Innholdsfortegnelse for 2023-09-27 i Star

The finance development institution achieved strong results for the year despite a weak economy and ongoing load shedding THE INDUSTRIAL Development Corporation of South Africa (IDC) provided funding of R20.7 billion to key sectors in the year to March 31, a figure 29% higher than in 2022, with most of it going towards industrial expansions. The finance development institution achieved strong results for the year despite a weak economy, load shedding, geopolitical tensions and slower international growth, its annual results showed yesterday. The funding was the highest nominal amount ever approved by it, said CEO TP Nchocho. Disbursements for the year surged 147% to R17.8bn, with the bulk directed towards capacity expansions, projects and start-ups, in line with a mandate to sustain industrial capa- city development and fund economic…

VUKILE Property Fund is set for a strong start to its 2024 year due to active portfolio management and defensive nature of its South African assets, CEO Lawrence Rapp said yesterday in a pre-close statement for the six months to September 30. The group holds some R37 billion of property assets, with 42% consisting of urban, commuter, township and rural malls across South Africa and 58% held in Spain through the Madrid-listed subsidiary Castellana Properties Socimi. Rapp said yesterday that the South African portfolio continued to deliver “excellent results”, with footfalls up 7% year-on-year (y/y) and sales up 3.6% y/y. Trading density growth of 3.5% yoy was reported in all main segments, led by township (5.3%) and urban (4.8%) shopping centres. Vacancies were steady at 2% with strong…

THE DECLINE in global wheat prices witnessed in recent months could slow and prices could start to move sideways over the coming months, says the Agricultural Business Chamber (Agbiz). The latest report from the International Grains Council placed the 2023/24 global wheat production at 783 million tons, down 3% from the previous season. Still, this would be the second-largest global wheat harvest on record. In line with these downward revisions in production estimates and increased consumption, the 2023/24 global wheat stocks could fall 7% year on year to 263 million tons. The agricultural organisation’s chief economist Wandile Sihlobo said such an outlook was not entirely favourable for wheat-importing countries. “Still, we doubt that prices would surge to levels we witnessed a year ago following the invasion of Ukraine…

AS WE HASTEN to recover from the devastating impact of Covid-19, which wreaked havoc in the travel and tourism sector in the past three years, we need to remain alive to the existential threat of the impact of climate change on destinations and the experiences we all aspire voyage to. Today, September 27, we mark another instalment of the World Tourism Day (WTD), themed “Tourism and Green Investments” by the UN World Tourism Organisation, with the sector facing new and old pressures due to climate change. Climate-driven degradation and disruption to cultural and natural heritage negatively affect the tourism sector. It wipes out the attractiveness of destinations and squeezes the economic opportunities of communities. With its intrinsic link to the environment and climate itself, tourism is considered to be a…

Johannesburg’s City Power utility is sending hundreds of yellow bib-wearing agents to your homes to install new smart meters, as it strives to meet a deadline to replace all old prepaid electricity meters by November next year. Users of old technology powered prepaid electricity meters will not be able to load electricity tokens or vouchers. Their meters are being changed, free of charge, by new age smart meters which allow City Power to limit-load remotely, which assists the city in times of a strained energy grid. Members of the Johannesburg community in areas such as Hyde Park, Lenasia, Johannesburg South and Roodepoort have been warned of authorised City Power agents who will be seeking entry into their homes to replace prepaid electricity meters for free of charge. The agents will…

Ingredients 1 whole garlic bulb 30ml blended seed and extra virgin olive oil 250g Pasta Diena penne pasta 2 x 200g bacon, sliced into strips 60ml white wine 500ml fresh cream 250g cherry tomatoes, halved Zest of 1 lemon Italian parsley, to taste 1 spring onion, finely sliced Salt and black pepper, to taste Method Place the garlic bulb in a sheet of tin foil and drizzle with 15ml (1tbs) of the oil. Close the foil and place in the air fryer or oven for about 30-40 minutes on 180°C. Boil a large pot of salted water and cook the penne pasta for about 12-15 minutes or until al denté. Drain, drizzle with olive oil and set aside until needed. Meanwhile, heat a large pan with the remainder of the…

A LEGAL wrangle has ensued over the pictures and works of world-renowned local photographer and author of several books, Santu Mofokeng. Mofokeng died in 2020 and donated all his works to the Santu Mofokeng Foundation. The executor of his estate turned to the Gauteng High Court, Johannesburg to have the donation agreement Mofokeng entered into with the foundation before his death declared unenforceable. The court was also asked to order the foundation to return the artworks to the executor within seven days. The application was initially brought by Boitumelo Mofokeng, who remarried the now-deceased in 2016. She was appointed administrator of his property after his death. During 2008, Mofokeng (the deceased) approached gallery owner Warren Siebrits with a view to housing his artworks at Siebrits’ gallery. He had arrived with…

SEPTEMBER marks Albinism Awareness Month in South Africa, and a researcher at the University of Pretoria says it is high time to put an end to all the myths surrounding albinism. Sabeeha Majid, a researcher at the Disability Rights Unit at the University of Pretoria’s Centre for Human Rights, outlines why albinism awareness is key to combating the “othering” of people with albinism in South Africa. She pointed out that South Africa’s transition from apartheid to democracy could be characterised by various milestones, notably, the adoption of a supreme Constitution. In its preamble, the Constitution makes strong reference to the injustices of the past and states that the Constitution serves as a bridge between our troubled past and a future in which the human rights of all will be respected,…

The Zulu royal house has dismissed as fake a letter that claimed Ingonyama Trust Board chairperson iNkosi Thanduyise Mzimela had been removed. Royal house spokesperson Prince Africa Zulu warned of a fake letter circulating on social media which falsely claimed to be from King Misuzulu kaZwelithini, stating that he had “elected to revoke the chairmanship of the current chairperson of the Ingonyama Trust Board, Inkosi Thanduyise Nkosinathi Mzimela”. “His Majesty wishes to note that his office has been furnished with a copy of a forged document that has been circulated in social media platforms.” He described the letter as a fabrication that was aimed at sowing confusion by forces seeking to create instability in the Zulu kingdom. “His Majesty also wishes to reaffirm that the crown maintains full confidence in…

The Council for the Built Environment, together with the Department of Public Works and Infrastructure, recently hosted the Built Environment Climate Change Indaba in Durban. In the main, it was aimed at galvanising the built environment profession in South Africa to start leading the discourse about just urban transition, resilient infrastructure, facilitate the training of future built environment practitioners who are conscious about the impact of climate change on society, evidence-based infrastructure development and generate new knowledge and insight geared towards reducing and mitigating the impact of climate change in the built environment. As you may be aware, Unesco Africa Engineering Week 2023 is fast approaching, and I strongly believe that hosting this event in our country would have a profound impact on our engineering community and the broader society.…

IT would be disrespectful to have a preferred opponent for a possible quarter-final at the World Cup, but the Springboks believe France with a home crowd behind them could be a dangerous team to face next month. The reigning world champions, as things stand, are on a collision course with the host nation in the last eight, and should things remain as they currently are in Pool A and B, a meeting between the French and Boks will make for a mouth-watering clash. France are unbeaten and at the top of Pool A with two games to play, while the Boks’ loss to Ireland at the weekend will keep the South Africans in second place until at least the weekend when they face Tonga on Sunday (9pm kick-off) for the…

THE conversations surrounding the ongoing project at Kaizer Chiefs under the guidance of new coach Molefi Ntseki continues to dominate South African football circles after the club suffered another setback at the weekend. Amakhosi were ousted from the MTN8 at the semi-final stage for the second season in a row, extending their long wait for a trophy. Ntseki and his players could not master a plan to overcome Mamelodi Sundowns, something they could put right against Sekhukhune United, who they face next. Sekhukhune have proven to be difficult opposition for many clubs in the Premiership in the past and will pose great danger to a vulnerable Chiefs camp. Here, Smiso Msomi takes a look at five things Ntseki will need to rectify ahead of Chiefs’ clash against Sekhukhune at home…

Mamelodi Sundowns captain Themba Zwane says they are wary of the threat Stellenbosch FC will pose tonight, which is why they will not leave any stone unturned as they search for another victory. Sundowns’ dominant start to the season continued on Saturday as they beat Kaizer Chiefs 2-1 in the MTN8 semi-final second leg to progress to the final 3-2 on aggregate. Despite the result being questionable due to poor officiating from Luxolo Badi, Sundowns still racked up their ninth win of the season. Sundowns will meet Orlando Pirates in the MTN8 final at Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban next weekend and have marched to their first cup objective of the season almost unchallenged, while the Buccaneers haven’t had the smoothest of rides to the showdown. The Sea Robbers lost…

Minister for Electricity Dr Kgosientsho Ramokgopa has assured the private sector that the government will take a leading role in financing the expansion of the transmission grid even though it needs a considerable amount from the private players. Ramokgopa yesterday confirmed that Eskom’s transmission expansion and strengthening would require a “considerable amount of resources”. The government would need more than R250 billion to expand the transmission grid by an additional 14 000km over the next 10 years. Ramokgopa said he would table his report in Cabinet in October after he met with captains of industry at the JSE last week where they discussed the financing of the grid expansion during the South African Transmission Financing Seminar. “We are looking to tap into the liquidity that is available from the private…

AANGLOGOLD Ashanti announced yesterday that it had completed its corporate restructuring, with a primary listing of its shares on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) and a corporate domicile in the UK. The corporate restructuring was first announced on May 12 and approved by the shareholders of AngloGold Ashanti Limited on August 18. The AngloGold Ashanti group is now head-quartered in Denver, Colorado, and retains a substantial corporate office in Johannesburg. AngloGold Ashanti CEO Alberto Calderon said: “The move of our primary listing to the NYSE provides us with improved access to the world’s largest capital market and places us alongside the industry’s highest-valued gold companies. “This signifies an important new era for AngloGold Ashanti streng- thening our corporate infrastructure as we continue to focus on taking performance from our…

THE MINISTER of Trade, Industry and Competition, Ebrahim Patel, has warned of a couple of risks that could see South Africa’s trade with the US under the Africa Growth and Opportunity Act (Agoa) slightly diminish even when the country survives being kicked out. Agoa provides duty-free product coverage for about 1 835 products, and its extension from 2025 requires a decision of the US Congress and is, thereafter, signed into law by the US President. South Africa and 34 other sub- Saharan African countries are currently eligible for preferential access for speci- fied goods to the US market under the terms of Agoa. Patel yesterday told Parliament that South Africa valued the economic relationship with the US, and was seeking to maintain and expand such relations with all large…

SOUTH Africa is missing out big time on occupying the energy space and developing its own generic technology solutions to compete with European and Eastern countries in the rush to manufacture green technology solutions. For now, South Africa remains a giant consumer of energy technology and imports its technology from all over the world, mainly China, for solar, inverters and battery storage products. On wind technology, Europe takes a sizeable share of the pie in supplying South Africa with wind turbines and transformers technology. How come South Africa has procured so many renewable bid windows and we are in a renewables boom cycle, yet the country has no industrial policy to force original equipment manufacturers to build plants and manufacture these products locally? Where are the Industrial Development Corporation, Public…

Rooiwal waste-water treatment probe set to unearth corruption THE Special Investigating Unit’s (SIU) probe into a failed R295 million tender for upgrading of the Rooiwal waste-water treatment plant will unveil the depths of corruption and political patronage networks in the City of Tshwane. This was the DA’s reaction to a proclamation signed by President Cyril Ramaphosa authorising the SIU to investigate allegations of maladministration and corruption in the tender awarded to a joint venture of CMS Water Projects and NJR Projects linked to controversial businessman Edwin Sodi. The proclamation comes just a day after Sodi celebrated his 50th birthday with a lavish bash at his multi-million-rand property located in Bryanston. His companies were appointed for Phase 1 construction in October 2019. DA spokesperson in Tshwane, Kwena Moloto, said: “The DA…

Deputy President Paul Mashatile says churches, mosques, synagogues and other religious platforms are pillars of society, doing valuable work in education, feeding the poor and the needy, and being a consistent and powerful voice that speaks out against injustices in our country. Mashatile was speaking at the engagement between government and interfaith leaders at the Birchwood Hotel and OR Tambo Conference Centre in Ekurhuleni. He said that as a government, they appreciated the role of faith communities in guiding when they have strayed from their mission, which is to unite and develop the country. “As faith leaders, you have an important role to play in the renewal of our society and in using your positions and influence to restore basic human values in our society. “The men and women of…

NEXT month, it will be 13 years since a big portion of Pretoria Magistrate’s Court was gutted during a fire, yet despite promises to revamp this heritage site, nothing has been done. AfriForum on Thursday submitted an application in terms of the Promotion of Access to Information Act to the Department of Justice and Constitutional Development, as well as to the Department of Public Works and Infrastructure, to try and establish what plans there are regarding the restoration. Part of the court was left in ruins in October 2010 after a fire broke out in part of this historic building. AfriForum is now demanding full information regarding the devastating fire and the respective departments’ involvement in the restoration of this building. Despite the fact that a tender for the repair…

THE inaugural Gauteng Schools Football Champions League has crowned it’s first set of champions, with Clapham High School winning the boys’ competition and Jabulile Secondary School winning for the girls. The culmination of five rounds of games played on a bi-weekly basis, which began in July 203, the league concluded at Kagiso Sports Complex in Krugersdorp yesterday. Both the winning teams, Clapham (Tshwane) and Jabulile (Orange Farm), performed exceptionally well through-out the competition, having maintained first position from start to end to attain first place gold status as well as earn the R100 000 grand prize, with R50 000 going to each school. The prestigious Clapham school renowned for producing elite young football players emerged as the male victors with 17 points accumulated. They were followed by Bhukulani Senior Secondary…

CONSUL-General of China in Johannesburg, Tang Zhongdong is returning to Beijing this month, after working as a diplomat at the Embassy of China in South Africa, before being appointed to lead the Chinese Consulate-General in Joburg. A prestigious farewell event was held in Joburg, where South African government officials, opposition party leaders and members of the ruling ANC paid tribute to the Chinese diplomat. In his farewell speech, Tang said South Africa has carved an indelible mark on his diplomatic career, and when he resettles back in China, he would work on promoting the brand South Africa. “My diplomat term as the consul-general is coming to an end by this month and will fly back to China soon. I have been working in South Africa for almost seven years, a…

Kaizer Chiefs defender Zitha Kwinika revealed that he and his teammates have processed the heartbreak of exiting the MTN8 over the weekend. Amakhosi are in Durban putting the final touches to their preparations for their next Premiership match against Sekhukhune United at Moses Mabhida Stadium at 7.30 tonight. The Glamour Boys have been challenged in recent days as a quick turnaround means they have to take the field three days after being controversially dumped out of the Wafa Wafa competition by Mamelodi Sundowns. Kwinika, one of the experienced heads in the Chiefs camp, admitted the defeat took a huge toll on them emotionally but the group has since recovered and is ready for the next challenge in the Premiership. “It’s one of those that you need to take to the…

The Proteas women look a formidable team in 50-over cricket with the senior players taking responsibility and winning games for South Africa, but there are still pieces of the puzzle missing. The hosts have a strong hold on their one-day international series against New Zealand, having started with a dominant performance in Potchefstroom to leave the visitors with a mountain to climb in order turn things around. The White Ferns recently suffered a series loss in Sri Lanka and now have gone into another tough tour of South Africa, with the hosts high in confidence having won their series in Pakistan earlier this month. The visitors suffered a four-wicket defeat on Sunday as the South African women continued to take significant strides towards becoming a potent ODI unit. The key…

The Springboks were comfortable with kicking long-range penalty attempts against Ireland instead of using their destructive rolling maul but that is not set in stone. Why they went for posts rather than using their rolling maul to put Ireland to bed has caused quite the debate in South Africa after they lost 13-8 to the Irish this past weekend. Although the plan to let scrumhalf Faf de Klerk kick for posts from that far out did not reap the rewards and cost the Boks six valuable points that could have been the difference, they will not neglect their mauls going forward. The Boks face Tonga on Sunday (kick-off 9pm) in Marseille and it will allow them to get their rolling maul - one of the strongest weapons in their arsenal…

South Africa faces a severe outbreak of avian influenza (AI), leading to the loss of more than 1.4 million chickens, devastating the poultry sector as the Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development (Dalrrd) yesterday said outlined key initiatives to handle the outbreak. This as South African consumers say they are now being faced with empty shelves when purchasing eggs and chickens at their local supermarkets with fears of price hikes on the horizon. Dalrrd yesterday said in a statement the reported number of chickens that died due to the outbreak was 107 705, while 1 318 521 were culled, resulting in a total loss of 1 426 226 chickens. South Africa is currently dealing with a number of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5 and H7 outbreaks. Up…

GRINDROD Shipping said yesterday it had acquired two ship management companies from Taylor Maritime Group (TMG) in a $11.75 million (R220.5m) cash and shares deal. The Singapore-based bulker owner plans to acquire Taylor Maritime Management and Tamar Ship Management. The deals are part of an ongoing integration between Grindrod Shipping and its parent Taylor Maritime Investments (TMI), which spun off from TMG in 2021 to list in London. Grindrod Shipping owns and operates a diversified fleet of owned long-term and short-term chartered-in dry bulk vessels. TMI specialises in the acquisition and chartering of vessels in the handysize and supramax bulk carrier segments of the global shipping sector. Grindrod Shipping said the aggregate maximum value of the consideration for the acquisition would not exceed $13.5m. After the acquisition, which is…

OVER THE PAST months or so, South Africa has been experiencing intermittent load shedding, which inconveniences households and businesses and has an adverse impact on the economy of our country. We acknowledge that, among other debilitating disadvantages, load shedding retards economic growth and impedes socio-economic development. Amid the intolerable blackouts, the government is doing everything possible in its endeavour to find a lasting solution to the electricity crisis. To capacitate the power utility Eskom to deal effectively and efficiently with load shedding and ensure energy security in the country, Cabinet approved the appointment of new board members with the required broad experience, expertise and skills. They are expected to provide stability and strategic direction to the entity, and reposition it into a key player in the energy sector. As part…

Actress is a compelling musical dramedy that explores the complexities of a woman’s life as she navigates various roles and responsibilities. The play takes the audience on a journey filled with ups and downs, from stress to success, anger to auditions, and everything in between. Co-written by Talia Kodesh and Bruce Dennill, the play is directed by Daniel Geddes, and set in New York and South Africa. Geddes’s diverse background in music has given him a unique perspective in directing the show. He sees music not only as a standalone element but also as a tool to drive storytelling. “I think having had such a diverse background in music, allows me to engage with it from both sides of the fence; seeing the music as it is, but then also…

Her tenacious fight against cancer and courage to share her life journey are among the things many remember about author and activist Zoleka Mandela. Zoleka has been lauded for leaving an indelible mark by raising awareness of cancer and her continued commitment to breaking down the stigma surrounding the disease. Zoleka, who was the granddaughter of Winnie Madikizela-Mandela and Nelson Mandela, was confirmed to have died at the age of 43 on Monday. The Mandela family revealed that Zoleka was admitted to hospital on Monday last week for ongoing treatment for metastatic cancer in the hip, liver, lung, pelvis, brain and spinal cord. She lost her battle with cancer after recent scans uncovered significant disease progression, including fibrosis in the lung and several emboli. The Nelson Mandela Foundation said Zoleka…

Johannesburg mayor Kabelo Gwamanda and Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi led the renaming of William Nicol Drive to Winnie Mandela Drive yesterday. Gwamanda praised Madikizela-Mandela for her bravery and resilience which characterised her fight against apartheid. The renaming coincided with what would have been Madikizela-Mandela’s 87th birthday. She died in April 2018. Gwamanda said her legacy of courage in the fight against apartheid would continue to be the cornerstone of what made her one of the leading figures in the country’s Struggle for freedom. “This symbol marks not just the life of a heroine but a beacon of hope on which our history was defined. It is, however, in my view that South Africa was denied the opportunity to have the first female president on the African continent. “An opportunity that…

Ingredients 2 tbs canola oil 4 onions, sliced 6 cloves garlic, finely grated 4cm knob ginger, finely grated 3 chillies, halved (and deseeded if you prefer less heat) Generous pinch of salt 1.4kg stewing lamb or goulash 10 fresh or dried curry leaves 3 bay leaves 3 sticks cinnamon 1-3 tsp chilli powder 2 tsp each ground coriander and turmeric 2 tbs hot curry powder 1 large packet tomato paste 3 salad tomatoes, grated 800g baby potatoes, halved 2 cups vegetable stock Handful fresh coriander Cooked rice, for serving Method Heat oil in a pot and sauté onion for 5 to 8 minutes or until soft and golden. Add garlic, ginger and chilli and fry for a further 2 minutes. Season meat, add to pot and brown all over. Add…

The joviality of song, dance and the sight of familiar faces awaited a group of Working on Fire (WoF) firefighters and their management team, as they were warmly welcomed home by colleagues and supporters after a month’s stay in Canada to assist in wildfire suppression and management efforts. The fourth deployment of its kind this year, consisting of 215 members, arrived at the Kruger Mpumalanga International Airport, Mbombela, on Monday. For Thandile Joseph, 28, Crewleader type 1 from Vredenburg Base in the Western Cape, it was a second de- ployment to Canada this year, with the previous one in June/July – the first deployment outside the country for Joseph. For him the most interesting part of the deployment was travelling overseas, and then once there, using tools such…

THE South African National Civic Organisation (Sanco) in Mamelodi has rejected the City of Tshwane’s attempt to accommodate displaced residents of Cemetery View informal settlement in the township’s community halls. At least 2 000 people were left destitute after their shacks near Woodlands Mall in Pretoria East were destroyed by fire on Saturday night. Sanco chairperson, Joseph Kgatle, called for the community to refuse to allow their recreational facilities to be used for housing people. He said: “Sanco in Mamelodi condemned in the strongest terms plans by the DA-led administration to relocate victims of this fire incident from Woodlands in Pretoria East to Mamelodi. “The distance from the place where the fire incident happened and the community halls in Mamelodi where the racist DA administration wants to relocate those…

GOLDEN Gate Highlands National Park has a plethora of activities to offer its visitors, but park officials have to literally put out fires on a weekly basis. The park, nestled near the Maluti mountains of the north-eastern Free State, surrounded by breathtaking views and monuments offers tourists a five-star hotel, hiking trails, the cathedral cave, horseback riding and abseiling and mountain retreat cottages. The park is on the border with Lesotho. South African National Parks (SANParks) opened its doors for free from September 16 to 24. The free entry week to most national parks including Golden Gate was extended to nine days to include two weekends. The park is the Free State’s only national park and is more famous for the beauty of its landscape than for its wildlife. Speaking…

We are in mourning at the loss of three brave officers who perished in an attempted ”vertical transfer” on SAS Manthatisi. Our debt to these heroic officers and valiant mariners of our country can never be repaid. They have earned our undying gratitude. Our nation will never forget their sacrifices. Dedicated naval officers who made the ultimate sacrifice for their country. We are, indeed, proud of our mariners, who were ordinary South Africans trained to undertake extraordinary missions. Serving in the Navy is an unselfish calling. Brave men and women stepped forward in defence of peace and freedom. As we grieve, we should remember those who died and those who were injured and the supreme price they paid in defence of our nation. It was Tamra Bolton who once offered…

The election season is upon us, and many students are exercising their democratic right by participating in the annual Student Representative Council (SRC) elections. Universities such as Wits, UTC, Unisa, and the Central University of Technology (Bloemfontein Campus) have reported that the EFF Student Command (EFFSC) has come out victorious against opposition such as the South African Students Congress, ActionSA Students Chapter and Democratic Alliance Student Organisations. With the youth being the biggest voting cohort, could this indicate which party young people will be voting for in the 2024 general elections? Under the maxim “2024 is our 1994”, political parties have set a standard to clearly display their intention to overthrow the ANC. For many, throughout its 29 years of democratic leadership, the ANC has failed to improve the state…