Innholdsfortegnelse for 2025-05-22 i Star

The highlight of the interaction between the media and Team Treasury (including the South African Reserve Bank (SARB) deputy governor and the South African Revenue Service (SARS) commissioner) was the thanks that Treasury Director General Duncan Pieterse expressed to his colleagues in the Treasury. Not only did the Treasury have to deal with three iterations of the Budget, but at the same time, they had to manage the hosting of the Finance Track of the G20, as well as running scenarios of what the impact of an erratic and frequently changing US tariff regime meant for exports and global growth. The impact of this is visible in the growth projections between the February and May iterations of the macro-economic forecasts. Economic growth in 2025 for the world and South Africa…

The financial markets have warmly embraced the tabling of South Africa's National Budget for the third time on Wednesday, with the rand remaining stable below the psychological R18-mark to the US dollar. Wichard Cilliers, director and head of market risk at TreasuryONE, said the rand held steady against the US dollar as the budget speech was delivered without hiccups. “It has been well received and now needs to be passed by Parliament. The implementation of the budget remains key, and we will need to see if the government can actually deliver,” Cilliers said. “The dollar fell for its third straight day of losses, reaching the lowest level in a month. Persistent concerns over the US budget deficit drove the decline, as did market speculation around the Trump administration's support for…

The National Treasury is set to implement a significant reduction in government spending totalling R68 billion over the next three years. This decision follows an extensive spending review of R300bn, aimed at addressing inefficiencies in public expenditure as the country grapples with fiscal constraints in the absence of new tax revenue. Tabling the 2025 Budget Review before Parliament on Wednesday, Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana emphasised that the government's strategy prioritised fiscal discipline while simultaneously investing in growth. The reviews identified billions in potential savings from underperforming programmes, allowing for redirecting funds towards more effective initiatives. Godongwana said the National Treasury's strategy of maintaining fiscal discipline while investing in growth demanded that it prioritised high-impact expenditures, those that deliver economic returns while eliminating inefficiencies, wastage and leakage that too often plague…

As a business rooted in the South African SME ecosystem, we’ve never shied away from highlighting the risks and challenges that confront our market. Like many others, we’ve raised concerns about political volatility, power insecurity and infrastructure decay. But in an age dominated by attention-grabbing headlines and short-term pessimism, it’s equally important, if not more so, to spotlight the real progress being made. Because beneath the noise, the truth is this: South Africa’s conditions for small business growth in 2025 are stronger than they’ve been in years. Why our small businesses are set to thrive South Africa’s small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are the backbone of the economy, contributing over 50% to employment and 34% to GDP. In 2025, despite global and local challenges, the conditions for SME success have…

Transnet may receive a government guarantee for its borrowing from commercial banks; however, no direct bailout is currently envisaged, according to the Treasury - global rating agency Moody’s recently warned Transnet could run out of money within three months. "Today's rating action reflects our growing concern over Transnet's unsustainable capital structure, its deteriorating liquidity position, the lack of a formal agreement so far on additional government support, and the slower-than-planned pace of operational improvements," the rating agency stated. Moody’s also said that, although the government provided a R47 billion guarantee facility in December 2023, this funding has been fully exhausted. "We believe the government remains supportive of Transnet and will provide additional guarantees or other assistance to prevent default on its upcoming debt maturities. However, the lack of a formal…

Beer Adriaanse, one of the Niggies lead stars, has been celebrating some major milestones recently. He will be turning 40 next week, and to cap off the festivities, the Silwerskerm winner is also celebrating the end of the first season of the riveting kykNET series, which has been enthralling viewers nationwide since it premiered in March. The inaugural season of the Afrikaans show, which sees Adriaanse play Andre, a man who goes to extraordinary lengths as he seeks vengeance over the kidnapping and murder of his younger brother (portrayed by Janru Steenkamp), dropped its final episode on Tuesday. And while the actor has been earning legions of fans for his work on productions such as Hotel and Fynskrif, what makes this role even more special for him is that it’s…

The Mayoral Member of Committee (MMC) for Public Safety in the City of Joburg, Dr. Mgcini Tshwaku, has reportedly shut down the property in which four toddlers tragically died when one of the rooms of the house was engulfed in flames on Monday morning. Tshwaku, who visited the area on Tuesday afternoon, indicated that the property had violated a series of city by-laws and property laws, which warranted it to be closed down to ensure the safety of the community of Mayfair. His visit comes as another fire is said to have erupted on the corner of Janie and Jules streets in Jeppestown, Johannesburg, yesterday morning after a part of the basement of the building was gutted by a fire. According to Johannesburg Emergency Services (EMS) spokesperson Xolile Khumalo, there…

A Western Cape woman is being sued by a bank that is demanding repayment of money it claimed to have lent her because she “does not do affidavits” and does not acknowledge the authority of courts. Last year, First Rand Bank instituted legal action against Gail Roux in the Western Cape High Court for the repayment of various sums lent and advanced to her under the conclusion of three credit agreements from 2014 to 2021. While the amounts due were not mentioned in the latest judgment regarding the matter, the court noted that the amounts claimed fall within the jurisdiction of the magistrate’s court. Roux, who is a lay litigant, refers to herself as “i-Am: Gail”. She told the court she is “a politically status corrected living soul, Suv’eran, beneficiary…

The Gauteng Provincial Government (GPG) is reported to own no less than 41 unused buildings, while many of its departments continue to pay millions in rental fees. This is an assertion made by the DA in the province. According to the document from the Gauteng Provincial Legislature, 12 of these are in the Johannesburg Central Business District (CBD) and the remaining 29 are in the Pretoria CBD. Due to financial constraints, most of these buildings do not meet Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) standards, making them unfit for use. The Democratic Alliance’s (DA) provincial spokesperson for Infrastructure Development, Khathutshelo Rasilingwane, and a member of the Gauteng Provincial Legislature, condemned the lack of accountability shown by the Gauteng government over reports that the province is paying over R34 million monthly in…

The Porsche Cayenne Turbo GT continues to impress with its speed and is now officially the fastest production SUV around the Yas Marina Circuit in Abu Dhabi with a time of 2:14.046. Gold standard As a reminder, the pre-facelifted Cayenne Turbo GT held the record for the fastest lap around the Nürburgring, generally accepted as the gold standard, with 7:38.926 for a few years until the Audi RS Q8 came along last year in a time of 7:36.698. New format The record was set in an officially sanctioned event, the first time that the Yas Marina Circuit and Emirates Motorsport Organisation (EMSO) have combined to conduct a newly established format for officially recognised production car lap records. Piloting the performance SUV was Ramez Azzam, the winner of the GT4…

It must feel like a punch in the gut for the Tifosi to accept Ferrari boss Fred Vasseur openly admitting that they are not as quick as McLaren, even at their very best. But that seems to be life lately if you’re a Ferrari or Lewis Hamilton fan. The proof is in the pudding. Ferrari have incredibly capable drivers who are hungry to compete. It’s just that they’ve been put into absolute donkeys and asked to compete with the likes of McLaren or Max Verstappen – an impossible task for both Ferrari drivers this season. A ray of light cut through the dark clouds hovering over the Prancing Horse during last Sunday’s Emilia Romagna Grand Prix at Imola, as Hamilton and Charles Leclerc ended a disastrous weekend on a high…

“They were crying, especially my mom!” said Tylon Smith after returning from Egypt triumphant after Amajita defeated Morocco 1-0 to be crowned Afcon Under-20 champions. The Smith household certainly has plenty to celebrate after the Stellenbosch FC rookie centre-back was also named Player of the Tournament for his courageous displays in the heart of the South Africa Under-20 defence. His performance was capped with the winning goal against the much-fancied Nigeria in the semi-final. The 19-year-old, known for his composure on the ball and ability to dictate the tempo from defence, played every minute of Amajita’s successful campaign, and believes it was his mentality – along with mother’s prayers – that helped him over the past fortnight. “She was praying for me throughout the whole tournament,” said Smith, who was…

South Africa's public debt is set to surge to unprecedented levels in relation to gross domestic product (GDP) over the 2025/26 fiscal year. This comes as the national government will be borrowing an average of R1.6 billion per day on the back of rising spending demands and insufficient additional revenue. According to the Budget Review 2025 documents released on Wednesday, the gross borrowing requirement for the government has increased from R579 billion at the time of the 2024 Budget to R588.2bn in 2025/26. This means that the government's borrowing requirements will see Treasury going to the market to raise at least R1.61bn everyday of the year, up from a daily average of R1.58bn. The National Treasury said this borrowing requirement will be financed through a combination of domestic short- and…

The National Treasury has revised South Africa's growth forecast for 2025/26 fiscal year drastically lower on the back of a weaker global outlook, trade frictions, increased uncertainty, and lower projected investment. Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana told Parliament on Wednesday that since the publication of the Budget Review in March, greater uncertainty and trade fragmentation had contributed to a weaker economic outlook. Godongwana highlighted that South Africa was highly exposed to external volatility as a small open economy dependent on global trade and financial inflows. On the back of heightened trade tensions and elevated policy uncertainty weighing on the global outlook, Godongwana said Treasury had to revise its GDP figures downwards by 0.5 percentage points. "As a result, we now estimate real GDP to grow at 1.4% in 2025. This is…

South Africa's Finance Minister, Enoch Godongwana's Budget 3.0 has been labelled as underwhelming, however, on the bright side, the country now has a complete Budget tabled. This was according to Frank Blackmore, Lead Economist at KPMG South Africa. Blackmore told Business Report that leading up to this event, a lot of the questions were, what we are going to do with the 75 billion deficits over the medium-term period with no vat increase, in other words, the three years in which the budget is set up. Blackmore said that it was answered by this budget in the form of, "We will have some increases in fuel costs 15-16 cents per litre on fuel. We will have an increase in borrowing with debt going up to 77.4% of GDP and that's…

Sanlam and Tyme Bank have entered into a joint venture focused on growing in South Africa's unsecured personal loans and credit life markets, the financial services and insurance and digital bank said Wednesday. Collaboration between the two companies has been widely speculated about in the market since the acquisition by Sanlam Life in September 2024 of a 25% interest in African Rainbow Capital Financial Services Holdings, a company that holds 46% of Tyme Bank. “The collaboration with Tyme Bank is an important component of the Sanlam credit strategy. The two companies have complementary customer bases and skillsets, promising excellent growth opportunities,” Sanlam's directors said in a statement Wednesday. Sanlam stated that the collaboration involves Sanlam Life, Sanlam Personal Loans (SPL), and Tyme Bank. SPL, with a loan book of R5…

South Africa’s universities are increasingly turning to foreign academics to fill key teaching and research roles, while many qualified South African scholars remain unemployed, underemployed, or stuck in junior positions for years. The trend, evident across major institutions, is raising alarm among local academics and education experts who warn that the country is failing to support and retain its intellectual talent. A recent report by the Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC) found that one in five South African academics have considered leaving the country in the past five years, with many citing better working conditions and salaries abroad. This brain drain is leaving gaps in the academic system that universities are filling with foreign lecturers and professors. According to Universities South Africa (USAf), foreign nationals now make up more than…

EASTERN Cape police launched an urgent investigation on Wednesday, after two newborn babies were kidnapped from the maternity ward of Dora Nginza Hospital in Gqeberha. Police spokesperson Captain Sandra Janse van Rensburg said the Family Violence, Child Protection, and Sexual Offences Unit was investigating two separate cases of kidnapping following the disappearance of the infants, both boys, from the hospital’s Premature Unit on Tuesday night. ‘‘Two families have been left devastated by this cruel and heartless act,’’ said Janse van Rensburg. The first incident occurred when a mother left her four-day-old baby in the ward after breastfeeding him at about 7 pm. When she returned around 8.30 pm to feed him again, she discovered the child was missing. A short while later, a second mother arrived at the unit…

The Hawks have swooped in on assets worth over R2.5 million linked to a former senior Mpumalanga health department official accused of pocketing millions through a fraudulent personal protective equipment (PPE) deal during the Covid-19 pandemic. On Tuesday, the Mpumalanga High Court in Mbombela granted the elite crime-fighting unit a preservation order to seize a house in the upscale suburb of Sunninghill, Johannesburg, and three vehicles — a Toyota Quantum, a Hyundai truck, and a VW Golf — all believed to have been bought using money from the dodgy deal. The seized home is valued at R1.5 million, while the vehicles are worth around R1 million. The case is part of a wider probe by the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) into PPE corruption, which has uncovered that R13.3 billion out…

A paint company, which was found to have discriminated against a pregnant employee who worked for it by placing her on unpaid maternity leave months before she was due to go on leave, was ordered to pay her 11 months’ back pay. Daisy Moleme turned to the Durban Labour Court, where she sued her now former employer under the Employment Equity Act and the non-compliance with the Basic Conditions of Employment Act. Moleme was employed by Induradec Coatings as a chemist, and her duties included aspects of both research relating to, as well as the development of products for the employer, a chemical coating company. Having fallen pregnant some 12 weeks earlier, Moleme notified her employer of her pregnancy in March 2023. She was concerned about continuing to work in…

South African electronic and house music enthusiasts have much to celebrate, as the acclaimed Berlin-based collective Keinemusik gears up to return to the vibrant cities of Johannesburg and Cape Town later this year. Consisting of Rampa, &Me, and Adam Port, they are renowned for captivating party-goers with their unique sound and immersive live performances. Their much-anticipated tour will kick off in Johannesburg on Friday, November 21, followed by a performance in Cape Town on Saturday, November 22. In a recent social media post, the artists confirmed their return: “We’re coming back to South Africa. Joburg & Cape Town – it’s on again.” The excitement is palpable across social media platforms, with fans expressing their joy and anticipation. One user proclaimed: “Ending the year on a very high note,” while another…

Suzuki South Africa has added another bow to their already impressive quiver with the launch of the fourth-generation Dzire. It’s no secret that Suzuki has been shooting out the lights on the national sales charts, having slotted into second place and by the looks of things, they’re likely to stay there for some time. It may seem counterintuitive to be bringing in the Indian-made compact sedan with everyone clamouring for SUVs, but Suzuki says while they don’t expect large sales, there is still a market at this price point. It’s likely to find favour with e-hailing services, first-time buyers, fleet cars and car rental companies. The Dzire comes in three derivatives: the entry level 1.2 GA, the higher specced 1.2 GL+ manual and the 1.2 GL+ Auto. Exterior It’s quite…

Discovery (Land Rover) has beefed up their range with two new bespoke additions and also updating the rest of the line-up. The new Discovery Tempest and Gemini editions are a nod to Discovery’s 35-year legacy and the model’s history in their names. In addition to the new Tempest and Gemini editions, Discovery also offers fresh wheel options, enhanced equipment and a new range of curated accessory packs. Tempest The manufacturer says the Discovery Tempest is the most luxurious, comfortable and highly specified Discovery ever produced. Tempest takes its name from the secret development launch programme for the second-generation Discovery launched in 1998 – one of the brand’s most recognisable models. It’s available with a choice of three body colours: Charente Grey, Varesine Blue or Carpathian Grey, all exclusively with a…

WHILE most of the Proteas Test players are still in India, most of the Australian players are fully focused on the World Test Championship final that is about three weeks away. For a host of different reasons, the Proteas players cannot simply withdraw from the Indian Premier League as easily as the Australian players have, including fast bowler Mitchell Starc, who did not return to join the Delhi Capitals last week. However, one would imagine that the Australians are covering vital ground in terms of preparations for the final, while key South African players are still in T20 mode in India. With the glaring differences in preparation between the two sides, the concern is more on the Proteas batting unit, compared to what is an experienced bowling attack led by…

The Springboks strike up their second alignment camp on Thursday, with Rassie Erasmus inviting 54 players to attend the Cape Town session as they build towards a 15-match schedule this year. The Bok mentor has an interesting mix of talent to work with over the next few days – both familiar and experimental. With that in mind, and using the alignment squad as a framework, we look at who we believe Erasmus should select for the Boks’ first clash of the season – a tour match against the Barbarians in Cape Town at the end of June... Front row Neethling Fouché, Vincent Koch, Wilco Louw, Bongi Mbonambi, Ntuthuko Mchunu, Ox Nché, Asenathi Ntlabakanye, Gerhard Steenekamp, Jan-Hendrik Wessels; Virtually invited: Thomas du Toit, Malcolm Marx, Marnus van der Merwe Ntlabakanye has…

Minister of finance warns of additional tax measures in the future Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana has proposed an inflation-linked increase to the general fuel levy in a bid to increase revenue to protect and bolster frontline services, and he has warned of additional tax measures in the future. This move comes after the tax proposals, including a VAT increase of 1%, announced on March 12, came under fire politically and were scrapped. Godongwana said in the context of weaker-than-anticipated global and domestic economic growth, additional revenue and expenditure measures are required to stabilise the public finances. During his third budget speech this year, Godongwana said that for the 2025/26 fiscal year, this is the only new tax proposal that he is announcing. "This is the first fuel levy increase in…

Eskom was in talks with Treasury on how it would close the revenue gap due to the National Energy Regulator of South Africa (NERSA) only allowing tariff increases well below its three-year request. In the six months ended September 2024, a period in which there was no national load shedding, Eskom’s revenue rose by 15.8% year-on-year to R183.71 billion. This meant its profit before tax grew more than tenfold to R23.03bn from only R2.24bn in the same period in 2023 when load shedding was at its worst. In the 2023/4 financial year, which is the latest available annual report, although Eskom’s 2024/5 financial year ended in March 2025, Eskom’s revenue grew by 14% to R295.8bn due to an 18.7% tariff increase, while sales fell by 3%. Statistics South Africa, in…

Running a business on the side while holding down a full-time job has become increasingly common in South Africa. For many, it starts as a way to supplement income or pursue a passion project. But for some, the side hustle gathers enough momentum to raise a serious question: could this become my full-time livelihood? Taking the leap from part-time to full-time entrepreneur is a big decision. Done right, it can unlock new levels of growth and freedom. But it also carries significant risk - particularly in today’s unpredictable economy. If you’re thinking about taking the plunge, here are five practical tips to make the transition smoother and more sustainable. n Get clear on your finances Get clear on your finances Before you resign from your day job, take a hard…

The Treasury said the South African Post Office (SAPO) will not receive any bailout beyond the R381 million it received from the Unemployment Insurance Fund (UIF) Temporary Employer-Employee Relief Scheme (TERS). TERS is available for companies facing financial distress such as SAPO and Arcelor Mittal South Africa (AMSA). The R381m will be available for use over the next six months and to preserve the jobs of some 6 000 SAPO workers. SAPO was placed in business rescue on 10 July 2023, owing creditors R8.7 billion. It currently operates 657 branches, following the closure of 366 post offices in 2023 as part of branch rationalisation. About 4 800 workers, or 43% of the workforce, were retrenched in July 2023. SAPO is required to submit regular accounting reports and implement a detailed…

The United National Transport Union (UNTU) confirmed on Wednesday that Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration (CCMA) Senior Commissioners facilitating the Section 150 process between the union and Transnet have tabled a formal Facilitators’ Proposal for Settlement to help resolve the ongoing salary/wage impasse between UNTU and Transnet. Transnet also confirmed that discussions are still ongoing. UNTU General Secretary, Cobus van Vuuren said that after a lengthy and challenging round of wage negotiations for the 2025/26 period, UNTU confirms that the CCMA Senior Commissioners facilitating the Section 150 process have tabled a formal Facilitators’ Proposal for Settlement to help resolve the salary/wage impasse between UNTU and Transnet. “On Tuesday, 20 May 2025, the CCMA convened another facilitation session at the Transnet Bargaining Council and invited all the affected parties, including…

Surely, most of us have wondered how actors manage to pull off sex scenes without bursting into laughter or cringing themselves into another dimension. You’re half-naked, surrounded by crew, and pretending someone who isn’t your partner is the love of your life. Sounds ... deeply awkward, right? Well, according to Jennifer Lawrence, it definitely can be until you start dancing. The Oscar-winning actress recently opened up about filming steamy scenes with Robert Pattinson for their upcoming psychological drama Die, My Love. The film, directed by Lynne Ramsay, is based on the novel by Ariana Harwicz, and follows a woman battling severe mental illness while trapped in the role of housewife in rural France. It’s intense, layered, and clearly not shy about getting up close and personal. Lawrence and…

POLITICAL parties in the Government of National Unity (GNU) have welcomed Budget 3.0 by Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana, saying it is pro-poor, while the opposition rejected it as superficial and out of touch with the nation’s economic realities. Delivering his budget speech in Parliament yesterday, Godongwana outlined key fiscal priorities, including sustained investment in infrastructure, health, education, and social grants, alongside a firm stance on maintaining the VAT rate at 15%. The Democratic Alliance (DA) praised the speech, stating that Godongwana presented a Budget proposal which is a manifestation of coalition politics in action. “It is a workable outcome in the context of trying economic times,” it said. The party said was not prepared to get behind a budget that maintained unsustainable government expenditure on the back of raising VAT,…

rapula.moatshe@inl.co.za Chaos erupted at Soshanguve South Secondary School yesterday morning when learners broke the gate and left the premises to join a group of protesters from the EFF and United Africans Transformation (UAT). The protesters demanded the principal’s resignation after a viral video showing learners being physically assaulted with broomsticks by outsiders on school grounds on Monday, allegedly for arriving late. It is alleged that the school principal allowed outsiders, linked to a local community policing forum, to discipline learners who are sometimes involved in violent fights. A parent, who wished to remain anonymous, said her child was still traumatised after being beaten at school on Monday for arriving late. The parent said: ‘‘He told us he was traumatised after being beaten with broomsticks, like a thief, especially by someone…

AfriForum has filed an application with the High Court seeking to have the Expropriation Act declared unconstitutional and invalid. AfriForum maintained that this act, which was signed into law by President Cyril Ramaphosa, contains serious flaws and is a real threat to the constitutional right to private property in South Africa. In its court submission, AfriForum claims that various sections of the Act are inherently contradictory and should be struck down. Alternatively, it has requested that specific problematic provisions be declared unconstitutional if the entire Act is not set aside. The Act empowers the government to acquire property for public purposes, including infrastructure development, such as roads, schools, and utility services, or in the broader public interest, such as land reform initiatives. “The Act opens the real possibility of the…

Part of the overcrowded Diepkloof Hostel in Soweto was transferred to a private owner in June 2023, which sparked the protests that left two people dead this week. On Monday, hostel dwellers took to the streets during a protest in which they demanded houses and expressed their unhappiness with the private ownership of the property. City of Johannesburg Human Settlements MMC Mlungisi Mabaso said the Diepkloof Hostel was not sold. “It was transferred without the authorisation from the council. The hostel was subdivided into a portion owned by the city and the other portion is privately owned,” said Mabaso. He said this week’s protest was about the ownership of the hostel. In response to the protest, the City of Johannesburg announced that it would conduct a forensic investigation to…

Things have taken a sad turn for Metro FM award-winning singer Naledi Aphiwe and Mawelele. The two love birds seem to have called it quits. This comes after Aphiwe shared a photo on TikTok. The post featured a cryptic caption, underscored by the trending song, Uzizwa Kanjani, which has become a staple sound for breakup confessions, leaving fans to speculate about the state of their relationship. Although the couple never officially confirmed their romance, they had been making public appearances together, fueling speculation about their relationship status. Their chemistry was undeniable, and fans had been shipping them hard after their acclaimed collaboration on their song, Romeo & Juliet. The afro-pop love anthem hit an impressive milestone of one million views on YouTube within ten days of its launch. The song’s…

If you’ve never heard of Nampo, well, then you’re missing out on the biggest agricultural show in the Southern Hemisphere. When the president and vice president make an effort to go to Bothaville in the Free State to attend on two separate days, then you know it’s more than just a casual gathering of commercial farmers. Big in every way Last year, during the four days of the event, more than 200 aeroplanes and 75 helicopters landed at the little airstrip, making it one of the busiest airspaces in the country, and almost 87 000 people passed through the gates. That's just a few thousand short of a full FNB Stadium. Financial institutions and big corporations have permanent structures and there’s apparently a waiting list of many hundreds that want…

SuperSport United’s ability to be a feeder team for Mamelodi Sundowns has mostly paid off, as the playing personnel graduate from being boys to men. SuperSport were the first team to win the Premiership for three successive seasons in the PSL era during the reign of coach Gavin Hunt. But after selling most of their depth to cross-town rivals Sundowns, there’s been a power shift in domestic football as the latter dominated in the league. The Brazilians, with the help of former SuperSport players, recently won a record-extending eighth championship in a row via the Premiership this season. Now that they are eyeing their second African crown in the CAF Champions League this season, they could be helped by the former players of their arch-rivals. Aubrey Modiba, Ronwen Williams, Teboho…

Mamelodi Sundowns will face CAF Champions League over-achievers Pyramids FC in the first leg of the final on Saturday at Loftus Versfeld (3pm kick-off), with a golden opportunity to etch their name deeper into South African football history. The Brazilians are on the verge of becoming the only South African team to lift the prestigious trophy twice. But standing in their way is a fearless Pyramids outfit making their first-ever appearance in a CAF Champions League final – guaranteeing a historic outcome, regardless of who claims the title. The Egyptian side crushed hopes of an all-South African final by knocking out Orlando Pirates 3-2 on aggregate, while Sundowns completed their own mission by eliminating Egyptian giants Al Ahly 1-0 over two legs, after a goalless first-leg draw. Here, Obakeng Meletse…