Innehållsförteckning för 2023-10-20 från Star

DISCOVERY founder and CEO Adrian Gore’s remuneration fell to R27.91 million in the 2023 financial year from R28.3m a year before, even though the group performed well, because he mostly only partially met his individual performance targets. The group’s normalised headline earnings per share were up a healthy 32% to R7.68bn in the year to June 30. Gore’s base salary increased by 7% to R7.99m from R7.61m in 2022, but the main difference between the remuneration was a decline to R9.15m in the performance-based cash bonus from R9.6m in 2022, and to R9.15m in the long term incentive plan from R9.6m the year before. The group remuneration report provided further details of Gore’s individual performance, with the overall comment being that he only partially met his individual targets during…

ATTACQ, the major development partner in Waterfall City, is poised for further growth, despite both local and international headwinds. Attacq chairperson Pierre Tredoux said in the property firm’s annual report, released this week, amid global and distinct local challenges, Attacq’s portfolio was strategically positioned to leverage opportunities as the Waterfall City precinct further established itself as South Africa’s economic hub. “Guided by our strategic priorities, ongoing innovation, and astute capital allocation, Attacq has the resilience and agility to navigate change and, indeed, to flourish within it,” he said. This as the global economy remains in constant flux, influenced by geopolitical tensions, supply chain disruptions, high inflation and rising interest rates, resulting in increased living costs and complexities for businesses, consequently impacting consumer purchasing power worldwide. “In South Africa, the…

SOUTH Africa’s constitution promises justice for all, but as we know, in practice, pursuing justice through the courts is a course of action open only to the rich and powerful. Unless a civic organisation can provide support in a dispute against a big financial firm, for example, which may employ an army of well-paid lawyers, the litigation route is rarely an option for a citizen of moderate means. But there are other routes you can take. Alternative dispute resolution (ADR) is a term that encompasses the various alternative procedures that have standing within our legal system. These include access to ombudsmen, particularly in disputes involving financial services, and the mechanisms of conciliation, mediation and arbitration, particularly for workplace disputes. In financial services, there are statutory and industry ombuds with whom…

AS THE FESTIVE season approaches, consumers in South Africa could get some much-needed relief in the coming month in the form of fuel price decreases. This comes as early data released by the Central Energy Fund (CEF) showed that fuel price decreases are looking likely for November, particularly in the case of petrol. The Automobile Association (AA) said that South Africans can breathe a sigh of relief as fuel prices are set to decrease in November, based on unaudited mid-month data from the CEF. The current data is indicating that ULP95 is set to decrease by around R1.97/litre and R1.92/l for ULP93. Diesel, which has been on an upward trajectory for the past couple of months, is set for a decrease of around 78c/litre. The unaudited data is also pointing…

SOUTH Africa needed to regulate swiftly to spur demand for electric vehicles (EVs), the co-CEO of the local unit of Mercedes-Benz said this week as the country’s automotive industry risks being irrelevant to the global market. For South Africa as a whole, three quarters of its vehicle production is exported. The luxury carmaker Mercedes-Benz exports 90% of its South African output, primarily to Europe, which plans to ban sales of new petrol and diesel cars from 2035. At the same time, South Africa’s policy paper on EVs is two years behind schedule. The government has said it would be published this year. “The train (EV shift) is a global one, and it’s leaving the station. If South Africa doesn’t jump onto the train, it runs the risk of being left…

Disaster inquest reveals causes of the deadly collapse The Mbombela Magistrate’s Court in Mpumalanga said illegal mining was the primary cause of the collapse of the part of Lily Mine which left three miners dead. The court yesterday delivered judgment in the inquest into the collapse that occurred at Lily Mine in Barberton in 2016. The court found that the Department of Mineral Resources and Energy (DMR) and the police failed to deal with illegal mining in the area. In addition, it found that Lily Mine management failed to ensure the safety of employees Pretty Nkambule, Yvonne Mnisi and Solomon Nyirenda. Seven years later, their bodies have not been retrieved despite promises by the mine management. An inquest into their deaths was started in 2021. Furthermore, the court found that…

The Department of Employment and Labour says it is waiting for President Cyril Ramaphosa to communicate the reported resignation of labour director-general Thobile Lamati, who tendered his resignation on Wednesday. Speculation in the media has been rife with regard to the real reasons behind Lamati’s sudden exit, with reports suggesting it was due to the heat from the R5 billion Unemployment Insurancd Fund (UIF) scandal. Two weeks ago, The Star reported that the department had commissioned an investigation linking some of the officials of the department as well as lawyers involved in the scandal. Lamati has been accused of having backed a controversial project to channel billions from the UIF into a private investment company. According to News24, Lamati conveyed the news of his departure to his top…

YOU cannot uphold and promote moral principles and values as a journalist, writer or an ordinary person when you live, work and want to survive in an unjust and immoral society. This is according to veteran journalist Sandile Memela, who delivered the 13th annual Percy Qoboza Memorial Lecture hosted by the National Press Club in collaboration with Unisa at the institution yesterday. This year’s theme is “Ethical Journalism v Survival of Journalism”, which highlighted the plight of journalists having to make decisions on morality in their work to survive. The memorial lecture marked the 46th anniversary of Black Wednesday – a commemoration of October 19, 1977, when the apartheid regime banned black consciousness movements, newspapers like The World and Weekend World. The event ws also held to honour Qoboza,…

THE Sex Expo is bringing tasteful titillation back to Midrand between October 26 and 29 at Gallagher Convention Centre. Adult-themed expos have a wide appeal and generate massive public interest. Early-bird specials Get “half-off Thursday” on general access tickets when you join the club plus the first 100 lucky ladies walking into the Sex Expo each day will receive a free sexy gift. With more than 50 exhibitors showcasing all that “Sex” has to offer, this year we have a much wider variety of products on offer. Adult retail shopping: adult sex toys, adult novelties, personal lubricants, aphrodisiac, lingerie, games, stimulants, libido boosters and enhancers, male/female underwear, sexy fashion. Sexual health and wellness: demonstrations and information; herbal supplements, condoms, intimate wellness, self-love toys, care products, sexual reproductive health & rights…

South Africa and England will meet in Mumbai tomorrow (10.30am start) in a World Cup heavyweight bout – the kind that Don King would be promoting from the Taj Hotel rooftop. But both contestants enter the ring having had not just their noses bloodied from wildcard challengers but actually having been knocked to the canvas. Fortunately for both of them, due to the format of this World Cup, they are able to lift themselves and hold up their gloves for another nine-count.In the case of England, however, another knock-down from the Proteas tomorrow and it might see them surrender their championship belt altogether. Equally, South Africa do not want to suffer another blow as they might just not have the stamina to actually get up again. These are the high…

THE inaugural Carling Knockout might not only be a shot at redemption for a beleaguered Kaizer Chiefs, but for some of their struggling players as well. Currently on an eight-year trophy drought, Chiefs are under all sorts of pressure to change their fortunes this season and win silverware. But that hasn’t gone according to plan. Amakhosi have been stuttering in the Premiership, while they also missed out on the MTN8. Not all is lost, though. The league is a marathon, and teams will bank on Mamelodi Sundowns to slip up, while there are still two more domestic trophies to fight for. And these include the Carling Knockout, which will see Chiefs face AmaZulu in the last 16 at FNB Stadium tomorrow. A win for Chiefs will take them a step…

BANYANA Banyana coach Desiree Ellis named a strong 25-member squad yesterday for their Caf Women’s Olympic qualifiers this month to prepare for any eventualities. Banyana will begin their quest to qualify for the Paris Games away to the Democratic Republic of the Congo next Wednesday (4.30pm kickoff). The return leg is on 30 October at Orlando Stadium. On the back of a historic World Cup campaign after qualifying for the last 16, and winning the 2022 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations, Banyana will be the team to beat in the qualifiers. Ellis, though, is leaving no stone unturned. At the ongoing National Championship playoffs in Bloemfontein yesterday, she named a 25-player squad instead of the usual 23. Sure, all the players have applied for visas, but that doesn’t mean they…

GLOBAL oil prices have eased from a two-week high yesterday as the US dollar firmed and supply from Venezuela came back on stream, ignoring the lingering tensions in Israel and Gaza. The price of Brent crude fell to below $91 (R1 717) per barrel yesterday, giving back some gains from Wednesday in a likely technical correction, while investors continued to assess the supply outlook. Oil prices rallied to two-week highs on Wednesday as an escalating turmoil in the Middle East stoked fears about disruptions to global supplies, and as the US reported a larger-than-expected inventory draw. However, the market retreated slightly yesterday as Opec+ showed no signs of supporting Iran’s call for an oil embargo on Israel. The US also issued a six-month licence authorising transactions in Venezuela’s oil…

TOTAL returns delivered by listed Real Estate Investment Funds (Reits) have mostly disappointed so far in 2023, but Liberty Two Degrees (L2D), Fortress, Heriot and Attacq produced double digit returns. This was according to the latest Rode’s Report on the property market for the third quarter. It said L2D’s total return was boosted by strong share price and distribution growth – its distribution or dividend grew 7.4% in the half-year to June 30 compared with a year before. The distribution payout ratio also remained 100%, in contrast to many other REITs. “That said, L2D’s distribution was still 36% lower than in the half-year ended June 2019, before the Covid pandemic. Its retail portfolio (61% of lettable area) in South Africa shone with a low vacancy rate of 2.9%, below the…

EARNINGS in investment holding company, Vunani Capital Partners (VCP), have fallen on the back of logistical and financial hurdles in its coal portfolio, prompting the company to skip a dividend for the interim period to the end of August. VCP is an investment holding company comprising of a portfolio of private equity assets un- bundled out of Vunani Limited, which is JSE-listed, on February 12, 2021. Listed on the Equity Express Securities Exchange, an alternative South African exchange, VCP has been buffeted by the woes of rising costs and depressed metal prices that have seen the price of coal perform poorly in the period under review compared to the previous contrasting half year. “Investors will be disappointed to hear that the triple whammy of a col- lapse in coal…

THE GOVERNMENT remains in the dark on the reasons why a number of executives and board members have quit their posts in key State-owned Enterprises (SOEs), in spite of the potential negative impact this might have on investors. Minister in The Presidency Khumbudzo Ntshavheni yesterday said that Cabinet had thus far not discussed the exodus of executives and board members. This comes after the resignations of Transnet Group CEO Portia Derby and chief financial officer Nonkululeko Dlamini at the end of September, which was followed by Sizakele Mzimela, the head of Transnet Freight Rail, a week later. Transnet also lost its former chairperson, Popo Molefe, who resigned from the board last week, while Mpho Makwana also quit as Eskom chairperson. The two SOEs at the forefront of electricity and logistics…

ESKOM is confident it will meet its deadline of November next year to recode more than 6.8 million of its electricity meters to establishments as the current prepaid meter software expires. General Manager for Operations enablement Velaphi Ntuli told a media briefing yesterday that any meter that had not been coded by the deadline would not upload prepaid tokens, which would leave customers without electricity supply. Making matters more complicated, Eskom and municipalities lose about R25 billion in revenue every year due to electricity metre tampering. Eskom’s technicians have also been attacked in parts of Soweto as they try to install split metres in communities suspected of connecting to the grid illegally. The announcement yesterday follows on a programme Eskom started last year to recode and rollout the…

The city of Johannesburg is buzzing with events as we get closer to the festive season. And no, not all events are about partying – some are educational and contribute towards community building. If you would like to give back to the community, you can participate in the Hamba Bamba Funda Padel Charity Event in Support of Early Childhood Development. The non-profit organisation, dedicated to early childhood development from conception to age 2, is hosting this on Sunday. It will feature padel tournaments where guests can engage in friendly matches and interactive workshops to learn about the significance of early childhood development and explore practical tips for caregivers with founding director Monja Boonzaier. “At Hamba Bamba Funda, we believe the first 1 000 days of a child’s life are pivotal.…

Community-based organisation and recently launched political party, Operation Dudula, says it has a plan to empower landlords and locals to take over the spaza shop economy and to remove illegal immigrants who have dominated the space for a decade. The movement has in the past two weeks intensified its operation to close foreign-owned spaza shops in Soweto following the deaths of children who allegedly ate snacks bought from local spaza shops. This week, it was reported that two more children, aged 3 and 4, died after allegedly eating snacks bought from a spaza shop in Vredefort in the Free State. According to Captain Loraine Earle, police launched an investigation after the two children were certified dead at the Multi-Purpose Centre in Mokwallo, in Vredefort, on Sunday. Simphiwe Shabangu, Operation Dudula’s…

The Department of Basic Education (DBE)​​ has told the portfolio committee on basic education they plan on revisiting the quintile system for schools. This after issues with the National School Nutrition Programme (NSNP) and quintiles arose in the DBE’s briefing to the committee on Wednesday. Public schools are divided into five quintile rankings – schools in quintile one to three are “no fee-paying” schools, quintile’s four to five are fee-paying. The NSNP works hand in hand by providing meals, reaching quintile 1-3 schools. Portfolio committee chairperson, Bongiwe Pricilla Mbinqo-Gigaba, said: “What progress is made for reviewing the quintile system? I’m asking this question as some schools during the oversight visit indicated that they were incorrectly quintiled.” DBE Deputy Minister Dr Makgabo Reginah Mhaule said they were going to revisit the…

The Veil of Maya Chantal Stewart Minimal Press Being recognised for a literary prize is no mean feat for an author. Doubly so when it is a debut novel. Chantal Stewart should be rightly proud of her achievement with The Veil of Maya. As joint winner of the Humanities and Social Sciences Award Best Fiction Novel 2023, she shares a platform with established writers Sue Nyathi and Veronique Tadjo. High praise indeed. And the novel does not disappoint – it is a testament to Stewart’s commitment to her medical training (she is a practising gynaecologist) and her obvious fascination with astronomy. Marrying the sciences of medicine and the skies with the mystical and spiritual, this is a compelling story. At its heart is a love story between geneticist Dr Lena…

Bernard Arnault, the founder and chief executive officer of LMVH – the company that owns luxury brands such as Louis Vuitton, Dior and Tiffany – dropped to third place on the world billionaire list, according to Bloomberg. With an estimated net worth of $155 billion, Arnault fell behind tech billionaire and Amazon boss Jeff Bezos, who has an estimated net worth of $156bn. South African-born Elon Musk tops the list, with a fortune worth around $243bn. The fashion-focused Frenchman is the only European on the list dominated by Americans in the tech business. He is also the only billionaire on the list that is centred around the consumer industry. The luxury brand boss’s fortune shrank by around $7bn recently, in what could be owed to shortfalls in its expected…

The countdown to the Bassline Summer has begun, announcing multi-talented, award-winning South African, London-based singer, songwriter, novelist, and actor Nakhane as a headliner at The Lyric Theatre, Gold Reef City, on November 24. This year’s event is expected to be more intriguing than the last one, which featured a star-studded roster of music icons. Nakhane, who has been part of Bassline Live for eight years, will be returning home for a highly anticipated performance. Paige Holmes, of Bassline Summer, speaking about the highly anticipated performance, said: “This one night only special occasion to see Nakhane live onstage, in the beautiful setting of The Lyric Theatre, with its state-of-the-art sound, stage, lighting and Imperial Theatre feel, will be likened to witnessing Nakhane in a theatre such as the Apollo Theatre in…

FOR each other, for the jersey, and for the people back home. This will be the main motivation and drive for the Springboks when they run onto the Stade de France pitch tomorrow for the World Cup semi-final against England (9pm kickoff), according to captain Siya Kolisi. It’s a repeat of the final of the 2019 World Cup in Japan when South Africa, coming in as underdogs, toppled the English 32-12 in Yokohama to claim their third Webb Ellis Cup. Now, the Boks have to win tomorrow to make it into a second consecutive final, where one of the All Blacks or Argentina will wait. The two teams play the first semi today in Paris for a final berth. The good news is that the Boks have never lost to…

The Bulls have put in the hard yards and now it’s showtime. That was the gist of the message from co-captain Marcell Coetzee ahead of Sunday’s United Rugby Championship (URC) clash against the Scarlets at Loftus Versfeld (kick-off 3pm). The Pretoria side will have a new look to their team following Director of Rugby Jake White’s recruitment drive in the off-season, while there are several new members in the management group as well. Some of the bigger names on the pitch will include Springboks such as hooker Akker van der Merwe and prop Wilco Louw, as well as fullback Willie le Roux. Former Bok assistant coach Gary Gold and lock Andries Bekker are now part of the coaching team as well. Coetzee said that he was familiar with Scarlets head…

It really would be a pity were Bernard Parker’s playing career to end because of that horror tackle from Bongani Zungu on Wednesday night. TS Galaxy chairman Tim Sukazi confirmed to Independent Media yesterday that Parker has suffered a break of “both his tibia and fibula bones and is going into surgery as we speak”. The injury happened during Galaxy’s Carling Knockout Cup clash with Mamelodi Sundowns, which Galaxy won 5-4 on penalties after the two sides were tied 2-2 after 90 minutes and failed to score in extra-time.Sukazi could not hide his hurt at what happened to his player. “We could not really celebrate that victory because of what happened to Bernard. It was a bittersweet night for us,” the Galaxy boss said. “My view is that tackles like…

The country was the source of five of the 10 largest deals by value seen in sub-Saharan Africa SOUTH Africa has emerged as the top hot spot for deal-making on the continent, as investors prefer its sophisticated financial and renewable energy sector, with Nigeria a distant second, fresh findings by accountancy and advisory firm, KPMG, under its inaugural Doing Deals in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) Report show. According to the International Monetary Fund this month, South Africa will overtake Egypt and Nigeria to become Africa’s largest economy next year when it is expected to raise gross domestic product to $401 billion (R7.56 trillion), just ahead of the other two top regional economies. New data from KPMG has also revealed South Africa as the top preferred destination for investment and…

MONDI, theUK-based global packaging and paper producer, saw its share price slide 6.8% to close at R290 on the JSE yesterday, after it said challenging market conditions persisted in the three months to September 30, and selling prices had fallen. “Market demand has remained soft with lower average selling prices largely mitigated by lower input costs and tight fixed cost control,” its directors said in the trading statement. The firm reported a 42% plunge in underlying earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation (Ebitda) to €261 million (R5.2 billion) for the third quarter that ended September 30, from €450m in the same quarter last year. Compared to the second quarter to June 30, underlying Ebitda dropped 21% from €329m. “Demand has remained subdued in the third quarter with…

Higher interest rates continue to squeeze the finances of most households, and this could dampen Black Friday and Christmas spending, according to Altron FinTech Household Resilience Index (AFHRI). According to the report, 11 of the 20 constituent indicators of the AFHRI have declined year-on-year, and nine have declined since the last comparable quarter before the pandemic. According to Altron FinTech MD Johan Gellatly, these results don’t bode well for consumers to spend excessively in the run-up to Black Friday, one of the key events in the annual retail calendar, even though November is typically marked by retailers offering massive discounts. “Christmas may also be bleak for retailers across the board, with households now very clearly under severe strain, especially those in the lower income brackets. According to economist Dr Roelof…

AMAZON.COM Inc says it’s testing two new technologies to increase automation in its warehouses, including a trial of a humanoid robot. The humanoid robot, Digit, was bipedal and could squat, bend and grasp items using clasps that imitated hands, the company said in a blog post on Wednesday. It was built by Agility Robotics Inc and would initially be used to help employees consolidate totes that had been emptied of items. Amazon invested in Agility Robotics last year. The retailer, which was the second-largest US employer behind Walmart Inc, had deployed robots in its warehouses for more than a decade, mainly to move inventory to waiting employees. The system, which started with humans stuffing inventory items into mesh shelving, was undergoing a transformation to container-based storage, which more easily allowed…

The 24th Poetry Africa Festival wrapped up on a high note this week after 17 days of activities. Working it’s way through Durban, Joburg, Bloemfontein and Cape Town, and via an online programme, the festival showcased breathtaking performances from artists, workshops, master classes, panel discussions and book launches. In this year’s Slam Jam competition, spoken word artist, writer, thespian and poet Lethu Nkwanyana was crowned the champion. “When my name was announced as the winner, I stood frozen on the stage, whispering a brief prayer. “I couldn’t believe that I had finally achieved one of my greatest goals. This moment holds immense significance for me – to carry the title of the best poet in the country,” said Nkwanyana. “Poetry, with its power to evoke emotions and provoke reflection, stands…

Africa’s leading women in technology are set to converge for the eighth instalment of the Women in Tech (WIT) experience, hosted by women’s technology advocate, Innovator Trust. The event dedicated to celebrating and empowering female ICT small business entrepreneurs is set to take place at the Vodacom World venue in Midrand on November 16. This year’s event seeks to once again play host to some of the most-acclaimed and influential female figures in South Africa. Prominent figures who have previously appeared on the WIT stage include former public protector Professor Thuli Madonsela, Nelson Mandela Bay University chancellor Geraldine Fraser-Moleketi, former UN Women executive director Dr Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka and vibrant businesswoman Basetsana Kumalo. This year the gathering calls on women in tech to unite and join the SHEvolution movement, envisioning a…

The massacre of hundreds at Al-Ahli Baptist Hospital in the centre of Gaza, caused by Israeli air strikes, is the latest carnage resulting from Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s public declaration to reduce Gaza to rubble. Public opinion has sharpened against America for allowing Israel to commit horrendous war crimes without accountability. Every word of encouragement to Netanyahu by US president Joe Biden has been interpreted as licence to kill Palestinians. In addition to the al-Ahli Hospital massacre, horrific devastation, unleashed in besieged Gaza by the illegal regime’s army of terrorists, has turned into a nasty display of genocide in full view of a shocked world. Protests in Western capitals and across the world, stretching from southern Africa to Asia and beyond, have brought to the surface a deep sense…

A Johannesburg businessman has been ordered to pay his estranged wife over R100 000 in spousal maintenance until their divorce is finalised. The ruling was made by the Gauteng High Court, Johannesburg, after the wife filed a Rule 43 application in which she sought interim maintenance for herself and her three children pending the finalisation of their divorce. The couple has been embroiled in a bitter divorce since separating in 2020. In her court papers, the wife accused the husband of sending bodyguards to her house with semi-automatic weapons, which resulted in severe trauma for her and the children. After the incident, she took an overdose of pills and was hospitalised for a few days. She said this too had been dramatic for her and had a negative effect on…

Have you ever wondered how psychology came into being and how it has evolved since? Psychology is derived from two Greek words: “psyche”, which means “spirit or soul” and “logos”, which means “study or research”, which, when combined, is the “study of the mind”. Modern psychology covers the science of behaviour, brain functions and mental processes. Since the 17th century, philosophers have attempted to understand the connection between body and mind in the field of psychology. However, in the 21st century, we see a trend in psychology being applied to everyday life which helps us better understand ourselves and others, improve communication and refine our critical thinking abilities. Over the past million years of evolution, our brain has grown significantly in size and complexity. This has led to exceptional cognitive…

Orlando Pirates coach Jose Riveiro has revealed that he is preparing to unleash his strongest possible side in the Round of 16 of the inaugural Carling Knockout Cup tonight at the Orlando Stadium (kick-off 7.30pm) against Cape Town Spurs. The Buccaneers head into this contest as overwhelming favourites, given their recent success in cup competitions, form and squad quality. For Spurs, a visit to one of the most feared stadiums in the country against a side still riding high on their MTN8 triumph is not what they would’ve picked if they had a choice, making this trip a daunting one. The ‘head honcho’ at the Buccaneers has garnered a reputation for calculated squad rotation in his first 15 months at the club, a tactic that has seen him capture three…

leighton.koopman@inl.co.za THE Springbok brains trust had a lot of discussions about their best team for the World Cup semi-final against England tomorrow, and ultimately rewarded every player for their contributions in the last-eight encounter against France by making no changes for the crucial match. It’s naturally a risk playing the same side two weekends in a row, especially if the recovery time between was not long enough after a bruising encounter against the hosts in Paris. But, on the other hand, selection continuity gives a team and the players confidence that the coaching staff have faith in their ability to carry the squad (and South Africa) for another match. And it can be the difference between a place in the final or a third-place playoff. According to Bok coach Jacques…

The Premier Soccer League’s tit-for-tat strategy produced a spectacular net result as tournament favourites Mamelodi Sundowns ended up Carling Knockout Cup first-round casualties. A seriously depleted Sundowns side lost 5-4 on penalties to TS Galaxy in a thriller at the Mbombela Stadium on Wednesday evening. After extra-time, the teams were level-pegging at 2-2. After the match, a highly vexed Sundowns coach Rulani Mokwena declared: “Who cares that you play the day after – and you tell me of any club in the world, any club, that play a day after the Fifa break (ends). “Who cares that you have the Footballer of the Season not here; that you have the Goalkeeper of the Year not here; who cares that you don’t have the Defender of the Year ... who cares?…

South African football has just experienced a chalk-and-cheese moment after the international friendlies against Eswatini and Ivory Coast. Last Friday, Bafana Bafana produced one of their poorest performances in history against lowly Eswatini. The match ended in an insipid goalless stalemate in front of a minuscule crowd. This Tuesday, Bafana produced one of best displays in recent times in a 1-1 draw against a star-studded Ivory Coast side, who scrambled a late equaliser on their Abidjan home turf in front of 21 000 wildly cheering partisan fans. After the Eswatini match, SA coach Hugo Broos was a baffled man. He said the performance was so dismal he was filled with “frustration, anger and unbelief” during the match. His post-match comments were vastly different after the Ivory Coast clash: “As angry…