Table of contents for 2024-09-26 in Star

THE WORLD Economic Forum (WEF) has pointed to a stabilising outlook as a result of slowing global consumer inflation, but warned about debt and political polarisation. According to the latest Chief Economists Outlook published yesterday, WEF said easing inflation and strong global commerce were fuelling cautious optimism for recovery, but elevated debt levels are becoming a growing concern in both advanced (53%) and developing (64%) economies. “There are reasons for cautious optimism, such as an easing of inflation and evidence of the resilience of global commerce,” the report notes. “Yet, if the economy is stabilising, it is doing so at the weakest level in decades.” The Chief Economists Outlook, published three times a year, surveys leading chief economists from across industries and international organisations. The latest edition explores key trends…

GROWTHPOINT Properties has agreed to sell its entire 69% shareholding in UK community focused shopping centre company Capital & Regional (C&R) to NewRiver real estate investment trust (Reit) for about R2.33 billion. Growthpoint’s decision was part of a broader transaction in progress – NewRiver Reit, which also invests in UK shopping centres, has offered to buy all the issued and to-be-issued C&R shares, for a total of GBP147 million, or 62.5 pence per C&R share, of which Growthpoint would receive the equivalent of GBP101.4m. C&R is listed both on the Johannesburg and London Stock Exchanges. Growthpoint CEO Norbert Sasse said the sale reflected an aim to simplify and optimise their international investments. NewRiver Reit, also listed on the LSE and which owns 33 shopping centres, 25 retail warehouses,…

THE 2023 INTEGRATED Resources Plan has not been finalised, and before it can be I would like for them to respond to the Promotion of Access to Information Act (Paia) request that I filed on behalf of Truth in Energy (Tie). The requests were submitted in January 2023 under the following references: ■ Request 8/4/3/582: Given that the Department of Minerals and Energy has not responded, I feel obligated to make this request public. What are the qualifications of the modellers? ■ Request 8/4/3/583: Will there be model transparency? Ideally, the source code should be made public for scrutiny, so we can verify what is in the black box. ■ Request 8/4/3/584: What quality plan, quality policy manual and model verification procedures were followed? ■ Request…

WHEN WE THINK about improving employee performance, we often focus on strategies like training, leadership and work processes. But a factor that is often overlooked is the role of space planning and interior design in the workplace. For small businesses especially, creating a functional and inspiring environment can have a significant impact on staff productivity, morale and even business success. Collaboration is at the heart of many successful businesses, and the design of your workspace can either encourage or inhibit it. Open-plan offices have become popular for this reason, as they break down barriers between staff, making it easier to share ideas and work together. However, while open spaces are great for fostering communication, it’s important to balance them with quiet zones or breakout areas where employees can focus on…

GEMFIELDS, which is anticipating a 21% fall in earnings per share for the half-year to June 2024, has written down its 6.54% shareholding in platinum group metals (PGM) company Sedibelo Resources, whose operations remain suspended. At the end of last year, Gemfields’ stake in Sedibelo was worth $4 million (R69m). However, this has now been completely written off. “The write-down reflects the fact that there has been no further positive news from Sedibelo, that their operations remain suspended and Gemfields management’s view that the prospects in the medium term remain dim,” Gemfields said yesterday. After this writedown, Gemfields expects its net profit after tax for the interim period under review to amount to $13.7m compared to a net profit after tax of $18.1m in the year earlier period. In…

SOUTH African fund managers have been chuffed with the Government of National Unity (GNU), with Bank of America’s latest survey showing the managers largely positive of reforms, lower interest rates going forward and a stronger rand exchange rate. Ahead of South Africa’s May 29 elections, most South African fund managers flagged uncertainty, although they were optimistic that domestic stocks would rally post the election. Now, Bank of America’s latest South Africa Fund Manager Survey shows that more than half of surveyed fund managers at 56% “see reform, a firmer rand and lower rates” forecast. About 89% of respondents to the survey were overweight on domestic stocks, with banks, apparel, retail and general industrials most preferred. “Investors are thinking of adding to domestics; then maintaining positions. No managers wants to add…

ELANI Dekker and her fiancé, Stiaan Smith, embarked on an epic travel adventure to bring their movie, Die Bloedhonde, to the small screen. The Silverton Siege actress and Smith spent three years travelling South Africa, a time they refer to as a period of self-discovery and deep reflection. After their unforgettable van life travels, Smith, known for the Saftas- winning series Hotel, wrote the film for Dekker. It centres on a murder mystery in a conservative community and is streaming on Showmax. Dekker stars as Katrien, who, during a camping trip with her family, begins to suspect that the beloved dominee (played by Tobie Cronjé) might be responsible for an apparent suicide at the resort. With a middle-aged drifter, Jasper (played by Waldemar Schultz), as the only person who believes…

The Department of Home Affairs said it has cleared a backlog of 247 500 identity documents which had started accumulating since November 2023 following a change in IT service providers. In a statement released yesterday, the department said the changeover created a bottleneck in multiple areas in the production value chain. This impacted the offices of application, application authentication, printing, and the final issuing of the ID. “The clearing of the ID backlog, which had been accumulating since November 2023, within a single month, serves as yet more tangible proof that long-standing challenges at Home Affairs can be resolved when we work in a systematic and focused manner,” said Minister Leon Schreiber. “The clearing of this specific backlog also signifies our commitment to turn Home Affairs into a powerful economic…

A report by the International Network of Civil Liberties Organizations (Inclo) has detailed that double-ball rounds (rubber bullets), often used during community and labour-related protests, can cause death and serious injury and are described as a “particularly dangerous type of kinetic impact projectile”. While they are considered to be of the “less-lethal” weapons that the SAPS possesses, Inclo’s “Lethal in Disguise 2” report on how crowd-control weapons impact health and human rights put the spotlight on three South African cases where two people were killed and one suffered serious injury due to having been shot with rubber bullets. Inclo comprises 15 independent national human rights organisations working to promote fundamental rights and freedoms, and includes South Africa’s Legal Resources Centre. In separate incidents in 2018 and 2021, a 61-year-old man…

Following the unveiling of the GS3 Emzoom earlier this month, the spotlight now shifts to the GAC Motor Emkoo, which enters the market at R599 900, playing in the upper end of the medium SUV sandpit with two models for buyers to choose from – the Executive and more luxurious Executive-Plus. Salvador Caetano is the official distributor for GAC Motor in South Africa, and managing director Leslie Ramsoomar said the Emkoo “adds that little something more to the existing range”. The front end is certainly attention-grabbing with 12 bars arranged in a ‘V’ shape, accented by titanium-tungsten alloy strips. The vehicle is equipped with matrix LED headlights that are less than 20mm thick, boasting a luminous output of 2 650 lumens – 25% brighter than previous models. At the rear,…

Orlando Pirates striker Tshegofatso Mabasa looks set to add to his six Bafana Bafana caps after being named in the 32-member preliminary squad for next month’s back-to-back Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers against Congo. For the past 12 months, Bafana Bafana coach Hugo Broos overlooked Mabasa despite his impressive form. He was the Premiership’s Golden Boot winner last season, and has already scored three times in eight matches this season. At the start of Broos’ tenure as the national team coach, Mabasa found favour with the coach, but he seemed to suffer from stage fright and fell out of favour. Mabasa’s natural goalscoring instincts made him a regular selection at Pirates during coach Josef Zinnbauer’s time, and now under Jose Riveiro. The 27-year-old is one of seven Pirates players in…

It WAS quite revealing that Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus didn’t harp too much on Manie Libbok’s penalty miss in last week’s 29-28 defeat to Argentina in Santiago del Estero. And the Bok boss didn’t have a knee-jerk reaction in his selection, either. When everybody and his dog wanted Handré Pollard to start at flyhalf for Saturday’s Rugby Championship title decider at Mbombela Stadium, Erasmus opted to hand the No 10 jersey to Libbok instead. In true Bok fan fashion, many critics on social media suddenly agreed with Erasmus to give Libbok another go. But the selection is not about the 27-year-old pivot saving his Test career this weekend – it’s about a far bigger picture than that. The world champions have made a conscious decision to expand their horizons by…

ORLANDO Pirates coach Jose Riveiro has urged his troops not to get carried away by their red-hot form, saying it’s always important to strive to get better. Pirates have had a fine start to the season. They are in the CAF Champions League group stage and the MTN8 final, and are second in the Betway Premiership. They begin their CAF group stage campaign later in the year, while they host Stellenbosch FC in the MTN8 final at Moses Mabhida Stadium on Saturday, October 5 (6pm kick-off). Their league campaign is also off to a flyer as they’ve had a perfect start, winning two games on the bounce after beating Chippa United and Polokwane City at their Orlando Stadium home. But while Pirates’ 3-0 win over Polokwane on Heritage Day gave…

RADISSON Hotel Group plans to double its portfolio in Morocco and South Africa to reach 25 hotels by 2030, said Ramsay Rankoussi, the group’s vice-president of development for Africa and Turkey. The group’s South African assets, among others, already include two Radisson Red hotels, one in Rosebank and one in Cape Town, and three Radisson Blu Hotels, at the Victoria & Alfred Waterfront, uMhlanga in KwaZulu-Natal and in Gqeberha. “Following a strong first half of the year, we are committed to maintaining this momentum in the second half, with a particular focus on expanding in key markets such as Morocco and South Africa. Our goal is to double our portfolio in these two countries, aiming to reach 25 hotels by 2030,” Rankoussi said at the release of the group’s first-half…

MSC CRUISES South Africa yesterday said it sees Tourism Month offering a good opportunity to start collaborating about how to realise this sector’s enormous potential as the economy starts to show some green shoots. The cruise line’s managing director, Ross Volk, said he did not think it was an exaggeration to say that tourism was the rocket fuel the local economy needs, but igniting it will mean a commitment to doing things differently. “Today, tourism directly contri- butes around 3.5% of South Africa’s gross domestic product (GDP), and hasn’t yet regained pre-Covid-19 levels. It employs around 733 000 people directly, also still below the pre-pandemic level of 777 686,” Volk said. He added that it was a good start, but the figures showed the sector could do more.…

Small, micro- and medium-sized enterprises (SMMEs) are doing more than their share of heavy lifting, contributing just under 40% towards South Africa’s gross domestic product. The country is home to about 2.7 million SMMEs, of which only 792 000 are formalised. Venturing into entrepreneurship is not easy, but for many it’s a last resort, given the high rate of unemployment in South Africa. Ndivhuwo Malise’s story, however, is unusual in this regard – he went from being employed as a mining surveyor to a successful entrepreneur. With an Honours degree in mining surveying, Malise’s working life took an unexpected turn when he stepped in to take over the reins of his mother’s business, Malise Vegetation Management and Environmental Projects, and ended up opening his own construction business, Vhukoni…

BUSINESS confidence in the civil and engineering sector was at an eight-year high in the third quarter, boosted by increases in profitability and contract tender price competition, and despite the impact of the construction mafia, according to an index that tracks these sentiments, The FNB/BER Civil Confidence Index for the third quarter, released yesterday, showed it had reached a level of 50 points, after slipping to 44 points in the second quarter of 2024. The latest reading means that half of the respondents were satisfied with prevailing business conditions. While sentiment among the respondents improved, the momentum in activity eased somewhat, even though activity levels were still above the long-term average. FNB senior economist Sipha- mandla Mkhwanazi said in a statement: “Respondents have been upbeat about work for…

Christina Aguilera is bringing Y2K vibes into 2024, collaborating with Sabrina Carpenter and Machine Gun Kelly (MGK) to celebrate the 25th anniversary of her self-titled debut album. The initiative is part of Spotify’s ongoing Anniversary video series and was released this week. It sees the musical megastar collaborating with the Espresso hitmaker as well as MGK reimagining renditions of some of her biggest hits. This includes songs from the 43-year-old’s self-titled debut studio album Christina Aguilera, which was released in 1999. The special video project has exclusive clips as well as the full tracklist, including What A Girl Wants with Carpenter and Genie in a Bottle with MGK. Aguilera also gave a modern twist to some of her classic hits for this tracklist including the Live Spotify Anniversaries Versions…

Friends is returning as a special game show to celebrate the show’s 30th anniversary. The iconic sitcom – which first aired in 1994 and ran for 10 seasons – is still adored by fans around the world. HBO Max recently announced plans for Fast Friends, a new competition game show filmed at New York City’s Friends Experience. In a press release for the four-part show, the team said: “From racing through Rachel and Monica’s apartment to darting across Joey and Chandler’s bachelor pad and grabbing a coffee at Central Perk, fans will relive their favourite moments while being put to the test with trivia, puzzles and games that will keep even the most die-hard Friends fans on their toes. The quickest team will be crowned the Ultimate Friends Fan. Production…

THE council-approved resolution to appoint the City of Tshwane’s third deputy municipal manager at the cost of R3 million per annum despite the metro’s financial difficulties has been cited as one of the reasons that galvanised the ANC into pushing for a move to oust Mayor Cilliers Brink. The ANC is expected to table a motion of no confidence against Brink during today’s ordinary council sitting at Tshwane House, where it is likely to be supported by the EFF and ActionSA. Proposed by former party caucus leader Frans Boshielo, the motion will be tabled on the back of a weakened multi-party coalition government due to ActionSA’s stance to break away from the coalition pact. The decision for ActionSA’s 19 councillors to walk out of the coalition meant other partners like…

After an exhilarating three-month journey through Europe and small performances in the Netherlands, Luna returns to South Africa to connect with fans in an intimate setting. Following her groundbreaking double album release in April 2024 — featuring both English and Afrikaans albums, Dis die dors and Harmony — this tour offers a unique chance to experience her music in its most raw and authentic form. Expect a heartfelt and stripped-down performance, showcasing the songs in their purest essence, whether inspired by the tranquillity of Calitzdorp's mountain tops, the serenity of Velddrif's Berg River, or moments of daily reflection. Don’t miss this opportunity to experience Luna Paige's music in a truly personal and engaging way. At the end of the show, Luna will have exclusive USBs of her albums…

As SOUTH Africa observes Cervical Cancer Awareness Month, Dr Khumbulani Moyo, head of the Voluntary Medical Male Circumcision programme at Right to Care, spotlights the importance of men to circumcise. With 16 South African women who die from cervical cancer every day, the NGO calls on men to circumcise to help prevent the second most common cancer in women in South Africa, most often caused by a sexually transmitted infection. It is explained that you can get Human Papillomavirus Infection (HPV) by having vaginal, anal or oral sex with someone who has HPV. The advantage is that male circumcision is medically proven to reduce the spread of HIV and sexually transmitted infections (STIs) like HPV by up to 60%. It is further revealed that HPV, the most common sexually transmitted…

MG MOTOR has confirmed that it is returning to South Africa, with the first dealerships set to come on-stream before the end of this year. The 100-year-old British brand is owned by Chinese Automotive Giant SAIC International, following its acquisition of Nanjung Auto in 2007. MG Motor currently produces a modern line-up of hatchbacks and crossovers. Most are manufactured in China, although the carmaker has also built cars in Thailand since 2017. The South African MG vehicle line-up has yet to be confirmed, but it’s likely that the importer will offer a range of crossover products locally and perhaps also the MG3 hatchback. The Polo-rivalling hatch is completely new from the ground up, and is available in overseas markets with a normally aspirated 1.5-litre petrol engine, good for 81kW, and…

Matheus Nunes scored his first Manchester City goal in his 34th appearance as the hosts eased to a 2-1 victory over second-tier Watford to reach the fourth round of the League Cup on Tuesday night. Jeremy Doku slotted in City’s opener after five minutes and Nunes produced a clinical finish in the 38th minute to put Pep Guardiola’s side in control at the Etihad. Watford have suffered some horrible Premier League maulings against City in recent seasons, but they refused to capitulate, and Tom Ince gave them an 86th-minute lifeline with a curler. Eight-time winners City avoided being dragged in to a penalty shoot-out, though, despite some late Watford pressure. City were back in action little more than 48 hours after their seismic clash with Arsenal in the Premier League,…

THE Proteas Women now have three batters in the top 15 of the ICC T20I batting rankings, with top-order batter Anneke Bosch recently joining openers Laura Wolvaardt (fifth) and Tazmin Brits (ninth) in the crème de la crème of the women’s game. Bosch broke into the top 15 following top performances in the green and gold, including a 37-ball 46 during the third match against Pakistan Women in Multan last week. In an exclusive interview with Independent Newspapers, the 31-year-old emphasised that she takes confidence in breaking into the top 15, despite not being the type of player who pays too much attention to the rankings and statistics. Bosch said the fact that she has joined Wolvaardt and Brits in the top group reflects the form that the batting unit…

Overall confidence, reduced political risk will strengthen the rand further SOUTH Africa’s currency and the markets are setting new highs as global markets move to riskier assets in response to the US Federal Reserve (Fed)’s rate cuts, China seeking to stimulate its moribund economy, local sentiment gains, and the South African Reserve Bank’s (SARB) recent 25 basis points cut in the interest rate. The JSE all share index rose more than 1.4% to an intraday record of 86 145 points, marking its fourth consecutive day of gains, before closing at 85 943 points by 5pm. Resource-linked stocks and industrials were among the top performers, led by Kumba Iron Ore, Anglo American, and South32, bolstered by China’s wide-ranging stimulus measures, along with tech giants Naspers and Prosus. The…

THIS YEAR, THE UN World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) declared that the theme for World Tourism Day, celebrated annually on September 27, would be Tourism and Peace. The declaration could not have been more appropriate, because we continue to witness nations ravaged by devastating war and conflict in developed and developing worlds alike. Of interest to me is the link between war, climate change and tourism. Climates are changing everywhere, but it is people living in fragile zones who bear the effects inflicted by climate change and conflict, causing massive suffering and intensifying inequality. Globally, we witness people living through conflict frequently and the massive environmental changes they are experiencing, with their daily lives made more difficult by the violence and changing climate and environment. Too often, the natural environment is…

SOUTH Africa’s average nominal take-home pay among an estimated four million salary earners in the country improved for the fifth consecutive month in August, according to the BankservAfrica Take-home Pay Index (BTPI). Shergeran Naidoo, BankservAfrica’s head of stakeholder engagements, said yesterday that the average nominal take-home pay reached R16 582, showing a 6.7% increase compared to a year ago. “In real terms, take-home pay also tracked higher at R14 520 in August 2024 or 1.9% up on a year ago levels,” Naidoo said. According to the index, take-home pay has so far this year surprised to the upside, reflecting an improvement in South Africa’s economic fundamentals. It said that not only has load shedding been suspended for almost six months, but a notable moderation in inflation, a new…

ENTREPRENEURSHIP is a powerful force for economic development, particularly in underrepresented communities where innovation and resilience thrive despite limited resources. As the world embraces the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR), the need for township-based entrepreneurs to adapt and harness digital tools becomes even more essential. The 4IR brings transformative technologies that can increase reach, improve access to markets, and create sustainable growth opportunities for small and medium enterprises (SMMEs). In South Africa, township economies play a pivotal role in local development. The rise of digital platforms and e-commerce is opening new pathways for these businesses, allowing them to expand their customer base and boost economic activity. This journey into the digital age is not just about survival, it’s about thriving in a world where technology reshapes how we work, connect, and…

SOUTH Africa- and Tanzania-focused diamond producer Petra Diamonds is targeting free cash flow generation starting next year, despite difficult market conditions currently dogging the industry after the company accrued $44 million (R761.5m) yearly cost reductions. Petra Diamonds owns the Williamson mine in Tanzania and operates two diamond mines in South Africa. It has transitioned the Finsch mine in SA from a 2.8 million tons per year operation to a 2.2 million tons per year, with greater emphasis on planning and maintenance, said Richard Duffy, CEO of Petra Diamonds. “With a smoothed capital profile and $44m reduction in annual operating costs going forward ($30m at our SA operations and $14m at Williamson), we are targeting free cash flow generation from FY 2025. “We acknowledge the difficult market conditions…

Sean “Diddy” Combs is facing new sexual assault allegations. The 54-year-old rap star – who is currently awaiting trial on federal sex crime charges – and his former bodyguard, Joseph Sherman, have been accused of raping Thalia Graves at the Bad Boy Records studio in New York City in 2001. During a press conference about the new lawsuit on Tuesday, Graves explained that the alleged assault left her feeling “worthless and isolated”. Graves claimed that she has suffered PTSD, flashbacks, nightmares and thoughts of suicide over the last 23 years. She added: “It’s a pain that reaches into your very core." Combs is currently in jail in New York awaiting trial and Graves observed that his situation has provided a “temporary feeling of relief”. She said: “I’m glad Diddy is…

Longwe Twala, the son of award-winning record producer and musician Chicco Twala, was yesterday released by the Randburg Magistrate’s Court with a strict warning following his recent arrest. Longwe’s arrest was orchestrated by his father, who earlier this month laid a theft complaint against him and his younger brother Sello. This came after the pair had allegedly broken into his house and stolen recording equipment valued at over R200 000 while their father was away overseas on business. The Star previously reported that charges against Sello were dropped due to a lack of evidence. Just under two weeks ago, the Randburg Magistrate’s Court postponed the case to September 25 in order to allow his legal representative to prepare. However, this time round Magistrate Abdul Khan said the accused had already…

WATER and Sanitation Deputy Minister David Mahlobo has broken the government silence on the recent racial tensions at Hartbeespoort, North West, labelling the incidents as criminal acts that must be dealt with decisively. Mahlobo emphasised that the government would not tolerate arson and vandalism, which have resulted in damage to property because of a racial spat in the area. The Star previously reported that a raging racial war has intensified within the community of Schoemansville in Hartbeespoort where Afrikaans-speaking people were accused of attempting to drive out black people who were setting up businesses there. Two black-owned properties have been set on fire recently with the latest having been burned to the ground last month. Mahlobo acknowledged the historical context of the dam, built over 100 years ago during apartheid,…

Umalusi has named the unlawful sale of fraudulent certificates, online education and budgetary constraints as among the challenges besetting the work of the quality council for general and further education. In the 2023/24 annual report tabled in Parliament recently, Umalusi CEO Mafu Rakometsi said the council recorded an increase of over 12% in the number of verifications made during the reporting period. “The number of verifications undertaken in 2023/24 totalled 335 365. Umalusi completed 36 103 more verifications than in 2022/23.” Verifications had increased every year over the past four years, he said. Rakometsi decried the sale of fraudulent certificates, saying it posed a threat to the credibility of qualifications. He didn’t reveal how many fraudulent certificates were detected. “Such fraudulent certificates do not have currency because they are not…

As South Africa celebrates Heritage Month, Pretoria-based designer Glorinah Khutso Mabaso is weaving the stories of Africa’s rich history into the fabric of contemporary design. As the entrepreneur behind local business Renaissance Design, Mabaso is on a mission to celebrate and preserve the continent’s cultural legacy. From her roots in Mamelodi to the global stage, she combines ancient African narratives with modern aesthetics, creating pieces that honour the past while embracing the future. Her journey is a testament to the power of design as a form of storytelling and cultural preservation. Mabaso’s journey into design has been profoundly shaped by her local roots and a broader cultural awareness. Growing up in Mamelodi and attending Loreto Queenswood during South Africa’s transition to democracy, Mabaso was exposed to various ethnicities and cultures…

Although it’s not quite pushing Polo numbers, the Hyundai i20 remains a popular player in the compact hatch zone, with monthly sales regularly in the region of 500 units. It is one of the few hatchbacks to have stood its ground in the B-segment hatch space, where others like the Kia Rio and Ford Fiesta have exited the stage amid the surging popularity of SUV and crossover models. The Hyundai i20 was recently handed a refresh for 2024, and after spending a week with the range-topping N Line version recently, we were surprised by how entertaining it felt to drive. Of course, Hyundai offers a full line-up of i20 models, with a normally aspirated 1.2 manual and 1.4 auto making up the bulk of the range, and there’s very good…

The Hyundai Exter has arrived in South Africa, offering a new entry-level crossover SUV option to customers of the Korean brand. The Indian-built newcomer shares its 3 815mm length and 2 450mm wheelbase with the Hyundai Grand i10, but has a boxy new body shell that makes it slightly taller and wider than its hatchback sibling. Ground clearance is listed at 185mm, which gives you a 25mm advantage over the Grand i10 if you ever find yourself on a really dodgy dirt road. Pricing starts at R269 900 for the 1.2 Premium manual model, with the AMT auto version coming in at R294 900, while the 1.2 Executive costs R289 900 in manual guise and R314 900 as an auto. Topping the pile is the 1.2 Elite AMT at R334…

THE realist in Manqoba Mngqithi would not allow the Mamelodi Sundowns coach to look at his team’s recent scoring spree as a sign of what is to come on their trip to the FNB Stadium this weekend. Having overseen an impressive 12-goal return from the last four matches in which they were breached just once, Mngqithi could well be champing at the bit in anticipation of Saturday’s visit to Kaizer Chiefs (3pm kick-off). Of course, he would love nothing more than for the Brazilians to put four past Amakhosi – just as they did to Mbabane Swallows on two occasions, as well as Marumo Gallants. But you can bet the man who also responds to the call of Brilliant would also accept a 2-0 win similar to the one Sundowns…

There’s nothing better for a prop than to see a scrum marching forward. And while Laurian Johannes-Haupt hung up her playing boots years ago, her whistle is now prominent as an assistant coach for the Springbok Women’s team, where her focus is on the forwards. So, the former Western Province stalwart couldn’t hide her smile when asked about the Boks’ powerful scrums that set up last week’s 36-19 victory over Spain at the Cape Town Stadium. The front row of Sanelisiwe Charlie, Lindelwa Gwala and Azisa Mkiva drilled their Spanish counterparts, and that allowed the likes of star No 8 Aseza Hele and dynamic lock Vainah Ubisi to play on the front foot. Hele showcased the benefits of that dominance by barging over for an excellent early try off the…

HAVING had a week to lick their wounds after a last-gasp defeat by the Sharks XV in the Currie Cup final, the Lions are ready to dust themselves off and carry the positive momentum through to the United Rugby Championship (URC) this weekend. The Joburgers may have lost the final 16-14 to the Durban side at Ellis Park, but they will surely take many positives from their run in the pool stage with eight wins, a draw and a loss, which also came against the Sharks in July. And so, the Lions are allowed to talk big about getting off to a winning start in the URC when they welcome Ulster to Ellis Park on Saturday (12.55pm kick-off). “Everybody is just excited to get the campaign up and running, and…