Innholdsfortegnelse for 2024-03-08 i Star

TRELLIDOR Holdings faced two major challenges during the six months to December 31: falling revenue in its domestic market, South Africa and higher levels of debt at high interest rates. Revenue increased by 6.9% to R292.2 million. Headline earnings per share fell by 16.1% to 21.4 cents, from 25.5c in the prior corresponding period. The dividend was passed, and would only resume once borrowings and gearing normalised, the directors said. Revenue from international markets increased to R82.4m, driven by a strong performance by the Trellidor UK division, representing 28.2% of the group’s revenue. Net debt was reduced 16.8% to R116.8m from R140.3m, driven by improvements in the investment in working capital. Cash generated from operations of R39.5m (R7m) was a feature of the period. This substantially strengthened the…

The uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) Party has distanced itself from its KwaZulu-Natal leader, Visvin Reddy, after he warned of anarchy if the party was blocked from contesting the May general elections. The party, through its spokesperson, Nhlamulo Ndhlela, also asserted, without naming him, that Reddy was purporting to be a party member. Reddy caused an outcry after the Durban High Court, on Tuesday, announced that the case between the ANC and the Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC) would be postponed to March 27. Speaking outside the court and captured on video that went viral, Reddy accused the ANC of doing everything in its power to stop his party from contesting the May elections. He said there would be no elections on May 29 if the MK Party was barred from…

Following protests and pickets by young unemployed doctors and other health-care professionals last month, Gauteng Health and Wellness MEC Nomantu Nkomo-Ralehoko has committed to ensuring that no young doctor is left in the lurch. On Wednesday, Health Minister Dr Joe Phaahla told MPs that he had allocated an extra R3.7 billion wage bill for young doctors to be employed permanently. On Tuesday, speaking to The Star, Nkomo-Ralehoko said her department had been able to put the matter to rest following an allocation from the Treasury and the Ministry of Health. She said one of the 800 unemployed doctors was South Africa’s youngest female medical doctor, Dr Thakgalo Thibela, 24. Three years ago, at the age of 21, Thibela became the nation’s youngest female medical doctor after graduating from Wits University…

FOLLOWING an investigation exposé into allegations that three of the country’s major banks, including Standard Bank, allegedly helped a gold smuggling gang launder millions of dollars in exchange for bribes in Zimbabwe, Standard Bank confirmed an employee has been dismissed. News network Al Jazeera last year exposed how a Standard Bank employee was allegedly central in helping a gold smuggling gang launder “dirty cash” in exchange for bribes. The probe, Gold Mafia by Al Jazeera’s Investigative Unit (I-Unit), sought to expose the intricate operations of various criminal organisations involved in the illicit gold trade from Zimbabwe, and illustrated how they exploited the trade to launder substantial sums of money. Last September, Standard Bank said it had suspended an employee, pending the outcome of an investigation into the allegations. Standard Bank…

Bidders Choice is hosting a liquidation auction of various trucks, LDVs, motor vehicles, trailers and more on behalf of Fountain Square Trading 192 (PTY) Ltd (MRN: T000359/2021) and PSG Haulers CC (MRN: G908/203) and others. The auction opens on March 15 at 8am and closes on March 20 from 11am. Viewing is on March 18 and 19 from 9am to 3pm at Bidders Choice Bapsfontein Yard. Some of the vehicles going under the hammer include: Trucks: 2016 Tata 407 2 Ton Dropside 2016 Tata 809 EX 2 7 Ton Dropside 2011 Tata 407 2.5 Ton Dropside 2015 Tata 809 EX 2 7 Ton Dropside 2011 Tata LPT 1918 12 Ton Dropside 2 X 2016 Tata 407 2.5 Ton Dropsides 2016 Tata LPT 709 4 Ton Dropside 2008 Tata LPT 713…

power and faith – How Evangelical Churches Are Quietly Shaping Our Democracy Pontsho Pilane Loot (R205) Tafelberg If YOU ever thought the victims of the happy-clappy churches were illiterate folk who did not know any better, you have another think coming. The writer of Power and Faith, Pontsho Pilane, is a worldly journalist with access to information at the click of a computer key. She’s a Wits University graduate, yet she still fell for the abracadabra of the charismatic churches whose currency is the vulnerability of their followers. The book itself, Power and Faith – How evangelical churches are quietly shaping our democracy, packs enough into 181 pages to infuriate the reader. Granted, she did not eat grass or have insecticide sprayed in her face, but she will have you…

An Abundance of Wild Roses Feryal Ali-Gauhar Loot (R339) Canongate In the Black Mountains of Pakistan, the discovery of an unconscious, unknown man is the first snowball in an avalanche of chaos. The village head is beset with problems, including tending to the injured stranger and struggling to find his way out. Meanwhile, his daughter receives a love letter and incurs her father’s wrath. A lame boy foretells disaster, but nobody is listening. Trapped in terrible danger, a wolf-dog is battling ice and death to save a soldier’s life. A woman, beaten by her addict husband for bearing him only daughters, is pregnant again. Can this child save her? All the while, the spirits of the mountains keep a baleful eye on the doings of the humans. Chained by tradition…

Appalling and unbelievable! No other country in the world has medical negligence claims reaching a whopping R30 billion in just over 20 years. This is scandalous! Under the previous government, during our training, most of the information we gathered about medical negligence claims was from medical textbooks. For the many years since 1994, the budget allocated for national health services was far less than what was allocated for the Department of Education. It didn’t help that healthcare practitioners complained about the extremely deficient budget. For instance, at Tembisa Hospital we would receive about R7 million for 11 theatres in May. By August, it would be depleted because part of the meagre allocation would be used to settle accruals from the previous year. Enoch Godongwana was the first minister of…

There are very few people in life of whom you can say: He/she changed my life. Magezi Thomas Makhense was a victim of gender-based violence (GBV) who changed many people’s lives. While GBV should be frowned upon by society, it is worst when it affects innocent children both physically and psychologically throughout their lives. It is true that when two elephants fight, it is the grass that suffers. When Makhense’s parents fought and fell over him in his infancy, their weight descended on him like a ton of bricks, leaving him disabled. His father took him away from his mother and he was deprived of medical care after his injury. He was raised by relatives in Shikundzu village but never lost sight of his goal. He had a singleness of…

The woman who was involved in the brutal abduction, rape and killing of an 8-year-old girl will have to face her two life terms behind bars after the court turned down her application for leave to appeal against her convictions and punishment. Lerato Kgitsane turned to the Bloemfontein High Court following her conviction and sentencing last year, following the gruesome death of Bokamoso Shabe, who was abducted from Mmantshebo Primary School in Thabong in the Free State. Her boyfriend, Motsika Rapuleng, was convicted prior to her and he was also given two life sentences. He spilt the beans on her and after his conviction and told the court that she was an accomplice in the abduction, rape and killing of the child. Kgitsane, however, maintained that while she assisted in…

The Mpumalanga High Court has sentenced a callous killer to life imprisonment after he killed his ex-girlfriend by pouring petrol over her and setting her alight. Ramoula Vernon Brown, 45, attacked the mother of his child, Precious Nomthandazo Mnguni, 30, after she broke up with him in 2021. Mpumalanga National Prosecuting Authority spokesperson Monica Nyuswa said Brown started following Mnguni around and she obtained a protection order against the father of her child after he assaulted her Brown was ordered not to assault Mnguni, and not to go to her home at eDwaleni Trust, in the district of KaBokweni. However, on August 21, 2021, Brown went to Mnguni's home with a petrol canister. “He waited for her to come out of the house and then attacked the deceased,…

Award-winning author, business influencer and entrepreneur Lebo Lion is imparting her knowledge to people who have an interest in acquiring knowledge about marketing. Lion says a lack of marketing expertise is a major factor in the failure of many businesses in South Africa. The entrepreneur, who is regarded as the voice of marketing and has over 12 years of experience in the field, is ready to host the first marketing tour, “Everything is Marketing”, in Sandton on March 16. The goal of the ‘masterclass tour’, she says, is to empower professionals, students, artists and entrepreneurs by providing them with the necessary resources to succeed. She describes the upcoming event as a “learning festival” which will deliver innovative and effective strategies and tools to assist business owners and professionals in building…

As World Kidney Day, March 14 or every second Thursday of March each year, approaches, National Renal Care (NRC) has raised concern about the heightened increase of chronic kidney disease in South Africa. The NRC, a health and kidney care provider, is calling for increased awareness to encourage kidney health. Kidney failure is commonly described as one of the deadly silent killers: late detection of the disease is common, thus many people suffer from deteriorating functional kidneys. NRC CEO Dr Chevon Clark said: “The importance of early detection and proactive intervention cannot be emphasised enough, as every day without timely action worsens the situation for those affected by kidney disease. “Chronic kidney disease marks a perilous stage, where kidney function deteriorates to a point where life hangs in the balance,…

eThekwini mayor Mxolisi Kaunda blaming the Eastern Cape for Durban’s woes is a stark reminder of how easily such rhetoric can fan the flames of racism and tribalism. This undermines the country’s hard-won democracy and deflects from the real issues that plague our nation, issues that Kaunda himself has demonstrably failed to address. Nelson Mandela’s legacy is one of reconciliation and unity. He preached the message of Ubuntu – a philosophy emphasising the interconnectedness of humanity. In a nation divided along racial and ethnic lines, he understood that true progress could be achieved only through collective effort and mutual respect. Kaunda’s comments stand in stark contrast to this ideal. As an ANC leader who has read up on history, he should know why the Eastern Cape lags behind KwaZulu- Natal…

WASHINGTON: A recent poll has shown that 36% of Alaskans want their state to leave the federal US and establish an independent nation. The survey conducted by YouGov showed that ‘The Last Frontier’ is the most sceptical state in the country when it comes to federal rule. The idea of saying farewell to Washington is also supported by 31% of residents of Texas, 29% in California and 28% in New York and Oklahoma. Independence movements are also popular in US territories such as Hawaii and Puerto Rico. On average, one in four US citizens is pro-secessionist. | Sputnik…

DAKAR: Senegal yesterday looked set to elect a new president at the end of March and ease the crisis triggered by the delay to the presidential poll, but the exact date of the vote remained uncertain. President Macky Sall plunged Senegal into one of its worst crises in decades with his last-minute postponement of the election, originally scheduled for February 25. The vote delay triggered widespread outcry and unleashed protests which left four people dead. Adoption of a controversial amnesty law this week could see opposition candidate Bassirou Diomaye Faye released from jail. | AFP…

The immediate future of flyhalf Kade Wolhuter was given a no-fuss resolution this week when the player, who was on loan from the Stormers, revealed that he will remain at the Lions for an extended run. The 22-year-old has struggled with illness and injury over the last two years, but yesterday put in a welcomed 60-odd-minute stint at pivot for the Joburgers at Ellis Park in a friendly match against the Junior Springboks. “I am staying on in Joburg,” he said afterwards, making his loan move from the Cape-based side more permanent. “I will be here for another two years – the rest of this season and another two after that.” Wolhuter transferring up the N1 to Doornfontein is a significant boost for the Lions. The departure of Jordan Hendrikse…

IT’S ALMOST time for the prestigious Raging Bull Awards, which will be held at the Cape Town International Convention Centre on March 11. Independent Media’s Personal Finance publication hosts the awards to honour the leaders of the South African collective investment industry. The winners of the awards are determined by ProfileData, using its PlexCrown Ratings methodology. The Raging Bull trophies and certificates are awarded for straight performance over three years and for risk-adjusted performance over five years to the end of 2023. A nominated list of the winners was published last week on Saturday in Independent’s publication and on its online platform. Dr Iqbal Survé, executive chairman of Independent Media, said: “The Raging Bull Awards carry huge prestige for not only the winning funds and the managers – which…

Idols SA winner Thapelo Molomo took to social media to clear up rumours about him working as a waiter on a cruise ship. The former SAPS warrant officer won the hearts of viewers during the 2022 edition of the reality singing competition. He went on to win the competition and walked away with a prize package worth more than R1 million. After winning, he still worked at the SAPS for some time and kept up his side hustle of selling eggs and atchar from his car boot. Since then, he’s taken up a new job on a cruise ship. As rumours circulated on socials about him being a waiter on-board, many of his fans seemed puzzled and DM’d him to ask if it was true. Molomo took to social…

ORGANISATIONS have raised concern about the rising number of children who are going missing or being kidnapped in South Africa. This comes as the disappearance of six-year-old Western Cape girl Joshlin Smith has garnered national attention. She has been missing since February 19. Yesterday, her mother, Kelly Smith, the mother’s boyfriend Jacquen Appollis, Steveno van Rhyn and Phumza Sigaqa made a brief court appearance in connection with the case. Charges against the four are trafficking in persons and kidnapping. Joshlin’s disappearance was followed by the kidnapping of cousins Mohamed Bataviya, 19, and Zahraa Mohamed, 17, this week. The teenagers were kidnapped in front of a primary school in Brits, in the North West. Chad Thomas, an organised crime investigator from IRS Forensic Investigations, said kidnappings were on the rise. “A…

While police in North West are yet to make a breakthrough in the kidnapping of two learners, Zahraa Mohammed, 17, and Bataviya Mohammed, 19, an analyst believes the gang which abducted the duo is sophisticated and complex. The two learners were abducted in front of a primary school in Brits on Wednesday morning. The kidnapping involved at least two vehicles used by assailants to stop the Mercedes-Benz in which the two learners were travelling to school. Outspoken anti-crime activist and television personality Yusuf Abramjee said he believed the kidnapping was carried out by a sophisticated gang of criminals. “It seems that the kidnapping of the teens was well planned, well executed and well orchestrated. It appears a professional gang is involved, if one looks at the modus operandi … it…

Ikapa Group Express Auctions will be hosting a South African Revenue Service Customs online auction on March 13 from 8am to 12.30pm. The auction will feature goods from the Gauteng warehouses. Items going under the hammer will include: Hair pieces Household items Sports equipment Toys Jewellery Car parts Tools Spare parts Carpets Viewing is by appointment only on March 11 and 12 from 9am to 3pm. Items from the Ortia and Karsene warehouses can be found at 10 Mpumelelo Road, Doornfontein, City Deep, Johannesburg. For more information on the auction, contact Sipho Christopher Skosana at 083 447 4496 or Hendrika Coetzer at 072 235 2889. Items from the Pretoria warehouse can be found at Acerlor Mittal, cnr Roger Dyason and Frikkie Meyer roads, Pretoria West. For more information, call Nthabiseng…

the forgotten child – The Powerful True Story of a Boy Abandoned as a Baby and Left to Die Richard Gallear Loot (R228) HarperCollins Publishers I was trying to find a lighter read for this week’s edition of “On my bookshelf” but something kept drawing me to Richard Gallear’s The Forgotten Child. Hidden among the rest of my books, I was immediately drawn to its cover. Little did I know that the book would take me on a journey of resilience and the enduring power of the human spirit. The Forgotten Child is a true story about an abandoned baby boy whose mother left him for dead. Only a few hours old, she had wrapped him in nothing but two sheets of newspaper and hid him among the undergrowth by…

Listen for the lie Amy Tintera Loot (R546) Celadon Listen for the Lie is an edgy mystery that artfully blends our growing obsession with the true-crime genre and our ongoing predilection for murder, mayhem and quirky detectives in fiction. Tintera strategically plants some of the most popular tropes of the true-crime landscape into her search-for-a-killer tale. The victim is Savannah “Savvy” Harper, a 24-year-old bartender who, like many women who meet her fate in the true-crime genre, is immortalised as an angelic former cheerleader who was adored by everyone. Her suspected killer, Lucy Chase, also 24 at the time of the murder, is remembered as the girl with a temper who once attacked a high school student. She and her well-to-do husband, Matt, whom she met at The University of…

Onion Tears Shubnum Khan Loot (R167) Penguin Khadeejah, a hardworking and determined first-generation Indian woman, often finds herself longing for her beloved homeland, questioning her purpose on the tip of Africa. At 37, her daughter Summaya is struggling to reconcile her South African and Indian identities, while Summaya’s own daughter, eleven-year-old Aneesa, is a girl who has challenging questions of her own. Is her mother lying to her about her father’s death? Why won’t she tell her what really happened? Gradually, the past merges with the present as the novel meanders through their lives, uncovering the secrets people keep, the words they swallow, and the emotions they elect to mute. For this family, faintly detectable through the sharp spicy aromas that find their way out of Khadeejah’s kitchen, the scent…

Reading the letters of Farouk Araie (“Violent crime a critical concern”), Morgan Phaahla (“Reflection and a new course could save SA”), Cometh Dube-Makholwa (“Keep our hospitals clean”) and Thyagaraj Markandan (“Ekurhuleni chaos is indicative of the rot in councils”) in The Star of March 6, there is one sub-text that runs through all of them, namely, that since 1994, the country has been “going to the dogs”, to quote Phaahla. To call a spade a spade, the country’s deterioration began when the new government came into power, or to put it even more bluntly, since a black government took over from the previous unjust regime. And like almost all black governments in Africa, ours was bound to fail. It is failing, fast. Does this mean that black people are incapable…

THE regional ANC in Tshwane has called on mayor Cilliers Brink to revoke the metro’s agreement with AfriForum which will see the lobby group taking part in an initiative for providing maintenance services such as cutting grass in public places and repairing potholes. The agreement was signed this week as part of a project called Community Upliftment Precinct, launched last year. Residents, businesses and communities were encouraged to collaborate with the City of Tshwane in maintaining and improving public infrastructure within their residential, business and industrial areas. The ANC, however, took a swipe at Brink for his choice of AfriForum as a partner in social projects. The party’s regional secretary, George Matjila, criticised the DA-led coalition for failing to “comprehend the meaning of social compact and having opted for a…

International Women’s Day takes place today. This year the theme is “Inspire Inclusion”. Sounds empowering, does it not? Who doesn’t want to be involved in a campaign that aspires to raise the profile and celebrates all women? Well, all that is unless you are an Israeli woman post October 7. It would then seem that you have no voice, you are not included in the international community of women. The international community was eerily silent on the issue of the gender-based violence perpetrated against the women and girls of Israel by Hamas on October 7, 2023. There has been no resounding support for Israeli women from any of the advocates for female empowerment and protection. I cannot be silent when a specific group of women is excluded; where my…

Hopes dimmed yesterday for a truce before Ramadaan in the Israel-Hamas war that entered its sixth month with dozens more killed, according to the health ministry in the Hamas-run territory threatened by famine. The ministry said 83 more people had been killed over the previous day, adding to a toll it says has reached 30 800, mostly women and children, in a war that China called “a disgrace to civilisation”. In the wasteland of Jabalia, northern Gaza, Palestinians gathered to receive meals at a donation point. “There is no gas to cook our food on. There is no flour, or rice,” said Bassam al-Hou, standing beside large, blackened cooking pots among the dusty rubble. He said children “are dying and fainting in the streets from hunger. What can we…

London: Controversial plans to send migrants from the UK to Rwanda will return to the House of Commons this month after parliament’s upper chamber recommended several changes to the scheme, the government said yesterday. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s flagship plan to “stop the boats” of asylum seekers crossing the Channel from France has suffered 10 defeats in the unelected House of Lords in recent days. MPs in the elected lower chamber will debate and vote on those amendments on March 18. To date, 3 208 people have made the crossing this year. | AFP…

Orlando Pirates coach Jose Riveiro has warned arch-rivals Kaizer Chiefs that they’ll be better in the Soweto derby than they were against Cape Town Spurs on Wednesday. Two days ago, Pirates drew 1-1 with Spurs at home after squandering an early lead as they failed to pitch up for the better part of the second half. That draw didn’t only result in Pirates missing out on a chance to climb to second on the log, but it stained their dress rehearsal for the derby tomorrow afternoon at the FNB Stadium (3.30pm kick-off). But Riveiro is not crying over spilt milk. He believes that his troops will pull up their socks for the biggest sporting event in Mzansi in front of 90 000 spectators at the Calabash. After all, Pirates will…

Just SA’s WEEKLY jargon buster aims to give simple, plain English explanations for typical words and phrases used in the financial industry, in particular, words relating to guaran- teed life annuities and living annuities. This week, we look at the letter: F The jargon buster is intended for information purposes only. It should not be regarded as advice as defined in the Financial Advisory and Intermediary Services Act 37 of 2002, or any form of advice in respect of the policy, retirement, tax, legal or other professional service whatsoever. You are encouraged to seek advice from an authorised financial adviser or to independently decide what financial product is appropriate for you based upon your own judgement and understanding of your financial needs. Just Retirement Life (South Africa) Limited is…

Football icon and SABC sports presenter Siphiwe Mkhonza recently died after battling a kidney infection. Affectionately known as “Dr Mnandi”, the football star played as a defender for Bafana Bafana, as well as for local teams Kaizer Chiefs and Golden Arrows. His family confirmed his death in a statement on Tuesday. “He was admitted to Charlotte Maxeke (Johannesburg Academic Hospital) a month ago and was discharged after showing signs of recovery,” read the statement. Following Mkhonza’s death, media personality Minnie Dlamini, who worked with him at the SABC, took to social media to pay tribute to the fallen sport star. The two hosted Soccerzone, a live football review magazine show in which Mkhonza analysed matches. She wrote: “Woke up to the devastating news that my brother/former colleague @siphiwemkhonza4 has passed…

The five nurses who were suspended on Monday at the Steve Biko Academic Hospital for alleged gross negligence were seen in a video ignoring a distressed patient, 28, who later died. The Gauteng Department of Health announced on Wednesday that the five who were believed to be on duty, were put on precautionary suspension. This is after a video that was shot by a member of the public who had been at the hospital on February 25, showing the nurses going about their private business while a patient believed to have an acute chronic illness was clearly in distress. The video was not shared with The Star, but the publication can reliably reveal that it shows the patient sitting on the floor while waiting for the doctor to attend to…

I REGULARLY read the questions posed to the Minister of Employment and Labour in the National Assembly. Some of these questions are designed to boost the minister’s image and others to show up failures of the department. It is interesting to see very few of these questions are from the ANC. Unfortunately, it appears that the researchers for the ministry are invariably flippant and, quite frankly, ignorant. A question was recently asked about the strict enforcement measures taken to ensure that the National Minimum Wage is monitored. The reply: that inspectors were mostly reactive and if they find non-compliance, the dispute will be referred to the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration (CCMA) for prosecution. What this doesn’t tell us is that the inspectorate is so…

Gauteng Department of Basic Education MEC Matome Chiloane says he is devastated by the tragic death of a Grade 12 teacher at Hyde Park High School and a Grade 11 boy learner at Jeppe High School for Boys in Johannesburg. Gauteng Department of Basic Education spokesperson Steve Mabona said the teacher was reportedly found dead on the sports fields on Wednesday. Despite the efforts of paramedics, the teacher was certified dead at the scene. “Police investigations are currently under way to determine the circumstances surrounding this heartbreaking event,” said Mabona. The Grade 11 learner died on Tuesday following a rugby match against Hoërskool Die Anker in Brakpan. “It is alleged that the learner was not feeling well after the match. Paramedics on the scene attempted to stabilise him and called…

The Geography of the Imagination – Forty Essays Guy Davenport; Introduction by John Jeremiah Sullivan Loot (R735) David R. Godine In THIS fascinating book, you’ll find 40 thoroughly thought-provoking essays on history, art, and literature. These from one of the most incisive and most exhilarating critical minds of the 20th century. Guy Davenport was perhaps the last great American polymath. He provided links between art and literature, music and sculpture, modernist poets and classic philosophers, the past and present and pretty much everything in between. Not only had Davenport seemingly read (and often translated from the original languages) everything in print, he also had the ability, expressed with unalloyed enthusiasm, to draw connections between how cultural synapses make, define and reflect our civilisation. In this collection, Davenport serves as the…

COUNTERFEIT malaria medication is estimated to be directly attributable for the deaths of up to 158 000 Africans every year. According to the latest stats from the Journal of Vector Borne Diseases, the antimalarial market in some African countries comprises 88.4% fake drugs. The trade in illegal medicine is driven by vendors looking to profit from the low cost of these deadly imitations. It is clear that urgent action is required to address this crisis. Government leaders in Africa would be well-advised to take a pan-African approach to the counterfeit pandemic by creating an environment in which knock-off medication becomes increasingly unprofitable for sellers. The need for stricter import controls and regulations is critical, as such measures would curb the volume of foreign-produced fake medication entering African countries. And while…

Looks like some of the ANC cadres who were implicated in graft and other nefarious activities, including state capture, are about to be given the cold shoulder by the party elders. Cynics will tell you that this turn of events holds only until the ANC is voted back into power, after which, the miscreants will be forgiven and brought back into the bosom of the questionable party. Face it, the ANC is as cunning a fox and as swift as a cheetah as it plots its pre-May 29 strategy. The cadre rot began in 1994 and gathered momentum as the inner circle milked the coffers of the country to such an extent that the milk has dried up. Jong, these are professional skelms and trying to shut them down is…

THREE husbands and two children born from surrogacy and an application to have contact with the children pending a divorce is the sticky issue with which the Western Cape High Court was confronted. DR (the applicant) turned to court in a bid to have contact with his now estranged husband’s (identified only as NM) children – a girl turning 6 this year and a 2-year-old boy. The issue is that the girl was born via surrogacy during a previous marriage of NM to another man. They have a parenting plan in place for the previous husband to have contact with the girl. However, after NM’s divorce from his first husband and prior to his marriage to his second husband (the applicant), NM had another child via surrogacy. While the applicant…

Two men aged 24 and 29 have been arrested by the police in Limpopo after they allegedly beat a 27-year-old man to death at Ga-Mochemi Village in Senwabarwana. The murder happened on Tuesday, said Limpopo provincial police spokesperson, Colonel Malesela Ledwaba. “The victim succumbed to the injuries while at his home, after he was assaulted by his girlfriend’s brother and their neighbour. “The tragic incident occurred while the victim was visiting his girlfriend at her parental home and the couple got into a heated argument,” said Ledwaba. During the confrontation, police said the woman screamed for help, and her neighbour came to assist. However, the neighbour failed to resolve the situation as the boyfriend was intoxicated. “That’s when he went out to look for the woman’s brother and when the…

AS THE world commemorates International Women’s Day today, multiple organisations underscore the importance of paying attention to issues such as gender equality, the corporate landscape, reproductive rights, and violence and abuse against women. Following this year’s theme of “Inclusion”, with a major focus on South Africa’s corporate landscape and echoing global trends, it is stated that the call to amplify women’s voices, particularly in leadership, remains important. It is explained that highlighting inspiring stories of female pioneers is a powerful means of championing this cause and paving the way for future leaders. Leading female executives at retail consumer finance provider RCS share some tips with aspiring South African businesswomen. Mariné van Brakel’s journey, as chief operating officer and Deputy CEO of RCS, is one such tale. Before being promoted to…

TODAY, on International Women’s Day, we must accord this global observance the deep respect that we South Africans typically reserve for significant national days like Youth Day or Reconciliation Day. While our own Women’s Day pays homage to women’s pivotal role in navigating our nation’s complex history, International Women’s Day casts a wider net, commemorating the global struggle for women’s rights and the ongoing efforts towards gender equality. This day serves as a promise and a reminder that no matter how far we as a global community have come, much is left to do to emancipate women from the overt and covert barriers that deny, exclude and oppress them. Regardless of any official decrees or bills that attempt to codify a fairer society, individuals will continue to face significant obstacles…

PRAGUE: Czech farmers dumped manure in front of the government’s office, blocked Prague streets with tractors and taunted the country’s farm minister yesterday, as they renewed protests demanding more help and a halt to cheap imports to the EU. Czech farmers, in their third protest since mid-February, rolled into Prague yesterday in hundreds of tractors, lining streets and bringing traffic to a standstill in several spots. The government has said it would not be pressured in talks with farmers, with Prime Minister Petr Fiala saying it was like “blackmail”. The Agrarian Chamber has called for subsidies matching 2022 levels. | Reuters…

LONDON: Sexually transmitted infections surged across Europe in 2022, with reported cases of gonorrhoea jumping by nearly a half, the European Centre for Disease Prevention (ECDC) and Control said as it released data yesterday. Syphilis cases rose by 34% from the previous year, to more than 35 000, chlamydia cases by 16% to more than 216 000. Gonorrhoea cases jumped by 48% to more than 70 000. Cases of lymphogranuloma venereum and congenital syphilis, when the infection is transmitted from mother to foetus, also increased sharply, the ECDC said, although from lower levels. | Reuters…

Lewis Hamilton said Formula One is facing a “pivotal moment” as it battles a series of off-track controversies. The build-up to last weekend’s season-opening Bahrain Grand Prix was overshadowed by the fallout caused by Red Bull’s investigation into alleged inappropriate behaviour by its team boss, Christian Horner. On Tuesday, motorsport’s governing body, the FIA said its compliance department was “assessing” reports that its president, Mohammed Ben Sulayem told officials not to certify the track used for last year’s Las Vegas Grand Prix. “It doesn’t look good from the outside and it doesn’t look good from within,” seven-time world champion Hamilton told reporters ahead of tomorrow’s Saudi Arabian Grand Prix. “I think it’s a really important time for the sport to show and to stick to their values, holding ourselves accountable…