Innholdsfortegnelse for 2021-12-09 i Star

Edward West edward.west@inl.co.za HARRY Smit, from Retail Active Shareholder Holdings, said yesterday that Tongaat Hulett’s shareholders were likely to face a massive dilution of up to two-thirds of their share value through the sugar and property groups’ proposed rights issue of up to R4 billion. Smit, who recently managed to assemble enough shareholder support to prevent a potentially dilutive rights issue at Ascendis Health, said Tongaat, like Ascendis, had a large number of small shareholders, “guys with 500 to 600 shares”. He said the dilution, depending on the share ratios of the rights issue, would be of such magnitude, it would likely prevent minority shareholders from being able to follow their rights in the capital raise, not to mention the value dilution. Tongaat’s market capitalisation stood at R767.4…

Sacha van Niekerk sacha.vanniekerk@inl.co.za Wish lists are being written, shopping carts are being filled and presents are being wrapped as people also continue to hunt for the perfect gift to surprise a loved one with. One that may tick all your boxes is a pet. Dogs and cats are playful and cuddly – who wouldn’t love being surprised with one wearing a bow on Christmas morning, Lady and the Tramp-style? Unfortunately, as fabulous as the idea sounds, it doesn’t always turn out quite so well for the pet or their owner. At this time of the year, it is common for there to be an increase in pet adoptions and purchases from animal shelters and pet shops. The SPCA shared in a recent press release that: “While we encourage the…

ZELDA VENTER zelda.venter@inl.co.za A MAN who was arrested out of the blue on unsubstantiated accusations that he was a woman abuser has been awarded R350 000 in damages. He had to spend 26 days in what he called filthy and flea-infested holding cells before he was cleared of any wrongdoing. The Johannesburg High Court ordered the SAPS to pay the damages to Vincent Mathiso following his harrowing ordeal. Asked by the court during his evidence how much damages he was claiming, Mathiso told the judge that “R100 000 was sufficient so that he could take his children to school”. This is after his lawyers instituted a claim on his behalf for R950 000. The court, however, decided that he was entitled to R350 000, especially given the fact that as…

Education Minister says results could be adjusted to soften the impact of load shedding Bongani Nkosi bongani.nkosi@inl.co.za THE 2021 matric candidates could have their results adjusted favourably in more subjects if the analysis of their marks indicates that load shedding disadvantaged them. Basic Education Minister Angie Motshekga has said the quality assurer Umalusi would “address” the negative impact of load shedding during the standardisation of results. She was replying to a written parliamentary question on measures that the government would take to assist learners disadvantaged by the power cuts. Eskom’s implementation of load shedding during the exams caused a public outcry. EFF MP Sinawo Tambo asked Motshekga for her assessment of the impact of load shedding on the matric exams. Replying to Tambo, Motshekga maintained that load shedding…

Bongani Nkosi bongani.nkosi@inl.co.za THE Tembisa, Gauteng, shack dwellers who sought R5 000 monthly from the State as constitutional damages for long-standing failure to provide them with social housing have suffered a major loss at the Constitutional Court. In a majority judgment, the apex court ruled on Tuesday that 133 residents of the Winnie Mandela informal community – many of whom had their houses fraudulently given to other people as far back as 1998 – were not entitled to constitutional damages. Recently retired Justice Chris Jafta penned the majority judgment. His primary reasoning in ruling against the residents was that legislation did not stipulate a time frame for the State to provide anyone with social housing. In fact, Justice Jafta wrote, the legislation imposes no directly enforceable obligation on the State…

CHULUMANCO MAHAMBA chulumanco.mahamba@inl.co.za TELECOMMUNICATIONS company MTN has launched a summer school to help pupils close knowledge gaps following the disrupted 2021 academic year. Following a particularly arduous academic year, MTN launched its Summer School this week with the focus on assisting pupils to close their knowledge gaps, in preparation for the 2022 school year. The online summer school provides access to the Department of Basic Education’s curriculum-aligned content, support, tutors, and revision for students in need across South Africa, running from December 6 to January 14. “Education is the cornerstone upon which the future success of our nation will be built. We are proud to launch our Summer School and I encourage as many children as possible to take advantage of this wonderful opportunity,” said MTN SA’s executive for corporate…

Khotso KD Moleko | Bloemfontein IT HAS become common to hear secular people define and demarcate the role of the churches as if churches are a government entity with a role in government goals and propaganda. Churches are not one and the same thing. The church is a heavenly entity meant to inform the Earth about the will of God. Their directives and theologies are sourced from the spiritual world and physically made visible as religion, liturgies and theologies. In other words, human definitions about God have human limits. Concerning issues like gender-based violence and vaccinations, churches have no part in performing pedagogy on those things because South Africa is proudly and rightfully secular and free, meaning that South Africa does not seek the direction of God before…

Willem van de Putte willem.vdputte@inl.co.za DRIVING famous passes, whether dirt or tar, never grows old and is a constant reminder of how special and beautiful our country and people are. And if you get to do it in comfort behind the wheel in and around the Western Cape in a Ford Everest Sport or Limited fitted with Goodyear’s new EfficientGrip 2 tyres it gets even better. Which is what we did recently covering 1 300km behind the wheel of the very capable and comfortable four wheel drive Everest but not before stopping at Wijnland Auto Museum just off the N1 where Les Boshoff makes magic with old cars. It’s a smorgasbord that will have anyone interested in anything with an engine kept busy for hours. Boshoff is renowned for his…

Zukiswa Kota and Danita Hingston The word corruption has its roots in the Latin adjective corruptus, which refers to something that is spoiled, corrupted or perverted. In South Africa, evidence of the perversion of public funds abounds. In his 2021 Medium-Term Budget Policy Statement, Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana warned that rampant corruption was a persistent issue draining public finances. At the height of the Covid pandemic, South Africans witnessed how corruption further exacerbated the unprecedented disruption to their education, employment, entrepreneurial pursuits and other opportunities for advancement. In September South Africa’s Special Investigating Unit told Parliament that R14.8 billion, associated with Covid-19 spending from April 2020 to June 2021, was being investigated for procurement irregularities. Mounting cases of procurement corruption are being investigated. An estimated R27bn is lost to…

The Omicron variant appears to be no worse than other Covid-19 strains, top scientists from the WHO and the US said this week, while cautioning that more research is needed to judge its severity. The hopeful assessments came as global concern grew over the heavily mutated variant, which has forced dozens of nations to re-impose border restrictions and raised the possibility of a return of economically punishing lockdowns. While it is likely more transmissible than previous variants, Omicron is also “highly unlikely” to completely evade vaccine protections, the World Health Organization said. “The preliminary data doesn’t indicate that this is more severe. In fact, if anything, the direction is towards less severity,” WHO emergencies director Michael Ryan said, insisting though that more research was needed. Ryan also said there was…

THE Confederation of African Football (CAF) had dismissed speculation that next month’s Africa Cup of Nations tournament in Cameroon could be moved due to the spread of the new Covid-19 variant Omicron. Southern Africa was hit by international travel bans at the end of last month, following the discovery of the new variant by South African scientists. The controversial travel bans came into effect on November 25, with flights no longer allowed to the United Kingdom from South Africa, Botswana, eSwatini, Lesotho, Namibia and Zimbabwe. It turned out, in fact, that the Omicron variant was present in Europe long before it was detected by SA scientists, according to a CNN report. Nigeria, which neighbours Cameroon, was this week also added to the UK Government’s travel “red list”. Despite speculation that…

ESHLIN VEDAN eshlin.vedan@inl.co.za AMAZULU were consigned to a fifth consecutive draw and 10th of the season as Orlando Pirates held them to a 1-1 stalemate at the Kings Park yesterday. Deon Hotto gave Pirates the lead just before the half-hour mark. The Namibian’s goal came after his team moved the ball swiftly, taking advantage of the midfield weakness in the Usuthu team created by the absence of captain Makhehlene Makhaula. Hotto then hit the ball hard and low, beyond the reach of AmaZulu goalkeeper Veli Mothwa. AmaZulu equalised on the stroke of halftime as a cross found its way to Luvuyo Memela who produced good control to send the ball into the bath of Tshepang Moremi with his chest. Moremi ended up thumping the ball into the back of the…

THIS season has been schizophrenic for Tottenham Hotspur. It began with them starting the season with a bang as Nuno Espirito Santo won the Manager of the Month for August after leading the team to three straight wins. Questions were asked over Spurs’ ability to challenge for a top-four finish this season should Harry Kane depart with the player reportedly pushing for a new challenge. Fast forward four months. Nuno has been sacked after Spurs struggled for form and Antonio Conte has since been appointed as manager of the team. The club’s results and play has undergone a rejuvenation as they are currently two points behind fourth-placed West Ham. The one big surprise is that Kane, the club’s star player who was linked with a move away prior to the…

HERMAN GIBBS WESTERN Cape overshadowed Eastern Province teams on day three of the National Netball Championships at the DF Academy in Bellville, Cape Town, yesterday. The unbeaten Cape Winelands A, who have emerged as favourites for the title in the absence of champions Tshwane, defeated the strong Nelson Mandela Bay outfit 60-48 in the A-Section pipe-opener. The Winelands side were off to a cracking start and dictated play from the opening quarter in which they secured a seven-goal (15-8) lead. From then on, Cape Winelands A stepped up the intensity, and with each passing quarter, except for the final one, widened the margin for a 46-33 lead ahead of the final half. Nelson Mandela Bay closed the final set strongly, but the Cape Winelands A had built up an…

Siphelele Dludla siphelele.dludla@inl.co.za THE SA Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Sacci) has remained circumspect, at least for now, on the issue of mandatory Covid-19 vaccination in the workplace after business confidence waned in November. Sacci’s Business Confidence Index released yesterday fell to 92.8 points in November from 94.9 points in October, upsetting the recovery seen after the July unrest. The business lobby organisation said the new Omicron variant and restrictions among major trading partners had led to a slump in both exports and imports in November. To protect economic recovery, Sacci said it remained important how the Covid-19 pandemic was managed and communicated, but it concurred that improved vaccine application had led to a sense of return to economic and business normality. Sacci chief executive Alan Mukoki, however,…

Dineo Faku dineo.faku@inl.co.za SOME people know what they want early in their lives and go for it, but for a Joburg-based quantity surveyor-turned- businesswoman the journey of self- discovery took longer than many of her peers and has been life-changing. Sonto Pooe, founded Nativechild, a natural-based hair and body care range, in 2015 after losing her hairline and taking action by experimenting with plant-based ingredients in her kitchen. Pooe said she went through a phase of braiding a lot and, like most black women who do braids, ended up losing her hairline. “My hairline got damaged, and it didn’t matter what I did, my hair did not grow back. I did research to see what products I could put together to produce a product that would help me,” said Pooe.…

Liam Karabo Joyce Music producer and hip hop artist OB Magik has released his latest EP titled For the Taking. He hopes to inspire the youth of South Africa. Talk to us about your EP, For The Taking. When did you start working on it? “As an artist, I am always working on new music and have been making songs back-to-back since last year and keeping them. As we entered 2021, I dropped a few singles from the collection and in April, I decided to start working on a full project, of which some of the songs that were recorded in 2020 are also on the EP.” What was the inspiration behind this EP? “There’s this song in the EP titled: I Want It All. It was the first song…

Sacha van Niekerk sacha.vanniekerk@inl.co.za Shoppers at Cape Town’s Table Bay Mall might have seen Andrew Willicott, 9, sitting at the piano in one of the forecourts playing the piano with his fingers moving quickly and effortlessly across the keys. From Melkbosstrand, Andrew started playing the piano at the age of 5 on a keyboard he had at home. His father Gary, 46, a CEO and pastor, YouTube’d the first few lines of “Oh When The Saints Go Marching In”. “We had a keyboard at home in case one of our kids developed an interest,” he said. Gradually, his youngest son became curious so one day his father decided to show him the first few lines of the song. “I played it with one finger, the way I knew from my…

Itumeleng Mafisa SMALL business owners have accused the Michelangelo Towers mall in Sandton of scamming them of thousands of rand and promising them dreams of making it big in Sandton City. This comes after a plan to have a market where small businesses would have a stand to showcase their goods and products became what they said was a complete flop. Some of the participants in the pop-up market had come from as far as the Eastern Cape, with some selling home-made jam and hand-made goods. There were also salons and artists who had brought their art to be sold. The business owners were told that the vision for the market was for it to be similar to the Vilakazi Street market, and the objective was to bring black businesses…

From page 1 Umalusi standardised marks per subject, a practice done to weigh the average historical learner performance. It results in either upward or downward adjustment of the results. For the 2020 National Senior Certificate results, Umalusi accepted raw marks for 48 subjects from the 65 written at public schools. It adjusted marks upwards in nine subjects and downwards in eight. Candidates who sat for the Independent Examinations Board-administered exams in 2020 had eight of their subjects adjusted upwards and 12 downwards. Congress of SA Students (Cosas) presidentThabang Mokoena said load shedding hampered learners’ preparations severely. Cosas called on Umalusi to adjust more results upwards this year, considering the impact of blackouts. “It can’t be that you have load shedding during matric exams,” Mokoena said. @BonganiNkosi87…

Anita Nkonki anita.nkonki@inl.co.za AFTER months of preparing for the prestigious pageant in their respective home countries, all global contestants are in Puerto Rico and are counting down the days to the Miss World 2021 pageant finale set to take place next Thursday. The event is later than usual in the year, as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic which has gripped the world. Ex-Miss SA Shudufhadzo Musida has shown her stunning cherry red dress for her world gown at the Miss World Top Model competition. As a tradition, each contestant is required to show off designs from their home countries. Created by designer Warrick Gautier, the dress is packed with a profound message that celebrates her country and the people she is representing on the world stage. Musida, 25, took…

Beverley Mutandiro | Human rights activist It is pathetic that, for most Zimbabwean men, life has lost meaning as they cannot see the way out of the extreme poverty that has stripped them of their dignity as breadwinners. Zimbabwean men observed International Men’s Day, with regret, sorrow and hopelessness. Many of them migrated to South Africa in search of employment. Many are crossing crocodile-infested rivers and overstretching public resources in South Africa because the corrupt. President Emmerson Mnangagwa has no clue about how to revive the economy. The Zimbabwean government has dismally failed to stop the economic meltdown. Zimbabwean men should stop running away and rather organise themselves to help oust Mnangagwa.…

Morgan Bolton morgan.bolton@inl.co.za Some of you are new to Formula One rivalries, and it shows. This is not a criticism. If you have just joined us in the sport, welcome. I hope you are enjoying a fantastic season, and if you want to discuss F1, let’s do so; we will learn the sport together. But the one aspect of the sport that seems to have taken many new fans by surprise is how acrimonious the rivalry between drivers – especially those in a title fight – can be. This past weekend, at the Saudi Arabia GP, many called out Max Verstappen for some unsportsmanlike behaviour when he stormed off the podium after coming second to Lewis Hamilton to go and have a sulk. However unsporting this might seem – yes,…

A Saudi man held at a Paris airport over suspected links to the killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi was arrested because his passport triggered an alert, police said yesterday, after Saudi Arabia said it was a case of mistaken identity. French law enforcement has named the man as Khaled Aedh Al-Otaibi, the same name as a former member of the Saudi Royal Guard listed in US and British documents and a UN report as having been involved in Khashoggi’s killing in 2018. France has until today to verify who he is. | Reuters…

Mihlali Baleka mihlali.baleka@inl.co.za MAMELODI SUNDOWNS (1) 3 Kutumela 6th min, Shalulile 65, 72 ROYAL AM (0) 2 Letsoalo 81, 90+1 pen CHAMPION Sundowns are the epitome of flamboyance. That much was established through their 3-2 victory over a side who have been threatening that status, Royal AM, at home yesterday. Owned by businesswoman Shauwn Mkhize, Royal AM have been attracting attention in the top flight for all sorts of reasons, including paying cash bonuses on the pitch. But the classy and formal Sundowns have been doing what they know best: Winning. They top the standings on 34 points, 10 ahead of second-placed Sekhukhune United. Royal are fourth with 22 points after losing a match that more or less highlighted a gulf between them and the Brazilians. Sundowns were cruising…

Dineo Faku dineo.faku@inl.co.za IMPALA Platinum (Implats) has upped the ante by increasing its stake in Royal Bafokeng Platinum (RBPlat) to 32.26 percent as it battles it out with Northam Platinum for the control of RBPlat. Implats said yesterday it had acquired a further 942 000 shares constituting 0.33 percent in RBPlat shares and planned to raise its shareholding even further through off-market purchases. “Implats may be acquiring further RBPlat shares after the date of this announcement while the offer remains open and, if required under the Companies Act or the Takeover Regulations, will make further disclosures and announcements in that regard,” said Implats. Implats, the JSE-listed platinum group metals producer, is in an intense bidding war with Northam Platinum. Northam announced on Tuesday that it had pushed…

Philippa Larkin philippa.larkin@inl.co.za THE Every Company, a precision fermentation platform accelerating a global transition to animal-free protein, said yesterday that it had closed $175 million (R2.8 billion) in Series C financing, which saw Prosus Ventures’ first investment in synthetic biology. The round was co-led by new investor McWin and existing investor Rage Capital as well as Temasek, Grosvenor’s Wheatsheaf Group and TO Ventures. The Every Company was founded in 2014 by Arturo Elizondo, who is CEO, with the mission to accelerate the transition to animal-free and more sustainable proteins and reduce factory farming practices. “There has never been a better time to be a B2B ingredients platform,” said Elizondo. “As the world’s biggest food companies work to evolve their product offerings into the 21st century by driving for…

Liam Karabo Joyce liam.joyce@inl.co.za The past few months have been busy for the 23-year-old musician Bonga Kwana. Her recently released single Ndifuna Wena in collaboration with Ntsika Ngxanga from The Soil found its way to No 1 on the 5FM Pop chart for three consecutive weeks. Now the rising star, who is also an LGBTQIA+ activist has released her debut EP, New Faces to Old Problems. Kwana started working on the EP in 2019 by writing and putting ideas together. Some of the songs on the EP date as far as 2016. “I recorded it last year in September, with some new songs coming up during that time. “The inspiration behind this EP is definitely this particular phase of my life where I am in my 20s and navigating this…

CHULUMANCO MAHAMBA chulumanco.mahamba@inl.co.za VIOLENCE against women and children continues and spikes over the December festive season, said the TEARS Foundation, which received 42 962 calls for help during the 2020 festive season. The foundation said a number of advocacy groups were working hard to ensure the government was held accountable for the promises and commitments made regarding gender-based violence and child abuse. The women-led organisation that provides crisis intervention, advocacy, counselling and prevention education services for those impacted by domestic violence, sexual assault and child sexual abuse said while civil society lobbied for change and action, violence against women and children continued unabated, and spiked over the festive season. “Last year over the festive season, we were inundated with 42 962 calls for help for GBV, which was a 57%…

Mashudu Sadike FOUR minors charged with the death of aspiring musician Thoriso Themane, 23, were found guilty of murder by the Polokwane High Court yesterday. Two of their accomplices, also minors, had in the beginning of the trial tendered a guilty plea statement. They were convicted of common assault while the adults, Chuene Maleka and Alfred Mothapo, were convicted for assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm. The State alleged that Maleka and Mathapo together with the six teenagers fatally assaulted Themane in 2019 in the Polokwane suburb of Fauna Park after the minors accused him of taking a cap belonging to one of them. Themane’s murder was recorded on a cellphone, with the footage going viral on social media. The trial was held in camera because the…

FAROUK ARAIE | Gauteng JOHN Whitlock’s response to my comments on the Helderberg crash refers (“Provide proof of Helderberg crash cover-up”). The most crucial evidence has mysteriously disappeared. The ZUR tape, it is alleged, contains damning evidence which could confirm the presence of military cargo on board the ill-fated flight. A ZUR tape records conversation between a pilot and a plane’s home base on a dedicated frequency. It was claimed that the tape was mislaid or overwritten. Sworn statements reveal that it went through 10 people in the corridors of power, involving SAA, Armscor and the then Nationalist government Any person who doubts that the Helderberg did not carry explosive military weaponry should listen to a scary 13-minute radio interview. The person being interviewed was a toddler…

WITH the sudden stoppage of international air travel, thousands of passengers have been stranded in unscheduled locations, some more attractive than others. The base or root of “strand” is a shore or a beach, found in the Germanic languages, including Afrikaans. The verbal sense of to leave in a helpless situation is only about 150 years old. In the interim, strand became a place name, for instance The Strand in London, on dry land, but so named because it was once near the Thames. Of great local interest are the Strandlopers, a prehistoric coastal race who lived on the shores of South Africa, a Stone Age people; as a modern relative, it also means a beachcomber. The seminal narrative of being stranded is that of Daniel Defoe's Robinson Crusoe (1719),…

The world has experienced a 59% decline in the deaths of children younger than 5 years since 1990. New mortality estimates indicate that the largest drop was in 2019, when global under-5 deaths were reduced to 5.2 million from 12.5 million in 1990. The substantial progress in reducing child deaths occurred four years after the Sustainable Development Goals were launched. These goals include eliminating preventable child mortality; reducing neonatal death to less than 12 per 1 000 live births; and reducing deaths of children younger than 5 to less than 25 per 1 000 live births. The date for reaching these targets is 2030. It may be too early to attribute any success to the Sustainable Development Goals. But the progress may be the result of related efforts like…

Australia will not send officials to February’s Winter Olympics in Beijing, Prime Minister Scott Morrison said yesterday, joining a US diplomatic boycott of the Games over alleged “human rights abuses”. The decision stopped short of preventing athletes from attending the games. China accused Canberra of “political posturing” and “blindly following” the US. The Chinese Embassy in Canberra said the boycott “runs counter to its (Canberra’s) expectation to improve China-Australia relations”. | AFP…

Zaahier Adams zaahier.adams@inl.co.za Stellenbosch FC 0 SuperSport United (0) 1 Grobler 91st min BRADLEY Grobler broke Stellenbosch FC’s hearts right at the death when the veteran striker scored a late winner for the visitors at Danie Craven Stadium last night. In a match of few clear-cut chances, Grobler popped up in the 91st minute with the solitary goal. The 33-year-old was incisive with his finish as he steered a low shot past Sage Stephens. SuperSport had the more productive passages of play, and former Stellenbosch winger Iqraam Rayners was arguably the best player on display. The SuperSport star enjoyed a splendid return to his hometown and was determined to show Stellenbosch what they’re missing as he was at the centre of all of his team’s most promising movements. Rayners…

Stuart Hess stuart.hess@inl.co.za HAVING Malusi Siboto, Duanne Olivier, Lutho Sipamla and Sisanda Magala to practise against has greatly aided Ryan Rickelton’s development as a batter this season. There was a lot of work Rickelton had to do himself, of course, but it was useful to gauge how well his off-season work functioned by putting himself up against the most fearsome quartet of bowlers on the domestic circuit. “We usually get good spicy wickets at the Wanderers nets, and obviously you ask the guys to take the newest balls they can get, and we have a proper contest,” Rickelton said yesterday. “I know if I’m holding my own against them, not getting out, and playing good shots against them, it’s a good sign for me.” Rickelton is the 10th highest run-scorer…