Innholdsfortegnelse for 2021-04-30 i Star

Sandile Mchunu sandile.mchunu@inl.co.za TONGAAT Hulett’s share price tumbled by more than 27 percent on the JSE after the troubled sugar producer and agri-processing company said yesterday that it had amended its debt reduction milestone to prevent a default. The share plunged to a low of R7.55, ending up closing the day 22.8 percent lower at R7.99. Tongaat was rocked by an accounting scandal in 2019 and an investigation by PricewaterhouseCoopers revealed that some of its former executives were responsible for overstating assets and profits by using “undesirable accounting practices”. The group implemented a turnaround strategy under chief executive Gavin Hudson, but a huge debt of around R13bn has remained a sore thumb for the group. Tongaat said yesterday it paid debt reduction proceeds of R6.01 billion to…

HOW IT FEELS TO BE FREE MNET, DSTV CHANNEL 101, 7.30PM A fascinating documentary film that examines how pioneering African American women performers such as Nina Simone, Abbey Lincoln, Lena Horne, and others shaped American culture through their music, films, fashion, and politics. THE EQUALIZER, M-NET CITY, DSTV CHANNEL 115, 9.10PM Denzel Washington gives a superb performance in this action thriller. A man with a mysterious past must save a young girl who is under the control of violent Russian gangsters. THE RIVER, 1MAGIC, DSTV CHANNEL 103, 8PM An elaborate plan takes shape and Kedibone is at her wits’ end after her efforts to broker peace don’t work.…

Prince Mangosuthu Buthelezi announced the death of Queen Shiyiwe Mantfombi Dlamini Zulu, 65, Regent of the Zulu nation, yesterday. “It is with the deepest shock and distress that the royal family announces the unexpected passing of Her Majesty Queen Shiyiwe Mantfombi Dlamini Zulu, Regent of the Zulu Nation,’’ Buthelezi said yesterday evening. “On behalf of the royal family, I wish to assure the nation that while we are all rightly grief-stricken, there will be no leadership vacuum in the Zulu nation.” He said funeral arrangements would be announced later. The queen was admitted to hospital last Wednesday, amid looming division in the royal family over who should be her adviser. Queen Mantfombi, the third wife of the recently deceased King Goodwill Kabhekuzulu, was elected regent while the royal family was…

| Tarryn-Leigh Solomons The legal team representing Assembly Speaker Thandi Modise has brought an application to have her discharged from the animal cruelty charges. Modise was back in the dock yesterday at the Potchefstroom Regional Court. AfriForum’s chief investigator, Andrew Leask, said the private prosecution, led by head of AfriForum’s private prosecution unit, advocate Gerrie Nel, closed its case upon which the defence brought an application to have Modise discharged in terms of Section 174 of the Criminal Procedure Act. Leask said: “If, at the close of the case for the prosecution at any trial, the court is of the opinion that there is no evidence that the accused committed the offence referred to in the charge, or any offence of which he may be convicted on the charge,…

MASHUDU SADIKE EMBATTLED SABC economics editor Thandeka Gqubule-Mbeki has resigned with immediate effect, citing mismanagement, policy breaches, fraud and corruption by the public broadcaster. Three weeks ago, the SABC had formally charged Gqubule-Mbeki with three counts of misconduct. She was accused of intimidating a colleague during a picket over retrenchments, using offensive language and behaviour, and violating the Public Finance Management Act by signing off on payments without following due process. But Gqubule-Mbeki rejected the three counts, saying the charges were “trumped-up” and “bogus”. The former editor accused board chairperson, Bongumusa Makhathini, group chief executive Madoda Mxakwe and group news executive Phathiswa Magopeni of being behind a campaign to vilify and force her and others out because they were campaigning against the commercialisation of the ailing corporation. Speaking to…

PRESSURE is mounting on the government not to terminate the R350 Covid-19 social relief of distress grant and instead turn it into a permanent basic income grant. The #PayTheGrants campaign, spearheaded by various civic organisations including Black Sash and the South African Domestic Service and Allied Workers Union, yesterday announced protest action against the government’s intentions to terminate the grant. While the grant was due to come to an end today, Social Development Minister Lindiwe Zulu said yesterday she was waiting to hear from the Treasury to indicate if it could be extended. The #PayTheGrants campaigners maintained in a media briefing yesterday that terminating the grant that has assisted thousands of the unemployed would be irrational. They called for the grant to be increased to R585, which was the food…

Cometh Dube-Makholwa | Midrand I can’t believe that Cuban engineers have been coming here regularly to assist in the management of water and sanitation since 2011. In that period of time, there was a time when the Hartbeestpoort dam was unrecognisable, covered completely with green algae and the Vaal dam choking with layers of litter while nearby communities were complaining of free flowing sewage contaminating their homes. They must be wondering what kind of a country South Africa has become.…

Natasha Winkler-Titus The workplace and modes of working have come into the spotlight amid Covid-19 lockdowns that have enforced remote working as the new norm for most businesses. Companies have had to review their practices to accommodate a hybrid-approach which allows employees to spend some time in the office to create social work experiences. Research suggests that the pandemic could also shape other future workplace trends. Two trends stand out: the rise in telework and virtual collaboration on the one hand and the increasing divide between formal and informal work on the other. The Covid-19 pandemic has reminded us about the great divide between “them” and “us”, inequalities, and exploitation in informal workplaces. The dire reality of unemployment is a major challenge. Joblessness is exacerbated by the use of…

MIHLALI BALEKA @Mihlalibaleka Kaizer Chiefs, Orlando Pirates and Mamelodi Sundowns. The darlings of South African football have inspired even more affection after becoming the first three representatives from the PSL to reach the quarter-finals of continental football in the same season. After Sundowns became regulars in the Caf Champions League for the last six seasons, all hopes were pinned on them to be South Africa’s flag bearers once again this season – despite the departure of coach Pitso Mosimane. But the two Soweto giants, Chiefs and Pirates, rolled up their sleeves as well, ensuring that there will be three teams from the PSL when the quarter-final draws for the Champions League and Caf Confederation Cup are conducted at Caf headquarters in Cairo today. Sundowns have stood head and shoulders above…

The only good thing to come out of Valterri Bottas' drive at Imola a fortnight ago, was that Mercedes were able to salvage his wrecked car's engine. In a meeting of the incumbent Bottas and future Silver Arrows driver George Russell's vehicles at the circuit, harsh words were exchanged, the Brit slapping the Finn on the helmet moments after the shunt, and receiving a middle finger in kind. It was not either driver's finest hour, especially Williams' Russell. Bottas hasn’t had a good season so far, even though it has only been two races, and many will argue he has not had a good career at Mercedes either. The Finn has won only nine GPs for the Silver Arrows, compared to the 42 and four world championships of Lewis Hamilton…

PRODUCER prices for final manufactured goods in South Africa climbed to an almost two-year high in March, driven by food, beverages and tobacco products. Data from Statistics South Africa (StatsSA) yesterday showed that annual producer price inflation (PPI) increased by 5.2 percent in March, up from 4 percent in February. StatsSA said this was the largest annual rise in headline PPI since June 2019, when the rate was 5.8 percent, and was above market expectations of 4.5 percent. Food products, beverages and tobacco products went up by 6.8 percent year-on-year. Coke, petroleum, chemical, rubber and plastic products rose by 4.2 percent, while metals, machinery, equipment and computing equipment increased by 5.2 percent over the same period. On a monthly basis, producer prices inched…

Dineo Faku dineo.faku@inl.co.za LONDON and JSE-listed Jubilee Metals said yesterday that it had delivered the first copper concentrate from the Jubilee Sable Refinery at Project Roan ahead of schedule. Project Roan is the first of three processing plants that Jubilee aims to construct in order to recover copper and cobalt in these facilities, with the target of 25 000 tons of copper a year. At full capacity, Project Roan is expected to recover 10 000 tons of copper equivalent a year. Chief executive Leon Coetzer said the successful delivery on time of copper concentrate from Project Roan to the fully operational Sable Refinery was the first major step in the group’s commitment to achieve its targeted production of 25 000 tons of copper a year within the…

THE RAND rose at a more than one-week high against the greenback yesterday amid a subdued dollar after the US Federal Reserve held interest rates unchanged at near zero. The Fed was steadfast in its attempt to achieve the Federal Open Market Committee’s target of maximum employment and inflation at the rate of 2 percent over the long term. The rand peaked at R14.15 against the dollar during intraday trade yesterday, its highest level on a closing basis since 19 April, before closing 1 cent stronger to the dollar at R14.29 by 5pm. The dollar was put under further pressure by US President Joe Biden's proposed spending plans which raised fears over the US budget and trade deficits. The rand has gained a lot of ground against the dollar…

Anna Cox anna.cox@inl.co.za THE City of Joburg is set to write off R11.7 billion of its R13.1 billion arrears through a new debt relief programme launched this week and approved by all political parties. Residents who are in arrears, and who meet certain criteria, can now apply to have their debts written off under certain conditions. The new relief measures include an increase of the qualifying property value from R600 000 to R1.5 million – following calls from residents to review the terms and conditions of the initial relief programme which was first launched in 2019. The programme, aimed at affording amnesty to property owners whose municipal accounts are in arrears, is set to come into effect from May 1 when they can apply for the relief programme. Residents have…

Tremendous efforts to protect the environment are well under way The recent fire in Cape Town once again brought to our attention the serious challenge of our times: climate change. Internationally, we have seen wild-fires in the United States, Australia, France and Chile and all of these have had climate change as a major factor. Two years ago already, journalist Marvin Charles wrote in the Cape Argus that “experts have warned that climate change and the rise of temperatures will see Cape Town experience its worst fire season.” The article, titled “Cape faces fire catastrophe as experts fear city’s worst fire season lies ahead”, quoted UCT climate scientist Peter Johnson as saying that our summers were getting drier and hotter and coupled with a lack of rain this could only…

Tomorrow marks International Workers’ Day, or May Day as we have come to know it. Twenty-seven years into democracy, the struggles of the working class have yet to end. The hope that many South Africans held on to post ’94 – for an equal society in which all can work and live – seems elusive now more than ever as unemployment figures rocket. The unemployment of almost 8 million people leaves one wondering if the policies presented by the ANC to eradicate joblessness are worth their salt? Over the last two decades, the ANC has seemingly battled to introduce a sustainable model to create jobs. For instance, at his first State of the Nation Address in 1994, then president Nelson Mandela shared his government’s vision, saying: “A campaign will be…

MIHLALI BALEKA @Mihlalibaleka DOWN, but not out! Kaizer Chiefs’ next six opponents in the Premiership must not take anything for granted. Instead they should always have that reminder in the back of their minds heading into the home straight. Of course, it has been a turbulent 2020/21 season for Chiefs. They are languishing in the bottom half of the league standings with 28 points, with only six matches – which equates to 18 points – left for them to gain some redemption and finish in the top eight. Some will regard that as a mountain to climb for Amakhosi, as the points won’t come on a silver platter with the other teams also chasing various goals: either the league title, top-eight finish, continental qualifying spot or survival. But introspection and…

Sandile Mchunu sandile.mchunu@inl.co.za WHILE 65 percent of all middle managers in banking were black, surpassing the number of white middle managers for the first time in 2019, according to the 2020 Transformation in Banking Report, more needed to be done to reflect the demographics of the country, Banking Association South Africa (Basa) said yesterday. Basa said the report – produced by independent research company Intellidex, with statistics provided by the banks – reflected the progress made by banks in transforming the industry and increasing economic inclusiveness and empowerment despite the constrained economic conditions. The percentage of board directors who were black reached 44 percent in 2019. “These industry figures were achieved despite the difficult economic and business conditions that South African banks and companies have had to endure…

Several civic organisations unite against structural financial racism NTOMBI NKOSI and ITUMELENG MAFISA CIVIL society stretched its muscles against “racist” banks in a successful protest yesterday outside Rand Merchant Bank with a 3 000-strong attendance. The protest saw different civic organisations coming together and singing with one tune against structural financial racism and bank bullying. Present at the protest was the EFF, the SA National Civic Organisation, the ANC, MKMVA, Cosas and other civil society organisations and trade unions. Ordinary people who had lost their houses to the bank also came to show their support against the “racist bank”. The protest also included prominent members of society such as shareholders of the South African Reserve Bank (SARB) and a former minister. Slogans and chants, “FNB Must Fall,” reverberated all…

Gift Tlou gift.tlou@inl.co.za A MPUMALANGA family is in great distress after police allegedly flouted protocols when their son died in a car accident. Vanessa Venter, 51, is claiming that her human rights were trampled upon by the police after her son’s death on February 27. Venter’s son, Sean Kellerman, is believed to have died on Plaston Road in White River. On the same date, two accidents were reported, in which four people died. According to Venter, on the evening of her son’s death police failed to dispatch their forensic team to the scene to determine the cause of the accident. Furthermore, no one has come forward to answer questions on how vehicles involved in the car accident were removed from the scene. It remains unclear if the police are investigating…

| MASHUDU SADIKE The 14-YEAR-old learner accused of assaulting Lufuno Mavhunga was granted R1 500 bail at the Thohoyandou Children’s Court yesterday. The teenager was released into the care of her mother. She is charged with assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm. Speaking yesterday to The Star’s sister paper, the Pretoria News, her lawyer Kagiso Muthivhithivhi said the teenager should have been granted bail at her first appearance. The minor appeared in camera and cannot be identified in accordance to the Criminal Procedure Act. She was arrested after a video of her assaulting 15-year-old Mavhunga, who later took her own life, went viral. The prosecution had opposed bail, arguing that the learner would not be safe if granted bail. Muthivhithivhi opposed this, saying: “There is no such…

FREEDOM Day was commemorated by Johannesburg City Parks and Zoo (JCPZ) by appealing to residents to take greater care of the environment and to change environmental behaviours. The Huang siblings, Sky, 7, and Sunny, 5, are JCPZ’s newest eco-warriors, who collected fallen leaves for composting in China Town, Cyrildene. The leaves provide a golden carpet along tree-lined streets in autumn. The decaying leaves serve as the primary source of nourishment for the tree canopy in the city and should be allowed to thrive naturally. A passionate Sky and his sister Sunny, thoroughly enjoyed tossing the leaves into bags and remarked that: “Trees are important for us to breathe and if there’s no trees, we will die and so will the animals.” City of Joburg member of the mayoral community for…

CITY Power is clearing the obstacles affecting its power lines in the Greenstone/Modderfontein area. The areas are plagued by power cuts due to some of the trees on private properties and people building shacks under pylons. The City of Joburg member of the mayoral committee for the environment and infrastructure services department, Mpho Moerane, visited the Sebenza and Westfield sub-stations in Edenvale and Modderfontein in Kempton Park earlier this month. The visit came after an investigation conducted by City Power into the cause of frequent power outages affecting the north-eastern corridors, especially the Greenstone area. The investigation found that, while most of the outages were due to vandalism and cable theft, a worrying number was due to faults on the overhead lines caused by encroaching objects, including trees and…

Botho Molosankwe botho.molosankwe@inl.co.za An estate agent who allegedly sold people RDP houses fraudulently has been rearrested after she was found hiding in a Boksburg house. Annica Van Staden was allegedly found with all her luggage packed and police claim she was ready to flee to Cape Town when they nabbed her. The Hawks have been looking for Van Staden, 46, after she was granted bail in August 2019 and failed to return to court in November last year. Captain Dineo Lucy Sekgotodi, from the Mpumalanga Hawks, said allegations were that Van Staden registered a business called Housing First Property in Mpumalanga between October 2014 and July 2015. She was the said to have started selling RDP houses, repossessed houses as well as private property in the vicinity of Middelburg, Witbank,…

Morgan Phaahla | Ekurhuleni THE rising cost of living would thrust the poor into a poverty trap. Moreover, public transport system is in shambles and effectively compounded by dilapidated rail service, impacting severely on the lives of the working class. What remains the order of the day are ethically deficient politicians and unbridled corruption in government. The naked effect of this is the sharpest contradictions affecting black people in an unchanged capitalist society. It’s matter of fact that white privilege insulates colonial relations in some centres of power from transformation by embracing bourgeois’ democracy and courting the black political elite to cultivate enduring influence. This brings to mind a pamphlet written by Joe Slovo, titled “The South African Working Class and the National Democratic Revolution” (1988). Slovo articulates…

International outrage at the continued US blockade against Cuba is at fever pitch, as protests took place in more than 50 cities across the world on Sunday, including in Pretoria. Demonstrators have demanded an end to the cruel US economic, commercial and financial blockade against Cuba, which has denied its people basic necessities, medicine and medical equipment to fight the Covid-19 pandemic. Events took place in major US cities such as New York, Washington, Detroit, Chicago, Los Angeles, Sacramento, Oakland, San Diego, San Francisco, Tampa, Las Vegas, Minneapolis, Seattle and Indianapolis. Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez Parrilla has said there were 243 coercive measures applied by former US president Donald Trump, which remain in force under the administration of President Joe Biden. There is no evidence of any real measures…

AUSTRALIA speedster Pat Cummins understands how grim India's battle is against the Covid-19 crisis in the country but does not think suspending Indian Premier League (IPL) play will help, the Kolkata Knight Riders player said. Three of his compatriots have cut short their IPL stints to return home as India continues to record more than 300 000 new infections a day, with the actual figures believed to be much higher. The crisis has prompted calls to halt the popular Twenty20 competition, which is being played in a bio-secure bubble and without spectators, but Cummins believes otherwise. "We are doing everything we can to make sure we don't take any resources out of the frontline," the 27-year-old told WION news channel. "There's an aspect that us playing every night for three…