Innholdsfortegnelse for 2024-08-28 i Star

BHP IS INVESTING $10 billion (R177bn) in capital and exploration expenditure over the next year, although it will be keeping an eye on market dynamics for its key commodities which have the potential to impact on capital spend and project scheduling after profits from operations for the year to June fell 24% to $17.5bn. After withdrawing its bid for Anglo American, BHP yesterday said it was focusing on growing its copper portfolio which saw production increase by 9% in the full year to June 2024. The company is now expecting capital and exploration expenditure to amount to $10bn for its full year to June 2025, with half of this being invested in exploration. From its 2026 full-year period onwards, BHP intends to invest $11bn per annum in capital…

PICK N PAY’S company-owned grocery stores reported weak sales and store closures in the 21 weeks to July 31, as a new management team began to execute a turnaround plan – discount store chain Boxer traded strongly. Pick n Pay sales grew 0.1% (-1.1% like-for-like), with Pick n Pay segment sales increasing only 0.6% (1.7% like-for-like). Sixteen supermarkets were closed, 4 corporate stores and 12 franchise stores. Group sales increased 4.5% for the period (3.7% like-for-like), a trading update said yesterday. As indication of how badly the group is faring in the local market, its major com- petitor Shoprite reported 12% growth in revenue for the 52 week period to June 30, and it opened 292 stores in that period. The Spar Group’s South…

THE UN WORLD Food Programme (WFP) Mozambique has developed an El Niño Response Strategy targeting 1.1 million people for the 6 months beginning in November this year, prioritising the worst affected districts and population in that country. The WFP’s response will focus on the provinces of Gaza, Inhambane, Sofala, Manica, and Tete. This is in the worldwide food assistance organisation’s emergency phase (IPC4) to prevent further deterioration of food insecurity, malnutrition and school dropouts, which were already very critical. The WFP Mozambique said the El Niño induced rainfall shortage and above average temperatures have resulted in drought in central and southern provinces of Mozambique, impacting agricultural production for vulnerable communities. As a result, around 2.8 million people were facing food insecurity (IPC 3+), including 510 151 people…

SOUTH Africa is making progress in its green energy transition. While coal dominates the country’s energy mix, growth in renewables and renewable infrastructure, particularly in the private sector, has been exponential. In 2023, the country imported more than R17.5 billion worth of solar equipment, or about $964 million worth, according to data compiled by economic research institution Trade and Industrial Policy Strategies. This equates to approximately 5 000 megawatts of solar capacity and is about four times more than it bought in 2022. And more growth should be expected. According to the US’s International Trade Administration, the share of non-hydro renewable energy in South Africa’s energy mix is expected to almost double from 9.3% in 2023 to 17% by 2032. This is essentially on track with the…

INTEGRATED resource group Tharisa has produced chrome alloy for the first time using a new processing method innovated by Arxo Metals, its research and development business. The group’s operations are critical to the energy transition and decarboni- sation of economies. The company said yesterday that it had produced 40 tons of chrome alloy “from a unique and proprietary process developed developed by Arxo Metals. The new process uses less electricity and helps the company attain its goals for a lower carbon emissions profile for its chrome production. Chrome alloy production has traditionally been produced by smelting chrome ore and producing ferrochrome, which is then remelted in furnaces and alloyed to produce various chrome containing alloys. Lucien Matthews, beneficiation executive for Tharisa, said Arxo’s new process sees this proprietary chrome alloy…

Stor-Age Property real estet investment trust delivered a strong trading performance in the UK, with occupancy in the owned portfolio up 4.7% to close at 86.5% in the four months to July 31, the JSE-listed self-storage group said in a trading update yesterday. In SA, occupancy increased 2.3% year-on-year to close at 91.4%. Occupancy decreased by 0.7% compared to March 31, 2024, in line with expectations and seasonality trends. “We anticipate regaining and growing occupancy in the second half of the 2025 financial year, during what is traditionally our busier period for demand,” directors said. Total occupancy stood at 90.4%, up 2.8% year-on-year. The total occupancy in the joint venture portfolio in South Africa stood at 54%. In the UK the total occupancy of joint venture portfolio stores stood at…

Aid and shelter have been provided to more than 260 displaced people after a fire engulfed their informal settlement homes built inside a Jeppestown three-storey building on Sunday. On Monday, humanitarian organisation Gift of the Givers was among those who brought much-needed essentials for the victims of the fire. EMS firefighters from the City of Joburg worked tirelessly from the early hours to extinguish the blaze. EMS spokesperson Robert Mulaudzi said some of the patients were critical and had been taken to nearby health care facilities. “The cause of the fire is unknown. An investigation by experts and the SAPS is ongoing,” Mulaudzi said. Survivors were being accommodated in tents erected at one of the city’s buildings. One of the survivors, Nompilo Khumalo, originally from KwaNongoma in KwaZulu-Natal, expressed…

WHILE VBS “kingpin” Danny Msiza has been granted a separate trial from his co-accused over the brazen of R2.3 billion VBS Bank looting, its victims continue to count their losses six years later. Msiza, a former ANC treasurer in Limpopo, and his co-accused Kabelo Matsepe, must have been relieved after the Gauteng High Court, Pretoria, recently ruled the trial for the two would run separately. But prosecutor Hein van der Merwe has indicated that the State will be appealing the ruling, saying that all 13 accused must be tried together. However, burial societies, stokvels, individuals, particularly the elderly, and municipalities continue to count their losses. Speaking to The Star yesterday, Maria Tshigodime, 30, from Thohoyandou in Limpopo said her relationship with her mother and her friends had been strained…

The rights of an 8-year-old transgender learner who was allegedly prevented from wearing a boy’s swimming costume has landed in the Equality Court, as the parents seek R100 000 in damages against Beaumont Primary School in Somerset West. The learner was born as a female but identifies as a male. The incident has garnered mixed reactions, as Parents for Equal Education SA (Peesa) emphasised the necessity for parents and learners to adhere to school protocol. The Triangle Project said educational policies needed to be inclusive and address the structural barriers that LGBTQIA+ youth faced. The parents of the former Beaumont Primary School learner lodged the lawsuit against the school in the Equality Court, alleging the school discriminated against their child by restricting his access to bathrooms and requiring him…

AS South Africa commemorates 30 years of democracy, the nation stands at a critical juncture, with deepening concerns about the state of its democratic institutions, economic exclusion, and the growing disillusionment of its citizens. The findings of the Zondo Commission and the Motlanthe High-Level Panel report on Parliament have exposed the critical shortcomings in our legislative bodies. They serve as a potent reminder that we, the people, should not merely be spectators to the parliamentary spectacles shown on television screens. Our role is not passive but active, and it is within our power to hold Parliament accountable and demand that our voices be heard and respected. This is a responsibility we all share. While the maturation of our democracy has brought some democratic dividends, the converse of receding trust and…

The COMPETITION Tribunal has approved the proposed merger wherein Sanlam Life Insurance intends to acquire Assupol Holdings, subject to an employment-related condition. This comes after Sanlam in February announced it intends to acquire 100% shareholding in Assupol, pending shareholder and regulatory approval, for R6.5 billion. The transaction will see Assupol become part of Sanlam’s retail mass cluster and together with Sanlam Sky, Safrican and the Capitec JV, which will close at the end of October 2024, it will place Sanlam in a strong position to service the financial services needs of South Africans. This transaction followed the announce-ment last year that Bidvest Proprietary Limited, which holds 46.02% of Assupol’s securities, as well as the International Finance Corporation (IFC), holding 19.41% of Assupol, that it intended to dispose of their…

The AFRICAN Rail Industry Association (Aria) said yesterday the future of South Africa's rail industry hinged on the successful imple- mentation of rail reform, which aims to address both the current shortage of trains and the need for improvements in network infrastructure. “Rail reform, as outlined in the National Rail Policy, is fundamentally about fostering investment from the private sector,” said Aria CEO, Mesela Nhlapo. “We face two significant challenges: the shortage of trains and the quality of our network. These issues must be tackled concurrently.” While the policy framework is in place, pri- vate sector participation in the rail network is contingent upon investment. “To meet the demand for rail freight capacity in South Africa, we require an investment of more than R100 billion in trainsets,” Nhlapo emphasised.…

THE DUTOIT Group said yesterday that substantial investments in technology had brought significant advantages in quality, cost-efficiency, and sustainability for the agriculture investment company. Dutoit’s technical manager, Willie Kotze, said the continuous layering of technology allowed Dutoit to reduce food waste and remain proactive in its operations. “This commitment to innovation and access to more advanced and real-time data is keeping Dutoit at the forefront of modern agriculture, ensuring it continues to lead the industry with precision and excellence,” Kotze said. The company said it had spent the past five years rigorously researching and partnering with innovative companies to identify the most impactful technologies for their pome and stone fruit production. It said it was embracing satellite and drone technology with its use of satellite and drone imagery which had…

SEA HARVEST Group lifted earnings before interest and tax by 6% to R373 million in the six months to June 30 after significantly improved pricing and strong demand in wild-caught fish. Group revenue increased 3% to R3.3 billion, with the performance held back by continued low hake catch rates, deteriorating market conditions in abalone markets and higher interest rates in South Africa and Australia. “The first six months of this year have been some of the toughest months in the history of the group with the tragic sinking of the MFV Lepanto. The board, management and staff extend our deepest condolences to the families and loved ones to the 11 crewmen lost at sea,” Sea Harvest Group CEO Felix Ratheb said in a statement. The group is providing…

Commercial theatre producers Disney Theatrical Group (DTG) will be making their way to South Africa in November for an extraordinary musical performance of The Lion King Jr. This will be the first time the junior production will be staged in SA. The DTG and the National Children’s Theatre (NCT) teamed up on a specially adapted production for young performers. The project forms part of the 30th anniversary celebration of the classic Disney animation, The Lion King. Director Julie Taymor’s award-winning stage adaptation, which is celebrating 25 years in London’s West End, has been seen in over 100 cities to more than 112 million people. Using masks, puppets and costumes, the musical tells the story of Simba’s epic adventures as he struggles with the responsibilities of adulthood and becoming king. It…

A MAN who survived a deadly Limpopo shooting, where two women lost their lives in the incident on a farm, has recounted the harrowing experience when he escaped and left his wife gasping for life. “The first shot was fired into the air. The second bullet hit me, the third bullet hit the other woman who was with us (Mariah Makgato) and the fourth bullet hit my wife. “I went down, and after a while, I went to check on my wife to see if she was alive,” Mabutho Ndlovu recalled while speaking to broadcaster Newzroom Afrika after being discharged from hospital. Ndlovu said that he tried to lift and assist his wife, Kudzai, however, he could not do much as he had been shot as well. The wounded…

Minister of Employment and Labour Nomakhosazana Meth has welcomed the Supreme Court of Appeal’s (SCA’s) dismissal of the application by founder of Thuja Capital Holdings, Mthunzi Mdwaba, over his R5 billion jobs scheme. Mdwaba’s application to appeal judgments and other orders handed down by the Gauteng High Court, Pretoria, early this year was dismissed with costs on August 15 by the SCA. On April 19, the Gauteng High Court, Pretoria, set aside Mdwaba’s R5bn jobs scheme agreement and declared it invalid. This came after the court found that the agreement was entered into between the department and Thuja Capital without compliance with relevant provisions of the Public Finance Management Act. Furthermore, acting Judge Japie Maritz ordered Mdwaba to refrain from making defamatory claims against then labour minister Thulas Nxesi.…

The Zeerust Regional Court sentenced police officer Annius Mmutle to double life imprisonment yesterday for killing his estranged wife and her boyfriend. The incident happened on March 14 last year. The court ordered that both sentences should run concurrently and the accused was declared unfit to possess a firearm. The court heard that Mmutle, 50, was separated from his wife as they were experiencing marital problems. The accused was a detective warrant officer at Nietverdint police station. North West NPA spokesperson Sivenathi Gunya said on the day of the incident, the accused followed his wife Motshegwa, her boyfriend Katlego Selokwane, and her friend, going to the friend’s residence. Shortly after they arrived, the accused arrived and started to shoot at them with approximately 12 bullets, killing his wife and the…

The family of one of the two women shot dead at a Limpopo farm is demanding justice after pig farmer, Zachariah Johannes Olivier, farm supervisor Andrian Rudolph De Wet, and a farm employee William Musora were arrested for the murder. The three accused were remanded in custody after they were arrested for the murder of the two Limpopo women, and the attempted murder of a man who was accompanying the two women. Mother of four, 47-year-old Mariah Makgato, and 34-year-old Zimbabwean national, Kudzai Ndlovu, went to the Limpopo farm, accompanied by Ndlovu’s husband where they were shot at. Only the husband survived the incident after being shot but managed to flee with his injuries. Makgatho’s brother Walter Mathole told the SABC that after his sister failed to return home, he…

SOCIAL media is a formidable force that shouldn’t be underestimated in the quest to empower women in the sciences and higher education. This was one of the key messages from Thembi Tlale, deputy director of Marketing and Communication in the Department of Institutional Advancement at the University of Pretoria (UP), during the 2024 Women in Science Symposium hosted by the university at Future Africa, UP’s pan-African platform for collaborative research, recently. The gender gap in science and higher education remains a critical concern, marked by disparities in enrolment, academic performance, and access to resources. Despite girls often outperforming boys academically, they are less likely to pursue science, technology, engineering, and maths (Stem) subjects, largely due to persistent stereotypes and a lack of confidence in their abilities. In her presentation, Tlale…

South Africa’s leading virtual health mobile app, Unu Health, has emphasised the critical need for women to prioritise their health and well-being beyond Women’s Month. According to the Heart and Stroke Foundation of South Africa, cardiovascular diseases are a significant concern, with heart disease accounting for 1 in 4 deaths among women. Tania Joffe, founder of Unu Health, says women, regarded as the backbone of society, often neglect their own well-being while caring for others, suggesting a heightened focus on certain diseases. Joffe says these alarming statistics highlight the need for increased awareness and proactive measures. The mobile health app advocates for a holistic approach to women’s health, focusing on physical, mental and emotional well-being, regular check-ups, a balanced diet, exercise and stress management. “Women play an indispensable role in…

There are two certainties in life: death and taxes. So, as Kaizer Chiefs usher in a new era, no player is guaranteed a playing spot this season. Coach Nasreddine Nabi is expected to do his best to try to give all the members of his squad a fair chance to impress him. With that said, MIHLALI BALEKA looks at three players who must step up from the onset if they are to cement their spots. BRUCE BVUMA – GOALKEEPER Chiefs have always prided themselves on producing the best goalkeepers in the land, dating back to Eshele Botende, followed by Brian Baloyi, Rowen Fernandez and Itumeleng Khune. Having graduated from the club’s youth ranks, Bvuma also wants to follow in the footsteps of these greats. That won’t come easily, though. Bvuma…

AS SOUTH Africans, we stand on the brink of significant economic change. The recent signing of the Public Procurement Act, 2024 (Act No 24 of 2024) into law by President Cyril Ramaphosa is not just a legal milestone; it is a beacon of hope for our economy. The legislation, which reinstates crucial localisation efforts through mandatory local content requirements, comes at a time when South Africa desperately needs to boost job creation and sustain the livelihoods of millions. The Quarterly Labour Force Survey for Q2 2024, recently released by Statistics South Africa, paints a stark picture of our economic reality. With the unemployment rate standing at a staggering 33.5%, the implications are clear: our economy is in dire need of revitalisation. The youth unemployment rate is even more alarming…

A NINE-MONTH study into South Africa’s digital economy has underscored its potential to add meaningfully to the country’s GDP, create jobs and transform the manufacturing sector, making the country more competitive. The report, Our Digital Horizon, was launched yesterday in Sandton. Among its findings was that there was a vast potential to unlock R91bn for the digital economy, which would boost its contribution to GDP from 0.02% in 2022 to 1.38% by 2035. However, to achieve these targets, the contribution of digital platforms’ value-added contribution to the economy needed to grow 20 times over the next decade. GDP needed to accelerate by 3% each year, and there should be a stronger focus on digital skills, digital transformation, infrastructure, regulations, as well as small and medium companies. Currently, the report…

“ENDING load shedding is not the end destination,” were the words said by Eskom CEO Dan Marokane two days ago at the power utility’s Generation Recovery Plan media briefing. Eskom has been dishing out a remarkable buffet-style plant recovery and performance at levels not seen in years. This is thanks to the incredible team that has led Eskom out of the power-shedding doldrums and energy crisis of the past years. The multifaceted team made up of the executive management and the board is led by the most self-effacing, soft-spoken Dr Mteto Nyati, while the CEO steering the ship is none other than the larger-than-life, streetwise smart with a sweet personality Marokane. Who can forget the longest-serving Eskom executive, the humble, quiet and down-to-earth chief financial officer Calib Cassim, who has…

Brimstone lifted headline earnings per share a robust 110% to 71.9 cents for the six months to June 30, mainly due to fair value gains and the increase in Brimstone’s share of profits of fishing products group Oceana. Brimstone’s investment portfolio is heavily tilted, at about 76%, towards the fishing industry. CEO Mustaq Brey said in an interview they were happy with this level of investment, as their fishing investments were performing well and producing good returns, and fishing products were a sustainable and growing sector, and “even through Covid, we carried on eating”. Fair value gains from investments of R76.2 million were reported compared to fair value losses of R40.3m in the prior period, and Brimstone’s share of profits of Oceana increased to R187m from R94.9m. During…

For two nights only, theatregoers will get to party like it’s 1999 at The Ultimate Prince Experience. Showtime Australia, which has proven its Midas touch when it comes to tribute shows à la The Greatest Love of All and Michael Jackson HIStory, is behind this one, too. Directed by Johnny van Grinsven, the show celebrates Prince’s catalogue of music from Purple Rain, When Doves Cry, Kiss, 1999 and Little Red Corvette, to The Most Beautiful Girl in the World and Let’s Go Crazy! Dale Ray channels the icon, celebrated as one of the best-selling music artists of all time, selling 100 million records worldwide and being idolised for playing up to 27 instruments. In a recent chat with Ray, an unassuming talent with a fantastic sense of humour, he unpacked…

THE BREE Street, now called Lilian Ngoyi Street, rehabilitation project has hit another snag after the Johannesburg Road Agency (JRA) fired the contractor meant to restore the road. Riddled with failure to meet contractual obligations including having been awarded the nearly R200 million tender despite the contractor having been alleged to have defrauded City Power of R94m, Step Up Engineering’s contract was terminated this month. This was expected to cause delays to the project in spite of the December deadline. Now the DA in Johannesburg has called on the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) to look into what seems to be the latest scandal to rock the City of Joburg. The party’s MPL Belinda Kayser-Echeozonjoku accused newly elected ANC mayor Dada Morero, of dragging his feet on the matter despite having…

A woman has finally claimed the R100 million Lotto jackpot. The National Lottery Ithuba said it was thrilled to announce that the lucky participant had officially come forward to claim their prize. “We are overjoyed to celebrate this monumental win with our latest jackpot winner, especially during Women’s Month,” Ithuba CEO Charmaine Mabuza said. “The R100 million Lotto jackpot is a life-changing amount, and it is a testament to the excitement and opportunities that the South African National Lottery brings to participants across the country.” Ithuba said that the winner chose to remain anonymous but expressed her immense gratitude and excitement. The draw took place on August 3 and was the second largest jackpot in the history of the game. The R100 million jackpot was won after 25 consecutive roll-overs.…

As 50.4% of women in rural areas endure the plight of unemployment, there is an urgency for more women to be custodians of land in order to be active members of the economy. Deputy chairperson of the Rakwadu communal property association (CPA) in Limpopo, Rosinah Rasela, said gender bias in landownership and reforms was common, as most landowners were men. CPAs are regulated landholding institutions that manage land acquired on behalf of beneficiary communities, after successful land claims processes. The Sustainability Initiative of South Africa NPC 2019 study on women and gender in South African agriculture reported that 20% of farm owners were women. However, 66% of permanent workers were men and 52% of seasonal workers women. Most South African households are headed by single mothers. Therefore, such insidious statistics…

Tears Foundation, in partnership with the University of Johannesburg (UJ), has released a report revealing precise statistics of locations and profiles of gender-based violence (GBV) incidences in the country, using its Help-at-Your-Fingertips helpline data. The research, titled “A Call to Action to Prioritise GBV in South Africa”, examines the prevalence of violence in various districts, links population parameters to GBV, and suggests interventions in areas with high GBV prevalence. In this four-year study report (January 2020 – December 2023), the main subjects of analysis included time series data, call location, frequency, and prevalence during particular periods, such as school or holidays. The Limpopo province has been shown to have the highest call rates, with 104 calls per 100 000 people (or 6 804 calls over the course of the four-year…

IN JULY 2024, China hosted leaders of rival domestic political formations in Palestine, and later, the Foreign Minister of Ukraine, Dmytro Kuleba in pursuit of fostering peace and political stability, offering Beijing as the centre of international diplomacy during global political crisis and uncertainty. Palestine in general, and Gaza, in particular, is facing the worst wars of our time, which could plunge the whole Middle East into conflict, while a slight miscalculation in the war between Ukraine and Russia could plunge Eastern Europe into major conflict with unpredictable global consequences. The fragmentation of political formations poses serious threats to the domestic prospects of unity and post conflict stability. Both conflicts present major challenges to global stability calling for global leaders and major powers to play responsible roles in ending the…

Cape Town City will host defending champions Orlando Pirates in the first leg of the MTN8 semi-finals today at Cape Town Stadium. The match was initially scheduled for yesterday but had to be postponed due to severe weather conditions in the Western Cape. The decision to postpone the match was made on the advice of the City of Cape Town authorities and stadium management, who reported gale-force winds averaging speeds of 67km/h. The adverse weather has led to collapsed buildings and blocked roads due to fallen trees, and affected stadium facilities. Tickets purchased for the match will remain valid for the rescheduled fixture (kick-off 6pm). The Citizens will be aiming to gain an advantage by playing at home first in the two-legged tie. “Pirates, playing at home or away, is…