Innholdsfortegnelse for 2022-02-28 i Star

Lengthy war to have ‘serious implications’ for food prices SA as doesn’t produce enough wheat Siphelele Dludla siphelele.dludla@inl.co.za Agri SA has warned that Russia’s ongoing full-scale invasion of Ukraine not only puts pressure on global oil prices, but also threatens to destabilise trade relations and jeopardise food security. Russia and Ukraine are meaningful contributors to the global food chain, accounting for at least 30 percent of the world’s wheat exports, 20 percent of maize exports and 80 percent of sunflower oil exports. Ukraine’s wheat has the greatest impact on food security throughout the world, as the country exported at least 18 million tons of wheat in 2020, making it the world’s fifth-biggest wheat exporter. Wheat prices have risen to the highest level since 2008, as the Russian…

Edward West edward.west@inl.co.za Oceana Group’s shareholders appeared to take heart on Friday after it said initial feedback from a probe by ENSafrica Forensics showed no employees or directors would be implicated in fraud or criminal conduct in the report. In addition, none of the matters in the ENSafrica Forensics investigation were likely to result in a financial loss to the company, a statement from Oceana said. The share price gained 3.38 percent to R53.60 on Friday afternoon, this after it has been trending lower following delays in releasing the results for the year to end-September 2021, the “precautionary” suspension of CFO Hajra Karrim, and the resignation of the CEO Imraan Soomra. Further doubts were cast when Oceana said the report had also uncovered “other matters, that were not within the…

Chulumanco Mahamba GAUTENG government and the University of Johannesburg (UJ) are implementing a new system to tackle Gauteng’s mounting e-waste to ensure a cleaner environment. Gauteng’s department of e-government and UJ have collaborated to launch the newly established the Gauteng e-Waste Management System to tackle the province’s mounting e-waste. E-Waste refers to the disposal of electrical and electronic gadgets and the project is to be launched tomorrow. “The e-waste management system is being implemented as a solution to help improve the collection, recycling, and safe disposal of electronic waste (e-waste) in the province. “Gauteng is regarded as the hub of the South African economy due to the various industrial economic activities here. But this has resulted in the accumulation of e-waste, caused by the high use of technological products,…

BETTY MOLEYA betty.moleya@inl.co.za ABOUT 10 people suffer from a stroke every hour in the country – and this has led to a call for parents and educators to register their pupils for a programme to prevent fatalities. The World Stroke Organisation said the condition remained among the leading causes of death in the world. Paramedic Johann Prinsloo on Thursday said 360 people suffered from a stroke every day, of whom 90 were left disabled and 110 dead. In light of the statistics, he initiated a pilot run for a campaign, called Fast Heroes, to raise awareness of the key symptoms of stroke and increase understanding about how to respond in an emergency. The campaign targets young children and their grandparents. The purpose is to teach children to recognise the three…

Anita Nkonki MISS SA, Lalela Mswane, has launched her “Be Ready” campaign to promote an entrepreneurial attitude among the South African youth. The campaign seeks to encourage those who aspire to be in the entrepreneurship field to become employers rather than job seekers. The 24-year-old is set to have online sessions which will teach participants how to start a business and make it successful. Mswane said she would start a company. “I am starting my own company. I will start with T-shirts that will feature inspirational messages. I am hoping people will join me as I learn the rudimentary basics of how to start a business. From the first stage we will all be learning together.” Experts will provide all the necessary information, which will include vital data and…

EVENTS in Europe are escalating out of control, bearing an uncanny resemblance to when WW II unfolded. Any miscalculation over Ukraine could unleash the dogs of war and usher in WW III, with all it’s grim consequences. The world’s major nuclear superpowers are engaged in a dangerous exercise in political brinkmanship that could spill over into a deadly atomic holocaust. Putin is practising roulette in Ukraine. Biden and Xi Jinping rehearse a deadly game of military chess in the conflict zones. Simulated nuclear war scenarios reveal that a nuclear war involving exchange of a fraction of their nuclear arsenals could abruptly change the climate of the entire Southern and Northern hemisphere from it’s present seasonal state to a long, sunless, frozen night. War with India and Pakistan would produce…

What happened in Ukraine last week will change and reshape the world. Russia invaded Ukraine in a shocking and stunning military blitzkrieg and is occupying it. Thus, the global attention has shifted from the waning coronavirus pandemic crisis to a hot war in the Baltic Sea, and so has the African attention from Mali in West Africa to Ukraine in Eastern Europe. Beneath the war veneer between Russia and Ukraine lies a geopolitical game, taking place between global powers – Russia-China and the US. The crisis could lead to an emerging new world order that must concern Africa because of its global consequences. Therefore, the events in Ukraine has resonance for Africa where global powers have misbehaved for centuries. The ties between the conflict in Ukraine and Africa, while not…

Stuart Hess stuart.hess@inl.co.za Through word and deed, Neil Wagner has provided three of the most captivating periods of play through this all too brief Test series between New Zealand and South Africa. With the bat in the first Test he blitzed the Proteas with a ballsy 49 on the second morning. In the second Test, which was delicately poised at the end of day three at Hagley Oval, Wagner, in his primary role as bowling ‘enforcer’, sought to get under the Proteas’ skin. It didn’t work that well in the first innings, where 21-year-old Marco Jansen looked him up and down, then belted him over mid-on for four and subsequently had to endure a mini-barrage of verbals. Jansen has already shown he doesn’t shy away from confrontation, so after Wagner’s…

Banele Ginindza banele.ginindza@inl.co.za STATE arms manufacturer Denel still faces a steep road ahead with its outstanding R650 million salary bill despite a R3 billion gifting by Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana, and R1bn allowance out of the medical aid kitty. Unions with favourable attachment orders might still execute them, because the latest windfall is meant for interest payments and legacy debt, and not the salary arrears that the unions fought for in court. As acting CEO William Hlakoane confirmed on Friday, the financially ebattled state utility would still rely on its five-year turnaround plan, including the disposal of assets such as property and land to meet its arrears obligations. Unions were adamant they would move for an execution of court orders, which entitle them to attach Denel’s assets. “It…

OUR Deputy Chief Justice Raymond Zondo (DCJ) presiding over the Judicial Commission of Inquiry into State Capture established for the purpose of determining whether or not in a specific time period, the state had been captured by non-state actors and where so captured to what degree, has raised in his findings the possibility of a named bank or banks having actively participated in money-laundering activities. With this finding, the obsequious halo that adorns the image of the banks has arguably been sullied, and the learned law lord has called an abomination on such conduct. By so doing, the Honourable Deputy Chief Justice has cracked open the vaults of intrigue and shone a light on the chicanery of the high priests of capital. The harried events spawned by these revelations have…

Bongani Nkosi bongani.nkosi@inl.co.za A SOWETO man was found guilty of murdering his wife by strangling her to death during a robbery he staged. Thabo Lehloibi, 34, was nabbed and charged with murder a few days after the gruesome killing of Matumelo Lehloibi on October 10, 2019. Matumelo, 30, was killed in the couple’s rented backyard room in Dlamini, Soweto, at about 8am. It appeared that their two children had left for school when two men entered the house. When they left, Matumelo was dead and her husband was tied up. In a judgment last week, the high court in Joburg found that two men were organised by Lehloibi to stage a robbery. In his ruling, Judge Réan Strydom found Lehloibi guilty, and set aside the discharge of his accomplice from…

Sonri Naidoo sonri.naidoo@inl.co.za MIXOLOGIST Sandile Mavuso, who was born in KwaZulu-Natal, told The Star how he encountered his big break to becoming a mixologist. Mavuso, 27, explained he was spotted by his now mentor who gave him an opportunity to work at the food and beverages section at the Tsogo Southern Sun hotel in Durban. “I have had no formal training to mixing drinks. Everything I have learnt has been self-taught by my mentor, who I always thank for seeing something in me which I did not at the time,” said Mavuso. At the age of 21, Mavuso dropped out of university because he knew he did not want to study civil engineering or become a doctor like his parents. He said to him life was not all about money…

Goitsemang Tlhabye goitsemang.tlhabye@inl.co.za SCHOLARS, traditional healers and leaders of institutions have praised the first annual Black History Month commemoration in South Africa as the first step towards removing the blinders from African people. According to them, this will also contribute towards the reconstruction of the African Renaissance. The commemoration was held at the Freedom Park Museum in partnership with the Royal House of Haramanuba, under the theme, “Until the lions have their history, tales of the hunter shall always glorify the hunter”. Freedom Park CEO Jane Mufamadi said the event was an annual observance originating in the US, where it was also known as African-American History Month. Mufamadi said the observance began as a way of remembering important people and events in the history of the African diaspora. She said…

Lutho Pasiya lutho.pasiya@inl.co.za SUMMER is winding down and there is still plenty of time to enjoy some late seasonal produce. There are so many reasons why we love the summer season but fresh fruits and vegetables are at the top of our list. Talking about summer being the perfect season to grab fresh fruits and vegetables, below we take a look at the mango. The South African Mango Growers’ Association says there are quite a few varieties of late-season mangoes to look forward to up until April. The association reveals that Kent, Keitt, Sensation, and Heidi are the end-of-season mangoes you need to keep an eye out for. So grab your keys, get to the store, load up this juicy treat and make these delicious recipes before they run out.…

Kutloano Makgoro | Joburg THE tragic passing of superstar Riky Rick shocked everyone last week. The rapper died by suicide and was found by his family. People shared mixed sentiments on social media, most saying they understand why he had done what he did and some saying the act was selfish because the people they left behind have to deal with an incredible amount of pain. The fact that many young people said they relate to what the rapper did because they had contemplated suicide, or were dealing with depression and anxiety, is very worrying. Young people are not optimistic about the future or life at all. It is no surprise that they feel this way, looking at the state of the country. The world leaders we have…

Following a decade of consultation and public debates, South Africa introduced a carbon tax in June 2019. Treasury faced strong opposition, especially from energy intensive businesses. But the country’s ratification of the Paris Climate Agreement in November 2016 signalled the government’s commitment to responding to climate change and gave impetus to implementing the carbon tax. In line with the international “polluter pays” principle, the tax attaches a cost to greenhouse gas emissions. The idea is to change the behaviour of large emitters. Burning fossil fuels for electricity production accounts for the largest share of South Africa’s carbon emissions, followed by transport, and the industrial production of materials such as cement. Coal makes up 75% of the country’s primary energy supply. It’s not surprising, then, that South Africa is among the…

The Kremlin has accused Ukraine of prolonging the military conflict by refusing to negotiate as Russia pressed on with its invasion of the country. Russian troops started advancing into Ukraine again at the weekend after President Vladimir Putin paused the offensive on Friday in antici- pation of talks with Kyiv that did not happen, the Kremlin said. After Kyiv refused to negotiate with Moscow, all Russian units received an order to resume the advance into the Ukrainian territory in all directions following the plan of the operation, Russian Defence Ministry spokes- person Major-General Igor Konashenkov said. “In connection with the expected negotiations, the Russian president yesterday afternoon ordered the suspension of the advance of the main forces of the Russian Federation,” Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov told reporters during a conference…

Ireland kept the pressure on unbeaten Six Nations leaders France with a 57-6 crushing of Italy yesterday in what descended into farce after the visitors were forced to play most of it with 13 men. Ireland were 7-3 up when replacement hooker Hame Faiva, on for the injured Gianmarco Lucchesi, was sent off and because Italy resorted to uncontested scrums, they had to nominate another player to go off for the final 61 minutes. With gaps everywhere, the hosts followed up Joey Carbery’s early try with eight more from Jamison Gibson-Park, Peter O’Mahony, Kieran Treadwell, Ryan Baird and two each for James Lowe and debutant Michael Lowry. Ireland, who trail France by three points, need to beat England and Scotland to have a chance of winning the title. “I thought…

Banele Ginindza banele.ginindza@inl.co.za SOUTH Africa’s just transition from coal resources to a mix of renewable energy debate became painfully historic as Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Gwede Mantashe likened the “enforced march” to renewables as akin to the 1856/7 prophecy by Nongqawuse that people in the Cape Colony must destroy available assets in anticipation of future windfalls. Mantashe, who is Xhosa, said the temperament of green energy proponents suggested that South Africa should immediately desist from utilising its fossil fuel resources, enough for two more centuries, in favour of the yet unproven efficiency of renewable energy, from sun, wind, nuclear battery storage and hydrogen outcomes. In April, 1856 the 15-year old Nongqawuse and her friend Nombanda went to scare birds from her uncle’s crops in the fields by the sea…

From page 1 Western Cape Economic Growth and Tourism MMC James Vos said cities exist in a global village and rely on each other for travel and trade. Vos said commodities and products from different countries make the world go round, and wars and conflicts harm economies and cost jobs. “Trade deficits will negatively impact the socio-economic landscape, and the steep rise in fuel price will make it more difficult for economic recovery and readiness,” Vos said. Consumers are now set to dig deeper into their pockets this week as the Department of Mineral Resources and Energy (DMRE) announced steep increases in the petrol price at the weekend. Both 93 and 95 petrol are expected to increase by R1.46 a litre. Diesel will increase by R1.48 a litre and illuminating…

Matthew Petersen matthew.petersen@inl.co.za FORMER South African paralympian swimmer Achmat “Sharkboy” Hassiem is in a coma following complications after routine back surgery. The post-op complications have left him on life support in the ICU. He was admitted to hospital in September 2021 for the initial operation. Achmat grew up in Cape Town and attended Bergvliet High School. He was an unfortunate victim of a shark attack which caused the lower part of his right leg to be amputated. The attack earned him the nickname Sharkboy. Achmat represented South Africa at the 2008, 2012 and 2016 Paralympic games. He won the bronze medal in the 100m butterfly event in 2012. His condition in hospital since his operation seems to have gone from bad to worse and his family have provided updates on…

Anita Nkonki anita.nkonki@inl.co.za THE première of the much-anticipated movie, Fistful of Vengeance, where renowned actress Pearl Thusi stars as a gun-slinging warrior, saw her become a subject of the talk as the movie punched to the top on Netflix becoming a global success. It is evident Thusi pulled out all the stops to master her role in the movie released a week ago, that many film fanatics are fascinated with. As a result she has been receiving praise from notables across the country for her acting skills as well the success of the movie. This also saw her receive praise from American actress, Queen Latifah. Thusi delved into a conversation with The Star about the movie. “I guess I have been part of the movie for over a year now.…

THERE is a Setswana idiom that goes “Kgomo e tshwarwa ka mogala, motho o tshwarwa ka loleme” (a cow is caught by a rope while a man is caught through a tongue). It goes without saying that the tongue can break or build. Last week Cosatu official Bongani Masuku was ordered to tender an unconditional apology to the Jewish community following the hate speech he made in 2009 during the Israel Apartheid Week talk co-hosted by Cosatu and the Palestinian Solidarity Committee on the University of Witwatersrand campus. The case lasted for more than a decade and was eventually resolved by the Constitutional Court. Like many court battles, this one will also help us to better understand hate speech and other products of racism in a country that continues to…

Khotso Moleko | Bloemfontein WE ALL know there is freedom of expression in South Africa, but that should not always warrant a response of insults and disrespect to those views different from one’s own – particularly when the commentator is a former president like Thabo Mbeki, or a distinguished jurist like Mogoeng Mogoeng. It should not matter that you simply do not like someone: your human emotions and taste mean nothing in the face of facts. If you have not walked a certain route then you should ask those who know the way. If the desire of the clever and enlightened is for the ANC to lose power, that is not the reality of the past election result and therefore of most voters. Elections are won through the…

Jacques Sibomana The latest official data reflect that two out of every three young people under 35 years in South Africa are unemployed, according to an article by the Daily Maverick published on December 5, 2021. In a country where every job matters, creating job opportunities has been the country’s focus to reduce the level of inequalities and other social and economic ills. We continue to see banks in South Africa behaving unpatriotically towards this call. When the president called on all South Africans in the private and public sectors to work together to reduce the level of unemployment, it seemed that South African banks were on their own mission to cut 8 000 jobs. In the past 10 years, I have worked with both informal and formal small…

More than 150 000 people have left Ukraine so far, many of them to Poland, Romania, Moldova or Hungary, UN High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi said at the weekend. “Displacement (of people) in Ukraine is also growing, but the military situation makes it difficult to estimate numbers and provide aid,” Grandi said on Twitter. Russia began a special operation to demilitarise and “de-nazify” Ukraine on Thursday, responding to calls from the Donetsk and Luhansk people’s republics for help in countering the aggression of Ukrainian forces. Russian troops entered the second- largest Ukraine city of Kharkiv and fighting was under way yesterday, the head of the regional administration said on the fourth day of Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine. Explosions rocked oil and gas installations there, Reuters reported. Moscow…

Eshlin Vedan eshlin.vedan@inl.co.za Royal AM goalkeeper Patrick Nyame pulled off yet another masterclass for his team, helping them earn a vital 2-0 Premiership win against SuperSport United at Lucas ‘Masterpieces’ Moripe Stadium in Atteridgeville, Pretoria, yesterday. SuperSport only have themselves to blame for not winning as their chances were there, but they failed to take advantage. The opening 10 minutes of the game were action packed. Royal surprisingly took the lead against the run of play in the seventh minute as Mxolisi Macuphu got himself into a good position through excellent timing of his run before slotting the ball beyond Ronwen Williams. Royal got their second after 76 minutes through Victor Letsoalo from the penalty spot after Guily Manziba was penalised. Other than having to pick the ball out of…