Innholdsfortegnelse for 2023-08-17 i Star

SUN INTERNATIONAL said yesterday that it expects an increase in its interim earnings of between 73% and 98%, boosted by SunBet, which generated record income. In a trading statement for six months ended June 30, 2023, the group said yesterday that basic earnings per share were expected to be a profit of between 161 cents per share and 180 cents per share, representing an increase of between 71% and 92% compared to the prior corresponding period’s basic earnings of 94c per share. Headline earnings per share were likely to be a profit of between 161c per share and 184c per share, representing an increase of between 73% and 98%. According to Sun International, during the period, SunBet generated record income and was well on its way to achieving the…

The BRICS New Development Bank (NDB) has successfully raised R1.5 billion after issuing its first South African rand-denominated bonds to boost its local currency fundraising and lending. The NDB issued its debut ZAR bond in the South African bond market on Tuesday, becoming the highest rated issuer to issue in this market since 2015. The bank said yesterday the book was well supported, with more than R2.5bn in bids across the three- and five-year tranches, allowing the NDB to exercise its option to upsize the trade from R1bn to R1.5bn. According to the NDB, 94% of bids were within or lower than price guidance, with the outcome representing the tightest spreads achieved by any non-government issuer in the South African debt capital markets in 2023. The order book was…

THE FNB HOUSE Price Index growth slowed to 1.1% year-on-year in July, down from 1.6% in June in line with falling buying activity, with mortgage volumes now tracking closer to pre-pandemic levels and more sellers having to lower their asking prices. The average bond amount, estimated from deeds data, has declined by about 3% this year, marking the first decline in 14 years, the bank and financial services group’s senior economist Siphamandla Mkhwanazi said yesterday in the FNB Property Barometer. While the trend for house prices is downward at present, the building of homes in terms of units has been on an upward trend since 2010, when compared with non-residential buildings, and alterations and additions. Pam Golding Properties CEO Andrew Golding said on Tuesday that in terms of units, the…

Safaricom’s M-Pesa mobile money service went live in Ethiopia yesterday, in a boost to the Kenyan telecoms operator as it seeks to kick-start growth in one of Africa’s biggest economies. Safaricom, which is part owned by South Africa’s Vodacom and Britain’s Vodafone, launched its voice and data network in Ethiopia last year and has signed up more than two million active users. Safaricom introduced M-Pesa in Kenya in 2007. The service has grown to become the company’s biggest moneymaker and is also offered in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Egypt, Ghana, Kenya, Lesotho, Mozambique and Tanzania. “M-Pesa is known to be a game-changer for financial inclusion,” said Stanley Njoroge, Safaricom Ethiopia’s interim CEO. “We will continue to broaden the services our customers receive from the M-Pesa platform.” Safaricom became the…

SMALl businesses have often been referred to as the “backbone of the South African economy” – and for good reason. A recent report by McKinsey found that pre-pandemic, SMEs represented more than 98% of the total businesses in South Africa and employed between 50% to 60% of the workforce. These findings paint a telling picture – one which illustrates the relative importance of small businesses, not only as an engine of economic growth but as a possible solution to several pressing issues. Arguably, the greatest of these issues is youth unemployment. Recent estimates put South Africa’s youth unemployment among individuals aged 15 to 24-years-old, at more than 60% – one of the highest in the world. Given the level at which the small business sector can generate the number of…

WHEN the Public and Commercial Union of South Africa was launched on December 16, 2021, during Dr Vuyo Dyanti’s acceptance speech, one of the first issues he impressed upon to members of the union and civil society present was that the banking industry has a race sickness, and the time to stone the modern-day Goliath is upon us. South Africa has a well-recognised banking oligopoly. We also have a banking ombudsman who represents the consumer and a self-regulated body, the Banking Association South Africa (Basa), which exists to advance “the interests of the industry with its regulators, legislators and stakeholders, to make banking sustainable, profitable and better able contribute to the social and economic development and transformation of the country.” I’m particularly curious about Basa’s stance on advancing “industry” interests…

THE SOUTH Africa domestic airline market looks very different now than it did before the Covid-19 pandemic. Some long-established players are no longer flying, new players have entered the fray, and incumbents have expanded their routes. The country has also lagged the overall recovery of the global avia- tion industry. Oliver Wyman PlaneStats data shows that, at the end of 2022, South Africa’s domestic airline capacity was only at 70% of the levels seen pre-pandemic, whereas globally capacity has returned to levels seen in 2019. This is not to say there hasn’t been a recovery: our analysis shows that there was a compound annual growth rate in terms of seat capacity in South Africa of 26% between 2020 and 2022. But overall, fewer people are flying than they were in…

South African rock music star Angie Oeh (real name Angelique Greef) took to social media to share the news of her being diagnosed with stage 4 lung cancer. The 24-year-old Sex in Afrikaans rapper admitted that she was afraid, moments after receiving the cancer diagnosis. Oeh, who is from Pretoria, told followers: “Today I was diagnosed with stage 4 lung cancer, I’m afraid. Every time I get chance to think, I end up crying. “How could this happen to me so fast without feeling or knowing anything. “Right now I’m so sick, I need to ask someone to pass me the water bottle which is right next to me. “I’m 24 and tomorrow I need to undergo a life-changing operation followed by six months of chemo.” She appealed to friends…

STANDARD Bank, among other banks, may have breached the law when it failed to act after the global financial crime watchdog found that South Africa had become a high-risk country after failing to address strategic inadequacies to combat money laundering and terrorist financing. South Africa remains greylisted by global financial crime watchdog the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) for not fully complying with international standards around the prevention of money laundering, terrorist financing and proliferation financing. But despite the existing potential reputational risk, the banks as compelled by the regulatory authority, are taking it upon themselves to close accounts instead of reporting suspicious activity to the Financial Intelligence Centre (FIC) in line with the FIC Act. According to Standard Bank’s general terms and conditions on the closure of…

A Johannesburg man who bought a house through an auction nine years ago, is still unable to move in after a court dismissed his application to remove the occupants. Okechukwe Noble Nwaeze bought a property in Bramley View through an auction on January 30, 2014. The auction was arranged by Absa. At the time of the auction, Richard Sputnic Ndlovu occupied the house with his family and they still live in the house. Ndlovu previously entered into an agreement with the property’s former owner, known only as Mearlender, and agreed to buy the property from him. However, Mearlender decided not to go through with the sale of the property. It later turned out that Mearlender owed Absa a significant amount of money which was secured by a mortgage bond. As…

Ingredients 30ml olive oil 1 onion, finely diced 2 garlic cloves, minced 15ml oregano, finely chopped 15ml sage, finely chopped 15ml parsley, finely chopped 1 can lentils, drained 500ml beetroot, peeled and grated 250g mushrooms, sliced Salt and pepper, to taste 125ml dried cranberries 125ml walnuts, roughly chopped 60ml breadcrumbs 10 sheets phyllo pastry 125ml vegan butter or olive oil Method In a large saucepan over medium heat, heat the olive oil and sauté the onions for 5 to 6 minutes, until soft and translucent. Add the garlic and herbs and sauté for another 2 to 3 minutes. Add the lentils, beetroot, mushrooms and seasoning, and cook for 10 minutes on low heat. Once the beetroot and mushrooms are soft, add the dried cranberries, walnuts and breadcrumbs and mix well.…

The ANC must be very careful and rein in its secretary-general Fikile Mbalula. Since being elected to power, he has been engaging in very dangerous behaviour that brings the party into disrepute and if not stopped will have far reaching consequences for the party. For one, he has publicly chastised senior ministers – from Gwede Mantashe to Pravin Gordhan – admonishing them as if they are naughty boys being brought to order by a school principal. In the case of Gordhan, he even went to the extent of threatening that if Gordhan does not perform, he is going to be fired. And he even defends very insulting comments about the ANC leadership that are spewed by the youth league. The ANC is already in…

RESIDENTS of the Centurion suburb Rooihuiskraal are planning to get their hands dirty cleaning Rooihuisqkraal Road, which is infested with rubbish. The Pretoria News yesterday reported that rubbish has piled up on the banks alongside the busy road, nearly spilling onto the road and threatening to disrupt traffic. This is due to the ongoing municipal strike action that has affected service delivery. The garden refuse site across the road has been closed for two weeks because of the strike. However, speaking to Pretoria News, City of Tshwane’s ward 69 councillor Cindy Billson said they were expecting the services to resume immediately. She vowed to rally residents living in the area to help with the cleaning. “The city is going to clean this up. The garden waste site is closed because…

Home Affairs Minister, Dr Aaron Motsoaledi, has been hailed for coming to the assistance of an ill passenger aboard a flight on Monday evening. It is understood that the male passenger aboard from East London to Johannesburg suffered an episode. According to political analyst, Makhosini Mgitywa, who was aboard the flight, the passenger seated behind him had a medical emergency. “I heard a passenger near him shout ‘he’s not breathing’. The FlySafair crew reacted swiftly to manage the crisis. Two doctors sprung into action,” he said. He said the second doctor to respond was sitting further in front. “He was Home Affairs Minister, Dr Aaron Motsoaledi,” Mgitywa said. “The doctors stabilised the patient, assisted by the crew who were superb. When the patient came to, passengers who witnessed this started…

Warning: This story contains graphic details and may be triggering to some readers. Lauren Dickason has been found guilty of murdering her three daughters by a jury in the High Court in Christchurch, New Zealand media reported. After the verdict was passed, tears flowed from some members of the jury and emotional reactions from Lauren’s lawyers, Kerryn Beaton and Anne Toohey, who fought tooth and nail over the last four weeks. The police involved in the case also released a statement after the guilty verdict was passed. “Words cannot begin to express the tragic circumstances of this investigation,” lead officer Detective Inspector Scott Anderson was quoted as saying in Stuff.NZ. But the two people who had one of the hardest pills to swallow, arguably, were Lauren’s parents Wendy and Malcolm…

WHEN the governor of the Reserve Bank appears on television you know it’s not good news and for the last 10 times Lesetja Kganyago has done that consumers have been hit with another blow to their pocket. The exchange rate takes another dive and we brace ourselves for more fuel price increases. Fuel is also the easiest (and nastiest) way for the Government to collect taxes. From daily drives for ordinary citizens, buses, trucks, taxis, tractors and thanks to blackouts generators all need the magic juice to keep going. There are a couple of tips to keep consumption down which we’ll get to later but for now I’m just going to tell you a bit about our long-term Ford Ranger diesel double cab XL and why it’s a good choice…

England coach Sarina Wiegman said she felt she was living in a “fairytale” after her team advanced to the World Cup final with a 3-1 win over co-hosts Australia in Sydney. Yesterday’s semi-final victory saw Wiegman become the first coach to guide two different countries to a Women’s World Cup final, after she took her native Netherlands to the 2019 showpiece match, where they were defeated by the United States. It also left reigning European champions England, who face fellow first-time World Cup finalists Spain in Sunday’s title decider in Sydney, on course for a notable double. “We achieved the final,” Wiegman told the BBC. “It’s unbelievable. “It feels like we won (the tournament), which we didn’t, we just won this game – in an incredible stadium, an away game,…

Springbok prop Ox Nche says he was so worried about not making the World Cup squad that he even considered going easy on his favourite nutrition – chocolate-caramel cake. But that thought did not last, and he just trained harder than ever instead. “It’s too late in the day to change my eating habits,” Nche laughed yesterday during a press conference in Cardiff. “But yes, I was worried about not making the squad. When you are injured, you watch your rivals playing well, and all you can do is train twice as hard when you are able. “In fact, you have to aim to come back fitter than you ever were, because you are behind the guys who have been playing. Nothing beats game conditioning.” In reality, Nche was always…

PROPERTY company Growthpoint will invest around R1.2 billion in student housing by 2026, as it counts on rising demand from the sector to partly offset a slump in other areas. South Africa’s student housing sector has a shortfall of up to 500 000 beds in the formal sector, according to a 2021 International Finance Corporation report, drawing interest from deep-pocketed real estate firms. “I think what’s important to understand is that it’s a lack of institutional-type of accommodation,” said George Muchanya, the head of the company’s Growthpoint Investment Partners unit. The investment comes at a time when the listed South African real estate sector, categorised as real estate investment trusts (Reits), is under pressure to maintain dividends as the trend towards working from home leaves acres of office…

ADVANCED Health’s share price shot up 28.95% to close at 98 cents on the JSE yesterday as the price narrowed the gap between that at which the group is being taken over and yesterday’s “Clean Out Dividend” announcement. At 97c the share was trading at levels it had last seen as long as four years ago. And the price had already escalated dramatically by nearly 90% from last month, when the price rocketed immediately after controlling shareholders of the day hospital group, led by chairperson Alfred Grillenberger, made an offer to buy out the minority shareholders. As reasons for the buyout offer, the controlling shareholders said that after almost a decade on the JSE, the company had not been able to reach a goal of accessing institutional capital, especially…

Origin is now becoming a factor in the diamond industry, according to the CIBJO Diamond Commission, which released a special report yesterday. CIBJO is the World Jewellery Confederation, representing all those earning their livelihoods from jewellery, gemstones and precious metals. The report was released ahead of the 2023 CIBJO Congress to be held in Jaipur, India. The special report addresses recent claims that technologies have developed that are able to accurately identify the exact location at which a rough diamond has been mined. CIBJO Diamond Commission president Udi Sheintal said: “We can only state with confidence is what is known at present,” noting a May 2023 study by the Gemological Institute of America that declared that to date there has not been published any scientifically robust study verifying independent provenance…

E-COMMERCE players Naspers and Prosus, which hold a 26% stake in Tencent, saw their shares slide after China’s tech giant posted a smaller- than-expected 11% rise in second- quarter revenue yesterday. By 12.30pm, shares in Naspers slid 3.41% to R3 249.16, while Prosus’s shares fell 3.59% to R1 314.40. Tencent posted weaker revenue as the country’s sputtering economic recovery weighed on the social media and gaming giant’s recovery from last year’s record downturn. The world’s largest video game company and operator of the WeChat messaging platform said revenue reached 149.20 billion yuan (R392.44bn) for the three months ended June 30. That compared with the 151.73bn yuan average of 21 analyst estimates compiled by Refinitiv showed. Revenue growth was little changed from a 10.7% rise in the first…

Catherine, Princess of Wales is said to have left a £700 (about R1 000) tip at her first music festival party. The mom-of-three, 41, is said to have danced the night away at the 24-hour Houghton Hall event after dining with her Norfolk neighbours, the Marquess and Marchioness of Cholmondeley, David and Rose Hanbury, at their stately home music event over the weekend. Rose Hanbury has been a fixture of late as far as the British royals are concerned. Rumours first surfaced of Hanbury’s alleged affair with Prince William in 2019. The Marchioness of Cholmondeley had reportedly embarked on a relationship with the Prince of Wales while Kate was pregnant with their third child, Prince Louis. A reveller told the London Evening Standard: “(Catherine) was in high spirits, ordering spicy…

Alpine Heath Resort & Conference Centre aha Alpine Heath Resort and Conference Centre is a stylish four-star village in the heart of the Drakensberg. The resort is surrounded by crystal-clear streams and fresh mountain air, and it is widely regarded as one of South Africa’s premier conference and family holiday resorts in the Drakensberg. aha Alpine Heath Resort & Conference Centre offers 100 superb north-facing en-suite, self-catering chalets with breath-taking views of the Drakensberg mountains. The room configuration is 100 Three-Bedroom Self-Catering Chalets, each with one double room and two twin bedrooms. One Chalet is specially modified for physically impaired guests. Each self-catering chalet sleeps a maximum of six people, including children. The rooms also feature en-suite bathrooms, high-speed internet access, and a large work area, making them perfect for…

In the heart of communities across South Africa, where the roots of tradition run deep and ancestral spirits are believed to guide one’s path, a sinister plot is unfolding. Fraudsters, capitalising on the profound respect for traditional African beliefs, have woven a web of deceit that ensnares the unsuspecting and the desperate. The economic hardships faced by many South Africans have made them vulnerable, seeking ancestral guidance more than ever. It is in this climate of hope and desperation that the scam artists have found fertile ground. “Scam artists are abusing cultural belief systems and are taking advantage of the believers’ financial desperation to scam them for everything they have,” warns Nazia Karrim, head of product development at the Southern African Fraud Prevention Service (SAFPS). The intricacy of these scams…

Azad Essa was appointed by Al-Jazeera media to cover the story during 2012. In 2017, he insisted that I accompany him to the site of that terribly horrific massacre to check if there had been any improvement in the lot of the Platinum mine-workers. It was horrific to witness the ugly squalor conditions that even registered, full -time workers at the mine still had to endure. Shacks of the lowest quality, no electricity and crowded conditions were the order of that depressing day. The mound or koppie, on which the gun-driven shooting of protesting miners occurred, stood silently like an immortal sentinel. A witness of police brutality acting under instructions. It was basically all about a minimum wage. Thirty-four workers were mowed down. After dragging their heels for more than…

TRAFFIC in the Pretoria CBD is expected to come to a standstill tomorrow as Cosatu members march to Tshwane House in solidarity with the ongoing wage strike by municipal workers. The trade union federation said it supported the demands by SA Municipal Workers Union (Samwu) to defend the collective bargaining agreement and pay workers their salary increase. The call was despite the fact that the City last week decided to file the salary and wage increases exemption application at the South African Local Government Bargaining Council. The exemption application is expected to be heard at the bargaining council between the city and labour unions Independent Municipal & Allied Trade Union and Samwu on August 23. According to the city, the application was anchored on irrefutable evidence of its financial position,…

Police in Essex, United Kingdom, have arrested a 23-year-old man for allegedly stealing dummies from children’s mouths. Josh Guilder is accused of approaching children between February 10 and August 7 in the Staple Tye Shopping Centre, Woodcroft, Parsloe Road, and Cooks Spinney areas and allegedly approaching people with babies and taking their dummies. “Officers from our Criminal Investigation Department were carrying out enquiries in Harlow on Monday and arrested a 23-year-old man on suspicion of theft from a person, robbery and using threatening behaviour to cause alarm or distress. He remains in custody,” Essex police said in a statement. Guilder has been charged with five counts of theft, three counts of common assault, and a public order offence. “We know these incidents rightly caused concern amongst the community in Harlow.…

The Toyota Vitz hit South African streets back in April with a price tag that undercut its Agya predecessor, and now the little Suzuki-based hatch is even cheaper, for a limited time. According to the company’s local website, the Toyota Vitz line-up now costs exactly R20 000 less thanks to a special offer. This means that the base 1.0 manual model is now priced at R169 900, which means it ties with the smaller Suzuki S-Presso as South Africa’s cheapest new passenger car. The discount also applies to the higher-specced 1.0 XR models, which you can now buy for R199 900 in manual form and for R214 900 as an auto. This means that, for now at least, the Vitz is cheaper than the Suzuki Celerio that it’s based on,…

Do you have what it takes to compete in this year’s Fortuner Challenge and drive away with a new Toyota Fortuner? If you’re any good at offroad driving, running, cycling, navigational challenges, watersports and can keep a cool head under pressure while solving problems and building puzzles then this is for you. In short you need to be good at speed, endurance, mental, and physical problem solving. Following the same recipe as previous years, four heroes will be teamed up with four contestants from different media houses including Independent Newspapers. Over two days each team competes in various tough challenges and at the end of it, points are tallied to see who gets the key to the Fortuner also fitted with Thule racks, a Thule Chasm luggage set and a…

Coach Morgan Mammila is determined to turn Chippa United into slayers of giants this season as Saturday’s Premiership clash against Mamelodi Sundowns draws closer. It is no surprise that a man with Mammila’s résumé and life story is enjoying a decent run of form against big teams in South African football, particularly Soweto giants Orlando Pirates. As a former taxi driver and owner, there is a contagious spirit of self-belief and fearlessness about Mammila, and his tall and bulky physique make him an imposing and persuasive figure. His aura tells of his ups and downs in life and in football. This shows in his calmness – be it on the touchline during a match, in press-conferences or in the dressing room with his players. He exudes an unparalleled emotional intelligence…

The Springbok squad that is about to defend the Webb Ellis Cup in France is a more formidable outfit than the raw bunch that won the trophy in Japan in 2019. That is the emphatic opinion of Cheslin Kolbe, the player who sealed the deal in the final against England in Yokohama with a memorable try. Kolbe is one of four exceptional wings named in the 33-player squad, and he said from Cardiff yesterday that the class and form in his position alone is “scary”. “If you look at the young wings that have come through (Canan Moodie and Kurt-Lee Arendse), they have been playing so well that they could not be left out,” said Kolbe, who will be in the No 14 jersey when the Boks play Wales on…

Right, this is the real start of the build-up to the Rugby World Cup for the Springboks, as the team named by coach Jacques Nienaber for Saturday’s clash against Wales has a largely ‘first-choice’ look about it. Of course, the headlines were all about captain fantastic Siya Kolisi’s remarkable return from a serious knee injury and the skipper will hope to last the first half at least before featuring against the All Blacks on August 25. In the backline of the Bok outfit named on Tuesday, only Canan Moodie and Jaden Hendrikse are not definites at this stage, and in the pack, it’s Jean Kleyn, and perhaps RG Snyman and Jasper Wiese. The most intriguing selections were Moodie and Cheslin Kolbe at wing, and then the Munster duo of Snyman…

Retail trade sales recorded the 7th consecutive real year-on-year (y/y) decline of 0.9% in June as consumer spend remained constrained, while retailer confidence was depressed amid a moribund economy Stats South Africa said yesterday that this followed May’s -1.6% y/y revised slide. The result was also weaker than consensus projections of Bloomberg of a 0.2% y/y lift. The largest negative contributors to the y/y decrease in June were general dealers (-2.7%) and retailers in hardware, paint and glass (-4.4%). Seasonally adjusted retail trade sales increased 0.2% in June 2023 compared with May 2023. This followed month-on-month changes of -0.9% in May 2023 and 0.2% in April 2023. Retail trade sales fell by 1.4% in the second quarter compared with the second quarter in 2022. The largest negative contributors to…

NEPI ROCKCASTLE distributable earnings a share for the six months to June 30 are expected to be about 28.50 euro cents, an approximate 24.8% increase from the distribution per share for the six months to June 30, 2022, of 22.83 euro cents. The group, the biggest owner and operator of shopping centres in Central and Eastern Europe (CEE), with a presence in nine countries and a portfolio worth €6.6 billion (R138bn as at December 31, saw its share price escalate 4.20% to close at R118 on the JSE yesterday. The share price, in contrast to the shares of many real estate investment trusts that have been negatively impacted by globally of high interest rates and inflation and weak growth, has risen more than 22% over 12 months.…

ashley.lechman@inl.co.za Hulisani Khorommbi stands as a testament to determination, innovation, and leadership. As the founder of Blu Water Technologies, she has carved a niche in the competitive water treatment solutions sector, serving the mining, industrial, food, and beverage industries. In an industry historically dominated by men, Khorommbi’s success story is a triumph over challenges, proving that gender is not a barrier to greatness. Her exceptional business acumen and unwavering commitment have shattered glass ceilings and empowered women in what was once a male-exclusive domain. Operating in a sector critical for sustainability, Khorommbi combines cutting-edge technologies and innovative services to offer creative, value-added solutions. The company’s focus on water treatment not only aligns with global sustainability goals, but also sets a model for responsible corporate practices. Khorommbi told Business Report that…

THERE HAS BEEN a 32.3% year-on-year decline in the number of venture capital (VC) funding deals reflecting the prevailing cautious sentiment among investors. Disclosed funding rounds fell from 9 118 points to 6 174 points during the first half of 2023. This trend, spanning both early and late-stage rounds, reflects the prevailing cautious sentiment among investors, says GlobalData, a data and analytics company. An analysis of GlobalData’s Financial Deals Database revealed that globally there was a decline in the announcement of growth, expansion and late-stage (Series B onwards) as well as early-stage VC funding rounds. Aurojyoti Bose, the lead analyst at GlobalData, said: “The global financial markets continue to experience fluctuations and uncertainty driven by events such as geopolitical tensions, trade disputes, and concerns about the…

CARLSBERG was “shocked” by Russia’s seizure of its business in the country last month and the brewer is no closer to knowing what might happen next, its CEO said yesterday. Russia took control of the Danish group’s eight breweries and 8 400 employees in the country last month, shortly after Carlsberg had agreed to sell the unit to an undisclosed buyer. “We have known from the beginning, since announcing the intention to leave Russia in March of last year, that there was huge interest in the business from people inside Russia. But still, this is an unprecedented development,” CEO Cees ’t Hart said on a media call. Last year, the group took a 9.9 billion crown (R27.74bn) write-down on its Russian Baltika unit. According to a Russian presidential…

Actress, TV producer and businesswoman Sophie Ndaba is reclaiming her power and wants to share the journey with millions of women across South Africa and beyond. Ndaba has faced numerous challenges over the years, including death hoaxes, depression, failed marriages, cyberbullying and body shaming. In response, she is taking back control of her narrative and using her experiences to inspire and uplift other women, with the official launch of She’s A Wonder (SAW), a platform for women to connect and empower each other. SAW is centred on healing, restoration and empowerment for women. It serves as a community where like-minded women can come together to share their stories, offer support and promote healing and restoration. The vision behind SAW is deeply rooted in Ndaba’s personal experiences, particularly in her relationships…

Police Minister Bheki Cele has lifted the lid on the circumstances surrounding Deputy President Paul Mashatile when members of his VIP protection service were allegedly involved in the assault of three people on the N1 in Johannesburg in July. Cele said Mashatile was part of the convoy, but he did not witness the incident, as he was already at home when the alleged assault happened. He said the eight members of the VIP protection service had pulled away from the main convoy to deal with the members of the SANDF who were on the N1. Mashatile’s security detail was caught on camera assaulting the three people. Members of the National Assembly’s portfolio committee on police yesterday demanded answers from Cele and members of the SAPS on the assault case.…

WHILE the country yesterday commemorated the Marikana massacre 11 years ago, the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) reaffirmed its commitment to dealing with criminal proceedings relating to the deaths. On August 16, 2012, 34 Lonmin mineworkers were killed, allegedly when police opened fire on them during a strike for a wage increase. After the tragedy, the Farlam Commission of Inquiry made recommendations for law enforcement entities to institute criminal charges against the perpetrators, where evidence was available. The commission also recommended investigations to be instituted to bring the perpetrators to book. The NPA said having noted the litigious nature and complexity of the incident, all role-players have been in constant consultation to fast-track the process of completing investigations and where possible institute criminal charges. Regarding the death of the 34…

The first case of the new Covid-19 variant was confirmed in South Africa, prompting the Health Department yesterday to reiterate its call for people to get vaccinated. Department spokesperson, Foster Mohale, confirmed to IOL that the first sample taken in Gauteng tested positive for the new strain named EG.5 or Eris. The World Health Organisation (WHO) last week explained that EG.5 is a descendent lineage of XBB.1.9.2, which has the same spike amino acid profile as XBB.1.5. “EG.5 was first reported on February 2023 and designated as a variant under monitoring in July,” the WHO said at the time. The largest portion of EG.5 sequences are from China, the US, Republic of Korea, Japan, Canada, Australia, Singapore, the UK, France, Portugal and Spain. Globally, there has been a steady increase…

It may seem out of place in a world increasingly consuming SUVs that a little hatch and sedan are still being touted as a gateway into the Hyundai fold but for entry level consumers and first time buyers the updated Grand i10 makes perfect sense. It replaces the discontinued ugly duckling Atos as the brand’s most affordable car and completes their portfolio offering that ranges from the i10 through to the Palisade and everything in between. Sourced from India, The Grand i10 hatch comes in an entry level Motion guise and a more premium Fluid version while the sedan comes only with the Fluid moniker. Both are powered by a naturally aspirated 1.2-litre four cylinder engine with 61kW and 114Nm driving the front wheels via a five-speed manual gearbox or…

Thrice-indicted former president Donald Trump seems intent on testing the rules that apply to tampering with witnesses and intimidating judges. Despite being warned about such things, he shows no sign of slowing down, effectively daring the legal system to do something about it. A week ago, Trump lodged a vague threat on his social media site Truth Social, writing, “IF YOU GO AFTER ME, I’M COMING AFTER YOU!” He also attacked his former vice president, Mike Pence, for Pence’s apparent testimony in the federal January 6 case. And he baselessly accused a Georgia prosecutor of an affair with a gang member. Now, Trump has turned his attention to the judge who warned him about intimidation tactics, as well as a key witness in the Georgia case in which he faces…

Bayern Munich are pinning their hopes on England captain Harry Kane to return a stuttering team fresh off their worst season in a decade to the European elite. Bayern’s 11th straight Bundesliga title failed to paper over the cracks of a team which is yet to click since the arrival of coach Thomas Tuchel in March. Last week’s signing of Kane for €100million from Premier League side Tottenham Hotspur broke the German club’s transfer record. The deal also broke a long-standing promise from former boss Uli Hoeness that the club “wouldn’t buy a player for 100 million, even if I had the money”. But whether the 30-year-old Kane, who arrives after a successful but trophyless career in north London, can truly be Bayern’s saviour remains to be seen. Bayern limped…

Eathan Bosch, the Rising Star award winner of the inaugural SA20 league, foresees the additional rookie player slot in the second season only doing wonders for South African cricket. Bosch watched the entire auction last year and witnessed the six teams look past his name on two occasions, before he was picked up by the Pretoria Capitals for a base price of R175 000. Little did South Africa know that the youngster would go on to take 15 wickets in the competition, return an average of 21.40 with ball in hand, and eventually win the Rising Star award ahead of other youngsters such as Jordan Hermann. For the second season starting in mid-January, all six teams have to sign one rookie player – a South African player 22 years of…

AmaZulu coach Pablo Franco Martin has set his sights on securing the club’s first victory of the 2023/24 Premiership campaign when they battle Richard Bay in their second KwaZulu-Natal derby in three weeks at Moses Mabhida Stadium on Saturday (kick-off 5.30pm). The Spanish mentor began his tenure as the leader of a new-look AmaZulu in steady fashion with decent performances against Royal AM and SuperSport United. Martin’s men contended aggressively against Thwihli Thwahla before running Matsatsantsa to the brink, even after going a man down in the first half. Martin, 43, has been impressed by his side’s displays, but has targeted securing full points against the Natal Rich Boyz. “We are playing at home, and even though we have had very good showings in the first two games, we need…