Innholdsfortegnelse for 2022-09-01 i Star

MOTUS, the automotive group, sharply lifted its dividend 71 percent to 710 cents in 2022 and remains in a robust financial position to support investment in growth and acquisitions, to pay dividends and to consider share repurchases. A final dividend of 435c per share was declared yesterday. This despite many headwinds, and after headline earnings per share increased by 72 percent to 2 025c, following a 57 percent increase in attributable profit to R3.29 billion. “The strength of the group lies in our integrated business model, diversification and scale. Despite macro challenges faced around the globe, Motus remains resilient and sufficiently agile to navigate the environment and capitalise on opportunities. “We expect to deliver positive earnings growth and a solid financial position for…

IT IS IMPORTANT for our economy and our country that the Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE) reverses the trend of delistings. At its height in the 1990s, the JSE boasted some 850 companies listed on the bourse. Today the number is down to some 340. Last year, 25 companies delisted from the JSE, preceded by 20 others in 2020 and 24 in 2019. Conversely, the JSE enjoyed just seven initial public offerings (IPOs) last year and four the previous year. The combined market capitalisation of the JSE listings is around $1.36 trillion (R23trln), which makes it the largest in Africa, and 19th by size globally. The NYSE at $25.85trln and the Nasdaq at $17.36trln by comparison are by some way the largest bourses, followed by the Shanghai Stock Exchange…

Leonardo DiCaprio and Camila Morrone have split, sources say. The Titanic star, 47, and the Daisy Jones and the Six star, 25, have called it quits after four years together. A source told People magazine that the pair, who first got together in January 2018, were no longer together, but representatives for the two of them declined to comment on the claims. An insider told the same magazine in 2019 that the couple were “pretty serious” about each other. At the time, they said: “It’s definitely not a casual relationship. Camila spends a lot of time at his house. Camila is long known as Leo’s girlfriend. And Leo introduced her to both of his parents.” Another person said DiCaprio, who has been linked to a number of beauties such…

COPE president Mosiuoa “Terror” Lekota has rejected his suspension and vowed to stay on as leader of the opposition party until its next elective conference in 2023. The 74-year-old trended on social media yesterday following a scuffle that took place during a press briefing held at the Birchwood Hotel in Boksburg. Lekota said he called the media briefing in response to calls from the public and members of Cope for him to clarify his suspension, announced by the party’s deputy president, Willie Madisha, through a media statement on Monday. Lekota has been accused of sowing division in the party and not being physically fit to run Cope after recently undergoing surgery for prostate cancer. During yesterday’s media briefing, three people wearing Cope regalia stormed into the building and demanded that…

CONVICTED murderer Oscar Pistorius believes he is eligible for parole because he has served half his prison sentence. The disgraced athlete has asked the North Gauteng High Court in Pretoria to compel the chairperson of the Atteridgeville Correctional Centre to hold a parole hearing for him. According to the calculations of Pistorius and his lawyer, Julian Knight, he has served half the eventual 15 years meted out to him by the Supreme Court of Appeal, and is therefore entitled to be considered for parole. But the calculations of the prison authorities indicate he would have served only half his sentence in March next year. The confusion followed the appeals and orders issued by the Supreme Court after trial Judge Thokozile Masipa of the North Gauteng High Court in Pretoria…

THE launch of South Africa’s first mobile wash service aims to bring dignity and hope to the homeless. The wash bus, named “Nina Manzi”, meaning “mother of water”, has four hot water showers and four toilets, divided for male and female use. The project is a collaboration between Viva Con Agua, U-Turn and Baz-Art. The initiative has been running since July in the Claremont area in Cape Town, and over time will move to Muizenberg and Mitchells Plain, and also aims to visit other key sites that are providing real solutions to the homelessness issue across the city. “Homelessness has become an unavoidable reality in South Africa’s urban landscape, particularly in Cape Town. The reality of living on the street in South Africa paints a bleak picture, with affected individuals…

Now on their last few legs of the Joy tour, MTN Joyous Celebration heads to Sun City, Rustenburg in the North West for a one-night only concert on Saturday. The Joy tour has been far and wide, both locally and outside South Africa, bringing fans of Joyous a much-needed and memorable musical experience. MTN Joyous Celebration will grace the Superbowl conference centre after a series of successful shows that kicked off in Carnival City at the beginning of the year and moved to Middelburg, Durban, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Gqeberha. Joyous Celebration co-founder Dr Lindelani Mkhize spoke about the show and the importance of keeping their fans joyful with their music. “We always put our best foot forward with every season’s offering to show our gratitude for the…

Lewis Hamilton and Fernando Alonso eased off to avoid a prolonged war of words on Monday following their acrimonious collision in Sunday’s Belgian Grand Prix. Mercedes’ seven-time world champion and his one-time McLaren teammate crashed on the opening lap with Hamilton forced to retire after an airborne ride over his rival’s Alpine car. In the heat of the moment the veteran Spaniard blasted the British driver as “an idiot”. Hamilton revisited the incident on social media, writing: “First I want to apologise to my fans and especially those who came out to support me. “After almost 30 years of racing, the feeling left from a mistake cuts just as deep as the first. “My team, who work so hard, deserved more.” Alonso, 41, was also more composed in his comments…

DEANO van Rooyen and Ashley du Preez are closer than brothers. The pair grew up together in the same household with Du Preez’s mother, who is Van Rooyen’s aunt, having taken the Stellenbosch FC midfielder in from a young age to further his education. It is a bond that grew even stronger when the Idas Valley duo joined Stellenbosch FC at the same time back in 2015/16 whilst still teenagers. But last Sunday at the Danie Craven Stadium they found themselves on opposing teams for the first time after Du Preez’s high-profile move to Kaizer Chiefs in the off-season. There was a possibility that Du Preez was not going to be ready for the clash after picking up an injury. But Du Preez passed a late fitness test and went…

THIS WEEK social media and posts on Twitter were abuzz with concern over the continued spate of potential delistings by firms on the JSE. This after US retail giant Walmart announced on Monday that it made an offer to buy 47 percent of shares that it doesn’t already own in Massmart for R6.4 billion. If the offer is accepted, it plans to delist it. This week Grindrod Shipping was offered R842bn by London-listed Taylor Maritime Investments to buy out the shares it does not already own. This would lead to the delisting of the firm from the JSE if the deal goes ahead. Last week Rebosis Property Fund said it had filed for business rescue and planned to delist. In questions sent to Paul Miller, a director at…

August has been quite the month for reality TV star Mohale Motaung following the airing of his Showmax special Mohale: On The Record. In the tell-all, Motaung took control of the narrative as he shared his version of events of his highly-publicised marriage with media personality Somizi Mhlongo. The former couple were once Mzansi’s poster couple with their first-of-its-kind same- sex wedding special, Somizi & Mohale: The Union, which earned them a nomination at the South African Film and Television Awards. Mohale: On The Record topped the trends list on Twitter as viewers took in all the bombshells Motaung dropped in his Oprah Winfrey-style interview with news anchor and radio host Aldrin Sampear. Motaung filled in the blanks in the special, after being the main topic on Living The Dream…

Spaza shopowner and landlord couple beat youth over R6 A 16-YEAR-OLD Soweto Grade 10 boy is recuperating in hospital after a shopkeeper and his landlord allegedly beat him with a panga, knobkierie and a knife last Friday. This was after Nkanyezi Khumalo allegedly threw bricks and stones on the roof of the shop after the shopkeeper had short-changed him by R6. After trying to get the shopkeeper to reimburse him, his mother, Ellen Khumalo, said his son was insulted by the shopkeeper, who enlisted the help of his landlord. This then led to the landlord couple beating the boy with a panga and knife, while the shopkeeper used a knobkierie. His distraught mother said seeing her son on the floor bleeding, hurt her and left her deeply disturbed. “We are…

THE court case against the project manager of Digital Vibes communications agency, which was involved in the multimillion-rand corruption scandal with the Department of Health, was yesterday postponed for a Xhosa interpreter to be present. Lizeka Tonjeni, 47, returned to the Pretoria Specialised Commercial Crimes Court yesterday. However, the matter had to be abruptly postponed as the interpreter was unable to understand and translate some of the words used during the proceedings. As a result, the court said, in a bid to ensure fairness of the trial, the matter would be stood down to ensure that a Xhosa interpreter could be available for the proceedings. The court also heard that the first State witness would not be present to testify due to a family emergency. The witness was excused, but…

dancers from Pretoria went head- to-head in one of the biggest dance competitions, Red Bull Dance Your Style, where 19-year-old Kamogelo “Sneaky Kay” Malebye from Soshanguve won the last spot of the regional qualifiers. This high energy event was hosted by Pacou Mutombo, creating a buzz of excitement in the State Theatre, where the spectators voted for the best street dancer, who will be representing the city at the national final in October. Earlier this year, Red Bull Dance Your Style embarked on a regional qualifier tour in search for the best street dancers that will compete for the ultimate national title and represent Mzansi at the Red Bull Dance Your Style World Final on December 10. Malebye was elated after taking the title. “I’m excited and very happy…

WHEN Isuzu launched their new D-Max earlier this year in Gqeberha it was done with great fanfare including a visit from the State President. Understandably so, the launch had been postponed a number of times because the world had gone mad because of Covid-19 and when things eased up the industry faced a number of challenges including shipping and chip shortages. It seems to be easing up as the industry slowly returns to some kind of normal and that can only be a good thing. A good thing also is the Isuzu D-Max 1.9 Ddi Double Cab LS that we recently had on test. There’s a slew of options ranging from a humble workhorse single cab through to the executive-type V-Cross 4x4. The LS double cab sits almost in…

Ben Stokes will lead an unchanged 14-man England squad into next week’s third and deciding Test match against the Proteas at The Oval after it was released yesterday. England levelled the three-match series at 1-1 with a dominant innings and 85-run win inside three days in the second Test at Old Trafford. Stokes scored 103 for his first Test century as skipper and wicket-keeper Ben Foakes 113 not out. England’s victory followed the Proteas’ almost as crushing innings and 12-run win in the first Test at Lord’s. That is the only defeat England have suffered while winning all the other five of their six matches since Stokes replaced Joe Root as permanent red-ball captain at the start of the season. Barring late injuries, it looks likely England will deploy the…

MANQOBA Mngqithi has been in the game long enough to know that past results are nothing more than a sign of what was and that they have little to no impact on what will be. As he looked ahead to their clash with SuperSport United, the Mamelodi Sundowns co-coach was reading nothing into the Brazilians’ recent MTN8 victory over Matsatsantsa. The soft-spoken coach is expecting an even tougher test from their Tshwane rivals when they meet in a Premiership clash at Lucas Moripe Stadium tomorrow. “Playing SuperSport is always a tough match regardless of the competition and regardless of the frequency as to how many times we have played them, and what was the outcome of the previous match. So, we are expecting another tough encounter,” Mngqithi said. Sundowns beat…

CASHBUILD, Southern Africa’s largest retailer of building materials and products, reported a 33 percent decline in headline earnings to 2 873 cents a share in the year to June 30 after trading flattened out from a boom during the Covid-19 pandemic. The results were not entirely com- parable to the previous year and Cash- build had not anticipated the record trading conditions of last year, when home improvements were at an all-time high due to Covid lockdowns, to be maintained. In 2021, for instance, Cashbuild’s headline earnings in- creased 151 percent over 2020. Chief executive Werner de Jager said 2022 nevertheless produced solid results, with revenue decreasing by 12 percent to R11.1 billion. Revenue for stores in existence before July 2020 (304 pre-existing stores)…

The 16th annual South African Film and Television Awards (Saftas) is set to be a star-studded affair, judging by the hosts alone. The cream of the crop in the entertainment industry have been selected to bring viewers at home all the glitz and glam of the two-day event. In keeping with the theme, “Frame the Future”, the Saftas announced that those spearheading the celebrations will be a fresh crop of newcomers and familiar faces who represent the future of South African talent. Get ready for the likes of radio and TV personalities Smash Afrika and Candice Modiselle, media personality Khutso Theledi, comedian and TV personality Mpho Popps, and actor, TV presenter and GQ’s best-dressed break-out star Ryle de Morny to anchor the main night as the official “Saftas Main Awards…

THE case against suspended Public Protector advocate Busisiwe Mkhwebane proceeded briefly in the Pretoria Magistrate’s Court where she stands accused of three charges of perjury. The case was postponed to allow the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) to make a final decision on her representation. Mkhwebane was not asked to plead on the charges because the decision of Gauteng Director of Public Prosecutions, Andrew Chauke, on her representation is still pending. Yesterday, the NPA indicated that it would furnish Mkhwebane with its decision next week. Her legal team was also considering making the same representation to the National Director of Public Prosecutions, advocate Shamila Batohi. The case was postponed to December 9. NPA spokesperson Lumka Mahanjana said the postponement was granted to allow the prosecutorial authority to complete its judicial review…

Public Order Police members were deployed at the Kalafong Provincial Tertiary Hospital in Atteridgeville yesterday to ward off intimidation and threats made by Operation Dudula against undocumented foreigners seeking medical treatment at the facility. Hospital CEO Dr Sello Matjila said staff and patients were comforted by the presence of the police. The police have been accused of failing to act against protesters preventing patients suspected of being foreigners from accessing medical services. For the past three weeks, protesters have been turning away undocumented foreigners from the facility. Despite the police’s presence, some protesters gathered outside the hospital premises yesterday, but they appeared not to pose threats to patients arriving for medical care. Also present were a group of EFF members who spoke out against Operation Dudula’s activities. The EFF in…

It is very difficult to express my feelings about seeing on television Brian Molefe and Anoj Singh being brought from the holding cells into court as common criminals to answer serious charges of corruption. But justice must take its course, and they have to answer the charges. Indeed, they are innocent until proven guilty. My heart went out especially to Molefe, who looked very disorientated. He is one of the indisputable brains in this country who should have used his intellect for the betterment of the country, but instead got involved or was caught up in this web of serious malfeasance. This is just one of the problems bringing this country down. Instead of people using their acumen to focus on being positive and developing the country, they get caught…

THE most-watched series in Showmax’s history, The Wife is set to premiere on Mzansi Magic on September 12. Romance, rivalry and revenge is what viewers can expect when the country’s most buzzed-about show hits their screens. Inspired by author Dudu Busani-Dube’s Hlomu the Wife series of books, The Wife follows the love story of a feisty young journalist, Hlomu, portrayed by Mbalenhle Mavimbela, and the unpredictable taxi driver and taxi owner, Mqhele, played by Bonko Khoza. However, their story is the anchor around which others live. As much as The Wife is a show about a young couple in love, it is also about loyalty, family and the lengths people go to in the name of both. Director of Local Entertainment Channels at M-Net, Shirley Adonisi, said: “Having seen its…

Do you have what it takes to outwit and outcompete your opponents in a series of challenges that require both physical and mental stamina? Enter the 2022 Toyota Fortuner Challenge and not only could you claim the ultimate bragging rights, but a brand new Fortuner 2.4 DG-6 4x2, worth around R620 000, could be yours. But what can you expect if you’re selected as one of four contestants this year? The event is set to take place in early October and entries will close on 14 September. Each contestant will team up with a hero-celebrity, as determined by a random draw on the morning of the event. This year’s heroes include well-known fitness guru Grace Motswana, SA rugby union and Cheetahs player Oupa Mohoje, Dakar-winning rally driver Giniel de Villiers…

IT might have been a while, but Deon Fourie has still got it. The Stormers breakdown ace has been named on the Springboks’ bench for their Rugby Championship Test against the Wallabies on Saturday. Fourie, 35, was a standout for the United Rugby Championship-winning Stormers side and thoroughly earned his Bok call-up. While he played at flank for John Dobson’s team, he has quite a bit of experience at hooker. Therefore, the workhorse has no issues with offering reinforcement in the No 16 jersey. There have been quite a few throw-in issues at the lineout for the Boks recently and, naturally, Fourie was asked if he is up for the task should he take the field in Sydney. “I think that’s only a small part of being hooker, there are…

EMMA Raducanu became only the third defending champion to exit the US Open in the first round on Tuesday, while four-time winner Rafael Nadal overcame an early scare against a player ranked 198th in the world. Raducanu, 19, slumped to a 6-3, 6-3 defeat to veteran French player Alize Cornet, who is competing in a record 63rd consecutive Grand Slam. Nadal saw off Australian wild card Rinky Hijikata 4-6, 6-2, 6-3, 6-3 to register his 65th career win in New York. Raducanu has struggled in the spotlight of being a Grand Slam winner, failing to get beyond the second round of any of the previous three majors in 2022. “In a way I’m happy because it’s a clean slate. The target will be off my back,” said the teenager. World…