Innholdsfortegnelse for 2024-08-27 i Star

SOUTH Africa has remained one of three leading countries in the African export market, which reached $665.4 billion (about R11.8 trilllion) in 2022-2023, but was still below 3% of global exports, despite the ongoing challenges with the ports. South Africa has been struggling to meet its export potential for the past few years, as a result of logistical bottle- necks experienced by State-owned rail and ports operator, Transnet, but these are being addressed speedily now in partnership with the private sector. The inaugural 2023 Africa Export Competitiveness Report released yesterday showed that South Africa, along with Morocco and Nigeria, accounted for a significant share of total exports in the continent. The report examines the export capacity and ecosystems of 30 African countries, and sheds light on the main…

THERE was muted growth in the housing market in the second quarter as owners awaited the outcome of the national election, but listing prices as measured by one large estate agency were up 7%, indicating improved confidence in the market. RE/Max of Southern Africa CEO and regional director Adrian Goslett said it was no surprise that the housing market would remain subdued until there was greater clarity on the way forward. Registered sales totals essentially reflect sales concluded roughly two to three months prior to the date of registration, whereas active listing prices are more reflective of what is happening within that quarter, Goslett said. Meanwhile, the average active listing price for the first quarter had dropped to R2 754 249 which, in part, now reflected registered sales…

DRDGold CEO, Niel Pretorius, believes gold prices will remain elevated and supported by global demand fundamentals, though the company was basing its plans for future profitability on a lower bullion price as it ramps up production, contains costs, and explores acquisitions. Gold prices steadied around $2 510 (R44 383) per ounce yesterday, holding close to record levels thanks to the boost to rate cut sentiments by US Federal Reserve chairperson, Jerome Powell. The higher gold price has helped South African gold miners such as DRDGold avoid drastic earnings plunges after production for the year to June missed targets. Pretorius told Business Report in an interview that demand fundamentals for bullion remained high, likely providing support for gold prices for longer. Moreover, Asian gold buying and private sector investments…

Márcia Eugénio IN THE ERA of digital transformation, data has become a critical asset in shaping healthcare systems worldwide. South Africa, like many other countries, is recognising the potential of data to improve healthcare outcomes, enhance patient experience, and drive efficiency in the healthcare sector. In recent years, data has become a powerful tool that has the potential to shape and transform industries across the globe. Healthcare providers and systems can leverage data to predict health problems, intervene in a timely manner, and provide preventive measures. Acknowledging the power of data to change lives and transform communities, the health and wellness industry in South Africa is also embracing this shift. Organisations across this sector are investing in technologies and analytical capabilities to unlock the full potential of data, which allows…

STADIO Holdings, the JSE-listed owner of higher education institutions, increased its student numbers by 10% to 47 024 students in the six months to June 30; 87% of them make use of distance or online learning; and 13% through contact learning. As at August, 2024 the company had 50 435 students enrolled, with second semester enrolments still in progress, and this was in line with its 2017 pre-listing statement to investors that forecast the company to have 56 000 was envisaged by 2026, said CEO Chris Vorster. He said in an interview that the growth was strong, and reflected their positioning of the distance-learning courses to be affordable, the provision of the necessary technical and support services for the growth in student numbers, and the…

Eswatini-born musician Manana, a Grammy Award winner, has expanded his portfolio with a captivating new music documentary. Produced by Spotify, the documentary follows the release of the artist’s latest album, Our Broken Hearts Mend, the final chapter in his musical trilogy. The new album explores themes of heartbreak, healing and the transformative power of love, while the accompanying documentary offers a deeper look into Manana’s creative process, the inspiration behind it and his evolution as an artist. Manana, who is a part of the Spotify Radar African Artist programme, said: “Years and years of releasing music has brought us to this point and the timing couldn’t be better. To be chosen for the programme is both humbling and affirming.” In the doccie trailer, Manana shared: “The gift that I…

AFTER a backlash from political parties in Johannesburg, mayor and ANC regional chairperson, Dada Morero, has withdrawn his controversial crime-prevention strategy to recruit documented foreigners to the Joburg Metro Police Department (JMPD). During an ANC media briefing at Mount Grace Hotel in Magaliesburg yesterday, Morero said his suggestion was to spark debate at the party’s regional executive lekgotla on Sunday. He believed foreign nationals would intensify the fight on crime and be in a position to address the language barrier between officers and foreign criminals. “I unconditionally withdraw my proposal, and apologise for the anxiety it might have caused South Africans. I shared these views to inspire debate at the lekgotla, which is a platform for ANC leaders to consider all options available to resolve challenges facing our people,” said…

The Eastern Cape Health Department has called for the prosecution of those implicated in the Special Investigating Unit’s (SIU) probe into fraudulent medico-legal claims. This comes after a probe into the scandal revealed widespread abuse of government funds, with claims in excess of R15 billion. On Saturday, Minister of Health Dr Aaron Motsoaledi revealed that an investigation by the SIU found that over five years, a single law firm submitted 44 suspected fraudulent medico-legal claims to the tune of R497 million against the Eastern Cape Department of Health. The minister further stated that an SIU investigation into alleged fraudulent medico-legal claims has saved the national Department of Health more than R3 billion. He singled out a known legal practitioner by the name of Nozuko Nonxuba, of the Johannesburg-based Nonxuba…

DA leader John Steenhuisen has intimated that his party is considering abandoning the case against President Cyril Ramaphosa’s National Health Insurance (NHI) Bill that was passed in May because of the Government of National Unity (GNU). Ramaphosa approved the controversial new law promising universal health care for South African citizens despite fierce resistance from the DA. The DA had initially threatened court action, saying that the idea could be expensive and sustain corruption. The NHI advocates the creation of a state fund to cover the medical costs of all South Africans – most of whom do not have private medical care. The controversial scheme further bars South African citizens from taking out private health insurance for treatment paid for by the fund. Speaking to a Sunday newspaper, Steenhuisen said that…

RESIDENTS in wards 21, 22, and 99 were on Sunday forced to go back to their polling stations to cast their ballots again during the rerun of the City of Tshwane’s ward committee elections. This was after the elections that took place last month were bedevilled by some logistical problems and political squabbles. There were also concerns raised that a Laudium polling station didn’t have a voters roll to make sure the eligibility of voters was verified before voting during the August ward elections. Council speaker Mncedi Ndzwanana, however, refuted such claims, saying officials used the IEC Cloud to access the voters roll. The Laudium ward poll was, however, not among the voting stations where the election rerun was recommended. Tshwane ward committee elections were conducted after the 2014 ruling…

The University of Pretoria (UP) community is getting all revved up over a classic 1967 Beetle with its own UP-inspired history – and the exciting raffle that will see one lucky entrant get to take it home for good! The raffle is part of UP’s Giving Matters Campaign, which raises money to help students in need of financial aid. This iconic Volkswagen (VW) Beetle is already part of UP history, as it was once owned by UP’s longest serving Vice-Chancellor and Principal, Professor Casper (CH) Rautenbach (who was VC from 1948 to 1970). But there are also technical and mechanical reasons why this particular 1967 South African model is truly one of a kind. For starters, of the 3 836 VW Beetle models that came off the production line at…

Barcelona have started the La Liga season well, with two consecutive wins despite missing several key players, raising expectations around the prospects of new manager Hansi Flick. Top of La Liga alongside Celta Vigo on six points, Barcelona travel to Madrid to face Rayo Vallecano today, who are unbeaten after shocking Real Sociedad 2-1 and holding Getafe to a hard-fought goalless draw on Saturday. “The goal in Barcelona should always be to win the league,” Flick said yesterday. “Sure, it’s a long road but we have started well, although everything can change quickly. “Now we are happy about our start and we are confident. We are not looking ahead to May, our focus is to keep momentum in the next game. “We are very satisfied with what the team is…

DISCOVERY Bank said yesterday that it has reached its first one million clients, two years ahead of its plans. The bank started opera- tions in 2019 after receiving its banking licence in 2017, building its systems and moving clients with credit cards – part of Discovery’s initial partnership with First Rand Bank – to the Discovery Bank platform. Dis- covery Bank CEO, Hylton Kallner, said the growth in customer numbers reflected the impact of their “unique shared-value model” that aimed to create value as clients man- aged their money and engaged with other Discovery products and rewards, and used their digital banking app and platforms. The bank’s client and deposit growth increased by 31% to R16.67 billion in the first half of 2024, with advances increasing by 20% to…

THE CABINET will, in the next three weeks, consider recommendations to enact legislation forcing the government departments owing municipalities a large chunk of the R347 billion in arrears for electricity to pay up in a set two-month period or have the amounts sequestrated from their allocations. Minister of Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs (Cogta), Velenkosini Hlabisa, and Minister for Electricity and Energy, Kgosientsho Ramokgopa, said yesterday that government departments underlying the sustenance of local government – including Water and Sanitation, Human Settlements, Electricity and Energy, Treasury, Cogta, and Transport – had at Cabinet level been assigned to formulate turnaround strategies for municipalities, with Cogta as the vanguard. The Ministers were speaking during a panel discussion of the Municipal Just Energy Transition conference in Johannesburg yesterday. The proposal for financial…

THE AGRICULTURAL Business Chamber (Agbiz) yesterday said that going into the BRICS+ summit, focus should be on building on the spirit of its 2023 Johannesburg summit, which promoted the dialogue about deeper agricultural trade. Agbiz chief economist, Wandile Sihlobo, said the message this year was even more urgent as the newly added BRICS+ members also presented an opportunity for widening agricultural exports. “The South African authorities should lobby for a more pragmatic approach beyond the high-level talks so that businesses can see the full bene- fit of BRICS+ engagements,” Sihlobo said. The BRICS+ summit is to be held in Kazan, Russia, in October. Agbiz said what was very important in the near term was utilising the BRICS+ structure to push more ambitious trade matters, though this grouping was not a…

LEADING technology platforms will no longer be the same after the arrest of Pavel Durov, the founder of the Telegram app messaging platform. According to news reports he was arrested for lack of moderating the platform. The app he founded is accused of failure to cooperate with law enforcement over drug trafficking, child sexual content, and fraud or crimes committed by users of the platform. His arrest has sent shock waves across the technology sector. Some have condemned it as a form of censorship. Although details of this arrest are not completely clear, it signals something that should be of great concern to all in the technology sector. In the past, technology platforms have been accused of aiding criminal behaviour. The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) once reported that it had…

ITALTILE shareholders will receive a special dividend of 78 cents a share, which will bring the tile, bathroom, and other home-ware manufacturer, distributor and retailers’ full payout to 127c a share for the year to June 30, a whopping 140% higher than the year before. The payout to shareholders was even though the financial performance for the year was slightly below the previous year, with turnover flat at R11.5 billion, trading profit 11% lower at R2.1bn, while headline earnings per share fell by 7% to 123c per share. CEO Lance Foxcroft said in an interview the board had opted to pay the special dividend as the group was strongly cash generative; cash reserves of R1.84bn were in excess of operational requirements, capital expendi- ture commitments were lower, and…

If Adele ever decides to retire from music, she will go down as one of the biggest musicians of her generation. The British star’s soulful sounds and record-breaking accomplishments can arguably be compared to icons such as Mariah Carey, Whitney Houston, Michael Jackson and Beyonce. But what sets the Hello hitmaker apart from her musical peers is that she has admitted to not being a fan of fame. Instead, she is determined to let her music do the talking and, despite her superstar status, appears to be one of the most grounded celebrities. Two South Africans experienced her warmth earlier this month at her concert in Germany. Often one to connect with her audience, the 36-year-old spotted Radio 702 and Cape Talk radio broadcaster Clement Manyathela and his friend Basani…

Matthew Perry is said to have been so obsessed with Batman that he called the assistant who injected him with his final doses of ketamine, Albert. Due to his worship of the caped crusader, the Friends actor nicknamed himself Mattman in his final Instagram posts, which were uploaded before he was killed on October 28, 2023, aged 54, from the “acute effects” of anaesthetic ketamine. It’s now been reported by the Daily Mail that Perry’s live-in assistant Kenny Iwamasa, 59, was “known as Alfred to Perry’s Batman” – referencing the comic book vigilante’s 24/7 butler. Iwamasa admitted in court documents he injected Perry with three doses of ketamine in his final hours. He confessed in a set of plea agreement papers he signed after he and four others were arrested…

The controversy over Miss South Africa finalist, Chidimma Adetshina, has sparked calls for a comprehensive audit of the country’s citizenship and the release of the findings of a forensic probe into the issuing of permits and visas. There are also calls for the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) to act against officials found to have issued fraudulent visas and permits. The ministerial review committee, led by former government director-general Dr Cassius Lubisi, found a host of irregularities between October 2004 and December 2020. Earlier, Home Affairs said there was prima facie evidence to believe that fraud and identity theft may have been committed by the person recorded as Adetshina’s mother. The department had broadened its investigation to identify and pursue any officials involved in the alleged identity theft. ActionSA chief whip,…

Minister of Defence and Military Veterans Angie Motshekga has welcomed the humanitarian relief medical exercise taking place between the SANDF and the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA). The joint medical mission comprising members of the SANDF and the PLA is providing free health services for communities around Cape Town, in the Western Cape and its surrounding areas. IOL reported last week that the Chinese hospital ship Daishan Dao, also known as the “Peace Ark”, had docked for the first time in Cape Town, on Mission Harmony aimed at strengthening military ties and reinforcing humanitarian medical skills with South Africa. The SA Military Health Service, together with the SA Navy, received the crew at the Cape Town port last week. The vessel is docked at the V&A Basin berth jetty 2…

CONTROVERSIAL former advocate Malesela Teffo, who was earlier disbarred because of his antics and unprofessional behaviour, is not a man who gives up. Teffo is now fighting a suspended jail sentence while actually being in the Johannesburg Prison, popularly known as Sun City, awaiting trial. The former Senzo Meyiwa murder trial defence advocate, has once again turned to the Gauteng High Court, Pretoria, this time in a bid to obtain leave to appeal against a suspended sentence of a year behind bars for contempt of court. Nearly a year ago, Judge Brenda Neukircher ruled in favour of the Legal Practices Council, which had lodged the contempt of court order as Teffo had simply ignored the fact that he was struck from the roll of advocates in 2022. At the time,…

International Relations and Co-operation Minister Ronald Lamola is travelling back home from Japan, where he attended the Tokyo International Conference on African Development ministerial meeting. Ahead of the opening ceremony of the Tokyo International Conference on African Development ministerial meeting, Lamola had a business round-table discussion with the Japan External Trade Organization to further strengthen economic co-operation. “Among other matters, the meeting noted two critical economic developments. Following successful diplomatic negotiations, an agreement between the two countries was signed earlier this year, establishing a protocol for the export of South African avocados to Japan,” said Clayson Monyela, head public diplomacy at the Department of International Relations and Co-operation (Dirco). The first consignment arrived in Japan last week, coinciding with Lamola’s working visit. “This significant milestone marks the beginning of a…

AFTER seeing people lose their valuables such as cars and houses because of unfair retrenchments during the Covid-19 pandemic, a young woman attorney, Wendy Cele, established a membership based-legal firm, 101 Legal. Cele, from Dududu on the South Coast of KwaZulu-Natal, started her legal firm Wendy Cele and Associates seven years ago; but has since launched the membership based wing, Legal 101, where clients pay monthly subscriptions for future legal representation. In a sit-down interview with The Star’s sister paper, the Daily News, Cele, 32, said it was painful to see people losing their properties after they were retrenched and having no funds to fight to keep their possessions, adding that it was an eye-opener which prompted her to establish the membership-based legal services under her existing legal firm, Wendy…

Shebeen Queens, a reality show about the indomitable women behind well-known Soweto shebeens Alina’s Place, Big Mama’s Tavern, and Rams Tavern, dropped the first episode on Showmax, giving viewers a front-row seat to their lives. The show chronicles the lives of three shebeen queens – Alina Sishange, Xoliswa Shwayimba, and Emily Thabang Leeuw, fondly known as Big Mama – as they attempt to juggle job and family responsibilities in the cut-throat, late-night industry, historically dominated by men. One of the leading queens, Leeuw, expressed her surprise and delight at being chosen for a reality show. “I was shocked, sceptical, and tempted to say no, but I saw how serious the production team was about bringing me on board, so I couldn’t resist the opportunity. “I adapted quickly to having cameras…

NEDBANK Corporate and Investment Bank- ing (CIB) said yesterday that it had made inroads into the Ivory Coast market with a €18.5 million (R366.8m) sustainability-linked loan for Cosmos Yopougon shopping mall – it is the lender’s first successful property and sustainable finance transaction in the region. The facility was done in collabora- tion with HC Capital Properties, sponsor of Cosmos Yopougon shopping mall. The deal consolidated Cosmos Yopougon’s position as the leading sustainable retail destination in the region and underscored both com- panies’ commitment to environmental sustainability and responsible finance, Nedbank CIB said in a statement. Cosmos Yopougon was the first operational building in Francophone West and Central Africa to achieve International Finance Corporation Edge Green Building certification. The sustainability-linked debt solution, struc-tured by Nedbank’s Property Finance Africa and…

SOUTH Africa’s climate is a complex mosaic, marked by its heterogeneous but predominantly semi-arid conditions. This diversity, however, does not shield the nation from the increasing threats posed by climate variability. The widening gap and stickiness of each El Niño-Southern Oscillation cycle extreme, now lasting three years or even projected to be more by meteorological experts, exacerbate the challenges. From the crippling 2016 drought that saw dams dry up and farmlands wither, to the devastating 2022 floods that swept away homes and livelihoods, the nation has experienced extreme climatic events that hint at a grimmer future. Imagine a scenario where the ex- tremes converge in a relentless sequ- ence, each phase intensifying the suffer- ing of the land and its people. For this narrative, we delve into the progres- sive…

The Land Bank Team AGRICULTURE is a capital-intensive industry, with farmers having to source funding either through loans or their own money to purchase equipment, supplies, and livestock, and make im- provements to their operations. This is compounded by the ongoing challenges within the sector. Research from the Bureau for Food and Agricultural Po- licy indicates that the input cost environment remains challenging, while costs of fertiliser and chemicals have come down, administrative costs and electricity continue to rise at rates well above inflation, driving irrigation costs higher, while wage rate increases typically also outpace inflation. This includes also the interest rates that remain relatively high with prime at 11.75%. Farmers also struggle with out- put prices that haven’t risen as fast as their costs. Without access to financing, it…

A year ago, I visited Morocco for the first time. I was touched by the warm welcome from some of the everyday locals and equally amused by their curiosity about what life in “Africa” was like. Meanwhile, just a few weeks ago, I found myself in conversation with a sharp South African analyst who, while discussing early-stage tech ventures across the continent, casually referred to the space north of South Africa as “Africa”. (Interestingly, he wasn’t even referring to anywhere north of the Sahara.) Now, to be fair, having visited just two North African countries – Morocco and Tunisia – I can say that my experiences revealed a region that, in many ways, feels worlds apart from even its closest sub-Saharan neighbours. The differences in language, culture, and the complex,…

IRON ORE PRICES and related stocks such as Kumba Iron ore are likely to remain under pressure for the remainder of this year, as slow growth across the construction sector and tariffs on goods from China dim full recovery prospects. Kumba and ArcelorMittal South Africa (Amsa), which manufactures steel, have been facing operational constraints in South Africa emanating from Transnet’s inefficiencies. Although Bruce Williamson, a resources analyst at Integral Asset Management, said South Africa was a small player in the global steel and iron ore market, Kumba and Amsa are large companies in the domestic economy. Shares in Kumba have been down by about 32% in the past three months, and lower by 10.51% in the past 30 days. However, yesterday shares in the company appreciated 0.58% in afternoon trade.…

In a major win for South African music, producer, singer and songwriter, Sello “Chicco” Twala, has secured a groundbreaking deal, which aims to elevate the country’s recording artists on the international stage. Having started his music career at the age of 20 in 1982, Twala has been a key figure in the industry over the decades. He now sees his latest collaboration as a game-changer and the artist highlighted its uniqueness with Tshisa Live. “Never before have American and South African music performers joined hands to form an organisation that would create opportunities for the young talented people of South Africa who have been struggling to penetrate the massive American market,” he told the publication. The deal aims to challenge the dominance of Nigerian music in the US and Europe,…

Ben Affleck will reportedly avoid a red carpet reunion with his estranged wife Jennifer Lopez by skipping the premiere of their new film. Lopez stars in Unstoppable – which was produced by Affleck – and it’s set to debut at the upcoming Toronto International Film Festival in Canada next month but a new report suggests the Hollywood star will be absent from the film’s glitzy red carpet premiere so he can avoid a potentially awkward public encounter with the singer and actress after she filed for divorce. A source told New York Post column Page Six that JLo will attend the screening on September 6, but Affleck has decided not to be there. The Hollywood couple called it quits back in April after almost two years of marriage but they…

EFF president Julius Malema has urged members of the organisation to rebuild the party in KwaZulu-Natal. Malema said the uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) Party took the organisation by surprise in the past general elections, which resulted in major electoral decline for the EFF in the province. “The truth is the old man in Nkandla has shocked all of us. We will never allow that shock to happen again; we will rebuild the EFF. We will return to the battlefield. We are here in KZN on a fact-finding mission to find out uyenzini uZuma to take our numbers because all of us are in shock,” the EFF leader said. Addressing members of the EFF at uMgungundlovu regional general assembly on Sunday, Malema reminded his members that the responsibility of bringing the ANC…

THE EFF in Tshwane has called into question the ability of the metro to protect its assets following the recent break-in at the Olievenhoutbosch clinic, where 18 computers and other valuables were stolen. The robbers also made off with two electronic gadgets, one tablet, six televisions, and three wi-fi routers. Health MMC Rina Marx strongly condemned the burglary at the clinic, but the EFF believed the incident was “symptomatic of a broader issue of neglect and incompetence that plagues the current administration”. Marx said: “I strongly condemn these deplorable acts that target the City’s health infrastructure which caters to the most vulnerable groups.” She said incidents of theft have a negative effect on clinic operations, and deny the broader community the opportunity to have uninterrupted, quality services. During the burglary…

AFTER exhaustive attempts to see high schoolers under their care obtain identity documents, the desperate pleas of two Cape Town great and grandmothers have reached as far as the Office of the Minister of Home Affairs, prompting immediate intervention. Home Affairs Minister Leon Schreiber, who heard about the cases and called for the matters to be urgently addressed, presented the Smart IDs to the recipients at the Bellville Home Affairs Office yesterday. Last month, New Woodlands great-grandmother Hester Prince’s appeal for assistance was featured in the Cape Argus, after having been given the run-around by Home Affairs for several years, leaving her great-grandson, Leo Badenhorst, 19, without an ID mere months before his final exams. “I can’t even tell you how I feel, I can’t explain,” said an emotional 81-year-old…

THE evidence is before the rugby world but it was reassuring for Springbok fans to hear Jesse Kriel declare the current team a better version than the one that won last year’s World Cup. The powerfully-built outside centre was talking to the media yesterday ahead of Saturday’s rematch of the 2023 final against New Zealand. “Are we a better side this year? Definitely,” Kriel said. “If you don’t get better from year to year then you have got a bit of a problem. You obviously want to stay ahead of the curve and keep working on your game, as a collective but also as individuals so that each year you have more to offer.” The visiting Kiwi media wanted to know about the impact of their countryman Tony Brown as…

STELLENBOSCH head coach Steve Barker believes his team’s recent spate of semi-final appearances has contributed to their immense growth in recent years. Stellies will be taking part in their fifth consecutive semi-final when they battle Mamelodi Sundowns in the MTN8 this week over two legs. The Cape Winelands-based side will play the Brazilians at the Lucas Moripe Stadium on Wednesday at 7 pm before hosting the same opposition in the home leg at the Moses Mabhida Stadium on Sunday. In those five last four appearances, they’ve made the final once and went on to lift the 2023 Carling Knockout Cup last season. Barker spoke to the media in Durban on Wednesday before their trip to the capital. He expressed that he felt his team had grown immensely due to their…