Innholdsfortegnelse for 2023-07-04 i Star

It is an important part of South Africa’s economy, contributing 8% of GDP Manufacturing activity in South Africa is expected to remain under pressure in the months ahead after sliding further into contractionary territory in June, in spite of less intense daytime load shedding during the month. Manufacturing is an important part of South Africa's economy, contributing 8% of gross domestic product (GDP), 12% to formal sector employment and at least 40% of the rand value of exports. The seasonally adjusted Absa headline Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) dropped further below the neutral 50-point level in June, declined by 1.6 index points to 47.6 points from 49.2 points in May. The June PMI reading marked the fifth consecutive month of contraction in manufacturing activity and was the lowest level…

ANALYSTS expect revenues in Tongaat Hulett’s Zimbabwe listed unit, Hippo Valley Estates, to top $141 million in the financial year ahead after the company secured additional land leases from the government. Hippo Valley opted to forego a dividend payment for its 2023 second half year period to end March, owing to high indebtedness and the tough economic environment. This is despite the board of the Zimbabwe listed entity declaring a US$0.3 cents dividend for the interim period. “In light of the heightened volatilities weighing down the economic and operating environments as well as the increased level of borrowings, the directors have not declared a final dividend for the year ended March 31, 2023,” board chairperson Canaan Dube said. Zimbabwean companies have started to see an uptick in US…

IMPALA Platinum (Implats) is closer to acquiring Royal Bafokeng Platinum (RBPlat) after RBPlat announced yesterday that the JSE has approved Implat’s listing of the offer consideration shares, a critical requirement in its bid. This was the final condition to officially conclude its offer to buy out RBPlat’s remaining shareholders. “RBPlat shareholders are advised that the JSE has approved the listing of the offer consideration shares thereby fulfilling the condition precedent … Accordingly, as referred to in the Implats announcement, the mandatory offer is unconditional,” it said. The group said the dates and times following the initial closing date will be extended. Last week, Implats was also issued with a compliance certificate from the Takeover Regulation Panel (TRP), another step that brought it closer to finishing its takeover bid. Meanwhile, RBPlats…

IF YOU DO not know the “language” of prompting, you will find it increasingly difficult to communicate with the numerous artificial intelligence (AI) systems that are now part of our everyday life. Suddenly, after the popularisation of AI tools, AI has become an integral part of our lives and businesses. Generative AI, virtual assistants and chatbots are currently present in many things we touch. And the most impressive thing is that AI keeps getting smarter and more capable and has changed the way we interact with humans and, in particular, machines. These dramatic changes gave rise to the need to improve our communication with machines. Therefore, understanding prompting is crucial for effective interaction with AI systems because it forms the basis for communicating our intentions and obtaining the desired outputs.…

Actors often say if you don’t have a passion for the arts then you will never make it in the entertainment industry because passion is what drives them. This rings true for actress Nambitha Ben-Mazwi, who left the corporate world seven years to date, to fulfil her dream of becoming a storyteller. The Savage Beauty star took to Instagram to share her acting reel to celebrate her achievements. “This month, 7 years ago, I made the bold leap of faith, to relentlessly pursue my calling of being a storyteller full time,” she wrote. “I left all I knew behind, including the Business Science corporate world I had worked so hard to be entrenched in. I knew God had a different purpose in me, the purpose of showcasing truth in ourselves.”…

In a powerful collaboration aimed at saving lives, hip hop crew Driemanskap is teaming up with medical experts to educate and inspire youth to register as blood stem cell donors. With medical research highlighting the crucial role of younger donors in increasing transplant success rates, this initiative seeks to provide a second chance at life for patients in need. Blood cancers and blood disorders often require stem cell transplants for the best chance of survival. However, the age of the donor plays a significant role in the outcome. The campaign urges more young people to step forward and register as donors. Enter Driemanskap, a music group widely recognised within African communities. Driemanskap, a prolific hip-hop group hailing from Gugulethu township, has emerged as an influential voice among South African…

It was a joyful moment on Instagram recently when the founder and owner of Siba– The Restaurant, Siba Mtongana, shared snaps of herself and American actor and comedian Anthony Anderson at the restaurant. The Hollywood star has been spotted taking pictures with fans and enjoying what the Mother City has to offer. Anderson shared that he was taking this time to relax, reflect and reset before he returned to the US. “For 100 marks, guess who dropped by at @siba_the_restaurant? ‘I’m just a kid from Compton’ ... ‘I’m just a kid from Mdantsane’, wrote Mtongana in the caption. Fans of the famous chef congratulated her and noted how big of a deal having Anderson at her restaurant was. “Please frame all of these memories at the restaurant,” wrote one user.…

During the initiation season, there are almost always incidents of illegal circumcisions reported. With many young men expected to undergo customary male initiation, safety has been a major concern. Police in Limpopo revealed that there was an initiation school in practice at Kutupu Village operating in violation of the Initiation Act. “The illegal school was closed by police in Hlogotlou and Co-operative Governance, Human Settlements and Traditional Affairs (CoGHSTA). “According to the information available at this stage, it is alleged that there was an initiation school in practice at Kutupu Village in contravention of the Initiation Act. “The police in Hlogotlou, in conjunction with CogHSTA, closed an illegal initiation school outside Kutupu Village in Sekhukhune District on Friday. It is reported that the school was discovered the previous Sunday, and…

THE nursing union Democratic Nursing Organisation of SA (Denosa) in Limpopo said it is gravely disappointed by the termination of the contracts of 706 nurses by the Limpopo Department of Health, effective July 1. There is a gross shortage of nurses and other health-care workers in various facilities in the province. “The termination of contracts came at a time when the Department of Health is opening clinics to provide 24-hour services to allow community members to access health services considering that the province is predominantly rural,” said Denosa provincial chairperson, Lesiba Monyaki. “The termination... will aggravate the shortage following the loss of 230 post-community service nurses to other provinces in March. The Department of Health failed to appoint 170 professional nurses following interviews in March,” said Monyaki. He went on…

ALLEGATIONS of being drugged by two unknown women after a late night party and a man “waking up in a daze to discover his 2010 Mercedes-Benz missing” all did not add up to the insurer of the car. The insurer refused to pay for the stolen vehicle – but the court has now ruled that fraud had not been proven. Thabo Molefe earlier turned to the Pretoria Magistrate’s Court after Miway Insurance Company refused to pay him R164 880, the replacement value of his stolen vehicle. But, as in the case of the insurer, the magistrate also frowned upon Molefe’s version of events and found that possible fraud was involved. Molefe subsequently successfully appealed the refusal to pay him before the Gauteng High Court, Pretoria. Molefe’s case was that the…

ENGEN has committed a further R3 million in fuel to Gift of the Givers, taking its total fuel support for the disaster response organisation since 2019 to R11.5 million. Gift of the Givers founder and chairperson Dr Imtiaz Sooliman said the contribution will assist the organisation in providing aid across the country. “This fuel contribution will help us provide humanitarian relief across South Africa, including in many under-resourced areas, and support across our key projects.” Dr Sooliman also hailed the value of the renewed partnership with Engen. “Gift of the Givers greatly appreciates the support extended to our organisation and its activities by Engen.” Engen commended the organisation for staying true to their founding principle of serving humanity regardless of race, religion, class, culture, political affiliation, or geographical boundary.…

“We sadly live in a society where we say ‘don’t get raped’, as opposed to ‘do not rape’. We cannot accept and normalise rape as ‘inevitable’, and we teach rape prevention instead of consent.” These are the chilling words from the chief executive of the Gender-Based Violence and Femicide (GBVF) Response Fund, Sazini Mojapelo, who opened up about the prevalence of gender-based violence in South Africa. Mojapelo cites different cases of GBV that sent shock waves through the country, revealing that more action is needed than words. The cases include the murder of 17-year-old Palesa Malatji, a Grade 12 pupil whose body was found in a park near her school in Soshanguve, outside Pretoria. Malatji suffered a brutal sexual assault while walking home from school after attending extra classes. “Reading…

AS the salvage and investigation starts after US Coast guard announced that the five wealthy adventure seekers on board OceanGate’s Titan submersible are presumed dead after a “catastrophic implosion”, critical questions in the human rights community are being raised. According to reports, the Adriana vessel sank off the coast of Greece just a few thousand miles and days apart from the Titan. The estimated 700 who lost their lives on the Adriana were mostly women and children. The Titan drew immediate live ongoing reporting and different types of modern recovery equipment to find the submersible was immediately set in motion but the stranded migrants were primarily ignored. Why this inconsistency in coverage? Hence, it is not wrong to assume that the lives of the wealthy men on board the Titan…

As the world population has grown older, Alzheimer’s disease has become increasingly common. Alzheimer’s disease is the most prevalent form of dementia. Dementia is a term used to describe a range of symptoms linked to the decline in brain function with age. Symptoms include memory loss, communication difficulties, problem- solving struggles, and personality or behavioural changes. Alzheimer’s disease is an increasingly urgent global issue. The World Health Organization predicts that the number of people with the condition will triple by 2050. Despite this growing problem, Alzheimer’s disease remains a relatively understudied condition. This is particularly the case in sub-Saharan countries such as South Africa. One major challenge is that Alzheimer’s is a complex condition with no known cure. However, researchers have identified several key risk factors associated with the disease.…

A collection for a French policeman who sparked nationwide riots by shooting a teenager dead topped €1 million (over R20m) yesterday, dwarfing donations to the victim’s family. More than 40 000 people have pledged money to the online appeal set up by a far-right media commentator on the Gofundme.com website. It easily outstripped the €200 000 gathered for the family of the dead 17-year-old, Nahel, of north African origin. Nahel’s grandmother said she was “heartbroken” by the support shown for the policeman. “He took the life of my grandson. This man must pay, the same as everyone,” she told the BFM channel on Sunday. “I have confidence in the justice system. I believe in justice.” Last Tuesday’s shooting during a traffic stop in a suburb west of Paris has exposed…

Beijing: China said yesterday that it would slap export controls on two rare metals, gallium and germanium, which are essential for the manufacture of semi-conductors, over security concerns. China is a major producer of these metals. Gallium is found in integrated circuits, LEDs and photovoltaic panels for solar panels and is considered a critical raw material by the EU. Germanium is essential for making optical fibres and infrared camera lenses. The export curbs follow a US blacklisting of Chinese companies aimed at cutting them off from access to US technologies. | AFP…

Kaizer Chiefs have moved swiftly to bolster their squad for next season, announcing yesterday that six new players have joined their ranks. Amakhosi confirmed in January that they’d secured the services of Thatayaone Ditlhokwe from SuperSport United on a pre-contract basis. The stocky Botswanan international was indeed confirmed by Chiefs as one of the new signings yesterday on a four-year deal, and will don the No 24 jersey. Ditlhokwe will not be the only new face in Chiefs’ defensive structure as he’ll be joined by former TS Galaxy captain Given Msimango, who’s also penned a four-year while he’ll wear jersey No 25. Former Cape Town City midfield Mduduzi Mdantsane has also returned to his childhood club following various stints across the league, including at Baroka where he captained the side.…

THE PRICE of petrol (95 ULP and LRP) will fall by 17 cents per litre tomorrow, while the price of diesel (0.005% sulphur) will increase by 18c per litre, a statement from Department of Mineral Resources and Energy said yesterday. South Africa’s monthly fuel price changes are informed by international and local factors. Including the rand exchange rate and that South Africa imports both crude oil and finished products at a price set at the international level, including importation costs, eg shipping costs. FNB Senior economist Koketso Mano said they expect continued slight upward pressure on oil prices in the months ahead due to their belief the rand would remain under pressure in the short term, the possibility of further oil production cuts by major oil producers as global…

PAPER and packaging group Mondi said yesterday that all the approvals for the sale of its three Russian converting operations to the Gotek Group, for 1.6 billion roubles (R335.5bn), had been received and the sale was completed. On December 15, 2022, the group had announced that an agreement had been reached for the sale of the packaging converting operations. “Mondi has received net proceeds of €30.4 million (R625m) from this disposal into its Austrian bank account,” the group said in a statement. Net proceeds from the sale of all the group’s Russian assets would be distributed to shareholders “as soon as reasonably practicable following receipt, once our exit from Russia has been completed”, the group said. The proposed disposal of Mondi Syktyvkar, Mondi’s most significant facility in Russia,…

THERE was growing demand for credit in the fourth quarter of last year after the CreditSmart Financial Services’ 2023 Financial Savvy Survey highlighted a 9% year-on-year expansion in unsecured debt. This was the fastest growth since 2019. The survey showed that 33% of respondents confirmed their usage of credit cards for “everyday and everything” purchases, 32% said they had no extra money to put away, and 24% said the unsecured debt cycle was something they could not escape. The impact was also evident in figures from the National Credit Regulator-NCR (Credit Bureau Monitor and Consumer Credit Market Report – December 2022). More than 9 million consumers reflected having impaired credit records and a 4%-plus increase was registered in credit applications compared to previous quarters’ statistics. CreditSmart Financial Services MD…

TEXT-BASED AI models, formally known as Large Language Models, have been enjoying widespread media coverage this year. By being trained on arguably the largest set of text data assembled (made possible in large part by the internet), the models do an impressive job of mimicking humans on a wide range of tasks. They can write essays, hold back-and-forth conversation, and brainstorm. Importantly, recent language models have also proved to be effective at writing and explaining computer code. The potential applications of the technology are too wide-ranging to detail here, but a useful case that shows great promise is AI tutors. General-purpose tools like ChatGPT are good at helping users understand topics but this scratches only the surface of what is possible. Khan Academy, a non-profit organisation whose high-quality free tutorials…

As countries around the world work to reduce carbon emissions, there is great potential for South Africa to establish and develop new industries. For us, reducing our carbon footprint is critical to the health and well-being of our people, the sustainability of our society, and ensuring that our goods and services remain competitive into the future. At the same time it is a great opportunity to grow and diversify our eco- nomy and create employment. We have said that our transition to a low-carbon, climate-resilient eco- nomy must be just and inclusive. We have, therefore, produced a Just Energy Transition Investment Plan to direct resources both to supporting workers, communities and industries affected by the shift towards renewable energy sources, and to investing in new industries like green hydrogen and…

SA Football Association (Safa) CEO officer Lydia Monyepao is caught between a rock and a hard place due to the dispute between the association and Banyana Banyana. The senior national women’s team have been the country’s footballing darlings in recent years after winning their maiden Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (Wafcon) last year to qualify for their second successive Fifa Women’s World Cup this month. Their preparations for the showpiece event took a turn for the worse on Sunday as they boycotted their send-off match, citing Botswana as unworthy opposition and accusing Safa of not meeting their contractual obligations. Since then, Safa has been forced to find ways to come to an agreement with the players before they depart for Australia and New Zealand tomorrow and on Thursday, or they…

The DA in the City of Johannesburg has written to the Speaker of Council, Colleen Makhubele, complaining about an investigation being launched concerning alleged corruption by some of its members. Last week, Makhubele announced a preliminary investigation into the conduct of some DA members who were accused of hiding reports from the council when the DA was still in power in the City of Johannesburg. The accusations included tampering with the interview process for senior managers and the city manager position. In a letter to the Speaker of Council, DA caucus leader Belinda Echeozonjoku complained about the manner in which the DA councillors were being treated. “You have shared this information publicly without informing the relevant councillors about the allegations and have not given them a right of reply or…

SOUTH AFRICA’S economic dominance in the region, its long porous border including a 3 000km long shoreline, fronting both the South Atlantic and South Indian Oceans are some of the main reasons the country has over the years become a “paradise for traffickers”. This is one of the conclusions reached by researcher Prof Philip Frankel, the author of a new study on human trafficking in South Africa entitled, Human Trafficking in South Africa. The new book, Prof Frankel’s second on the topic since 2017 when he wrote, Long Walk to Nowhere: Human Trafficking in Post-Mandela South Africa, is now available nationwide courtesy of the Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC). The new book explores the various forms of trafficking and has chapters on sex, labour and child trafficking which…

The National Education, Health, and Allied Workers Union (Nehawu) is outraged by President Cyril Ramaphosa’s “irrational decision” to boost the compensation for public office-bearers by 3% retroactively from April 1, 2022. According to Nehawu spokesperson Lwazi Nkolonzi, this decision to enhance salary followed the advice of the Independent Commission for the salary of Public Office-Bearers. “Earlier this year, we called on the president to reject in the strongest terms the Independent Commission for Remuneration’s proposed salary increase for public office-bearers and called on President Ramaphosa to ignore the recommendation. “We called on him to reject the recommendation precisely because of the challenges confronting our country with high levels of unemployment, poverty, and inequality. “Our call also focused on the fact that the government butchered public servants who are on the…

Limpopo police commissioner, Lieutenant General Thembi Hadebe, has ordered a manhunt for unknown assailants who allegedly shot and killed a 41-year-old pub owner in Makhado. The gruesome murder happened on Saturday, at around midnight. “Police were informed about a shooting along 74 Krogh and Kwa Dollar streets and quickly rushed to the area. On arrival they found the lifeless body of a 41-year-old man,” said Limpopo provincial police spokesperson, Colonel Malesela Ledwaba. “Further observations revealed that the deceased sustained multiple gunshot wounds on the upper body.” Preliminary police investigations indicated that two men had entered the premises armed with firearms and randomly started shooting at patrons. “During the ordeal, five victims sustained injuries due to gunshots of the stray bullets, but a 41-year-old victim died on the scene. “It…

THE legal fraternity has lost an icon after well-known and leading celebrity divorce attorney Selwyn Shapiro, 54, died last week following a short illness. His funeral was on Sunday following his death on Thursday. Tributes have poured in over the weekend from friends and colleagues who said they were shocked and shattered by his death. Selwyn was fearless in court and divorcing spouses who had him on their side knew they were in the best hands. Advocate Marc Haskins, who has been best friends with Selwyn for the past 36 years, said he met him when serving articles during 1988. “Since then we have shared an extremely close friendship and professional relationship until his untimely death. “Obviously, by virtue of that, we shared memories of good as well as…

OHLOTSE Modise, 10, from Limpopo, has achieved a remarkable feat by securing a second spot in the Mini Model World 2023 competition held in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic. Competing against 30 candidates from around the globe, her outstanding performance earned her multiple accolades, including the overall Top Model as well as Catwalk awards during the event. The Mini Model World took place on June 25, and Ohlotse arrived back in South Africa last Friday, where she will continue her journey of making a positive impact in society. Her entourage included national director of Miss Teen Universe South Africa Ntombi Gumede, her coach, mother Itumeleng Modise as well as hairstylist and make-up artist. The team was responsible for ensuring Ohlotse represented South Africa with grace and professionalism on an international stage.…

The NATIONAL Department of Sport, Arts and Culture (DSAC), in partnership with the Department of Basic Education (DBE) and the Gauteng Department of Sport, Arts, Culture and Recreation, has invited members of the media and the general public to yet another exciting edition of the National School Sport Championship. This year’s winter games championships will take place from today until Thursday in Benoni, Boksburg and Ekurhuleni metropolitan municipalities in Gauteng. National Department of Sport, Arts and Culture head of communication and marketing Zimasa Velaphi said more than 3 456 athletes from across all nine provinces will participate in this year’s National School Sport Championship winter games. “The young athletes from different genders, ages and racial groups will battle for various championship honours in several sporting codes that, among others, include…

The French are now paying for their sins. When they colonised parts of Africa – plundering, looting, decimating innocent lives – the thought never crossed their minds that one day they would pay dearly. Paris, once an iconic city, has been overrun by rabble from the old colonies, wreaking mayhem and destruction, leaving Macron and his inner circle shaking with fear and rage. Allowing migrants in at an alarming rate has brought a cultured city to its knees – trash, trash and more trash, everywhere. Paying for the sins of their colonial fathers, civilised Frenchmen must be appalled at the current situation. Maybe the reset button must be pressed. France’s culture must not be allowed to disappear.…

South Africa does not have a political problem, it has a leadership problem. Our country is in an economic, social, spiritual and unemployment problem because of poor leadership. Interestingly, it seems like every politician wants to be a leader and few are prepared to submit under party leadership. When they resign from their political parties, they start new ones. Examples abound. When Julius Sello Malema was fired from the ANC, he started the EFF. In his second year as Johannesburg mayor, Herman Mashaba resigned from the DA and started ActionSA. Mmusi Maimane resigned from the DA almost at the same time as Mashaba. Maimane has started his own political party, Bosa. The former Midvaal mayor, Bongani Baloyi, left the DA for ActionSA. Baloyi was the ActionSA leader in Gauteng. He…

South Africa’s National Health Insurance (NHI) Bill has passed the first hurdle towards becoming law, getting the country closer to its vision of achieving universal access to health care. Section 27 of the country’s Constitution states that everyone has the right to access to health care. The NHI bill, which has been passed by the national assembly, is the manifestation of this provision. Universal access to health care and the NHI are related. But they are not the same thing. Universal access to health care is an ideal which supposes that everyone should have the same access to health care. The NHI bill is a tool to achieve universal health coverage. It aims to ensure that all South Africans have access to quality health-care services. The bill also aims to…

Kumamoto: Hundreds of thousands of people in Japan’s city of Kumamoto have been urged to evacuate their homes due to the risk of flooding and landslides caused by heavy rains. A bridge built above a small river running through Yamato collapsed due to the extremely heavy rain in Japan’s south-western Kyushu region yesterday, officials said. Evacuation orders have been released for almost 360 000 residents in Kumamoto. The Japan Meteorological Agency warned of torrential rain and thunder today. The rain in south-western Japan left one person dead and two missing, officials said. | ANI…

TEHRAN: Iran has hanged at least 354 people in the first six months of this year, a rights group said yesterday, adding that the pace of executions was much higher than last year. Rights groups have accused Tehran of increasing the use of the death penalty in the wake of the protests that erupted last September over the death of Mahsa Amini, arrested for allegedly violating strict dress rules for women. Norway-based Iran Human Rights said the figure up to June 30 was up 36% on the same period in 2022, when 261 people were executed. | AFP…

NEW VEHICLE sales surprised on the upside for the second month in a row as electricity supply stabilised, rising by a significant 14% from a year ago last month, in spite of dwindling exports, the impact of rising interest rates and weak economic growth. This comes as the aggregate domestic new vehicle sales rose to 46 810 units in June, from the 41 052 vehicles sold in June 2022, reflecting an increase of 5 758 units. The Automotive Business Council (Naamsa) yesterday said that the upbeat new vehicle market performance was encouraging given the multiplicity of negative considerations which still outweigh positive ones during the month of June. The unexpected extent of the upswing in the new vehicle market for the second month in a row exceeded…

NORTHAM Platinum Holdings said yester- day it had restructured its banking facili- ties by settling and cancelling the term loan facility and increasing the revolving credit facility (RCF). The RCF was increased to R10 billion from R7.2bn. The R2.445bn term loan facility had been fully settled and cancelled. “As a result of the restruc- ture, Northam’s total available banking facilities now amount to R11bn, comprising the increased RCF of R10bn and existing general banking facilities of R1bn. “The remaining terms of the RCF remain un- changed, including the maturity date being August 2027,” a statement read. The term loan had a staggered maturity profile of four equal tranches, commencing in February 2026 and ending in August 2027. The restructure increased North- am’s available banking facilities and removed…

THE COMPETITION Tribunal has unconditionally approved the proposed merger, a global transaction, whereby Anchorage Merger Sub, a subsidiary of Microsoft Corporation intends to acquire Activision Blizzard. In a statement yesterday, the Tribunal said the reasons for its decision would be issued in due course. The commission said it had recommended that the proposed $68.7 billion (R1.29 trillion) transaction whereby Anchorage, a wholly owned subsidiary of Microsoft Corporation, intends to acquire Activision, be approved without conditions. Anchorage is controlled by Microsoft. It is a global technology company that provides information technology-related services. Its gaming activities are relevant to the proposed merger. Activision develops games for computers, consoles, and mobile devices and publishes them in most countries around the world. Its most notable content is the Call of Duty series…

Last week, South Africa took an integral step towards laying a solid foundation in creating an artificial intelligence (AI) driven society. Although there are AI companies in South Africa, the country is limited by a lack of data. The Spatial Economic Activity Data (Sead) initiative was launched by the National Treasury and Human Sciences Research Council to close the data gap in South Africa by leveraging tax and other administrative data sources. For the first time, granular spatial data exists to help answer vital policy and research questions about urbanisation, uneven development, territorial disparities, productivity and economic conditions of municipalities, cities, towns and suburbs/wards. The creation of robust disaggregated and granular economic data is not only essential for monitoring changing economic conditions but for the advancement of the AI industry…

TV PRESENTER and musician Molemo “Jub Jub” Maarohanye, who turned 43 recently, took to Instagram to reflect on his life’s achievements so far. The Uyajola 9/9 host shared that one of his greatest blessing in life is being able to uplift others in his circle. “I’m so grateful for the achievements I have accomplished thus far. The greatest blessing was to be able to bless and uplift others in my circle,” he shared on Instagram. Jub Jub, who has son, 13-year-old Christian, with award-winning singer Kelly Khumalo, encouraged people to wake up daily and try to make a difference. “As black people, we say, izandla ziya gezana Umuntu umuntu nga bantu. Wake up every morning and try to make a difference in someone’s life, they may not be watching, but…

AS THE annual Silwerskerm Festival draws closer, kykNET announces the first-ever Silwerskerm Festival Awards for Film and Television. The award ceremony will see the top achievers including presenters, actors and filmmakers, who showcased great television and entertainment in the space of April 2022 to March 2023. The TV section of the awards ceremony pays homage to 20 categories and boasts a special section for lifetime contributions by living legends such as actor Cedwyn Joel and presenter Freek Robinson, who set and maintained the highest standards in news media over the past 40 years and includes producer, André Scholtz, who has been making films for more than half a century. The gala event, which takes place on Saturday, August 26, at the CTICC in Cape Town, will be recorded for television…

l Allegations of intimidation The Star has seen a R990 000 proof of payment allegedly made by former Arthur Kaplan boss Hoosaine Mohamed to controversial liquidator Enver Motala. The payment, which was made on May 27, 2023, was made to Shenver Invest, a company owned by Motala, who received a payment from Luxe Holdings, the holding company of Mohamed’s businesses. It is alleged that Motala, who was struck off as a liquidator, solicited R990 000 from Mohamed even though Motala was no longer legally a liquidator. The liquidator in this case was Laila Motala, Enver’s daughter. The Star has also seen WhatsApp conversations between Mohamed and Motala, in which Mohamed seeks to meet Motala. “Good evening. I still have not received schedules from you. I cannot be reminding you…

The embattled Congress of the People (Cope) is expected to announce a decision on the future of the party’s spokesperson, Dennis Bloem, who is facing several charges of misconduct. The Star has seen a letter that was sent to Bloem, outlining a number of allegations against him that have led to public spats in the party and further divisions among its leaders. Bloem has been suspended by the party and involved in a legal battle with some party leaders. He is believed to be part of several factions inside the party. “Despite your suspension and the application for an interdict being brought against you, you did not cease to conduct yourself outside the party outside the confines of the constitution of the party. Furthermore, on June 15, 2023, you were…

A NUMBER of Diepsloot residents were left disappointed after the case against three community leaders was postponed to tomorrow for their bail applications. Residents hired more than five taxis, braved the freezing cold, and protested outside the Randburg Magistrate’s Court yesterday, demanding the release of their leaders. The community also accused Police Minister Bheki Cele of declaring war on them; they say the trio were arrested last week during what they called a peaceful protest. National Prosecuting Authority Gauteng spokesperson Phindi Mjonondwane said the State opposed bail. “The charges faced by the suspects include damage to essential infrastructure, as well as malicious injury to property and allegations of public violence and assault. “We have requested a postponement as the State gathers information to prepare the case that will be heard…

North West Community Safety and Transport Management MEC, Sello Lehari has sent “deepest condolences” to the families of four people who lost their lives in two separate accidents on the N4 near Zeerust. The travellers were killed on Saturday and Sunday. “On Sunday afternoon at 5.10pm, a bakkie carrying 15 passengers that included a baby whose age has not been determined yet, overturned whilst overtaking,” said provincial spokesperson Oshebeng Alpheus Koonyaditse. Preliminary investigations by law enforcement agencies determined that the driver lost control of the vehicle and hit a perimeter fence of a nearby farm. “A 42-year-old passenger who is said to be from Brits in Madibeng Municipality, was declared deceased at the scene of accident. “Other passengers including the baby were taken to the hospital with serious injuries,”…

SRC president at Sefako Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University (SMU) Thato Masekoa is among 40 students across the world selected to be delegates at the 2023 Student Affairs and Services Global Summit. Masekoa, 26, is representing South Africa at the first global summit. The first summit was held in Washington DC in 2012. Issues to be discussed include reflections for employability and soft skills, engaging in student activism, and access and inclusion. “I became the president of SMU for the second time, so basically this is my second term as president, Masekoa said. “This is a journey from all ranks of leading, from house committees to leading various structures and then leading a political structure,” said the pre-final year student. “I believe I have what it takes to change circumstances…

With unaddressed mental health disorders a growing problem, the South African Depression and Anxiety Group (Sadag) will be unpacking panic and anxiety disorders this month, as July is Mental Health Awareness Month. Throughout the month, the organisation will be collaborating with mental health experts and trained individuals to host a series of online events and campaigns aimed at increasing awareness and reducing the stigma surrounding anxiety disorders. Health economists estimate that unaddressed mental health conditions cost the South African economy R161 billion a year due to lost days of work, presenteeism (being at work but unwell), and premature mortality. In the 2022 Mental State of the World report, South Africa scored the lowest average on the mental health well-being scale, measured across 34 countries from around the world. Additionally, and…

Winnie Mandela was dubbed “The Mother of The Nation”. Sally Motlana, who died at age 96 last week, was “The Godmother of The Nation”. Powerful leaders have the ability to shape history and a select few have the distinction of changing the world. Mama Sally was a dedicated woman of true grit and a fearless champion for a better world. She moved a nation towards justice and, in the process, inspired millions across Africa. She will remain a leader par excellence and a towering figure who is admired across the political spectrum. She leaves an indelible mark on our development trajectory. In our dark days, she was the voice of hope and reason. With unyielding integrity, a fearless advocate for truth and justice, she spoke out against all violence, injustice…

On Youth Day, a group of Christian churches in South Africa came together to pray for Jerusalem and call for the government to reconsider its decision to downgrade its embassy in Israel. Members of the churches regularly visit Jerusalem, regarded as one of Christianity’s most sacred cities. Its leaders make a point that the absence of the country’s embassy, which has been downgraded to a mere liaison office, negatively impacts on the relationship between South Africa and Israel, two countries that are important to them. Pretoria is where they were born, but Israel is where they fulfil their spiritual desires. The South African Friends of Israel (Safi), together with Judah House Tabernacle, Kingdom of Hope and other churches met to pray for spiritual intervention in Jerusalem, sacred to Christians, Jews…

DESPITE being cleared by Acting Public Protector Kholeka Gcaleka, there remains a repugnant stench around the break-in at President Cyril Ramaphosa’s Phala Phala game farm. Around February 9, 2020, several suspects broke into the main farmhouse at Phala Phala and made off with an unspecified amount of US dollars, that had allegedly been stuffed into the furniture. The first time the public got to hear about the theft was when former spy boss Arthur Fraser lodged a criminal complaint against Ramaphosa on June 1 last year. Fraser, in his criminal complaint, stated that Ramaphosa had failed to report the robbery, allegedly of US$4 million, to the police and had instead instructed his chief bodyguard and senior police officer, Wally Rhoode, to apprehend the suspects. In a mature democracy, the “Farmgate”…

Istanbul: Türkiye has rescued 95 migrants from three overloaded boats in the Aegean Sea, the interior ministry said yesterday, accusing Greece of “pushing back” the dinghies from its shores. Two inflatable boats carrying 37 people and 47 people were rescued off the Greek island of Lesbos on Saturday, the interior ministry said. Another boat carrying 11 people was seen near Türkiye’s western port city of Izmir on the same day. Ankara accuses Greece of pushing migrant boats back into Turkish waters in violation of international law. Greece accuses Türkiye of turning a blind eye to irregular migrants leaving its shores. | AFP…

London: Wimbledon chiefs have tightened security over fears that climate activists could disrupt matches at the All England Club following high-profile protests at other sporting events. Just Stop Oil wants the government to end all new oil and gas exploration and has promised not to let up in its protests. All England Club chief executive Sally Bolton, speaking before play started at the 2023 championships yesterday, said there was enhanced security at the gates and around the courts and that “behavioural detection officers” would be monitoring the crowds. | AFP…