Innholdsfortegnelse for 2023-05-03 i Star

Growth in sub-Saharan Africa expected to slow for second consecutive year as ‘big funding freeze’ hits THE WORLD Economic Forum (WEF) has warned of weak economic growth and very high inflation for the sub- Saharan Africa region in 2023 as prospects of a global recession remain evenly balanced. In its Chief Economists Outlook report released yesterday, the WEF said at least 63% of more than 40 chief economists surveyed expected weak economic growth in the sub-Saharan Africa region, while 33% were expecting moderate growth. Growth in sub-Saharan Africa is expected to slow for the second consecutive year to 3.6% as a “big funding squeeze”, tied to the drying up of aid and access to private finance, hits the region. The WEF said that sub-Saharan Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean…

SOUTH Africa’s manufacturing sector remained in the contractionary territory at the beginning of the second quarter of 2023, in spite of slightly easing from an eight-month low in April. The seasonally adjusted Absa Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI), released yesterday, rose to 49.8 points in April, from an eight-month low of 48.1 points in March. The latest reading pointed to the third consecutive month of contraction in the country’s manufacturing activity, though the softest in the sequence. Despite the improvement, the index failed to edge back above the neutral 50-point mark, which separates contraction from expansion, as business activity and new sales orders worsened relative to March. The business activity index had a poor start to the second quarter of 2023, edging lower in April to 47.6 index…

IMPALA Platinum (Implats) held 45.09% of its takeover target Royal Bafokeng Platinum (RBPlat) by May 2, after it strengthened its bid last month with a further 10.31 million RBPlat shares. Northam Platinum, which had also tried to acquire RBPlat, recently withdrew its bid because PGM prices had fallen from when Northam made a cash offer at the end of 2021. Northam had built up a 34.5% stake before exiting its bid. Over the past 18 months, both Northam and Implats regularly upped their stakes in RBPlat to gain control of the mid-tier platinum metals miner. Implats said yesterday in a report for the quarter to March 31 that it had concluded purchase agreements for 2.39 million shares in RBPlat during the period, for an offer consideration of…

l Spike in petrol prices the latest blow The cost of living crisis continues to crush ordinary South Africans, with data from the latest BankservAfrica Take-home Pay Index (BTPI) showing that life became more expensive for salaried workers in March. BankservAfrica’s head of Stakeholder Engagements, Shergeran Naidoo, said salaries measured in the BTPI had been disappointing over the last 12 months. Naidoo said: “Consumer inflation reached a 13-year high of 6.9% in 2022, resulting in a notable erosion of the purchasing power of households.” He said the average nominal take-home pay in March had declined on a monthly basis to R15 321. Independent economist Elize Kruger said: “With inflation remaining elevated for longer than hoped, and little indication of a notably different economic environment in 2023, salary adjustments and…

Senzo Meyiwa’s friend has told the North Gauteng High Court in Pretoria how he and the Bafana Bafana captain cancelled their plans to go to a party the day the soccer star died. Mthokozisi Twala was testifying on the events that led up to the goalkeeper’s death at the resumption of the court case yesterday. Five men are standing trial for the 2014 murder of Meyiwa at the home of his artist girlfriend Kelly Khumalo in Vosloorus. Twala was one of the people in the house when the soccer star was gunned down. Bongani Ntanzi and his co-accused Sifisokuhle Ntuli, Muzikawukhulelwa Sthemba Sibiya, Mthobisi Prince Ncube and Mthokoziseni Ziphozonke Maphisa are facing charges of premeditated murder and attempted murder. State advocate George Baloyi called the witness to give account…

BORN into a silent world, little Zelmari Maree heard the sound of her parents’ voices for the very first time at the age of nine months after undergoing successful cochlear implantation that has changed the course of her development forever. Now, just a few months later, she is a chatty baby girl who demonstrates utter delight in responding to the busy noises that fill the new and engaging world around her. According to Dr Jacobus Terblanche, an ear, nose and throat surgeon practising at Netcare Kuils River Hospital, a cochlear implant is a small electronic device which helps deaf or severely hard of hearing people recognise sound by working around the damaged part of the inner ear so that sound signals can reach the brain. Zelmari’s mother,…

A woman who is used to the good life will have to tighten her belt after she told the court she needed her estranged husband to contribute R45 000 a month to her monthly expenses, which she estimated to be R137 818.67 a month. Her application was denied. She told the South Gauteng High Court in Johannesburg that while she earned R134 621.94 a month working for an international company, after tax, pension and medical aid contributions she only took home R 81 647.37 a month. This, she said, left her with a significant shortfall, which her husband had to make up in monthly maintenance to her, pending the finalisation of their divorce. She did, however, admit that from April to December last year, she also made money from being…

May Day has come and gone. This historic day presents an opportunity for workers to take stock and celebrate their successes, if there are any. It seems there are more losses than wins for workers. The truth is: the number of workers has shrunk. And it is expected to shrink even further in years to come. Consequently, the power (bargaining, striking and so on) of employees is waning, if not already. On the other hand, the voice of workers’ union organisations is becoming fainter by the day. I only hear the voice of Cosatu leader Zingiswa Losi once or twice a year. In fact, many workers don’t know who the leader of Cosatu is. Another factor contributing to the weakness of union organisations is corruption. Workers’ money is used by…

The Sharks will only hit Irish shores today, as they prepare to take on top-of-the-log Leinster in Saturday's United Rugby Championship quarter-final. While the Durban side will be without two of their most influential Springboks in captain Siya Kolisi and lock Eben Etzebeth, Leinster will be hoping their big guns can continue their domination after a brilliant display in the Champions Cup at the weekend. Here, Leighton Koopman takes a look at five players the Sharks will have to shut down during the match, if they are to stand a chance of progressing to the semi-finals. Josh van der Flier The Irish flank recently returned from an ankle injury and made an immediate impact in Leinster's Champions Cup win over Toulouse this past weekend. He is always prominent around the…

THE EXPECTED increase in the cost of borrowing in South Africa, with another interest rate hike looming, is going to exert further pressure on vehicle buyers in 2023. This comes as the impact of economic stagnation, rising inflation and high interest rates has started to cripple South African consumers’ buying power as new vehicle sales fell for the second consecutive month in April. The Automotive Business Council (Naamsa) said yesterday that the aggregate domestic new vehicle sales in April fell slightly, by 0.2% year-on-year, from 37 195 vehicles sold in April last year to 37 107, reflecting a decline of 88 vehicle units. Domestic new vehicle sales fell 0.6% year-on-year in March – from 50 465 to 50 157 – reflecting a decline of 308…

RENERGEN plans to commercialise Phase 2 of its helium production in 2026 and has secured several 10- to 15- year off-take agreements with global industrial gas companies for over half of the anticipated production. The balance of the helium was for international spot market sales, the group said yesterday in its first consolidated annual financial report following a transition in the year to February 28, 2023, from an exploration to a production company. Regarding liquefied natural gas (LNG) from Phase 2, Renergen expected to contract most of the production on five to eight-year agreements, servicing the industrial, logistics and gas to power sectors, with the agreements expected to be finalised closer to commissioning, when the group also antici- pated being able to obtain favourable pricing given the scarcity of energy…

From the thrilling political production Woza Albert to the new high fashion musical, The Dress Code, theatre houses in and around Joburg are packed with productions to commemorate Africa Month Woza Albert! After a successful 12-day run at the Joburg Theatre, the world-renowned Woza Albert! Is ALBERT! is headed to the Soweto Theatre, from May 8-12. Written by Percy Mtwa, Mbongeni Ngema and Barney Simon, Woza Albert! stars multi-award-winning actors Hamilton Dhlamini and Thulani Mtshweni. Woza Albert! narrates the struggles of South Africans during the apartheid era by traversing different theatre abstracts to unpack the events of the story. The production uses the metaphor of “Morena (Messiah)” to show what would happen if he came back to South Africa during apartheid. Would he like what he saw? And if he…

IT is nearly a year since Mamelodi businessman Vusi “Khekhe” Mathibela and his three accomplices were convicted of the 2015 murder of billionaire businessman Wandile Bozwana, but they are yet to be sentenced. Sentencing proceedings were postponed once again yesterday in the North Gauteng High Court in Pretoria, this time because advocate Anneline van den Heever, who appeared on behalf of accused Sipho Patrick Hudla and Robert Mutapa, was ill. The lawyer appearing for accused Bonginkosi Paul Khumalo was also not present as he too was sick. As Judge Papi Mosopa’s roll is jam packed until the end of the year, the matter was due to be postponed to August. Judge Mosopa, however, had put his foot down and postponed the sentencing proceedings to May 29. The judge said three…

ONE of the most moving and intimate moments shared by a bridal couple, more specifically a Muslim bride, towards the end of the wedding ceremony as she is greeted and ushered out of the wedding venue and into the next phase of her journey, has been captured on film. Our Cape Town Heritage (OCTH) in collaboration with KnexT – Art Gallery will be presenting the first solo exhibition, The Wedding Salawaat, of wedding photographer Rizqua Barnes. The exhibition offers a glimpse into the moment in which the bride is traditionally covered in faux fur by elderly women, known as hajjis, and ushered and greeted as attendees form a queue-like tunnel in which the bride receives embraces, while the salawaat is recited. The salawaat is a prayer considered…

Multi-award-winning music talent Nomfundo Moh, whose real name is Nomfundo Ngcobo, continues to be a beacon of light through her artistry as she gifts her fans with another album, Ugcobo. Ugcobo, directly translated as “anointing”, follows the success of the chart-topping and award-winning album, Amagama. The album is set to be released later this month, and she has been leading with two hit songs that have received the nod from her fans. Uthando Lunye and Amalobolo were released last month and have been claiming good spots on the music charts. She said Ugcobo was motivated by the support from her peers with the release of Amagama. “Through the success of the first album, Amagama, and being a recent graduate, I saw what an amazing impact it had on my…

Not since the 2018/19 season have Orlando Pirates looked like a team that’s on course to qualify for the CAF Champions League. Then coached by Micho Sredojevic, Pirates’ only competitors in the Premiership were Mamelodi Sundowns and no wonder the two sides dragged the title race down to the wire. Sundowns prevailed by a two-point margin on the last day of the season, but the Sea Robbers put up a fight that appeased The Ghost. Pirates’ runners-up finish sailed them back onto the biggest stage in inter-club football – a competition that they pride themselves with winning in 1995. Since then, though, coaches have come and gone with the Sea Robbers’ ship hardly making an impact such as achieved by journeyman Sredojevic. It appears that will change under a man…

THE COUNTRY was sent into a frenzy this past weekend as droves of shoppers flocked to Checkers stores just to get their hands on the viral sensation PRIME drink. Last week the retail giant announc- ed that it will be stocking the internet sensation PRIME Hydration drinks at its stores. A bottle of the drink costs R39.99, with Checkers confirmed as the official South African retail partner. Following the launch of the drink, Checkers said: “The launch of PRIME Hydration at Checkers stores across South Africa was met with an overwhelmingly positive response from customers.” With demand being so high for the product around the globe, Checkers spotted the gap in the South African market for the product and said they started negotiations for selling PRIME Hydration in the country…

MINISTER of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development, Thoko Didiza reiterated yesterday that despite Mangosuthu Buthelezi’s announcement on Friday of Inkosi Thanduyise Mzimela’s withdrawal as the new chairperson of the Ingonyama Trust Board, the de- partment still regarded Mzimela as the chairperson of the trust. Didiza was speaking at the portfolio committee on agriculture, land reform, and rural development briefing held at the National Assembly. “Just to clarify the issue, we have noted the media statement that was made by Inkosi Buthelezi with regard to the consultation which he held with Isilo (King Misuzulu kaZwelithini). “However, there hasn’t been any formal communication to us as indicates anything different than the letter he had written to us. So from where we stand, the chairperson of the Ingonyama Trust board as the…

Rihanna will voice Smurfette in The Smurfs Movie. The Diamonds hitmaker – pregnant with her and A$AP Rocky’s second child – made a surprise appearance at Paramount Pictures’ CinemaCon presentation in Las Vegas last Thursday to reveal she will be playing “a little blue bad a**” in the comedic musical adventure, set for release in February 2025. She joked: “I tried to get the Papa Smurf role but it didn’t work out.” Rihanna will also produce the film – which is being directed by Chris Miller and Matt Landon – and is providing original songs. Other producers include Ryan Harris, Laurence “Jay” Brown, and Tyran “Ty-Ty” Smith, while Pam Brady has written a script inspired by characters and works of Peyo. Fellow pop star Katy Perry previously voiced Smurfette in…

Department of International and Co-operation (ICC) Minister Naledi Pandor has reiterated her stance that the country should adopt a cautionary approach to Russian President Vladimir Putin’s visit to the country later this year. While speaking with Xoli Mngambi on Newzroom Afrika on Monday, Pandor said arresting the president in accordance with an arrest warrant by the ICC would not be a simple matter as there were many other factors that complicated the issue. Putin is due to arrive in August for the BRICS Summit set for Durban. “With respect to the ICC, this is a very difficult international situation. I do think we need to fully consider what the implications might be. It is very correct that there is a special team that Deputy President Paul Mashatile has put together…

ALMOST a month after his fraud trial was postponed, Dr Murunwa Makwarela, the former Tshwane mayor, has not briefed his lawyer about the way forward in his criminal trial. This came to light yesterday during his very brief appearance in the Pretoria Specialised Commercial Crimes Court. Makwarela’s legal counsel told the court he had not been briefed in the matter, and that the case thus had to be postponed so that he could take instructions. It is not clear why Makwarela did not consult with his lawyer, but he was warned by the court to get his matters in order, and not to delay the criminal trial any further. The case was postponed to May 17 so that Makwarela could consult with his defence counsel. He served as the mayor…

Rhino 911 has sponsored a successful rhino horn trimming operation at the Care for Wild Rhino Sanctuary to safeguard rhinos from poaching. Care for Wild said it recently completed a large-scale horn-trimming operation to enhance the protection and conservation of the rhinos under its care. The operation, sponsored by Rhino 911 involved darting and immobilising a significant number of rhinos from both the ground and air. It said a large team of registered vets were supported by Care for Wild’s ground team, Wildlifevets.com, SANParks, and MTPA as well as internationally renowned vet Dr Evan Antin. “Horn trimming, which involves the safe removal of a portion of the rhinos’ horns, was carried out to deter poaching attempts. In addition, each rhino received a vaccination (sponsored by Design Biologix) and vitamin supplements…

Community activist, businessman and the son of former president Jacob Zuma, Duduzane, has formally entered mainstream politics. Zuma recently announced his plans to contest the 2024 general elections as an independent candidate. Speaking to SABC News, the businessman linked to the Gupta brothers said he had decided to fight the country’s potentially watershed 2024 national election outside the ANC because he “wants to be part of the solution”. Zuma has in the past few years endeared himself to the local masses, especially in KwaZulu-Natal, where he enjoys community support across the province. He said the time for small talk was over, adding that change was needed to get the country out of its woes due to the non-delivery of basic services. “Change is necessary; change was either going to happen…

It’s quarter-final week in the United Rugby Championship (URC), and despite the Stormers’ dominance over the Bulls in recent seasons, it is sure to be an exciting affair at the Cape Town Stadium on Saturday (kick-off 3.30pm). Here, Ashfak Mohamed, looks at five match-ups this weekend where the the players will be going all out to impress Springbok coach Jacques Nienaber. Kurt-Lee Arendse v Damian Willemse Arendse has been a sensation for the Bulls and Boks over the last few seasons. His electric pace can spark the attack and end in tries, while he is fearless in defence and under the high ball. Willemse is the ultimate footballer. Able to play in multiple positions across the backline, he is likely to feature at fullback instead of inside centre, where Dan…

Jurgen Klopp said his aggressive confrontation with match officials after Liverpool’s dramatic late winner against Tottenham was down to “emotion” and “anger in that moment”. The FA is investigating comments by the Reds boss that appeared to call into question the integrity of referee Paul Tierney after Sunday’s 4-3 victory at Anfield. Following Diogo Jota’s late winner, Klopp ran down the touchline to celebrate in front of fourth official John Brooks and received a yellow card from Tierney. “The whole situation shouldn’t have happened at all,” Klopp said yesterday as the Reds prepare for their Premier League midweek clash against Fulham. “It was out of emotion, out of anger in that moment. That’s why I celebrated the way I celebrated. “I didn’t say anything wrong. I couldn’t get close to…