Table of contents for 2024-08-22 in Star

Sibanye-Stillwater has struck a R1.8 billion gold prepayment arrangement and concluded a refinancing transaction for its R5.5bn rand-denominated revolving credit facility from Nedbank CIB and RMB that it has now resized to R6bn. Hard done by currently depressed platinum group metals (PGM) prices, and bracing for intense capital requirements for its lithium projects, Sibanye-Stillwater has also been roiled by a $2 billion loss (R35.6bn) in 2023. The company has had to cut capital and retrench from its South Africa operations. Sibanye-Stillwater CEO, Neal Froneman, said yesterday the gold prepayment arrangement it had secured would be helpful for the company from a strategic financing perspective. The gold prepayment is a proactive, strategic financing alternative that improves the group’s liquidity and strengthens the balance sheet, while retaining leverage to potential increases in…

Like many economic sectors in the country, the agricultural sector is not unfamiliar with the Government of National Unity (GNU) because the sector was led by the National Party minister Dr André Kraai van Niekerk between 1994 and 1996. At the core of GNU1 was to build a stable, competitive and internationally inclined agricultural economy. As a consequence, there was a radical shift in agricultural policies from strong state control towards a policy era that is characterised by the privatisation of farm credit, information and inputs; and the liberalisation of trade and the deregulation of markets. Essentially, policy reforms adopted during the first GNU aimed to minimise state interventions in agriculture and make agriculture export-oriented. There is sufficient evidence to believe that GNU1 was successful in deregulating and privatising the…

Spur Corporation, which employs more than 31 500 people in its restaurant franchise network, said yesterday that while there would likely be increased consumer confidence and spending this year, longer term economic growth was only possible through increased job creation. Group CEO Val Nichas said at the release of their results for the year to June 30 that the group’s trading outlook was likely to remain subdued in the short term, even though South Africa’s economic growth was forecast to expand. “The outlook for improved consumer confidence and spending is positive following the national elections in May, and the transition to the new government. The stable electricity supply, lower inflation, the new two-pot retirement system and expected interest rate relief are all likely to support increased consumer spending,” she…

China opened an anti-subsidy probe into dairy imports from the EU yesterday, stepping up tension with the bloc a day after Brussels published its revised tariff plan for China-made electric vehicles. The EU on Tuesday revised its proposed punitive duties on imports of Chinese EVs to 36.3% from an initial planned duty of 37.6%, but fell short of abandoning them as Beijing had called on Brussels to do. The revision drew a rebuke from China’s commerce ministry, which in response said it is “firmly opposed to and highly concerned” about the findings, and vowed to take all necessary measures to protect Chinese firms. The anti-subsidy investigation on dairy announced by China’s commerce ministry yesterday, the latest in a series of Chinese probes this year into EU agricultural goods, will focus…

Eksie Perfeksie director Corné Koegelenberg was determined to break boundaries with his raunchy romantic comedy. To achieve this, he opted to delve into his personal life to provide viewers with something that would entertain them and also get them thinking. “I think anytime I see an opportunity to make something different, I gravitate towards that,” he said. “Romantic comedies mostly follow a generic recipe, which is the reason people love this genre. When this story came along and presented an opportunity to experiment and to try outrageous things, while still trying to stick to the recipe, I couldn’t say no.” The movie, which is streaming on Showmax, follows introverted André (Pietie Beyers), a divorced man who gets swept up in a steamy romance with the vibrant Dalene (Emma van Heyn).…

Financially constrained consumers may see first cut in 4 years Christmas might come a little earlier this year for financially-constrained South African consumers – in the form of an interest rate cut, the first one in four years, after consumer prices fell to a three-year low year on year in July. This comes as the consumer price inflation index (CPI) sank below 5% in July, slowing to 4.6% in July from 5.1% in June, after holding steady for 10 months in the 5% to 6% range. The latest CPI figures confirm that inflation is steadily winding down and settling around the 4.5% midpoint of the SA Reserve Bank’s (SARB’S) inflation target range of 3-6%. Statistics South Africa (Stats SA) said yesterday that the July inflation print was the lowest…

Gangsterism, shooting, bullying, suicide and, lately, arson are among the problems occurring in Gauteng schools. This has left parents fearing for their children’s safety. Gauteng Education, Sport, Arts, Culture and Recreation MEC Matome Chiloane has expressed concern after a fire at Lancea Vale Secondary School in Eldorado Park on Tuesday. The fire damaged three classrooms in the grades 8 and 9 block. Preliminary reports indicate that the fire initially started in Room 81 on the first floor of Block C. The department said the fire spread rapidly, gutting three classrooms and there were concerns over the structure of the building. City of Joburg EMS spokesperson Xolile Khumalo confirmed attending to the incident at around 2pm. The department said firefighters would provide a report on the extent of the damage, after…

Tributes are pouring in on social media following the passing of arguably South Africa’s most loved mathematics and science television teacher, William Smith. His daughter confirmed his death.She said her dad, aged 85, died after a short battle with cancer, at home in Perth, Australia. Smith was diagnosed with an incurable cancer that was at an advanced stage. “He faced his final moments with grace, expressing contentment in his accomplishments and the impact he made in the fields of education and conservation,” the family said. Smith’s legacy will endure through the lives he touched and the difference he made, they added. In 2021, Smith received an honorary doctorate from Rhodes University. At the time, Vice-Chancellor Dr Sizwe Mabizela hailed his work. “Thanks to his exceptional teaching skills and compassion, for…

The global tech and digital industry is infamous for being (white) male-dominated. While many of their innovations have reshaped the world in obvious ways, women in general and women of colour in particular, are not seen often enough in these spaces. Nokuthula Lukhele, whose journey began in mechanical engineering where she focused on heavy vehicle design and manufacturing, is determined to be counted among women leaders in tech. “I’ve had the privilege of building a diverse and impactful career, enriched by experience across multiple industries and continents. Early on, I realised I had a desire to contribute at a more strategic and executive level, which led me to pursue an MBA to strengthen my business acumen,” she says. It was this pivot that guided her into Management Consulting with McKinsey…

As South Africa celebrates Women’s Month, the embassy of China and senior officials of the Department of International Relations and Cooperation (Dirco) gathered in Pretoria to honour women of both sisterly nations. The month of August is set aside as Women’s Month in South Africa, marking the 68th anniversary of the historic march of thousands of South African women from all walks of life to the Union Buildings in 1956 in protest against the introduction of apartheid pass laws for black women in 1952. The month-long commemoration in South Africa takes stock of achievements and remaining challenges while mobilising support for further development of women. President Cyril Ramaphosa led the annual Women’s Day celebrations earlier this month in Pofadder, Northern Cape. On Tuesday, Chinese Ambassador Wu Peng gathered women diplomats…

KNOWBE4, a security awareness and compliance training platform, conducted a survey across Africa, which demonstrates a worrying reliance on social media for information, particularly in light of the spread of misinformation. There is a heavy dependence on social platforms for information, which is concerning, particularly as disinformation continues to rise. The Africa Centre for Strategic Studies reports that disinformation campaigns in Africa have quadrupled since 2022, often backed by foreign states such as Russia and China, leading to social instability. In response to these issues, the platform conducted a survey in July 2024 on political disinformation and misinformation across five African countries – Botswana, Kenya, Mauritius, Nigeria and South Africa. The survey, which included 500 respondents, found that the vast majority of users (84%) prefer social media for news consumption…

CHINESE carmakers are penetrating South Africa’s car market thick and fast, and it seems every second week there’s a new entrant from the land of the Red Dragon. Ever heard of GAC? They’ve just arrived. Want to take a detour with a Jetour? Soon you will be able to. While most of the Chinese players initially focused on the more affordable end of the SUV market, we’re now seeing a bold move upstream, with the likes of GWM’s imposing Tank 500 recently surpassing the million-rand mark. The subject of this test, the Jaecoo J7, also represents a move upmarket for its parent company Chery, and it slots right into the middle ground of the urban SUV segment. Launched in April 2024, the Jaecoo J7 is available in three variants –…

In a world where intelligence and ethics converge, education is set to rewrite the DNA of human progress. But, do we really believe that formal education is the sole determinant of ethics and intelligence? We assume those with formal education are essentially more ethical and intelligent. But is this assumption rooted in reality? Does a university degree necessarily translate to ethical behaviour or superior intelligence? To understand the complexities of intelligence, ethics and education, this article explores the fine distinctions that lie beneath the surface of human character, revealing its multifaceted nature. As we strive to create a more just society, it is essential that we re-examine our assumptions about what makes someone knowledgeable, skilled and ethical. While university degrees are often seen as the gold standard of achievement, it…

The non-profit Localisation Support Fund (LSF) aims to fast-track growing jobs in the local retail-clothing, textile, footwear and leather (R-CTFL) manufacturing sector by 172% through helping companies in the industry leverage relationships, improve growth, and become more efficient through technology. Speaking at an event held at clothing manufacturer Karma Factory in Johannesburg yesterday, the executive head of the LSF, Thami Moatshe, said “South Africa used to have manufacturing, and we lost it. And that led to the sector being de-industrialised.” Between 2000 and 2008, anywhere between 10 000 and 15 000 jobs were lost a year, with many factory closures. Moatshe told Business Report that the industry currently provided employment for 121 000 people. She said the LSF also aimed to help fast-track a Department of Trade, Industry and Competition…

Consumer activity in South Africa is expected to ramp up significantly in the final three months of this year on the back of the central bank easing the cost of borrowing as the rate of inflation comes down much faster than expected. This comes as the headline inflation has cleared the path for the SA Reserve Bank (SARB) to begin its interest rates cut cycle, after four years of restrictive policy decisions. The SARB is expected to cut rates by 25 basis points to 8.00% per annum next month for the first time following a cumulative 425 basis points increase since the beginning of the hiking cycle in November 2020 as it has raised rates to a 14-year high of 8.25% per annum. Old Mutual Group chief economist, Johann Els,…

The New Development Bank (NDB) plays a pivotal role in global trade and Africa’s development, Independent Media chairman Dr Iqbal Survé said in an interview with IOL ahead of the NDB’s annual meeting in Cape Town. Dr Survé emphasised the bank’s transformative potential, particularly for Africa and South Africa. He highlighted the NDB’s creation as a response to the limitations of traditional Western-dominated financial institutions. He believes that the NDB offers a more inclusive and flexible approach to financing, better suited to the unique needs of BRICS nations and other developing countries. According to Dr Survé, this flexibility positions the NDB as a crucial tool for reshaping global trade dynamics and supporting long-term development goals. He also shared his insights on the BRICS common currency. He views this currency…

IN SOUTH Africa, woman entrepreneurs are a force to be reckoned with. While balancing their roles as mothers, community activists and partners, women are at the helm of thousands of small businesses that play an important role in fuelling the engines of the country’s gross domestic product (GDP). Their resilience and adaptability have enabled them to navigate the complexities of the business landscape, often overcoming significant barriers, such as limited access to funding and markets. Despite the challenges women face as business owners, many continue to drive innovation, create jobs and contribute to the economic empowerment of their communities. According to reports by the World Economic Forum, women constitute close to 60% of self-employment on the continent and make up at least 13% of Africa’s total GDP. On a national…

CURRO Holdings successfully focused on growing its independent education business as well as tightly managing costs, and as a result earnings before interest, taxation, depreciation and amortisation increased 10.4% to R625 million in the six months to June 30. CEO Cobus Loubser said the success of these strategies were further indicated by the 16.2% increase in headline earnings per share to 40.2 cents a share, while the operating margin had improved by 1% to 18%. “Curro’s mission is to create more opportunities for more learners. We are pleased with the improvement in key financial metrics ... These results reflect our ability to manage costs efficiently while continuing to expand our offerings,” Loubser said. Curro’s revenue rose by 8.3% to R2.59 billion driven by a 0.5% increase in the average…

THE DRDGold share price plunged 6.4% to R16.91 per share after it announced that it had to scramble around for production to attain its targets for the year to June 2024. This is a situation that brought up costs by 20% although it is now reducing legacy mining sites from 15 to five ahead of a planned intensive capital reinvestment to boost output by one ton. Production for the full year under review tanked by 5% to 160 818 ounces while gold sold was also lower by a similar margin at 160 400 ounces for the full year. A 20% upswing to about R1.2 million/kg in the average gold price received by the company boosted operating profit for the year to June by 14% to R2 billion. Resultantly, headline earnings…

Fresh off her historic move as the first amapiano DJ to headline the Wireless Festival in the UK last month, Uncle Waffles has once again made waves by becoming the first black woman to headline the iconic Brooklyn Mirage in New York. The Brooklyn Mirage is a major venue in the Big Apple and is renowned for hosting some of the world’s top electronic music artists like Thundercat, Kaytranada and Diplo. Although the venue has seen the likes of American rapper Noname performing there, Uncle Waffles is the first black woman to headline at the venue. Headlining the Wireless Festival was a historic moment, not just for Uncle Waffles, but for the amapiano community as a whole. The festival predominantly features hip hop, R&B and grime artists. Now, with her…

Newly elected speaker of the City of Joburg, Nobuhle Mthembu of ActionSA, has promised to “suffocate the corruption, lawlessness, mismanagement and ineptitude” that is plaguing service delivery in South Africa’s economic hub. Mthembu was elected city speaker at the Connie Bapela Council Chamber in Braamfontein yesterday. In a fiery speech, the new speaker said her election marked a new era and her tenure would focus on restoring the city to its former glory, where service delivery would take centre stage. “This is an era in which we will instil a culture of accountability and transparency, and where, at every turn, we will work together to ensure that the best interests of our residents anchor our efforts.” Mthembu said it cannot be business as usual for the city not to…

SEVERAL dismissed uMkhonto weSizwe Party (MKP) members have approached the Western Cape High Court, seeking an urgent interdict prohibiting the party from replacing their positions in the National Assembly, pending an application reviewing and setting aside the decision to terminate their memberships. The court sat briefly yesterday to consider the application, where the matter was postponed to September 3 to give parties time to file answering and replying affidavits. The application also seeks to prohibit the Speaker of the National Assembly swearing-in new MKP MPs. The applicants cited in the court documents are Thamsanqa Kuzwayo, Isaac Menyatso, Citron Motshegoe, Augastina Gwetha, Nomado Mgwebi, Ntombenhle Mkhize, Sydwell Masilela, France Mfiki, Senzo Dlamini, and Agnes Mogotsi. They are seeking in the order a prohibition on denying them any and all benefits associated…

An unemployed Western Cape mother, who owes her landlord and refused to leave his property, has been given three months to find alternative accommodation. Charlene Megan van Wyk has been renting a property in Durbanville, Cape Town, owned by Peter John Buttner. Van Wyk started renting the property in May 2016 and on June 30, 2023, the lease was terminated by Buttner after she missed months of payment. She had to vacate the property on July 1, 2023, however, she refused and also failed to pay the R7 700 monthly rental. When Buttner approached the Western Cape High Court at the end of that month, Van Wyk had already occupied the property for six months without paying rent, effectively owing almost R50 000. Buttner sought an order giving Van Wyk…

THE theft of more than 90 boxes of face values from the Christiaan de Wet licensing centre in the Pretoria inner-city has put motorists at risk of having their vehicle identification numbers duplicated by criminals. This comes after robbers brazenly stormed into the licensing centre and disarmed security guards before they walked away with 92 face values that contained 2 000 sheets each. The City of Tshwane MMC for roads and transport, Katlego Mathebe, said the incident took place on August 11, when a group of people stormed into the licensing centre and disarmed on-duty security personnel. “Criminals use stolen face values to issue fraudulent motor vehicle registrations, fake permits, fake driving licences and fraudulent traffic register certificates,” Mathebe said. Mathebe condemned acts of criminality at all eight municipal licensing…

Patients will now be shown practical examples of what healthy eating is as the Aids Healthcare Foundation (AHF) and eThekwini Food Security unveiled their innovative aeroponic garden to boost nutrition for HIV treatment at the Isipingo Clinic on Tuesday. Aeroponic gardening involves growing plants without the use of soil. It is reliant on air to deliver a nutrient-rich mist to the plant’s roots. Clinic manager Ncamsile Mgobhozi hopes that through the garden, people will be encouraged to live healthily and help address environmental health. “We want to encourage patients to understand that when they take their medication, they have to couple it with a diet that will not erode the medication from their system.” The garden will provide training for them to focus not only on medication but also on…

Ingredients 45ml oil 30ml margarine 750g lamb knuckles 1 Knorr Brown Onion Gravy 2 onions, finely chopped 2 cloves garlic, crushed 3 carrots, peeled and sliced 5ml cumin 5ml ginger 5ml coriander 5ml paprika 5ml cinnamon 300ml red wine 450ml water 100g dried apricots Method Heat the oil and margarine in a large heavy-based frying pan. Place the lamb knuckles in a bowl with sachet of Knorr Brown Onion Gravy and toss to coat the knuckles well. Fry a few knuckles at a time until well browned on all sides. Set aside. In a separate pot, fry the onion, garlic and carrots in oil until tender. Add the browned lamb knuckles. Add all the Robertson’s spices and allow to fry for a few minutes to release the aroma. Add the…

EACH one of us is born with a unique purpose. A select few are privileged to know what their purpose is in the early stages of their lives; others have to go through a self-searching journey to unearth it. My dream to be an attorney was not a challenge to overcome but navigating the legal industry space was an evident mission with hurdles to manoeuvre. I knew my unique method of operation, which is driven by prayer and resilience, would carry me through. The biggest Goliath I faced was the impostor syndrome. Impostor syndrome has a way of being crippling, especially for women. When I was admitted into the profession a decade ago, I started to look around, allowing spaces and people to intimidate me, especially on occasions when I…

IT was a tough weekend for the Neil Woolridge Motorsport (NWM) Ford Rally-Raid team at the back-to-back rounds four and five of the South African Rally-Raid Championship held in Parys, Free State. The reigning Overall Production Vehicle champions, Gareth Woolridge and Boyd Dreyer, started in second place following the Top 10 draw and a short 1.5km qualifying loop for the first race on Friday. They started quickly but their progress was slowed down when they caught and were stuck behind the dust of a slower competitor. Having eventually passed, a puncture slowed their progress and they were again relegated to driving behind the same car and ended the race in sixth place. Teammates Lance Woolridge and Kenny Gilbert didn’t have much luck on Friday either. A suspension joint failure early…

Blue Label Telecoms’s share price shot up 13.6% to R5.00 yesterday after the holding company of Cell C said its headline earnings per share was expected to increase by between 73% to 77% for the year to May 31. Headline earnings per share was expected to be between 72.80 and 74.48 cents a share, from 41.97 cents a share. The share price is well up from R3.33 a year ago on the same date. Core headline earnings amounted to R679 million compared with R402m at the same time last year, equating to core headline earnings of 76.08 cents per share compared with 45.55 cents per share the previous year. Excluding the positive contributions of R66m in the current year, and negative contributions of R523m in the comparative year, primarily resulting…

In recent years, the “shop local” movement has evolved from a mere consumer preference into a powerful strategy for fostering economic growth and promoting sustainable practices. By supporting local businesses, consumers invigorate their community’s economic vitality and champion environmentally responsible practices and innovative supply chain solutions. Shopping local is more than a transaction – it’s a catalyst for economic rejuvenation. When consumers choose local businesses over national chains, they contribute to a cycle of reinvestment within their community. Local businesses are more likely to spend their earnings on local suppliers, creating a ripple effect that enhances overall economic health. This local spending translates into job creation, supports other small enterprises and nurtures a robust, interconnected economic ecosystem. While the benefits of supporting local businesses are numerous, the enterprises often face…

South African small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are struggling with cash flow, with 72% resorting to personal funds to stay afloat, according to the latest South African SME Tech Index released yesterday. Reabetswe Motsamai, the marketing and communications manager at MakwaIT Technologies, yesterday said these businesses were already battling existing financial burdens. Motsamai said they were now facing a perfect storm with fuel and electricity costs skyrocketing, interest rates being at a record high, and the exchange rate remaining volatile. “These forces combine to make effective cash-flow management a matter of survival for SMEs. In this challenging environment, taking control of their finances is critical for these businesses to stay afloat,” she advised. According to the index, 56% of SMEs were spending more than 5% of their budgets on information…

Sometimes, just sometimes, organisations and captains of industry proudly brandishing statements along the lines of “we support and promote our women” tend to sound like Steve Hofmeyr saying, “Some of my best friends are black”. It’s an eerie side of platforming that veers towards objectifying women in professional and entrepreneurial settings. Part of this speaks to where we are socially as people. We live in a world that compels us to live-blog and self-promote ourselves, which does have its benefits when considering the number of careers it has created. Everyone is a a content creator and everyone is an audience. The issue that may arise from this, however, is that when content runs dry (and, boy, does it run out), it leads to a gold rush-like scramble where every single…

from Ben Affleck. The 55-year-old pop superstar was engaged to the Hollywood actor, 52, in the early 2000s before breaking up and while the pair famously reconciled in 2021, they have now split up again after two years of marriage. According to documents obtained by TMZ, the Jenny From the Block singer filed legal documents on Tuesday in the LA County Superior Court without an attorney. The date of separation is listed as April 26, 2024, but the day on which JLo filed for divorce is the second anniversary of the second ceremony they held in Georgia, which followed their initial wedding service in Las Vegas just two months before that. According to TMZ, the Waiting For Tonight hitmaker “does not say in her docs whether there’s a prenup” although…

An abused homeless woman, living in Joburg without an identity document (ID), dreams of obtaining one to transform her life and is appealing to good Samaritans for help. Thandi Mahlangu, from Mpumalanga, said her upbringing was challenging, as her mother died shortly after giving birth to her, leaving her without ever knowing her father. In a tearful interview with Independent Media, she shared that after her mother died, she was raised by her grandparents. “They treated me as lovingly as if they were my own parents.” The 29-year-old said she grew up without an ID, as her grandparents’ efforts to help her obtain one during her teenage years were unsuccessful. “My grandparents went to the Department of Home Affairs offices back home, trying to help me get my ID, but…

The Department of Sports, Arts and Culture is teaming up with its Basic Education counterpart to revive the school sport programme. This follows a written parliamentary reply in which Sports, Arts and Culture Minister Gayton McKenzie was quizzed about his plans to tackle the slow pace of transformation within rugby, cricket and other sporting codes. In his reply, McKenzie said he wanted to change the approach of doing the same things that were done before, otherwise there would be the same results. “There has been an overemphasis over the years of focusing on what I might call ‘equality of outcome’ when it comes to transformation in sport – meaning that our society tends to look at the demographic profile of people who succeed at the upper and professional levels of…

Momentum, a leading financial services provider, recently hosted the second day of its annual #SheOwnsHerSuccess masterclass, focusing on external factors that influence a woman’s journey to success, particularly in entrepreneurship and relationships. A highlight of the event was the conversation on allyship, titled “Brothers for Sisters in the Boardroom” and featuring Nelson Muffuh, the resident co-ordinator of the UN in South Africa, and Makentse Mampeule, an entrepreneur and the former co-founder of the Mampeule Foundation. The discussion, moderated by broadcaster and MC Rorisang Thandekiso, delved into the concept of allyship and its critical role in advancing women in the workplace. According to a 2022 survey conducted by Momentum in partnership with AskAfrica, occupational success remains the area where women face the highest barriers. Muffuh said allyship was about men or…

The vibrant art scene in Amsterdam is hosting an exhibition featuring the works of South African artist Stuart Dods. Organised by the Bored Peach Club, the curated exhibition is being held at Stretch & Fold, a pop-up gallery and café in the heart of Amsterdam. The exhibition runs until the end of August and offers art enthusiasts a unique opportunity to experience Dods’ work, which is displayed on fabric against striking glass panels. Dods, born in 1995 in Hermanus, Cape Town, is a multifaceted artist with talents spanning painting, sculpture, music, and photography. His artistic journey began in his hometown, where the working-class life of fishermen, construction workers, and small business owners inspired his deep admiration for painting. His work was first showcased by the Rossouw Modern Art Gallery in…

GWM is no stranger when it comes to the local bakkie market, having garnered a fairly decent following and appreciation for their double cabs over the past few years. In fact, before the launch of the three P-Series 500 portfolio there were already 13 different double cab offerings. New is the P500 Luxury and Super Luxury powered by a new 2.4-litre diesel mill with 135kW and 480Nm and at the top of the pyramid stands the P500 2.0-litre HEV Ultra Luxury, the first 325-volt electric motor hybrid petrol bakkie in the local market. Combined with the turbo petrol engine, it provides a not insignificant peak power of 255kW and 648Nm. They are all coupled to a nine-speed automatic transmission, the same set-up found in the Tank 300 and Tank 500.…

KAIZER Chiefs sporting director Kaizer Motaung Jr is hopeful that new signing Inacio Miguel will write his own piece of history at the club after his arrival yesterday. Miguel became the fifth signing to join Chiefs for the new season after passing his medicals on Tuesday afternoon, before putting pen to paper on a three-year deal. The defender, who’s the first Angolan to sign for the club, joins Gaston Sirino, Rushwin Dortley, Fiacre Ntwari and Bongani Sam on the list of newcomers so far in the new campaign. As the team look to usher in a fresh era under new coach Nasreddine Nabi, Motaung hopes Miguel will leave a lasting impression at the Naturena-based club during his tenure. “We are happy to have a player of Inacio Miguel’s calibre join…

OVER the last decade, the rise of T20 leagues has changed the game in so many ways. One of those changes has been the insistent emphasis on the financial aspect of the game from the broadcasters, administrators, players and all involved parties. Prioritising accumulating as much money during one’s career is not entirely a problem. However, as we’ve seen with the downfall of West Indies cricket, where players prioritised the T20 leagues over their national team due to financial reasons, the international game at large can take a hit. As a result, when a player willingly decides not to play in some T20 leagues, no matter the reason, it becomes a hot topic as it rarely happens in this day and age. It becomes more of a surprise when it…