Innholdsfortegnelse for 2024-06-14 i Star

FEWER young South Africans are buying houses than six years ago, but the houses they are buying are proportionately more expensive. And in their new car purchases, they are favouring SUVs over other body shapes. These are the findings of Lightstone, which provides market research data to the property and automotive industries. It looked at property and vehicle sales among working people of 25 years of age or younger and people aged 26 to 35 years in the period 2018 to 2023, with additional data for 2024 to date. Property sales down Residential property sales among all age groups have fallen since 2018, but they have fallen proportionately more steeply among young people, who typi- cally represent first-time homebuyers. Total property purchases fell from 294 859 in 2018 to…

From Cassper Nyovest to A-Reece and Zee Nxumalo, some of the nation’s top musical acts are set to rock Joburg this Youth Day. SA’s Most Wanted Youth Day Celebration musical extravaganza, presented by Bridge Entertainment, is sure to have partygoers grooving well into the night. Apart from the Mama I Made It hitmaker, who is set to release his first song of the year next month, as well as A-Reece (Lehlogonolo Ronald Mataboge), one of Mzansi’s biggest hip hop artists and songwriters, this year’s event will see a range of top talents performing live in the Joburg inner-city. They include Blxckie, Young Stunna, Maglera Doe Boy, KMat, Marcus Harvey and DJ Fantas. They will be joined on stage by Nino Freska, Leo Brown, Ghost Da Catalyst, Terry Wizz and…

THE MOTHER of a 5-year-old girl is an angry woman after her child with autism was allegedly raped and sodomised on the premises of a Tembisa, Ekurhuleni, school. The mother, speaking to The Star, alleges one of the teachers at the school had carried out the abuse. The mother of two, who both attend the same school for learners with special education needs, accused the principal of allegedly shielding “rapists”, who abuse and take advantage of learners since most of them cannot speak for themselves. She said the rape incident took place on May 9, last month in a school toilet. After noticing that her child was not well, they went to Tembisa police station to open a case of rape. “Since the incident no one from the school…

Businessman, Mathews Tuwani Mulaudzi has vowed to recoup millions which he lost when he was charged with fraud, theft, money laundering and racketeering relating to a R48 million investment gone wrong with Old Mutual. His troubles with the insurance giants started in 2014 when, according to media reports, after a dispute with Old Mutual over a R48 million investment he was accused of having ceded to Nedbank. He allegedly later demanded that it be paid to him when it matured following a R33m Investment Frontiers policy with Fairbairn Capital, underwritten by Old Mutual.. City Press reports that according court papers filed by the Assets Forfeiture Unit (AFU), Mulaudzi ceded the policy to Nedbank in return for R37.6m and when he tried to buy back the policy from Nedbank in…

Talent for Murder Peter Swanson Loot (R515) William Morrow A NEWLYWED librarian begins to suspect the man she married is a murderer in this spectacularly twisty and deviously clever novel by Peter Swanson. Martha Ratliff conceded long ago that she’d likely spend her life alone. She was fine with it, happy with her solo existence, stimulated by her work as a librarian in Maine. But then she met Alan, a charming and sweet-natured salesman whose job took him on the road for half the year. When he asked her to marry him, she said yes, even though he still felt a little bit like a stranger. A year in and the marriage was good, except for that strange blood streak on the back of one of his shirts he’d worn…

The Scandalous Life Of Ruby Devereaux M. J. Robotham Loot (R260) Aria A break from the domestic novels this week to a modern fiction that is described as a roller- coaster ride. Midway through reading The Scandalous Life Of Ruby Devereaux and I’m reserving my judgment on its final rating. Whether it should be listed among the top reads for my second quarter remains to be seen. I was excited to read Mandy Robotham’s Life of Ruby Devereaux book, but as I started to read it I was not as captivated as by her previous book, The Girl Behind the Wall – that historical fiction captivated me from the very first chapter and I felt like I was really there. Ruby Devereaux, a 90-year-old author is asked to document her…

In honour of Father’s Day on Sunday, Zebra Square Gallery in Hyde Park Corner Shopping Centre is offering something unique for fathers and car aficionados to make the day unforgettable. The shopping centre will be transformed into a car lover’s paradise from June 14-17, featuring George’s Grill House, collectible cars and gifting ideas on display. BusinessDay Wanted magazine has teamed up with Zebra Square Gallery, which showcases classic and future-classic supercars, to host a high-octane, action-packed celebration. Klaus Grogor, proprietor of Zebra Square Gallery, said, “As a car enthusiast and owner of Zebra Square Gallery, traders in classic and super cars, this was the perfect opportunity to connect with fellow car enthusiasts and create good memories for dads. “Our biggest attraction is the F1 simulator. We are bringing it…

Forty-year-old Mpumalanga woman, Ntombelanga Pretty Labane, will on Thursday return to the Amersfoort Magistrate’s Court after she was arrested by the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (the Hawks). Provincial Hawks spokesperson, Captain Dineo Sekgotodi, said Labane was apprehended by members of the Secunda-based serious commercial crimes investigation unit on charges of fraud. It is alleged that on September 1, 2016, Labane applied for a business and accounting teacher’s post at Hlelimfundo Secondary School in Amersfoort, under Mpumalanga’s Volksrust circuit. “Labane submitted a CV, copies of a fraudulent matric certificate, a BEd degree, and Sace (SA Council for Educators) certificates to the school principal, who informed the school management team to consider her application. They agreed she was suitable for the post,” said Sekgotodi. The principal informed the school governing body…

AS THE jostling to become part of the new government begins, it is unfortunate that the race issue is emerging. In particular, for the MK, the left wing of the ANC and the EFF, with its racist-in-chief leader, Julius Malema, race has become the one and only reason given for rejecting the DA. I would ask Mr Malema to explain the mathematics that gives the DA about 20% of the vote, when only 8% of the registered electorate are white. Even allowing for the possibility that there was a greater turn-out of white voters than black (I have not seen the figures for the breakdown of the voting pattern), the act remains that over half of the DA votes must have come from black voters. It is a pity that…

THE Bulls are happily embracing the underdog tag ahead of their United Rugby Championship quarter-final against Leinster in Pretoria tomorrow afternoon (4pm kick-off). While the Pretoria team ended above their opponents in the URC log, the Irish powerhouses head to Loftus Versfeld with a win over the home team in the regular season. But playing at altitude will be a different story. The Bulls will be missing some key players in the backline – such as injured Springbok wings Kurt-Lee Arendse and Canan Moodie – but with a full-strength pack of forwards that may include fit-again Marcell Coetzee and Marco van Staden, they should be keen to match up against their visitors with a packed Fort Loftus behind them. Leinster, though, have been bolstered by the return from injury of…

UNDER curatorship, 3Sixty Life has won a skirmish amid its bigger battles after the Labour Court in Cape Town dismissed an application for compensation by two fixed-term contract employees who were fired by the company in April this year as part of a retrenchment exercise. Acting Labour Court Judge Tapiwa Gandidze on Wednesday found that the application brought by the Na- tional Union for All Sectors (Nufas), for 12-month salary awards to Yvette Arendse and Lucinda Nitzsky against 3Sixty Life, National Union of Metal- workers of South Africa (Numsa) Investment Company, and Doves Holdings Group, was without merit. This was because it had been brought before court under provisions for compensation instead of those for unfair dismissals, and the court found the company was technically off the hook. While the…

EFF PRESIDENT Julias Malema has vowed that his party’s time of being kicked out of Parliament has come to an end. Addressing the media hours before the first sitting of the National Assembly to elect a new president, speaker and a deputy speaker, the red berets leader said that the party had taken a firm decision to be robust when arguing their stance in Parliament. “This time around we have taken a decision not to play any role of disruption in Parliament, we will be robust, engaging to a point where we follow up that which was rejected illegal in Parliament through peaceful protest on the streets,” Malema “You will never see us on the stage, you’ll never see us fighting with any bouncers. We are here as a 10-year-old…

This year’s International Day of Yoga is expected to be bigger and better than ever with the inclusion of Momentum Health, Virgin Active and Decathlon as new sponsors. The event organisers said these collective effort further underscored the dedication of fostering health and well-being within community. The event is expected to take place at Wanderers Stadium on Saturday, June 22. Last year’s International Day of Yoga was deemed a huge success, which managed to attract more than 7 500 participants, who enjoyed the sessions, workshops, demonstrations, and media coverage on major TV and radio channels. According to event organisers, this year’s event aims to surpass that achievement, which will also bring with fostering a vibrant and inclusive atmosphere for all. “International Day of Yoga has gained tremendous popularity worldwide,…

Manage your money like a F*cking grown-up – The Best Money Advice You Never Got Sam Beckbessinger Loot (R220) Jonathan Ball Publishers SA The book you wish you’d had at 25, but is never too late to read. We never get an instruction manual about how money works. We never have to pass a test to get our Money Licence before we can take a new credit card for a drive. Most of what we learn about money comes from advertising or from other people who know as little as we do. No wonder we make such basic mistakes. In this engaging basic guide to managing your finances, author Sam Beckbessinger covers topics ranging from compound interest and inflation to “Your brain on money”, negotiating a raise, and particularly local…

The University of Johannesburg (UJ) has been ranked among the top universities globally in one of the world’s most watched and highly anticipated annual university rankings. The latest 2025 edition of the QS World University Rankings by global higher education analyst QS Quacquarelli Symonds, released on Tuesday, sees UJ placed #312 in the world out of a record 1 503 featured institutions. Recently, UJ was named the top university in South Africa and across the African continent among institutions younger than 50 years, according to the Times Higher Education Young University Rankings released last month. In the latest QS Rankings, UJ has been recognised for its stellar performance at the QS EduData Summit held between June 4-5. The University received the Most Improved – Africa Award for showing the…

Eight more taxi drivers in Pretoria this week landed in trouble when their vehicles were taken off the road for flouting traffic rules. This took place when the Tshwane Metro Police and taxi unit members conducted regular public transport operations on Paul Kruger Street. Metro police spokesperson Senior Superintendent Isaac Mahamba said taxis were impounded for committing various traffic offences. This after at least 19 taxis in Laudium recently suffered a similar fate for operating without permits. The blitz, according to the metro police, was part of the ongoing road safety operation to monitor the roadworthiness of public transport. Road users were warned that road safety operations would continuously be conducted in all areas of Tshwane to ensure compliance with rules and regulations. Meanwhile, the metro police also reported an…

FATHER A Nation (FAN) has urged policymakers and society to support fathers in their roles as parents, role models, leaders and nation-builders during South Africa’s National Youth Day and Father’s Day celebrations. The non-profit organisation (NPO) is actively working to combat gender-based violence, crime, and fatherlessness by empowering men to become nation-builders, fathers and role models. The absence of positive male influence and the prevalence of destructive masculine behaviour are significant societal issues that have far-reaching impacts, contributing to broken families, crime, poverty, poor leadership, and a crippled nation. Craig Wilkinson, who is CEO, founder of the prominent NPO focusing on addressing fatherlessness and promoting positive masculinity among men, said: “The youth of today are the leaders of tomorrow. Their development hinges on strong, positive influences. We are at a…

Limpopo police launched a manhunt after an elderly couple were attacked during a robbery on a farm outside Tzaneen. “No arrests have been effected so far and it remains a matter of serious concern to the police,” said Limpopo police spokesperson Colonel Malesela Ledwaba. “According to (police) information, the couple, aged 85 and 79, were allegedly attacked and firearms stolen on the farm in the Tzaneen policing area on Saturday at about 8.30pm.” Police reports indicate that the elderly couple were at home when unknown assailants armed with pangas broke the windows of the house and gained entry. “The suspects threatened the victims and demanded money and firearms. They tied the couple with shoe laces and assaulted them. They then robbed them of five firearms with ammunition, including rifles and…

It is time to put the facts on the table. Minister of International Relations and Co-operation Naledi Pandor, who is of Muslim faith, has repeatedly spoken out against Israel for it’s so-called genocide and occupation but, once we start peeling back the layers of who Hamas and the Palestinians really are and how they operate, we start to realise that South Africa is complicit in supporting a despicable war machine built underground by Iranian proxies. Most of us are unaware that huge amounts of money are sent into Gaza, either via Bitcoin which is converted into cash, money from Qatar, Iran and even the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East which recognises Gazans as refugees, even into third and fourth generations. The large…

South Africa's political landscape is on the verge of a transformative shift. The potential formation of a Government of National Unity (GNU) between the African National Congress (ANC) and the Democratic Alliance (DA) represents a radical departure from traditional party politics in the post-apartheid era. Ostensibly driven by market forces and capitalist interests, aims to stabilise the country's governance, this alliancet threatens to undermine the foundational principles and political identities of both parties. The ANC, as South Africa’s primary liberation movement, has historically positioned itself as a champion of black South Africans’ rights and socioeconomic advancement. Since its ascent to power in 1994, the ANC has grappled with balancing its revolutionary ideals with the practicalities of governance within a capitalist framework. The party’s foundational principles, enshrined in the Freedom Charter,…

The DA has for over two decades played the part of opposition party to the ANC government. It has relished the role of antagonist – in scrutinising and criticising the ruling party’s every policy and shortcoming. It has mounted countless legal challenges against almost every law and bill introduced by the government, including the NHI, Bela and land expropriation bills, and the Employment Equity Amendment Act, among others. As a watchdog, it has held leaders and civil servants to account in Parliament, legislature, the courts and in the media. The DA has only tasted real power in the Western Cape and Cape Town, where it has maintained rule for three successive terms. But that is set to change as the party enters a new era in South African politics and…

One of the best things about the internet and social media platforms like TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube is that everyone is welcome to express themselves and be creative – regardless of colour, religion, or sexual orientation. We are happy to note that in 2024, there are a lot of incredible lesbian digital creators out there – so many that they are no longer hard to find. These women or women couples are not only providing much-needed representation for a minority group, but they are also crafting high-quality content that all humans can enjoy. Speaking of high-quality content, it was early last year when I came across Nompumelelo Nkosi’s TikTok account. Nkosi is a food digital creator and self-taught cook who makes cooking look so effortless and fun. Stunned by her…

ActionSA and the Patriotic Alliance (PA) have not only secured parliamentary seats, but they are to be a beacon of hope for the young South Africans. As the first sitting of the National Assembly is set to take place today, these two parties have ushered three of its youngest members to Parliament, representing one of the country’s under-represented demographic, the youth which accounts for 52% of the nation’s population. Boasting ActionSA’s youngest Member of Parliament is 32-year-old Malebo Kobe. She is among the six seats the party secured after the election results. Kobe hinted that her being in Parliament represented two of the most marginalised demographics in society; women and the youth, with their voices rarely being heard. “As a young Member of Parliament, I will use my lived experiences…

Outlive – The Science & Art Of Longevity Peter Attia, Bill Gifford Loot (R289) Vermilion An ABUNDANCE of longevity books have hit the bookshelves over the last year, each with interesting facts on what can be done to extend your lifespan, but Dr Peter Attia’s book goes into greater detail on how to achieve it. Attia, a medical doctor, has become increasingly frustrated with the traditional approach to medicine and illness. In his book Outlive, he takes a hard look at how mainstream medicine has failed to make progress against diseases of ageing such as Alzheimer’s disease, heart disease and cancer, to name but a few. Attia speaks openly about his mental health struggles and this is commendable. The very short chapter on emotional health may be seen as one…

Crime fiction thrives year-round, but winter is an ideal time to cozy up into the genre in front of your fireplace. Here are a few thrillers to add to your reading collection. Assassins Anonymous by Rob Hart Hart has a knack for high-concept crime fiction. In The Warehouse, employees dutifully move boxes around a vast, dismal building, furtively dreaming of a world outside the warehouse and the corporation that owns it. The employees of Assassins Anonymous also live under siege with a nefarious corporation at the helm, and when Mark, our protagonist, joins a 12-step group for former hit men, he learns that life doesn’t have to be one murder after another. But someone would like Mark dead, threatening his newfound no-kill sobriety. One of Our Kind by Nicola Yoon…

THE Gauteng High Court, Pretoria has declared the appointment of 25 Cuban engineers and scientists to be unlawful and constitutionally invalid. The court’s decision followed an almost three-year court battle by trade union Solidarity against government’s appointment of the Cubans by the Department of Human Settlements. But, as their contracts end in about two months’ time, they will remain put for now. The Cuban experts were “imported” to help fix leaks and other water problems, including a spillage at the Vaal River. Judge Jan Swanepoel commented in the preamble to his judgment that the old adage “charity begins at home” is at the heart of this application. Solidarity turned to court on behalf of its members, many of whom work in the engineering field, and also in the public interest.…

US MUSICIAN Paypah is elated to share his love for Afrobeats in South Africa, following a smooth transition from hip-hop. His fondness for Afrobeats, which is inspired by Nigerian artist Burna Boy, led to the release of 414 Da Motherland, an album that has garnered an impressive response from his fans. Paypah is the first US hip-hop artist in California to use Afrobeats, and he has opted to film his music videos in South Africa and Ghana as he regards Africa as the motherland. The star, who is known for his charismatic personality and writing feel-good music anthems, has also left a lasting impression in some of the schools he visited in South Africa. The artist spoke to The Star: What is the essence of your album 414 Da Motherland,…

Cultural and indigenous expert, Dr Nomagugu Ngobese says King Misuzulu KaZwelithini, being an official member of the Shembe church, signifies defying colonial religious beliefs. This after the king was baptised as a Shembe member at the royal house at Kwakhangelamakengane in Nongoma, Kwazulu-Natal on Sunday. The king’s religious ceremony was witnessed by scores of Shembe congregants, including his wives, family and royal council. “There is nothing wrong when the king joins the Nazareth church. The church is one of the churches that follows all the traditions of the Zulu kingdom. The king’s baptism was relevant, because the church is a shield to the (Zulu nation) rituals. “Right now, in South Africa, we are in the renaissance where people are going back to who they are, they want to conform to…

We, the undersigned organisations, welcome the proposal for a Government of National Unity (GNU) which is committed to our Constitution, its values and the rule of law. GNU however, must serve the interests of the people of South Africa and prioritise their political, economic and social well-being. Our crises are multiple: the rationale for a GNU is that it can, at this moment, direct considered and co-ordinated efforts at reducing the horrifying levels of poverty, unemployment, crime and inequality in South Africa. It must tackle the energy and water crises; the right to access quality education, healthcare, and basic services that cannot just remain locked in our Constitution’s pages, but must be brought to life. A GNU will also need to root out corruption and state capture and rebuild public…