Innholdsfortegnelse for 2023-08-29 i Star

AUSTRALIAN gas explorer Kinetiko Energy, which has found shallow sandstone gas in South Africa, has started talks with petro- chemical company Sasol on a possible supply agreement, Kinetiko’s CEO said yes- terday. The natural gas deposit in Block 272, in Mpumalanga, close to Sasol’s Secunda petrochemical complex, could be a boon for Sasol, South Africa’s largest gas user and distributor, which needs to find alternative sources. Sasol currently receives almost all of its gas via the Rompco pipeline from Mozambique to South Africa, but the Pande and Temane onshore fields in Mozambique that supply it are expected to run out within a few years. Kinetiko CEO Nick de Blocq said the company was in “very early and undetailed discussions” with Sasol, which … was geographically “the natural off-taker for…

Financial markets in South Africa held firm yesterday in spite of the significant exposure of some Top40 companies in the JSE to China’s economic meltdown. The JSE All Share Index rose more than 1% to stay just above the 75 000 index points mark yesterday while the rand remained almost unchanged at R18.61 against the US dollar. The share price of China’s largest property developer, Evergrande Group, plunged more than 80% as the company delayed crucial restructuring meetings with creditors and revealed first-half losses of $4.5 billion (R83.7bn), with liabilities of $328bn. The world’s second-largest economy is currently experiencing stalled economic activity, with foreign investment and the property crisis worsening and leaving developers Evergrande and Country Garden facing severe financial difficulties. Analysts warned yesterday that the financial…

The intersection of AI and the entertainment industry took centre stage at the recent Siggraph conference in Los Angeles, US, a forum traditionally focused on computer graphics and visual effects. While the labour disputes involving AI in Hollywood were not overtly discussed in presentations, they were a hot topic in networking events. There is a prevailing concern among industry professionals that AI could replace human jobs, especially those of writers and artists. At Siggraph, however, the emphasis was on how AI could aid rather than replace human creativity. One notable example was from Pixar, who discussed its latest film, Elemental, where characters are made up of natural elements like fire, water and air. Procedural generation, a form of algorithmic content creation, played a crucial role in animating the complex characters.…

The great economist of the 20th century, John Maynard Keynes, described fluctuating business confidence and pessimism as “animal spirits”. Although Keynes was describing the psychological mindset of business and investors, particularly during economic recessions and depressions, the converse can also be applied to understand the irrational exuberance that fuels stock market frenzies and their inevitable crashes. Whereas business confidence in- dexes are measured and published regularly as hard data, the emotional and psychological elements informing business confidence are less thoroughly interrogated. Even in the era of financial technology and predictive artificial intelligence, investors and businesspeople are not merely robotic in their decision-making. Together with data, business decisions are influenced by a host of emotional, psychological and behavioural factors which, at times, can lead to irrational and herd mentality. Business confidence…

Alternative R&B singer-songwriter Xenia Manasseh has teamed up with Karun on her latest release and music video, Anticipate. This is the second single off Manasseh’s upcoming debut album, Love/Hate Pt1, scheduled for Friday. Anticipate follows the success of Manasseh’s first single, Temporary Love, which was released earlier this year. In that song she openly admits to being afraid of love or being in love again and the choices that she made as a result. On Anticipate, the heavy drum, bass and percussion combination in the beginning with the laid-back but impactful orchestral second half showcases Manasseh’s vulnerability in a simple yet profound storyline. Speaking on the sound, Manasseh said there wasn’t a specific sound that she was going for when she was writing Anticipate. “I found the beat in a…

The SAPS has expressed concern after 31 police officers have been killed in just three months. This has again forced police unions to call for President Cyril Ramaphosa to declare police killings treason as a matter of urgency. The unions questioned how many more police had to be killed before it could be declared the highest offence. SAPS national spokesperson Brigadier Athlenda Mathe said: “A total of 31 police officers have died on and off duty in the past three months. The SAPS management is concerned by the ongoing killings and attacks on police officers.” She said the police were urged not to hesitate to act, and that they must be extra vigilant. “If force is required, it must at all times be necessary, reasonable and proportional. We are pleading…

CIVIL society organisation AfriForum has lashed out at the national broadcaster for banning its advert calling for support of its Supreme Court of Appeal challenge against the Equality Court’s finding that the EFF’s singing of Kill the Boer was not hate speech. With the court date for Malema and the EFF to return to the Supreme Court of Appeal on Monday, September 4, the organisation launched a campaign calling for the public to support its court challenge by donating R10. However, the organisation said the radio advertisement had been banned by the SABC. AfriForum CEO Kallie Kriel described the SABC’s ban as gross censorship that ridiculed the public broadcaster’s claims that it was impartial and against divisive statements. “The SABC has now positioned themselves firmly behind Julius Malema, the…

South Africa’s leading poets – Sabelo Soko, Makhafula Vilakazi and Kgafela oa Magogodi – will lead a jazz-inspired poetry event titled ‘Tribute to the Ancestors of Resistance: uNxele noMaqoma’, at Wits University’s Chris Seabrook Music Hall, on September 8. The Africanist jazz band, iPhupho L’ka Biko, will take music lovers on a sonic and spoken word tribute to the ancestors of resistance – “Ukubuya kukaNxele noMaqoma”. The show features poets, scholars and singers who will bring to life the stories and struggles of uNxele and Maqoma, two of the earliest and greatest heroes of African resistance against colonialism. According to bassist and the founder of iPhupho L’ka Biko, Nhlanhla Ngqanqu uNxele, also known as Makhanda-the-itola, was one of the original inmates on Robben Island who led the “Battle of Grahamstown”…

Against the backdrop of the recently concluded BRICS Summit in South Africa, I would like to commend the South African government and South Africans for being an admirable host to this emerging BRICS powerhouse that will, hopefully, be an influential organisation on the world stage. The eagerness of many developing countries to join BRICS reflects the need for a more balanced and inclusive global economy and world order. Over the years, many emerging and developing countries have been undermined by Western domination and hegemony. Although countries like India and China have experienced significant economic growth, their political voices in global governance are not represented and not heard. These powerful Western countries and institutions are unwilling to change for the greater good. Hence, I believe if BRICS can get their teething…

THE five children who died in a shack fire at Itireleng informal settlement near Laudium were left without adult supervision by their mothers who had gone drinking at a tavern. This was revealed by an aunt of three of the five children, Johanna Masangwane, who broke down yesterday as she spoke about Sunday morning’s tragedy. She said she wished the two mothers, who had been arrested, could be locked up in prison forever because “they don’t have care and don’t know what they are living”. “We are in this situation because of girls who always spend time drinking alcohol. I wish they could die in jail.” Grief-stricken Masangwane said she had not eaten anything since hearing the bad news. “I don’t even have an appetite. I can’t breathe properly,” she…

Tazmin Brits will resist any temptation to curtail her attacking instincts in a bid for greater consistency on the tour of Pakistan. Brits enjoyed a breakout tournament on the international stage during the home ICC T20 World Cup finishing as the fifth highest run-scorer with 186 runs, including two half-centuries, at an average of 37.20. This was in huge contrast to her performances at the 50 over World Cup in New Zealand last year when the tall opening batter seemed to be in too much of a hurry. But Brits has seemingly found the balance in the longest format of the game as she recently blitzed a 66-ball 100 – the fastest ever in England’s 50-over Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy – for the South East Stars against the Sunrisers. Former…

Kabelo Seboko-Mulaudzi is enjoying a fine run of form that has seen him become the talk of the South African running community. The Boxer Athletic Club star won the inaugural Absa Run Your City Tshwane 10k on Sunday and immediately declared his readiness for the next big event. “My next race is the Hollywoodbets 10k in Durban and I am really looking forward to it,” the 25-year-old said on crossing the finish line at the bottom of the Union Buildings, having beaten a stellar field that included the likes of national 10km record holder Precius Mashele, national 10km champion Nicholas Seoposengwe and a host of runners from Lesotho and Ethiopia. It was Seboko-Mulaudzi’s second successive victory in the popular series after he won last month’s Durban 10k with a spectacular…

THE EU IS scouting Africa to back clean jet fuel projects under its Global Gateway infrastructure fund, an EU official said, before an anticipated boom in demand for environmentally sustainable air travel. The EU has pledged to dedicate half its €300 billion (R6.02 trillion) infrastructure plan, seen as a rival to China’s Belt and Road Initiative, to Africa. The fund has backed renewable plants, green hydrogen initiatives, vaccines and education projects in Africa, and the official said it was looking into sustainable aviation fuel (SAF). “In the context of the Global Gateway, the commission is currently looking into possible co-financing mechanisms and guarantee instruments,” said Stefan De Keersmaecker, a European Commission spokesperson. “SAF production in the African continent has great potential.” SAFs are low-carbon fuel alternatives for the…

JUST SHARE, a pressure group lobbying for reduction in carbon emissions in South Africa, has opposed Sasol’s appeal against a decision by the National Air Quality Officer (Naqo), which sidelined the petrochemicals group’s application for an “alternative emission limit” on emissions from 17 of its coal boilers at Secunda. Environment Minister Barbara Creecy will deliberate and make a decision on the Sasol appeal. In its appeal, launched nearly four weeks ago, Sasol argued that “instead of reducing (emissions)” on a per boiler concentration basis, it will “reduce the total number of boilers” it runs as a means of achieving the “same or better result” in its emissions. The petrochemicals industry in South Africa is faced with new regulations for minimum emissions standards that kick off in March 2025. Just Share…

The 15th BRICS summit in Johannesburg from August 22 to 24 attracted global interest not seen in many years. Several countries, including Argentina, Nigeria, Iran, Belarus, Saudi Arabia and Indonesia, expressed interest in joining the bloc. South Africa, the smallest economy of the five countries, invited leaders from more than 30 African states and the Global South to the meeting. The interest is understandable since BRICS represents 44% of the world population and 26% of its gross domestic product (GDP). BRICS surpassed the G7 countries in 2020 in terms of their combined GDP. It became clear that the BRICS members – Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa – are entertaining ambitions of becoming a geopolitical alternative to Western-led formations and forums. International events, such as Russia’s invasion of Ukraine…

The watershed 15th BRICS Summit held in Johannesburg had, to its credit, several runs on the scoreboard by the time it concluded last week. While the outcomes were inevitably a complex amalgam of politics, economics and business, the overall BRICS profile and agenda have been taken to the next level. BRICS wants to enlarge its sphere of influence in the global economy. Hence, apart from the addition of six new members – Argentina, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Ethiopia and the UAE – the summit’s broad aspirational goals and decisions are signalling a potential new era for BRICS in the years ahead. On the BRICS expansion there remains much uncertainty as to the criteria used to select the additional members. The economic rationale for the choices is not immediately apparent. It…

Meghan, Duchess of Sussex could reportedly make $1 million (about R18m) per post if she returns to Instagram. The former actress, 42, is said to have the @meghan handle, which already has 2 420 followers, despite the fact she has never actually posted on the account, and it’s now said she is on the verge of getting ready to “re-launch” herself on the platform. A source told The Mail: “Everyone in Hollywood is talking about the re-launch being imminent. Meghan has never made any secret of the fact she wants to return to Instagram.” Another insider added the dormant @meghan account – which is decorated with a picture of pink peonies, said to be Meghan’s favourite flowers – added: “Yes, that’s her. Expect an announcement very soon. She’s coming back.”…

Yesterday’s proceedings in the Senzo Meyiwa trial focused on accused number three, Mthobisi Mncube, after the State called his former landlord and the woman he was dating at the time. Mncube is one of the five men who have been arrested for allegedly killing the former Bafana Bafana captain in October 2014. The State called Kagiso Tefo, who dated Mncube in 2015. She said she met Mncube in early January 2015, and shortly after meeting, they moved in together in Malvern, Johannesburg. “When I met him, I was looking for accommodation in Johannesburg so I can be closer to my workplace. He suggested that we both look for a common place and we live together,” she said. She said Mncube found the place, they went together to view it, he…

THE former CEO of the National Children’s Theatre, Moira Katz, will now become its new chairperson and is eager to get to work. “I look forward to helping National Children’s Theatre continue its focus on vital work that makes a powerful and very real contribution to developing the future leaders of South Africa,” she told the Saturday Star this week. Katz is thrilled at the prospect of running the organisation, which has hosted several productions, workshops, and camps over the years, and is now also hoping to immediately welcome four new “talented, top-tier and passionate board members from a variety of different backgrounds”. “This will immediately broaden the board’s knowledge, capacity, and expertise,” said Katz. The new board members each had unique interests and love for the National Children’s Theatre,…

REVERED, long-standing author and national treasure, Dr Sindiwe Magona is receiving her flowers while still alive and “doing the work”, and at the age of 80, vowed to continue writing until she can no more. Last week, the Innovation Lounge at the Artscape theatre was filled with writers, avid readers, artists, activists, family and friends as they gathered to celebrate Magona’s 80th birthday. The birthday celebrations were coupled by the launch of two books, one authored by Magona titled I Write the Yawning Void and another written by several individuals who had been impacted by her presence and works over many years, written to honour her, titled Sindiwe’s Gift. The Woman Zone event was part of Artscape Women’s Humanity Festival, taking place this National Women’s Month under the theme Milestones:…

A NEW wave of hope has dawned upon the world. With the conclusion of the 15th BRICS Summit, we have taken a firm step forward towards our goal of a more just, multipolar world. There are many detractors locally and globally who find it hard to countenance such a reconfiguration is even possible. There are even those who are hell-bent on seeing it fail or falter. There are no prizes for guessing whose interests they represent. Stranger things have happened before September, and as spring looms on the horizon we take great encouragement from the gathering of the BRICS partners and the 22 other invited nations who have indicated their willingness to work with us. This is no spring clean as many of our participating nations, including South Africa, have…

Jose Riveiro knows that Orlando Pirates’ striking contingent will not always be at their best – hence he’s called on the fans to continue supporting them. Pirates are one of the most lethal teams in front of goal so far this season, having racked up 10 goals in four matches across all domestic competitions. They didn’t stop there. Their strikers brought their scoring boots to continental football, too, as they beat Djabal Club 4-0 on aggregate in the CAF Champions League preliminary round. Zakhele Lepasa, who had scored the lone goal in Comoros, notched a brace while Patrick Maswanganyi also opened his account in the colours of Pirates in the return leg this Friday in Orlando. It’s been a good start to the season for the Lepasa, who has scored…

Manchester City opened up a two-point lead at the top of the Premier League as Rodri’s late winner at Sheffield United ensured the champions are the only side still with a 100% record after three games. But 10-man Liverpool produced the performance of the weekend by coming back from 1-0 and a man down inside half an hour to win 2-1 at Newcastle United thanks to Darwin Nunez’s double. Arsenal stumbled for the first time in a 2-2 draw with 10-man Fulham. Here, we look at three talking points from the League weekend. Reds letter day for Darwin Darwin Nunez is yet to start a game this season after an underwhelming first campaign following his club-record £85-million move from Benfica. The Uruguayan’s composure in front of goal has often been…

Red Bull team boss Christian Horner hailed Max Verstappen as “simply untouchable” after he secured a record-equalling ninth win in a row on Sunday – and even his closest rivals were inclined to agree. Spaniard Fernando Alonso, who finished second for Aston Martin at Zandvoort in a race that went from dry to wet and back again, said the 25-year-old Dutch driver was operating on a higher level. “It is underestimated sometimes what Max is achieving,” said Alonso, also a double Formula One world champion but whose 32nd and last win was with Ferrari in 2013. “I think you need to enter in a mood, in a state that you are connected with a car. “Today, I felt that I was at my best and have been giving 100% of…

THE BUSINESS industry in South Africa has expressed satisfaction at the successful hosting of the 15th BRICS Summit as business can do much to support and facilitate the business opportunities that BRICS presents. Business Leadership South Africa (BLSA) said yesterday that BRICS member nations were focused on how they could support each others’ development and a rules-based multilateral system. BLSA CEO Busi Mavuso said she was impressed by how Brazil, China, India, Russia and South Africa (BRICS) spoke of the importance of the energy transition and the need to build the infrastructure to support the growth of their economies and adaptation to climate change. Mavuso said the BRICS nations also spoke of the importance of trade between the nations and putting in place the right regulations and facilities to achieve…

ITALTILE said yesterday that difficult trading conditions and internal inefficiencies impacted negatively on the group’s performance, with disappointing results in its South African businesses although its East African and Australian operations reported better results. In its group results for the year ended June 30, 2023, the retailer and manufacturer of tiles, bathroom ware, and related products said its results failed to meet expectations as profits had decreased leading to a cut in dividend. The group reported that earnings per share were down 13% to 132.6 cents, while headline earnings per share were down 13% to 132.3c. Trading profit was down 15% to R2.3 billion. The group said the ordinary dividend per share was down 13% to 53c. Group revenue improved by 2%, while selling price inflation was…

SOUTH Africa is only hitting the low score of two out of five in delivering on its full potential due a number of barriers and challenges, according to business leaders in the Truth CEO Collective report, released yesterday. Dr Adrian Saville, the founding director of the Centre for African Management and Markets (CAMM) at GIBS Business School, who led a panel discussion, said the report was “unbelievably sobering”. There were references made by CEOs to: the government sabotaging business and killing the economy; the government’s failure to address the goodwill that was running out; and at the same time SA was sitting on the cusp of a national election, which was potentially a game-changer, Saville said. Some CEOs felt that South Africa was currently on a knife’s edge, according to…

STUDYING about technology is no longer a silver bullet to getting a job. It is now possible for those who pursue technology studies to also join the ranks of the unemployed. What is behind the unemployment of some technology graduates? Some employers have highlighted the misalignment between academia and industry among other major reasons. It seems some academic institutions are falling behind the current technology advancements. The speed at which technology is moving is far faster for academic institutions to catch up and align their academic programmes. As a result of this, some technology graduates are walking around with academic qualifications that are not that useful for the industry. How can technology graduates defend themselves against this employment challenge? Part of the defence strategy has to take into account current…

STEEL and engineering industry bodies the National Employers’ Association of South Africa (Neasa) and the SA Engineers and Founders Association (Saefa) are in a battle to overturn a Constitutional Court ruling to extend an industry decision for them to adhere to minimum wage agreements in the sector. This follows a decision made by the industry last year stipulating minimum wages in the sector. These were agreed on by a coalition of bodies under the banner of the Metal and Engineering Industries Bargaining Council (MEIBC). Neasa and Saefa, however, deemed the wages to be too high. The matter was thrown out on Friday by the Constitutional Court, which stipulated that the matter was moot. “This is, however, not the end of the road. It remains Neasa’s view that the decisions by…

Former Idols SA finalist, Terra Cox has died. Tributes poured in for Cox on social media as the news of his death spread. Cox, real name Tersius Eathon Kocks, was in the Top 4 of Idols SA season 12. He had South Africa eating out of his hands as he belted cover songs of musicians on the show and after. The 34-year-old singer, from Alberton in Ekurhuleni, previously said he was inspired to enter Idols SA by his late mom. He rocketed to fame and was regularly seen on stages across South Africa. The cause of his death has not yet been made public. Mzansi Magic and Idols SA shared on X, “The @Mzansimagic and #IdolsSA family are deeply saddened by the news of the passing of Season 12 contestant,…

Former mayor won’t rule out return to active politics in due course Former Joburg mayor and DA leader Dr Mpho Phalatse has once again traded her political career for another shot at the medical profession. Phalatse resigned as the DA proportional representation (PR) councillor in the country’s biggest municipality. She tendered her resignation in a letter addressed to DA Joburg caucus leader Belinda Kayser-Echeozonjoku last week. She said even though she has resigned, she will remain a member of the party. Phalatse, who was removed through a motion of no confidence tabled by the African Transformation Movement (ATM), the African Independent Congress (AIC), and Al Jama-ah in January, tendered her resignation as a DA member of the Joburg council in a statement issued yesterday. Phalatse, who left the medical profession…

Joburg mayor Kabelo Gwamanda of Al Jama-ah has survived another motion of no confidence against him. Yesterday, ActionSA slammed the DA for its failure to support a motion of no confidence against the mayor that was supposed to be tabled on Thursday this week. However, ActionSA decided to withdraw the motion after the DA said it was not willing to discuss coalition agreements that involved the Patriotic Alliance (PA). It is reported that meetings have been held to try to iron out issues between leaders of ActionSA, the IFP, Freedom Front Plus (FF+), the PA and the DA. ActionSA national chairperson Michael Beaumont blamed the DA’s unwillingness to negotiate as the primary reason the motion would probably not go ahead. The motion was seen as the first test for the…

Boutique winemaker Veenwouden was the toast of the town during the 15th BRICS Summit in Sandton. The international brand, stationed at the Royal India restaurant, was a perfect retreat after complex but mostly inspirational discussions took place a stone’s throw away from the main activities. With a free wine tasting, the favourite among the people who had a chance to sample the exquisite beverages was the BRICS wine. Brand manager Byron Kotstoudis said Veenwouden used to be a family- owned business until Chinese-born South African entrepreneur William Wu took it over in 2010. “He bought the wine farm and the brand, and we have kept the winemaker whose family owned the farm for plenty of years,” he said. Kotstoudis said the company had positioned itself for a global market, with…

The Springboks are constantly trying to sharpen up their discipline, especially when it comes to tackling height during matches, and it’s an area they want to be as clean as possible during the World Cup. Dominant victories by South Africa and France in the warm-up matches, and England’s struggles on the field, have been a big talking point ahead of the World Cup. But the other talking point making more waves is how match officials approach head contact and World Rugby’s sanctions that come with it. England captain Owen Farrell has been banned for a few pool clashes ahead of the 2023 tournament in a big blow to his struggling team, while his teammate Billy Vunipola will miss the opener against Argentina after he was banned for a dangerous tackle…

Interim Springbok women’s coach Louis Koen is excited about the new ground his team will break in October when it comes to women’s rugby in South Africa. After getting the programme back up and running after the Covid-19 pandemic, and playing in the World Cup in 2021 in New Zealand, the Boks will now get the chance in World Rugby’s WXV tournament to play more than the usual Tests against opponents. Koen and several players have been in camp in Stellenbosch for the last week or so and it will kick up a gear in the next few days as they prepare for the tournament starting in mid October. SA will play in Tier 2 of the WXV, which will be hosted in Cape Town. “The women have been waiting…

TSHWANE’S finest football teams are in Polokwane today and tomorrow looking to maintain their unbeaten starts to the season – and indications are they will achieve their objective. Premiership champions Mamelodi Sundowns travel to the Limpopo capital tomorrow to take on local side Polokwane City intent on making it six wins out of six in their quest for a seventh successive league title. But before the Brazilians take on a ‘Rise and Shine’ outfit that has had a satisfactory return to the elite league with two wins from four matches, their neighbours SuperSport United will be at Peter Mokaba Stadium this afternoon. ‘Matsatsansa a Pitori’ are using the 2010 World Cup venue as their alternate home-ground and have had a good start there, Gavin Hunt’s men beating both Richards Bay…

Kaizer Chiefs coach Molefi Ntseki is thrilled that the club’s new players are finally finding their feet after an underwhelming start to the season. Chiefs won their first Premiership match on Saturday as they beat AmaZulu 3-0, having drawn one match and lost successive league games since the start of the campaign. That win was largely inspired by new arrivals Pule Mmodi and Teboho Potsane. The latter assisted both Mmodi’s goals in the first and second half of the game. It was an important win for Amakhosi that proved that while they are still in a rebuilding phase and without a trophy in eight years, they are able to win games. So, the arrival of Mmodi augurs well for them, given that he is repaying the faith that has been…