Innholdsfortegnelse for 2024-06-07 i Star

ANALYSTS have warned that South Africa is between a rock and a hard place, with future economic progress and stability hinged on the decisions political leaders make before the swearing in of the new government adminis- tration later this month. It’s a process that was rendered strenuous when the ANC failed to win the required 50% majority in the May 29 elections, in a bid to retain its governance mandate. South Africa is holding its breath that the ANC does the right thing by coming up with a governance framework which requires the participation of one or more rival political parties. The fact that the ANC differs ideologically with the parties is making the job and choices all the more difficult, yet it is on the economic, international trade and…

ROGUE independent auditors and auditing firms in South Africa will be facing hefty penalties of up to R25 million, which could put them out of business, if they are found guilty of improper conduct as the National Treasury tightens controls. The Minister of Finance Enoch Godongwana yesterday gazetted the latest notice of maximum fines for registered auditors found guilty of improper conduct after the notice of maximum fines previously gazetted in June last year was withdrawn in January. Following a 30-day comment period and having reviewed the written comments received by the Treasury, the Minister determined new maximum fines that may be imposed on registered auditors found guilty of improper conduct: ■ R5m per charge, as the amount envisaged in Section 51(2) of the act, which may be…

WHEN it comes to banks closing bank accounts on the basis of reputational risk, it was up to individual banks to manage their individual risks, the National Treasury says. It said this in response to questions put to it by Business Report (BR) as there has been a public outcry over the lack of standards and measurements applied to the metrics of reputational risk when closing bank accounts. The ordeal of Dr Iqbal Survé, the chairperson of Independent Media and Sekunjalo, highlights the deficiencies in the current system. Despite spending more than R400 million on legal battles to keep Sekunjalo’s accounts open, he argues that reputational risk is often a pretext used by banks to close accounts without substantial evidence of wrongdoing. This experience demonstrates the disproportionate power banks…

WHEN A TRUST is registered, typically the patriarch or matriarch estate planner plays a role in the trust – that of the founder and/or trustee. That gives them some insight and/or influence over the trust’s affairs. As a result of many of these role-players passing away, the typical family trust in South Africa starts facing challenges – the patriarch or matriarch either appoints only one of the children as their follow-up trustee (who may act for their and their family’s benefit alone due to a conflict of interest as trustee and beneficiary), the family as a whole is adversely affected as a result of the remaining non-family trustees abusing trust assets, and the remaining spouse may even be influenced by a new spouse to abuse trust assets. Often the remaining…

THE MINERALS Council warns that escalating electricity tariffs are driving up input costs for South African mining companies as production costs rose by 7.2% in April, with gold, coal and platinum group metals (PGM) experiencing the largest cost increases. South Africa is a major producer of gold, coal and PGM, in addition to manganese and chrome, among other minerals. Andre Lourens, an economist with the Minerals Council, yesterday said the rise in mining costs for SA producers was in line “with an acceleration in the pace of increase for the producer price index. High inflation rates for electricity, water, coke, petroleum, transport and storage significantly pressured mining inputs,” he said. This comes after the National Energy Regulatory of SA (Nersa) approved a 12.74% electricity price increase for direct customers with…

Three of South Africa’s leading female musicians have joined forces to revive the beloved singing group, BlackByrd. The band now consists of original member Tarryn Lamb, and new members, Tasché Burger of The Voice fame and Tasha. The new group’s first single is Didn’t I. The English track was penned by the trio. “The song was written in my garden!” Lamb says of the feel-good country-pop song, which she also describes as “a beacon of hope”. “The inspiration of the song is to reach out to the person who perhaps feels a little lost during the healing process after the breakup of a relationship. “That’s why the song is a beacon of hope with the message that even if things don’t feel good right now, it will get better and…

Three South Africans have been nominated among talents from around the world for the 2024 Nickelodeon Kids’ Choice Awards. The annual awards ceremony aims to celebrate the past year’s biggest television, film, and music acts, as voted by Nickelodeon viewers. Nickelodeon recently announced the nominees for its slime-filled awards and South African Grammy-Award-winning singer Tyla received three nods. The Water hitmaker will be vying for the wins in the categories Favourite Global Music Star, Favourite Breakout Artist and Favourite Viral Song. Tyla will be up against award-winning artists like Taylor Swift, Dua Lipa, Ice Spice, Zara Larsson, Troye Sivan and newcomers Karol G and Coco Jones. Late rapper AKA and DJ Zinhle’s daughter, Kairo Forbes, received a nomination under the Favourite African Kidfluencer category along with Joburg’s singing trio, Biko’s…

The uMkhonto weSizwe Party (MKP) has expressed its profound sorrow and deep concern over the brutal and cold-blooded killings of its members. The party said these heinous acts of violence, which they said began before the elections and continue even now, represent a grievous assault on their democratic values and the safety of communities. The latest victim is Mxolisi Zungu, who was gunned down in the Cato Manor area of Durban in KwaZulu-Natal on Wednesday. According to reports, Zungu had just dropped off his child at a nursery school. After shooting Zungu, the suspects made off with his firearm. The police reportedly said that the motive for the murder was robbery and was not politically motivated. “We are devastated to report the further cold-blooded murder of another one of our…

The two children shot and burnt in a shack on Sunday at Changing Spot informal settlement in Soshanguve Extension 6 are being buried today. The funeral service for Louis Manganye and Itumeleng Mashaga’s children, Tinyiko, 7, and Mpfumo, 4, is taking place in Block H, Soshanguve, at the home of their mother, Itumeleng Mashaba. They will then be taken to Soshanguve Crossing Cemetery. A candle-lighting ceremony in memory of the two children was held late yesterday afternoon. On Sunday, a group of armed suspects arrived at a shebeen and fired shots at the patrons. The suspect in the murder of the children is believed to have been part of that gang. Two of the victims, a male and a female, died on the scene, and the other four were taken…

The Ekurhuleni Metro Police Department (EMPD) has sent well wishes to one of its officers, Chief Superintendent Quinton Pretorius, who is immigrating to Australia where he will work as a county officer. EMPD spokesperson Lieutenant-Colonel Kelebogile Thepa described Pretorius’s move as an “outstanding achievement”, wishing him the best on the new endeavours. “Pretorius, who was trained in 2009 at the EMPD Training Academy, has worked his way up the ranks from being a constable. He has sworn to uphold the values of justice and integrity based on the batho pele (people first) principles,” said Thepa. “His training within the South African policing competence has proved again that it is of high calibre and further acknowledged on a global stage.” EMPD municipal commissioner Isaac Mapiyeye has expressed mixed emotions on Pretorius’s…

Supported Living, a form of healthcare service that has become popular in the US and UK, is making inroads into South Africa. This comes as Olinda Chapel, the founder of Gain Healthcare, an internationally recognised healthcare and wellness service and facility that offers 24-hour support to individuals with a learning disability and/or a mental health disorder, expands her footprint to South Africa. Supported living, or supportive living, has been described as a community living arrangement which allows individuals and groups living with disabilities and their families to gain support for their physically and mentally affected family members by allowing them to gain or retain their independence and interdependence in their communities. Chapel says this is achieved by offering a diagnosis in a person-centred approach that emphasises the importance of regular…

The South African Health Products Regulatory Authority (SAHPRA) has released the results of its investigation following the recall of Benylin paediatric syrup, revealing that no traces of diethylene glycol were found. The precautionary recall of two batches of the syrup was in response high levels of diethylene glycol reported by the Nigerian National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control. SAHPRA has indicated that there is no record of any adverse drug reactions relating to diethylene glycol for the two recalled batches in South Africa – or anywhere else on the continent to which they were exported. As part its investigation, SAHPRA tested samples of the two affected batches through an independent laboratory, using a method developed by the World Health Organization (WHO) for testing products for the presence…

COALITION governments are a common phenomenon in politics the world over. Germany has been under stable coalition governments for the past 40 years. Coalitions are thus premised on good co-operation and a measure of compromise and management of contradictions. In 1994, after the first democratic elections in South Africa, the ANC won an overwhelming majority and was not required to enter into a coalition to form a government. However, the ANC, the now-defunct National Party (NP) and the IFP came together to establish a government of national unity. The GNU was forced on the ANC for various reasons, some of which were to massage white fears and ensure a “smooth transition” to black rule. The Communist Party of China, faced with Japanese aggression, suspended its struggle against the Kuomintang, which…

Master blaster Heinrich Klaasen believes the Proteas batters “need to suck it up” and simply “play a bit smarter cricket” in their quest to gain revenge over the Netherlands in their ICC Men’s T20 World Cup clash in New York tomorrow (4.30pm start, SA time). The Dutch have defeated the more fancied Proteas in their past two meetings at ICC events, namely last year’s 50-over World Cup and crucially at the 2022 T20 World Cup in Australia. But the Proteas don’t only have to concern themselves with breaking the Dutch series of victories, as the surface at the Nassau County Ground has been an area of immense focus since the opening match on Monday. It has become abundantly clear that the drop-in pitch is bowler-friendly, which has posed plenty of…

Alexander Zverev advanced to his fourth successive French Open semi-final with a 6-4 7-6 (7/5) 6-4 win over Australian 11th seed Alex de Minaur on Wednesday night. Fourth seed Zverev will play Casper Ruud today for a place in Sunday’s final after the Norwegian received a walkover following Novak Djokovic’s injury-enforced withdrawal. In the other semi-final today, Spain’s Carlos Alcaraz will take on Italian Jannik Sinner, who will become the new world No 1 next week. Germany’s Zverev is on an 11-match winning streak after clinching the Rome title last month, but he has never reached the final at Roland Garros. “I’m happy to be in another semi-final. Hopefully I can win one,” said Zverev, who defeated 14-time champion Rafael Nadal in the first round of this year’s tournament. Zverev…

Jack Grealish was a shock omission from England’s Euro 2024 squad as Gareth Southgate axed the Manchester City winger yesterday after his disappointing end to the season. Grealish paid the price for a significant dip in form in the second half of this season as he became the most high-profile star to be dropped from Southgate’s provisional 33-man squad. The 28-year-old was an unused substitute during City’s FA Cup final defeat against Manchester United in May, after being left out of the Premier League champions’ title-winning game against West Ham. Grealish did feature for England as a substitute in their win in a friendly against Bosnia and Herzegovina on Monday, but it wasn’t enough to convince Southgate to give him a seat on the plane to Germany. The City forward…

Canan Moodie is out of the Bulls’ United Rugby Championship quarter-final against Benetton tomorrow (3.30pm kick-off) after an injury he picked up against the Sharks proved more serious than first believed. Another Springbok, Marco van Staden, is also set to miss the knockout game against the stubborn Italian side. Moodie played against the Sharks last week with a heavily strapped leg, and although he got through most of the match, he was heavily tackled towards the end of the game by Aphelele Fassi after having run almost the length of the field. On Monday, Moodie fronted the media and he said he was “sore with bumps and bruises”, but he felt he would be okay for the weekend. That has changed. In a social media video posted by the Bulls,…

It will be the first overseas knockout match in the United Rugby Championship for the Stormers, so all the pressure will be on them to perform and secure a semi-final place away from home. Hosts Glasgow Warriors will look to progress past the quarter-finals for the first time at the Scotstoun Stadium as both sides will rely on key combinations to pull them through. Independent Newspapers looks at three key positional battles that could determine the outcome tomorrow night (8.35pm kick-off, SA time) ... The Halfbacks Whichever teams get their scrumhalf and flyhalf on the front foot should have the upper hand in the clash, especially on the attack. Although this will likely depend on the pack of forwards, if your halfbacks find their rhythm, it will be difficult for…

NOA GROUP Holdings (NOA) has reached a 497GW/h energy supply agreement with Tronox Holdings, which has titantium dioxide pigment operations in KwaZulu-Natal and the Western Cape, and which is South Africa’s biggest private wheeling agreement to date. The agreement extends Tronox’s renewable energy penetration to above 70% of its electricity requirements, and it underscores NOA’s model of aggregating power from a fleet of generation facilities across the country, to be supplied to Tronox’s operating sites in South Africa. South Africa’s fast deregulating electricity sector, sped along by load shedding, has seen Eskom develop a model to allow renewable electricity wheeling and which will allow NOA, an integrated energy company, to provide renewable energy from wind and solar facilities nationwide to customers in the commercial and industrial sectors. “This model represents…

IN THE WAKE of South Africa’s recent elections, coalition talks have become the focal point of the political landscape. Among the many pressing issues on the table, the National Health Insurance (NHI) bill stands out as a topic of critical importance. Imagine a South Africa where the wealth of one’s wallet does not dictate the quality of health care they receive – a nation where every citizen is guaranteed not just care, but care that upholds dignity and promotes health. This is the promise of the NHI bill. However, as a medical professional and academic, I see the NHI bill through a pragmatic lens, where good intentions must be met with robust planning and transparent governance. The vision of universal access At its core, the NHI bill aims to provide…

PENSIONERS who rely on living annuities for their retirement income need to constantly manage their withdrawals during their retirement to ensure they don’t run out of money. This is the view of Andrew Davison, chairperson of the Investments Committee of the Actuarial Society of South Africa (Assa), who says that annuitants cannot simply decide on a percentage to withdraw annually as income and then forget about the living annuity in the hope that it looks after itself. A living annuity is one of two basic types of pension that you are compelled to buy with two-thirds of your retirement savings when you retire. The money goes into your own selection of investment funds. You must then draw between 2.5% and 17.5% of your savings per year as a pension –…

SANLAM says Paul Hanratty has agreed to extend his term serving as chief executive and executive director on the board until December 31, 2027. Hanratty was appoin- ted chief executive on July 1, 2020, and has been a member of the board since 2017. He has been a non-executive director of MTN since 2016 and is the non-executive chairperson of Intelligent Debt Manage- ment, an online search showed. The chief executive succession update announce- ment was made at the same time as the release of the outcome of the insurance and financial services group’s annual shareholder meeting, which was held on Tuesday. At the meeting, all the resolutions proposed were passed by the requisite majority of votes of shareholders in atten- dance or represented by proxy, a state- ment from…

Since last year, viewers got to sink their teeth into South African versions of popular shows like The Masked Singer and The Ultimatum. Now Married at First Sight is on its way to Mzansi Magic. Married at First Sight Mzansi will premiere on June 16, and takes eight local singles on a social experiment to find their perfect match. Season one participants include Sebenzile Ngwenya, a sales consultant and a personal trainer; Thabang Mvuyane, a software tester; Thami Nyandeni, who works in the education sector; and Litsoanelo Seturumane, known as “Dee”, from in the insurance industry. Victor Khutso Mokoena, a campaign data analyst; Zithobile Sibaya, an educator, Khumo Ngobeni, who is in aviation and Boitshepo Mashetla, a marketing specialist, make up the rest of the cast. During the social experiment,…

World Food Safety Day is observed on this day, June 7, every year. The day has become an important global event, bringing focus to the significance of food safety regulations at all levels. Food is one of our necessities. It is the fuel that provides the energy and nutrients necessary for growth, vitality, and overall well-being. While good food can help us stay healthy, food that is contaminated, expired or not stored properly, can lead to health hazards. What causes foodborne illness? It’s caused by consuming contaminated foods or beverages. Many disease-causing microbes or pathogens can contaminate foods, so there are many types of foodborne illnesses. Most foodborne diseases are infections caused by bacteria, viruses and parasites. Other diseases are poisonings caused by harmful toxins or chemicals that have contaminated…

ACTIONSA has announced its separation from the failed Multi-Party Charter (MPC) which included the DA, ACDP, IFP and Freedom Front Plus launched last year in a bid to prevent an ANC-EFF coalition government. This came after the DA publicly agreed to form a government of national unity with the ANC, EFF and IFP as possible partners. Speaking at a media briefing yesterday, ActionSA national chairperson Michael Beaumont said the party would no longer continue being in a partnership with the DA which had reneged on the founding principles of the charter, which was to refuse any form of a partnership with the ANC. As such, the party, which only achieved 630 000 votes in the elections to secure five seats in the National Assembly, said it would now…

The National Union of Metalworkers of SA (Numsa) has joined Cosatu, SACP and other ANC members who have called for the party to reconsider its potential coalition with the DA. This comes just a day after SACP general secretary, Solly Mapaila, said the SACP, one of the tripartite alliance members, is also opposed to the involvement of the DA in coalition talks with the governing party. In a media briefing on Wednesday, Mapaila said any partnership with the DA would be against its anti-capitalist agenda. “We support a minority government with GNU (government of national unity) features. That is the government of national unity features without the role and participation of DA-led forces. So we are clear about our anti-capitalist trajectory,” he said. Reacting to calls for…

The Hammanskraal woman whose husband allegedly poured acid on her said yesterday that she had suffered physical, emotional and spiritual abuse at his hands. In the incident that shocked the community, Steve Makhubela, 35, from Ga Motla village, apparently poured acid on his wife Kelebogile Mashigo, 27, causing severe burns in her body. Makhubela was charged with attempted murder. Yesterday, gender- based violence activists led a march to Temba Magistrate’s Court, where he was appearing. They were chanting “no to gender-based violence”. The matter was postponed to June 12. According to residents, the march was to raise awareness to femicide and gender-based violence. Mashigo told the Pretoria News that she married the accused in 2022, and shortly afterwards discovered through social media that the husband had a child outside their…

The Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) are promoting early detection and treatment of preventable health issues during Men’s Health Month, aiming to significantly impact the health of men and boys. The CDC reveals that the life expectancy gap between men and women has widened, and today, on average, women survive men by over five years. It is explained that this is particularly problematic, as statistics also show that men are more likely to suffer from serious and chronic illnesses, which is a key factor in their having shorter life expectancies compared to women. Denelle Morais, marketing and communications manager at Bestmed Medical Scheme, emphasises the importance of men being proactive about their health by scheduling regular check-ups and seeking early treatment for concerning symptoms. “Men tend to bow…

The Presidency has gazetted the salary increases for South Africa’s ministers, deputy ministers, MPs and other legislators in the country. According to the proclamation notice, the salary increases will take effect retroactively from April 2024. These public servants will be getting a 2.5% increase. The increases were gazetted on Wednesday. The ANC held a special NEC meeting yesterday to discuss the options for a coalition government. The salary increases will take ministers salaries to over R2.6 million a year, deputy president to over R3.1m a year and Speaker/NCOP chairperson to over R3.1m a year – and those jobs could very well be filled by opposition party leaders in the seventh administration. For Parliament, the lowest paid MPs will earn R1.2m per year, the whips R1.39m, R1.5m for the largest opposition…

Limpopo police launched a search operation to locate a 12-year-old girl, Tlou Koko, from Lekhureng village, in the Matlala policing precinct that falls under the Capricorn District. The girl went missing on Sunday, said Limpopo police spokesperson Sergeant Maphure Manamela. According to police reports, the child left home without telling anyone where she was going, and has since disappeared. “Preliminary investigations have revealed that Tlou was last seen with a Pakistani man known as ‘Abdul’ around the village. On Monday, she called her mother alleging that she was in America,” said Manamela. The family reported the matter to the police, and consequently a missing person file was opened. The case was transferred to the Seshego family violence, child protection and sexual offences unit for further investigation. “Police appeal to anyone…

Defending champion Iga Swiatek took a big step towards a third successive French Open title by dismantling teary American third seed Coco Gauff 6-2 6-4 in the semi-final yesterday to match her longest winning streak on clay. Four-time Grand Slam champion Swiatek also extended her dominance over Gauff by sealing an 11th victory in 12 meetings, and will head into a final showdown tomorrow with 12th seed Jasmine Paolini. “It was intense. In the second set, it was tight because we were breaking each other. I was consistent with my tactics and went for it,” Swiatek said. Defeat was a big blow for Gauff, who was beaten by Swiatek in the 2022 final as well as last year’s quarter-finals, but she leaves Paris knowing that she will climb to No…

Ireland coach Heinrich Malan said the surface for Wednesday’s T20 World Cup game against India didn’t live up to expectations after pundits slammed it as “dangerous”. India won the Group A game by eight wickets after they bowled Ireland out for just 96, with captain and opener Paul Stirling dismissed for only two. Malan didn’t lay blame for the defeat on the uneven bounce on the recently-laid surface at Nassau County Cricket ground in New York state, but he was clearly far from impressed. “When you play the game, you need a really good surface or as good a surface you can get – and unfortunately, what we’ve seen over the last couple of games just doesn’t necessarily live up to that,” he said. “So, hopefully, over the next day…

Max Verstappen was dominant in Montreal a year ago, leading every lap from pole, but he faces a fight for a third successive Canadian Grand Prix victory this weekend. There have been three different winners in the past three races and, after winning 19 of 22 in the most one-sided Formula One season last year, Red Bull’s triple world champion has now failed to win three of the past six. Curiously, street circuits in cities starting with the letter M are the ones to have brought no joy – Melbourne, Miami and Monaco – and Verstappen needs to end that sequence. Ferrari, winners in Australia with Carlos Sainz and Monaco with Charles Leclerc, will fancy their chances in Montreal at a circuit named after their late great Gilles Villeneuve. Verstappen…

The Formula One season will make a stop in North America for the Canadian Grand Prix on Sunday, and it will be business as usual, with every team out to find the most critical pieces within their strategies and cars to complete a puzzle titled “How to stop Red Bull”. Ferrari and McLaren have so far seemed to be the teams getting closer to solving the equation that has for the past three years seen every team play catch-up, and including Red Bull’s Sergio Perez, who despite driving a car with all the tools to win, has failed to match up to his 26-year-old teammate Max Verstappen. Quietly the Scuderia Ferrari with Charles Leclerc has occupied a solid second position following a win in the Monaco Grand Prix. Leclerc won…

THE RAND SLOWLY gave up some gains and hovered around the R19 mark to the dollar for the better part of the day yesterday as talks over the uncertainty of the next government, which may turn out to be a coalition of some sort, continued behind closed doors. News emerged this week that the ANC could look at a government of national unity, which would see several parties invited to rule alongside it, following its historic loss of parliamentary majority in the general elections last week. At the same time, there was a large amount of buzz as to whether a coalition government will be formed or a government of national unity. The market sentiment turned even more cautious yesterday, following the proposal of a government of national unity, which…

SOUTH Africa’s telecommunications industry continued to lag behind other industries such as banking, insurance and retail, with a negative net sentiment score of -18.8%, according to research. The annual South African Telecommunications Sentiment Index, released yesterday by PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) South Africa in collaboration with DataEQ, showed the telecommunications industry continues to face significant challenges in consumer sentiment. The index was compiled from social media data and reflects the net sentiment score of local consumers toward their telecommunications service providers. Operational sentiment was said to be negative across the board, signalling an industry-wide issue with crucial business activities such as customer service and network availability. Elmo Hildebrand, PwC Africa tele- communications leader, said while complaints over network quality were often impacted by external factors such as load shedding, a significant share…

ABSA AND RENAULT South Africa have entered into a strategic alliance that will result in the launch of Renault Financial Services, a pro-duct of the bank aimed at offering finance and other services to Renault customers. Through the alliance, Renault dealers would gain “unprecedented access” to Absa’s solutions for retail and wholesale finance, with the integration also providing a “seamless, efficient experience for dealers and customers alike, streamlining operations and enhancing customer experience”, according to a statement issued yesterday, “By aligning our services with the Renault dealership network, we are not just offering financial solutions, but also creating an ecosystem that supports the automotive industry’s growth and development,” said Charl Potgieter, managing executive for Absa Vehicle Finance. The alliance would also leverage an expanded sales network to accelerate growth…

Don’t be deterred by the plummeting temperatures as Joburg is buzzing with events, from comedy to food and drinks festivals and live music shows. So dress warmly and enjoy yourself at these shindigs: Mzansi Food & Drink Show Are you a foodie with a taste for the South African flavours? This event is for you. Taking place at the Kyalami International Convention Centre, The Mzansi Food & Drink Show is set to become one of the biggest gatherings on the Gauteng social calendar, catering for all ages and all tastes. The three-day event will feature the usual Fire & Feast Meat Festival and the Coffee & Chocolate Expo. There will also be new offerings to the line-up – the Fine Food & Wine Show, the Bar & Good Spirits Showcase…

Music producer The-Dream has been accused of raping, physically abusing and manipulating his former protégé Chanaaz Mangroe. A new lawsuit obtained by Page Six on Tuesday shows 33-year-old Mangroe – who performed as Channii Monroe – claiming the 46-year-old musician, born Terius Youngdell Nash, trafficked her under the guise of a legitimate recording and distribution contract. She said she was subjected to an “abusive, violent, and manipulative relationship” filled with “physical assaults, violent sexual encounters, and horrific psychological manipulation”. Mangroe was working on an international visa in the US from the Netherlands when she met The-Dream and claims she was 23 years old when associates of the singer reached out to her via social media in 2014. After she sent samples of her work, she claims she was invited…

FORMER Sports, Arts and Culture minister Zizi Kodwa’s woes have worsened after he confirmed to the ANC that he would be stepping aside from all his duties in the party. This came a day after he resigned as minister from President Cyril Ramaphosa’s Cabinet. Kodwa and businessman Jehan Mackay were released on R30 000 bail each after they appeared in the Specialised Commercial Crimes Court in Palm Ridge, Johannesburg, on Wednesday. The former ANC spokesperson faces corruption charges in relation to allegations that he influenced contracts totalling R1.7 million during his time as ANC spokesperson and member of the party’s national executive committee (NEC) between April 2015 and February 2016. In his step-aside letter to ANC secretary-general Fikile Mbalula, Kodwa said he remained a committed and disciplined member of the…

FORMER ANC secretary-general Ace Magashule has dispelled widespread speculation that he has had a fallout with long-time friend and ally, former president Jacob Zuma. The embattled leader of the newly formed African Congress of Transformation (ACT) also dismissed speculation that ANC veteran Lindiwe Sisulu was planning to join his party. Magashule was speaking to The Star after the national and provincial elections that took place last week. ACT made a dismal showing at the polls, amassing a measly 18 354 votes, or 0.11% of the vote. In the Free State, however, Magashule’s party enjoyed enough support to earn a seat in the provincial legislature, with 11 589 votes or 1.39% of the vote. Earlier this year, Magashule announced an amalgamation between his party and the uMkhonto weSizwe Party (MKP) led…

TSHWANE mayor Cilliers Brink is sticking to the decision he made in March not to head to Parliament or the Gauteng legislature post the elections. His determination to remain at the helm of the municipality was despite his having received the nod to become either an MP or a Gauteng MPL in line with the DA’s candidate selection process. In March, Brink maintained that his decision to continue as the executive mayor would enable him to finish what the multi-party coalition had started in Tshwane. At the time he posted on X: “Big announcement. I’m staying on as mayor of Tshwane. To finish what we started as a coalition: restore the finances, build energy independence and improve services. In the face of cadres, tenderpreneurs, and everyone else who would prefer…

Ingredients 180g packet Cadbury Caramilk chocolate 250ml thickened cream, plus extra, whipped, to serve 250ml milk 4 egg yolks 1 tsp vanilla extract 55g caster sugar 60ml spiced rum Ground nutmeg, to serve Method Use a vegetable peeler to slice the side of the chocolate block into 1 tablespoon of shavings. Finely chop the remaining chocolate. Place the chopped chocolate, cream and milk in a saucepan over low heat. Cook, stirring, until the chocolate has melted and the mixture just comes to the boil. Remove from the heat. Use a balloon whisk to whisk the egg yolks, vanilla and sugar in a large bowl until pale and thickened. Gradually whisk in the hot cream mixture. Return the mixture to saucepan over medium-low heat. Cook, stirring constantly, for 8 to 10…

June is recognised globally as being Pride Month – a period in which the world celebrates people in the LGBTQI+ community while recognising the numerous struggles they face and promoting ways to stop them. In an event held at Umlazi’s Q section by the KwaZulu-Natal legislature and TransHope, a non-profit organisation that advocates for the rights of transgender and gender diverse people in the province, members of the LGBTQI+ communities shared harrowing stories of hate crimes. The founder of TransHope, Sazi Jali, a transwoman, said discrimination even goes to the workplace as LGBTQI+ people struggle to find or even maintain employment. Jali accused the police of causing secondary victimisation when they go to police stations to report incidents of assault over their sexual orientation or gender identity and police often…

In all my living years, I have never heard of a violent thunderstorm in the middle of winter. Strong winds, heavy rain, hail stones the size of golf balls and, worst of all, a tornado that ripped off the roofs of homes and left devastation in oThongathi. Who ever heard of a tornado in South Africa? The US is prone to tornadoes, not South Africa. The tornado struck oThongathi and four other regions with a vengeance and left death and destruction in its wake. Several traumatised families mourned the loss of their loved ones. Others stood and watched in disbelief as their homes were reduced to rubble. All their belongings lay in ruins. The weather has gone mad. Our hearts go out to the people of oThongathi. How will they…

NO FEAR! That’s the attitude of Tete Morena Dijana as he seeks to enter Comrades Marathon folklore by completing a rare hat-trick of victories in Sunday’s up run from Durban to Pietermaritzburg. Champion in the last two editions, both of which were ran the other way, the Nedbank Running Club star says he has done everything he can to put himself in line for the title. “The confidence is there. So far, so good – there is no fear.” How could he fear, though, when he has established himself as the king of the world-famous ultra race in KwaZulu-Natal, with back-to-back victories so compellingly good he even set a new best time? Well, there will be those who argue that there are many runners with massive up-run experience, which Dijana…

India captain Rohit Sharma allayed fears about an arm injury after making 52 before retiring hurt as his side thrashed Ireland by eight wickets in the teams’ T20 World Cup opener in New York on Wednesday. India only required 97 to win after a dominant display by their bowling attack, with left-arm quick Arshdeep Singh striking twice in the third over to reduce Ireland to 9-2 after Rohit won the toss. All-rounder Hardik Pandya took two wickets in two balls on his way to 3-27 and Jasprit Bumrah, the Player of the Match, 2-6. “Just a little sore,” said Rohit at the presentation ceremony. “New ground, new venue, wanted to see what’s it like to play on. “I don’t think the pitch settled down – there was enough there for…

Novak Djokovic confirmed yesterday that he had undergone an operation on his right knee that he injured at the French Open, and that it “went well”, but gave no time-frame for his return. The 24-time Grand Slam winner was forced to withdraw ahead of his Roland Garros quarter-final against Casper Ruud, after a scan revealed a torn medial meniscus in his right knee. “In the past day, I had to make some tough decisions after sustaining a meniscus tear during my last match,” he posted on social media. “I’m still processing it all, but I am happy to update you that the surgery went well. “I am so appreciative of the team of doctors who have been by my side, as well as the overwhelming support I have received from…

Baroka FC’s journey back to the Premiership has been bumpy, with the Motsepe Foundation Championship side having to scrape through to sneak into third position on the final day of the season, as they now look ahead to life without coach Dan Malesela. A loss against AmaTuks in the opening match has left Bakgaga Ba Ga Mphahlele needing a win when they welcome Richards Bay FC at the Global Stadium in Lebowakgomo, Limpopo tomorrow (3pm kick-off). Baroka will go into their must-win encounter without the services of their suspended coach Dan “Dance” Malesela. The former TS Galaxy mentor was suspended, with investigations still ongoing, and the club will be under the care of Morgan Mammila until the end of the season. Mammila becomes the third coach to take up the…

INTERIM Proteas Women head coach Dillon du Preez and captain Laura Wolvaardt will lead the troops during the tour of India with the T20 World Cup in mind, as it is set to get underway in Bangladesh this September. The SA team head over to India tomorrow for a multi-format tour that will see the side compete in three One-Day Internationals, three T20Is and a one-off Four-Day Test in Bangalore and Chennai. For a side that have struggled in sub-continent conditions – slow and turning wickets – and against sub-continent teams, having lost a T20I series to Pakistan and Sri Lanka last summer, the upcoming tour to India is a perfect scenario for them, especially with the World Cup being on the sub-continent as well. In a pre-departure press conference…