Innholdsfortegnelse for 2025-02-20 i Star

Godongwana declines to comment whether proposed 2% VAT increase triggered stalemate in GNU The unprecedented postponement of the tabling of the Budget Review before Parliament by Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana over disagreements about tax increases has been seen as failure of economic growth policies more than the strengthening of the Government of National Unity (GNU). Godongwana was scheduled to table the 2025 Budget Review and the Division of Revenue Bill before Parliament on Wednesday, but this has since been postponed to March 12 as GNU parties disagreed with the proposed VAT increase. The National Treasury was going to table a proposal for a 2 percentage point increase in VAT, from 15% to 17%, in a bid to raise at least R58 billion over the 2025 fiscal year as the government…

South Africa is making headway to be removed from the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) greylist, the Companies Intellectual Property Commission (CIPC) told the Portfolio Committee on Trade and Industry on Wednesday. South Africa was grey listed in in February 2023 and has been focused on implementing reforms to get of the list. CIPC said it has resolved two key deficiencies related to the Beneficial Ownership Register (BOR), ensuring that competent authorities have timely access to prosecute cases involving money laundering and terrorism financing, as well as the capacity to impose remedial sanctions. Greylisting means that a country is under increased monitoring by the FATF due to certain deficiencies in its anti-money laundering and combating the financing of terrorism and proliferation financing framework. Greylisting typically impacts an economy through various…

The Budget has been postponed to March 12 after a deadlock within the Government of National Unity coalition partners over VAT. This was part of the proposed Budget that is now under review: The Treasury said in its 2025 Budget Review that Transnet needs to stabilise and reduce its debt. In 2023/24, Transnet reported a net loss of R7.3 billion after a R5.1bn loss in 2022/23, largely due to increased finance costs. Additional debt and higher interest rates pushed finance costs to R14.3bn in 2023/24, placing further strain on cash flows. Transnet’s earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation declined from R22.8bn in 2022/23 to R22bn. Revenue gains were offset by rising net operating expenses. The series of volume losses since 2018 has meant that Transnet has shifted funds from…

When it comes to growing your business from the ground up, the old adage “it’s not what you know, but who you know” rings true. But networking in 2025 isn’t just about exchanging business cards and attending events; it’s about creating meaningful relationships that drive mutual growth. For small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), effective networking can unlock opportunities, provide access to valuable resources, and open doors that might otherwise remain closed. Here are eight practical ways to expand your professional circle and boost your business: Define your networking goals Before diving into networking, clarify exactly what it is you want to achieve. Are you looking for new clients, potential collaborators, or industry mentors? Having a clear objective will help you focus your efforts and approach networking with purpose. Leverage digital…

About $611 million (11.2 billion( worth of impairments in Glencore’s South African operations significantly contributed to the company’s $1.6bn in losses to equity holders for the full year to December 2024. It also expects to fulfil expenditure obligations related to its acquisition of Astron by September 2027 after initial payments totalling $185m as at September last year. The impairments to its South African coal operations came after Glencore’s price assumptions for South African coal fell by 19%. All in all, Glencore accounted for a total of $5.3bn in impairments for the year under review. “Our financial statements report a net loss to equity holders of $1.6bn, after accounting for $5.3bn of significant items, including impairments in our South African coal operations (lower forecast price assumptions), in Koniambo, which transitioned to…

Political parties yesterday had mixed reaction to the postponement of Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana’s budget speech, as parties in the Government of National Unity (GNU) could not find consensus on the proposal to increase value-added tax (VAT) by 2%, which would have raised it to 17%. The executive decided to adjourn and postpone the sitting to March 12 to allow enough time to reassess the budget. Parliament's speaker Thoko Didiza said the proposed 2% increase in VAT was just one of many issues that could not be agreed upon. “While today, we have been gathered here to have the minister of Finance to present the budget to the house that there has not been agreement in terms of parties in the executive to find one another in proposals of the…

A group of porters who serve at the OR Tambo International Airport have expressed their collective outrage against the Airports Company of South Africa (ACSA), alleging that they are being squeezed out of their livelihoods. The porters claim that their voices have been ignored while illegal foreign workers are seemingly allowed to operate without restraint. The porters, who rely heavily on customer tips for their income, have warned that their ability to earn a living is being compromised by security personnel and some executives who allegedly enforce restrictive measures against them. The porters say they are not allowed to operate the counter, which allows them greater tips and earning potential. They also argue that their permits were withdrawn arbitrarily by executives, with some porters having confirmed that more than 20…

THE former head of the Office of the State Attorney in Johannesburg is now shifting the blame to some of his subordinates for unlawful payments of millions of rand to disgraced advocate Hassim Ebrahim Kajee. Kgosisephuthabatho Gustav Lekabe, the ex-head of the Johannesburg State Attorney’s Office, is accused of authorising over R32 million in payments, which were mostly channelled through briefing Kajee, who charged for services not rendered, double- charging for the same work, submitting double invoices, or overreaching in accounts submitted. The Special Investigating Unit (SIU) is also demanding R27m from Kajee, which he obtained through his allegedly corrupt and collusive relationship with Lekabe. The SIU is also demanding the repayment of R32m by Lekabe in five claims valued between R300 000 and R27m. Lekabe approached the Special Tribunal…

BANK transfers made in error are not gifts which can be spent, a judge once again reminded clients who receive unaccounted money in their accounts. In a case before the Northern Cape High Court, sitting in Kimberley, First Rand Bank approached the court for an order that one of its clients, who holds an academic doctorate degree, pay an amount of R935 949.83 back to the bank. The court was told that in August 2020, the bank’s representative, who is a private client banker, telephonically contacted the client, on a recorded call, to advise him about a more beneficial investment product in the form of a Money Maximiser. This was said to accumulate more interest than the Money-On-Call account. The respondent (the client) was the treasurer of a trust and…

A private investigator has been hired to find those responsible for killing Pretoria baboon Raygun. Raygun, was killed at a Delmas high school in early February. The National Council of SPCAs said Raygun was beaten and set alight. His body was later mutilated. The NSPCA is offering a R20 000 reward for information leading to a successful conviction. This week Mike Bolhuis from Specialised Security Services in Gauteng, said they were tasked with finding Raygun’s killers, urging people with information to come forward. The NSPCA will embark on a large-scale campaign to educate children and adults alike about the sentience of animals, their protection under the law, and what to do when wildlife is encountered in built-up areas. Our goal is to have this reach television and radio, although…

The #BangenewithAxe campaign has taken South African universities by storm, bringing first-year students an electrifying blend of music, motivation, and mentorship. Headlined by artist and dancer Mzwakhe ‘Mzi’ Mbuli Jr, famously known as Robot Boii, and renowned for hits like ‘Salary Salary’ and ‘Phakathi Inside’ with Kabza De Small, the tour captivated students from Pretoria to Cape Town, leaving an unforgettable mark on campuses. AXE brand representative Ameena Mmatey said the #BangeneWithAxe encourages students to embrace fresh starts with confidence. "O-Week is all about stepping into new experiences with confidence, and that’s exactly what AXE represents." Boii echoed the sentiment, encouraging students to step into new chapters with confidence and energy. “This isn’t just another campus event — it’s a whole vibe. We’re pulling up to make sure students start…

Even though services have returned to normal, employees at the Chiawelo Community Health Centre in Soweto are grappling with fear following a harrowing incident on Tuesday morning. A group of unidentified men stormed the emergency unit of the health centre, leaving staff shaken and an intern doctor injured. According to community members, this occurred despite the presence of security personnel, including the Gauteng Crime Prevention Wardens. The suspects entered the clinic by impersonating crime prevention wardens seeking emergency medical assistance. An employee, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the latest incident is not the first. “There is no safety here as we continue to live in fear of an even bigger incident, much like the one that took place in Limpopo recently where nurses were raped in the bushes…

Spy photographers have snapped the most revealing images yet of the Volkswagen Tera, which is a new entry-level SUV for emerging markets. It is believed that this is the “SUV-type” vehicle that Volkswagen plans to build in South Africa, following a R4 billion investment that was announced in 2024. VWSA chief executive Martina Biene said at the time that the vehicle was being developed by the company’s Brazilian arm, but that some adaptations would be made for African markets. The spy shots reveal the new SUV with minimal camouflage, showing a compact but coupe-like silhouette and full-length taillamp clusters. Judging by earlier teaser images, the vehicle has a slim front grille closely resembling the latest Tiguan, meaning the larger “lip” on the prototype is surely a ruse. All…

Gavin Hunt should have been purring like the cat that just got the milk, delighted that his team finally found their scoring mojo. The SuperSport United coach should have been stoked at having completed a Betway Premiership league double over a club that treated him shabbily in the past. Damn, he had seen to a 4-1 defeat of Kaizer Chiefs in their own backyard, the kind of result many a coach would rave about for weeks on end. But deep in the bowels of the calabash that is the FNB Stadium, Hunt was moaning about how he’d lost the spine of his team. He grumbled about how he has a new team that still needs to gel. And then he said the masterclass his team delivered on a wet Tuesday…

The Stormers should have star players Damian Willemse and Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu back on the rugby field in about four weeks, if there are no setbacks in their rehabilitation. Willemse (hip) and Feinberg-Mngomezulu (sternum and thumb) will be joined by Suleiman Harzenberg (hand) and Jean-Luc du Plessis (wrist) in boosting the side as early as next month. That means the Cape outfit will head to Loftus Versfeld next weekend without any returning players. For a third game-week in a row, director of rugby John Dobson will have a limited squad to select from. This has been a struggling period for the Stormers without some of their key players. Currently, they are on a three-match losing streak in the United Rugby Championship (URC), and the trip to Pretoria won’t be an easy…

The Springbok Sevens have always enjoyed success in Vancouver, winning three titles, one during the Commonwealth Games, in the Canadian city and making the final of the SVNS showpiece twice. But, after a lacklustre ninth-place finish in 2024 and some ordinary performances in 2023 and 2022, a period marred with inconsistency, the Blitzboks gear up for their opening match against New Zealand with hopes of turning their recent fortunes around. Co-captain Impi Visser said they will look to fix their errors of the last couple of seasons, especially after last year. “Last time around, we were a bit disjointed, and it showed in our play,” he said “Credit to the management who sorted all the little niggles out, as we arrived here a happy and determined squad, cold as it…

Bayern Munich's busy match schedule affected their performance in the 1-1 draw against Celtic on Tuesday, coach Vincent Kompany said after the German hosts needed a stoppage-time equaliser to squeeze through to the Uefa Champions League Round of 16. Bayern qualified 3-2 on aggregate in their play-off but only after struggling against the Scots, who had the better chances and took the lead in the 63rd minute through Nicolas Kuehn, a former Bayern reserve player. The hosts needed a last-gasp goal from Alphonso Davies to seal their spot in the next round following last week's 2-1 victory in Glasgow. Bundesliga leaders Bayern were in Celtic last week before travelling to reigning champions Bayer Leverkusen on Saturday for the Bundesliga's top-of-the-table clash where they played out a goalless draw. "We always…

Cabinet’s future talks about a 2% increase in VAT, a proposal by the government that was so politically sensitive it caused the National Budget to be postponed, cannot take place without considering what it is going to be replaced with, Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana said. Speaking at a briefing after the postponement of the Budget on Wednesday until March 12, he said that given the funding and fiscal challenges facing the country, the Cabinet will need to decide how the country is going to come up with the additional funding required, either through increased borrowings, for which there was little scope, further government spending cuts, or increased taxation. The Democratic Alliance (DA) on Wednesday took the lead in voicing its opposition to the proposed 2% increase in VAT that was…

South Africa has reached a critical tipping point, warned Professor Andre Thomashausen, a renowned expert in international law from the University of South Africa, following the postponement of Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana's Budget speech, originally scheduled for Wednesday, now rescheduled to March. "If a Budget can no longer be agreed upon because public spending continues to spiral, the country will face another 20% drop in GDP, in addition to the same drop already since 2000. Ideology continues to be the reason for essential concessions being declared non-negotiable," he said. Experts have cited a proposed 2% VAT increase as a possible reason for disagreement between the Government of National Unity (GNU) and the postponement of the Budget speech. Professor Bonke Dumisa, an independent economic analyst, expressed his disappointment, saying, "It's really…

The first 100 days of the Trump presidency will remain very noisy as the new administration sets out its stall on key policy objectives. But in our opinion, the early signs are in line with our baseline assumption that key economic policies will be milder than those promised on the campaign trail, clearing the way for solid global growth of 2.5% in 2025 and 2.8% in 2026. US labour market in rude health The US is still set to lead the way. Consumer spending has continued to exceed expectations, and with the labour market still in rude health we expect solid real wage growth to drive demand for a while longer. GDP growth is likely to be robust at 2.5% this year and 2.7% in 2026, but is likely to…

Gemfields has received a reprieve after the government of Zambia, where it operates the Kagem Mining subsidiary, suspended a 15% levy on gemstone exports. The company had been facing challenges related to the export levy that had forced it to suspend shipments, power cuts and a claim by a rival miner. On Wednesday, Gemfields said Zambia’s Minister of Finance of Zambia, Situmbeko Musokotwane, had “suspended the 15% export duty on precious gemstones and metals” through issuance of Statutory Instrument No. 4 of 2025 on Tuesday. “This suspension is effective immediately. As a result, the 15% export duty on precious gemstones will no longer apply to the Zambian emeralds mined by Kagem,” said the company. Gemfields controls about 75% of Kagem while the remaining 25% is held by the Zambian government’s…

Sibanye-Stillwater expects to narrow down its full year losses for 2024 on the back of an improvement in impairments and an increase in net gains on financial instruments after platinum group metal (PGM) production from South Africa soared by 48% while gold output dipped by 16%. The company said Wednesday that losses per share for the year to December 2024 were likely to be between 245 South African cents and 271c per share. This represents an improvement on Sibanye-Stillwater’s loss per share for the year ended December 31, 2023 of 1 334c per share. This improvement has been attributed to a profit realised in the second half year period to December 2024. However, earnings per share for the full year were significantly impacted by a further impairment of property,…

The CEO of the Independent Development Trust (IDT), Tebogo Malaka, has opened a case with the police following a series of threatening phone calls and what now seems to be the manipulation of her car’s computer box. According to police, it appears that there has been some risk of unauthorised access to the vehicle’s computer box, which compromised the driver’s privacy and safety. This can occur if someone has tampered with the computer box, a mechanism that would require “a skilled and professional hand”, to access sensitive information about the vehicle, including its location, without the driver's knowledge or consent. This could be a serious security concern, especially if the vehicle is being tracked or monitored without the driver’s awareness. The car was noted to also have an unknown device…

Former minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Dr Naledi Pandor believes a heavy responsibility towards mending the fence in South Africa-United States should be placed at the door of lobby group AfriForum. In recent weeks, the lobby group and its partners have faced unprecedented backlash in South Africa, accused of campaigning for US meddling in South Africa policies, and spreading misinformation to influence President Donald Trump on the conditions of Afrikaners. IOL reported earlier this month that different organisations in South Africa have been insisting that AfriForum must be charged with treason for leading campaigns in US calling for action against South Africa’s transformation and expropriation laws. Subsequently, Trump has unleashed a raft of sanctions against South Africa, including cutting much-needed financial aid. The veteran diplomat said the actions of…

Residents of Montana, north Pretoria are grappling with the destructive aftermath of a tornado that struck the area on Tuesday evening. As the strong winds swept across the region, significant destruction was reported, particularly in a Veda Street residential complex, where upper floors and roofs bore the brunt of the storm’s fury. The City of Tshwane Emergency Services Department responded promptly, sending emergency teams with firefighters from the Fire and Rescue Operations Division and officials from the Disaster Risk Management Section to assess the situation. According to spokesperson Lindsay Zwelithini Mnguni, the incident was initially logged as flooding at approximately 6pm, triggering an immediate deployment of various firefighting resources from three fire stations: Innesdale, Wonderboom, and Rosslyn. “Upon arrival, the firefighters found out that there was significant damage caused by…

Judge Robert Lagrange has reviewed the case of a police officer dismissed for misconduct during the pandemic, ordering her reinstatement and backpay. The overturned award had reinstated the police officer subject to a final written warning and denied her a period of about nine months’ backpay in view of her misconduct. This week, Judge Robert Lagrange in the Labour Court in Cape Town re-evaluated the sanction on review and ordered that the reinstated police officer be paid within 30 days. The genesis of the matter arose when the officer, during the pandemic, unlawfully released her adult foster child from police custody when the child had breached the Covid Disaster Management Regulations and was accused of giving her child preferential treatment. The officer was dismissed after being found guilty of several…

Johan Grobbelaar wore a quiet smile when asked by Independent Media about whether the Bulls forwards should just rather keep the ball upfront instead of feeding the backline. The big men, after all, were utterly dominating the Sharks at Loftus Versfeld last week, but somehow, the Pretoria side lost 29-19. The Durban battled to handle the juggernaut Bulls pack to such an extent that they conceded three yellow cards in close proximity, which resulted in them going down to 12 men. Yet the Bulls didn’t only lose, but weren’t able to even secure a losing bonus point on their home ground. Jake White’s team appear to be caught in between rolling up their sleeves and drilling the opposition in the scrums and lineouts, and utilising a backline missing key figures…

As Bangladesh prepare to embark on their ICC Champions Trophy journey against India, young fast bowler Nahid Rana has emphasised the importance of executing their plans effectively on what are expected to be batter-friendly pitches. The encounter marks the beginning of Bangladesh's Group A campaign, set to take place on Thursday in Dubai, before they head to Rawalpindi for subsequent matches against the hosts, Pakistan, and New Zealand. Rana, who played a pivotal role in securing a memorable 2-0 series victory against Pakistan recently, remembers the thrill of his earlier performances. “We played on pitches that were very good for batting and the margins for the fast bowlers were less. Despite that, we made the right adjustments and bowled exceptionally as a fast bowling group. The pitches could be even…

It may still be early in the year to talk about the Springboks, but after coach Rassie Erasmus announced two squads for upcoming alignment camps, it has whetted the appetite for some serious selection discussions. The 56-man group for the in-person alignment camp in Cape Town in early March, and then the 26-player list named on Wednesday for a virtual camp later next month – which mainly included overseas-based stars – saw almost every Bok contender included. But it is likely that Erasmus will pick experimental line-ups for the opening three Tests of the year against Italy and Georgia in July, and some of the newcomers will be pushing for an opportunity in those games. That is why Saturday’s United Rugby Championship showdown between the Bulls and Lions at Loftus…

Jose Mourinho's Fenerbahce are poised to progress to the last 16 of the Europa League when they visit Anderlecht on Thursday as the Portuguese coach targets a sixth European trophy of his storied managerial career. Fenerbahce go into the second leg of their knockout phase play-off tie with a healthy 3-0 lead from the first meeting last week in Istanbul, when Dusan Tadic, captain Edin Dzeko, and Youssef En-Nesyri scored their goals. Assuming they avoid a spectacular collapse in Brussels, they will advance to a tie in the next round against either Rangers or Greek giants Olympiakos, with the identity of their opponent to be revealed in Friday's draw. Now aged 62, Mourinho was appointed ahead of this season by the Istanbul giants from the Asian side of the Bosphorus.…

IF ever there was an award for “People’s team of choice” something like a Players’ Player of the Season in the Premier Soccer League (PSL), surely Stellenbosch FC would be front runners if not the ultimate favourites. The Maroons have consistently punched above their weight and as a result, on Thursday afternoon the whole of Mzansi will be waiting with eagerness to see who they are drawn against in the Caf Confederation Cup quarter-finals draw. The draw will take place in Doha, Qatar and will be televised live at 4pm South African time. This will be followed by the Caf Champions League draw at 5pm, in which PSL giants Orlando Pirates and Mamelodi Sundowns, will be representing the Rainbow Nation. Now, going back to Stellenbosch; what makes this more special…

NASREDINNE NABI called it ‘an accident’ and, while he claimed not to be giving excuses, swiftly pleaded with the Kaizer Chiefs fans to bear with their players following the 4-1 drubbing by SuperSport United on Tuesday night. His time to address the media during the post-match conference was over, but the Chiefs coach extended it with a monologue specifically directed at the Khosi nation. “So, now I want to speak to the fans because I am not someone who runs away from my responsibility. I want to take this time to explain the situation and not necessarily give them excuses. It is true that today’s results hurt them. And I am also the first person that it hurts.” “This is not a game they should use to judge their team…

What threw the cat among the pigeons on Wednesday was the government proposed a surprise 2% increase in VAT to help pay for its increased spending plans. This proposal led to the unprecedented postponement of the Budget to March as this measure is being reconsidered. This increase would have further impoverish many financially struggling consumers has drawn the ire of Government of National Unity party members such as the DA, which said it will reject proposals to increase taxes. What was being proposed: Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana said in a briefing the government realises that the VAT increase, along with some other proposals in the Budget, is politically sensitive, that it will have a big impact on consumers, and he anticipates there will be substantial negotiations on the proposals, once…

The Budget has been postponed to March 12 after a deadlock within the Government of National Unity coalition partners over VAT. This was part of the proposed Budget that is now under review: The government will dip into the contingency reserve to meet the financial demands borne by the increase in the public-sector wage bill over the next three years. This is the second consecutive year that the National Treasury taps the contingency reserve after drawing down R150 billion last year from the country’s Gold and Foreign Exchange Contingency Reserve (GFECRA) account to keep borrowing and debt service costs low in the medium-term. Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana, during his Budget Speech in Parliament on Wednesday, allocated R23.4bn in the medium-term to implement a higher-than-anticipated above-inflation wage agreement with nearly 1.8…

The Expropriation Act (the Act), recently signed into law by President Ramaphosa, has sparked mixed reactions from various groupings across the country. Some, probably influenced by certain misconceptions, remain strongly opposed to the Act's purport, while some have strongly defended the Act. Of particular concern to those opposed to the Act is the provision for nil compensation when it is just and equitable. The key objective of the Act, as explained in its preamble, is to give effect to the constitutional promise of land reform; a promise which, over 30 years post the Constitution's adoption, has not really materialised. Is the Act a solution? Section 25 of the Constitution, known as the property clause, prescribes in section 25(1) that no one may be deprived of property, except in terms of…

The High Court in Durban has dismissed RGS Group Holdings’ application seeking to interdict Vision Group’s implementation of Tongaat Hulett’s business rescue plan related to the sale of the agro-processing entity’s assets and businesses. Last year, creditors in Tongaat voted in favour of a business rescue plan put forward by Mpumalanga businessman Robert Gumede’s investment consortium, Vision. This was after an accounting scandal rocked Tongaat Hulett, with the company tail-spinning into a debt of R8.2 billion, prompting shareholders to adopt an amended business rescue plan, which the company’s business rescue practitioners now intend to implement. However, in November last year, RGS Group lodged an application in the Durban High Court seeking to interdict implementation of the business rescue plan. It also sought to set aside Tongaat’s business rescue plan,…

Nearly a decade ago, Britain’s perennially hapless rom-com heroine Bridget Jones actually did make it to marriage and motherhood after three movies and countless comical indignities. But in the tender, sexy coda Mad About the Boy, the fourth film adapted from Helen Fielding’s Bridget Jones’s Diary novel series, she discovers there’s more life to live after the happily- ever-after. It’s the best of the sequels yet. The reason Bridget (Renée Zellweger, buoyant and luminous) has a new adventure at all, however, may be sobering for fans of the bubbly erstwhile singleton, last seen in 2016’s Bridget Jones’s Baby newly wedded and romping into the sunset with her stoic barrister beau, Mark Darcy (Colin Firth). So let’s just rip off the bandage, which won’t come as a surprise to anyone who’s…

In a move hailed as a long-overdue step toward transparency and accountability, Minister of Police Senzo Mchunu announced this week that SAPS will begin rolling out the use of body cameras as early as April 1. This announcement, made during a parliamentary session in response to a question by the DA, has been met with widespread approval from unions and political parties. Despite the expenditures involved, the rollout has garnered broad support and is said to be consistent with improved policing procedures, ensuring that contact between officers and the public are documented for both accountability and protection. During the initial phase, the SAPS plans to procure 100 body cameras, with each unit costing approximately R29 000. The total investment for the rollout amounts to nearly R2.88 million for the first…

Politician Gayton McKenzie of the Patriotic Alliance (PA) has espoused some controversial opinions regarding US President Donald Trump amid strain between the two nations. In a video shared on social media, McKenzie said not agreeing on certain things is normal but that does not mean you must not listen to those with different views. “Listen, let me tell you something, before all these things, my friends knew I loved Donald Trump. I love that man. The PA knows. Now all of a sudden, I must not love Donald Trump? I have loved him since the days of his reality show,” he said. The Sports Minister went on to compare the love he has for the 47th US president to that of the one he has with his partner when there…

Tshwane Mayor Nasiphi Moya brought a ray of hope when she donated sports equipment and apparel to underprivileged sports players from Onverwacht in Region 5. Moya fulfilled her promise to donate sports equipment in the community, a commitment she made last July during her time as the MMC for Community and Social Development Services. “We had promised the young athletes that we would return to handover the sports apparel following a sport and recreational outreach competition,” said Moya. The donation was made through esteemed stakeholders, who are passionate about youth development. The mayor said the initiative was necessary as these young sports players are often exposed to alcohol and substance abuse, and violence. “Residents of Onverwacht form part of Tshwane’s most underprivileged communities and the young people of this community,…

The Mayor of Saldanha Bay has described Joshlin Smith as a symbol of hope for all children who have gone missing. Alderman Andre Truter said this as he walked down memory lane, a year after the six-year-old girl disappeared from her Middelpos, Diazville community. Her mother Racquel “Kelly” Smith said she left Joshlin with her boyfriend Jacquen Appollis. Weeks later, the couple and their friends Steveno van Rhyn and Lourentia Lombaard were arrested. Phumza Sigaqa, the girl’s neighbour was also detained but was later released due to a lack of evidence. The trial is set to commence on March 3 in Diazville. Truter said as soon as he had heard that a child was missing his reaction, as the father of a daughter, as a grandfather and as a…

The Kruger National Park is facing a growing threat from snaring, with park officials and conservationists warning that the practice is putting the lives of thousands of animals at risk. According to Kally Ubisi, sectional ranger for Skukuza, snaring has become a significant problem in the park, particularly during dry times when water is scarce. “The snaring in the park has become a problem, especially in dry times because the water is shallow and poachers can cross the river to come into the nearby villages,” Ubisi said. He explained that some communities living near the park are forced to enter it to access water, and some individuals take advantage of this to set up snares. “We have villages that are nearby where some of the communities come into the park…

You may have noticed that Ford is back in almost all forms of motorsport in an aggressive way and it’s more than just having a presence. They’re involved in both track and off-road racing ranging from Nascar, Mustang Challenge, Mustang Cup, Le Mans, WRC, Formula 1 from next year, and also in the Dakar rally. For us as South Africans, we have a special affinity with the Dakar and using the data collected from the locally built Neil Woolridge Ranger T1+ in the 2024 event, Ford Performance built the Raptor T1+ to take part in the world’s most gruelling off-road race this year, where they finished third and fifth. Why do we race, asked Justin Capicchiano, Ford Performance and special vehicle programmes manager at a Raptor drive event in Dubai.…

WITH South Africa's opening fixture in the Champions Trophy right around the corner, one can only imagine the selection headache that limited-overs coach Rob Walter is battling. The 49-year-old has nine batters who can bat in the top five. Somehow, the coach needs to make room to slot them into the top seven. Does he open the batting with the two lefties Ryan Rickelton and Tony de Zorzi? But that would mean Temba Bavuma, who's been successful opening the batting in ODI cricket, shifts down to four as Rassie van der Dussen has made the number three spot his own. With Bavuma at four, Aiden Markram would bat at five, Heinrich Klaasen at six, and perhaps David Miller at seven, which would be too low for each of the batters.…

Manchester United paid a total of £14.5 million (about R337m) to sack manager Erik ten Hag, sporting director Dan Ashworth and other members of their football staff, according to the fallen English giants' latest accounts published Wednesday. United, the 20-time champions of England, are currently a lowly 15th in the Premier League table following Sunday's 1-0 loss at Tottenham, with only West Ham and Wolves between them and the relegation zone. The hope for an upturn in results under new manager Ruben Amorim has failed to materialise since the Portuguese boss replaced Ten Hag, sacked in October just 116 days after United triggered a clause to extend the Dutchman's contract until 2026. A costly decision taken by minority owner Jim Ratcliffe's INEOS group was compounded by the rapid exit from…

Even though the stars seem to be aligning for batters in the ICC Champions Trophy in Pakistan, the Proteas batsmen don't intend to be complacent in their training. If anything, South Africa’s best batters will want to work harder and seize the opportunity they’ve been presented with, Keshav Maharaj said on Wednesday. The 34-year-old described the Proteas' training sessions in Pakistan as intense as they come, as they prepare for their first match in Group B against Afghanistan on Friday. “I think they are quite happy with the conditions but they understand it's not just walking up and scoring runs; there is still a process and method” Maharaj said. “I think when wickets are in your favour, you train that much harder because you want to make the most of…

Lewis Hamilton said he felt "invigorated" and "full of life" following a move to Ferrari as his new car was unveiled in front of some 15 000 raucous fans during the 2025 Formula One season launch at London's O2 Arena on Tuesday. Seven-times world champion Hamilton has left Mercedes after 12 seasons to join the Italian giants for the upcoming campaign that starts with next month's Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne. Ferrari have been ever present throughout Formula One's 75-year history and the prospect of winning a record eighth drivers' championship with the 'Scuderia' has clearly proved enticing for 40-year-old British motorsport great Hamilton. "The word I am thinking of is invigorated because I feel so full of life and so much energy because everything is new and I'm just…

This was not supposed to happen, but this is happening! So, such is the reality of the situation, Kaizer Chiefs’ fans must get used to this normalcy. Chiefs were hammered 4-1 by SuperSport United in the Betway Premiership on Tuesday night at their home, the FNB Stadium. And this loss comes on the back of a purple patch, having the team previously won back-to-back matches, including in the league and Nedbank Cup. The Nedbank Cup last 16 win over Chippa United was so convincing that many believed that the team had turned the corner and will be consistent going forward. But no, that was too soon to predict. Gavin Hunt and his men exposed Chiefs’ weaknesses all round as they tore them into shreds. It’s clear that Chiefs are already…