Innholdsfortegnelse for 2024-02-08 i Star

ZERO CARBON Charge has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Chinese energy storage systems manufacturer Shanghai Magic Power Tech, also known as Magic Power, and its local partner Greencore Energy Solutions, to build and import the first-of-its kind integrated supercharging systems for its 120 renew-able charging stations being rolled out across South Africa. In November last year, Zero Carbon Charge announced that it will be starting construction on a national network of 100% renewable energy-powered electric vehicle (EV) charging stations. This technology means that customers at Zero Carbon Charge’s off-grid, solar-powered charging stations will be able to charge any electric vehicle at its maximum charging rate. The MoU follows Zero Carbon Charge’s trip to China at the end of last year in order to source the most cutting-edge, custom…

EVEN THOUGH there will be no announcement of the 2024 general election date during President Cyril Ramaphosa’s State of the Nation Address (Sona) tonight, investors are expecting policy certainty, reform agenda, and clarity on the implementation of the National Health Insurance (NHI) to be primary items on top of his list. This comes as analysts and economists have questioned whether Ramaphosa’s Sona would give a true picture of the reflection of the state of affairs in the country, or it will simply be a repetition of the ruling party’s successes over the past 30 years with a view to the upcoming election. Ramaphosa faces a daunting task to inspire investor confidence on the back of low-growth trajectory, stubbornly high rate of unemployment, inequality, crime and corruption, decaying infrastructure, energy and…

STARTING a business in South Africa comes with a unique set of challenges. However, as many small business owners will attest, the journey is also immensely rewarding. Entrepreneurs are creative thinkers, innovators and self-starters, but at their core, they’re simply good problem-solvers. Even in the toughest of econo- mic climates, entrepreneurs are the people who are ready to turn setbacks into steppingstones. With a solid business plan, access to enough working capital to get off the ground and the right attitude, anything is possible. Thinking of joining the fray of business owners who make such an important contribution to gross domestic product growth, social empowerment and sustainable development? These are a few small business ideas in the most thriving industries that are set to take off in 2024: Pet care…

THE RECENTLY issued and first rand-denominated Sukuk Al Ijarah in Africa provides finance options for small and medium enterprises (SMEs). Mohammed Ameen Hassen, the head of Shari’ah Banking at Standard Bank, said although it was not the first significant South African sukuk, it was indicative of increased confidence in the Shari’ah finance market and, together with increased development and uptake of available Shari’ah-compliant finance products, showed that South Africa was becoming an ad- vanced Islamic financial market. Standard Bank has worked with their Shari’ah Advisory Committee and Merchant Capital to launch the first Southern African Shari’ah-certified financing solution that offers working capital for entrepreneurs who want to consume Shari’ah-compliant products and services. Ryan Cohen, Chief Relationship Officer at leading alternative lender Merchant Capital, said while the universe of Shari’ah-compliant products…

South African artists are making their mark across the globe. On Sunday, Joburg-born pop star Tyla scooped a prestigious Grammy award for her hit song, Water. The same awards were hosted, for the fourth time, by our own comedian, Trevor Noah. And before that night, DJ Uncle Waffles played a set at a Grammy pre-party, which was attended by Hollywood celebrities like Kelly Rowland and Sza. In a viral video clip that’s been making the rounds on social media, the American singer, actress and TV personality can be seen dancing towards Uncle Waffles, who is behind the decks, before whispering something into her ear and embracing her with a warm hug. The Asylum album maker then puts her hands together and responds to Rowland: “Thank you, thank you so much”.…

The Department of International Relations and Co-operation (Dirco) has responded to an advisory issued by the High Commission of the Federal Republic of Nigeria in Pretoria, saying it is inciting harm. “The advisory is regrettable because it seems to create alarm and unnecessary tension between the citizens of South Africa and Nigerians living in or visiting South Africa.” There has never been any history of football hooliganism among South Africans as a result of matches between the national football teams of South Africa, Bafana Bafana, and Nigeria, the Super Eagles, Dirco said. “We are confident that the sports-loving nation of South Africa poses no threat to Nigerian citizens, and we do not agree with the apprehension expressed by the High Commission. We call on the diplomatic representatives to approach…

With South Africa continuing to experience high numbers of teenage pregnancies, psychiatrists are emphasising the critical mental health impact on teen mothers, as the country observes Pregnancy Awareness Week. The week aims to improve education about pregnancy with the objective of promoting healthy pregnancies and safe motherhood. In South Africa, on Christmas Day 2023 alone, 145 of the 1 708 births were to teenage mothers, and New Year’s Day recorded 190 teenage births. Between April 2021 and March 2022, 90 000 pregnancies were recorded for girls aged between 10 and 19, with over 150 000 young girls being pregnant in the 2022/2023 financial year. The South African Society of Psychiatrists (Sasop) said they aimed to shed light on the multifaceted challenges faced by this vulnerable demographic. According to the World…

WITH temperatures expected to soar to 37 degrees Celsius in areas such as Hammanskraal, the City of Tshwane has urged residents to take precautions as the heatwave hit the capital city. This comes after the warning by the South African Weather Service about the persistently high temperatures expected to last until today. The heatwave conditions, according to the weather forecasters, would be experienced in Gauteng, the western highveld of Mpumalanga, central and western parts of Limpopo, eastern parts of both the North West and the Free State. Tshwane Emergency Services Department spokesperson Charles Mabaso called on residents to take note of a heat wave advisory issued by SA Weather Service on Tuesday. “It is forecast that the heat wave will persist until Thursday, February 8, 2024,” he said. He said…

THE Guptas’ Upper Constantia mansion, in a derelict state, has been sold for R20 million to an international buyer. The controversial family, who fled the country, paid R17m for the seven-bedroomed house in 2005. It was previously owned by Mark Thatcher, the son of late British prime minister Margaret Thatcher. In South Africa, Mark Thatcher was found guilty of financing a 2004 coup attempt in Equatorial Guinea. He was handed a four-year prison sentence (suspended), and fined. In June 2021, the property was attached after the National Prosecuting Authority obtained an interim order to secure assets belonging to members of the Gupta family pending the outcome of a criminal case. The property is situated on Dawn Avenue in the Bel Ombre pocket of Constantia, where Monterey Drive intersects with Dawn…

YOU’RE never too old to learn or too experienced not to be reminded of certain practices and habits when you climb behind the wheel of a car. That was certainly the case when I recently attended the full Night School course with Volkswagen at Zwartkops raceway. For a guy who learnt to drive in a Beetle, has owned various cars of all makes and sizes, tested thousands of cars over the years and attended many advanced driver’s courses you pretty much think you have it all under control. But while you might think that you’ve seen and done it all, getting the breakdown on things when the sun sets, adds a different perspective on what can go wrong if you don’t keep your wits about you. The course is divided…

THE way that executive heads of organisations and business managers are engrossed in thought to implement appropriate sustainable business practices has never been felt as much as it has been in the post-Covid-19 era. As a result the Graduate School of Business & Leadership (GSB&L) at the University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN) is concerned with how the driving players in the field practise sustainable measure practices for the profitability of their respective businesses. Sustainability is one of the most-used buzz words of every business organisation since it has a prominent bearing at all levels in every industry. The insurance cover niche sector is not an exception to the rule and shows a remarkable potential interest in aspects of sustainability. One cannot deny that the exponential growth of contradictions between environmental issues…

One thing is clear on the South African football landscape: national team coach Hugo Broos must stay, regardless of last night’s outcome against Nigeria. The Belgian-born mentor has remained unbowed in the face of three-pronged adversity – PSL sabotage, fickle South African fans and a financially hamstrung national federation (Safa), who are often incompatible bedfellows. Broos has had a mighty frustrating time dealing with the Premier Soccer League, whose fixture schedule ensures that the national team players – specifically the Mamelodi Sundowns contingent – are run into the ground by the time they arrive at the national team training camps. This is because the PSL will halt fixtures as close to the international window as possible. Often Sundowns are last to play before the PSL shuts down, something which Broos…

The Joburg Super Kings kept their best performance of the campaign for when it mattered most in SA20 season 2. The Super Kings were clinical in despatching the Paarl Royals by nine wickets in the eliminator at the Wanderers last night. They will now face Durban’s Super Giants in Qualifier 2 at the Wanderers tonight (5.30pm start). The winner of Qualifier 2 will face Sunrisers Eastern Cape in Saturday’s grand final at Newlands. English seamer Sam Cook ran through the Royals batting unit on his Super Kings debut to claim 4-24. With Nandre Burger also offering up good support with 3-26, the Royals were bundled out for a meagre 138. Cook’s selection was only due to Lizaad Williams being ruled out of the play-off clash with a side strain. Williams…

The Ireland rugby team will be in South Africa in five months, and how they dispatched France in the first round of the Six Nations confirms the toughness of the challenge that awaits the Springboks. Independent Media has been looking at the player options available to coach Rassie Erasmus, and today looks at No 8, a position in which there is opportunity for exciting growth because of the void created by the retirement of Duane Vermeulen and the serious injury suffered by Kwagga Smith. Vermeulen has swopped the changeroom for the coaching box, and who better to nurture a new generation of Bok loose forwards than the warrior of 76 Test matches? There is a lot of talent coming through at No 8 and Vermeulen, in his role under Erasmus…

THE Sunrisers Eastern Cape began SA20 season 2 without their premier seam bowlers that drove them to the title in the inaugural campaign. Sisanda Magala would not play any part due to injury, while Bryce Carson was not available due to an England Lions call-up. Magala’s loss was a particularly heavy blow due to the burly seamer’s ability to strike with the new ball, and close out the game at the death. And then it became even worse when replacement overseas seamer Craig Overton suffered an injury on the eve of the tournament, which left the Sunrisers with precious little backup to Marco Jansen and Ottniel Baartman. Coach Adrian Birrell, however, is a wily customer, and searched far and wide on the English County Championship circuit for a replacement. In…

Greater participation of the private sector will be needed to solve the country’s economic challenges THE BUSINESS sector has called for bold announcements about greater participation of the private sector in critical sectors in South Africa, including energy and logistics, in a bid to solve the enduring economic challenges in the country. This comes as President Cyril Ramaphosa will deliver the State of the Na- tion Address (Sona) in Parliament tonight, which outlines the government’s achievements over the course of its administration and sets the tone for the year ahead. Business Unity SA (Busa) yesterday said they were expecting to see Ramaphosa making a clear acknowledgement of the partnership between the government and business on energy, logistics, and crime and corruption. Busa CEO Cas Coovadia said they also wanted a…

AS PRESIDENT Cyril Ramaphosa today delivers his State of the Nation Address (Sona), he will have to deliver the best speech of his career: a well thought out strategic vision to enable South Africa to economically grow. South Africa, with a flat-lining economy, faces the triple challenge of poverty, inequality and unemployment. And as Ramaphosa steps up to the podium, the family approach will not win him any favours, nor will empty promises made to South African citizens, who are tired of the lack of service delivery, escalating crime and bad policy decisions, among other woes. Spinning out the old rhetoric of how far South Africa has come since apartheid just won’t cut it, nor distract from the real issues at hand, amid a cost of living crisis that has…

THE SOUTH African government’s Integrated Resource Plan (IRP) 2023 has made little mention of hydrogen, but the country’s platinum mines will benefit from greater demand as the hydrogen economy takes off in other countries, Mining Indaba delegates heard yesterday. Anglo American Platinum CEO Craig Miller said in a panel discussion that he expected that the growing demand for platinum group metals (PGMs) for use in hydrogen fuel cells would take up the anticipated slack in demand created from the decline in sales of internal combustion engined (ICE) vehicles in the future. PGMs are used in these vehicles to reduce the carbon emissions in catalytic converters, and many developed countries have already set target dates when the sale of new ICE vehicles will be banned. Vehicles powered by hydrogen fuel cells…

SAPPI CEO Steve Binnie said yesterday that market prices for the company’s products softened towards the end of its 2024 first quarter period to the end of December, with higher costs dragging it down from a $190 million (R3.6 billion) profit to a loss of $126m. Shares in the company closed 2.42% lower at R44.27 on the JSE yesterday after it announced the quarterly. However, the Sappi share price is up 13.6% in the past three months. The company is set to suffer additional cost increases owing to geopolitical uncertainty in the Middle East which will result in higher shipping costs. Cost inflation is also expected to weigh down on the company during the current second quarter period to the end of March. “Cost inflation remains a little…

IN THE lively streets of Mzansi, American actor Anthony Anderson has been seen living his best life, and recently he shared a humorous moment on his Instagram. The photo showed Anderson on a stretcher, flashing a peace sign. He playfully recounted: “Me against two goons and a chair. Guess who didn’t come out on top! Who needs a stunt double? Apparently, I do! I’m not as spry as I once was.” Concerned fans wondered what had happened to Anderson. He revealed that he ended up in the emergency room of a Cape Town Hospital after a stunt went awry. Despite the ordeal, he assured his followers he was fine. “I spent the night in the emergency room. Movie set fight gone wrong.” He added: “I’m not as young…

SIX YEARS after President Cyril Ramaphosa took to the podium to deliver his maiden State of the Nation Address (Sona), most of what he has promised has still not seen the light of day. Ramaphosa is expected to deliver the 2024 Sona at the Cape Town City Hall this evening, which gives him the opportunity to reflect on a wide range of political, economic and social matters in the domestic and global spheres affecting the country. Ramaphosa’s speech is likely to be one of the most important that he delivers in any year as the country gears up for the 2024 national and provincial elections. Academics have stated that Ramaphosa will be obligated to make more promises ahead of this year’s elections, despite having failed to keep some of the…

OPPOSITION parties have taken the opportunity to speak with one voice, attacking President Cyril Ramaphosa over his unkept promises ahead of tonight’s State of the Nation Address (Sona). Ramaphosa is due to deliver the annual speech at the Cape Town City Hall. Ramaphosa goes into the Sona with a plethora of previous broken promises over the years. Firing the first salvo was the African Transformation Movement releasing a graphic representation of Ramaphosa’s failures since the 2023 Sona. The graph compares how unemployment, poverty, crime and fuel prices have increased since 2019. ATM president Vuyo Zungula said: “We are not expecting anything from this Sona … Mr Ramaphosa has shown that he is not up to the task of leading this country… in dealing with crime, unemployment, poverty and infrastructure problems,…

Scientists are at the forefront of discoveries about numerous things, including human history and origins. The origins is largely accepted to have been a product of evolution but the matter remains contentious, especially when it comes to religion. This was the case of a geneticist who has been dismissed from his job after suggesting that humans used to live for 900 years but that their longevity had been reduced because of the crimes of their ancestors. The scientist was among the top in his field. Dr Alexander Kudryavtsev held a position as the director of the Russian Academy of Sciences’ Vavilov Institute of General Genetics, but was fired for his beliefs, reported the Mirror. At a symposium, he is said to have contended that the universe was created by God…

CITY of Tshwane deputy mayor, Dr Nasiphi Moya, has finally paid back a R10 000 travel allowance for a cancelled international trip to Saudi Arabia in 2020 while she was a municipal senior official. Last month, the EFF called her out during a council meeting for allegedly misappropriating municipal funds while she served as chief of staff under former Mayor Stevens Mokgalapa. Moya, who doubles as MMC for Community and Social Development Services, recently admitted to receiving the amount, saying it was “a lapse of judgment on my part”. This week, her political party ActionSA announced that she voluntarily returned the travel allowance on Friday. ActionSA Gauteng provincial chairperson Funzi Ngobeni said Moya voluntarily paid back the money along with accrued interest of R6 000. Ngobeni said Moya has been…

FORD Motor Company Fund and Ford South Africa, in collaboration with Read Educational Trust (The Rally to Read Projects), have rolled out the second Pretoria-based event, reinforcing the company’s commitment to educational literacy. As part of the three-year project, Ford Fund provides an annual grant of R1.36 million, benefiting six schools in three different areas surrounding its Silverton Assembly Plant in Pretoria. Ford’s enduring partnership with Rally to Read, which is now in its 25th year, underscores its dedication and shared commitment to improving South Africa's educational landscape. “Education, for us, is not merely an expenditure, it is a meaningful and long-lasting investment in the future of South Africa and our people. Ford’s commitment offers hope, not just to learners but also to the communities in which they reside. Our…

AKA’s father has spoken out about the murder of his son, saying he believed his murder was a well-funded and planned assassination. AKA, whose real name was Kiernan Forbes, was shot dead at close range almost a year ago, as he left the Wish restaurant on popular Florida Road in Durban. His friend, Tebello “Tibz” Motsoane, was also shot dead as the two embraced outside the restaurant. Forbes’ father, Tony, was speaking on the Within with Hazel podcast, hosted by Hazel Mahazard. “I cannot go into the details of what we’ve been briefed in relation to the case and the progress that’s been made in the investigation, other than what’s on public record,” he said. Tony said AKA’s murder took planning and required significant resources. “So it definitely wasn’t…

Nissan South Africa is painting the town black with its new Magnite Kuro edition. Kuro means black in Japanese and to that end, the Magnite edition gets midnight treatment for exterior elements like the roof and grille. The 16-inch alloys are in gunmetal black. Nissan also has black, red, white and silver options for the main exterior. The Magnite Kuro is available only with the 1.0-litre turbopetrol engine option, which is good for 74kW and 160Nm. Priced at R323 200 as a five-speed manual and R342 200 in CVT guise, the editions command a premium of around R10 000 over the Acenta models they’re based on. The interior is an all-black affair. Specification is largely as per the regular Magnite Acenta model, although it does gain a wireless smartphone charging…

The Black Caps finally put an end to South Africa’s suffering on day four of the first Test in Mount Maunganui yesterday as the hosts took the inexperienced touring squad to school with a 281-run thrashing. As inexperienced as the Proteas squad is, there were still high expectations, especially from the already-capped batters Keegan Petersen, David Bedingham and Zubayr Hamza. Even with the new guys coming into the squad, the likes of Edward Moore, Raynard van Tonder and the captain Neil Brand, it was hoped that they would put up a reasonable fight at the Bay Oval. However, most of the batters (capped and uncapped) crumbled under pressure, allowing the occasion to get the better of them as they played somewhat out of character to be bowled out for 165…

The appointment of Tony Brown might seem like a left-field one by the Springboks, but his rugby background will bring a fresh approach to the world champions’ attacking play. Brown was unveiled this week as one of the Boks’ new assistant coaches ahead of the 2024 season, alongside Jerry Flannery, former international referee Jaco Peyper and former Springbok Duane Vermeulen, who will form part of SA Rugby’s coaching mobi-unit. Looking at the double Tests the four-time World Cup winners will play this year against the All Blacks and Ireland, the appointment of New Zealander Brown and former Irish international Flannery by Bok head coach Rassie Erasmus comes as no surprise. Brown could be the perfect addition to unlock the full potential of the Springbok attack after we saw more glimpses…

MANIPULATION of the rand by local and international banks indicate that corruption had hit complex and multi- faceted levels in South Africa as it involved public and private spheres though well-knitted networks that required a dedicated anti-corruption agency to unravel, Corruption Watch said yesterday. Some banks, including Standard Chartered, singled out by the Competition Commission, have already admitted colluding to fixing the rand between 2007 and 2013 and paid fines. However, others are digging in, saying they were not involved in rand manipulation. The Competition Commission is now appealing at the South African Constitutional Court against the Competition Appeal Court’s (CAC’s)judgment, which upheld the appeal by the majority of the respondent banks accused of price-fixing and division of markets in contravention of the Competition Act. “The CAC order, therefore, released…

THE SHOPRITE Group announced yesterday that it is inviting high-performing students to join the retail industry and to apply for its comprehensive bursary programme. The group said that students enrolled for degree studies in Accounting, Biological Sciences, Criminology, Information Technology, Logistics and Supply Chain, Retail Business Management, Food Sciences as well as Agricultural Sciences can apply for funding between February 1 and April 30, 2024. The comprehensive bursary covers tuition and accommodation. “Employment after graduation is guaranteed, giving beneficiaries a seamless entry into the business allowing them to learn from the industry’s top talent, experts and mentors. “In addition, bursary holders receive a monthly grocery allowance and enjoy access to the Shoprite Employee Wellness programme,” the retailer said in a statement. In the last financial year, the group invested…

THE USE OF new mining technology will go a long way to help to meet the massive increase in mineral resources that will be required to meet the global energy transition, and those metals will mostly come from Africa. This was according to Ivanhoe Mines’ founder and executive chairperson, Robert Friedland, who said at the Mining Indaba in Cape Town yesterday that while Africa had contributed less than 1% to global warming, a young generation of Africans is going to have a crucial role to play in saving humanity from the effects of climate change. Climate change had already re- sulted in rising global temperatures and extreme weather events that had, for instance, seen people fainting in car parks in Arizona in the US and then getting second-degree burns from…

TRAFIGURA and Kamoa-Kakula agreed long-term commitments to transport minerals via the Lobito Atlantic Railway for a minimum term of six years – a deal that will help alleviate some of the mining truck congestion on South African roads. The terms of the Reserved Capacity Agreements were signed during the Mining Indaba in Cape Town, and mark the first long-term commercial commitments to the Lobito Atlantic Railway, a new import-export trade route between the African Copperbelt and Angola’s Atlantic coast terminating at the port of Lobito. Kamoa-Kakula produced 393 551 tons of copper in concentrate in 2023, much of which was transported by truck to Durban or to Dar es Salaam in Tanzania. This at a time South African roads are rapidly deteriorating due to elevated levels of mining trucks…

The interminable, bullet-pocked cube of zirconium spy whimsy called Argylle comes to us from director Matthew Vaughn, master of the hollow jape and laddish smirk. If you enjoyed Layer Cake (2004), Kick-Ass (2010) and the three Kingsman movies (2014-2021), well, you might not enjoy his latest action comedy, which takes a familiar premise and beats it to within an inch of its life over 139 long minutes. An unflatteringly lit and coifed Bryce Dallas Howard stars as Elly Conway, a bookish author of five novels in a successful espionage series about a dashing James Bond/Ethan Hunt knock-off named Argylle, who’s played in fantasy sequences by Henry Cavill in a tragic brush cut. Argylle is a rogue operative trying to bring down the evil spy consortium the Directorate; Elly’s latest instalment…

A THIRD of South Africans who are registered to vote feel that there is no political party that represents their views. They feel uncertainty about the future and apprehension about the possible outcomes of the elections. This is according to market research company Ipsos, which conducted its latest poll in South Africa from October 23 to December 1, 2023. The poll included 3 600 face-to-face interviews in the homes and home languages of respondents. About 42.3 million South Africans aged 18 years or older are eligible to cast their vote. However, as of yesterday, the Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC) indicated that 27 485 679 South Africans are registered to vote – of whom 55.22% are female and 44.78% male. “The pivotal factor in this election hinges on voter…

Duduzane Zuma says that his new political party All Game Changers is going to bring much-needed change to the country. The son of Jacob Zuma, the former president, said his party will be a force to be reckoned with in the upcoming elections as they will be bringing solutions to the various challenges faced by the country. Speaking to Independent Media yesterday, Zuma said that the All Game Changers party, founded by himself, is aimed at empowering the youth and “redefining South Africa’s political landscape”. It was taking a different approach from other parties and offered an opportunity for people to make an impact in the country. He said they would “level the field” by changing the rules of engagement, terms and conditions and tweaking the laws to provide everyone…

The ANC may have to lean on a smaller party to govern the country after this year’s election and the EFF could unseat the DA to become the official opposition party. This is according to one of the scenarios of the latest Ipsos poll. The poll was conducted face-to-face from October 23 to December 1, 2023 that aimed to gauge the political pulse of the country. Notably, this poll data precedes the establishment of the Umkhonto we- Sizwe (MK) Party by former president Jacob Zuma on December 16, suggesting its impact is yet to be measured. Ipsos is one of the largest market research companies in the world, present in 90 markets and employing more than 18 000 people. Utilising a mock ballot paper process to ensure voter confidentiality, the…

Makhubele tells tribunal she was SUSPENDED Gauteng High Court, Pretoria Judge Nana Makhubele yesterday told the Judicial Conduct Tribunal into a misconduct complaint against her that Deputy Judge President Dunstan Mlambo was well aware of the fact that she was chair of the then new interim Prasa board when she was appointed as a judge. But, she said, she had asked for a later starting date than January 1, 2018. Judge Makhubele was adamant that Judge Mlambo already knew in December 2017 that she was on the Prasa board, when she, among others, discussed this with him during a meeting. According to her, he thus fully knew that she could not take up her position as a judge in January 2018 and that she still had to resign from…

Distinguished leaders from across Africa and the world have touched down in South Africa for the inaugural Yale Directors Forum set to run from February 6-9 at the Radisson Red Hotel in Rosebank, Joburg. This groundbreaking project was started in 2013 by the Yale Institute for the Preservation of Cultural Heritage (IPCH) with the goal of assisting museums and other cultural organisations throughout the African continent. The Star spoke to Charlotte Ashamu, director of International Programs at Yale Institute for the Preservation of Cultural Heritage, who explained the essence of the summit, revealing that it was meant to connect the leaders from different parts of the world. Ashamu is a distinguished creative economy specialist with a rich background in pivotal roles at esteemed organisations such as the World Bank and…

Tempers flared in the Senzo Meyiwa murder trial yesterday afternoon when a visibly annoyed Judge Ratha Mokgoatlheng fired a salvo at defence advocate Zandile Mshololo, telling her he was no crook and that he had ample experience in the field of law. Mokgoatlheng is the presiding officer in the second Meyiwa murder trial which started in July last year after the first presiding officer, Judge Tshifiwa Maumela, fell ill, forcing the trial to start again from scratch. The spat between the judge and Mshololo ensued after she stood up to raise an objection regarding how State advocate Ronnie Sibanda was cross-examining accused number one, Muzikawukhulelwa Sibiya, who is on the witness stand during the trial-within-a-trial, which is being held to determine the admissibility of Sibiya’s confession statement, which was made…

As South Africa’s most popular double cab range, the Ford Ranger is set to entice even more potential customers in 2024 with two new upmarket variants. The chrome-laden Platinum model is the fanciest Ranger ever in terms of specification, while the Tremor is a more rugged alternative that favours go-anywhere ability over creature comforts. Both are launching in South Africa around March, and Ford has announced indicative pricing of R977 500 for the Ranger Tremor and R1 119 000 for the luxurious Platinum. Thus the Tremor will cost around R36 000 less than the Wildtrak X with which it shares much of its 4x4 hardware, which is not as big a saving as many had hoped for, while the Platinum comes just R65 000 shy of the Raptor. The Ford…

Alanis Morissette once sang “Thank you India”, likely for leading her onto a path of enlightenment during a vacation, but South Africa’s entry-level car buyers can be grateful to that nation up north for an entirely different reason. Were it not for India’s motor manufacturing industry, South Africans would be severely starved of affordable cars, and clearly there is a huge hunger for them. In 2023 a whopping 42% of all passenger cars sold in South Africa were imported from India, according to statistics released by Toyota recently. This represents a huge increase from the 28% recorded five years earlier, in 2019. Thankfully, South African-built cars didn’t lose too much ground in their own market, declining from a 25% share in 2019 to 24% in 2023. The third biggest source…

Having been forced to retire hurt with an elbow injury in the first ODI in Adelaide, Proteas Women’s all-rounder Marizanne Kapp made a quick recovery and was back on the field for the second ODI in Sydney yesterday. The Australians were already ahead in the series, having thrashed South Africa by eight wickets in the series opener at the Adelaide Oval last Saturday. However, the Proteas Women brought the good-old SA fight yesterday, with Kapp leading the way with both bat and ball to set up a historic 84-run victory (on the DLS method) – the first ODI triumph by SA over Australia. Despite rain interference, Kapp, who scored 75 runs off off 87 balls, including 12 fours, and Anneke Bosch, who scored 44 off 46 balls, with nine fours…

The return of DStv Premiership action next week has already stirred up various emotions and permutations for all 16 clubs. A six-week break from the consistent demands of the beautiful game, due to the Africa Cup of Nations in Ivory Coast, may now be seen as too much for the entertainment-loving players. However, a return to one of the biggest and most lucrative leagues on the continent will demand a great degree of focus across the board, and even more so for an under-pressure Kaizer Chiefs team. The opening round of the 2023/2024 campaign has been quite disappointing for the Amakhosi, who missed out on two trophies and are now looking at another season of possibly not qualifying for CAF football as well. Chiefs currently occupy sixth place in the…

WINNING last year’s Masters was a decisive factor in Jon Rahm’s decision to switch to LIV Golf, according to the big-hitting Spaniard, whose move stunned the golf world. Rahm announced in December that he was joining the Saudi Arabia-backed breakaway LIV Golf, and made his debut at the event in Mexico last weekend. The 29-year-old had initially played down his chances of switching to LIV Golf, saying the huge financial incentives up for grabs did not really interest him. But he now concedes that the money being offered was hard to turn down, while the fact that he is guaranteed to be able to play in the Masters helped make up his mind. “Winning the Masters was a huge step towards maybe thinking about it,” Rahm told Golf.com’s Breakthrough. “Being…