Table of contents for 2023-09-28 in Star

There is NO doubt that technology has transformed all aspects of our personal and business lives. The financial sector is one such area that has drastically changed, as clients access financial solutions in new ways. For individuals as well as businesses, digital services have made financial services more convenient, affordable and efficient. Despite these enhanced benefits, there are very few business owners who believe that technology can replace the role of a human being. In fact, many believe that having a skilled and trusted relationship banker who is knowledgeable about their business and understands its history, its financial position, and the sector in which it operates can make the difference between success and failure. Businesses that are entering a growth phase or generally have complex needs around corporate finance, cashflow…

THE NATIONAL Union of Mine- workers’ (NUM) highveld region has called for urgent intervention by President Cyril Ramaphosa to address Transnet’s inability to efficiently transport coal, which threatens more than 35 000 livelihoods within the coal sector. According to the union, the urgency of this matter could be measured by the recent notification of section 189 retrenchments served to NUM by Glencore. This comes after mining and marketing company Glencore was said to have issued letters to employees informing them that it was going to institute a retrenchment process at its iMpunzi coal operation in Mpumalanga, citing the poor performance of Transnet. NUM highveld regional chairperson Malekutu Motubatse said Glencore sent out the section 189 letters, and NUM was supposed to have started with the consultations with Glencore, but…

THE FAILURE of mobile telecoms giants MTN and Vodacom to fully cover all of the country with network and data services put the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (Icasa) on the backfoot with Parliament yesterday. Icasa was charged with not being able to bring its charges to heel in ensuring coverage, particularly made worse with the advent of loads hedding. “The instability of the network or signal is a serious issue, it disadvantages people in the rural communities, there are instances where for two weeks there was no coverage in the rural areas. Is Icasa declaring its absolute independence by not doing what it is supposed to do?,” Select Committee on Public Enterprises and Communication chairperson Zolani Mkiva said. MTN and Vodacom were expected to cover 97% of the…

ONE OF THE most prevalent problems in start-up ecosystems across developing markets is the seemingly shortage of investable start-ups between Seed and Venture Capital (VC), or series stage of funding. This can mainly be attributed to a number of innovative ideas unable to progress beyond the ideation stage, due to a lack of adequate support structures dedicated to the validation and, ultimately, the commercialisation of the concepts or ideas. This naturally results in a limited pool of start-ups that are investor-ready. The scarcity of investable deals, combined with the increase in VC allocation, has led to inflated valuations because there is too much capital chasing after too few deals. Inflated valuations typically lead to portfolio under-performance for investors, as the start-ups fail to live up to their inflated valuations. The…

THE COMPETITION Tribunal has dismissed an abuse of dominance complaint brought by Nu Africa duty-free shops against Distell. In a public statement yesterday, the Tribunal said this matter arose after Distell stopped supplying liquor products to Nu Africa. Distell alleged that duty-free pro- ducts supplied to Nu Africa had made their way into the South African duty-paid market, a form of illicit alcohol trading known as “tax leakage”. Nu Africa denied Distell’s claims and asked the tribunal for an order declaring that Distell’s conduct amounts to an exclusionary act in contravention of the Competition Act. Nu Africa is a retailer of duty-free liquor, among other products, to diplo- mats, marine travellers and other persons entitled to duty-free products in the South African market, through their off-licence retail outlets in Pretoria…

The police rescued two children following a hostage drama that left their parents dead in Phuthaditjhaba in the Free State. Police spokesperson Sergeant Mahlomola Kareli said the police were called to a house in Mandela Park on Monday around 6pm. Police discovered that a 57-year-old man had locked himself in the house with his 43-year-old wife and two children aged 3 and 7. Hostage negotiators were dispatched to the scene along with the Tactical Response Team. “The standoff continued throughout the night until September 26. At about 7.30am, police heard two gunshots coming from inside the house. “Special Task Force members, who were also mobilised, tactically entered the house and managed to rescue the two little girls. “In the other room they discovered the wounded husband and wife in a…

Deputy President Paul Mashatile says the single most powerful instrument Parliamentarians have at their disposal is their command of law-making. He said that through co-ordinated efforts, they can influence more than a quarter of the world’s population positively by introducing far-reaching progressive legislation and repealing laws that do not improve the lives of the people. Mashatile made these remarks at the 9th BRICS Parliamentary Forum at Emperors Palace in Kempton Park, Ekurhuleni, yesterday. “As BRICS Parliamentarians who seek to change the world for the better, you have the possibility to usher in the social solidarity and development that Chief Justice Khaldun and President Nkrumah strove to achieve. “However, legislative changes alone are neither enough nor sufficient to effect change. You require a capable, civic-minded and ethical bureaucracy that has…

City of Johannesburg’s Transport MMC, Kenny Kunene, says no monetary value can hamper the process of healing the pain caused by apartheid among South Africans, and everything must be done to remove the painful reminders. On Tuesday, IOL reported that Johannesburg Mayor, Kabelo Gwamanda, officiated at the unveiling event for the Winnie Mandela Drive, formerly known as William Nicol Drive. Public sentiment has been divided over the grand renaming of the popular Sandton road, especially after it emerged that the financially-struggling City of Johannesburg had spent R250 000 on the renaming project of William Nicol Drive. Speaking to broadcaster, Newzroom Afrika yesterday, Kunene said having apartheid-era names on public structures in the democratic South Africa was traumatic for former political activists like himself. “Every day of my life, being a…

Water and Sanitation Minister Senzo Mchunu has ordered officials to immediately shift water loads towards some of the city’s dry reservoirs in a bid to ensure communities with dry taps have some water. Mchunu said shifting the water between reservoirs was one of the immediate measures they could take to address the water problem which has left some communities without running tap water since August. Some of these communities include places in Joburg South, which have been without water for weeks. Mchunu engaged with members of the public on Tuesday after a community meeting was called. Angry residents told the minister that they were not having their basic services provided and their grievances were only heard when they took to the streets. Some complained of no water for 14 days,…

Masoja Msiza, well known for his role of Nkuzi Mhlongo in SABC 1 telenovela Uzalo, has added his voice to the importance of investing in youth development and quality education. Msiza is part of the Sasko Siyazana community aiming to raise awareness of the importance of positive play for children in many communities and the impact it can have on their development. To assist in reducing the prevalence of bullying, the Play Better campaign was launched to build, restore and upgrade 1 000 playgrounds in the country this and next year. The actor says being part of the campaign speaks to him, and he suggests that communities come together and support each other. Asked how the message about “positive play” can also be taken to marginalised areas, he says:…

Bakkie sales continue to lead the charts in South Africa and out in front is the venerable Toyota Hilux. Whether it’s a single-cab workhorse or the GR-Sport, we love it. I mean, it even has whole websites and social media groups dedicated to it that inform, advise and keep owners up to date with all manner of assistance. Toyota knows it has a winner, even if a new generation version is likely only in 2025, so it keeps the Toyota Hilux relevant with tweaks, decals and limited editions. As Toyota releases it, it moves off the showroom floor quicker than it can come out of the Prospecton plant in Durban. One of the version is the Hilux Raider X, which we’ll be spending time with for the next three months.…

Do you have what it takes to compete in this year’s Fortuner Challenge and drive away with a new Toyota Fortuner? If you’re any good at offroad driving, running, cycling, navigational challenges, watersports and can keep a cool head under pressure while solving problems and building puzzles, then this is for you. In short, you need to be good at speed, endurance, mental and physical problem solving. Following the same recipe as previous years, four heroes will be teamed up with four contestants from different media houses, including Independent Newspapers. Over two days each team competes in various tough challenges and at the end of it, points are tallied to see who gets the key to the Fortuner also fitted with Thule racks, a Thule Chasm luggage set and a…

The reversal of visa restrictions on Palestinians seeking to travel to South Africa has finally happened. And no thanks to the ANC-led government of (President) Cyril Ramaphosa. May sound strange and perhaps carries a hint of ingratitude? Not at all if one considers that while Israelis enjoyed and continue to benefit from unhindered travel access to South Africa, Palestinians were denied this right. And if the context of the background to visa restrictions is relevant to understand why the ANC would be embarrassed, let’s unpack it. Our research at the time discovered this unjust anomaly and uncovered that the restrictions were imposed post-1994. In other words, the ANC-led government introduced stiff conditions on Palestinians – making it impossible for them to enter South Africa, while at the same time allowing…

Japan and Samoa face off in the “death zone” in Toulouse today (9pm kick-off), both knowing that defeat will leave their World Cup hopes hanging by a thread and that even victory might ultimately not be enough. Samoa are second in Group D, nine points behind leaders England and ahead of Japan on points difference, but a victory without a bonus point could allow Argentina, who face the group’s whipping boys Chile on Saturday, to jump to second with one round of games to go. In the last round, Japan face Argentina before Samoa face in-form England, a team they have never beaten. “This Samoa game is a very important one for us,” Japan captain Kazuki Himeno said in Japanese on Tuesday. “But in this death zone, we knew this…

Proteas captain Temba Bavuma and his troops have full confidence in all-rounder Andile Phehlukwayo to deliver at the 50-over World Cup despite his struggles over the last four years in the green and gold. When a 20-year-old all-rounder makes his international debut against Australia and helps his team win a thriller of a match, people sit up and take notice of the talent and the fearlessness of the youngster. That is what happened in 2016 when Phehlukwayo blasted an unbeaten 42, which included two sixes and four fours to ensure South Africa beat Australia at Kingsmead. During that match, the youngster showed the world what he is about and the potential he has. That unbeaten 42 was almost seven years ago and Phehlukwayo has not gotten close to where his…

Sofyan Amrabat believes that Manchester United can still do “something big” this season after the Morocco midfielder helped his troubled team get back to winning ways. Amrabat impressed on his first start for the club as he filled in at left-back before switching to his preferred midfield role during Tuesday night’s English League Cup third-round win against Crystal Palace. The 27-year-old played a key role in the 3-0 victory at Old Trafford, lifting some of the pressure on the team after a dismal start to the campaign. After an injury delayed his debut following his transfer deadline-day arrival from Fiorentina, Amrabat finally came off the bench in Saturday’s 1-0 win at Burnley before starting against Palace. Those victories have changed the mood at the club after United lost four of…

ELECTRICITY users in South Africa will have to contend with persistently higher stages of rotational power cuts during the upcoming summer season in spite of a warmer climate and Eskom returning a number of generation units online. The struggling power utility yesterday warned that the current Energy Availability Factor (EAF) – the percentage of maximum energy generation that a plant is capable of supplying to the electrical grid – was currently hovering around 55%, still very far from the 65% target of this financial year. Eskom has needed to implement load shedding every day between April 1 and August 31 this year. The utility implemented stage 6 load shedding for 39 of the 153 winter days, with outages averaging between stage 3 and stage 4. The…

THE VALUE of South African agricultural output has more than doubled in real terms since 1994, according to Bureau for Economic Research (BER). Agricultural experts – Professor Johann Kirsten and Professor Ferdi Meyer – were assessing how the agricultural sector has performed against the development objectives and targets outlined in the National Development Plan (NDP). While there was a sense of the exceptional performance of the agriculture sector, there were, however, threats on the horizon that could negate the gains of the last decade, according to the 2023 BFAP Baseline as well as data on land reform collected by the BER. This growth was attributed to increased productivity, which was underpinned by technological innovation, as well as growth in traditional export markets in addition to access to new ones.…

SOUTH Africa’s informal economy has evolved significantly over time and today, is regarded as a hotbed of opportunity for innovative entrepreneurs and a fast growing market. A recent research report by GG Alcock, titled “kasinomics”, revealed that the informal sector is not only sizeable, it is also structured and fairly complex. The report found that back-room rental earnings currently total at least R20 billion annually, while informal haircare establishments are valued at an accumulative R10bn a year. Likewise, the fast food informal sector has grown to a value of around R90bn a year. According to a recent study by Mastercard, 60% of the people who start an informal business in South Africa do so because they are unable to find formal employment and have no alternative source of income.…

ASCENDIS Health, which has over the past two years fought off extreme financial difficulties, told its embattled shareholders yesterday it was investigating a delisting as the next step in a strategy to unlock value and return capital to shareholders, but just not to expect much of a premium on the share price. The share price fell 1.45% to close at 68 cents on the JSE yesterday. In line with the financial crisis at the wellness chemicals and products company, the share price has fallen from as much as R10.25 per share five years ago. The company said in a notice yesterday it had entered into discussions with a consortium led by ACN Capital IHC, which is owned and controlled by Carl Neethling, who is also the CEO of Ascendis.…

OLD MUTUAL, which reported a strong performance for the six months to June 30, was likely to continue to perform well in the second half, its results showed yesterday. “I remain confident in the clear strategic direction of our core and growth businesses. While the macro- economic outlook in our markets is expected to remain challenging for our customers, we remain focused on delivering strong top-line growth across our business, creating excellent value, and improving efficiencies,” CEO Iain Williamson said yesterday. “We expect sales and value of new business to remain robust for the remainder of 2023. Persistency outcomes in Mass and Foundation Cluster are likely to remain under pressure, which will continue to impact our results from operations. Our management interventions to improve persistency … are yielding positive results.”…

Train is coming to South Africa! The multi-Grammy award-winning music group will be doing two performances in Cape Town and Johannesburg in 2024. Fresh off their 50 cities US tour, Train has announced their I Know, It’s Been A Long Time Coming SA tour today with tickets going on sale from tomorrow at 10am. On May 9, 2024, they will perform at the Green Point Cricket Club, and thereafter travel to Marks Park Sports Club in Emmarentia, Joburg, for their second performance on May 11. With mega hits like Drops of Jupiter, Drive By and all-time favourite, Hey, Soul Sister among other chart-toppers, the group has sold more than 10 million albums and 30 million tracks worldwide. Train frontman Pat Monahan said: “After 25 years of releasing Train’s first album,…

An accounting teacher at North- riding Secondary School in Johannesburg was dismissed and declared unfit to work with children after he was found guilty of kissing a Grade 9 pupil, which later led her to self-harm. Learner SD testified during arbitration at the Education Labour Relations Council that Mpho Masinga taught her accounting in Grades 8 and 9 and during term 2 of 2022, she went to charge her phone in Masinga’s classroom. When she went to fetch her phone, Masinga told her that she must give him her phone number as a punishment, which she did. She stated that Masinga used to call her almost every day. She testified that during term 3 of 2022, she went to collect a book from the library, and when she went out,…

The Special Investigating Unit (SIU) said it welcomes the ruling of the High Court of South Africa: Gauteng Division, Pretoria, that dismissed with costs an application to stop the auction of a luxury Bryanston house linked to businessman Hamilton Ndlovu. The high court order dated September 1, comes after the SIU and the National Health Laboratory Services (NHLS) accepted an offer of R7.1 million for the Bryanston home as part of the implementation of investigation outcomes and consequence management to recover losses suffered by the State and NHLS. The luxury house was auctioned on July 4, following a final forfeiture order that the Special Tribunal confirmed in January. SIU spokesperson Kaizer Kganyago said that Zaisan Kaihatsu (PTY) LTD, whose sole director is Nokuthula Mokoena, tried to block the auction in…

South Africa is at the coalface of a relentless battle against a myriad of quasi-criminal networks and syndicates, operating with transnational connections and engaging in a spectrum of criminal activities, from drug trafficking to armed robberies and fraud. This is according to the 2023 Global Organised Crime Index released on Tuesday that showed that South Africa scored a 7.18 criminality score (out of 10) – the seventh highest in the world (out of 193 countries) and the third in Africa. South Africa’s score was 6.63 in 2021 – the last time the index was published. Myanmar has the highest criminality score (8.15), followed by Colombia (7.75) and then Mexico (7.57). In Africa, the Democratic Republic of Congo (7.35) and Nigeria (7.28) were ahead of South Africa. According to the global…

Police in Calcutta, Mpumalanga, are in pursuit of assailants who fatally shot a 45-year-old truck driver on the R40 Road in Marite, outside Hazyview, on Tuesday morning. During the “heartbreaking” incident, police said some community members looted dairy products that were inside the truck, while the body of the murdered truck driver was motionless behind the steering wheel. “The driver as well as two of his crew members were driving along the R40 Road in a truck, heading towards Bushbuckridge for a delivery,” said Mpumalanga police spokesperson Brigadier Selvy Mohlala. “As they were passing through Marite, next to a certain filling station, it is alleged that four to five armed suspects emerged from the roadside with firearms.” The assailants allegedly tried to stop the truck by getting onto the road.…

A dog owner’s girlfriend made R1 000 bail on Tuesday in the Wynberg Magistrate’s Court after being arrested for allegedly taping a dog inside a plastic bag and placing it as collectable waste for the city’s employees to pick up in Pelican Park last Thursday. The City of Cape Town’s employees made a brutal discovery as they were emptying a waste bag into their collection truck in Pelican Park last Thursday, finding a dog, still alive, taped inside a plastic bag. The employees then took immediate action to save the pet from potential harm from the truck machinery. According to the Cape of the Good Hope SPCA, the animal was found in a severe state, with his legs bound together and face taped shut. The critical condition of the dog…

Honor has consistently employed a scientific approach in its commitment to human-centric innovation, particularly in the field of eye care technology. From its inception, Honor has maintained a long-standing partnership with TÜV Rheinland, a renowned testing institution, to ensure the certification of numerous Honor devices for its effective blue light filtering capabilities. Honor is pushing the boundaries of eye care, with its latest release, the Honor 90 5G. The Honor 90 5G is equipped with the industry-first 0 Risk Eye-Comfort Display boasting 3840Hz PWM Dimming technology, the highest in the industry to maintain a more comfortable, flicker-free viewing experience minimising eye strain and providing a comfortable viewing experience, in all scenarios. Industry-Leading 3840Hz PWM Dimming Technology The PWM dimming method is known to have three stages of risk when it…

The proclamation by President Cyril Ramaphosa allowing the Special Investigating Unit to investigate the Tshwane Rooiwal Wastewater Treatment Plant contract is important to root out malfeasance within the procurement processes within the city. The auditor-general says the city accumulated irregular and wasteful expenditure of about R10 billion for the 2021/22 financial year. The report points to a rotten procurement system that flaunts its own policies. This proclamation, although it deals with only one contract costing R290 million, proves the correctness of the concerns that the select committee on co-operative governance and traditional affairs had on the affairs of the city. It must be noted that the city has welcomed the proclamation, but it raises more questions of whether the city is capable of rooting out corruption and ensuring an accountable…

I’VE been pottering around in our long-term Volkswagen Tiguan over the past few weeks, having taken over the driving duties from colleague Jason Woosey. I say pottering around because I haven’t had the opportunity yet to do some long-distance driving, so it’s been spending time in urban areas which is probably what most average owners will be doing. It’s the 1.4 TSI Life model and while there’s a couple of other options in the range, among them the 162kW 2.0 TSI, 2.0TDI R-Line 4Motion and the bonkers R model, the one we have on test probably hits the sweet spot for most consumers. It’s powered by VW’s 1.4-litre TSI turbo petrol engine delivering 100kW and 250Nm driving the front wheels via a six-speed DSG dual-clutch gearbox or if you want,…

The preliminary rounds of Caf competitions take centre stage this weekend with the South African contingent readying themselves for their respective tasks. Orlando Pirates and SuperSport United have slightly more difficult missions to complete at home in their second-leg fixtures against clubs from Botswana. The Buccaneers will need to find their goal-scoring touch to overturn a 1-0 defeat in the Champions League when they welcome Jwaneng Galaxy to Orlando Stadium tomorrow. Pirates have hit a bit of a blip in recent weeks and are on an unwanted three-game losing streak. Perhaps the most concerning factor for Pirates will be their recent inability to score as matches against Jwaneng Galaxy, Mamelodi Sundowns and most recently Stellenbosch FC have seen them draw blanks. Coach Jose Riveiro recently admitted to not being sure…

England head to the World Cup in India aiming to become just the third team to retain their title and seeking to underline their status as the pre-eminent force in white-ball cricket. As recently as 2015, England suffered a humiliating group-stage exit, but they are now the reigning world champions in both men’s one-day international and Twenty20 cricket. Test cricket, particularly the Ashes series against Australia, has long been regarded as the pinnacle for England players. But a 15-run defeat by Bangladesh in Adelaide that knocked England out of the 2015 World Cup prompted a rethink. Andrew Strauss, who took over as managing director of England cricket after the debacle, encouraged greater separation between the Test and limited-overs teams. The former Ashes-winning captain sacked Peter Moores as coach and appointed…

Petition for signatures to endorse and contribute to a legal challenge HORSE owners are mounting a campaign to take legal action against the Onderstepoort Biological Products (OBP), the government-owned sole producer of some critical animal vaccines, for their negligence and inability to fulfil their mandate to provide vaccine. This comes as a group called the Southern African Agricultural initiative (SAAI) circulates petitions for signatures to endorse and contribute to a legal challenge on the entity for failing to provide sufficient supplies of the African Horse Sickness (AHS) vaccine with concerns of an impending rainy season in most parts of the country fosters its outbreak. “We must stand to protect our horses from this travesty. Please sign up and support SAAI in the court action to force the manufacturers of the…

THE SOUTH African government has committed to finalise the Freight Logistics Roadmap, which will outline a sequenced set of actions to fundamentally reform the logistics system, by the end of October. In a joint update released yesterday by the government and business, the government said the roadmap would be completed next month. President Cyril Ramaphosa held a meeting with members of the Cabinet and senior business leaders on Tuesday to receive an update on progress made in the collaboration between government and business. The entities formed a collaboration in June aiming to significantly grow South Africa’s economy, and restore public and investor confidence through critical interventions to address the key challenges of energy, logistics, crime and corruption. Among other target areas, in the logistical focal area, government and business said…

IN THE DYNAMIC world of business, where strategies evolve and markets fluctuate, one constant remains – cash flow. It’s the heartbeat of any enterprise, whether a budding start-up or an established conglomerate, and the lifeblood that fuels growth, enables strategic investments, and ensures day-to-day operations run smoothly. Understanding and proactively managing cash flow is not just a financial exercise reserved for accountants and financial analysts; it is a mission-critical imperative that every business owner and manager must grasp and manage. Understanding the essence of cash flow and having a well-crafted cash flow optimisation strategy can make the difference between mere survival and exponential success. In its simplest form, cash flow is the inflow and outflow of money within a business. While, on the surface, this is a relatively simple concept,…

CONSTRUCTION companies in South Africa have remained optimistic about conditions for the new year on the back of a continued rise in construction activity and, consequently, lower tendering competition. The FNB/BER Civil Confidence Index, released yesterday, gained two points to register a level of 43 points in the third quarter of 2023, and is now 19 points higher than a year ago. The index has now been around 40 points for three consecutive quarters. The fieldwork for the third quarter survey was conducted by the Bureau for Economic Research (BER) on behalf of FNB between August 16 and 31. FNB said even though the majority of respondents were still dissatisfied with prevailing business conditions, the current reading was above the long-term average. FNB senior economist Siphamandla Mkhwanazi…

Movie buffs in Durban, Johannesburg and Cape Town are in for a treat as Oscar nominees, Cannes winners and other thought-provoking films from Europe will be shown during the European Film Festival. Set to take place from October 12 to 22 at The Zone in Johannesburg, The Labia in Cape Town and at Ster-Kinekor Gateway in Durban, the line-up features 16 new award-winning films. The European Union’s ambassador to South Africa, Sandra Kramer, said that not only does the festival showcase some of the most acclaimed productions to have emerged from the film industries in Europe, but the films provide thought-provoking perspectives on issues that are just as meaningful to South Africans as they are to people everywhere. Under the theme of “Transition”, movie buffs will have the privilege…

The band of international mercenaries known as the Expendables are brutal, brazen and messy, yet they ultimately get the job done. Much the same can said of “Expend4bles”, whose position in the franchise’s 13-year chronology is embedded in its title. The movie is unsurprising and not especially ambitious, but it’s agile enough to vault over most of its flaws. Reportedly the last Expendables to feature series co-founder Sylvester Stallone, the film is structured in part as a solo for Jason Statham. His character, Lee Christmas, is banished from the team by its oily CIA handler (Andy Garcia) after a failed mission in Libya that doesn’t go all that well for Stallone’s Barney Ross. But Christmas soon teams up with one of the many first-time cast members, Thai action star Tony…

Tears were evident as the SA Navy paid tribute to three of the submariners who died when they were swept off their submarine, SAS Manthatisi, during an exercise at sea last Wednesday. Family members flew in to Cape Town to celebrate the lives of their loved ones. It was a sad service, with Chief of the SA Navy Vice-Admiral Monde Lobese also shedding tears along with family members as the SA Navy heroes – Warrant Officer Class 1 Mokwapa Lucas Mojela, 43; Lieutenant-Commander Gillian Elizabeth Hector, 33 (the first woman in Africa to navigate a submarine); and Master Warrant Officer William Malesela Mathipa, 48 – were remembered. Both Mathipa and Mojela were from Limpopo, while Hector was from Gqeberha. Mathipa joined the submarine squadron in 1998, and commenced with…

The assault case against eight VIP protectors attached to Deputy President Paul Mashatile was postponed to November for further investigation. The suspects made a brief appearance in the Randburg Magistrate’s Court yesterday. They are facing charges of assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm, damage to property, pointing of a firearm and obstruction of justice. The court postponed the matter to November 9 amid a request from the prosecution. The State said it still has an identity parade to conduct as well as time to study the mobile records. State prosecutor advocate Elize le Roux said they needed more time to conclude their investigations. Making their appearance in court in August, all accused submitted affidavits indicating that they planned to plead not guilty; they also claimed that they might…

Record-breaking fuel price hikes, high interest rates, increases in food costs and a growing debt crisis, have left South Africans struggling with a number of financial challenges and leaning on debt to make ends meet. But what happens to your debt when you die? According to Charnel Collins, CEO of National Debt Advisors, heirs do not necessarily have to directly inherit the debts of the deceased but there is chance that a deceased’s debt might affect their heirs, especially if arrangements have not been made for the debt through a valid will. Collins said: “When a person passes away, their estate, which consists of all assets and liabilities, including debts, property, vehicles, furniture, and bank account balances, is responsible for settling these obligations before beneficiaries receive their inheritances.” Here are…

Ingredients Whipped cream (for decoration): 200g whipped cream ½ cup icing sugar 1 tsp vanilla extract For the cake: 2 cups cake flour 1 tbsp baking powder ½ cup sugar ¼ tsp Robertsons ground ginger 2 tsp Robertsons cinnamon 2 beaten eggs 1 tsp vanilla essence 1 cup full-cream amasi ½ cup vegetable oil 410g sliced apricots and peaches Method For whipped cream In a bowl, mix the whipped cream, icing sugar and vanilla essence using an electric mixer. Mix until the cream is frothy, smooth, and whipped. For the cake Preheat the oven to 180°C. Separate the dry and wet ingredients and sift the flour and dry ingredients together. Separate the egg yolks and whites. In a bowl, mix the egg yolks with the wet ingredients. Add the dry…

IT WAS a celebratory atmosphere at Ontlametse Phalatse Primary School in Hebron, Pretoria, when more than 600 learners received Tutudesks. The donations were part of the Rotary International’s campaign in honouring Nobel Peace Prize Award winner Archbishop Desmond Tutu and activist Ontlametse Phalatse. The organisation has raised over $80 000 (about R1.5 million) to buy the Tutudesks that are expected to be donated to 20 million children across Africa. The desks are composed of modified content so that they become more than just writing instruments for the children, but learning aids, to advance basic literacy and education according to the district governor of Rotary District 9400, Francis Callard. District 9400 incorporates Gauteng, Mpumalanga, Limpopo, Eswatini, Botswana and Mozambique. Speaking at the school yesterday, Callard said: “To celebrate hundred years of…

After a successful run earlier this year, John Kani’s classic play, Nothing But The Truth, presented by the thespians Sello Maake KaNcube and Daphne Kuhn, returns to Sandton’s Theatre on the Square from October 3–21. Maake KaNcube told The Star, when announcing it in March, that the show is an honour to the legendary Kani. He said he has always looked up to Kani, and his work has always been his inspiration. “It is a play that Bra John wrote, and he wrote an amazing piece of work. It is a play about reconciliation in the social sense of the family dynamics that are in the play. “I grew up knowing Bra John only from reading the plays that he did then. Which is Sizwe Banzi and The Island. “And…

The signing of a memorandum between China Media Group and the South African Football Association marked another leap in China-South Africa embracing sports in advancing people-to-people diplomacy. CMG president Shen Haixiong and Safa president Danny Jordaan signed the memorandum in Johannesburg on August 23, on the sidelines of the 15th BRICS Summit. The memorandum says the two sides will work on football cultural exchanges, arrange football games between the two countries, facilitate sport content production and distribution, and arrange for personnel exchanges as well as management interactions. CMG is a major player in sports broadcasting, with demonstrable world-class broadcasting capabilities and modern sophisticated scientific and technologically innovative equipment. CMG has successfully broadcast major sports events like the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympic Games and the 2022 Fifa World Cup in Qatar,…

Marketing staff at Suzuki Auto South Africa had been itching to host the world’s biggest Jimny gathering for quite some time. The original plan was to stage such an event in 2020, but we all know how pear shaped that year went. But after reaching out to Jimny owners in 2022 to see who might be interested in such a gathering, it all came together over the 2023 Heritage Day weekend. It turns out that a quite lot of them were interested. More than 800 to be precise. They all descended on the Langkranz Farm near the beautiful southern Free State town of Clarens for a weekend of “Suzuki Safari Town” festivities, which included music, great food and good old fashioned kuier. And a Guinness World Record to boot. On…

Dayyaan Galiem (Joburg Super Kings) and Matthew Boast (Pretoria Capitals) headlined the 2023 SA20 auction as joint most-expensive buys at R1.6-million. The much-anticipated auction took place at the Wanderers Club yesterday with 250 local and international players going under the hammer. Former SA Under-19 all-rounder Boast set the six franchises alight, promising the teams high pace and handy capabilities with bat in hand in the lower order. The Super Kings were the first to bid for the youngster with the base price set at R175 000, but quickly after that bid, the Pretoria Capitals also showed interest and eventually won the bidding war with the youngster walking away with R1.6m. The Super Kings were determined to secure the services of an all-rounder in the auction and when the auctioneer called…

Banyana Banyana are in urgent need of help if they are to make an impression and improve their record against higher-ranked teams. Over the past week, South Africa’s national women’s team suffered back-to-back defeats at the hands of the US, who enjoyed a 5-0 aggregate. The US scored three of their five goals from set-pieces, which has for some time been an issue for the South Africans. The team’s poor defence at set-piece time, especially corners, is nothing new to Banyana coach Desiree Ellis. This is evident from Ellis’ post-match remarks after the first match which ended in a 3-0 defeat. “We always speak about picking up and if you look at the first goal, we did not pick up. Even the third goal, we didn’t pick up.” At the…

Beleaguered Cape Town Spurs coach Shaun Bartlett says his players know they need to step up to another level if they are to taste success in Saturday’s derby against cross-town rivals Cape Town City at Cape Town Stadium. Spurs have had a horrible start to the season after losing all six Premiership matches. Bartlett said his team were hamstrung by the lack of “early season” training after the players had to contend with the PSL relegation/promotion play-offs. Another factor that contributed to the team’s poor form was the integration of new players and they were slow to gel with the rest of the squad. Nevertheless, Bartlett feels Saturday’s derby can kickstart their fight to end their winless run. “The derby is a massive game for us and an opportunity to…