Table of contents for 2023-11-07 in Star

DIS-CHEM has pledged R12 million, R1m for every point scored in the Rugby World Cup (RWC) final match, to be directed towards tackling South African challenges. The retail pharmacy’s CEO Rui Morais was so inspired by the sentiment change in South Africa following Saturday’s Springbok RWC victory, that he penned a letter to Springbok captain Siya Kolisi and his team. The letter celebrated the big shift in sentiment brought about by the Springbok’s momentous fourth RWC win. Dis-Chem said that as a national brand committed to doing national good, it would commit to fund one sustainable and measurable project, per month, at R1m, over 12 months. “Each project, which will be identified with input from Dis-Chem staff, will address relevant concerns. This corporate pledge is separate from the support…

Robert Gumede appears to have swayed Tongaat’s business rescue prectitioners to make him the preferred bidder TERRIS Consortium, fronted by Mpu- malanga businessman, Robert Gu- mede, may have swayed Tongaat Hulett’s business rescue practitioners to emerge as the preferred bidder for the troubled South African agro-processing firm’s assets on account of financial backing from the Public Investment Corporation (PIC) under questionable circumstances. Business rescue practitioners in Tongaat Hulett, with a net debt of R7.6 billion and currently under business rescue, has over the past months confirmed Kagera, a Tanzanian outfit as the preferred bidder. It also emerged this month that RGS, a Mozambican outfit had also been enlisted as a second preferred bidder. Now, Gumede’s Terris Consortium, which has previously complained that Kagera had been wrongly picked as…

INVESTORS are most interested in investing in Disney stock, despite ongoing strikes at the mass media company, according to an in-depth analysis of TikTok and Instagram posts. New research revealed that Disney was the most talked about stock on social media as the entertainment giant had the highest number of videos published and viewed, and the most hashtags used across TikTok and Instagram. The findings come from a new study by online trading provider City Index, which analysed every company in the S&P 500 based on how much content on their stocks and shares had been created and viewed on TikTok and Instagram. City Index is an award-winning, multi-asset financial services provider with 40 years’ experience in supporting clients, providing instant and secure access to global markets. The new study…

In a WORLD where industries are striving for gender inclusivity, South Africa’s mining sector lags in empowering women for leadership roles. “South Africa’s mining, a cornerstone of the nation’s economy, holds an undiscovered treasure – untapped potential within its women. It’s time to spark a dialogue and action by highlighting the urgent need to empower women in this vital sector,” says Exxaro Resources mining superintendent Dolly Masilela. At the recent annual Women and Leadership in Mining Conference, she, along with other inspirational woman leaders, gathering to share valuable insights and guidance for the future of female leadership. According to the 2020 World Bank report, women comprise just 15% of the global mining workforce, and in South Africa, despite a promising increase from 11 400 in 2002 to 56…

Breakout global music sensation Tyla continues to make waves by bagging a nomination at the upcoming Soul Train Awards. The Water hitmaker will go head-to-head with Ayra Starr, Ambré, Coco Jones, Doechii, Flo, Fridayy and WanMor for the Best New Artist award. This entry is also a first for Starr. Tyla’s Water, is making waves across the world and has been quickly climbing various charts. On the song’s release, it clocked three million views in just three days on Spotify, and last month the musical sensation was also voted as Most Stylish Performing Artist at the SA Style Awards. She’s been a featured guest on many talk shows including the award-winning The Tonight Show starring Jimmy Fallon. Meanwhile, this year global superstar Burna Boy also finds himself in a comfortable…

After Zanele Mkhonto, 28, allegedly killed her police partner Happy Thwala, 45, in an altercation that resulted in a bloody night, she claimed her actions were the result of a difficult sexual encounter. Thwala was reportedly enraged by a call from Mkhonto’s ex-boyfriend, which set off the incident. According to reports, Mkhonto testified in the Kanyamazane Magistrate’s Court that she murdered Thwala because he was too rough during intercourse earlier that evening. National Prosecuting Authority spokesperson Monica Nyuswa said Mkhonto pleaded guilty to pre-meditated murder charges. “It is alleged that Thwala became angry, broke down and cried while threatening to shoot and kill Mkhonto. “She managed to calm him down and he gave her the gun and they went on to have intercourse,” Nyuswa said. Mkhonto alleged that Thwala was…

The president of the Police and Prisons Civil Rights Union (Popcru), Dr Zizamele Cebekhulu-Makhaza, has pleaded with President Cyril Ramaphosa to do away with austerity measures and “other neo-liberal policies which have failed to grow the country’s economy” for the past five years. Cebekhulu-Makhaza was speaking yesterday during the first day of the union’s 10th National Conference being held at the Durban ICC. More than 1 000 delegates representing its various structures and the criminal justice cluster have gathered ahead of the elections of the new leaders of the union, which celebrated its 34th anniversary on Sunday. The outgoing president said the austerity measures have not helped the material and economic conditions of the country’s working class and the poor. He added that more than anything, these measures have stifled…

Ingredients 1kg of lamb or blade beef 2 onions, peeled and finely chopped 4 tbs oil 3 whole chillies 4 all spice (pimento) 1 cinnamon stick 1 tbs freshly ground black or white pepper Salt to taste 2-3 tbs sugar 1kg of peeled and cubed pumpkin Method In a large pot, heat the oil and add the onions, cinnamon stick, all spice and chillies and fry till golden brown. Next add the meat, browning the meat on all sides, stirring occasionally. Add salt and pepper and braise for 5 minutes. Add a cup of hot water and simmer meat on medium heat, until water has dissolved. Repeat this process until you test the meat and it’s tender. Add the cubed pumpkin and sugar and braise on medium heat until the…

The final season of Idols South Africa ended on a momentous note after Thabo Ndlovu was crowned the winner of season 19 on Sunday. The show has been the subject of speculation following reports that it had lost its mighty mojo, failing in terms of viewership. Then came the unexpected announcement that season 19 would be the final season of Idols South Africa, disappointing fans. Despite bidding farewell to a show, that has been many people’s favourite for years, others praised its ability to produce stars making an impact in the music industry. Among the Idols stars who have made a name for themselves in the entertainment industry are Lloyiso Gijana, Shekhinah, Yanga Sobetwa, Paxton, Elvis Blue, Khaya Mthethwa, Amanda Black, and Kyle Deutschmann. Mthethwa became the show’s first…

NOW that Unisa has been brought to its knees and placed under administration, what happens next? Unisa was an educational showpiece across Africa and the world. It was an unbeatable distance-learning university, highly sought-after and respected. The value of its qualifications have now been diluted to such an extent that they are not worth the paper they are written on. Thirty years of cadre positioning, promoting people who are unqualified to impart university-level education, have destroyed this symbol of hope. This is a national calamity, with far-reaching consequences for those seeking a meaningful qualification.…

GHALEB Cachalia’s removal from the DA’s shadow cabinet over the recent truth to power comments he made on X about apartheid Israel and Palestinian lived realities exposes the DA’s true nature and colours. Cachalia’s Struggle icon parents, Amina and Yusuf Cachalia, dedicated their entire lives fighting for freedom in South Africa. It is through these and many other Struggle icons that we enjoy human rights in South Africa today. Hence, if Cachalia was disillusioned with the ANC for whatever reason, he should have found an alternative manner of sorting out his embitterment with the party. While we must eliminate corruption, mismanagement, state capture and all forms of non-compliance, Cachalia, as a son of freedom stalwarts, should have known better before he “threw the baby out with the bathwater”. The DA…

WHILE malaria is not endemic to most parts of the country, the mosquito that carries the deadly disease does breed in some areas, and with the rainy season here, people have been urged to take precautions. Malaria, one of the most severe public health problems worldwide, is, health experts say, a leading cause of death and disease in developing countries. Many young children and pregnant women are affected every year in the rainy season. In South Africa, malaria is known to strike between September and May in north-eastern KwaZulu- Natal, parts of Mpumalanga and Limpopo, and it is often deadly. With the start of the rainy season, health experts have reported seeing increases in the number of malaria cases due to higher temperatures and increased rainfall in malaria transmission…

The Asset Forfeiture Unit (AFU) of the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) has been granted a freezing order by the Gauteng High Court, Pretoria, for property and money valued at R29 million belonging to “a syndicate that stole” from Eskom. The order was granted on Thursday, NPA Gauteng regional spokesperson Lumka Mahanjana said. “The restraint order is to freeze properties and cash worth R29 million belonging to a syndicate that stole from Eskom. Mothelli Ben Theletsane, who has since died, was employed at Eskom on a contract basis and worked in a pre-paid environment, supporting Eskom's pre-paid vending system,” Mahanjana said. “He (Theletsane) operated as a supervisor in his role he obtained intimate knowledge of the operations of the machines. He also acquired technical expertise on the ins and outs of…

Johannesburg police are investigating claims against a pro-Israel supporter of allegedly splashing paint on vehicles at a Palestinian rally. It is alleged a Johannesburg-based lawyer threatened Palestinian supporters and is accused of driving past about 20 parked cars at a Palestinian rally and splashing reddish-coloured paint on them. It is believed to have happened when the Palestinian Solidarity Alliance Youth League was holding a march outside the SA Zionist Federation in Johannesburg recently. Altaaf Adam, the league’s chairperson, said the woman caused disruptions after it was explicitly explained in their statements that it was a peaceful protest. “This woman sprayed people and cars with paint. A number of people opened cases at the Norwood police station. “This is unacceptable no matter what the circumstances were, to damage other people’s property.…

VLADIMIR Putin has decided to run in the March presidential election, a move that will keep him in power until least 2030, as the Kremlin chief feels he must steer Russia through the most perilous period in decades, six sources told Reuters. Putin, handed the presidency by Boris Yeltsin on the last day of 1999, has already served as president for longer than any other Russian ruler since Josef Stalin, beating even Leonid Brezhnev’s 18-year tenure. Putin turned 71 on October 7. The sources, who spoke to Reuters on condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of Kremlin politics, said news of Putin’s decision had trickled down and advisers were now preparing for the campaign and a Putin election. For Putin, who opinion polls show enjoys approval ratings of 80%…

Paris: The food and agriculture system adds at least $10 trillion (R182 trillion) in “hidden costs” to the global economy every year due to unhealthy diets and emissions, a UN agency said yesterday. The Food and Agriculture Organization conducted an analysis in 154 countries to determine the “true” cost of the agrifood system. “The future of our agrifood systems and our planet hinges on understanding how we all contribute to them,” it said. The study found 73% of the hidden costs are linked to bad diets high in ultra-processed foods, fats and sugars, causing obesity and diabetes; and more than 20% to greenhouse gas emissions, water use and land use.…

KATHMANDU: A magnitude 5.2 earthquake struck Nepal yesterday, the European-Mediterranean Seismological Centre said,three days after 153 people were killed in the country’s worst quake since 2015. Yesterday’s earthquake had its epicentre in Ramidanda, Jajarkot district, the same place as Friday’s quake, but there were no reports of injuries or damage so far, the National Earthquake Monitoring and Research Centre said. A second 4.5 tremor with its epicentre at Paink, near Ramidanda, struck nine minutes after the first one. At least 153 people died and more than 339 were injured in Friday’s 6.4 magnitude quake in the Jajarkot region.…

Orlando Pirates head coach Jose Riveiro has emphasised the importance of securing victory in their next fixture, with the Soweto derby on the horizon. Today, the Buccaneers will entertain a visit from a Sekhukhune United side that parted ways with head coach Brandon Truter a few days ago. The encounter is set to kick off at 7.30pm at the Orlando Stadium. Both teams will be looking to shake off recent bad spells after getting knocked out of the Carling Knockout Cup at the weekend. Riveiro, who has missed out on his first cup competition since his arrival in South Africa, is desperate to return his team to winning ways after going four games on the trot without victory. While the Spaniard is under no pressure at the Sea Robbers, he…

Kaizer Chiefs’ interim coach Cavin Johnson can focus his Soweto derby preparations around five key points, which should equip the team to produce a solid performance, starting with Cape Town Spurs tomorrow, writes Herman Gibbs. 1. No chief up front The team needs a leader up front, one that will trouble opposition defenders and free up fellow attackers to exploit weaknesses in the opposition defence. The strikers in the squad, however, have not inspired confidence. After the club’s wise men recruited Jasond González in August, he was destined to play a key role. After a couple of months, the Colombian has failed to make an impact. Perhaps Ranga Chivaviro can be given the task of leading the attack. He knows his way around the striking zone, as he proved during…

RENERGEN, owner and operator of South Africa’s first liquid natural gas and helium onshore production project, saw its share price fall more than 5% yesterday following the announcement on Friday that its CEO is moving temporarily to the US to oversee the Nasdaq initial public offering (IPO). The share price closed 8.13% lower at R13.10 on the JSE yesterday, down from R14.26 on Friday, from R18 three months ago and from R27.50 a year ago. The company recently had to release additional information on its operations after it faced online criticism, most notably from shareholder activist Albie Cilliers, who questioned the sustainability of the project and the transparency of the company. The company said that capital to unlock the funding for Phase 2 of the project, to significantly expand helium…

REDEFINE Properties raised its dividend only 1.9% to 43.80 cents for the year to August 31, but its management believes there is cause for optimism that the property cycle has bottomed. They believe 2024 will be a turning point when interest rates begin to ease. Although the environment was uncertain, the group forecast financial 2024 distributable income to be between 48c and 52c a share. CEO Andrew König said in an online presentation, however, the reason for the flat forecast was due to the prediction of interest rates only declining towards the end of 2024, outside their 2024 financial year. He said the group would by then have “taken the pain” of the high interest rate environment, and would benefit more from lower interest rates through a “multiplier…

EXEMPLAR Reitail, the listed property fund focused on rural and town- ship retail, declared an interim dividend of 64.272 cents per share for the six months to August 31, 6.47% lower than the same period a year before. Exemplar’s 26 retail assets have a combined gross lettable area (GLA) of 414 420 square metres. Revenue increased 16.75% to R581.52 million. Portfolio GLA in- creased to 414 420 square metres from 407 942 square metres with the opening of the final phase of Edendale Mall after a rebuild. Growth in rental and recovery income was partially due to the recently added KwaBhaca Mall, Bizana Walk and Mamelodi Square, as well as the opening of the third and final phase of Edendale Mall. On a like-for-like basis…

SA BIOSECURITY breaches signal serious capacity challenges in farm biosecurity and the country’s veterinary and related support services, mainly the laboratories, control of the movement of livestock and vaccine production, says the Agricultural Business Chamber (Agbiz). The organisation’s chief economist Wandile Sihlobo said one challenge raised by their members in various engagements for some time was the weaknesses in the country’s biosecurity system. “Admittedly, biosecurity breaches are not uniquely South African and have become a significant challenge globally. We frequently hear of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) in cattle, African swine fever in pigs and avian influenza in poultry worldwide. “However, few countries have to deal with the scale of these disease outbreaks almost simultaneously as South Africa has had to do,” Sihlobo said. Agbiz said last year six of South Africa’s…

Amid the commentary on the war on Gaza, one implication of the struggle has perhaps been overlooked. Hamas has controlled Gaza since 2007. Many commentators have noted that Hamas and the Palestinian people of Gaza are not the same. We have begun to notice some distance between the Hamas leadership and the Gazan people. Gazans are used as human shields by Hamas militants. For a decade and a half, Hamas has absorbed financial aid meant for the Gazan people. Videos of Hamas agents removing the pipes of the Gazan water system in order to make anti-Israel rockets are available on the internet. Hamas has an estimated 200 000 gallons of fuel in its reserves. This is withheld from the citizens and is dedicated to providing fuel for its rockets and…

A ROTTWEILER dog who bit a Maltese poodle sparked a legal tussle between the owners of the dogs, with the poodle’s owner eventually obtaining a protection order against the bigger dog’s master. Under the protection order, obtained under the Protection from Harassment Act, Grant Horner may not intimidate or harass Gary Baranov, his wife or their four children. Horner may also not enter the estate where Baranov lives in uMhlanga, north of Durban, with his Rottweiler dog. Horner turned to the KwaZulu- Natal High Court, sitting in Pietermaritzburg, where he appealed the confirmation of the protection order by the magistrate, who also issued the interim protection order. Horner told the court that what Baranov claimed he had done most certainly did not warrant a protection order as envisaged in law.…

Police have arrested a 56-year-old man after he allegedly purchased a consignment of drugs in Pretoria, and was heading to Limpopo to distribute the contraband. Police spokesperson in Limpopo, Brigadier Hlulani Mashaba, said the man was intercepted and arrested by the SAPS organised crime unit on Friday. The suspect was charged with possession of drugs. “Police received information about the suspect who was in possession of drugs while travelling from Pretoria, after he had purchased them with the intention to distribute in Limpopo,” said Mashaba. “The police reacted swiftly, started locating the suspect and spotted him between McKenzie and Radium R101 public road,” he said. “The suspect was found in possession of loose sachets containing heroin with an estimated street value of R12 000 and was arrested.”…

AMID the ongoing challenge of student debt, which burdens many hopeful students as they cling to dreams of a better tomorrow, a supportive Goodwood husband, Lucien Williams, who walked from Cape Town to George to raise funds to pay for his wife’s student debt, watched with pride as she graduated recently. While the cost of tertiary education is on the rise, Universities South Africa last noted that student debt had climbed to more than R16.5 billion, with 120 000 students faced with the possibility of being unable to graduate because they owe tertiary institutions. Lucien said his wife, Washiela, who was afforded a National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) bursary for the first two years of her studies at Unisa, incurred student debt when her studies were not funded in…

THERE’S a sporting expression that goes: Don't change a winning team. Julius Malema would do well to think on it. Amid the euphoria and country-wide celebrations following South Africa’s historic triumph at the Rugby World Cup, the Economic Freedom Fighters leader went against the grain with his provocative and incendiary remarks about the Springboks. Malema said he did not support the national team because its colours and emblem harkened back to the people’s suffering during apartheid. “We want the colours that represent democracy,” he said. “Amabokoboko, Die Bokke, Springboks is an apartheid symbol. Springbok must fall.” Now, South Africans have come to know Malema as someone whose politics and predisposition is to lash out at anything associated with the apartheid era – good or bad. Or anyone from white communities,…

New York: An Indian man has been sentenced to life in the US state of Florida for fatally stabbing his 26-year-old wife 17 times and then driving over her body before fleeing from the scene in 2020. Philip Mathew pleaded no contest to the first-degree murder of Merin Joy, who was planning an escape from an abusive relationship, the Sun Sentinel newspaper reported. Mathew blocked Joy’s car in with his vehicle at the parking lot of Broward Health Coral Springs hospital, where she worked. He then slashed her repeatedly and drove over her body on the ground before driving off, police aaid.…

At least 15 people have died in Kenya as floods swept away scores of houses and devastated farmland following torrential rains, the Red Cross said yesterday. Heavy rainfall has pounded the country, particularly the bone-dry north, in recent days, and sent water gushing into homes and submerging roads, with similar scenes playing out across other parts of East Africa. “As of yesterday, 15 264 households have been affected, with 15 casualties reported,” the Kenya Red Cross said on X, formerly Twitter. More than 1 000 livestock have died while at least 97ha of agricultural farmland have been destroyed. The UN’s humanitarian agency, OCHA, said last month that eastern Africa would likely encounter heavier than normal rains over the October- December period because of the El Nino phenomenon. Kenya’s Meteorological Department…

GENDER parity in the boards of JSE-listed companies remains an elusive concept overall as men continue to dominate the largest number of higher positions in relation to women. The Status of Gender on JSE-listed boards report revealed that there were 897 male non-executive directors on JSE-listed boards compared to 480 women non-executive directors, with board chairs being 83% male and 17% female. In terms of JSE-listed company CEOs, 226 were men compared to only 18 women, and the ratio of chief financial officers was 164 males to 45 females. The report, which was released yesterday, suggested there has been an improvement in gender representation metrics on these boards, but there remained a lot that needs to be done. Now in its sixth year, the report was compiled from information publicly…

DIVERSIFIED chemicals solutions group, AECI, said it recorded strong results for the nine months to September 30 due to increases in mining explosives sales in Southern Africa, central Africa and Asia Pacific, a weaker exchange rate and new contracts. Revenue and earnings before interest and tax (Ebit) were up compared with the prior period after solid growth in AECI Mining, the group said in a trading update yesterday. There was improved profitability following the fulfilments of new contracts in Asia Pacific and the Rest of Africa. Revenue in AECI Agri Health and AECI Water was higher than the prior period due to higher selling prices and moderately higher sales volumes. However, the lag in cost recovery affected margins, and this was expected to correct in the last quarter of this…

Somizi Mhlongo should add comedian to his list of many talents. The media personality recently shared a TikTok video that left followers in stitches. In the video, also posted on his Instagram, the Idol’s SA judge stitched a video of a very handsome TikToker, who caught his eye, and then proceeded to complain about how “unfair” God has been to him. “When I go to heaven, God is going to ask, ‘Somizi why are you angry?’, I am going to say, ‘Wena you’re unfair.’ “How do you make other people this beautiful ... So now I am supposed to survive on my personality. “Look at him, his hair, his body, go to his page, everything, he’s funny, he’s intelligent, he’s got a sense of humour, he’s handsome, he’s got great…

Palesa Madisakwane has quit her calling as a sangoma. Madisakwane, who was once married to Somizi Mhlongo, took to social media to show everyone that she has accepted Jesus Christ as her Lord and saviour. In a video posted on her Instagram page, Madisakwane is seen tearing up her ancestral cloth and setting it on fire as she says a prayer. He caption read: “There is power in the name of Jesus. There is power in the name of Jesus. There is power in the name of Jesus. To break every chain, break every chain, break every chain. To break every chain, break every chain, break every chain.” The video triggered some of her fans and followers who lashed out, saying Madisakwane is being disrespectful to the tradition and to…

Decision widely welcomed as an appropriate response to ‘genocidal airstrikes’ in Gaza THE South African government’s decision to recall all its diplomats from Tel Aviv, Israel, has been welcomed by human rights organisations in the country as an appropriate response to the “genocidal airstrikes” in Palestine. Minister in the Presidency, Khumbudzo Ntshavheni, yesterday expressed the government’s disappointment at the refusal of the Israeli government to respect international law and its continued undermining of the UN resolutions for the implementation of a ceasefire. She further condemned the remarks of the Israeli ambassador to South Africa, Eliav Belotsercovsky, against South Africans, including civil society, who were speaking out against the crimes being committed by the Israeli government against the Palestinians. “The genocidal airstrikes by the government of Israel on the people of…

THE National Student Financial Aid Scheme’s (NSFAS) non-payment of allowances to more than 100 000 students due to tertiary institutions failing to submit notices on time is causing untold hardships. Among those who have not been paid their allowance are students from the University of the Free State. One of the affected students is Siphelele Mkhwanazi, a third-year student from Ladysmith. “We are suffering due to lack of communication and clarity from the NSFAS. I can’t even bring myself to fully explain the pain and suffering that we have endured in the past few months. “We are hungry and are expected to be writing our exams yet we have not received our allowances,” Mkhwanazi told The Star yesterday. Mkhwanazi said he was not the only one who was struggling…

The Global Student Survey 2023 reports that 53% of South African students, the second-highest percentage of any country surveyed, struggle to make friends. It has also been discovered that students all across the world are worried, sleep poorly, and have difficulty making new acquaintances. Heather Hatlo Porter, head of Chegg.org and chief communications officer of Chegg, Inc., argues that learners require mental health assistance in order to maximise their education, and face the future with confidence. Sixty-seven percent of South African students say they do not get enough, while 60% experience daily feelings of anxiety. While South African students appear to view GenAI as a helpful learning support tool, they still see room for improvement, with 59% of all South African students surveyed calling for the involvement of human expertise…

In his letter “Israel fine with bloody vengeance”, Ian Hughes condemns Israel for exacting “terrible revenge on the people of Palestine”, and then states that “no one condones … the horrific attack by Hamas on innocent Israeli men, women and children”. Did he expect Israel to condone it? He goes on to say “they (Israel) are wreaking vengeance on unarmed people”. It takes two to tango, Ian. This is what ICC prosecutor Karim AA Kahn KC has to say on the Hamas attack: “But we have watched with horror the pictures emerging from Israel on the 7th October”. He goes on: “We cannot leave a world for our children where burnings, executions, rapes and killings can take place as if they are normal.” The Israelis, all 1 400 of them,…

EARLY this year, Mzwanele Manyi left the ATM and joined the EFF. Manyi was parachuted to Parliament. A few weeks ago, the former public protector, Busisiwe Mkhwebane, also joined the Red Berets. Mkhwebane is now an MP. What criteria did the third most-powerful party in the country use to take the duo to Parliament? A topic for another day. The EFF subscribes to socialism but what does it stand for? Expropriation of land without compensation? What about nation-building and social cohesion? I’m not sure but I hope Julius Malema’s party knows what it stands for. Last week, the nation celebrated the Springboks’ World Cup victory. During the World Cup, the Bokke were the underdogs but defended the coveted cup. Their win against the All Blacks was inspiring. And the nation…

As cases of expired, sub-standard food circulating in townships and schools pile up, and as mainly children fall sick and die, more voices have joined the chorus for tighter regulations on foreign operations in communities. Among them has been that of the Congress of Traditional Leaders of SA (Contralesa), who, after being called on to comment, at the weekend said there needed to be closer monitoring of operations run mostly by foreign shopkeepers. Contralesa president Kgosi Lameck Mokoena said there was an urgent need for both health inspectors and law enforcement to act decisively if the scourge was to end. “They must increase inspection and monitoring of the outlets, found mainly in townships, to address this worrying incident of children falling ill after consuming food items purchased from unregistered spaza…

AN EYE specialist who wanted to get out of his maintenance obligations towards his estranged wife was blocked in this move by the court, which found that an inheritance is not a reason to stop paying maintenance as ordered by a court. The ophthalmologist turned to the Eastern Cape High Court, sitting in East London, asking for an order that he may stop paying maintenance to his wife pending their divorce, as she had inherited R1.7 million from her deceased mother. His wife – a housewife – earlier obtained a judgment against him that he had to pay her R10 000 a month and that he had to contribute R50 000 towards her legal costs in their pending divorce. He also had to maintain their children. The R10 00…

The quest for immortality has long fascinated humans and inspired countless tales. But now, in two new studies published in the journals Nature and Science, University of Pretoria (UP) researchers, along with a team of global experts known as the Mammalian Methylation Consortium, are a step closer to unmasking the secret of ageing in mammals, thus raising important questions – and answers. “Uncovering DNA methylation landscapes that are associated with maximum lifespan and birth length in mammals, including humans, has implications for developing interventions to promote healthy ageing and prevent age-related diseases,” said Professor Nigel Bennett of UP. Together with a team of international scientists, Bennett, Dr Daniel Hart and Dr Darren Pietersen of the university’s Department of Zoology and Entomology in the Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences studied…

As cities grow, more people need food. However, space for farming is limited in cities. Building facades could offer a solution for growing food. Landscape architect Karen Botes speaks about her research – cultivating traditional African vegetables on walls. What are “living wall systems” and why did you study them? Living wall systems are vertical growing platforms which usually form part of a building façade. Some are continuous, others modular. Continuous systems are lightweight screens with pockets that can contain wet felted substrate layers or rock wool, for the plants to grow in, or the plants’ exposed roots are kept wet with nutrient-rich fluids. An example of a continuous system is hydroponics. Modular living wall systems are irrigated plant trays or pots containing soil and fixed onto a supporting structure…

FRANCE is in talks with Egypt to establish a military medical facility on the ground, which would include surgical capacities for people seriously wounded in the neighbouring Gaza Strip, France’s defence minister said in remarks published yesterday. Paris will host an international humanitarian conference for the civilian population in Gaza later this week as it looks to co-ordinate international efforts for the Israeli-occupied Palestinian enclave. Israeli fighter jets struck 450 Hamas targets in Gaza and troops seized a militant compound in the past 24 hours, the Israel Defence Forces said yesterday, while the Palestinian enclave’s health ministry said the air strikes killed dozens of people. “There are also still discussions with Egypt in order to preposition a French military health offering on the ground, particularly providing surgery for war injuries,”…

Lausanne: Russia’s Olympic body yesterday launched an appeal against its suspension by the International Olympic Committee at the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), the sports tribunal said. The IOC suspended the Russian Olympic Committee (ROC) on October 12 for violating the territorial integrity of the membership of Ukraine by recognising illegally annexed territories. The ROC has recognised regional organisations from four Ukrainian territories annexed since Russia’s invasion began in 2022. CAS said in its appeal to the Swiss-based court that the Russian Olympic Committee “requests that the Challenged Decision be set aside and that it be reinstated”.…

CANBERRA: Twelve Australian universities have established a new consortium to help build pathways to higher education for refugees, it was announced yesterday. Led by Canberra’s Australian National University (ANU), the Australian Refugee Welcome University Sponsorship Consortium (ARWUSC) will offer refugees in the country who were displaced by conflict the opportunity to restart their education, reports Xinhua news agency. Bronwyn Parry, a global health and social medicine researcher from ANU and co-lead of ARWUSC, said formation of the new organisation marks the start of a new chapter in Australia’s refugee history.…

Reporters Without Borders staged a protest outside the Belarus embassy in Paris yesterday in support of journalist Marina Zolotova, who is serving a long prison term for what supporters say is punishment for her work. Zolotova, chief editor of tut.by, the largest Belarusian independent online media, was sentenced in March to 12 years in prison on charges of inciting hatred and calling for actions “aimed at harming national security”. She turned 46 yesterday. Activists from the NGO, which promotes press freedom, and the journalist’s husband and two children gathered outside the Belarusian embassy in Paris, and attached postcards urging Zolotova’s release to the gates of the diplomatic mission. Reporters Without Borders (RSF) said Belarus is the “third-largest prison for journalists”, with 36 media professionals behind bars. The Minsk regime has…

How often do we witness a team go from a 190-run victory to a 243-run defeat in the space of a week? Well, in short, that is the reality that the Proteas had to endure this week in India as their journey at the World Cup continued. The Proteas were handed a humbling defeat by hosts India at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata on Sunday, just three days after decimating the 2015 and 2019 runners-up New Zealand in Pune. The defeat was a reminder of the nature of this particular South African team – a team with extreme highs and distressing lows. From smashing a record-breaking 428 to sinking to 83 all out, the Proteas have produced a mixed bag of performances in one tournament. “To be fair, (it…