Table of contents for 2021-11-05 in Star

Siphelele Dludla siphelele.dludla@inl.co.za TRANSNET, the state-owned logistics company, yesterday vowed to work with the government to guide its future audits as the group risks defaulting on multi-billion rand near-term debt maturities due to its struggle to raise new long-term debt to bolster its diminishing liquidity profile. This comes as Moody’s Investor Services has downgraded Transnet’s ratings status due to its weak liquidity profile and weak corporate governance. Moody’s on Wednesday downgraded the corporate family rating of Transnet to Ba3 from Ba2 and the national scale senior unsecured Medium-Term Note rating to A2.za from Aa2.za. Transnet’s baseline credit assessment, a measure of standalone credit quality prior to any assessment of potential extraordinary government support, was lowered to b1 from ba3 with a negative outlook. Moody's senior analyst Lisa Jaeger said Transnet’s…

Dineo Faku dineo.faku@inl.co.za TRUWORTHS, the JSE-listed fashion and beauty retailer, ran low on stock in some ranges due to global supply chain bottlenecks during the first quarter of its 2022 financial year which runs between June and September, it said yesterday. Truworths, whose brands include Naartjie, Truworths and Daniel Hechter, said the supply chain bottlenecks had added to Covid-19- related challenges and load shedding in its main footprint. “Trading conditions in the group’s main markets, South Africa and the UK, continue to be impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic which, together with international supply chain disruptions, have resulted in stock shortages in certain product ranges,” said the group. The global markets are reeling from the impact of supply chain disruptions which resulted in logjams at ports, chip shortages and sky-high shipping…

Philippa Larkin philippa.larkin@inl.co.za AS SOUTH Africans head towards Black Friday, held on November 26, with an estimated 29.5 million people ready to “shop till they drop” at the sales, debt experts are warning people to be mindful of their finances and not to let a shopping frenzy overtake them. According to research by personal loan company, Wonga, the average South African spent more than R5 600 at last year’s Black Friday. According to Finder.com’s Black Friday Shopping Report, released recently, its survey of 1 203 South African adults revealed 74 percent, or an estimated 29.5 million people, planned to shop on the Black Friday sales – but only if items are discounted enough. Their survey found South African adults needed an average discount of more…

Liam Karabo Joyce liam.joyce@inl.co.za Media personality Boity Thulo is no stranger to the entertainment business. Having started her career as a TV presenter, the star has one of the highest social media followings and has gone from showcasing her life in her own reality show to being an ambassador for multiple brands. However, when she broke out into music with her single, Wuz Dat, in 2018, many people did not think she had what it takes to be a rapper and survive in the cut-throat hip hop industry. Fast forward to today and Thulo has proven her naysayers wrong by scoring five nominations at this year’s South African Hip Hop Awards. Nominations for the upcoming awards were announced this week. Thulo scored a nod for best female, best freshman and…

MAYANS M.C. S3 SHOWMAX This Sons of Anarchy spin-off series follows the life of Ezekiel “EZ” Reyes (JD Pardo), a newly patched member of the Mayans MC biker gang on the California/Mexico border. Once the golden boy with the American Dream in his grasp, EZ and his brother, Angel, are closer than ever after uncovering the truth behind their mother’s murder while their father Felipe struggles to reconcile with the choices he and his sons have made. HACKS SHOWMAX The comedy-drama series centres on legendary Las Vegas comedian Deborah Vance who takes on an entitled, down-on-her-luck Gen Z comedy writer in a bid to find fresh material and remain relevant as her performance dates start to dwindle. LOVE HARD NETFLIX After meeting her perfect match on a dating…

AGRICULTURE remains an essential part of food security. That is why small-scale farmers were honoured and exposed to networking opportunities at the Farmers’ Day event hosted by Joburg Fresh Produce Market last week. The event furthermore exposed farmers to different role players, regulations and the requirements for accessing national fresh produce markets such as Joburg Market. Small-scale farmers and dignitaries attended the event at the Joburg Market located in City Deep. Joburg mayor Mpho Moerane said the Joburg Market is one of South Africa’s oldest and biggest markets of fresh produce. Other dignitaries who attended the event was the Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development Minister Thoko Didiza, the Gauteng Economic Development, Agriculture, Environment and Rural Development MEC Parks Tau and the city’s Economic Development MMC Tom Mofokeng. Moerane said…

Lehlohonolo Mashigo lehlohonolo.mashigo@inl.co.za RELIGIOUS leaders have come out to support ANC secretary-general Ace Magashule with his court battle. They believe the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) has no case against him. Religious leader and KwaZulu-Natal Interfaith Council member Bishop Sandile Ndlela said the numerous postponements were an indication of a travesty of justice. “It is truly a travesty of justice to first arrest and charge someone and then try to conjure up a case against the accused afterwards,” Ndlela said. He said as the council they were convinced that the trumped-up charges of so-called undefined “oversight charges” are solely political. “The purpose of this travesty of justice, was only to abuse the legal processes in order to force the secretary-general of the ANC to step-aside, and to eventually suspend him,” Ndlela…

Chulumanco Mahamba chulumanco.mahamba@inl.co.za MEET Leti, an about 4-to-6-year-old Homo naledi child that died almost 250 000 years ago, whose partial skull was discovered in the Rising Star Cave System in the Cradle of Humankind World Heritage Site. An international team of researchers, led by director of the Centre for Exploration of the Deep Human Journey at Wits University and Explorer at Large for the National Geographic Society, Professor Lee Berger, made an announcement yesterday of the discovery of Leti, the skull and teeth of the child. Leti is named after the Setswana word “letimela” – meaning “the lost one” – and the remains were discovered in September 2017. Berger explained that the scientists and explorers continued exploring the Rising Star cave system by the Dinaledi chamber, the original site…

Mike Greenaway mike.greenaway@inl.co.za THE cherry on the cake for the Springboks should they break their eight-year drought in Cardiff with victory over Wales tomorrow (7.30pm SA time kick-off) would be the recapturing of the No 1 spot on the World Rugby rankings, and this will happen if they win by a comfortable margin. The All Blacks leapfrogged the Boks to the top of the rankings last weekend when they beat Wales 54-16, with the Boks inactive, and while the Kiwis are certain to beat Italy tomorrow, their points tally won’t change – they lead South Africa by a slender 0.26 points – but if the Boks win by at least 16 points (worth 0.31 points on the rankings), they can regain the top spot they held for nearly two years.…

Zaahier Adams zaahier.adams@inl.co.za Prior to departure for the T20 World Cup Proteas captain Temba Bavuma faced a barrage of bouncers from the media. There were the routine questions regarding the composition of the squad and the team’s prospects in the unfamiliar conditions of the United Arab Emirates. However, he also had to attempt to provide an explanation as to why the Proteas’ performances at major tournaments do not replicate that of the Springboks at Rugby World Cups. While the comparison is grossly unfair considering the vastly different nature of the two sports, there is merit in the fact that the Boks get the job done, even through a simple and uncomplicated game plan of ensuring they execute the basics effectively and minimise their mistakes. It may not always be to…

Let’s get high THE ‘home straight’ in an exiting Formula One season is upon us. This weekend, the final five-race stretch begins, and here, Morgan Bolton takes a look at what to expect in Mexico. The Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez in Mexico City is the highest circuit on the calendar, and rises 2 238m above sea level. To put that into perspective, Johannesburg on the Highveld is only a paltry 1 753m high. As is the case on the Witwatersrand when sport is played there, it is a taxing endeavour for athletes and it will be no different for the drivers and their cars this weekend. A higher altitude means less air to cut through and therefore less drag, but it also means higher downforce set-ups. The thin air also means…

Dineo Faku dineo.faku@inl.co.za MTN YESTERDAY unveiled a public offer of just under 3 percent of shares in MTN Nigeria, its biggest market, saying it was on track to reduce holding company debt, raising hopes of dividends after a two-year break. MTN plans to sell up to 575 million shares in MTN Nigeria for R3.7bn (101.1 billion naira), as part of its focus to ‘further localise’ 14 percent of the group’s holding in MTN Nigeria over the short to medium term. The offer is expected to close next month. “The offer is anticipated to open in November 2021 with a bookbuild to institutional investors after which a fixed price is expected to be announced for retail investors also in November 2021,” said MTN. In July MTN announced…

Edward West edward.west@inl.co.za AFRIMAT, the construction materials, industrial minerals and bulk commodi- ties group, is working on another acquisition after strong iron ore prices, cost and efficiency initiatives boosted cash and earnings growth in the six months to August 31. Chief financial officer Pieter de Wit said in a telephone interview yesterday that the balance sheet was healthy and debt-free, the group had funded two previous acquisitions in the interim period from its own cash resources, and that they could not yet disclose the details of the next acquisition. Many exciting opportunities were being investigated, he said. The interim results were boosted by favourable iron ore prices. He said iron ore prices had since fallen sharply, but the iron ore business was still operating at better average margins than the…

Philippa Larkin philippa.larkin@inl.co.za AS CASH-STRAPPED South Africans faced a humongous fuel price hike this week, with motorists now paying R1.21 more a litre of petrol and R1.48 more a litre of diesel, FNB Money Management and MasterDrive have shared their top tips on how to cushion the financial blow and reduce your spending on fuel. Debt Rescue said this week that with massive fuel price increases coming into effect, the recent 15 percent rise in electricity tariffs, and a likely interest rate hike coming by December, the budget strain was already being exacerbated through an increase in the use of unsecured credit, which could sink people into further debt. “Motorists should not rule out paying R20 a litre for petrol by the end of 2021,” said Neil Roets, the…

Thobile Mazibuko thobile.mazibuko@inl.co.za HUNDREDS of African creatives will gather at the Durban International Convention Centre and Durban Exhibition Centre in KwaZulu-Natal for the Creative Africa Nexus (Canex) at the Intra-African Trade Fair (IATF2021). Organised by the African Export- Import Bank, in collaboration with the AU and the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Secretariat, the second IATF2021 will take place from November 15 to 21. African creatives will exhibit their work, showcase their talents, and mingle with policymakers, prominent investors and financiers. The AfCFTA will bring together continental and global buyers and sellers to share trade, investment, and market information. They will also trade finance and trade facilitation solutions designed to support intra- African trade and the economic integration of the continent. “In addition to establishing business-to-business and business-to-government exchange…

Thobile Mazibuko thobile.mazibuko@inl.co.za Since the Covid-19 outbreak, many businesses, especially in the creative sector, have been badly affected. They couldn’t keep up with the lockdown regulations and the best way to keep afloat was to collaborate. Three South African creatives, Dylan Joseph of Semper Fortis, Cara Saven of Cara Saven Wall Design and Tshepo Mohlala of Tshepo Jeans, have collaborated to launch the #WeDesignSA initiative. The project pivots off the bespoke Halcyon design created by wallpaper artist Cara Saven. The collaboration started when Joseph met Saven at the top of Table Mountain. Together they unveiled the #WeLoveSA banner. “After the incredible response that Dylan and I saw to the banner of love, we decided that like-minded entrepreneurs could make a difference to the negative sentiment that exists for many South…

Amanda Maliba amanda.maliba@inl.co.za CONGOLESE-born singer and songwriter Tresor’s much anticipated fourth solo album Motion is described as the final chapter of all solo projects he has ever done since his debut album VII. Tresor, who has managed to make noise for all the right reasons locally and abroad, features popular guest artists on his 14-track offering, including Ami Faku, Msaki, Da Capo, Sun-EL Musician and Scorpion Kings (Kabza De Small and DJ Maphorisa), says this project is a bridge to where he is going, “a genesis of a whole new chapter for me as an African artist aiming globally,” he says. Motion boldly reveals Tresor’s music career narrative, as the album dives into sounds that have influenced him as an artist through the use of classic samples, and bravely explores…

Staff Reporter JOBURG Housing MMC Mlungisi Mabaso this week handed over 100 title deeds to residents of Lufhereng as part of continued efforts to provide homeownership to residents. For years, residents have been occupying houses without homeownership and that’s why the City of Joburg accelerated the issuing of title deeds. As the government of local unity, the City of Joburg’s political leadership knows how imperative it is for residents to own where they reside. “You should not live in a place which is yours but still feel like you are renting because of not having a document which proves that indeed you are the rightful owner of the house.” One title deed beneficiary, Lestina Busisiwe Tshabalala, 67, was delighted to receive a title deed as this provides homeownership and tenure…

Bongani Nkosi bongani.nkosi@inl.co.za IT IS uncompassionate of the government to opt to incinerate bodies of children lost at foetal stage rather than allow their parents to bury them, the Constitutional Court has heard. Yesterday, the apex court heard an application brought to challenge sections of the Births and Deaths Registration Act (BDRA) that effectively barred the burial of foetuses lost before 26 weeks of pregnancy. The Voice of the Unborn Baby, a non-profit organisation, and the Catholic Archdiocese of Durban wanted the court to declare that parents who suffer pregnancy loss pre-26 weeks should be allowed to elect to bury their babies. Donrich Thaldar, counsel for Voice of the Unborn Baby, opened his argument with a moving story of events he witnessed as a child following his mother’s miscarriage.…

Thabile Mange | Mogale City ON November 1, South Africa held its sixth democratic local government elections. As expected, the ANC continued its dominance and won most municipalities, though with a lesser margin. A few are hung municipalities. Leading up to the elections, many communities complained about the lack of service delivery by the ANC-led government. One of the serious problems encountered by communities is electricity. Many communities, including in Soweto and Tembisa, are without electricity. The president’s sister in Chiawelo, Soweto, was told by residents to call her brother and tell him to come and fix the problem in the area. That’s how bad things were. The Eastern Cape is one of the most impoverished regions in the country. One of the challenges confronting that region…

MORE often than not, the outcome of a rugby match is decided by what happens between the four white lines on the day, but every so often there is a pre-match dynamic that influences a team’s performance, a sub-plot that is unknown to the public. The Springboks play Wales at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff tomorrow, a venue that has not always been a happy hunting ground for them. In fact, in 1999, the Boks lost there to Wales for the first time in history. recalls the turbulent events leading up to a match that celebrated the opening of the colossal Stadium but which were also a necessary growing pain for South African rugby. The Springboks’ historic defeat to Wales in 1999 is a classic case in point. Wales had…

MIHLALI BALEKA @Mihlalibaleka AS a debutant, the Soweto Derby can either make or break you. But there’s a general feeling from some of Kaizer Chiefs and Orlando Pirates’ new personnel that they’ll grace the “game”, not the “occasion” when the Soweto giants clash at the Calabash. After a busy transfer window for the arch rivals, both sides will get a chance to give their new players a taste of the biggest fixture on the country’s footballing calendar, particularly after the teams’ disappointing starts to the season. Pirates and Chiefs are sixth and seventh on the Premiership standings. They’ve failed to churn out consistent performances, losing or drawing matches they should have won. That’s why the Soweto Derby at FNB Stadium tomorrow (3.30pm Kick-off) should offer some redemption. But perhaps all…

A comfortable win at troubled Tottenham Hotspur and then a Cristiano Ronaldo-inspired escape from defeat at the hands of Atalanta have taken some of the heat off under-pressure Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer. But a more severe test of his side’s health will come tomorrow when they host Premier League champions Manchester City in the derby – a game fraught with danger for a United side who have been wildly unpredictable this season. City suffered a surprise home defeat by Crystal Palace last weekend and they have also lost three of their last four Premier League clashes against Solskjaer’s United. Such a poor recent record against their neighbours will not sit well with manager Pep Guardiola and there will be points to prove when the whistle blows at Old…

Edward West edward.west@inl.co.za LOCAL online tourism and events booking platforms are being squeezed out of the market by international competitors such as Booking.com, Expedia Travel and Google Travel. These behemoths had the financial muscle to relegate the local companies far down the list of internet search page listings, and afford themselves greater marketing spend, the Competition Commission heard yesterday. This was the evidence of SA- Venues.com director Christine Searle, who spoke online yesterday at the Competition Commission’s inquiry into online intermediation platforms. Local tourism industry activity has slumped dramatically in the past two years due to the Covid-19 pandemic. She said since 2011, the SA-Venues.com platform had faced increasing competition from global competitors, both in terms of their access to more favourable internet search listings, such as in the first…

It only took 20+ movies and four phases, but Eternals put its diverse cast front and centre of one of the most ambitious MCU (Marvel Cinematic Universe) films to date. Eternals follows a group of heroes from beyond the stars. They have protected the Earth since the dawn of man. When monstrous creatures, called the Deviants, long thought lost to history, mysteriously return, the Eternals are forced to reunite to defend humanity once again. When it comes to the MCU, 2021 has been a year filled with expansion, including our first Asian lead in Shang-Chi, the three streaming shows so far (WandaVision, Falcon and Loki) – Hawkeye is coming later this year – and the animated adventure What If. With the focus of the universe shifting to the magical elements,…

Given Majola given.majola@inl.co.za MELBOURNE is the highest ranking city for remote workers, with Cape Town scoring 63 out of 80 cities, according to a study that ranks the attractiveness of 80 global cities for remote working. The company ranks the cities according to their remote working compliance regulations, cost of living, infrastructure and liveability. WorkMotion, a global employment specialist, named Melbourne as the highest ranking city in the index as it scored well for employment compliance factors, citizen happiness and its digital nomad visa. Montreal and Sydney rank second and third. Dublin ranked best for ease of employment compliance, meaning its compliance regulations were most straightforward, ahead of Helsinki and Copenhagen. The city with the happiest citizens is Copenhagen, followed by Bern and Wellington. Istanbul had the most favourable…

Thobile Mazibuko thobile.mazibuko@inl.co.za Durban musicians Zoe the Seed, Neil Gonsalves and duo N’den have partnered to host weekly concerts at the University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN) Centre for Jazz and Popular Music. The concerts that feature new and old songs started on November 3 with Zoe the Seed. On November 10, she will join Thabo Sikhakhane, Giandhari and bassist Talent Mbatha. Closing the concert on November 17 are duo N’den, led by vocalist Thulile Zama, also known from Heels over Head, and pianist David Smith. About the artists Zoe The Seed She is a jazz vocalist, music teacher and performer. She has worked with notable artists like Ernest Dawkins and Salim Washington, and holds a degree in Jazz and Popular Music from UKZN. She is inspired by women who use…

Thobile Mazibuko thobile.mazibuko@inl.co.za Given the soaring temperatures, sipping on some bubbles is a tempting offer, more so with the The Prawnery, in Illovo Junction, Joburg, hosting their first bubble fest. The festival will feature premium MCC’s available in South Africa. Think flavoursome canapés, the lightest, most premium bubbles from all around the country, feel-good music, a fun-loving, opulent vibe and more. The festival, on until tomorrow, also features a bespoke selection of proudly South African MCC’s. There will be tastings at each farm and a range of vintage bubbles to purchase. Guests can expect to taste L’Ormarins, Spier, Simonsig, Wildekrans, and Hazendal to name a few. “There will be personalised and artisanal retail offerings, as well as delectable food offerings from all of the restaurants at Illovo Junction. Enter the…

Lehlohonolo Mashigo lehlohonolo.mashigo@inl.co.za THE FUEL hike this month will have a huge impact on everyone according to the chief executive of National Debt Advisors (NDA), Sebastien Alexanderson. The hike sees motorists paying R1.21 more per litre of petrol, and R1.48 more per litre of diesel. Alexanderson said most South Africans were already struggling to make ends meet, and the steep petrol price hike would see consumers having to again dip into their already limited disposable income to keep their heads above water. “It is very likely that we will see petrol cost around R20/litre before year end, and this will have a huge impact on all of us.” He said significant price increases such as these pushed up the price of all other commodities, as the cost to produce and…

DISPLACED Persons Sub-Unit administration assistant Kagiso Michael Maoka devotes his time to helping homeless people and substance users get skills and gain employment in the future. Maoka first started as a volunteer at Windsor West homeless shelter near Cresta and used to help around the facility before he was appointed as an administration assistant at 03 Kotze Street Overnight Shelter. “I started at Windsor as a volunteer for six months. I had no job, I used to go to the facility only to have a meal and a shower, then I saw some posts and later in the year I got the job,” Maoka said. The purpose of the facility is to provide Johannesburg residents living on the streets with support programmes such as family reunification, drug rehabilitation and skills…

Goitsemang Tlhabye goitsemang.tlhabye@inl.co.za STUDENTS and political parties have rallied behind the call by Unisa’s SRC for the immediate dismissal of a student leader accused of sexual harassment. Last week, the SRC called for the speedy resolution of investigations into allegations of sexual harassment against the leader. The students protested at the Muckleneuk Campus yesterday after a march organised by the Unisa Law Students Association. They gathered at the university's Sunnyside Campus and made their way to the main campus to hand over a memorandum of demands to the Dean of Student Affairs. The handful of students included representatives from the Tshwane University of Technology, Sefakho Makgatho Health Sciences University, University of Pretoria and different structures within the Unisa student leadership. Secretary-general of the SRC at Unisa, Shatadi Phoshoko, said…

FOR CHIEFS Eshlin Vedan eshlin.vedan@inl.co.za DESPITE Kaizer Chiefs and Orlando Pirates not being at their best in the Premiership this season, there is no doubt that the Soweto Derby will still be followed intensely by millions across South Africa who will be hoping that their respective teams can get the much-desired bragging rights. Here, we look at four players who will be playing in their first Soweto Derby who will be looking to make a big impact and potentially help their team win the ‘biggest football match in South Africa’. Keagan Dolly Dolly has been a revelation for Amakhosi this season after returning to South Africa after having spent four years in France with Montpellier. It was hardly surprising that the 28-year-old earned a Bafana Bafana recall for the upcoming…

WYNONA LOUW wynona,louw@inl.co.za THE Springbok women are keen to measure their progress when they face France at Stade de la Rabine in Vannes tomorrow (4pm SA time kick-off). The team arrived in Paris on Monday from Johannesburg via Frankfurt. Coach Stanley Raubenheimer mixed experience and fresh talent for the November series opener in Vannes, with Nolusindiso Booi leading the team for the first time since 2018. The experienced Booi makes her return to the squad that also features the returning Tayla Kinsey, Babalwa Latsha and Rights Mkhari. The trio missed out on the August Test series against Kenya in Stellenbosch due to injury. Raubenheimer also included flyhalf Libbie Janse van Rensburg and the uncapped Nadine Roos in his run-on side. It will be Janse van Rensburg’s first start, while Roos…