Innholdsfortegnelse for 2023-09-21 i Star

FINANCE Minister Enoch Godongwana has called for ethical financial management, strict consequence management, and prudent procurement practices within government departments in a bid to restore deteriorating public finances, which would allow the state to deliver the required services. Godongwana openly admitted yesterday that South Africa’s fiscal metrics have deteriorated on the back of a projected R22 billion revenue shortfall, rising borrowing costs and weak economic growth. The Finance Minister said that public finances were currently in a difficult position, one that was increasing in complexity and uncertainty. He said a number of factors had put tremendous strain on the financial resources the government had available to address its most urgent service delivery priorities. “The short-term risks to the local and global economy that we predicted in the February Budget…

PPC, THE CEMENTITIOUS products group, said revenue from operations in Zimbabwe and Rwanda increased “materially” by 58% and 19% in rands respectively, for the five months to August 31 compared with the same period a year before. However, revenue excluding its businesses in Zimbabwe and Rwanda increased 5% for the five months, with this uplift driven mainly by an increase of average selling prices, despite weaker cement sales volumes. The operational update released by the group resulted in the share price rising 2.1% to close at R2.92 on the JSE yesterday, a three-month high. Group cement sales volumes (including Zimbabwe and Rwanda) for the five months were 3% higher due to “exceptionally strong growth in Zimbabwe” and, to a lesser extent, Rwanda, while cement volumes continued to decline in South…

At 66-years-old and having faced many hardships in life, Ellen Shabangu has overcome it all to run a successful engineering business and at the same time assist many other women in her home town. Shabangu, who her peers describe as an embodiment of resilience and determination, founded Pitja Engineering in 2017 with the goal of challenging the male-dominated engineering field. Shabangu told Business Report that through strategic collaboration with partner company U&L, Pitja Engineering has not only broken barriers, but exceeded expectations. She said her extensive leadership experience, nurtured through community involvement, had enabled her to guide the company with unwavering purpose. The businesswoman’s efforts to combat youth crime and empower local women in agricultural projects has made her a champion in the Mapela mining community. Her company offers various…

ESKOM was firing on all cylinders to unbundle and is aiming to establish and get operational the Distribution and Generation subsidiaries by March 2024, the portfolio committee on Public Enterprises was told yesterday. Last week the Energy Regulator of SA approved that the National Transmission Company of South Africa (NTCSA) be issued with two outstanding licences. Eskom has projected that its unbundled, wholly-owned transmission subsidiary will start operating as a full subsidiary on November 1. A Department of Public Enterprise (DPE) team led by Minister Pravin Gordhan told the portfolio committee on Public Enterprises yesterday that it was also miles ahead on the establishment of the Distribution division, including: seeking lenders’ consent, fulfilling Public Finance Management Act (PFMA) requirements, establishing an interim board and registering the company. Part of…

PETROSA’S Block 9 offshore exploration area might no longer be available in big enough quantities to run Petro- SA’s Mossgas fuel refinery in Mossel Bay, but there was sufficient “tail gas” to feed a power generation plant, and most of the infrastructure required for such as project was already in place. Interim CEO Sandisiwe Ncemane said a strategic partner had been identified for the project, which PetroSA was still conducting its own feasibility study into. She said in an online interview that geopolitical changes globally in the past few years meant there had been a shift in perspective when it came to energy, to a greater emphasis on security, sources of supply and using what resources were available to a country as levers in an evolving energy market. Greater regional…

A South African Revenue Service (Sars) building on the corner of Frederick and Rissik streets in Marshalltown, Johannesburg, caught fire yesterday afternoon. According to Johannesburg Emergency Management Services (EMS) spokesperson Nana Masechaba Kgiba, the fire happened in a storage room in the basement. “We can confirm that the fire has been contained at the basement level, which is used as storage. We can confirm for now that everyone is safe and is out of the building,” she said, adding that it was still unclear what caused the fire. “We will do a preliminary investigation of what caused the fire.” This is the third fire reported in the Joburg CBD within a space of a month, including the hijacked building where 77 residents burnt to death on August 31. The fire…

There will be dark days ahead for 100 families from the Leopard Rock estate in Midrand after City Power disconnected electricity at the apartment block as the body corporate owes the city more than R5 million in an unpaid light bill. This comes as the City of Joburg intensifies revenue collection efforts, with residents and businesses owing the city more than R10 billion in unpaid electricity bills. Yesterday, City Power’s revenue protection team targeted some businesses and residents who owed exorbitant amounts to the city. One of these was the 100-unit Leopard Rock estate, whose body corporate owes the City of Joburg R5.1m in unpaid electricity bills. Officials have disconnected the power supply to the estate, which uses a bulk meter system. The 100 families at the…

LANGA residents have expressed their anger after learning that a woman who is accused of scalding a 4-year-old child with boiling water was released on bail. Asanda Makaluza reportedly heard the child and his friend banging on the gate of her Settler’s home in Langa on June 24. She went out of her home with a kettle and allegedly doused the child with boiling water. The boy was injured on the face, torso and arms. The victim’s family said Makaluza told them that he had been trespassing. Later, her father apologised to the boy’s mother on his daughter’s behalf. The family told the The Star’s sister paper Cape Argus they forgave her, but she must pay for what she did. Makaluza was arrested on July 6. She was denied bail…

While more than 40 of the 77 bodies pulled from the Marshalltown building debris lay unclaimed in Gauteng mortuaries, families wanting to bury their loved ones claim they’re being asked to pay money for the bodies to be handed over. The DA’s Madeleine Hicklin said all the remains of those charred in the Marshalltown fire were taken to the Diepkloof morgue and only 30 bodies have been identified. “Forty-four bodies remain awaiting identification, according to the Gauteng Department of Health, while 74 potential names were presented to the SAPS Victim Identification Centre Unit, but the issue of undocumented persons with no known relatives in Johannesburg is still said to be making the identification of the remains of other victims, extremely challenging,” she said. Hicklin said families were expected to…

South African consumers spend their hard-earned money taking care of the costs of the “Big Four”, aka fuel and transport, electricity, food and interest rates. Households in the country are feeling the pinch of the rising cost of living following increases in the price of fuel, electricity and food. The Pietermaritzburg Economic Justice & Dignity Group’s Household Affordability Index showed that the average cost of a household food basket last month was R5 124.34, while petrol increased by R1.71 a litre for both grades and diesel by R2.76 for 50ppm and R2.84 for 500ppm. John Manyike, the head of financial education at Old Mutual, said there was no doubt that most people had financial nightmares as they saw the cost of living increasing and their budgets shrinking. Five ways you…

I am shocked that Trevor Noah is set to be paid a whopping R33 million for featuring in an advertisement to promote South Africa to the world. The video is expected to be only five minutes. I am surprised there has been silence from South Africans as we are being ripped off once again. South Africa is in crisis in all aspects. We live in a lawless country and are at the mercy of criminals. Youth unemployment is rocketing, we have a brain drain as skilled and professional people are leaving the country, we are suffering from economic sabotage, and service delivery remains a growing concern. As a result, the government should be using all available resources in addressing the social needs. If our president cannot deal with the issues,…

While the Golf won’t live to see another internal combustion generation, the Volkswagen Tiguan is here to stay and what you see here is the all-new, third-generation model. Given that the Tiguan is the company’s best-selling vehicle, it figures that replacing it with a battery-powered model could be risky, but the new SUV takes its hybrid game to the next level. Revealed in Germany on Tuesday, the new Volkswagen Tiguan is crafted around the updated MQB Evo platform. While its width, height and wheelbase remain almost identical to the outgoing model, the length has grown by around 30mm and luggage capacity by 37 litres to 652 litres. The exterior design forges a closer resemblance to the ID.4, and the current version’s large, droopy grille makes way for a glass-covered horizontal…

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…

Ageism remains an unseen nemesis in an era pushing for progress, disregarding potential insight, and inhibiting social development, according to various scholars. Untying the threads of ageism is not only an endeavour towards inclusivity but also a step further towards attaining every dimension of human potential. In correspondence to the World Health Organization (WHO), ageism pervades many institutions and areas of society, such as those that provide social and medical services, together with people who work in the job market, the media and the legal system. A 2020 longitudinal study discovered that age dictated who received multiple medical procedures or therapies in 85% of 149 studies. Having said that, the objective of this piece is to investigate the various contexts in which ageism is encountered globally. Secondly, it attempts to…

THE sooner Kaizer Chiefs remember that there is no room for comments in the results column, the better their chances of making this the season they finally end their trophy drought. For the second match running, Molefi Ntseki’s team dished out champagne football and essentially played their opponents off the park. But they still did not come out victorious as SuperSport United ran out 1-0 winners at Peter Mokaba Stadium yesterday. Unlike last weekend when they at least got a point against Royal AM, yesterday, they ended up with nothing. Caught cold by a second-minute Terrence Dzvukamanja goal, Chiefs awoke to dominate the game. But hard as they tried, they just could not find a way to breach the home team’s defence. Were it a boxing match, they would have…

FRANCE coach Fabien Galthie is taking inspiration from Charles Darwin to prepare for minnows Namibia in Marseille tonight in what should be a further step to topping Pool A in the World Cup. After seeing off New Zealand in the tournament’s opening match in a 27-13 thriller, Galthie rung the changes for the second game against Uruguay. That threw up more questions than answers for the coaching staff, however, as a largely second-string team laboured to a 27-12 victory over the South Americans. It was a win, however, that did not see France bag a try-scoring bonus point, so Galthie has this time plumped for a near full-strength team, leaving no room for error. Just three from that starting XV against Uruguay were retained for the match against Namibia,…

Chippa United coach Morgan Mammila has raised eyebrows by targeting a CAF Champions League spot at the end of the season. The Chilli Boys came from a goal down to defeat Richards Bay 2-1 away on Tuesday night. Mammila spoke to the media after the game where he addressed the club’s “under-achievements”, his team’s vast improvements, as well as the club’s targets for the ongoing season. Chippa narrowly escaped relegation in the previous campaign as they retained their Premiership status on the final day on goal difference. Prior to that, the club have never finished higher than the sixth spot they achieved in the 2015/16 season, where they also recorded their highest ever points total since their promotion to the elite league. Before his return to Chippa, Mammila had made…

CONSUMER prices in South Africa could continue rising until the end of the year as global oil prices are on a hike, leaving the SA Reserve Bank (SARB) little room to start cutting interest rates from the current 13-year high. Statistics SA (StatsSA) said yesterday that the headline annual consumer inflation ticked up to 4.8% in August, up from 4.7% in July, after four consecutive months of decline. StatsSA said the upward pressure came from the “food and non-alcoholic beverages”, “housing and utilities” and “miscellaneous goods and services” categories. StatsSA’s Patrick Kelly said inflation for food and non-alcoholic beverages continued to cool, taking some of the heat off the headline rate. “Annual inflation for food and non-alcoholic beverages declined for a fifth straight month, softening from 9.9% in July to…

Shane Packman SOUTH African investors have a love-hate relationship with listed property, with significant shifts in sentiment and demand evident over the past 10 years. Before 2017, it was common for multi-asset funds to have healthy allocations to the SA listed opportunity set, mostly due to the appeal of property companies offering relatively stable dividends. The SA property market demonstrated strong performance between 2013 and 2017, attracting significant investment flows into the sector. Sentiment towards the sector began to weaken in early 2018 as market participants became concerned about the overuse of debt, possible financial engineering, as well as corporate governance problems. The sector was further hindered by expensive valuations, unsustainable earnings and deteriorating local conditions. The FTSE/JSE SA Listed Property Index lost 62.6% of its value between January 1,…

Small business owners must understand how to go about hiring the right people in order to build teams that can get the job done, in the correct way and within the right time frame. Although every start-up has differ- ent requirements in terms of the kind of people and expertise it needs to get off the ground and be a success, there are a few basic guidelines that should be followed when it comes to the hiring process, and how to avoid hiring the wrong talent. The three most common hiring blunders pointed out below may help you sidestep some of the pitfalls involved with onboarding employees and set you on the right path to building a winning team who will take your business from strength to strength. Hiring for…

THE DEPARTMENT of Trade, Industry, and Competition (dtic) said yesterday that the South African government welcomed the announcement by the global pharmaceutical company, Novo Nordisk, that it would produce insulin in South Africa through Aspen. This comes after the companies announced on Tuesday that Aspen Pharmacare had been contracted by the global manufacturer of human insulin, Novo Nordisk, to produce 16 million vials of insulin next year. Novo said the amount that Aspen would produce next year under the con- tract equates to the yearly consumption of 1.1 million people with type 1 and type 2 diabetes. In terms of the contract, Aspen Pharmacare Holdings Limited and its wholly-owned South African subsidiary, Aspen SA Operations had agreed with Novo Nordisk, to the technical transfer and commercial manufacture of…

Grief casts a heavy pall in A Haunting in Venice, Kenneth Branagh’s third instalment of his Hercule Poirot series. As director and an actor, Branagh has sought to imbue the meticulously groomed Belgian detective – one of Agatha Christie’s most beloved creations – with psychological depth, even darkness. Since 2017’s Murder on the Orient Express and last year’s Death on the Nile, that aspiration has yielded some interesting artistic choices but, on a pure entertainment level, diminishing returns. A Haunting in Venice opens with moody shots of St. Mark’s Square in the titular city, set to strains of Hildur Gudnadottir’s elegiac score; set in 1947, and moved to Italy from the English setting of Christie’s novel Hallowe’en Party, from which this film is adapted, A Haunting in Venice is, true…

Diddy felt obliged to record a new album because he didn’t have any “R&B music to listen to as a fan”. The 53-year-old,- whose birth name is Sean John Combs, recruited the genre’s biggest stars, including Mary J. Blige, John Legend, Busta Rhymes, Teyana Taylor, H.E.R. and many more, for his latest LP The Love Album: Off the Grid – his first studio effort in 17 years. Asked why now was the time to release a new album, Diddy told Extra’s Megan Ryte: “It’s something that sort of hits you like boom. It is time. It is time to put the cape back on. Time to spread the love. Time to lift up the frequency.” Ryte then asked: “What’s the inspiration behind the title?” To which he replied: “Number one,…

IF THE parliamentary justice committee could have its way, the impeachment of two judges found guilty by the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) would be held before the current Parliament’s end of term. This emerged yesterday, when the justice and correctional services portfolio committee decided to invite the JSC to make a presentation on retired judge Nkola Motata and Western Cape Judge President John Hlophe. This comes after the committee agreed on the steps to be followed in handling the referrals that were made to the committee, including inviting the JSC to brief them on the judges. Committee chairperson Bulelani Magwanishe said the MPs will be informed when the JSC would brief them. “We will be processing these requests this term. We are to do the first and second step concurrently…

City of Joburg officials, who were threatened last week and had to abandon an operation to disconnect power to hijacked buildings in the CBD, have regrouped and were set to complete the task yesterday afternoon. City Power officials and a small contingent of police officers were threatened last week as they targeted four buildings in the Joburg CBD which had been hijacked and had last paid for electricity almost six years ago. They abandoned the mission, fearing for their safety. City Power officials faded similar protestations in Naturena this week. Jack Sekwaila, the city’s MMC for environment and infrastructure Services) and Mgcini Tswaku, the MMC for public safety, are expected to lead the revenue protection team in a bid to disconnect electricity to multiple hijacked buildings in Johannesburg’s inner city.…

The Division of the High Court in Thohoyadou, Limpopo, convicted and sentenced a 56-year-old man to life imprisonment on Tuesday after he was found guilty of raping his 14-year-old stepdaughter in the Saselamani policing area. According to Limpopo police spokesperson Colonel Malesela Ledwaba, the court heard that on Monday, February 25, 2019, the accused, who cannot be named to protect the identity of the victim, went to his wife’s residence and found his stepdaughter was alone. “He promised her a job and left. A few hours later, he came back to take the victim towards the bushes, where he then raped her,” Ledwaba said. The police subsequently opened a case of rape and transferred it to the Family Violence, Child Protection, and Sexual Offence Unit for further investigation, assigning Detective…

A Pretoria father who wanted to migrate with his 12-year-old son to Canada without discussing it with his ex-wife, had his application dismissed by the Gauteng High Court in Pretoria. The father approached the court seeking to enforce clause 1.2.7 which they had in their divorce settlement. The 1.2.7 clause contained that: “Parties agree that the minor child shall alternate between the parties when they are in deployment to overseas countries as they have always been during the subsistence of the marriage and neither party shall withhold consent unreasonably and shall sign all the necessary documents and shall attend to all necessary meeting/ attendances, at his own cost, to enable the minor child, to travel outside the Republic of South Africa, from time to time.” The father said the clause…

THE Jozi Kota Festival is to return after its resounding success last year. It will take place at Newtown Station in Johannesburg on September 30. The event follows the theme, “Bringing Kasi Vibe to Town”, and provides a lifestyle and entertainment experience that will include activities for children. With Kota at the centre of the occasion, the festival provides a platform for up-and-coming chefs and outlets around the country to showcase their offerings. As the event is held in the heart of Johannesburg, it also attracts students from Wits University, University of Johannesburg, Rosebank College, and most colleges in Braamfontein. Jozi Kota Festival marketing manager Luvo Limba said patrons could expect a memorable day filled with exciting activities. “In our upcoming event, our patrons can expect to have more activities…

A 26-year-old woman from uMlazi graduated cum laude with her Advanced Diploma in Business Administration from the Durban University of Technology (DUT) – despite suffering from a condition caused by inflammation of a nerve or nerves. After graduating at the Olive Convention Centre on Tuesday, Ngidi was grateful and excited her hard work paid off, proving good grades can be achieved with great dedication. “I have also set the standard for my younger siblings although they are in their fair share of exciting fields,” Ngidi said. She enrolled at DUT for her National Diploma in Financial Information Systems in 2015. “When I finally built up enough courage to tell my parents that I do not like what I was studying, I took a six-month break before coming back at the…

Mbombela traffic official Khanyisile Viola Nyalunga, implicated in a cash-in-transit heist in Hazyview, has been released on bail by the High Court in Mpumalanga after she lodge an appeal. Last month, Nyalunga, 29, was denied bail by the White River Magistrate’s Court in Mpumalanga. National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) spokesperson in Mpumalanga Monica Nyuswa said the superior court found that there were exceptional circumstances that warranted Nyalunga’s release on bail. “The court … took into consideration that the accused has no previous convictions, no pending cases, and that she is not a flight risk.” Nyuswa said the High Court granted Nyalunga R5 000 bail on condition that she attended all court appearances until the trial was finalised, and did not contact, communicate, interfere or intimidate witnesses. Previously, spokesperson for the Directorate…

It’s official! The Ford Puma compact SUV is set to touch down in Mzansi in the fourth quarter of this year. While it’s not going to fill the recently discontinued EcoSport’s shoes as an affordable SUV offering, the Ford Puma intends to provide buyers at the more premium end of the compact crossover market with an interesting and somewhat sporty alternative. Ford SA will be offering just two high-spec, and somewhat expensive, models to local customers, with the Titanium priced at R569 900 and the ST-Line Vignale listed at R613 900. Probable rivals include the Opel Mokka and, to a lesser degree, the Honda HR-V. Both models are powered by the familiar 1.0-litre, three-cylinder EcoBoost turbopetrol engine, which offers up 92kW and 170Nm. Power goes to the front wheels via…

It is high time that the government took seriously the ongoing taxi violence that has become second nature to those involved in the industry. The government must put measures in place to curb the problem that is threatening to cause irreparable damage to the economy. For years, the taxi industry has been engulfed by infighting that has resulted in the loss of many lives. The traffic blockades in uMhlanga on Tuesday, with the taxi operators blocking all roads within the suburb, demanding that the authorities build them a taxi rank where their taxis will operate from, should be another wake-up call for the local government to realise the seriousness of the dangers and threats posed by the industry. The government must consider forming strong, lasting relationships and bonds with the…

THE Springboks’ match-winning wing Cheslin Kolbe says the current South African team are a more formidable outfit than the 2019 squad that won the Webb Ellis Cup in Japan. Only five players in the match-23 for Saturday’s game against Ireland (9pm kickoff) did not play in Japan, and the retention of the nucleus that won four years ago can only mean growth, according to Kolbe. “Plenty has happened since 2019 and a lot has evolved in the team as well – in a positive way,” Kolbe said. In 2019, the Boks pioneered the “Bomb Squad”, and in 2023, it has grown into the “Nuke Squad”. Kolbe said the players leave the planning to the coaches and get on with the job. “We respect the decision of the coaches, and we…

Mamelodi Sundowns are going about their search for a seventh title in a row in style as they equalled an 18-year-old record on hostile ground last night. At a sold-out Orlando Stadium, Sundowns beat title rivals Orlando Pirates 1-0 to stretch their unbeaten run to 31 matches in the league, levelling Kaizer Chiefs’ record in 2005. It wasn’t only a result that saw the Brazilians extend their winning run to seven matches in a row in the league since the start of the season, but it also matched another Chiefs record from 2014. And having done that, Sundowns have more reason to believe they can beat Amakhosi in the second leg of the MTN8 semi-final at home on Saturday. The match is still tied at 1-1. Pirates, meanwhile, have now…

The newly-promoted KZN Inland Tuskers stunned defending champions the Lions with a dominant nine-wicket victory at the Pietermaritzburg Oval yesterday to send shockwaves to all teams competing in Division One of the CSA One-Day Cup. The Tuskers dismissed the Gauteng side for just 89, and knocked off the target for the loss of just a single wicket. The Lions were expected to breeze past the Tuskers, seeing that they have more accomplished players in their squad, including Proteas spinner Bjorn Fortuin. To everyone’s surprise, the Tuskers dominated the Lions and used their home-ground advantage to perfection. From the toss, the KwaZulu-Natal outfit knew what to do, and their decision to field first proved to be fruitful in almost no time. Left-arm fast bowler Mbulelo Budaza possessed the right skills for…

BANYANA Banyana coach Desiree Ellis has identified the pair of friendly internationals against four-time world champions the United States as the start of preparing the national team for the 2027 World Cup. Banyana have called up the bulk of the 2023 World Cup squad for the matches. There are new faces who were included after regulars like Refiloe Jane, Bambanani Mbane, Hildah Magaia, Noko Matlou and Sibulele Holweni could not travel for various reasons. “We have five players not here who were part of the World Cup, so this is a chance for others to get some game time,” said Ellis in an interview with Safa’s website. “This gives us a chance to see if they can step up, because that is also important. “The other games, such as the…

The National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa took up the issue to press the Minister to take the sale offer MINISTER of Public Enterprises Pravin Gordhan’s decision to tarry on whether to take the tabled R336 million offer for embattled Mango Airlines by Ubuntu Airline Services may paint him into a corner as both legal precedent and rules of the Public Finance Management act (PFMA), along with the initial high court judgment, compel his compliance. This comes as the National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa (Numsa) took up the issue yesterday to press the Minister to take the sale offer as opposed to clinging to the almost defunct airline after a series of failures that make it impractical to hold on to it. “The so-called concerns raised…

SOUTHERN Sun reported yesterday that trading volumes in South Africa have continued to improve in the first five months of the financial year ending March 31, 2024, boosted by Netball World Cup 2023 and the 2023 BRICS Summit. The Netball World Cup 2023 was hosted in Cape Town from July 28 to August 6, while the 2023 BRICS Summit was held in Johannesburg form August 22 to 24. In a statement, the group, formerly known as Tsogo Sun Hotels, said occupancy was at 55.3% for the five months ending August 2023 and has increased by 2 percentage points compared to 44.2% in the prior comparative period, and is only 2 percentage points below the 57.2% achieved for the same five-month period in 2019, being pre Covid-19. “The group’s average room…

After a more than 20-hour flight, many delegates an I touched down in the coastal city of Melbourne, Australia, to attend the Global Entrepreneurship Congress (GEC), which kicked off two days ago with a clarion call for ecosystem stakeholders to transform their world. Opening the congress was Austra- lia’s Minister of Industry and Science, Ed Husic, who thanked more than 1 500 delegates from 123 countries for coming to the GEC. With more than 40 ministers in attendance, including South Africa’s Minister of Small Business Development, the GEC continues to grow in leaps and bounds and is making a significant impact in the world. According to the annual Global Start-up Ecosystem Report (GSER), which was published by the Global Entrepreneurship Network (GEN) and Start-up Genome earlier this year, it…

SOUTH Africa’s consumer food inflation slowed to 8.2% last month from 10% in the previous month, Statistics South Africa data showed yesterday. Agricultural Business Chamber (Agbiz) chief economist Wandile Sihlobo said in response to the data that the product prices underpinning this deceleration were similar to the previous month, mainly bread and cereals, meat, fish, oils and fats; milk, eggs and cheese and vegetables. “In essence, we stated that while there are renewed risks in global agriculture, such as India’s decision to ban specific categories of rice exports and the Black Sea Grain Deal Initiative that facilitated grains and oilseeds exports from Ukraine terminated, and domestically the increases in fuel prices, we are still optimistic that South Africa’s consumer food inflation will continue to slow throughout the year into 2024,”…

The joke is on local prankster and YouTuber, Lebogang Lesia, who unknowingly attempted to prank South African singer and songwriter Mbuso Khoza. In the video shared on social media, Lesia approached Khoza and asked him for directions to Ocean’s Mall, even though they were already at the mall. When Khoza tried to help by pointing him in the direction of the mall, Lesia interrupted him and expressed his dislike of being told what to do. “Hello sir, how are you? Do you know where Ocean’s Mall is,” enquired Lesia. “This is Ocean’s Mall,” pointed out Khoza. “How do I get there?” asked Lesia. “You just walk …” said Khoza. But Lesia interjected and said, “Please don’t tell me what to do, neh? I don’t like it when you tell…

Media24 says it is studying the Gauteng High Court, Johannesburg, judgment following the finding that the media outlet is guilty of unlawful reporting on the EFF’s Dr Mbuyiseni Ndlozi, accused of rape. The EFF said yesterday that it welcomed the judgment which found that reports by the Daily Sun, a Media24 outlet, in both its print and digital media platforms, alleging that Ndlozi was guilty of rape were “unlawful and defamatory”. The judgment concluded that Media24 must “remove these unlawful and defamatory statements from all its media platforms, including its website, X (fomerly Twitter) account, and Facebook account, within one week of the date of this order”. In essence, Media24’s Daily Sun unlawfully printed accusations that were false, baseless and caused grave harm to the reputation and person of Ndlozi.…

The bad weather that wreaked havoc on Tuesday night has caused further problems for residents who had no water and no electricity in Ekurhuleni. The City of Ekurhuleni yesterday said large parts of the area are experiencing water supply interruptions due to an electrical fault at Rand Water’s (RW) Zuikerbosch water treatment plant. The metro said the fault, which started in the early hours of yesterday morning, has resulted in insufficient water supply to customers in most parts of Kempton Park, Germiston, Nigel, Duduza, Tsakane, Brakpan, Bedfordview, Edenvale, Midstream, Clayville, Tembisa, and surrounding areas. Areas such as Tsakane, KwaThema, Duduza, Brakpan, and surrounding areas have had no water for about two months now. The lack of water forced hundreds of residents in Tsakane to take to the streets in protest.…

Ingredients For the Base 4 cups of white bread flour big pinch of salt 1 packet of instant yeast 5 ml white sugar 30 ml olive oil 375 ml warm water and milk mix For the Tomato Sauce 15 ml Robertsons Mixed Herbs 30 ml tomato paste 1 tin of chopped tomato and onion mix For the Toppings 250g cooked thin boerewors cut into pieces 30ml Robertsons BBQ Spice 125ml chopped Peppadews peppers 250ml caramelised onions 750ml mixed grated cheddar and mozzarella 30g rocket for garnish Method Sift the flour and salt into a large bowl and make a well in the middle. Mix the yeast, sugar and oil into the milk mix and leave for a few minutes. Pour into the well and mix in the flour with clean…

This year’s Eskom Expo for Young Scientists International Science Fair (ISF) is set to be a global showcase of talent featuring participants from 35 regions across South Africa, alongside international pupils from 10 countries. From October 3 to 6, 330 local young scientists and 20 participants from Ghana, India, Kenya, Lesotho, Mexico, Mozambique, Namibia, Zimbabwe, Indonesia, and Turkey will gather in Boksburg, Ekurhuleni, to present their innovative projects and vie for prestigious prizes. Having triumphed over competitors in regional finals across South Africa, these bright young minds are now eager to impress a panel of judges and industry experts for a chance to secure top honours. A range of organisations, including Eskom, Derek Gray Trust, Siemens Energy, Innomotics, Siemens, Babcock, the Soil Science Society of South Africa, the South African…

Black-owned company Cape Sativa, a subsidiary of 3Sixty Global Solutions Group, has announced a scientific breakthrough by becoming the first company in the world to produce 100% water-soluble and 100% bioavailable cannabidiol (CBD) water using its patented nanotechnology platform. This CBD water will be marketed under the brand name Equivex Aqua. CBD is a compound extracted from the cannabis sativa plant that does not have psychotropic effect but has good recorded medicinal properties. This pioneering invention will ensure the full benefits of CBD can be realised and the potential of the cannabis economy, projected to reach global sales of $102 billion (about R1.93 trillion) by 2026, according to the African Cannabis Report, are realised. CBD is extracted in the form of oil and, therefore, is not easily absorbed into the…

Two men who were found with the body of a man in their bakkie appeared in the Brits Magistrate’s Court in the North West on Tuesday. North West South African Police Service (SAPS) spokesperson, Lieutenant Colonel Amanda Funani, said the case against Louis Coetzee, 47, and Jaco Kemp, 45, was postponed to September 26 for formal bail application. Funani said a third man who was linked to this case handed himself to the police in Brits on Tuesday morning. The farmers are charged with the murder of 45-year-old Dumisani Phakathi. Assen police arrested Coetzee and Kemp on Sunday in Kameeldrift along the R511 road outside Brits. “Reports suggest that the suspects allegedly assaulted the man who was on their farm to fetch water,” she said. In 2017, Tebogo Ndlovu, 24,…

Residents in the City of Tshwane were not spared from the unprecedented heavy storm that wrecked havoc in various parts of the municipality on Tuesday night, uprooting trees and leaving power supply interruptions in its wake. The Tshwane Emergency Services call centre was flooded with calls from desperate residents looking for assistance after their homes were destroyed by fires caused by the severe thunderstorm. Emergency services spokesperson Charles Mabaso said no injuries or deaths were reported to the call centre for all incidents that firefighters and disaster management teams responded to. “The emergency services take note of multiple incidents that were noted on social media due to the storm that wreaked havoc in various parts of Tshwane, uprooting trees in areas like Valhalla and Centurion, even though there is no…

The National Assembly has passed a bill that will expunge criminal records of people who were convicted of breaching Covid-19 regulations during the implementation of the lockdown regulations. The police had arrested over 400 000 people for violating lockdown regulations by 2021. This was confirmed by Police Minister Bheki Cele when he released these figures at the time. Minister of Justice and Correctional Services Ronald Lamola tabled the Judicial Matters Amendment Bill in Parliament a few months ago to expunge criminal records of people who violated the Covid-19 lockdown regulations. Almost all political parties with the exception of the EFF and Al-Jama-ah voted in support of the Judicial Matters Amendment Bill. House chairperson Grace Borotho said the bill would now be sent to the National Council of Provinces for concurrence.…

President Cyril Ramaphosa has called for the lifting of sanctions against Zimbabwe, saying they were affecting ordinary people in the country. “The sanctions that are applied against Zimbabwe should also be lifted as they are imposing untold suffering on ordinary Zimbabweans, but also have a collateral negative impact on neighbouring countries as well, such as my own country, South Africa,” Ramaphosa told the UN General Assembly. Ramaphosa said the sanctions in Zimbabwe were impacting neighbouring countries as Zimbabweans flocked there in search of opportunities. Western powers imposed sanctions against Zimbabwe more than 20 years ago when the late former president Robert Mugabe was still in charge. When Emmerson Mnangagwa took over as president a few years ago, the sanctions were not lifted. Ramaphosa’s call at the UN came as the…

There's something undeniably alluring about the open road, stretching endlessly, promising adventure and discovery at every turn. And what a delight it was to embark on a journey with the new Ford Ranger XL. A road trip, with my family of five, from Johannesburg to Cape Town, powered by just R3 000 worth of diesel. The journey’s biggest revelation? The Ford Ranger XL’s exceptional fuel efficiency, a beacon of hope in an era of soaring fuel prices. I am not sure if it was designed with families in mind, but the bakkie boasts a spacious interior that provides ample room for all passengers to stretch out and enjoy the ride. Soft seats provide the ultimate comfort, making long drives a delight rather than a chore. One cannot help but notice…

AT the end of a thrilling come-from-behind one-day international series win over No 1-ranked Australia, came an admission from Proteas white-ball coach Rob Walter that “we need to be careful of reading too much into this series and what it means for the World Cup”. It certainly was an artful way of keeping expectations to a minimum, while at the same time trying to alleviate any extra pressure placed upon his team that contains eight World Cup debutants ahead of their departure for India on Saturday. But after Marco Jansen’s near faultless player-of-the-match all-round performance of 47 (23 balls) and 5/39 that set up the convincing 122-run victory in the series decider last Sunday, there is no doubt that Walter will be quietly optimistic. The No 7 all-rounder position has…

Manchester City overcame an early scare to get their Champions League title defence off to a solid start on Tuesday night, but nine-man Celtic endured a rough night in Rotterdam. Barcelona cruised past Antwerp and Kylian Mbappe helped Paris-Saint Germain to an opening win on a breathless beginning to the group stage of Europe’s top club competition. Newcastle returned to the high table of European football for the first time in two decades with a battling goalless draw against AC Milan at the San Siro and Lazio grabbed an equaliser deep in injury-time to hold Atletico Madrid. In Manchester, Pep Guardiola’s City were stunned when Red Star’s Osman Bukari opened the scoring in first-half stoppage-time. But Julian Alvarez continued his sparkling early-season form by levelling two minutes after the break.…