Table of contents for 2024-11-21 in Star

WesBank and its CEO Ghana Msibi have been exonerated of any wrongdoing following the dismissal of all charges by the SAPS and the senior public prosecutor, the vehicle finance bank said in a statement yesterday. WesBank received confirmation from the SAPS and the senior public prosecutor that the cases of fraud brought by Emerald van Zyl had been formally dismissed. An online search showed that Van Zyl had opened a case of fraud at the Bellville police station in Cape Town in July. Van Zyl had alleged, also in media reports, that WesBank had overcharged its black clients on their vehicle finance accounts based on incorrect interest calculations. “Following their investigation into the fraud charges … the SAPS and the prosecutor in the case have elected not to pursue any…

The South African Reserve Bank (SARB) will not give financially-constrained consumers the Christmas relief they were expecting with a deep cut in the interest rates today in spite of inflation plunging further below its 3-6% target range and to its lowest level in 4-and-a-half years. Instead, economists yesterday said the SARB will likely overlook this slowing down of consumer prices and only cut rates by 25 basis points as the headline inflation base will start normalising next year on the back of the US president-elect Donald Trump implementing drastic import tariffs. Data from Statistics South Africa (StatsSA) yesterday showed that the annual consumer price index (CPI) cooled for a fifth consecutive month and declined sharply from 3.8% year-on-year in September to 2.8% October, largely driven lower by declining fuel and…

South African shoppers may want to dial down their Black Friday expectations this year, with market data indicating a slowdown in consumer enthusiasm for the annual global shopping frenzy while retailers adjust their strategies toward a month-long approach that extends promotions across November. According to statistics from Absa CIB, where consumer spending and transaction volumes on Black Friday once experienced double-digit growth—both in 2021 and 2022 this slowed to just 4% in consumer spending and 8% transaction volumes in 2023. Moreover, on-the-day spending for Black Friday last year declined: the rand value of transactions dropped by 4%, in comparison to 2022. Furthermore, foot traffic on Black Friday 2023 plummeted, with an 80% decrease in in-store visits year-on-year. While some of this downturn could be attributed to Black Friday falling before…

South African businesses have faced significant challenges over the past few years, with the economic strain peaking during the national lockdown in 2020. Since then, a stagnating economy, high interest rates and ongoing power and infrastructure crises have made the journey to financial recovery difficult for many. According to recent data from Stats SA, 1130 businesses were liquidated in the first three quarters of 2024. While this is an alarming figure, it represents an 8.3% decrease in year-to-date closures for January to September compared to 2023. This decline aligns with a broader downward trend in liquidations since the peak in 2020. Amid these challenges, there are glimmers of hope. The Government of National Unity seems to have boosted market sentiment, load shedding has been suspended for over seven months and…

Unisa has taken a significant step forward in advancing agricultural education, research and community engagement with the acquisition of an experimental farm in Bronkhorstspruit. The formal signing ceremony for the transfer of ownership was held at the office of Professor Puleng LenkaBula, the institution’s Principal and Vice-Chancellor (VC), on September 19, 2024. The signing marked a major milestone in the university’s vision to establish a truly world-class research and training hub dedicated to agricultural and environmental sciences. The signing ceremony saw the presence of the VC, as signatory on behalf of Unisa, supported by members of the institution’s executive leadership, including Prof Thenjiwe Meyiwa, Vice-Principal: Research, Postgraduate Studies, Innovation and Commercialisation, Prof Solomon Magano, Acting Vice-Principal: Institutional Development, Matsiababa Motebele, Vice-Principal: Operations and Facilities, Byron Stanfliet, Acting Chief Financial Officer,…

Momentum Group said yesterday the positive impetus in its year-end results continued into the first quarter of the 2025 financial year, with good operational performance supported by satisfactory new business at most business units. The financial services, insurance, and investment group said in an operational update that, from an earnings perspective for the three-month period, most business units continued to deliver encouraging results. “The favourable moves in key economic indicators are starting to reflect in our business experience; it is, however, too soon to indicate a significant change,” the group directors said. Recurring premiums increased 8% to R1.08 billion in the quarter. Single premiums were up 3% to R15.68bn. Total direct expenses were up 8% to R3.24bn. Assets under administration increased 17% to R280bn. Health members under administration increased 2%…

One of Mzansi’s most fierce and feisty political leaders, Helen Zille, has channelled her inner fashionista after a daring transformation, dressing up as a drag queen to make an appearance on the show Die Tollie & Manila Show. But the outspoken Zille, who is famous for her wily tongue and stirring in politics, has boldly declared although the experience was fun, she will never do it again. “Scary. It was terrifying to see myself like that!” she shared. “I think you should always try something once,” she said. Zille is the chairperson of the Democratic Alliance’s Federal Council. She was invited to the Die Tollie & Manila Show, a fresh, high-energy talk show where popular Mzansi celebs team up with drag queens, Tollie Parton and Manila von Teez for an…

The North West Department of Community Safety and Transport Management said it will not be sending medication down to the more than 3 000 illegal miners said to be still underground at the Stilfontein mineshaft. Yesterday, the task team led by North West Community Safety MEC Wessels Morweng, began the first phase of the retrieval operation to bring illegal miners to the surface. This comes after reports indicate that many miners have remained underground due to fear of arrest. With significant numbers believed to be trapped in the recently rehabilitated Shaft 11, the urgency of the situation has reached a critical point as safety teams work diligently to assess the conditions and engage with those who have not yet emerged. On Tuesday, the mine rescue team conducted evaluations of the…

Unisa has launched Africa’s first next-generation DNA sequencing platform, the PacBio Revio, developed in collaboration with Inqaba Biotec. The first-of-its-kind breakthrough signifies a major leap forward in bolstering the university’s catalytic niche areas focusing on science and technology, and unlocks more insights into health, agriculture and environmental research. The acquisition and installation of the state-of-the-art platform, co-funded by both parties, will be housed at Inqaba Biotec’s facilities in Pretoria. The project aims to offer next-generation sequencing (NGS) services to the wider scientific community using both the PacBio Revio and the independently acquired PacBio Onso systems. The initiative is expected to significantly boost the capacity for high-quality, long-range sequencing data, enabling comprehensive analyses crucial for studies in genomics and epigenetics. The university and Inqaba Biotec explain that their strategic partnership underscores…

ACTIONSA has fired back at former Tshwane mayor Cilliers Brink for criticising the new administration's handling of the Hammanskraal water crisis. Brink claimed that despite the launch of Phase One of the Magalies Klipdrift Package Plant, the City of Tshwane still needs to complete pipe maintenance and repair work before residents can access clean tap water. He expressed concerns about the project's delay, stating that the first phase was initially set to be completed by the end of October but was postponed. “This means that there will be yet another delay in getting clean tap water to Hammanskraal residents without an indication of when the work will be completed. This is extremely concerning, since Tshwane had a comprehensive plan to meet its obligations in terms of the Klipdrift project when…

Lusanda Ndita’s artistic journey is as unexpected as it is inspiring. The 2024 recipient of the prestigious Absa L’Atelier Gerard Sekoto Award, Ndita never imagined he would become an artist. Since 2004, the Gerard Sekoto Award has been awarded annually by Absa, in partnership with the French Institute of South Africa, the French Embassy in South Africa, and the South African National Association for the Visual Arts. This year’s Absa L’Atelier Awards ceremony took place at Kromdraai Impact Hub in Krugersdorp on 16 November. Growing up, Ndita’s passion was football, a pursuit that occupied him from childhood through high school. However, his mother, a teacher, encouraged him to explore further education. “I never thought I was going to be an artist. Even at school, I never took drama. So I…

THIS year has been a busy one for Volkswagen South Africa (VWSA), which launched an all-new Tiguan as well as facelifted versions of the T-Cross, Touareg and evergreen Polo Vivo. While 2025 won’t necessarily be as action-packed, there is still plenty to look forward to from the German brand. VWSA has confirmed that it will introduce entry-level versions of the T-Cross and Golf 8 early in the new year, while the seven-seat Tayron is expected to make its appearance later in the year, and possibly even the facelifted Golf GTI and R models. When the updated Volkswagen T-Cross arrived in August in a newly structured range of the Life, Style and R-Line versions, the engine line-up was whittled down to a single 1.0-litre TSI DSG variant with 85kW. But the…

Bafana Bafana coach Hugo Broos is exuding positivity as his team gear up for a four-month hiatus from international football. This upcoming break comes on the heels of a successful qualification campaign for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco, a juncture that has uplifted the spirits of the South African men’s football side. Bafana secured their spot at the continental tournament by topping their qualifying group, culminating in a commanding 3-0 win over South Sudan at a sold-out Cape Town Stadium on Tuesday night. Iqraam Rayners opened the scoring in the seventh minute following good work by Oswin Appollis on the left, before Patrick Maswanganyi added a second in the 22nd minute. Stalwart midfielder Teboho Mokoena converted a penalty five minutes into the second half. This victory has…

The 2024 rugby season has seen its fair share of highs and lows for rising South African star Cameron Hanekom, and now, the stage is set for a pivotal moment in his burgeoning rugby career. Initially a late addition to the Springbok squad due to utility back Damian Willemse’s injury, the 22-year-old Bulls loose forward is poised to become the 52nd player utilised by head coach Rassie Erasmus this season, should he see action in Saturday’s Test against Wales in Cardiff (7.40pm kick-off). Selected on the bench for the world champions in their final Test of the UK tour, Hanekom’s anticipated debut carries the weight of expectation and the thrill of a long-held dream coming to fruition. After being sidelined earlier in the year by a hamstring injury during the…

Like Mickey from the epic Rocky movies, Proteas Test coach Shukri Conrad remains firmly in the increasingly under-pressure Aiden Markram’s corner. Markram has endured a torrid last six months, having had to deal with the heartbreak of leading the Proteas in a T20 World Cup final defeat, which has since carried through to a lean run with the bat in the shortest format of the game. Equally, his most recent red-ball outings in Bangladesh yielded scores of just six, 20 and 33 – suggesting that the 30-year-old may be immersed in an overall slump. But the SA Test mentor has come out swinging in defence of Markram. “I don’t know what the problem is or even why there is a conversation about Aiden. He’s the best opening batter in the…

Electricity and Energy Minister Kgosientsho Ramokgopa said yesterday that an update on the Integrated Resource Plan (IRP) will be available in the first quarter of next year. On November 26 there will be a stakeholder engagement meeting with those entities who submitted “substantive” comments after the draft IRP 2023 was released on January 4, 2024. The original target was to have IRP 2023 ready in May 2024, but after receiving more than 4 300 comments, the government decided to relook at the IRP and have the South African National Energy Development Institute incorporate some of the suggestions. “The draft IRP 2023 had two time horizons. The first one was until 2030 and that was to address the problem of load shedding. I am happy to say that on November…

Move involving transfer of about R400bn in assets to global asset manager raises concerns in SA Sanlam Group has appointed Ninety One as its primary active investment managers for single-managed assets, a move that will involve the transfer of some R400 billion of assets to the global asset manager, but which has raised some competition concerns locally. In recognition of the value transferred, Ninety One, a company that before 2020 was part of Investec’s operations in South Africa, intends to issue shares to Sanlam, giving Sanlam about 12.3% of Ninety One’s share capital. Ninety One is South Africa’s second- largest asset manager – the state-owned Public Investment Corporation is the biggest. Ninety One will remain an independent investment manager with staff as its largest shareholder. Ninety One CEO Hendrik du…

Economic analysts are calling for an end to import tariffs as well as a more competitive environment to free up industry so it can contribute more to economic growth under the Government of National Unity (GNU). This comes as South Africa in June notified the World Trade Organisation (WTO) of its intention to impose a 9% duty on hot-rolled steel products to protect the local industry from a surge in imports. Domestic steel producers are in support of safeguard measures such as import duties as as legally applicable trade remedies used to level the playing field and to protect against cheap imports dumped by Asian countries. However, Donald MacKay, founder and CEO of XA Global Trade Advisors, said the current industrial policy was outdated and negatively affecting economic activity. “I've…

Having more than a decade of experience in the engineering industry, Omphile Sebogodi started her company, JunRea Consulting, aiming to transform the consulting landscape by addressing critical supply chain inefficiencies that many businesses face. Sebogodi, who started JunRea Consulting last year, told Business Report that she recognised the need for reliability and efficiency in a rapidly changing business landscape. “JunRea Consulting offers specialised engineering consulting services focused on supply chain optimisation, particularly in the area of engineering spares, with an emphasis on minimising lead times. The company operates across all nine provinces of South Africa, aiming to make a nationwide impact,” the 34-year-old said. “My company specialises in serving heavy industry sectors. “ Our core services include material supply, engineering advisory and continuous improvement. We support businesses seeking operational efficiency,…

Kore Potash has finally signed the $1.9 billion (about R34bn) engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contract for its Kola project in Congo Brazzaville. The company is pursuing the Sintoukola Potash Project, including the Kola and Dougou Potash Permits in the Republic of Congo Brazzaville. After completing a $1.2 million fund-raise at the beginning of July, Kore Potash closed the half year to June 2024 with cash and cash equivalents worth nearly $1m against $1.5m in the year-earlier contrasting period, while its exploration and evaluation assets dipped by $3.6m It said yesterday that it had signed the EPC for the Kola project together with PowerChina, an integrated construction group that provides investment and financing, planning design, engineering construction, equipment manufacturing, and operation management for clean and low-carbon energy, water resources, environmental…

The highly anticipated Comedy Central Roast of Pearl Thusi is set to light up Gold Reef City’s Lyric Theatre today. TV and radio star Phat Joe, R&B musician Donald and platinum-selling singer-songwriter Zee Nxumalo will be joining Zodwa Wabantu, Randall Abrahams, Busiswa and Farieda “Pharoahfi” Metsileng to roast actress and presenter, Pearl Thusi. According to a statement: “Together, they’ll be firing shots at each other while trying to make Pearl Thusi squirm in her seat.” Each of these personalities will bring their unique flair and style, promising a night of side-splitting comedy and unforgettable moments. Joe, who believes that the entertainment business is not for “sissies” shared: “South Africans have a love-hate relationship with our stars. “The higher you rise, the harder you fall – and believe me, people love…

A New York priest who let Sabrina Carpenter film her Feather music video in his church has found himself in hot water. Monsignor Jamie Gigantiello has been relieved of “any pastoral oversight or governance role” after an investigation revealed other instances of mismanagement. In a statement, the Roman Catholic Diocese of Brooklyn’s Bishop Robert Brennan said: “I am saddened to share that investigations conducted by Alvarez & Marsal and Sullivan and Cromwell LLP have uncovered evidence of serious violations of diocesan policies and protocols at Our Lady of Mount Carmel – Annunciation Parish. “In order to safeguard the public trust and to protect church funds, I have appointed Bishop Witold Mroziewski as administrator of the Parish.” Gigantiello has been relieved of his duties at the Blessed Virgin Mary Catholic Church…

Premier fears local businesses are being undermined Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi has issued a stern warning to South Africans against registering spaza shops on behalf of foreigners. He described these individuals as “citizens who want to sell out the country”. Lesufi said: “I dare those South Africans that (feel) they can abuse our kindness and sell out our country by giving other people that are not properly registered (the opportunity) to operate our business. They will regret the day they agreed to that arrangement.” Lesufi emphasised that local businesses are crucial for the economic freedom of citizens striving to make ends meet. He warned those attempting to assist foreigners in registering businesses they would face severe consequences. “I can assure you they will regret it.” During a media briefing yesterday,…

With over two million households still having to fulfil Eskom’s Sunday deadline, scores of Soweto prepaid electricity users are irate after waiting for hours to upgrade their meters. The deadline to update their prepaid meters is November 24. Many individuals waiting in long lines outside the Eskom branch in Zola, Soweto, were visibly frustrated with the current deadline. With no shade and unpleasant sewer spillages on the streets, they expressed their willingness to update their meters, provided an extension to the deadline was granted. They waited in line for hours, which was deemed intolerable, in an attempt to prevent power outages when the new system was put into place. The upgrade process should not require customers to visit Eskom offices; however, it seems that many are encountering difficulties. Eskom introduced…

Tendai Matore, a seasoned finance executive, has been appointed as Acting Group chief financial officer (CFO) at the SABC, a testament to his deep expertise and long-standing leadership within the organisation. With more than 15 years’ experience in finance, Matore has been an instrumental part of the SABC’s financial management team, working closely with the outgoing group CFO, Yolande Van Biljon, for the past six years. His deep understanding of the corporation’s financial landscape, strategic priorities and operational goals makes him the ideal candidate to take on the role while the search for a permanent CFO continues. A chartered accountant (SA) with an MBA in finance from Durham Business School, Matore’s career is a showcase of financial acumen, transformative leadership and commitment to operational excellence. His journey through high-level roles…

RELIGIOUS leaders gathered at the Union Buildings to commemorate 1 000 days since the Russia-Ukraine war began, calling for the release of 19 500 Ukrainian children illegally captured by Russia. Those in attendance used the opportunity to pray and call for the release of children and others in the same predicament elsewhere in the world. President of Ukrainian Association of South Africa, Kateryna Aloshyna, pleaded for their safe return, emphasising the unimaginable loss and suffering these children endure away from their families. She said: “We pray for the safe return of all 19 500 Ukrainian children who have been forcefully deported by Russia.” She said prayers extended further to all children around the world who are victims of war and displacement in refugee camps. “Every child deserves safety, love and…

It was with a heavy heart that South Africa woke up to the sorrowful news of the passing of soccer legend Lucas Moripe in the early hours of yesterday morning, Tshwane Mayor Nasiphi Moya has said. Moya said 74-year-old icon not only left an indelible mark on the soccer field but also shaped the sporting identity of the City of Tshwane. Known as the “God of Football,” Moripe's extraordinary talents shone brightly during the 1970s, where he proudly donned the jerseys for the Orlando Pirates and the Pretoria Callies. His unique style of play and unmatched dedication earned him a revered place in the hearts of soccer fans across the nation. The Executive Mayor of Tshwane extended heartfelt condolences to the Moripe family, recognising the profound impact the soccer legend…

In a move aimed at enhancing career readiness among students, the North West’s MEC for Education, Viola Motsumi, held a pivotal meeting with senior management from the North West Department of Education and representatives of the University of South Africa (Unisa) on 19 November 2024. This partnership seeks to introduce a groundbreaking career guidance programme for learners, which will begin in Grade 9. The proposed initiative comes as part of Unisa’s broader strategy to empower young South Africans to make well-informed career choices early, thereby aligning their innate talents, interests, and future aspirations with potential career opportunities before they even sit for their matric examinations. The meeting, which was led by Justice Dabampe, President of the Unisa convocation, emphasised the significance of creating paths that facilitate early engagement with various…

Nkosinathi “Black Coffee” Maphumulo, an internationally acclaimed DJ, has expressed immense excitement at leading a charity concert to support local entrepreneurs, showcase culinary talents, and raise funds for community initiatives. Black Coffee recently took centre stage at the highly anticipated Black Coffee Charity Concert, held at the prestigious St David’s Marist Inanda in Sandton. The event showcased food, music, and a strong sense of community spirit, transcending mere entertainment to become a significant contributor to local development. The concert marked a successful collaboration between the Black Coffee Foundation, the Delicious Festival Trader Academy (DFTA), powered by FoodBev, and the St David’s Marist Inanda Foundation. Through this partnership, five small, medium and micro enterprises (SMMEs) from the DFTA were hand-picked to display their culinary talents, gain crucial exposure, and connect with…

What if you had the power to rewrite your past, take different risks, make different choices and forge a different path? What would you change and what would you keep the same? What if, you could learn to appreciate the beauty and wonder of the present moment instead of dwelling on “what ifs”? What if you could trade regrets about the past for gratitude about the present and worries about the future for excitement about the possibilities that lie ahead? It is as though we are taking a detour, a scenic route, one that has evolved at an accelerated pace, with development aligned with a renewed focus on mental well-being. This perspective allows us to recognise that mental health is not just about the absence of symptoms but about the…

The time is now! That was the affirmation from coach Hugo Broos amid Bafana Bafana’s aspirations of qualifying for the 2026 Fifa World Cup after an impressive year. Bafana had their best calendar year in a while in 2024. They won bronze at the Afcon finals in January for the first time in more than two decades. And that’s not all... The South Africans took things up a notch in the qualifiers for the Afcon finals in Morocco next year, finishing top of Group K with 14 points after four wins and two draws. And having amassed six wins, nine draws and one defeat during the year, Bafana will want to build on that momentum heading into their next Fifa window next year. In March, Bafana will resume with the…

Tiger Brands said yesterday that it had entered into a sale of business agreement to dispose of its Baby Wellbeing business to an unrelated third-party purchaser for R605 million as part of its optimisation strategy to simplify the company’s portfolio of brands. In addition, the purchaser will also acquire inventories relating to the Baby Wellbeing business on the effective transaction date, currently expected to be approximately R25m in value. However, the sale of business agreement is subject to suspensive conditions, including the regulatory approval of the competition authorities. The agreement follows the successful sale of select non-core home and personal care brands that include Bio Classic, Bio Crystal, Kair, Fiesta, Black Silk and Eulactol for a total cash consideration of R161m, inclusive of inventories, effective September 30, 2024. The purchaser…

Strengthening consumer demand and an absence of load shedding provided a boost to business confidence in the fourth quarter of 2024, data from RMB and the Bureau for Economic Research (BER) showed yesterday, highlighting that rising productivity provided additional support. This saw the RMB/BER Business Confidence Index for the fourth quarter 2024 rising to 45 index points, up from 38 in the third quarter. However, though confidence is improving, it is still depressed below the 50-mark point which separates expansion from contraction as “just under half of the respondents are satisfied with prevailing business conditions”. There has been improving business sentiment after the May 29 elections that ushered in a Government of National Unity (GNU). “The slow, but steady increase in business confidence in recent quarters is an encouraging development.…

Agriculture is not only a victim of climate change but also a significant contributor to global emissions, according to Westfalia Fruit, a global avocado exporting company. Johnathan Sutton, group chief sustainability officer, at the global company said at the centre of these discussions is the undeniable link between agriculture and climate change. “Agriculture is not only a victim of climate change but also a significant contributor to global emissions. Transforming agrifood systems into sustainable, climate-resilient models is essential to ensure food security for billions of people while mitigating environmental harm,” Sutton said. This comes is as the 29th United Nations’ Conference of Parties (COP29) unfolds in Baku, Azerbaijan, where the global spotlight remains firmly on addressing the escalating climate crisis. Westfalia said world leaders were prioritising the transition to renewable…

Dabbling in township economies without acknowledging the historical impact of Apartheid on South African townships would be unjust. South African townships were formed from forced segregation by the Apartheid regime; these townships were designated for Blacks, Coloureds and Indians. Forced into exclusion from urban towns where there were key economic centres and activities; wherein other races except White were regarded as mere labour to drive these industries. Only a select few were able to own and run township Businesses; out of adversity, they waded through the Apartheid red tape and established viable businesses: James Sofasonke Mpanza, Richard Maponya, and Sam Motsoenyane, to name but a few. Townships were densely populated, with limited land to no infrastructure investment. It is evident persists that since the dawn of democracy, some form of…

Rhodes Food Group Holdings’ (RFG) strong performance of its regional business and gains from capital investments saw it increase headline earnings by 18.2% to R577 million in the year to September 30, while the dividend was up 79.2%. The share price increased sharply at the release of the results, and RFG’s share was trading 6.7% higher at R17.60 on the JSE yesterday afternoon, bringing the price’s gain over 12 months to 37.8%. Regional operating profit for the Western Cape-based food producer increased by 28.1% to R675m as the operating profit margin expanded to 10.6% from 8.8%. Margins benefited from production efficiencies from recent capital investment, including new canning equipment and expansion at the meat products plant in Krugersdorp. “Regional revenue increased by 5.9% to R6.4 billion, with sales volumes recovering…

Fans of Euphoria have been on the edge of their seats since the series premiered, thanks to its raw portrayal of teenage struggles, relationships and the messy journey into adulthood. From Rue’s (Zendaya) battle with addiction to Nate’s (Jacob Elordi) toxic dynamics, the show is known for its intense drama and deeply flawed characters. In an interview with Entertainment Weekly, Zendaya revealed: “I don’t actually know much about what is happening … but I do know that the time jump is happening.” Euphoria is set for a time jump in its upcoming season. Zendaya believes this shift makes sense, as creator Sam Levinson wants to explore the characters’ lives beyond high school Perhaps the time jump in Euphoria will see the characters navigating life after high school. “There’s only so…

IT’S that time of the year when viewers are hit with an influx of Christmas movies. And while it is difficult to follow in the footsteps of iconic holiday films like Home Alone and The Holiday, Meet Me Next Christmas is a vibrant addition to the genre as it explores themes of love, divine intervention and the magic of the festive season. Much of its appeal lies in the electrifying chemistry between the lead stars, Christina Milian and Devale Ellis. They are a marvel to watch alongside other interesting characters who add depth and humour to the story. There are also some unique twists and turns during their one-of-a-kind adventure and many moments of comedy. The Netflix movie, which was chosen ahead of Our Little Secret starring Lindsay Lohan and…

A disgruntled former employee at the University of Johannesburg (UJ) went to the Financial Services Tribunal (FST) in an effort to get his pension fund after it was withheld by the learning institution. Anthony Mphotho Mafolo was employed by the university as a Desktop Support Technician in the Information and Communication Systems Division from June 2009 until his dismissal end of May 2023. According to the university, Mafolo breached his legal duty, by unlawfully and intentionally disposing of 434 computer assets to third parties, who to his knowledge, were not entitled to receive computer assets. In June 2023, Mafolo tried to withdraw his pension fund from the University of Johannesburg Pension Fund (UJPF), however, he was unsuccessful. Unrelenting, Mafolo went to the FST and said his matter was taking…

In a heart-warming initiative, the Rotary Club of Pretoria East, in partnership with Bronberg Retirement Village, has brought comfort and joy to communities in need. Over the past seven years, a dedicated group of approximately 60 residents – including, as of recently, a gentleman among the ladies – have devoted their time to knitting and crocheting for charity. This knitting project is more than just a pastime; it’s a vibrant hub of creativity, fellowship, and altruism. With participants aged 60 to nearly 90, the project showcases the enduring spirit of generosity within the Bronberg community. The project is funded equally by the Bronberg Social Committee and Rotary District 9400's District Grant, each contributing R2,000 monthly to purchase wool. The group’s enthusiasm is palpable as they meticulously select colours for special…

Nissan’s Magnite has been the mainstay of its local sales for a while now with regular monthly sales surpassing 800 units making it one of the most popular in the cluttered compact SUV segment. Globally more than 150 000 of them have found owners, 26 000 of those are local. Now the company is confident that, with the introduction of a left hand drive version for Africa, the trend will continue. First introduced in 2021, it has now received a facelift that should find favour with potential buyers. Three variations are available: Visia Acenta and Acenta Plus and the entire range is manufactured in India. There are again two engine options with a 1.0-litre three cylinder normally aspirated mill producing 53kW and 96Nm paired to a five-speed manual or automated…

Mngqithi has been in football circles for decades, dating back from his school-teaching days to his biggest break at Sundowns this season. Yet for all that he’s come across in his longevity and successful career, which include winning multiple titles at Sundowns, there are two things he loves in football. “The truth is I think I have failed a lot in many things in my life, and the reason I failed is because I have one drive – and that has made me not have a balanced lifestyle,” Mngqithi said yesterday in the build-up to Saturday’s Carling Knockout Cup final against Magesi FC in Bloemfontein (6pm kick-off). “I am one person who likes winning, and I thought winning is everything. I always want to put myself on the podium and…

Annerie Dercksen believes “it is time to move on” as the Proteas Women prepare for their much-anticipated all-format series against England. The young all-rounder was part of the South African team that reached their second successive ICC T20 Women’s World Cup final in Dubai last month. The Proteas were favourites to lift South Africa’s first major ICC trophy, but suffered the disappointment of losing to New Zealand’s White Ferns. Dercksen, 23, feels all of that belongs in the past now, and that the side need to focus on what lies ahead, especially against a strong England outfit looking to bounce back after missing out on the World Cup playoffs. “It was really disappointing not getting over the line. We really wanted to win it for the country,” Dercksen said yesterday.…

CLINTON Larsen likened himself to ‘Tom Cruise in Mission Impossible’ as he prepares to lead Magesi FC for Saturday’s Carling Knockout Cup final against Mamelodi Sundowns. Given that Cruse – who plays agent Ethan Hunt in the series – always ends up victorious on missions that initially seem impossible, Larsen was clearly sending a message as he spoke to the media at the club’s training ground in Polokwane yesterday. Magesi can beat Sundowns at the Free State Stadium in Bloemfontein on Saturday (6pm kick-off). And he’s got good reason to believe that the rookies can reign victorious. After all, Larsen has previously led an underdog to a win over the Brazilians in the self same competition, albeit under a different sponsorship. “In 2012, no one gave (Bloemfontein) Celtic a chance,…

WHEN a 17-year-old Kwena Maphaka took to the field for the first time in the blue colours of the Mumbai Indians in the Indian Premier League earlier this year, there were a lot of expectations on the young fast-bowling prodigy. With all the weight on his young shoulders, the left-arm paceman had a rather forgetful IPL debut as Travis Head, Abhishek Sharma and Aiden Markram took him to the cleaners at a packed Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Hyderabad. Maphaka conceded five sixes and seven fours that night, and returned figures of 0/66 as the he endured a baptism of fire. In his second and final game for captain Hardik Pandya’s Mumbai Indians, Maphaka had a much better performance, returning figures of 1/23 and letting the world know why such…