Innholdsfortegnelse for 2024-04-19 i Star

THE CONSTITUTIONAL Court’s ruling in favour of Coca-Cola Beverages Africa (CCBA) to retrench 400 employees has made a precedence-setting judgment, giving merged entities some leeway to lay off workers post merger proceedings. This comes after the Concourt on Wednesday handed down judgment in an application for leave to appeal against the order and judgment of the Competition Appeal Court which had ruled against CCBA. CCBA had been taken to task by the Competition Commission for retrenching the nearly 400 employees, allegedly in breach of merger conditions. This as the Competition Tribunal in 2016 approved the merger of four bottling firms in South Africa into CCBA, subject to conditions such as maintenance of a certain number of employees for a certain period as well as a prohibition of certain retrenchments. However,…

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 guaranteed life annuities and living annuities. This week, we look at the letter M. M: Minimum payment period Also called a Guarantee Period. An annuity income is payable for as long as the annuitant (the person receiving the annuity) lives. You can choose a minimum payment period (up to 20 years), which means that if you die within that guarantee period, the annuity will continue to be paid for the remainder of that period to the named beneficiaries. Source: Just Retirement SA, info@justsa.co.za. The jargon buster is intended for information purposes only. It should not be regarded as advice as defined in the…

CANAL+, the France-based global broadcasting group, said yesterday it had acquired a further 3.65 million MultiChoice shares as its cash buyout of the African broadcast group continued. On April 6, Canal+ and Multi- Choice Group jointly announced the terms of a mandatory offer by Canal+ to acquire all of the shares of Multi- Choice not already owned by Canal+. from shareholders of MultiChoice, to further the France-based broadcaster’s aims of becoming a major African and global broadcaster. Canal+ said that last Friday that it acquired 1.82 million MultiChoice shares in transactions for an average of R117.50 per MultiChoice share. On Monday, it acquired 810 391 MultiChoice shares at an average R115.99 per MultiChoice share. On Tuesday, it acquired 1.01 million MultiChoice shares at an average…

Bidders Choice is hosting the online business rescue auction for Kethstone Engineering and Infrastructure (Pty) Ltd. The auction will take place in Pretoria West, Industrial, with bids opening today at 8am and closing on Wednesday from 11am. Assets going under the hammer include: 2019 SAE RT3-420-12 20 ton heat treatment furnace 2019 SAE 4.2M CNC horizontal lathe 2019 SAE Z3080X25 80mm vertical radial arm drilling machine 2019 SAE CNC single column vertical lathe 2019 SAE TX2013A gantry milling machine 2020 SAE CK5240G CNC double column vertical lathe. Viewing is on Monday and Tuesday, from 9am to 3pm. For more information, please contact Jan at 082 308 6537. |…

FOLLOWING a war of words which lasted for most of yesterday, the urgent legal bid in the Gauteng High Court, Pretoria, by former public protector and EFF MP Busisiwe Mkhwebane for the Office of the Public Protector to pay the R10 million gratuity she claims to be entitled to will only be heard in about a month’s time. Advocate Dali Mpofu, acting for Mkhwebane, told Judge Colleen Collis that none of the respondents, which include the Office of the Public Protector and its head, Kholeka Gcaleka, followed the correct legal procedures in opposing the application. He said the first option would be if the court heard the matter as an unopposed application. Option two, which was chosen by the court, was to remove the matter from the roll so that…

Toxic Prey John Sandford Loot (R735) G P Putnam’s Sons Lucas Davenport and his daughter, Letty, team up to track down a dangerous scientist whose latest project could endanger the entire world. Gaia is dying. That, at least, is what Dr Lionel Scott believes. A renowned expert in tropical and infectious diseases, Scott has witnessed the devastating impact of illness and turmoil at critical scale. Society as it exists is untenable, and the direct link to Earth’s death spiral; population levels are out of control and people have allowed disarray and disorder to run rampant. While most are concerned about deadly disease, Scott knows that it is truly humanity itself that will destroy Gaia. It’s only by removing the threat that the planet can continue to prosper, and luckily, Scott…

A DISMISSAL should not be an expression of moral outrage or an act of vengeance, but rather a sensible operational response to risk management in the enterprise, the Johannesburg Labour Court said in a case where a worker was fired at the height of Covid-19 for not wearing his mask. Ephraim Ramphabana was em- ployed by Penbro Kelnick as a stock controller. He was dismissed following a disciplinary enquiry into allegations of misconduct that arose at the height of the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020. Ramphabana was issued with a final written warning for failing to wear his face mask at the workplace. He was again charged with dishonesty. He was fired but the matter turned to the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration (CCMA) as he wanted his job back.…

Social media influencer Xoli Gcabashe, also known as Miss XO, has warned young women about the pitfalls of pursuing a sugar daddy- funded lifestyle, sparking debate on social media. In a video clip that’s since gone viral, Gcabashe urged young women to strive for financial independence rather than to rely on sugar daddies for a lavish lifestyle. The influencer, known for living an opulent lifestyle, shared her views during a segment titled Wine Wednesday With XO on her YouTube channel, where she answered questions from her followers. One of them asked: “In your college life, did you ever find yourself peer pressure of soft life sugar daddies?” Miss XO answered and said: “No, I have never been pressured to find sugar daddies, because I started working from a young age.…

The Iranians telegraphed their intent to send a few hundred missiles and drones towards Israel. The Americans had been forewarned and, in turn, the Israelis were well prepared – they activated their awesome defence system, the Iron Dome. The rhetoric has been toned down, allowing the Iranian people to feel a sense of pride that they have a level of firepower. The case is closed, for now. The reality is that Iran, Iraq, Hezbollah, Hamas, the Houthis and the Syrians should reconsider military strikes against Israel. A better option is to seek non-violent and peaceful solutions which, in turn, will bring about prosperity. Having said that, religious fanaticism is a killjoy.…

IT’S been another week of bloodshed in the wild, wild Western Cape. Mass shootings have become a regular occurrence in the province in recent months. In the deadliest incidents, five people were killed and four others wounded during shootings in Hillview and Seawinds at the weekend. On Tuesday, three more were gunned down in nearby Montague Village. On Wednesday, a shocking eight people were killed in a 12-hour shooting spree in Harare, Khayelitsha. With no arrests, suspects or even motives for the attacks, police appear to be powerless to stop the violence. In fact, they have even become targets. On Monday, a Nyanga police detective was hijacked, robbed and shot with his service pistol. On Wednesday, an Atlantis sergeant was killed when he was shot by a suspect at a…

NEW DELHI: Campaigning is gathering pace in India’s general elections, the world’s largest with nearly a billion eligible voters, as the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party races ahead of its opponents in cornering resources, from helicopters to online advertisements. Voting starts today, with ballots to be counted on June 4 in the weeks-long elections, at which the BJP seeks its most decisive victory yet, riding India’s best-funded campaign led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is seen winning a third term. The BJP has snared the largest share of reservations for domestic private helicopters to fly its leaders to all corners of the far-flung nation, an official said. | Reuters…

MOSCOW: The Kremlin said yesterday that any new US military aid for Ukraine would not change the situation at the front, where Kyiv’s forces were in a poor position and said such aid was part of a colonial policy that enriched the US. The US House of Representatives was to hold a long-awaited vote on a new aid package tomorrow. It includes $60.84 billion (R1.2 trillion) to address the conflict in Ukraine, of which $23.2bn would be used to replenish US weapons and stocks. “Ukraine has to not only fight to provide profit for the Americans but it also has to fight to the last Ukrainian and is loaded up with debt,” the Kremlin said. | Reuters…

SOUTH Africa will use future drawdowns of its Gold and Foreign Exchange Contingency Reserve Account to curb its debt burden, Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana said, adding that he was pondering tax hikes and expenditure cuts in the next post-election budget. Africa’s most industrialised nation is grappling with an ailing economy and high debt ahead of a general election on May 29 that could see the governing ANC party lose its parliamentary majority for the first time since the end of apartheid 30 years ago. Earlier this year, the government announced a change to the framework governing the so-called GFECRA account that captures gains and losses to foreign currency reserve transactions, allowing for a drawdown of R150 billion rand over the next three years. “Eskom is out, or Transnet,” Godongwana…

DIVERSIFIED resource firm BHP has said its joint venture in Australia now has a more focused operational footprint, as it decides on the future of its nickel business in Western Australia after a nine-month period to March in which iron ore production sagged. Earlier this month, BHP and its joint venture (JV) partner in BMA restructured the Australian coal venture through divestment of BHP Mitsubishi Alliance’s (BMA) Blackwater and Daunia mines to Whitehaven Coal. The JV has earned $4.1 billion (R77.6bn) from the disposal. “We successfully completed the sale of the Blackwater and Daunia mines on April 2 for a total of up to $4.1bn,” said BHP CEO, Mike Henry. “At our BMA metallurgical coal operations in Queensland, significant wet weather including the impact of two tropical cyclones…

Miss SA 2020, Shudufhadzo Musida, and Miss SA 2022, Ndavi Nokeri, have bagged roles in the upcoming Mzansi Magic drama, Queen Modjadji. Musida will play Muthanoni Mulalo, one of the king’s wives from the VhaVenda royal family. Nokeri has been cast as Muthanoni Khensani, one of the king’s wives from the VaTsonga royal family. The series, which follows the life of South Africa’s rain queen led by the Lobedu clan, is based on a true story. Queen Modjadji is already in production and is expected to start soon. “Bringing Queen Modjadji to our audiences meets their desire for television entertainment drawn from our heritage and it also flows seamlessly into our plans to create a catalogue of drama series made in African languages," MultiChoice Group CEO for general entertainment, Nomsa…

From Page 1 “The ANC’s policy offering is broad enough to accommodate a wide range of interest except that what they have done is to alienate a significant section of voter base structure that dislikes corruption,” Mtimka said. “So if it was not for corruption, the ANC would still be a party of choice for many South Africans across the racial spectrum who actually want an approach to a good politically economic class in the country.” Supporters of the DA were generally found among the middle to upper economic classes and represented a demographic that favours policies promoting economic stability and growth. “I don’t think the upper class is going to be attracted to the DA in a coherent way,” Mtimka told IOL. “The DA is going to alienate the…

Limitless – upgrade your brain, learn anything faster, and unlock your exceptional life Jim Kwik Loot (R461) Hay House Do YOU ever feel like you’re not reaching your full potential? Jim Kwik, a world-renowned brain performance expert, says you’re not alone. Drawing from his own experiences and expertise, Kwik breaks down the key components of personal growth: mindset, motivation, and method. He doesn’t just focus on theoretical concepts, but offers real-world strategies to navigate the challenges of the digital age, such as information overload and digital distractions. In his powerful book, Limitless, he offers a road map to unlocking your exceptional life by upgrading your brain, learning faster and shattering limiting beliefs. Kwik introduces his core framework, breaking down how to overcome limitations in Mindset (what you believe), Motivation (why…

I Do … Don’t I? Zibu Sithole Loot (R290) Pan Macmillan Local author Zibu Sithole hails from Jozi, she is a published ghost writer of many romance novels. Sithole’s debut novel, The thing with Zola sold hundreds of copies. The Star’s sister paper, The Cape Times recently got in touch with Zibu Sithole to find out what brings out the magic in her novels. Q: What inspired the setting of your latest novel, I Do … Don’t I? and how did it influence the development of the storyline? A: Zola leaving home again and how she behaves while she’s away from home; this time she lets the readers know that she has grown, how she has grown and what is important to her now. Although she is still ambitious and…

NEW Hope School, a beacon of hope and education for children with special needs in Pretoria, is set to receive a generous donation of R150 000 from Jacaranda FM’s Good Morning Angels initiative. The donation, facilitated by Power Build and supported by Jacaranda FM, will contribute towards the construction of a much-needed Skills Development Centre at New Hope School. For nearly 50 years, New Hope School has been dedicated to providing education and support to children with special needs, catering to 417 learners from pre-school to Grade 12. With a focus on empowering learners to reach their full potential, the school offers three Curricular Streams, including mainstream CAPS, Vocational Training, and Basic Life Skills. Despite the school’s impressive 100% matriculation record over the past seven years, there remains a critical…

APRIL marks graduation season. It is encouraging and inspiring to see so many students graduating. An educated nation is an empowered nation. However, will the graduates find employment? Experts say those who have degrees stand a better chance than those who have matric only. Some time ago, a television channel interviewed unemployed graduates, blacks in particular. Most of them had lost hope in finding jobs. Those who were working had jobs that were not related to their qualifications. It is a cause for concern that many graduates are at home doing nothing, their acquired skills going to waste. Graduates who come from poor families are pressured by their family to find employment. When they struggle to find jobs, they become stressed and depressed. Is education valuable? The answer is a…

The economic powerhouse of our country, Gauteng, is under siege as violent crime surges. According to the third quarter of the 2023/2024 Crime Statistics, almost 1 800 people were murdered in the last three months of last year, 214 of them women and 55 children, indicating that the provincial government is failing to tackle crime. Public confidence in law enforcement is declining, resulting in vigilantism. Community-led actions resulted in nearly 90 murder cases. The statistics show that the province is experiencing high crime rates despite the countless commitments Premier Panyaza Lesufi made to fight crime, lawlessness and vandalism. Residents live in constant danger of violent robberies in their homes, brazen hijackings, petty thievery and severe gender-based violence. Two of its cities, Pretoria and Johannesburg, are ranked second and fourth…

Most teenagers dread talking about sex with their parents. Their parents feel the same way. In some societies, it’s considered taboo to even broach the subject. And, even where sexuality education is taught at schools, research has shown that effective communication between young people and teachers is hindered because of age differences and, in some places, because of the societal taboos. How might technology improve the situation? Adolescents spend a lot of time on their electronic devices. A study in the US found that teens were using their phones, tablets or laptops for social media, gaming and texting for about 8½ hours every day; tweens (ages 8 to 12) rack up about 5½ hours daily. Much has been written about the downsides of screen time for teens. But, as a…

Geneva: The World Health Organization voiced alarm yesterday at the growing spread of H5N1 bird flu to new species, including humans, who face an “extraordinarily high” mortality rate. The current bird flu outbreak began in 2020 and has led to the deaths of tens of millions of poultry, with wild birds also infected as well as land and marine mammals. Cows and goats joined the list last month – animals that were not thought susceptible to this type of influenza. The A (H5N1) strain has become a global zoonotic animal pandemic. So far, there is no evidence the virus is spreading between humans. | AFP…

HARARE: Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa granted amnesty to various prisoners to coincide with the country’s 44th Independence Day, yesterday. The president granted full remission of the remaining terms of imprisonment to all female prisoners who will have served two-thirds of their sentences by yesterday, the Ministry of Justice said. Prisoners who had been on death row for more than 10 years had their sentences commuted to life, while those serving life were to be released if they had served at least 20 years. Zimbabwe’s prisons are generally overcrowded. | Xinhua…

KENYA will host an Accelerated Partnership for Renewables in Africa (Apra) Investment Forum in Nairobi in September to foster a conducive policy environment for energy development and facilitate investment. This was announced yesterday at the14th Assembly of the International Renewable Energy Agency (Irena) held in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates (UAE) . Apra, which was founded at the Africa Climate Summit in September 2023 by Kenya, Ethiopia, Namibia, Rwanda, Sierra Leone and Zimbabwe, with support from Denmark, Germany, the UAE and Irena, aims to accelerate energy transitions in respective countries. Davis Chirchir, the cabinet secretary in charge of Energy and Petroleum in Kenya, spoke about why Apra was important to Africa and called it “an agent of change”. This as all countries, including Apra, need to triple renewable capacity by…

THE GOVERNMENT is on a mission to reverse South Africa’s greylisting in the international financial services sector, and consumers of financial services are likely to be on the receiving end of tightened compliance. Among the areas under the spotlight are compliance with the Financial Intelligence Centre Act (Fica) and cross-border cash transfers. Just over a year ago, in February 2023, South Africa was greylisted by the Financial Action Task Force (FATF), a global entity dedicated to combating money laundering and the financing of terrorism. The FATF required 22 actions to be taken by South Africa before it could be removed from the greylist, the deadlines of which fell between January 2024 and January 2025. In a statement released in February, National Treasury reported: “The February 2024 FATF Plenary confirmed that…

PSG FINANCIAL Services did well to lift recurring headline earnings per share by 11% to 81.1 cents in the year to February 29, despite the depressed economic activity and the fact that the JSE only managed a 6% return last year, chief financial officer Mike Smith said. He said low economic growth was a challenge, but the group had relatively small market shares and with good services and returns, and continuing investment in the business aligned with their long-term advice-led strategy, it was able to pick up market share. The dividend was lifted 17% to 42c per share. Assets under management increased 15% to R406.9 billion. Gross written premiums were up 13% to R7bn. The number of advisers increased 1% to 953, while fixed remuneration to staff increased…

ORION Minerals requested that an immediate trading halt be placed on its securities yesterday as it was anticipating to make a material announcement in relation to exploration results at its Okiep Copper Project in the Northern Cape. The trading halt was requested until the commencement of trade on Monday, or such earlier time as Orion makes an announcement to update the market in relation to the exploration results. Orion managing director and CEO Errol Smart will host a live investor webinar to provide an update on recent progress at the company’s two copper development assets, the Prieska Copper Zinc Mine (PCZM) and Okiep Copper Project, both located in the Northern Cape province. The Australian-based miner has signed addenda to agreements for acquiring a controlling interest in the Okiep Copper Project.…

Renowned actor Hlomla Dandala made his debut this week in the recasted role of Caesar Ngonyama on hit the telenovela, Smoke & Mirrors. The former The River actor returned to the e.tv stable following the departure of Zolisa Xaluva. “This is an exciting challenge for me, the character of Caesar is loved by our viewers, my aim is to please and ensure that I deliver as a performer,” Dandala said. “Playing a villainous character such as Caesar will surely bring the best out of me. But more than anything, I’m excited to be back with the eFamily and I look forward to a real joyride as we enter the second season of the show.” Meanwhile, e.tv executive producer Dithapelo Segodi added: “The character of Caesar Ngonyama is a ruthless Xhosa…

painting a life in africa – the story of joan van gogh Joan van Gogh Loot (R251) Rockhopper Books Dedicated to her four children, Joan van Gogh’s memoir Painting a life in Africa takes readers on a journey through the life of an artist on the African continent. (And yes, grandfather was a cousin of Vincent.) Her memoir portrays her journey through the land teeming with natural beauty and with some challenges. As a botanist and an artist, this Van Gogh humorously shares pieces of her childhood – from frequent visits to the emergency children’s hospital to a healthy teen and adult. She contracted Blue measles, underwent a kidney operation and had her tonsils removed. As Van Gogh grew older, all she wanted to do was paint and read. She…

Many residents in Pretoria East were plunged into darkness after the Mooikloof sub-station caught fire on Wednesday night, triggering a trip at the Nyala in-feed station. Municipal spokesperson Lindela Mashigo said the power outage affected the Wapadrand supply areas, parts of Moreleta Park, Mooikloof, surrounding farms, Pretoria hospital, Woodhill and mass lights in Plastic View informal settlement. “An aerial view of the Mooikloof sub-station that caught fire last night is that a transformer burned down,” he said. At the time of going to publication, the City’s technical team was still hard at work to assess the extent of the damage. Local ward councillors went to the scene to gather first-hand information. One of them, Malcolm de Klerk, confirmed to residents on social media that one transformer went up in flames…

The University of Johannesburg (UJ) is gearing up for the new season of its Joburg Moves dance season which takes place at the UJ Arts Centre from April 23 to 26. Joburg Moves, which forms part of the university’s Faculty of Art, Design and Architecture, is curated and co-ordinated by celebrated choreographer and director Lesego van Niekerk. This year’s edition includes performances from Ukukhanya Kwenyanga: A Moonlight Waltz, choreographed by Craig Pedro from Joburg Ballet, Umthombo & Baobab, choreographed by Sunnyboy Motau and Sylvia Glasser from Moving into Dance, Evelyn, choreographed by Smangaliso Ngwenya and Petticoat Princess, choreographed by Thamsanqa Tshabalala. The dance season will include an exhibition showcase by David April, masterclasses facilitated by Sonya Radebe and Roseline Wilkens and panel discussions supported by the STAND Foundation, ASSITEJ South…

The dry winter season is upon us in most parts of the country. Most of the country normally receives rainfall during the summer season, with the exception of the Western Cape, which receives rainfall in winter. As we approach the dry season, it is high time that we use the available water wisely and sparingly, and prioritise water conservation in everything we do, especially as South Africa is a water-scarce and dry country. South Africa is one of the 30 driest countries in the world and receives about half of the world average in terms of rainfall, so every drop counts. We also have the reality of climate change, which has changed rainfall patterns, leading to less rain and high temperatures, in turn, leading to high levels of evaporation. This…

Eid al-Fitr is one of the three major Islamic festivals, celebrated by Muslims of China’s Uyghur, Hui, Kazakh and Kirgiz ethnic minorities. Early in the morning of Eid al-Fitr on April 10 this year, ethnic minority residents in various parts of Xinjiang came to local mosques for prayer services. After the services, people visited friends and relatives, enjoyed group meals, or gathered in squares to sing and dance, having quality time with family members. On that day, the government of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region held an exchange event with foreign diplomats in Beijing. During his speech, Siyabonga Cwele, Ambassador of South Africa to China, sent his wishes to the people of Xinjiang and reviewed his visit to Xinjiang in 2023. The ambassador noted that Xinjiang has eradicated absolute poverty, allowing…

A restrictive abortion ban revived in Arizona is providing a new opening for Democrats in the run-up to the November 5 election and putting Republicans in a tricky political bind as they try to win over moderates in the battleground state. US Representative Ruben Gallego, the leading Democratic candidate in a closely watched US Senate race, has criticised Republican former president Donald Trump for paving the way for the Arizona Supreme Court last week to reinstate a near-total abortion ban based on an 1864 law written during the US Civil War and when women lacked the right to vote. The top Republican candidate in the race, former television newscaster Kari Lake, once praised the 1864 law, a stance Gallego highlighted in a new digital ad this week. Lake has since…

STRASBOURG: An assailant, 29, yesterday wounded two girls aged six and 11 in a knife attack close to their school in the east of France and was later arrested, officials said. The 11-year-old was stabbed outside the school in the town of Souffelweyersheim outside the city of Strasbourg, while the 6-year-old was attacked by the same man nearby. Both had superficial wounds, police said, and the attacker did not appear to have any known links to radicals. The attack came as Prime Minister Gabriel Attal announced measures to crack down on violence committed by schoolchildren against their peers. | AFP…