Innholdsfortegnelse for 2022-07-14 i Star

ESKOM yesterday welcomed the arrests of two former employees of former contractor, the ABB Group (ABB), as well as their spouses, for corruption linked to Eskom contracts of R2.2 billion, following action by the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), which claims to be much rejuvenated. “Eskom also hopes this is just the beginning and that more arrests will follow on this matter, and on the more than 100 other criminal cases lodged with the law enforcement agencies over the years,” the power utility, which is struggling operationally and financially, due in part to large-scale corruption in previous years, said in a statement yesterday. The four were arrested on Tuesday by the Investigating Directorate (ID) of the NPA, in a joint operation with the Hawks and the South African Revenue Service,…

THE POLITICAL economy of President Cyril Ramaphosa’s foreign currency loans and foreign climate finance deals can be traced to the Department of Finance’s first version of the economic policy document released in August 2019. As a policy tour de force for the control of money, and therefore the control of the government and demo- cracy by non-state actors (private capital), the document is revolutionary! Its effects on society, however, as were those of colonialism and apartheid, are callous. It is perhaps the most appalling hijacking of government by money since democracy. At its production helm, it could only have been peopled by those with highly loosened moral restraints. Vella Pillay, ANC/SACP economist, would not have been surprised. The document, which morphed into the government’s 2020 Economic Reconstruction and Recovery Plan,…

SOUTH Africa’s ranking in the global index of countries with gender parity has slightly regressed, though the country managed to remain among 20 of the world’s most gender-equal countries. The Global Gender Gap Index 2022 released yesterday by the World Economic Forum (WEF) showed that South Africa’s ranking in gender parity declined from 18 to number 20 this year. The country’s slight decline in rankings was not because of any regression experienced in key metrics, but because some of the countries had improved their scores. The Global Gender Gap Index measured the world’s progress towards gender parity in 146 countries across four key dimensions. These are Economic Participation and Opportunity, Educational Attainment, Health and Survival, and Political Empowerment. In Economic Participation and Opportunity, South Africa’s ranking remained unchanged at number…

EX-TRANSNET group senior executives’ R93 million corruption matter will be back in court next month after it was postponed yesterday. The accused in the matter – former group chief executive Siyabonga Gama, former acting group chief financial officer Garry Pita, former group treasurer Phetolo Ramosebudi, Regiments shareholder Eric Wood, Trillian asset management current director Daniel Roy (Novum Asset Management) and Kuben Moodley, Albatime Pty Ltd owner, appeared at the Palm Ridge Specialised Crimes Court. Early in the morning there was load shedding at the court in Ekurhuleni, but as soon as power was restored the case got under way. “The Palm Ridge Specialised Crimes Court deferred the R93m Transnet corruption matter to August 29 for further investigations,” said Investigating Directorate (ID) national spokesperson Sindisiwe Seboka. She said the ID intended…

SA FEDERATION of Trade Unions (Saftu) president Ruth Ntlokotse faces suspension from the federation after her union, the Nation Union of Metal Workers of SA (Numsa), placed her on suspension pending an investigation. Numsa general secretary Irvin Jim told the media in a briefing following the union’s central executive committee meeting that Ntlokotse was suspended because her name was being used in a campaign to sow disunity in the union. Ntlokotse is the president of Saftu and second deputy president of Numsa. The union has accused her of doing nothing about a campaign that made her seem a victim of patriarchy in the top structure of the union. “For weeks and for months there has been a running propaganda in those platforms that she is being dealt with. The union…

AHEAD of the National Fertility Awareness Week next week, it has emerged that more than 15% South Africans have had to deal with the problem at some point. In this regard, the government is attempting to unite millions of people in the understanding that there is a need to remove stigmas and barriers that stand in the way of building families, and say “infertility does not discriminate”. Infertility Awareness Association of South Africa said July 18 to 24 would culminate in the Fertility Show Africa 2022, where various topics surrounding fertility would be discussed. The show will be held in Sandton from July 23 to 24. It is in its third year and is the only event of its kind on the continent. “It is most suitable for anyone trying…

The fall of Boris Johnson has been likened to a Shakespearean tragedy, of a man who had the world at his feet but through stupidity and foolishness lost it all. Oh Boris, whatever ails you? Why fore art thou such a scoundrel, Indulging in wine and revelry In the midst of a lockdown? Hast thou not an ounce of shame in your body To resist greed and temptation And be an examplar to the nation? The British premier has been forced to quit, both as the leader of the Conservative Party and as the leader of the nation. The controversial, diehard politician with his boyish dishevelled hairstyle had withstood many an attack on his leadership. Ducking and dodging his way through numerous scandals, lies, deceptions and denials, he stubbornly clung…

There are 90 037 schoolgirl pregnancies a year. That’s 90 037 unwanted babies brought into an overpopulated and fatherless country. The poor souls are destined to a life of misery. About 3 000 of the births are from girls aged between 10 and 14 years. Shocking! Will the experts lower consensual sex to 10 years, because they’re doing it anyway? At this rate, in 10 years, there will be at least a million new mouths to feed. How many of the births are the result of rape or consensual sex? Why are the “fathers”, young and old, not held accountable for their deeds? The insane granting of consensual sex between 12 and 16 years has been a disaster. More sex education has not solved the problem. Will our experts be…

It’s graduation silly season and the sports hall at the University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN) is abuzz with glitz and glamour. A sea of gowned graduands face the stage, loved ones grouped in a solid phalanx of pride alongside. As each student takes their turn to kneel before the chancellor and be capped, the hall erupts in joyous ululation. No sombre ceremony here – the noise is deafening… Except for one quiet corner onstage. Facing the congregation, sign language interpreter Tsholofelo Segatswi stands neat and petite in a black academic gown, pencil skirt and court shoes. Her colleague, Sinethemba Khumalo, is in the front row, turned towards her and the academic procession seated onstage. The women work in tandem, taking turns to interpret. Eloquently and elegantly their hands speak as the…

US President Joe Biden yesterday kicked off a Middle East tour in Israel where both sides vowed to deepen the Jewish state’s integration in the region as they face their common foe Iran. Biden – whose first regional tour since taking office will also take him to Saudi Arabia – pledged strong backing for Israel, which has forged ties with several Arab states in recent years and hopes to do so with Riyadh as well. “We’ll continue to advance Israel’s integration into the region,” Biden said after Air Force One touched down at Ben Gurion airport near Tel Aviv to a red-carpet welcome. Israel’s caretaker prime minister Yair Lapid said that “we will discuss building a new security and economy architecture with the nations of the Middle East”, following US-brokered…

TOKYO: The man accused of shooting former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe tested a gun at a facility once used by the Unification Church, the group says. The Family Federation for World Peace and Unification said Tetsuya Yamagami test-fired his home-made weapon the night before the assassination at a building formerly used by the organisation. The group said the murder suspect’s mother was a member but he was not, and that it was co-operating with investigators. Police said the suspected gunman blamed a religious group for his financial woes after his mother made large donations, resulting in her bankruptcy. | Washington Post…

BAFANA Bafana flunked at the first hurdle of the Hollywoodbets Cosafa Cup as they lost to Mozambique on penalties after goalless draw at King Zwelithini Stadium last night. A noisy reception in Umlazi met a youthful Bafana side looking to defend their Cosafa Cup crown. Coach Helman Mkhalele handed the ropes to DStv Premiership regulars in SuperSport United’s Keagan Johannes and Athenkosi Mcaba of Stellenbosch to marshal the side as a centre back pairing while Orlando Pirates youngster Boitumelo Radiopane led from the front. Bafana dominated possession, shifting the Mambas defence side to side in search of a breakthrough and perhaps they should have found one through Keletso Sifama in the 13th minute. The Kaizer Chiefs man pounced on a loose ball in the Mozambican penalty area following confusion between…

RAHEEM Sterling has said he will leave Manchester City “a man” yesterday as his transfer to Chelsea edged ever closer. The 27-year-old posted a goodbye message on social media ahead of an expected £50-million (about R1-billion) move. Sterling announced his exit from the Etihad with a social media post thanking those he worked with at the club over the past seven years. “Seven seasons, eleven major trophies, a lifetime of memories,” he posted on Twitter. “What a ride it’s been. “I am thankful for the ups and the downs as it’s the downs that have, at times, tested my strength and resolve and enabled me to stand here in front of you as the best possible version of myself. “I arrived in Manchester as a 20-year-old. Today, I leave a…

As social restrictions are lifted, the South African economy has an opportunity to apply key disruption learnings to small, medium and micro enterprises (SMMEs). As South Africa returns to a new-normal, Simone Cooper Head of Business Clients at Standard Bank South Africa (winner of the 2021 Efma SME Banker of the Year Award) discusses how women entrepreneurs are key to turning our economy around by creating sustainable, inclusive jobs growth. At the inaugural 2021 Women’s Economic Assembly, President Cyril Ramaphosa expressed his dissatisfaction with the level of participation of women-owned businesses in key sectors like steel, energy, mining and agriculture. The President vowed to prioritise female entrepreneurs in state procurement, especially since women are disproportionately impacted by the current unemployment crisis. As the full economic impact of the Covid-19 pandemic…

LOGISTICS firm Imperial Holdings’ market access business has acquired a controlling stake in Africa FMCG Distribution (AFMCG), which is part of the Chanrai Group of companies. Imperial is owned by Dubai-based DP World, one of the world’s biggest opera- tors of marine ports and inland cargo terminals, with gateways from London to Antwerp as well as hubs in Africa, India, Russia and the Americas. AFMCG is a multi-faceted business, distributing products that positively impact the lives of consumers in Africa every day. Repre- senting some of the world’s leading multi- national FMCG compa- nies and their brands, AFMCG has a wide-rang- ing roduct portfolio and is managed by an exper- ienced and professional team, supported by robust technology and infrastructure, it said. | Dieketseng Maleke…

The African film industry is getting ready to converge in Durban for the 13th Durban FilmMart (DFM) – the first physical edition in two years. The event takes place from July 22 to 24 at the Elangeni Hotel under the theme, Revolution//Evolution – Changing The Narrative. Film-makers from across the continent, producers and financiers are eagerly awaiting the face-to-face reunion after the Covid-19 pandemic forced the festival to be hosted online for the last two years. Magdalene Reddy, general manager of the Durban FilmMart Institute said they were looking forward to once again hosting an in-person event in Durban. “It’s been a long time coming, but at last DFM will host a physical programme bringing film professionals together under one roof. For the fluid and fast-changing film industries of this…

A World Boxing Council (WBC) belt that was on display at the Nelson Mandela museum in Soweto has been stolen. The WBC title belt was given to Mandela by former American world champion, Sugar Ray Leonard, after he was released from prison. According to the report, the belt – which was on display – was reported missing on July 1 by employees of the Nelson Mandela House on Vilakazi Street in the western part of Orlando. It is believed the employees reported the incident to the police in Orlando, Soweto. The Mandela house is home to many artefacts of the late Struggle icon, who was acknowledged around the globe for his contribution to South Africa’s liberation. The stolen belt had a green strap emblazoned with gold WBC details. Police in…

University of the Free State (UFS) Department of Physics Affiliate Professor David Buckley recently published an article in prestigious science journal Nature Astronomy, together with an international team of authors, on the detection of an extremely slowly rotating pulsar using MeerKAT. The article, titled “Discovery of a radio-emitting neutron star with an ultra-long spin period of 76 seconds”, explores the discovery made using MeerKAT (originally the Karoo Array Telescope). “When it was discovered, it was the slowest rotating single radio pulsar,” said Buckley, explaining that pulsars are neutron stars (stellar corpses; the leftover remains of a star), only 10km in radius, with a typical spin period of less than a second. He said it is only in some high-mass X-ray binary systems that such slowly rotating neutron stars are seen,…

The Run for Rangers event hosted by Thanda Safari in partnership with the Sport for Lives movement and Project Rhino took place over the weekend of July 8 to 10. According to Thanda Group chief financial officer John Louw, the event was an enormous success. Louw said Thanda Safari were excited to host this fund-raising effort and that the motivation or inspiration for it was hard to resist. The initiator of the project is a Grade 12 Hilton College pupil, Harry Bailey, who has a passion for wildlife and a desire to champion the often forgotten, but true heroes – the rangers. Bailey’s aim to raise R100 000 by running 100km through Thanda Safari’s huge open spaces in Big 5 territory to create awareness for the incredible work that the…

South African consumers have once again drawn the shortest, spiky, economic straw. Rising interest rates, high fuel prices, ever-increasing food costs, incessant power interruptions and high unemployment rates are leaving South Africans shocked, bewildered, broke and, without a safety net. The catastrophic inflationary paradigms across the planet are leaving the bulk of humanity without meaningful hope for the future. The latest Sri Lankan implosion, should be a wake-up call for countries like South Africa and Zimbabwe, because we are next. In many instances, politicians are elevated to “god-like” positions, believing they can do no wrong, yet more often than not, they disappoint. Evidence of this is the ANC’s inability to lead or govern, unable to produce urgent economic action plans to move the country forward. Drawing the short straw is…

THE ANC used to pride itself on being a “broad church”, a place where people of different persuasions, convictions and orientations could come together and thrash out unity and compromise. One of its defining characteristics has been its tradition as a so-called “broad church”, an organisation that was a home for members of all ideological, racial, gender and other orientations and persuasions. The party was a home for those who believed in the free market and those who were convinced by an interventionist or socialist state. It became a political vehicle for black, white, Indian and coloured and it effected laws which gave gay marriages the same status as straight marriages, a first in Africa. The genesis of the broad-church movement began in Kliptown, with the Congress of the People,…

Eskom has been unable to provide a steady electricity supply for several years now. At the start of the 2022 winter the utility warned the public to expect up to 100 days of rolling power outages. At the end of June there was at times a 6 000MW shortfall in supply, which corresponds to about 20% of the evening peak demand. While there is consensus that new electricity generating plants are urgently needed to minimise power outages, there are radically differing views on how this is best achieved. The official electricity plan approved three years ago is already out of date. Its implementation is furthermore two years behind schedule. One widely promoted view is that increasing electricity generating capacity requires grand scale new renewable energy developments. In 2020 the electricity…

ADDIS ABABA: The soaring price of fuel is impacting transportation in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia’s capital where commuters wait for hours before they can get rides. The Ethiopian Ministry of Trade and Regional Integration recently increased the price of gasoline by 30% to 47.83 birr (about R15.52) per litre and hiked the price of one litre of diesel by 38% to 49.02 birr. The increase in the fuel price is stoking fears of further deteriorating the already soaring cost of living. Ethiopia recorded 34% general inflation last month, with food inflation alone reaching 38.1%. | IANS…

Beni: Suspected rebels have killed at least nine people in twin attacks in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, officials said yesterday, in the latest violence to hit the region. Fighters from the feared Armed Democratic Forces (ADF) group killed six civilians in an attack on the town of Beni in North Kivu province. The militants targeted a district just a kilometre from army headquarters in the city of 400 000. The same night, militants also killed at least three people in an attack on a village in nearby Ituri province. The Islamic State group claims the ADF as its Central African offshoot. | AFP…

A day after signing Keegan Allan, Swallows FC have shown initiative to improve their prospects for next season as they have signed Lindokuhle Mtshali from Golden Arrows. Mtshali joins on a two-year deal with the possibility of extending his stay by a further season. An attacking midfielder by trade, Mtshali brings experience to the Dube Birds, having played over 50 times in the Premiership so far in his career. He is only 24 and while he was more of a squad player for Arrows last season, he still does have time to improve in the league. In addition to Arrows, Mtshali has also previously played for Orlando Pirates and Tshakhuma Tsha Madzivhandila. Meanwhile, Swallows are also believed to be closing in on the signings of Darrel Matsheke and Lebohang Lesago…

CONSUMERS are steering clear of committing to big-ticket items such as furniture and appliances as higher food, fuel, and energy prices have started weighing on household incomes amid prevailing weak economic conditions. Data from Statistics South Africa (StatsSA) yesterday showed that retail trade sales rose by just 0.1 percent year-on-year in May, slowing down substantially from an upwardly revised 4.3 percent in April. This retail sales print markedly missed market forecasts of a 1.5 percent growth, and was the smallest gain in retail activity since February. StatsSA said sales increased only in 2 out of 7 retail divisions, namely general dealers which include supermarkets, and all other retailers which include online stores and retailers specialising in jewellery, stationery and sports goods. StatsSA’s deputy director for distri- butive…

New kykNET reality TV series Plaasjapie takes 18 city slicker contestants and puts them through their paces as they adjust to farm life. If you can’t survive without your wi-fi and cellphone, then brace yourself as this series is about to make you squirm uncomfortably. Plaasjapie is where “the wheat will be separated from the chaff” when the contestants trade in the bright city lights for candles. Viewers will be chuffed to see a familiar face with Ewan Strydom at the helm as the host of the series. Plaasjapie producer, Albert Snyman says the participants, who are called “newly found farmers”, must for the first time in their lives try to tackle farming activities with their hands. No gadgets, no modern technology. All of them are working towards the R1…

The National Lotteries Commission (NLC) is in total disarray after the suspension of its chief operating officer, Philemon Letwaba, and the sudden resignation of its chief financial officer, Xolile Ntuli. This has been compounded by the controversial appointment and the Cabinet approval of 76-year-old Barney Pityana as chairperson of the commission. The Star’s sister paper, the Daily News has learnt that Letwaba locked horns with the NLC after the board instructed him to furnish reasons as to why he should not be placed on precautionary suspension. In a letter dated July 6, board member Beryl Ferguson wrote on behalf of the board to Letwaba informing him of an investigation led by the Special Investigating Unit which alleges that he (Letwaba) and his immediate family members had accepted financial benefits from…

If Ireland is the most historically appropriate country in Europe to acknowledge that Israel is committing the crime of apartheid against Palestinians, surely, South Africa would be the most appropriate in Africa? South Africa has endured pain, suffering, indignity and racist oppression spawned by apartheid, and it defeated it. Defeated in South Africa but alive in Israel, apartheid re- mains a scourge ravaging the lives and properties of Palestinians under Zionist rule. The question facing the ANC-led government, is whether it has the will to break the back of apartheid Israel. While the focus is on Ireland to back the findings of human rights organisation B’Tselem about Israel’s apartheid status, Palestinians hold the same expectation of South Africa. B’Tselem director Hagai El-Ad urged Ireland to back its findings, along…

Over the past 20 years, successive Western governments and their intelligence institutions have unleashed mountains of information indicating that Iran was on the verge of acquiring nuclear weapons. In it’s quest to defer or destroy this alleged threat, the West and its allies used sanctions, sabotage, computer viruses, assassinations and disinformation to derail Iran’s nuclear ambitions, which were begun by the Shah and had Western support. Assuming that the current government has nuclear weapons desires, what is the current status of its capacity and capability to produce and deploy atomic weaponry. The Biden administration alleges Iran is very close to acquiring a nuclear bomb. In reality, there are a number of pivotal and critical technological impediments that Iran must overcome to acquire a fully fledged nuclear arsenal that is credible…

SOUTH Africa has been battling crimes for the longest time and our law enforcement agencies, much like the citizens, do not appear to know what needs to be done to end the horrific crimes we experience every day. If it is not a girl child and a woman being raped and killed, we hear of human trafficking, hijacking and homicide. Unfortunately, those entrusted with the responsibility to fight these crimes are entangled in scandals of corruption and mismanagement of State resources. Not so long ago, we heard in a recording a shocking revelation where President Cyril Ramaphosa, while addressing his comrades in the ruling party, admitted State money was being used to advance personal campaigns. He also said he would rather fall on his sword than reveal their names. So…

Yangon: A bomb blast near a shopping mall in Myanmar’s commercial hub Yangon killed two people and wounded eleven, rescue workers said yesterday. No group has so far claimed responsibility for the explosion, as the country marked a public holiday. The south-east Asian country has been in turmoil since a coup last year, with self-declared “People’s Defence Forces” targeting the military and officials or organisations perceived to be working with the junta. Local media reported that the two people had died in hospital. A rescue team said six were in hospital with non-serious wounds. | AFP…