Innholdsfortegnelse for 2025-06-30 i Star

“This year marks 40 years since the opening of the first Mr Price store, and as we celebrate this milestone, we reflect on a journey driven by a bold vision: to make fashion accessible to all South Africans,” said Mark Blair, the CEO of Mr Price, in the retailer's annual report released on Friday. Since those early days, Mr Price has grown to 3,030 stores, generated over R40 billion in revenue, achieved a market capitalisation of R65 billion, and reached an operating profit nearing R6 billion. Blair emphasized that the core principles established at the company’s inception—low-cost operations, bulk purchasing, minimal markups, and cash-based retailing—continue to underpin its business model. “These fundamentals have allowed us to consistently deliver high-quality fashion at affordable prices, fueling our growth and resilience over the…

Eskom announced on Friday that its power system has demonstrated stability, effectively managing increased electricity demand as South Africa experiences a cold snap. The utility reported that while occasional system constraints arise, strategic deployment of sufficient emergency reserves helps meet peak demands during critical morning and evening hours. Eskom’s Generation Recovery Plan is underway, aiming to restore a total of 2 450MW of generation capacity before the evening peak today, in a proactive move to enhance grid reliability. From the week of 20 to 26 June, Eskom said planned maintenance efforts have averaged 3 789MW, marking a decline in planned outages. Concurrently, the Energy Availability Factor (EAF) fluctuated between 60% and 64%, ultimately resulting in a month-to-date average of 60.61%. However, Eskom faces challenges as the Unplanned Capability Loss Factor…

The North West University Policy Uncertainty Index (PUI) for the second quarter of 2025, released last week, has indicated a slight easing, dropping to 75.9 from a record high of 78.6 in the first quarter of 2025. However, this figure still reflected a landscape fraught with economic uncertainty as it remained well below the baseline level of 50. Professor Raymond Parsons, an economist at the North West University Business School, commented on the index's modest decline, framing it as a response to both internal and external factors impacting South Africa's economy. Externally, while the global economic outlook continues to be unstable, Parsons said there has been a measure of relief on the trade front, particularly as the US administration has put a hold on most tariff hikes until July 9.…

To our Johnnies come lately albeit in their old age in the world of public measurement, I thought an orientation is necessary. I remind them of my statement when StatsSA was granted the rights to host the very first World Data Forum in 2017 which gave rise to the Cape Town Global Action Program (CTGAP). This granted South Africa a sacred responsibility of custodianship as the mother of the World Data Forum. Smirching statistics for no sound reason and out of ignorance is attracting a thunderbolt that will make the grey listing march like a clown on the Union Building Grounds. It is tempering with keg powder. In my capacity as the Statistician-General and host of this prestigious conference was nothing short of affirmation of confidence in Statistics South Africa…

South African agribusiness Crookes Brothers has announced robust headline earnings of R64.9 million for the year to March 31, marking the highest annual earnings since 2014, following strong performances from its banana and property divisions. This was despite facing a myriad of challenges, including adverse weather conditions and operational setbacks, its directors said Friday. In reflecting on this performance, the company did announce a 24% reduction in its dividend to 150 cents a share. This decrease stems from the exclusion of once-off proceeds from the sale of its deciduous division in 2024, even as headline earnings surpassed the previous year’s figures. Crookes Brothers' share price fell by 3.33% to R30.21 on Friday afternoon on the JSE. From continuing operations, revenue rose by 15% to R833.8m. A highlight was the property…

The DA is threatening to bring forth a motion of no confidence against President Cyril Ramaphosa. The party is calling out the double standards of Ramaphosa and his failure to deal with corrupt Cabinet officials. This came after DA leader John Steenhuisen announced on Saturday the party’s immediate withdrawal from the Government of National Unity’s (GNU) National Dialogue, citing a breakdown in trust and accusing Ramaphosa of shielding corruption-accused African National Congress (ANC) ministers. Steenhuisen criticised Ramaphosa for allegedly breaching the GNU’s founding Statement of Intent and for what he called a pattern of “arrogance, disrespect and double standards” by the ANC in its handling of coalition politics. “Until (President Ramaphosa) replaces words with action against corruption within his own ranks, the DA sees no further point in wasting…

The Investigating Directorate Against Corruption, a unit within the National Prosecuting Authority, has clarified that there is currently no attempt underway to arrest National Police Commissioner Fannie Masemola. This statement comes amid growing speculation in the media that Masemola is on the verge of being taken into custody for his alleged role in irregular property acquisitions linked to the Crime Intelligence division. Reports have surfaced suggesting that more than 120 million rand was spent on acquiring properties for Crime Intelligence without following proper procedures. These allegations come at a time when multiple senior police figures have already been arrested in connection with similar procurement deals. One of the most high-profile arrests was that of Dumisani Khumalo, the current head of Crime Intelligence, who was detained at OR Tambo International Airport…

Deputy President Paul Mashatile has called for the urgent inclusion of young people in building a capable, ethical, and developmental state. Mashatile was delivering the keynote address at the G20 High-Level Intergenerational Roundtable in Sandton on Friday, where he highlighted the importance of empowering youth to lead economic transformation, social development, and global engagement. Having recently returned from a working visit to the Russian Federation, he stated that the trip offered valuable insights into strengthening South Africa’s bilateral ties with Russia and reaffirming historical solidarity. He noted that institutions such as Saint Petersburg University are playing a role in people-to-people relations by committing to teaching South African languages such as isiZulu and isiXhosa. He also praised Russia’s progress in digital and artificial intelligence capabilities, urging that “we too in South…

There are some people you meet in life who leave a lasting impression – not because of their fame, but because of the spirit they carry. Louis Moholo and his wife Mpumi were such people. Gentle, principled, and full of life, they were more than musical legends. They were fellow South Africans in exile, friends of the Struggle, and vessels of a sound that carried our country’s deepest hopes and truths. In January 1989, Amnesty International invited me to deliver one of the keynote addresses at a global conference of Doctors Against Torture, held at UNESCO in Paris. This was in recognition of the work I was doing at the time with detainees and political prisoners in South Africa. As part of the discussions at that conference – and in…

The City of Tshwane’s recent achievements during the last two Council meetings and today at Hammanskraal prove that caring governments can deliver spatial, social, economic and environmental justice for South Africa”, says GOOD’s Councillor Sarah Mabotsa, the Tshwane Mayoral Committee Member for Economic Development and Spatial Planning. Today at Hammanskraal, the handover of Module 2 of the Klipdrift Water Treatment Plant means safe water is coming to more homes in Hammanskraal. The neighbourhoods of Kudube - Units 1, 2, 3, 6, 10 and Unit D, Jubilee Tower, Jubilee Direct, Dominican Tower, and some areas of Majakaneng will benefit from Module 2’s water supply. This expands the areas of Hammaskraal that have since January 2025 benefited from Module 1’s water supply (namely Mandela Village, Marokolong, Ramotse, Kekana Gardens/Steve Bikoville and Babelegi…

Arguably the most high-profile signing of the current transfer window ahead of the 2025/26 Betway Premiership season is that of Sipho Mbule by Orlando Pirates. The highly rated midfielder joins the Buccaneers on a free transfer, having been released by Mamelodi Sundowns following a troubled loan spell at Sekhukhune United. Often described as a ball genius, a superstar, a master, Mbule has yet to fully live up to those lofty labels, largely due to off-field misdemeanours that have limited his time on the pitch. That a player such as Teboho Mokoena has gone on to become a continental star — despite having once been considered the lesser talent when the pair were at SuperSport United — underscores Mbule’s failure to fulfil his potential. Now that he has joined Pirates, many…

The companies said the acquisition will be settled through a combination of shares, and R91m cash Lesaka Technologies’ share price shot up 17.1% Friday morning after announcing it has entered into a R1.091 billion agreement to acquire 100% of South Africa's digital lender, Bank Zero Mutual Bank. The companies said Friday the acquisition will be settled through a combination of new shares—such that the shareholders of Bank Zero will own about 12% of Lesaka's shares at the time of completion of the proposed transaction—and up to R91 million in cash. "The acquisition of Bank Zero is a transformative event in Lesaka's journey, enabling us to better serve our consumers, merchants, and enterprise clients by embedding a trusted, well-engineered neobank capability into our fintech platform,” said Lesaka chairman Ali Mazanderani in…

In what reads like a modern-day David vs. Goliath, more than 100 000 former homeowners are taking on South Africa’s “Big Four” – Absa, Standard Bank, Nedbank and FirstRand – in a R60 billion class-action lawsuit set for February 2026. The reputations of these banks are on the line. For institutions that constantly tout putting the customer first, this legal showdown threatens to take a wrecking ball to that image - one they may struggle to recover from. It’s a major headache, and it could very well be a turning point in how banks are held to account in South Africa. This class action is not just about money. It’s about power, dignity, and justice. It’s a wake-up call to all of us that even the most powerful institutions are…

2025 sees South Africa commemorate numerous milestones in the struggle to end apartheid, including Cosatu’s 40th anniversary and the 70th anniversaries of our predecessor, the South African Congress of Trade Unions and the Freedom Charter. It is important that we celebrate these struggles and honour those who made our constitutional democracy possible. While we are proud of these milestones and how far we have come under government led by the ANC over the past 31 years of democracy, we must equally be honest over how far we still have to go, where we have erred and what needs to be done. The first call of the Freedom Charter presciently demanded that The People Shall Govern! Today South Africa is a robust democracy whose Constitution and the progressive values underpinning it…

ABSA Group said on Friday it expected earnings to grow by the mid-teens in the six months to June 30, while its return on equity would likely improve to 14.6% from 14% in the first half a year ago. Absa’s share price climbed 2.87% to R175.85 in the afternoon, well ahead of the JSE Banks Index, which was up 1.19% at the same time, and over 10% higher than the bank’s share price a year ago. The lender’s management said in a trading update that they anticipate mid-single-digit revenue growth in the first half, with higher growth in non-interest income compared to net interest income. Geographically, its South Africa business was expected to drive group earnings growth, primarily due to lower credit impairments, as net interest income growth remains muted.…

Eskom has strongly rejected false claims circulating online about imminent stage 4 and stage 6 loadshedding from July 6 until July 20 with the power utility saying the country’s power system remains stable with loadshedding suspended since 10pm May 15. “The Winter Outlook, published on May 5, covering the period ending August 31, remains valid. It indicates that loadshedding will not be necessary if unplanned outages stay below 13 000MW. “If outages rise to 15 000MW, loadshedding would be limited to a maximum of 21 days out of 153 days and restricted to Stage 2. “There are no planned outages of this scale. Misinformation causes unnecessary alarm. Stay informed – trust only official Eskom updates on our official platforms,” the power utility said. This past week, electricity and energy minister…

A total of 343 suspects were arrested in Tshwane during a weekend crackdown on crime, targeting the rural areas of Cullinan and Boschkop policing precincts. The operation, led by Tshwane’s District Commissioner, Major-General Samuel Thine, brought together a coalition of law enforcement agencies, including SAPS, Department of Home Affairs, Tshwane Metro Police, Gauteng Traffic Police, Gauteng Traffic Wardens, and local Community Policing Forum representatives. SAPS district spokesperson Captain Johan van Dyk stated that the operation was launched on Saturday as part of ongoing efforts under Operation Shanela to disrupt and combat crime in Tshwane. “This combined effort resulted in the arrest of 343 suspects for various criminal offences. These results are a direct outcome of planning, strategic deployments and heightened visibility aimed at reducing crime and continued track and tracing…

Tshwane Executive Mayor Nasiphi Moya has assured residents that her administration will take decisive action to enforce a Gauteng High Court ruling requiring companies linked to businessman Edwin Sodi to repay profits from a nearly R300 million 2019 tender for the Rooiwal Waste Water Treatment Plant upgrade. The contract awarded to the consortium, comprising Blackhead Consulting, NJR Projects, and CMS Water Engineering, linked to Edwin Sodi, was terminated in August 2022 due to significant issues and delays with the quality of work, resulting from persistent stalling of Phase 1 of the project. The Rooiwal upgrade project aimed to enhance the wastewater treatment plant’s capacity to process the high volume of wastewater it receives. For over a decade, the issue of contaminated water supplied to Hammanskraal residents has been linked to…

In the face of South Africa’s escalating youth unemployment crisis, a new generation of graduates is redefining what it means to survive and thrive in a broken system. Tired of waiting for jobs that may never come, young South Africans are creating their own opportunities in the informal economy through side hustles, freelancing, and micro-enterprises. For 25-year-old Asive Sibeko, the journey from IT graduate to food hustler was not part of the plan, but it was necessary. “I wouldn’t say it’s something I’ve always wanted to do; it’s just something I did to survive in the long run,” said Sibeko, who holds both a diploma and an advanced diploma in ICT. After her internship ended in late 2024, job applications yielded no success, pushing her to start a small food…

The Democratic Alliance (DA) in Gauteng is horrified to learn that people who have died over the past 13 days at the Helen Joseph Hospital in Johannesburg cannot be transferred to government mortuaries because the hospital has no printer cartridges to print the necessary documents. The DA demands that the Gauteng MEC for Health, Nomanto Nkomo-Ralehoko, ensure that this hospital is stocked with adequate resources so as not to interrupt and inconvenience any burials, adding unnecessary pain to the families of the deceased. As a result of this administrative incompetence, since June 17, families have not been able to claim their loved ones for burial, as postmortems cannot be undertaken and death certificates cannot be issued. The DA has received this information from credible sources who are calling for immediate…

Barbora Krejcikova insists she is fit for her Wimbledon title defence, despite suffering a thigh injury scare just days before the tournament. Krejcikova’s participation at the All England Club was thrown into doubt after she withdrew from the warm-up event at Eastbourne on Thursday. The 29-year-old pulled out ahead of her quarter-final clash with Varvara Gracheva, having sustained the injury during her second-round victory over Britain’s Jodie Burrage on Wednesday. However, after several days of rest, the Czech star is confident the injury will not hinder her attempt to retain the Venus Rosewater Dish. “I had to have a couple of days off where I didn’t really play any tennis, but I did some off-court work. I’ve been feeling a little bit better every day, so I’m really happy with…

NAS Marks Park Royals and the Diadora XI were the respective winners of the Men’s and Women’s sections after the fourth edition of the Jozi Cup, South Africa's premier T20 winter club cricket competition, concluded on Sunday with an exhilarating finale at the iconic DP World Wanderers Stadium. Over the course of seven weeks, more than 130 teams from across the country showcased their skills, ensuring there was something for everyone, from the talented Under 11s to the seasoned Over 40s. Tournament Director Reuben Mandlazi emphasised that the Jozi Cup is a unique competition that ignites passion and determination amongst players and coaches alike. “This tournament is honestly like no other. Clubs rally their troops and bring their A-Game throughout, knowing full well that the scouts are out hunting,” said…

Transnet National Ports Authority (TNPA) said on Friday that it has issued a Request for Proposals (RFP) for the appointment of a Terminal Operator to fund, design, develop, construct, operate, maintain and transfer a liquid bulk terminal at the Port of Ngqura, for a concession period of 25 years. The RFP is a ground-breaking milestone in the relocation of the tank farm from the Port of Port Elizabeth to the Port of Ngqura, in line with approved port development plans. The move comes as Transnet is implementing its Reinvent for Growth Strategy, which seeks to transform and grow the business. The new terminal will include liquid bulk storage tanks, road tanker loading gantries, pipelines and the necessary terminal operation infrastructure. The landside operation of the proposed terminal is earmarked for…

As the agricultural landscape in South Africa prepares for the 2024/2025 summer season, the Crop Estimates Committee (CEC) has revealed promising estimates that signal a potentially fruitful harvest. Released on Friday, the report highlights significant increases in expected yields for key crops such as maize, soybeans, and dry beans, despite the challenges posed by late rains across many regions. The CEC's projected commercial maize crop stands at a robust 14.644 million tons, which is an impressive 13.96% or 1.794 million tons larger than the previous year's yield. The majority of this production is expected to come from South Africa’s core maize-producing provinces: the Free State, Mpumalanga, and North West, which together are anticipated to contribute a staggering 81% of the total crop. While the overall maize estimate reflects a slight…

The sudden attack of the US on Iran nuclear facilities last week and the almost day-to-day attacks on each other between Israel and Iran, has let to a sudden strong increase in oil prices. Since the beginning of the Israel-Iran war on June 13, 2025, the brent oil price increased from $70 (R1 251) per barrel to $77 per barrel on June 20. During the same time, the exchange rate of the Rand depreciated by 30 cents from R17.77 against the dollar to R18.07/$. Although both the oil price as the value of the Rand recovered till Friday to R17.78/$ and $66.47/$, the under recovery in South Africa’s fuel prices could not be avoided. Last Wednesday the price for 95 Petrol was still 52c per liter under-recovered and that for…

RMB Holdings (RMH), an investment company that derives most of its income from property, said on Friday that it remains committed to monetising its portfolio assets in a manner that maximises value for shareholders. On Friday, the company announced it would pass the dividend for the six-month period ending March 31, 2025, compared with the 23.5 cents a share that was paid out at the same time a year before - the company does not declare regular dividends. RMH’s management said its net asset value (NAV) remained relatively stable through the period however, decreasing slightly from R919 million as at September 30, 2024, to R916m as at March 31, 2025. This marginal decline was driven by three offsetting factors: a 3.5% increase in the NAV of Atterbury Property Holdings (Atterbury),…

The F1 movie is here to send audiences to a blissful era when the movies were loud, their stars were hot and the male main-character energy was flowing with exhilarating abandon. From its opening scene – a credits montage featuring Brad Pitt, producer Jerry Bruckheimer and Led Zeppelin’s Whole Lotta Love – F1 settles into a supremely confident, viscerally entertaining groove: an old-school, still-handsome movie star; sexy racecars; roaring crowds; vintage Zep; fireworks – F1 has it all, and that’s just in the first 10 minutes. What follows in F1, true to its title, may be formula. But it’s one that works, even when the constant vrooms, tricky turns and explanatory dialogue threaten to become tediously repetitive. The movie is directed by Joseph Kosinski from a script by Ehren Kruger…

Gauteng has the highest number of hijackings, highlighting the seriousness of the crime in the province, which accounts for nearly half of all reported cases. This was revealed in data showing a sharp increase in incidents involving popular car brands. According to figures from SAPS, an average of 66 cars are forcefully taken from drivers each day, marking a significant rise from levels seen before the COVID-19 pandemic. This alarming trend highlights the growing sophistication and boldness of criminal networks targeting motorists. The Western Cape and KwaZulu-Natal also report elevated hijacking rates, each contributing approximately 14% to the national total. It’s important to note that these numbers specifically refer to hijackings involving threats or violence; the number of total vehicle thefts, including non-violent ones, exceeds 40 000 annually. Security experts…

An acting judge had strong words for medical experts who concluded that a child – the victim of a car accident - had suffered brain injuries, simply by looking at pictures taken of the child after the accident. A neurosurgeon told the Gauteng High Court that by looking at the pictures of the child – six years after the accident – he could see with his trained eye that the child had swelling on his head. This, in spite of a CT scan done immediately after the accident, proving that there was no brain injury. None of the hospital records also revealed a brain injury. All the other experts who delivered reports regarding the child to the court mentioned the brain injury as it was contained in the neurosurgeon’s report.…

It is not legally possible for both a customary marriage and a civil marriage to co-exist alongside each other. Parties are either married by customary law or by civil law, an acting judge said in a legal battle between a husband and wife as to which regime is applicable to them. The wife told the Polokwane High Court in Limpopo that she is married to her husband in community of property and that they have concluded a customary marriage. The husband holds a completely opposed view. He denies that they agreed to enter into a customary marriage and insisted they were married in terms of civil law. They had always wanted to marry out of community of property and it is for that reason that they concluded an ante-nuptial agreement…

Mzwandile Masina, chairperson of a Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Trade, Industry and Competition, is mulling over a request by the EFF to summon Minister Parks Tau to appear before committee to be grilled on the appointments of prominent ANC figures to Industrial Development Corporation (IDC). Masina said yesterday that he has responded to the EFF in writing, undertaking to provide a detailed answer within 48 hours after Monday, pending consultation with Parliament's legal advisors. The EFF had asked Masina to summon Tau to explain the appointment process for Ayanda Dlodlo, Dr Nomusa Dube-Ncube, and Dr Sydney Mufamadi to the IDC board, questioning the criteria used and suggesting the appointments are politically driven. Asked if he will grant the EFF’s request and summon Tau to appear before the committee,…

US celebrity couple Katy Perry and Orlando Bloom have reportedly split after being together for nearly a decade. The news of their separation comes after Bloom was spotted attending the high-profile wedding celebrations of billionaire Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sanchez in Venice as a “single man”. According to TMZ, Bloom is reportedly embracing his newly single life following his rumoured split from the Roar hit-maker, while the singer is on her LifeTimes Tour in Australia and will not attend the star-studded wedding. The separation rumours have been making the rounds on the internet for the past few weeks after Perry was spotted without her diamond engagement ring while on tour. The 40-year-old was also spotted without the ring in her latest Instagram post. To add fuel to the fire, while…

At the end of February, I had the privilege of attending the 3rd Commonwealth Parliamentarians with Disabilities Conference in Lusaka, Zambia. This conference was attended by delegates from the following countries: Kenya, Tanzania, Namibia, Eswatini, Zambia, and South Africa. I was one of two delegates from South Africa and was proud to represent both my country and the Gauteng Provincial Legislature (GPL). I was also even more proud to be called on as chairperson for three of the four sessions of the conference, including the Resolution Session. However, my participation in the conference made me realise how little the GPL has done to make our building accessible for people with disabilities. This is happening despite the Secretary General of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association, Stephen Twigg, having advised us that funds…

The mercurial political odyssey of Floyd Shivambu – from ANC Youth League firebrand to EFF co-founder, MK Party secretary-general, and now prospective party founder – represents a microcosm of the broader crisis afflicting black political consciousness in post-apartheid South Africa. This analysis examines the profound implications of Shivambu’s serial political migrations, arguing that his trajectory embodies a dangerous trend toward the commodification of black solidarity and the emergence of a technocratic middle-class politics that fundamentally undermines the emancipatory project of black unity. Shivambu’s recent announcement of consultations to form a new political party, merely 10 months after joining the MK Party, marks the culmination of a pattern of political nomadism that reflects deeper structural contradictions within South Africa’s liberation discourse. Far from representing ideological evolution or strategic repositioning, Shivambu’s movements…

Lando Norris resisted vigorous attacks from team-mate and championship leader Oscar Piastri to claim a masterful McLaren 1–2 in yesterday’s Austrian Grand Prix. In torrid heat at the Red Bull Ring, the 25-year-old Briton came home 2.695 seconds clear of the 24-year-old Australian to trim his lead in the title race by 15 points. It was Norris’s first win in Austria, his third of the season, and the seventh of his career. It also marked McLaren’s first victory in Austria since David Coulthard triumphed in 2001. The McLaren pair battled throughout to provide thrilling racing for the packed crowd and to put behind them their costly collision in Canada two weeks earlier. Charles Leclerc finished third ahead of Ferrari team-mate and seven-time champion Lewis Hamilton, their best result of the…