Innholdsfortegnelse for 2021-11-24 i Star

Dineo Faku dineo.faku@inl.co.za AS SOUTH Africa braces for the fourth wave of Covid-19 infections, insurer and financial services firm Old Mutual is the latest insurer to raise the flag of worse mortality claims than anticipated, saying it has once again been forced to raise its provisions at the end of June 2021, amid vaccination hesitancy. Yesterday, Momentum Metropolitan also said it has seen significantly higher mortality claims, while last week Liberty Holdings flagged that its Covid-19 pandemic reserve was being reassessed due to the 2020 and 2021 reserve being depleted from high mortality claims. Old Mutual, which completed the unbundling of a 12 percent stake in Nedbank earlier this month, said yesterday that the worse than expected mortality claims had resulted in the excess deaths impacting on profit of…

Edward West edward.west@inl.co.za SUBSTANTIAL capital needed to support Virgin Active through pandemic lockdowns has forced its major shareholder Brait to go to the market for a R3 billion rights issue. Mauritius-registered investment company Brait has announced a R3bn rights issue to reduce debt and execute on its strategy of realising maximised value of its investments over the medium term and returning capital to shareholders. Brait shareholders could subscribe for up to 3 million exchangeable bonds to be issued by subsidiary Brait Investment Holdings in the ratio of one bond right for every 440 existing Brait ordinary shares held. Brait said yesterday that the proceeds raised would be used to materially reduce the revolving credit facility (RCF) of Brait Mauritius (BML), together with an extension of the RCF to…

WHILE progress has been made towards having black farmers join commercial production and supply chains, several challenges have deepened the divide between commercial agriculture (mainly white) and subsistence farming (mainly black), says the Agricultural Business Chamber (Agbiz). The challenges include the combination of poor and slow implementation of land reform, inefficient government decisions and support systems, bureaucratic delays, drought and diseases. The association of agribusinesses operating in South and southern Africa’s chief economist, Wandile Sihlobo, said this week that recent studies showed that black South African farmers produced less than 10 percent of the country’s agricultural output. “This number is, at best, a guestimate and, unfortunately, hides the stellar progress in maize production, wool production, commercial cattle farming; where black farmers are responsible for a sizeable share of 34 percent…

Dr Nokuthula Mazibuko-Msimang | The Conversation ZAKES Mda is one of South Africa’s best-loved novelists – though he is also a celebrated playwright, children’s book author and an increasingly visible painter. His latest novel, Wayfarers’ Hymns, is at once full of drama and mirth, set in Lesotho and playing out in the bloody world of famo musicians. Tell us a little bit about what inspired you. And about the process of writing this book about musical gangsters, really. This book is centred around famo music, a genre of music in Lesotho. Very popular there, predominantly the instrument there is the accordion, it used to be the concertina before. So Basothos have taken the concertina and the accordion and turned them into Sesotho traditional instruments. And it’s a kind of…

Gerry Cupido geraldine.cupido@inl.co.za When it comes to gemstones, the sparkle and clarity of a white diamond will forever have universal appeal. While rubies, emeralds and sapphires are deemed lesser, they still bring an air of regal sophistication. At the bottom of the list of the most desired, you’ll likely find black gems. South African jewellery designer Kristin Weixelbaumer, however, sings the praises of the dark mysterious stones. “Black is unambiguous and specific,” says the founder of jewellery brand Black Betty. “It’s dramatic, powerful and, in jewellery, shows the wearer is confident of themselves. Black gems draw people in because they’re unusual and have a depth that few other stones can replicate.” She adds that black is associated with elegance, mystery and power. Weixelbaumer recommends adding at least one black gem-lead…

Zelda Venter zelda.venter@inl.co.za RIVERS of Living Waters Church leader Bishop Bafana Stephen Zondo offered his alleged rape victim R25 000 with the instruction that she immediately withdrew the charges against him, the North Gauteng High Court, Pretoria heard yesterday. Jabu, the brother of the woman who claimed she was raped by the preacher 40 years ago while she was aged 7, and he about 14, was the second witness to take the stand in the criminal trial. Judge Papi Mosopa ordered that the media may not take pictures of Jabu, although his name may be published. According to the woman, Jabu was also the first person whom she told about the “dark secret” she had carried with her since childhood. Jabu yesterday testified that his sister, who may not be…

Loyiso Sidimba loyiso.sidimba@inl.co.za FORMER president Jacob Zuma yesterday complained about being disrespected by the three organisations that want to revoke his medical parole. The Helen Suzman Foundation (HSF), AfriForum and the DA asked the North Gauteng High Court to overturn the decision by former correctional services national commissioner Arthur Fraser to grant Zuma parole. Zuma’s lawyer, Dali Mpofu SC, said the case was clearly a politically motivated application, and that the HSF, AfriForum and DA application was a mighty waste of judicial processes. Mpofu described the organisations as right wing and “racist”. ”Our courts cannot be used for this thing,” he said, adding that the parties involved were propping up a case that was non-existent. According to Mpofu, the case was a political point-scoring exercise. In his argument, Thabani Masuku…

anita.nkonki@inl.co.za anita.nkonki@inl.co.za THERE’S been growing concerns over the abrupt departure of TV star Israel Matseke-Zulu, pictured, from the popular Mzansi Magic drama series Gomora. There’s been talk that he might have been fired, but the star has quashed the rumours, revealing he has gangrene, which has forced him to exit the show. In a statement released by his management company Ice and Orange Entertainment, Matseke-Zulu revealed that it was near impossible for him to walk, and he had to use a wheelchair for the last episode shot. He urged viewers to continue watching the show.…

NOKWANDA NCWANE nokwanda.ncwane@inl.co.za THE Tshwane Sports Council and various stakeholders have launched the second annual Tshwane Women in Sport Awards in an effort to recognise women and girl achievers who have excelled on and off the field. The launch was held at the University of Pretoria’s High Performance Centre on Monday, where 20 categories for consideration and nomination were revealed. The Women in Sports Awards was established in 2018 in Ekurhuleni, and has since expanded to Joburg, West Rand District, Tshwane and Sedibeng District. Speaking at the launch, president of the Tshwane Sports Confederation, Winston Meyer, said it was important to empower women through sports, as it was a powerful tool to challenge gender stereotypes. “It is important for women to further develop their skills, that are transferable to the…

Lehlohonolo Mashigo lehlohonolo.mashigo@inl.co.za THE Department of Trade, Industry and Competition Minister Ebrahim Patel is seeking to chart a post-Covid-19 pandemic recovery course for manufacturing. The 2021 Manufacturing Indaba, which is already under way, will focus on a wide range of areas with relevance to the fortunes of the sector in South Africa. These include, but are not limited to, the role of renewable energy, electric vehicles, the Africa Continental Free Trade Agreement and the role of financial support in enabling manufacturing advances on the continent. The minister, in the keynote address at the opening of the Indaba, said that the African market represents a R7 trillion opportunity for goods that can be manufactured on the continent. “We are on the cusp of a potentially great renewal in local manufacturing…

PHILIPPINES presidential hopeful Manny Pacquiao says he was “naive” and ignorant of the law when he took crystal meth in his youth, but argues offenders today know drugs are illegal and should be punished. Pacquiao, a retired world champion boxer, has been a high-profile backer of president Rodrigo Duterte’s brutal war on drugs that has killed thousands of people. But in the lead up to the 2022 elections, Pacquiao has sought to distance himself from the outgoing Duterte, who is facing an international probe into his bloody crackdown, and now says offenders should have a “chance to defend themselves”. “We have to put in jail those who are using drugs, selling drugs – that’s what the law says,” he told AFP, vowing to continue the anti-narcotics campaign “in the right…

Siphelele Dludla siphelele.dludla@inl.co.za SOUTH Africa and Kenya have agreed to increase both the volume and composition of bilateral trade, as well as investing more in each other’s economies, to address the existing trade imbalance. President Cyril Ramaphosa yesterday requested both countries’ ministers to remove any unreasonable barriers or challenges that were stifling efforts. This as the two countries signed eight agreements and memoranda of understanding in the fields of tourism, health, transport, and migration, among others. Ramaphosa, who was hosting Kenya’s President Uhuru Kenyatta on a state visit, committed to increasing the volume and broadening the composition of trade between the two countries. “We will be working together to identify Kenyan export products for which there are great growth opportunities in South Africa,” he said. “We are also committed to…

Given Majola SIM-swop fraud has continued to grow with some international reports showing close to 100 percent year-on-year growth, and South Africa is seeing the same trend, according to device identity and customer authentication software provider Entersekt. According to the latest South African Banking Risk Information Centre figures, SIM-swop fraud incidents increased by 91 percent year-on-year when considering digital banking fraud across all platforms. Lincoln Naicker, the owner and product manager at Entersekt, said this week that the most important thing to recognise was that SIM swops had an important part to play in the mobile network industry. “Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) sit at the centre of an extended ecosystem and impact many other sectors, not least the financial one. And although there has been a seismic shift in the…

Nokwanda Ncwane nokwanda.ncwane@inl.co.za THE Tshwane Metro Police Department, by yesterday, had yet to confirm the withdrawal of the case against the “cabbage bandit”. Djo BaNkuna, who infamously created a vegetable garden outside his home, was expected to appear at the Wonderboom Municipal Court yesterday. He had ignored an order to pay a R1 500 fine for refusing to remove a vegetable garden from the pavement. He had taken to Facebook to detail that metro police officers threatened him with arrest for creating the vegetable garden on the pavement in front of his Theresapark property in Pretoria North. Speaking outside his home on Monday, BaNkuna claimed the case was withdrawn after his lawyers indicated that no law had been broken, and there was no law in the country preventing him from…

DA secures all the top positions in Gauteng metros Baldwin Ndaba and Ntombi Nkosi The ANC has been forced to go back to the drawing board following its dismal performance in the local government elections on November 1, and the selection of municipal councils this week. Yesterday, ANC leader President Cyril Ramaphosa expressed huge disappointment in the outcomes. It is unclear if the ruling party will still hold its media briefing on the outcomes of its NEC meeting after the press conference was postponed twice this week. Addressing the media at the Union Buildings during Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta’s state visit, Ramaphosa said: “This is the footsteps of democracy, and we have seen it play out throughout the country and, indeed, as the president of the governing party, it…

Anita Nkonki anita.nkonki@inl.co.za HARD work and dedication are the words that can be used to describe the Limpopo-born star Makhadzi, who is in the news again after being honoured with her first award at the All Africa Music Awards (Afrima). This prestigious event was hosted by the media personality Pearl Thusi in Lagos, Nigeria, where Makhadzi also gave an electrifying performance. The Ghanama hitmaker won the award for best artist, team, or gathering in the African Electro category for her smash hit Murahu. The Afrima recognise and reward the work and talent of a myriad African artists. After she got the award, the music sensation opened up about how she has been trying to get recognition from the Afrima for years. “This is a dream come true, I have been…

Dr Thabisi Hoeane | Pretoria AS THE saying goes: “The matter would be laughable if it were not so serious.” At the ANC’s special NEC meeting in Pretoria recently, Pule Mabe, a spokesperson of the ANC, was in the crowd of ANC workers who were demonstrating outside the venue because of months of unpaid wages. Incredulously, when asked by a journalist what he was doing in the crowd, he claimed he was also a “worker” and was showing solidarity with his fellow workers. What a joke! He even went on to angrily exhort the ANC should end the meeting with an answer for the workers! This is crass hypocrisy and if those ANC workers were taken in by this behaviour then they are in serious trouble. As an…

Goitsemang Tlhabye goitsemang.tlhabye@inl.co.za THE Gauteng Department of Health has lashed out at acts of criminality for linen shortages experienced at provincial hospitals, which resulted in the cancellation of surgeries. In June, the department condemned the brazen acts of vandalism and theft at the City of Tshwane’s mini-substation supplying power to the Masakhane Laundriy and Cook Freeze facilities in Rosslyn, Pretoria. Departmental spokesperson Kwara Kekana said a criminal case had been opened at the Akasia police station and laundry services redirected to the Johannesburg laundries and Dunswart laundry facilities in Ekurhuleni. Masakhane Laundry provides services to 10 hospitals and 69 clinics in the Tshwane District, including the Jubilee District Hospital in Hammanskraal, Dr George Mukhari Academic Hospital in Ga-Rankuwa, the Steve Biko Academic Hospital and Mamelodi Hospital. Mamelodi Hospital was reportedly…

Eshlin Vedan eshlin.vedan@inl.co.za KAIZER Chiefs star Keagan Dolly believes it is vital for his in-form side to continue implementing their tactical plans accurately as they face off against AmaZulu FC in a Premiership clash at FNB Stadium today. After a slow start to the season, Amakhosi head into the game in good form as they have won three out of their last four league games. More recently, they defeated Maritzburg United 1-0 last weekend in a game which was delayed by more than 90 minutes due to faulty floodlights at the stadium. The game will be the second match between the teams this season. They met in the reverse fixture in Durban in early October and drew 1-1. With AmaZulu looking set for victory after Luvuyo Memela’s opening goal, Dolly…

Zaahier Adams zaahier.adams@inl.co.za HAASHIM Domingo is bracing himself for another titanic midfield battle in the Premiership’s Tshwane derby between Mamelodi Sundowns and SuperSport United today. The Sundowns playmaker had his work cut out last weekend in the goalless draw with Cape Town City, after the hosts flooded the middle of the park and executed their high press to good effect, leaving the likes of Domingo and the rest of the Masandawana midfielders precious little time on the ball. Domingo, though, was up to the task as he still managed to create the few opportunities Sundowns had on the day, with a direct free-kick forcing City goalkeeper Hugo Marques to scramble to his right on the stroke of half-time before another bristling shot after the break that went just wide. It…

Edward West edward.west@inl.co.za PPC LIFTED profit from continuing operations to R969 million in the six months to September 30 compared with R396m previously, after a restructuring and good demand in its major markets drove up performance. Revenue grew 20 percent to R5.1 billion following a 12 percent increase in cement sales volumes, and the positive impact of hyperinflation accounting on PPC Zimbabwe’s financials. CEO Roland van Wijnen said in a phone interview yesterday that he was feeling good about the results, as the market had developed in line with expectations and overall cement volumes were 5 percent above those of 2019. He said the group had faced some unexpected cost pressures, but even though price increases did not match cost increases, good management had seen…

RED NOTICE NETFLIX An FBI profiler pursuing the world’s most wanted art thief becomes his reluctant partner in crime to catch an elusive crook who’s always one step ahead. I DO ZEE WORLD, DSTV CHANNEL 166, 8PM This Indian telenovela follows the story of a young woman called Zoya, who just returned from America to start a new life in India. It’s also the story of half-brothers Ayaan and Asad, who are separated by their families but united by their hearts. But things go wrong when Asad and Ayaan are involved in an argument that ends with one of them stabbed. FINDING ANDREA ID, DSTV CHANNEL 171, 9.50PM Single mom Andrea Knabel and her friends were known for their efforts in the volunteer group Missing In America. But…

Jehran Naidoo Jehran.Naidoo@africannewsagency.com TWO victims of the July unrest in Durban gave harrowing testimonies yesterday at the SA Human Rights Commission’s (SAHRC) inquiry into the causes and effects of the upheaval in KZN and parts of Gauteng, which left death and destruction in its wake. The inquiry yesterday heard testimonies from Mbuso Xaba, 38, from KwaMashu and Bongani Mkhize, a former Umlazi bus driver. Xaba told how after a lucky escape from a first mob, he ran into another group down the highway. “As I approached the Phoenix Plaza, the road was closed with big pipes. The vehicles I saw near the plaza, I decided to follow. I turned onto Lenham Road. When I took the road, we didn’t drive for long before coming across another roadblock. “They let the…

Goitsemang Tlhabye goitsemang.tlhabye@inl.co.za NEW acting director for the School of Accountancy at Unisa Professor Cameron Modisane, is determined to increase the number of successful and work-ready graduates making their way through the institution’s doors. The 36-year-old, who stepped into his new role on November 1 after having joined the university late last year, also serves on the board of directors for the Information Systems Audit and Control Association. He is also chairperson of the Finance, Risk and Audit Committee of Oxfam South Africa’s board. Speaking to The Star’s sister paper, the Pretoria News, he said in his new role as the acting head, he not only wanted to increase the number of students passing through Unisa’s doors as chartered accountants but also ensure that the quality of graduates was of…

Itumeleng Mafisa itumeleng.mafisa@inl.co.za THE Ethiopian community in South Africa will march against Western interference of the EU and the US in Ethiopian affairs. The United Ethiopian Community in South Africa will march to the US embassy and EU offices to hand over a list of demands. Top of the list is for the West to back off from African sovereign issues. The march will take place in Johannesburg on November 29. Ethiopia has seen political instability that has led to the mass murder of women and children, with some nationals fleeing for safety to other African countries. Some have described what is taking place in Ethiopia as a result of tribal politics. More than 2 000 people are expected take part in the march. The African Diaspora Forum’s Amir Sheikh…

Ashfak Mohamed ashfak.mohamed@inl.co.za PLAYED 13, won eight, lost five. That’s not a good enough set of results for a team like the Springboks in 2021, especially as they are the world champions. To their credit, coach Jacques Nienaber and captain Siya Kolisi both felt that South Africa’s win percentage should have been better – although there were a number of mitigating factors involved, such as the Covid-19 bubbles and the fact that they had to play four consecutive away games in Australia against the Wallabies and All Blacks. “That’s the third time this year that we have lost the game when we’ve been leading by one or two points at 78 minutes, so it’s very disappointing. It’s something that we’ll have to look at and improve on,” Nienaber said following…

Zaahier Adams zaahier.adams@inl.co.za THE Proteas have played three one-day international series since the Covid-19 pandemic, which saw them abandon their tour of India in March last year. During this period, they have yet to find themselves on the winning side, leaving Mark Boucher’s team in a perilous ninth position after nine matches on the ICC World Cup Super League standings. Only New Zealand, Afghanistan, Zimbabwe and the Netherlands are below the Proteas on the table, although these teams – except Zimbabwe with nine – have only played three games each. That places SA under even more pressure in their bid to qualify automatically for the 2023 World Cup in India. The Proteas have an opportunity to improve on their position this week when they host the last-placed Netherlands for the…

Morgan Bolton morgan.bolton@inl.co.za THE Emirates Lions are in fine fettle ahead of their United Rugby Championship (URC) match against Cardiff Rugby, coach Ivan van Rooyen said in a media briefing yesterday. After a month-long hiatus from the tournament due to the international window in Europe, the Joburg-based outfit will begin anew on Sunday at Ellis Park against the Welsh franchise (4pm kick-off). “It’s nice having a full squad training,” said Van Rooyen. “Someone like Willem Alberts who missed the previous tour is now training full-out. Tiaan (Swanepoel) is training flat-out. “He still had one or two little defects, but up to this stage he is training well and starting to kick the ball back to his normal distances … We don’t expect anything massive injury-wise, and we should be at…

Borussia Dortmund will be without both Mats Hummels and Erling Haaland when they head to Portugal for tonight’s potential Champions League Group C decider against Sporting Lisbon. Level on points with two games to play in the group stage, Sporting and Dortmund meet in a clash which could decide which of them joins group leaders Ajax in the knockout stages. Yet Dortmund will be deprived of two of their best players in Hummels and Haaland as they look to steer their campaign back on course after back-to-back defeats. Veteran defender Hummels is suspended after he was controversially sent off in Dortmund’s 3-1 loss to Ajax three weeks ago. The club said they would appeal the red card, but coach Marco Rose admitted last week that he did not expect the…