing figure, Jean-Marc Tostee, the owner of Surf HQ in Durban’s city centre, said he recently stumbled across an iconic Doveton surfboard. He posted messages on social media inviting those interested in the surfboard to contact him. And that’s when the Doveton family heard about it. “I collect old, unused surf equipment which we fix up and repair…

Most people, at one time or another, act foolishly. However, truly ignorant individuals exhibit a lack of introspection and stubbornly cling to their opinions, regardless of how irrational they may be. These people demonstrate unwavering self-assurance and are often oblivious to their inadequacies. They craft retrospective justifications to validate their beliefs and hold onto them. Even when presented with opportunities for personal growth and change, they seem incapable of breaking free from their entrenched habits. Reasoning with stubborn individuals can be as perplexing as it is frustrating. Many have written it off as a hopeless task. As American writer Mark Twain once cautioned: “Never argue with stupid people, they will drag you down to their level and then beat you with experience.” To argue against stupidity only seems to reinforce…

Like many 10-year-olds, Madeline Landecker is fascinated by insects. At her family’s small farm near Little Rock, Arkansas, in the US, she enjoys watching ants and ladybirds and using a net to capture butterflies. Her friends call her the bug expert, she said. So when Madeline spotted a flash of bright pink on the ground after looking in on her chickens after school earlier this month, she stooped down to get a closer look. “I saw that it was something really special,” she said. “A pink grasshopper.” Madeline’s father Tony had read her a news story a year ago about the rarity of pink grasshoppers, she said. “You don’t usually get a chance to see a pink grasshopper,” she said. She scooped up the hot-pink-and-green insect and noticed it was…

JLR is getting ready to unleash the most extreme Defender yet. The new OCTA performance model, named after the ‘octahedron’ shape of a diamond, will not only be the most powerful and luxurious Defender ever, but it will also usher in a trick new suspension system. Whereas the current Defender V8 utilises the firm’s old supercharged mill, with a not inconsiderable 386kW on offer, the OCTA will join its Range Rover stablemates in utilising a BMW-sourced 4.4-litre twin-turbo unit. For now they’re not saying how powerful the Defender OCTA will be, but it will surely be in the same ballpark as the Range Rover Sport SV, which currently offers 467kW. JLR says the OCTA will be capable of “extreme performance across all terrains” and, to enable that, there’s a new…

Hyundai has revealed plans to invest over $50 billion (R947bn) in South Korea by 2026, with a huge chunk dedicated to boosting the development and production of electric vehicles. Along with its affiliate Kia, Hyundai is the world’s third-largest carmaker by sales, but the South Korean giant lags in the EV sector behind Elon Musk’s Tesla and Chinese firm BYD. Hyundai is keen to break into the global EV top three, saying last year that it was aiming to boost electric car production to more than 3.6 million units by 2030. With the investment, Hyundai says it wants to “secure future growth engines in an uncertain business environment through constant change and innovation”. Under the plan, Hyundai will create 80 000 jobs in South Korea and build three new EV…

By the sweat of your brow, you will eat your bread As pointed out in previous articles, our most important Minister must be the one with the title “Minister of Employment and Labour”. We do not have time left to fix the problem. We must make it our number one priority. Graeme Foley, author of Dream Big Start Small 1 000+ Ideas You Can Start Today, said: “There are thousands of people who are either unemployed or would like to supplement their income. “Many parents or grandparents also have to take care of their children or grandchildren, and many pensioners and divorced women have to turnip and scrape every month to keep the pot boiling.” There are many well-known quotations regarding work by clever and talented people. n I…

A REJUVENATED Lamontville Golden Arrows outfit have their hearts set on leading former coach Vusumuzi Vilakazi and his Richards Bay team into deeper relegation trouble. The teams clash at the Mpumalanga Stadium in Hammarsdale today at 3.30pm, looking to get one over each other in yet another instalment of a KwaZulu-Natal derby. Abafana Bes’thende notched up a valuable win over Polokwane City before the international break and saw new head coach Steve Komphela make the perfect start to his second stint at the club. Komphela’s first match also saw Arrows break a horrid 11-game run that had seemingly become too much to halt for now assistant coaches Mabhuti Khenyeza and Musa Bilankulu. Such is the unpredictability of the DStv premiership that this encounter will also pit one of Arrows’ longest-serving…

A DISAPPOINTED figure in the stands at the Swansea Stadium this evening will be colourful Lions prop Asenathi Ntlabakanye, who is serving a three-match suspension for foul play. At over 160kg, the cameras won’t miss him, but his team will miss his powerful presence the most in this URC game against the Ospreys. The rotund tigthhead has become a cult figure at the Lions for his strong scrumming and robust play, but he got it wrong last week when he cannoned high into Connacht player Conor Oliver. A red card was inevitable and a disciplinary hearing nearly threw the book at him, but then took into account his otherwise good behaviour and his remorse. The judges started with a six-week ban but halved it because of his co- operation and…

AMAZULU carry the heaviest of hearts ahead of their trip to TS Galaxy, looking to avenge their biggest disappointment so far this season. Usuthu will make the trip to Mpumalanga for a clash against the Rockets at Mbombela Stadium today at 5.30pm with vengeance in their eyes. The last time the teams met was in the semi-finals of the Carling Knockout Cup at Moses Mabhida Stadium in December. Galaxy scored three goals on the day to AmaZulu’s two in an entertaining encounter, dashing Usuthu’s dreams of ending their 32-year wait for a trophy. Speaking to the media ahead of their trip to Mpumalanga, club captain and goalkeeper Veli Mothwa could not be filtered in his feelings. The 33-year-old goal-minder expressed that he and his teammates have their minds set on…

I love far-flung destinations. Since childhood, anytime I’ve unfolded a map, my eyes have been drawn to the most remote specks of land they depict – dots suspended amid an open ocean, points as removed from major landmasses as possible. What is going on there? As an adult, I’ve been fortunate to find ample answers to that inquiry. And more often than not, I have cruise ships to thank for the privilege. Yet among my millennial cohort, I often find myself having to defend my decision to even board one. Even though adventure-laden “expedition cruises” are the fastest-growing segment of the industry, a stubborn notion persists that ship-seeing is reserved for sedentary retirees. My experiences suggest otherwise. During various cruises, I’ve kayaked past calving icebergs deep in the fjords of…

The holy month of Ramadaan, observed by Muslims worldwide, is expected to continue until April 9. This year, it overlaps with the Easter holiday season, when many people travel. Scores of South African travellers are likely to find themselves in popular destinations where Ramadaan is being observed. This includes countries like the Maldives, the Middle East, Turkey, Indonesia, Morocco and Malaysia. Flight Centre South Africa said while many aspects might be slightly adjusted during Ramadaan in these locations and other Islamic countries, there are several misconceptions about what travel is like during this period. “Ramadaan is a time of spiritual reflection, kindness and fostering understanding between people,” Flight Centre’s general manager Antoinette Turner said. “As travellers, being aware of local practices allows us to show respect and fully embrace the…

In 1980, when James Clavell’s blockbuster historical novel Shōgun was turned into a TV miniseries, about 33% of American households with a television tuned in. It quickly became one of the most viewed miniseries to date, second only to Roots. I’m a historian of Japan who specialises in the history of the Tokugawa, or early modern era – a period from 1603 to 1868, during which the bulk of the action in Shōgun took place. As a first-year graduate student, I sat glued to the television for five nights in September 1980, enthralled that someone cared enough to create a series about the period in Japan’s past that had captured my imagination. I wasn’t alone. In 1982, historian Henry D Smith estimated that one-fifth to one-half of students enrolled in…

If private institutions were to do a good job, they needed to comply with the law and make sure their financial reserves were in order. Professor Jon Foster-Pedley, dean and director of Henley Business School South Africa, said these institutions failed to get their academic oversight and uphold standards that were required by the law in order to make sure they conserved their students. “Unfortunately, what happened to these organisations is they seem not to have done that and they have not seemed to have submitted their financial exams, and we have heard a lot of stories about some of them who were unable to pay staff. “They take a lot of money from the students and do not give them what they need. This has left a lot of…

EARLY this week, the South African government, which has called for the war on Gaza to come to a stop, welcomed the UN Security Council’s adoption of a resolution demanding a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas. Minister of International Relations and Co-operation Naledi Pandor revealed that her department supports efforts being made by the UN Security Council (UNSC) resolution calling for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza for two weeks in light of the holy month of Ramadaan. This comes after the adoption of Resolution 2728 (2024) by the UNSC on Monday, which demands an “immediate ceasefire” in the Gaza Strip for the duration of the Muslim holy month of Ramadaan, which ends in two weeks, on April 9. While the US abstained from the vote, the 14 other council members…

Sivuyile Ngodwana, Ekurhuleni mayor and African Independent Congress member, has been ousted by the city council through a vote of no confidence on Thursday. Forty-seven councillors voted for his removal from the mayoral office while 32 backed him. ActionSA caucus leader Siyanda Makhubo said he was pleased that the “puppet mayor” Ngodwana, was successfully removed as the city mayor. Makhubo said he commended the 25 ANC councillors and the lone DA councillor who went against their party mandates in service of the residents of the metro. “ActionSA submitted a motion against Ngodwana and his government in the midst of a severe financial and service delivery crisis in Ekurhuleni. “We appealed to other political parties in Ekurhuleni to put aside their differences and remove what was clearly a poorly conceived compromise…

A COLLABORATION between various stakeholders of the Church Square Revival Project resulted in the city’s iconic feature receiving much-needed attention this week. Since the public-private partnership was formed towards the end of last year, the Square has seen a transformation through various cleaning initiatives, making it more accessible for daily users and tourists. Church Square Revival Project member City Property Administration brought Kansai Plascon on board, who donated paint and paint stripper. Since Monday,it has been a team effort between the property management company, City of Tshwane staff, contractors Mian Industries and Valcer Construction to paint the existing kiosks and remove the graffiti around the Square. City Property managing director Jeffrey Wapnick said this just goes to show what you can achieve when you bring the skills and passion…

In a landmark event last Sunday, Rotary International president Gordon McInally unveiled a cutting-edge Aquaponics Training Centre in Johannesburg, marking a milestone in his visionary ‘Tour of Hope’. This initiative sweeps across six African nations, bringing sustainable solutions to the forefront of community development and food security. At the heart of Randburg, the newly inaugurated state-of-the-art Aquaponics Centre at Nederduitsch Hervormde Kerk in Ferndale is set to be a beacon of hope and innovation, speakers said. This project, a collaboration between Rotary International through District 9400, Southern Africa, and FreshMinistries, the Desmond Tutu Programme to End Global Hunger, is poised to empower communities not just in South Africa, but in eSwatini, Lesotho, and Madagascar with sustainable food sources and economic growth. Leveraging the FreshMinistries Desmond Tutu Programme to End Global…

Zoë Modiga will soon perform on The Cape Town International Jazz Festival stage. Jane Mayne found out more about the singer’s sonic explorations Face-to-face, Zoë Modiga is warm and engaged. Her enthusiasm for South African music makes her the perfect ambassador for the new generation of pathfinders. She says: “The view for the future of South African music looks amazing. We continue to spearhead conversations not only here locally, but in the world. “I’m excited to be discovering different kinds of artists, whether they’re in the music space, the theatre space, or fashion space – our stories are continuing to be told, and I’m excited to behold that, to be a part of that, and to impact that in some way, but also to learn from it too.” “We will…

Dr Marietjie Lutz, a chemistry lecturer at Stellenbosch University, is embarking on an ambitious effort to raise funding for undergraduate BSc students facing financial challenges by cycling from George to Stellenbosch over the Easter weekend, covering 600km in only six days. Lutz said the inspiration for embarking on this project came after trying to find ways of helping a bright first-year BSc student attending her classes in 2022. “The student was on the brink of homelessness and food insecurity. “Despite facing immense financial stress, this determined student excelled academically, demonstrating resilience and determination.” Lutz then realised she can use her passion for cycling – she has, inter alia, completed the Cape Epic in 2016 and 2017 – to empower students who are dedicated to their studies, but lack the financial…

What is dyslexia? Dyslexia is classified as a learning disorder where an individual struggles to read. The disorder affects a person’s ability to decode words, break them down into syllables and then read. With the presented difficulties, they experience challenges in reading, writing and spelling. However, the learning disorder is not a determinant of one’s intelligence. Prevalence of dyslexia Dyslexia is one of the most common learning disorders, it affects close to 7% of people globally, but is most prevalent among children. Child Mind Institute (CMI), a mental health service provider for children and their well-being, states that approximately 90% of children with learning disorders have dyslexia, and research previously noted dyslexia affects more boys than girls; however, current research says both genders are equally affected by the learning…

In a rare sighting, four Australasian gannets and two brown boobies made a surprise visit to CapeNature Bird Island Nature Reserve in Lambert’s Bay. Bird Island, known for its stunning seafront vistas and diverse birdlife, is almost three hectares in size and is connected to the mainland via a breakwater. It is an important breeding and roosting site for seabirds, particularly Cape gannets and cormorants. The differences between the two gannet species are subtle, particularly to the untrained eye. The yellow crown in the Australasian gannet is darker, the blue eye ring is darker, the gular stripe is shorter, and the outer tail feathers are white compared to the Cape gannet’s black tail feathers. CapeNature said one of the gannets was first spotted three years ago on Malgas Island near…

The Audi R8 is no more, with numerous sources reporting that the last unit has rolled off the assembly line at the Bollinger Hofe plant in Germany. This follows the axing of the smaller Audi TT Coupe and Roadster models in late 2023, meaning that the German brand now has no dedicated sports cars in its line-up. The writing has been on the wall for some time. Not only is the industry shifting rapidly towards electrification but R8 sales weren’t all that great, especially in recent times. According to Motor1, Audi sold just 1 591 units last year, which was admittedly a 50% improvement over its 2022 figure, but still some way off its 2008 peak of 5 016 units. The R8 survived through two generations, first seeing light of…

Life insurers who are members of the Association for Savings and Investment South Africa (Asisa) paid a whopping R599 billion to policyholders and beneficiaries last year following tragic life events like death and disability or significant life stage changes like retirement. According to Asisa, payments made to policyholders and beneficiaries included retirement annuity and endowment policy benefits, as well as, claims against life, disability, critical illness, and income protection policies. The long-term insurance statistics released on Tuesday by Asisa also show that members managed 43.8 million risk and savings policies on behalf of policyholders at the end of December last year. In-force policies increased marginally from 43.2 million at the end of December 2022. Gareth Friedlander, a member of the Asisa Life and Risk Board Committee, said…

Managing your finances is not rocket science. Financial advisers are very useful, but they aren’t essential if you are sensible with money and have a basic knowledge of the different financial services and products. It is said that common sense is not all that common. I believe we all have access to the still, small voice of reason within us, but don’t give it more attention, because it is so often drowned out by our attitudes and emotions. Unfortunately, when it comes to money, those attitudes and emotions can be very powerful indeed. Greed and fear are probably the top two contenders for silencing common sense, but hubris comes a close third. Morgan Housel, a partner at hedge fund firm The Collaborative Fund in the US, blogger and author of…

THE French-born striker Anis Hadj Moussa did not hide his admiration for the South African national team Bafana Bafana, who held the highly- rated “Desert Foxes” of Algeria to a three-all stalemate in Algiers earlier this week. Moussa, who plies his trade with Eredivisie club Vitesse Arnhem in the Netherlands, joined the fray as a second-half substitute for Yassine Benzia, who scored two goals. After the match, Moussa declared: “It was a match at the highest level, during which we saw many comebacks and opportunities. “We were late on two occasions, and in the end, we knew how to come back. “The most important thing is that we were not defeated. “The match was different from the match with Bolivia (in our first match). The South African team plays beautiful…

RULANI Mokwena and his players said all the right things ahead of Mamelodi Sundowns’ CAF Champions League quarter-final, first leg clash against Young Africans in Dar es Salaam tonight. “We are playing against an incredibly good side that did extremely well in the Confed Cup,” Mokwena said of the team popularly referred to as Yanga. Centre-back Brian Onyango said they expected a difficult match. “They have a very strong team and we know what they can do. Reaching the quarterfinal was not by chance, they worked hard to get here,” he said. His namesake Denis Onyango – the veteran goalkeeper – concurred: “We are playing a very good team, that has lots of quality. They played in the Confederation Cup final and they could have won it.” Of…

OPERATION ‘Save Honour and Pride’ starts this week for the Springbok Sevens as they head to the Far East for the Hong Kong SVNS under new coach Philip Snyman. After a dismal season so far, there’s been a coaching shake-up and some personnel changes for the trip to Asia to address their seventh spot on the current season standings of the revamped series. The HK tournament takes place from April 5 to 7. The Blitzboks are still in it to win the overall title, but at the same time, two terrible displays over the next two tournaments could see them end up in the relegation zone, somewhere they do not want to be at all. Under Snyman, though, the side won the first title of the season in Dubai and…

SPRINGBOK Women coach Louis Koen has urged his team to “focus on ourselves and do the things we need to do” in today’s Test against the United States in London. The South Africans pulled off a thrilling 15-13 victory over Spain in Valladolid last weekend, with wing Jakkie Cilliers slotting a late penalty. But the Bok Women will face a far more challenging match from the Americans, who will be playing their first Test under new coach Sione Fukofuka, at the Ealing Trailfinders Rugby Club ground in West London (3pm SA time kick-off). South Africa are in 12th position in the World Rugby rankings, with USA ninth. The Americans are using the match as preparation for their upcoming Pacific Four Series tournament, where they will face Canada in Los Angeles…

Autumn has officially arrived in South Africa, bringing with it shorter days and cooler conditions. This serene season, from March to May, is already painting the nation in vivid hues of red, orange and yellow. And as the crisp and dried leaves litter the ground, the cool breeze fills the air with Earth’s rich aroma. But the drop in temperatures doesn’t have to mean that you should hibernate as you await spring’s return. South Africa is full of unique and eventful destinations which are ideal to visit this season. Whether you need a city escape or you are just looking for a cool retreat, here are some idyllic locations to visit in different parts of the nation this autumn: Clarens This small town, situated in the foothills of the…

IT IS perhaps the 11th interview between the Saturday Star’s editor Sifiso Mahlangu and former president Jacob Zuma. This time the atmosphere is different. The doyen of South Africa’s revolution and one of its most popular and controversial politicians has left the continent’s oldest revolutionary movement, the ANC. It is a moment in history. He has endorsed uMkhonto weSizwe, a party named after the then ANC’s military wing. We arrive at his busy Forest Town home in Johannesburg and it almost feels like he’s still in office, although time has swiftly marched on from February 14 2018, when Zuma stepped down, to the present. Polls reveal that the ANC will fall to under 50% of the vote, forcing it into a coalition with other parties. It is believed that President…

THE Department of Public Works and Infrastructure has taken a bold step to stamp out extortion, intimidation and criminality in the construction industry. The department has established a social intervention unit to facilitate and spread awareness about construction projects in communities before they commence. This was to ensure that the department curbed and dealt with extortion in the industry. Public Works and Infrastructure Minister Sihle Zikalala said the unit’s priority was to craft a method to allow local communities to participate legally in construction projects in their localities. “We have also strengthened the rule of law which ensures that people involved in stalling construction projects are dealt with, decisively. “Implementing the aforementioned strategies has resulted in more construction projects starting up again on sites where construction mafias have long stalled…

FORMER president Jacob Zuma is reported to be in high spirits and preparing to attend several church services in spite of an “allegedly deliberate” car accident on Thursday night. Yesterday the party, through its head of elections in KZN, Musa Mkhize, confirmed to the SABC and other news outlets that the MK Party’s presidential hopeful had survived a car accident believed to have been a deliberate attempt on his life. News reports suggest that Zuma and his entourage were travelling from Nkandla to eShowe to campaign for his uMkhonto we Sizwe (MK) Party in eShowe when another car rammed into the side of the car Zuma was in. The incident occurred on Thursday at around 10pm. Mkhize said Zuma and the members of his team, who were in the same…

Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi has finally lived up to his promise of ending e-tolls in the province. On Thursday, a joint media statement announced that the premier, working with Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana and Transport Minister Sindisiwe Chikunga, had finally found a way to end the e-tolls that Gauteng road users had refused to pay for since they were established in 2013. A proclamation in the Government Gazette, published on Thursday, was signed by the two ministers. In a joint statement by the two ministries, Lesufi announced that after a meeting between the province and the two ministries on March 27, an agreement was reached to delink the province’s freeway improvement scheme e-tolls from the gantries. “At the meeting on March 27, between the Minister of Transport, Sindisiwe Chikunga, Godongwana…

AMAZULU Football Club is determined to give cancer a red card. This week “uSuthu” announced its partnership with DKMS Africa, a non-profit organisation which creates awareness about cancer and blood disorders. AmaZulu, one of SA’s oldest soccer clubs, started by migrant workers in the 1930s, is the first Premier Soccer League (PSL) club to sign up for the DKMS Soccer Heroes campaign to encourage people to register as stem cell donors, and give someone the gift of life. AmaZulu public relations officer Philani Ndlela said it was important to use their influence to spread the message and encourage all PSL clubs to also blow the whistle on cancer and blood disorders. He said many people were ignorant about cancer and its impact and so when they were approached by DMKS,…

FOUR budding scientists from across the country are in China to participate in the Beijing Youth Science Creation Competition (BYSCC) under the theme, “Discovery, Innovation and Reponsibility”. Their cutting-edge research projects will compete against other high-tech studies from around the world. The four, who will be accompanied by Dr Sure Mupezeni, Eskom Expo provincial co-ordinator for Limpopo, won their place to represent South Africa at the competition from yesterday to Monday, after being nominated by a panel of academics and professionals at the Eskom Expo for Young Scientists International Science Fair (ISF) in October last year. Grade 12 learners Steffan Thielen and Rohan van Loggerenberg from Paul Roos Gymnasium in Stellenbosch will showcase their research project, “Optimisation of Artificial Neural Network Training”. The Eskom Expo ISF Gold medal recipients in…

South African-born indie pop band Beatenberg are back with their latest album The Great Fire of Beatenberg. The album, which has 13 tracks, will be released next week, ahead of their European shows in Amsterdam and London on April 16 and 18. Known for hits such as Chelsea Blakemore, Beauty Like a Tightened Bow and Rafael, it will be their first album in five years. The three-man band is made up of Matthew Field (vocals and guitar), Robin Brink (drums), and Ross Dorkin (bass). Field said there was a lot of variety on the new album, including slow, up-tempo and sentimental songs. “There are a few new tracks on this album that are kinda different from what we did before. Some of them are a bit more emotionally direct, like…

Coming from a bloodline of academic intellectuals, it was only a matter of time before Alberta (Berte) van der Watt of Paul Roux in the Eastern Free State would scale the heights of academic success. She obtained her doctorate in Psychiatry at Stellenbosch University’s (SU) March graduation. What makes her achievement special is that it brings the Van der Watt family’s crop of doctorates to four – not something one encounters every day. Both her parents, Gideon and Ronél, and her sister, Lize-Marié, have PhDs – Gideon in theology, Ronél in psychology and Lize-Marié in history. They are also all Matie alumni. Ronél studied undergraduate at SU, but obtained her doctorate at the University of the Free State. “I feel proud to be able to hold my family’s name high.…

As the curtain falls on Human Rights month, the importance of water conservation and accessibility as a basic human right was being celebrated by Kusini Water, a private utility enterprise working within communities to provide clean and safe drinking water. On March 22, Kusini Water celebrated World Water Day with the theme “Ripples of Resilience”. The event honoured the top five Water Champions, as well as community members who have made significant contributions by providing clean, safe water to their communities. Kusini Water Champions (KWC) is a programme funded by Nedbank, offering technical training and skills development to young people between the ages of 18 and 35 driven and committed to solving water issues in their communities. The individuals presented their Kusini technology, water filtration systems and information about the…

Now in its second generation, the popular X-Rider nameplate continues in the D-Max, and we recently spent three days behind the wheel of one along the beautiful Garden Route. Although it wasn’t all plain sailing, the new model left a lasting first impression on us. Landing early in the morning in George after a red-eye flight out of the hustle and bustle of Johannesburg, we were immediately greeted by a fleet of brand new X-Riders waiting to be taken on the journey that lay ahead. Three colours were on offer to choose from, namely Splash White, Red Spinel and Islay Gray, with Mercury Silver set to join the colour palette next month. I opted for an Islay Gray unit as it complements the X-Rider exclusive details rather nicely. There’s no…

Nearly nine out of 10 (87%) of institutional investors and wealth managers surveyed believe digital assets have an important role to play in diversified investment portfolios, according to the latest research by London-based Nickel Digital Asset Management. The research found, that half (50%) said digital assets should represent a moderate portion of portfolios. According to the research, there is a growing mainstream acceptance of digital assets. The study was conducted with in- stitutional investors and wealth man- agers in the US, UK, Germany, Switzerland, Singapore, Brazil, and the United Arab Emirates, who collectively manage around $816 billion (about R15.4 trillion) in assets. It found that 23% surveyed believe digital assets should only represent a small part of portfolios, while 16% say they should form a significant part of…

I’m a young working professional with a limited investment portfolio. I would like to diversify my investments to achieve short-term goals (like buying my first house) and long-term goals (preparing for retirement). How do I go about developing an investment diversification plan that aligns with my risk tolerance and financial objectives? Marzél Swart, wealth adviser at PSG Wealth, Pretoria East: To differentiate between short-term and long-term goals is a good place to start. It is always important to keep the objectives separate to prevent your emotions from getting in the way. For the short-term goals, I’d recommend that you consider an interest-bearing investment solution which is not as volatile as exposure to equities. Currently, rates on money market accounts are around 7 to 8% a year, which could be a…

HIGH-flying Sekhukhune United have never been better placed to beat Orlando Pirates following an impressive start to 2024. Babina Noko welcome the Sea Robbers to Peter Mokaba Stadium today (5.45pm kick-off) with the hope of sinking a Pirates ship starting to gain momentum. Sekhukhune head coach Lehlohonolo Seema has filled the club with life again after taking over from Brandon Truter in November and the club’s resumption of the DStv Premiership in the new year has been impressive. Babina Noko are one of the most in-form teams in the league at the moment after recording consecutive wins against Richards Bay, Golden Arrows, Royal AM and Moroka Swallows. These results have seen the team surge up the league standings into sixth place, just three points behind Pirates, who are in second…

NEWCASTLE enjoyed a meteoric rise during the first 18 months of their new era under the control of the Saudi sovereign wealth fund, but the Magpies’ progress has stalled this season. Eddie Howe’s men are languishing in 10th place in the Premier League with 10 games to go, and any hope of the club’s first major trophy since 1969 is over for another year. AFP Sport looks at what has gone wrong on Tyneside. Rules limit spending In a season in which the Premier League’s profit and sustainability rules (PSR) have begun to bite, few clubs have been as affected as Newcastle. In stark contrast to the early days of Abu Dhabi’s huge investment at English champions Manchester City, Newcastle have been limited on how heavily they can lean on…

THE Totalsports Women’s Race, South Africa’s biggest Women’s Day celebration, will be featured in three cities in August when the country commemorates Women’s Month. The government declared August Women’s Month as a tribute to the more than 20 000 women who marched to the Union Buildings August 9, 1956 to protest the extension of pass laws to women. The race is a mass participation, women’s only road race that takes place in Durban, Cape Town and Johannesburg and caters for both social and elite athletes. This year the festivities will begin in Durban on Sunday, August 4, followed by Cape Town on Friday, August 9, before culminating in Joburg on Saturday, August 17. It is a celebration of women’s strength and empowerment, providing a platform for women from all backgrounds…

CAPE Town City and Kaizer Chiefs are both teams with major ambitions. Chiefs, of course, due to their legacy are expected to be among the frontrunners for both League and Cup success. City, meanwhile, are assumed to be the torch bearers of football in the Mother City. But both sides have suffered drawbacks in recent years. Although City finished second and fourth over the past two seasons in the DStv Premiership they have now lost ground to neighbours Stellenbosch FC, who annexed the Carling Cup this season and remain in contention for the Nedbank Cup. Equally, the shine on the Glamour Boys has dimmed significantly. Their respective form in 2024 has not provided their faithful supporters with much joy either. The Citizens are winless in five matches across all competitions,…

THE Kearsney Easter Festival got off to a flying start on Thursday, but local schools will be hoping for a turnaround in fortunes after it was left to DHS and Glenwood to keep the flag flying. Today’s second day at the Botha’s Hill school looks set for some cracking games, and rugby enthusiasts shouldpop in to see some of the country’s best emerging talent. Bright and early, at 7.40am, Hoërskool Noord-Kaap from Kimberley play fellow day one strugglers Nico Malan (Eastern Cape). The former were on the receiving end of a 59-7 drubbing by Hoërskool Dr EG Jansen, while Nico Malan lost 0-21 to DHS. Considering the quality of the schools, this could be these teams’ best chance of a win over the weekend. In game two, Westville, 10-31…