Innholdsfortegnelse for 2024-06-18 i Star

AFRICA Data Centres, a business of the Cassava Technologies group, has unlocked funding that will allow them to expand data centre capacity and meet the growing demand for cloud computing services in South Africa. This was facilitated through a bespoke financing solution arranged by RMB. The financing agreement demon- strates the strong financial position of Africa Data Centres and its commitment to invest- ing in the digital transformation of South Africa. Hardy Pemhiwa, president and Group CEO of Cassava Technologies, said this funding was a significant milestone in the growth of Africa Data Centres. “It underscores our commitment to growth and our confidence in the future of the South African data centre market,” Pem- hiwa said. “The additional funding will allow us to support the digital transfor- mation…

THE BUSINESS community, particularly the property industry, has expressed hope that the formation of a Government of National Unity (GNU) in South Africa will bring stability to volatile financial markets and incentivise the SA Reserve Bank (SARB) to cut interest rates. This comes as the country’s two biggest political parties, the ANC and the DA, on Friday announced that they had agreed to form a GNU together with other smaller parties, the IFP and the PA, after the May 29 election had no decisive winner. The formation of the GNU saw Presi- dent Cyril Ramaphosa being re-elected in Parliament, with former Minister of Agriculture Thoko Didiza appointed as Speaker of Parliament and Dr Annelie Lotriet of the DA elected as Deputy Speaker. The financial markets had been on tenterhooks for…

WORKERS union federations have categorically rejected the proposed retrenchments at Mercedes-Benz South Africa (MBSA), saying the jobs bloodbath would have devastating consequences for the workers and the economy. On Thursday, MBSA announced plans to cut 700 jobs out of roughly 3 000 employees at its East London manufacturing plant due to deteriorating macroeconomic conditions, and prolonged port challenges. The luxury carmaker said it would enter into consultations in line with section 189(3) of the Labour Relations Act after it resolved to restructure its operations from a three-shift model to a two-shift model. But the unions have vowed to wage a relentless battle in defence of workers’ jobs as retrenchments would have a devastating impact on the community and value chains of Buffalo City Metro, and deepen the already high…

NOVUS Holdings, the listed packaging, printing and publishing company, reported a big turnaround for the year to March 31, as headline earnings per share shot up to 78.8 cents from a 7.4c loss per share at the same time a year before. The share price closed 6.62 percent down on Friday at R5.50, but the price is nevertheless 81% higher than where it traded 12 months ago. A dividend of 50c per share was declared, versus none paid the previous year. In 2022, headline earnings per share came to 53.2c. Revenue for the past year increased by 24% to R3.96 billion. Earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation increased to R628.8 million from R131.7m. Operating profit increased to R393.5m from R6.9m. The group’s directors said that operating…

The KZN Tourism and Film Authority announced the nominees for the 2024 Simon “Mabhunu” Sabela Awards at the Coastlands Skye Hotel in uMhlanga recently. Government officials, renowned film and TV contributors, and industry professionals gathered to acknowledge and applaud the exceptional achievements of this year’s nominees. Shaka Ilembe, produced by Bomb Production, leads with eight nominations across various categories. Award-winning actress Nomzamo Mbatha received a nod for Best Actress TV while co-star Wiseman Mncube bagged a nomination for Best Actor TV. The show’s Dawn Thandeka King and Hope Mbhele will go head-to-head for the Best Supporting Actress Award. Ntando Zondi and Ziya Xulu bagged nominations for Best Newcomer Actor/Actress for the series. Shaka Ilembe is also in the running for Best Production Design. Dear Future Wife followed closely with seven…

Eminem, aka Slim Shady, is back and not even his own children are safe. The rap icon released Houdini on May 31, his first song since he featured alongside Polo G and Mozzy on Skylar Grey’s Last One Standing almost three years ago. In typical fashion, the musician, whose real name is Marshall Bruce Mathers III, uses the track to tell American entrepreneur Jimmy Iovine, Dr. Dre and his own daughter, Hailie Jade Mathers, as well his adopted children, Alaina and Stevie Mathers, to f*** off. He might have been on a brief career hiatus, but the 51-year-old certainly hasn’t lost his venomous touch. Those familiar with Eminem’s music know that he is no stranger to hurling insults, even at the most prominent of figures. Michael Jackson, Kim Kardashian, Elvis…

THE National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) has failed in its urgent legal bid to have about R100 million which was initially kept in a special Absa account but later paid over to the liquidators of Tariomix returned to Absa. The Gauteng High Court, Pretoria, on Friday struck the NPA’s urgent application from the roll due to the lack of urgency. This means that if the NPA wants to pursue its legal bid to have the money returned to Absa, it would have to re-enrol the matter – this time on the normal court roll, which could take months before it is heard. The NPA told Judge Linda Retief that Absa and the liquidators should urgently be ordered to pay back the money to Absa in light of a preservation order obtained…

PRESIDENT-ELECT Cyril Ramaphosa will be inaugurated as Head of State at the Union Buildings in Pretoria on Wednesday. The presidential inauguration is expected to be attended by foreign heads of state, invited guests and members of the public. The heads of states or governments and the delegates are expected to arrive at a different points of entry. The following road closures around the Union Buildings will be implemented from 3am tomorrow to 6am on Thursday: • Gordon Road and Stanza Bopape Street • Jan Shoba and Stanza Bopape Street • Grosvenor and Stanza Bopape Street • Hilda and Stanza Bopape Street • Festival and Stanza Bopape Street • Athlone and Stanza Bopape Street • Hill and Stanza Bopape Street • Orient and Stanza Bopape Street • Balmoral Avenue and…

Ingredients 3 Tbsp canola oil + extra for sautéing Salt and milled pepper 2 packets (about 2kg) oxtail Flour, for dusting 2 onions, chopped 4 cloves garlic, chopped 2 packets Durban curry cook in sauce 2 Tbsp Worcestershire sauce 1 large packet tomato paste 1 can chopped tomatoes 4 cups water 1 packet baby carrots 1 packet vine tomatoes For serving: Thyme, rosemary or parsley Crusty sourdough bread or mashed potatoes Method Heat oil in a pressure cooker or a regular large pot. Season oxtail well and dust with flour, shaking off excess. Brown meat all over. Remove from pot and set aside. Reduce heat and fry onions in the same pot until golden, about 5-8 minutes. Add garlic and fry for another minute. Add cook in sauce, Worcestershire sauce…

Pride month, which annually takes place in June, is a period when the rainbow community queer people’s rights are celebrated. On Friday, amid the first sitting of the National Assembly at the Cape Town International Convention Centre, members of Parliament saw the swearing in of LGBTQIA+ activist Steve Letsike. Letsike, accompanied by other MPs, stood before Chief Justice Raymond Zondo, taking her oath that she will serve the people of South Africa with integrity and adhere to the rule of law and the Constitution. Speaking to media outlets, Letsike noted an active presence of the queer community in Parliament displays that the Constitution is inclusive of all societal groups, especially the vulnerable and marginalised groups. She said being sworn in as a lesbian woman stretches the representation pool of LGBTQIA+…

GLASGOW Warriors coach Franco Smith says his team is not concerned about the travel factor ahead of their URC final against the Bulls at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday (6pm kick-off). Smith, a Springbok centre in Nick Mallett’s Tri-Nations-winning team of 1998, pointed out that in the last URC final, Munster travelled to Cape Town to beat the Stormers. “In this competition, travel forms part of the challenge, but we’re not going to use that as an excuse,” Smith said after his team shocked Munster in their semi-final in Limerick on Saturday. “We know it will be challenging but we’ve got a plan and we’ll see how we can recover as quickly as possible and get ourselves physically and mentally ready for a massive game. “We will fly out as soon…

WHEN you have Quinton de Kock’s power at the top of the batting order paired with Reeza Hendricks’ elegance, a rock-solid Aiden Markram at three, followed by Heinrich Klaasen’s brute strength, Tristan Stubbs’ versatility and David Miller’s nerves of steel in one line-up, one would expect consistent 200-plus totals. However, it just hasn’t been the case for South Africa as they have put up 115 against Nepal, 113 against Bangladesh and 106 against the Netherlands in the tournament so far. In their defence, the conditions in New York and St Vincent and the Grenadines have not been conducive to batting. With South Africa set to get the Super Eight stage of the competition started tomorrow when they play co-hosts USA at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium in Antigua, the batters…

VODACOM says it has no intention of raising prices for fibre connection or cutting out other telecoms companies should its proposed deal with Dark Fibre Africa and Vumatel, to create the country’s largest fibre network, be approved. The three companies aim to establish a company, called Maziv, in a multibillion rand deal, with Vodacom holding a 30% to 40% stake in return for a R6 billion investment. The Competition Commission has opposed the tie up, arguing it was anticompetitive as Vodacom would have a material interest in the company, allowing it to increase prices and refuse other operators access to the network. Addressing the Competition Tribunal on Friday, Vodacom Group CEO Shameel Joosub said Vodacom had no interest in increasing access costs nor limiting competition, as well as slowing…

S&P GLOBAL Ratings has warned that earnings for South African insurances companies were likely to be pressured this year, following extreme weather events that left a trail of destruction in the Eastern Cape and KwaZulu-Natal provinces earlier this month. This comes as the National Disaster Management Centre has classified the severe weather events in the Eastern Cape and KwaZulu-Natal as a “national disaster”, after floods and a tornado ripped through the provinces. Earlier this month, heavy rains accompanied by strong winds resulted in severe flooding in most parts of the Eastern Cape, displacing more than 2 500 people, especially in the Nelson Mandela Bay and Buffalo City metros, while a tornado ripped through Tongaat in Durban a few days later, leaving 12 people dead and more than 7…

GRAIN SA has hailed former Minister of Agriculture, Land Reform, and Rural Development (Dalrrd), Thoko Didiza, as a leader who successfully steered the department through great difficulty at the time the industry was facing a number of headwinds, including El Niño and La Niña challenges and the foot-and-mouth disease outbreak, among many others. This comes as Didiza will not return to head Dalrrd after she was elected Speaker of the National Assembly for the 7th administration on Friday. AgriSA CEO Dr Tobias Doyer yesterday said Didiza was known for her inclusive approach to consultations, involving everyone from the far left to the far right. “This, often alarmed centrist-organised agricultural bodies, who believed that some of the more extreme elements should not be consulted or included in meetings,” Doyer said. “This…

THE RECENTLY released World Bank (WB) Container Port Performance Index (CPPI) report is damning – harming the reputation of our container terminals. At the outset, it is important to mention that the WB reports on a 2023 period, which does not take into account corrective action taken since then, nor does it measure progress achieved since Transnet has been under new management as part of the recovery and transformation strategy. To contextualise, this was a period at the height of the crisis; the timing of its release unjustifiably tarnishes today’s developments, casting doubt on the efficacy of robust corrective action under way and the hard work of the recovery teams and the leadership of the National Logistics Crisis Committee – a strong strategic public- private consultative initiative by the government…

Eskom on Friday said it had stepped up its generation and achieved its target of keeping unplanned outages consistently around 12 000MW, with a low of 9 500MW at some point, though the spectre of load shedding was not completely behind after 80 days without interruption. Eskom Group CEO, Dan Marokane, said the entity was comfortable with the progress it had made on the turnaround plan, which had been in the offing since March last year to result in the present efficiencies. “We have said this before, load shedding remains a risk, we are not yet where we have comfortably put it behind us and therefore whatever we do we should bear that in mind,” he said during a briefing on his 100 days in office. “Equally important is that…

ANC National Executive Committee (NEC) member, Andile Lungisa, says the time to allow those in positions of power to use state apparatus to fight political battles is long gone. Lungisa said ANC members could no longer sit idly by while comrades were persecuted for having a different ideology. “We were not spectators at he Polokwane Conference. It seems state institutions are targeting individuals once again. We will end this picnic.” Lungisa’s comments followed weekend reports that the National Prosecuting Authority’s (NPA) Independent Directorate (ID) was targeting ANC national chairperson Gwede Mantashe for arrest over the alleged security upgrades by Bosasa to his home. In his 2022 State Capture Commission report, chairperson Chief Justice Raymond Zondo recommended further investigations into Mantashe. At the time, Zondo said there was “reasonable suspicion” that…

A WAR of words has ensued between IFP president Velenkosini Hlabisa and EFF leader Julius Malema. This after Malema criticised voters of political parties that joined the Government of National Unity (GNU) at a media briefing on Thursday night. The IFP last week agreed to join the ANC and DA in the GNU, in exchange for governing KwaZulu-Natal after the May 29 elections failed to produce an outright winner. Hlabisa in a statement called out Malema, labelling him the “epitome of a flip-flopper” in reference to his not being able to stick to his decisions. “Lazy thinkers with the brain of a chicken … That was how the EFF’s commander-in-chief Julius Malema described South Africans last night, while addressing the media at a media conference,” Hlabisa said. “His ‘chicken brain’…

A Nigerian man has been handed four life sentences and an additional 18 years’ jail for rape and human trafficking. Jude Ikenna Ijegulu was sentenced alongside his partner, Elizabeth Botes, in the Gauteng High Court, Pretoria, on Friday. Botes was sentenced to 40 years direct imprisonment for human trafficking, six years direct imprisonment for two counts of keeping a brothel and 10 years direct imprisonment for using the services of a victim of trafficking. The court ordered that the sentences run concurrently with the one for human trafficking According to the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), the 34-year-old man and Botes ran a brothel in Centurion. NPA Gauteng spokesperson Lumka Mahanjana said Ijegulu fetched a 26-year-old complainant in the matter from Rustenburg, where she was held captive and supplied with drugs…

Brand public relations has become a cornerstone of successful business strategy. It’s not just about managing crises or maintaining reputation anymore; it’s about proactively and strategically building a brand’s identity and value. If brand PR is not executed optimally, it could pose significant risks to a business. A poorly managed PR strategy could lead to a tarnished brand image, decreased customer loyalty and decline in market share. Brand PR aims to develop and sustain a positive image of the brand, creating a strong, recognisable identity that resonates with customers and distinguishes the brand from competitors. Goal is to increase brand awareness, foster customer loyalty and establish an emotional connection with the audience. This is the perspective of Bonnke Shipalana, founder and group CEO of The Allure Group (Tag), a communication…

ON SUNDAY South Africa observed Youth Day in commemmoration of the tragic Soweto uprising, which resulted in the senseless deaths of hundreds of youth and spurred the country to rebel against the apartheid regime. Father’s Day, which highlighted the importance of dads in society and paternal connections, was observed on the same day. The weekend was filled with engaging events marking Youth Day and inspirational words for fathers who continue to impact their children’s lives. Kagiso Modupe, an actor and producer, shared a post on Instagram with his family in which he spoke affectionately and expressed thanks for being a father to his children. Modupe said: “I give thanks to God for His grace in allowing me the opportunity to be called a father. “What an honour and what a…

SPRINGBOK fans will have their first opportunity to evaluate the impact of attack guru Tony Brown when the Boks play Wales on Saturday at Twickenham. Coach Rassie Erasmus is expected to field a backline bristling with attacking intent as flyhalf Manie Libbok will likely be marshalling a backline consisting of players such as Aphelele Fassi, Quan Horn, Edwill van der Merwe, Damian de Allende and Jesse Kriel. Erasmus has brought in the wily Brown to grow the Boks’ attacking game over the next three years. The Bok boss has said that his team have to evolve if they are to defend their World Cup crown in Australia in 2027, and the one clear area where they need to progress is in their attack. The world knows about the Boks’ power…

BRYSON DeChambeau needed some good fortune in the US Open, but that didn’t diminish the celebration of his second Major championship. DeChambeau parred the final three holes to complete a one-over-par 71, which was enough for a one-shot victory on Sunday at Pinehurst in North Carolina as he captured the US Open for the second time in five years. “Just thankful,” the 30-year-old DeChambeau said, “thankful that I was a part of it.” DeChambeau, who began the day with a three-shot lead, finished at six-under 274, benefiting from Rory McIlroy’s late putting failures. McIlroy, who gained the lead on the back side, bogeyed the last hole by missing a par putt from about four feet. Then DeChambeau, playing in the last group, clinched it with a par putt after blasting…

NEVER have the PSL promotion play-offs been on as sharp a knife-edge as they currently are heading into the final match of the three-team mini-league competition. While Richards Bay host Baroka FC at the King Goodwill Zwelithini Stadium tomorrow needing just a draw to retain their DStv Premiership status, there is a strong possibility of the contest ending all square. The three teams could all finish up on five points if Baroka go against the grain and become the first team to win on the road. There is also a chance of the teams ending on the same goal difference (zero) and goals scored (three) should Baroka win 2-1. That outcome will result in yet another round of play-offs, which will see the University of Pretoria and Baroka squaring off…

ESKOM Group CEO, Dan Marokane, is confident that the utility will be able to lead the looming electricity free market through its people and innovative strategies, including debt recovery and adapting to the required new technologies. This comes as Eskom pivots a new terrain following passing of the Electricity Regulation Bill last month, establishing a State-owned Transmission System Operator that will operate the national transmission grid and create an open-market platform to enable competitive trading of electricity, ending Eskom’s 100-year monopoly. Since taking office 100 days ago, Marokane has prioritised staff motivation, piloted partnering with municipalities over the R74 billion overdue arrears, legitimising illegal connections, and getting fair value for disposed assets, including the Eskom Finance Company (EFC), which is expected to unlock cash reserves when a deal is…

THE STRATEGIC Fuel Fund Association (SFF) has lost its bid to withhold a multimillion-rand outstanding payment to Krohne, an international manufacturer of custody-metering systems, whose services at the Saldanha Terminal were faulted by the SFF. This comes as Supreme Court of Appeal (SCA) Judge Selewe Mothle on Friday overturned the decision of the South Gauteng High Court in Johannesburg, which had dismissed Kronhe’s application for payment of the full service amount. The high court had dismissed Krohne’s application and ruled that SFF pay the company a sum made up of combined amounts of $60 689 (R1.13 million); R150 799; €67 859 (R1.33m); and ¤10 264 (R201 487); plus interest on the amounts at the rate of 10% per annum from October 27, 2019 to…

PREDICTIVE Discovery Limited has made new executive appointments as it progresses its 5.3 million ounces Bankan gold project in Guinea. The company, which is an Australian explorer listed on ASX, announced last month that it had received firm commitments from investors for its bid to raise A$50 million (R606.35m) through issuance of new fully paid ordinary shares. Predictive Discovery yesterday made new executive appointments at board level. Alberto Lavandeira will be joining the company as non-executive director. He has vast experience developing and operating gold, copper and industrial minerals mines across Africa and Europe. Henk Diederichs also joins the company as chief operating officer, specially tasked with advancing the Bankan Gold Project through the definitive feasibility study phase and into development and operations. In addition to the new…

A JOHANNESBURG Metro Police Department (JMPD) officer is in hospital after he was allegedly viciously attacked by a Nigerian national during an operation on Sunday. The officer and his colleagues were conducting an operation in Bloubosrand, Randburg. JMPD Tactical Response Unit officers were following a lead on a Nigerian national suspected of drug dealing. As they approached the suspect, he called for reinforcements, alleging a robbery. This led to a violent attack on one of the officers. The JMPD expressed its deep concern over the violent assault on one of its officers. JMPD spokesperson Xolani Fihla said two suspects were shot, one was critically injured and taken to Olivedale Hospital; the other sustained a hand wound. He was treated by paramedics and then arrested. A third suspect, who transported the…

THE ANC and DA are the first to pledge voluntary co-operation with the Government of National Unity (GNU) through the signing of a Statement of Intent (SI), which outlines certain agreements between signatories. The document, which has so far been signed by ANC secretary-general Fikile Mbalula and DA Federal Council chairperson Helen Zille, aims to foster trust between the electorate and the parties that will make up the GNU, including the IFP. The document states that “the parties agree that when committees of Parliament are constituted, the spirit of a Parliament of National Unity shall be implemented to enable parties that are part of the GNU to be accorded leadership positions in some committees”. Priorities of the statement include: n Rapid, inclusive, and sustainable economic growth, the promotion of fixed…

POLITICAL analysts have weighed in after former president Jacob Zuma slammed the Government of National (GNU). During his media briefing on Sunday night, Zuma, who now leads the uMkhonto weSizwe Party (MKP), described the GNU as a deal for the markets and not for the people, adding that it was sponsored by big business. Zuma labelled the GNU as nonsense, saying the political conditions had changed since the formation of the first GNU in 1994. He said it is a white-led “unholy alliance“ between the DA and ANC. Zuma vowed to expose the “white agents” who allegedly planned to take the country back to apartheid. “They want to make us a country at war and they are giving us this GNU. But there is no government of national unity…

ACTRESS Brenda Ngxoli has reclaimed the spotlight after revealing her life story, including allegations of family abuse that she says has endured for a long time. Ngxoli made it known that she planned to talk publicly about her experiences this year, both personal and professional, including alleged verbal and physical abuse by family members, and her homelessness. Known to not mince her words, Ngxoli came forward in a series of posts that have attracted attention on social media, saying her decision to speak out is for the benefit of her child. The actress, who welcomed her daughter Sky at the end of 2022, says she is done covering her scars, detailing all her family encounters publicly. “I said it: 2024 is the year I speak out from personal to professional.…

Recent years have seen a dramatic change in the South African entertainment scene, with the rise of Amapiano leading the way both domestically and globally. Last year, the home-grown dance genre surpassed a whopping 1.4 billion streams on Spotify, influencing music culture globally through dance challenges, collaborations, and fusions. A Decade of Amapiano, a platform on Spotify, delves into the past decade of the genre and its key influences, showcasing its significant impact. The platform launched on June 14, also offers playlists and podcasts. Today our youth use Amapiano as a platform to amplify their voices, freely express their aspirations, and showcase their resilience and creativity. The streaming platform revealed that the Covid-19 pandemic significantly impacted Amapiano’s growth on the platform, reaching its first 100 million streams in 2020 and…

BAFANA Bafana's glowing 2026 World Cup fortunes have encouraged PSL clubs to make their exciting prospects available for the upcoming Cosafa Cup in Gqeberha. Over the past few seasons, there has been a never-ending club-versus-country antagonism between PSL clubs and Safa, the guardians of the national team. Last season was a classic case in point. Out of the 47 players stand-in coach Morena Ramoreboli called up for a Cosafa Cup camp, 19 actually reported. In the absence of comment from Safa and PSL clubs, an informant inside the camp said at the time: “PSL teams have refused to let their players join the team. It’s players from the lower divisions that are here.” Cosafa Cup coach Helman Mkhalele has announced a preliminary squad for the southern African regional tournament, and…

THE Bliltzboks have been boosted by the return of the experienced Zain Davids and Shilton van Wyk for the World Rugby Sevens Repechage in Monaco this weekend. South Africa will play Mexico, Tonga and Chile in pool play in the tournament where the winners will fill the last spot at the Rugby Sevens of the 2024 Paris Olympics. Davids and Van Wyk both missed the squad’s previous trip to Europe, the SVNS Grand Finale in Madrid, as they were rested with the Monaco trip in mind, and according to interim head coach Philip Snyman, it was a worthwhile exercise. “Both Zain and Shilton played in all the tournaments for us and we felt it would be better for them to miss the Madrid one and to freshen up for Monaco,…

WORLD No 3 Aryna Sabalenka said yesterday that she would miss the tennis event at the Paris Olympics “to take care of my health”. Belarus’ Sabalenka, 26, lost to Russian teenager Mirra Andreeva in the French Open quarter-finals earlier this month. The tennis events at the Games take place on clay at Roland Garros from July 27-August 4 with the US Open starting three weeks later. “I feel I have to take care of my health,” Sabalenka said. Following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, athletes from Russia and Belarus who qualify for the Games can only compete as neutrals in Paris. Australian Open champion Sabalenka is set to return to action this week in Berlin and is expected to feature at Wimbledon, starting on July 1.…

LIKE in any tour to India or the subcontinent, spin becomes the biggest challenge for South African batters who traditionally are not the best players of spin. Leading up to the ongoing tour to India, captain Laura Wolvaardt and her team knew of the threat that awaited them in India as spinners Deepti Sharma, Asha Sobhana and Radha Yadav are known for dominating visiting batting units at home. This time was no different as the trio dominated South Africa in the first one-day international at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium on Sunday, picking up seven wickets between them as India bowled South Africa out for 122. Proteas top-order batter Sune Luus was one of the few batters who looked relatively comfortable against the Indian attack despite failing to convert her start…