Innholdsfortegnelse for 2024-11-27 i Star

Transnet has dismissed allegations of procuring inadequate critical equipment aimed at enhancing the efficiency and capacity of its Cape Town Container Terminal operations. In a statement two weeks ago, the United National Transport Union (UNTU) claimed that Transnet had purchased seven unsuitable second-hand cranes from the US, with no spare parts, of which only five were in working order, and which were too small for the Cape Town Container Terminal (CTCT) operations and endangered the lives of employees and truck drivers. The union also called on Minister of Transport Barbara Creecy to hold Transnet accountable for what it described as “self-inflicted challenges and costly errors”. However, Transnet yesterday said UNTU’s statement contained inaccuracies. “In December 2023, the CTCT received a delivery of seven pre-used rubber-tyred gantry cranes (RTGs). The procurement…

South African platinum group metals (PGM) producers will influence global refined supply, which is expected to firm up by 1% next year, with Northam Platinum, Impala Platinum (Implats) and others holding excess inventory. In 2025, world platinum supply will grow to 7.3 million ounces. Refined mine supply for the year will likely “depend heavily on the volume of semi-finished inventory that South African producers” are able to release, said the World Platinum Investment Council (WPIC) in a new report yesterday. Implats and Northam, which recently undertook a smelter maintenance “hold excess” semi-finished inventory. As at the the 2024 third quarter, Implats was holding 230 000 ounces of inventory while Northam had about 60 000 ounces. Implats and Northam estimate that it may take up to three years to fully release…

South Africa (SA) stands at a critical juncture in its climate journey, with its updated Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) offering a transformative opportunity to redefine its response to climate change. While mitigation has traditionally dominated global climate discourse, adaptation — the frequently overlooked yet equally vital counterpart —must now rise and take centre stage. For SA, a country acutely vulnerable to climate impacts, adaptation offers a pathway to resilience, equity and sustainable development. It is time for adaptation to feature more strongly in the nation’s climate commitments. SA’s climate vulnerabilities are real and well understood. From prolonged droughts that threaten water security to devastating floods and rising sea levels that endanger coastal communities, the country faces an array of climate risks. These impacts disproportionately affect marginalised populations, exacerbating inequality and…

Popular South African rock band Prime Circle is gearing up for the release of their eighth studio album. The World We Know will be released on Friday and it comes seven years after their last acclaimed album, If You Don’t You Will Never. The project marks a new era for their band, with the addition of seasoned vocalist Gavin Edwards as their lead singer and co-songwriter. Edwards was appointed after Ross Learmonth exited the group last December because of “creative differences”, after a 23-year career. Edwards joined bassist Marco Gomes, guitarist Dirk Bisschoff, drummer Dale Schnettler and keyboardist Neil Breytenbach in February. Together, they released two songs – Better Days and What We Got – which will be on the new album. Other songs include Renegade, Standing Over Me, Wherever…

Almost 4 000 people have been jailed for gender-based violence crimes and femicide in South Africa between April and September this year. The South African Police Services (SAPS) released these statistics this week as the country observes the 16 Days of Activism for No Violence Against Women and Children campaign. National police spokesperson Brigadier Athlenda Mathe said during this period, the SAPS would continue to intensify its fight against gender-based-violence and femicide (GBVF). “The start of the campaign coincided with the second quarter crime statistics release by the Minister of Police, Senzo Mchunu. “While the statistics showed a positive downward trend in several categories of crime, the murders of women and children remain high.” Mchunu said that gender-based violence (GBV) had become a national priority crime that requires a distinct…

On November 16, the outgoing US President Joe Biden met with Chinese President Xi Jinping on the sidelines of the annual Asia-Pacific Economic Co-operation (Apec) summit in Peru, just two months before he handed over power in Washington to incoming president, Donald J. Trump. The political transition in Washington will mark a return to power for Trump, who previously lost to Biden after his largely chaotic first term in office. The Trump administration will wield immense power after winning the Presidency, Senate, and Congress to control both the Executive and Legislature, amplifying global concerns about risks of unpredictability and uncertainty in Washington, and its implications for bilateral and multilateral relations, particularly with China, Africa and much of the global of the south. While relations between the US and China have…

Former Bulls loose-forward WJ Steenkamp is the bolter in the Lions squad that tackles Munster in Limerick this weekend The 24-year-old takes the place of Renzo du Plessis and last played for the Bulls against Leinster in April 2023. Steenkamp played No 8 and blindside flank in his 17 appearances for the Bulls. An unfortunate omission from an otherwise settled squad is Bok Ruan Venter. The powerful flanker was in line for selection for the Springbok end-of-year tour but had a shoulder operation in October. Venter, who picked up the injury in the defeat of Ulster in September, is expected to make his comeback early next year. He made his debut for the Boks in the June Test against Portugal. The fourth-placed Lions will be confident of beating a Munster…

Withdrawals from the two-pot retirement system are likely being used to purchase clothes, analysts said yesterday, highlighting that this was set to influence financial performance for clothing retailers such as Pepkor Holdings, which posted steady returns for shareholders despite a slight decrease in headline earnings per share (HEPS) for the year ending September 30. Pepkor, which owns retail shops like Ackermans, Hi-Fi Corp, Bradlows and Tekkie Town, yesterday declared a 48.5 cents dividend for the period, which will be payable in January next year despite a R2.7 billion impairment for its clothing, general merchandise and footwear businesses. About R2.4bn of the total impairments for the period is attributable to the clothing and general merchandise, while R161 million relates to newly acquired S’Ya Phanda and Pepkor cellular sourcing activities. The group…

President Cyril Ramaphosa has authorised the Special Investigation Unit (SIU) to investigate alleged maladministration related to the interest rate swop agreements the Airports Company of South Africa (Acsa) had with major local banks as per the findings of the Zondo Commission. The Zondo Commission recommended in 2022 that law enforcement agencies should investigate Nedbank and Standard Bank for their alleged role in a corrupt deal involving interest rate swop transactions concluded with Acsa between 2009 and 2011, which involved Regiments Capital, a company linked to the Gupta family. The Zondo Commission Report said the contracts with the banks were procured through the corrupt involvement of Regiments Capital and former Acsa treasurer, Phetolo Ramosebudi. Interest rate swop transactions are typically concluded by large companies, banks and financial institutions to manage interest…

China (Shandong)-South Africa Industrial Cooperation matchmaking was successfully held On Monday Zhang Haibo, a member of the Standing Committee of the Provincial Party Committee and Vice Governor of Shandong Province, led a Shandong Provincial Government delegation to visit South Africa. During the period, the Department of Commerce of Shandong Province and the Shandong Development and Reform Commission jointly held the China (Shandong)-South Africa Industrial Cooperation Matchmaking in Johannesburg. Zhang Haibo, a member of the Standing Committee of the Provincial Party Committee and Vice Governor of Shandong Province, Pan Qingjiang, Consul General of China in Johannesburg, Vuyiswa Ramokgopa, MEC for Agriculture and Rural Development Member of the Gauteng Provincial Legislature (MPL), and other guests delivered speeches. More than 100 South African government departments, business associations, and corporate representatives including the BRICS…

Last week marked the final deadline for South Africans to switch over to a new electricity meter recharging system. This upgrade was necessary because the software in the old prepaid meters, which have been in use for nearly 30 years, had reached the end of its lifespan. The deadline, Sunday, November 24, 2024, signalled the point at which old prepaid meters would stop working. Once existing credit runs out, these meters can no longer accept new tokens, effectively rendering them useless. This is due to the expiry of vending codes tied to the older STS (Standard Transfer Specification) technology. While Eskom and municipalities had ample time to prepare for the transition, their efforts to inform the public were inadequate. Eskom’s awareness campaign lacked the visibility and grassroots education needed to…

In THE spectacular finale of MasterChef South Africa, 20-year-old Bridget Mangwandi has emerged victorious, taking home R1 million and a coveted title that positions her as a trailblazer in the cooking competition. By clinching the season five title, Mangwandi made history as the youngest winner of the franchise and the first black female master chef from Mzansi. The electrifying climax of the season saw a fierce showdown between Mangwandi and 23-year-old Nabila Shamshum, a school secretary from Johannesburg, after Durban’s Chanel Brink, 34, was announced as the second runner-up. While Shamshum had tasted victory in the quarter and semi-finals, Mangwandi’s ascent was cheered by unwavering moral support from her biggest fan – her mother. Both mothers, alongside eliminated contestants from the season, were in the MasterChef South Africa kitchen to…

Parties seek accountability over Phala Phala break-in PRESIDENT Cyril Ramaphosa’s Phala Phala scandal is still hanging in the balance after the Constitutional Court in Braamfontein reserved judgment on the EFF and African Transformation Movement’s (ATM’s) application to set aside Parliament’s decision not to pursue an impeachment inquiry into Ramaphosa. The two parties argued at the apex court yesterday that Parliament acted unlawfully and irrationally when it voted not to probe the scandal further. The EFF was seeking accountability for his involvement in the 2020 break-in at his Phala Phala game farm while the ATM argued that the National Assembly failed in its constitutional duty to hold the executive accountable. The lid blew off the scandal after a February 2020 break-in at Ramaphosa’s Limpopo game farm, which has sparked allegations of…

The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), which has in the recent past been accused of failing to present strong evidence against several high-profile individuals accused of being at the centre of state capture, has once again claimed that it has a strong case against former SAA accountant, Yakhe Kwinana. Last week, National Director of Public Prosecutions Shamila Batohi revealed that the NPA would not be pressured into prosecuting state capture-related cases following a series of blunders including the matter involving former Eskom CEO Matshela Koko and others, which was struck off the court roll due to unreasonable delays. Kwinana appeared briefly before the Palm Ridge Specialised Commercial Crimes Court yesterday, facing serious allegations related to unauthorised auditing contracts and fraud concerning the national air carrier, dating back to 2011. In an…

Asanda Lusaseni Mvana, known affectionately as Msaki, is showcasing her profound artistic capabilities in an exhibition titled Kuthi Mandithethe: Of Art and Justice at the Standard Bank Gallery in Marshalltown. Msaki’s multifaceted artistry, including music, songwriting, composition, and visual art, is showcased in this thought-provoking installation, deeply rooted in personal and collective histories of healing and justice. In a move that aligns seamlessly with Standard Bank’s 40-year legacy of nurturing artistic talent, the exhibition presents a bold intersection of language, ritual, and sound, inviting viewers to engage with the complexities of sound, resistance, and resilience. At its core, the exhibition urges audiences to confront societal truths that remain unspoken, allowing the isiXhosa phrase “Kuthi Mandithethe” to reverberate as both a call to action and a space of reflection. Curated by…

Multiple nominees, double winners and double achievements stole the night at the Tshwane University of Technology’s (TUT) annual Academic Excellence Awards hosted by Vice-Chancellor and Principal Prof Tinyiko Maluleke on November 13. Vice-Chancellor and Principal Professor Tinyiko Maluleke evokes the words of Welsh poet Dylan Thomas to call on academics to be vigilant against the lull of complacency and mediocrity. The awards celebrate outstanding work by academics, researchers and master’s and doctoral students in the previous year. They also mark the university’s evolution into a formidable technology institute celebrating its 20th anniversary. From doubly celebrations which include new National Research Foundation (NRF) ratings to earning a second doctoral degree, the 2024 instalment of the Academic Excellence Awards were extra special. The awards paid homage to the resilience, hard work and…

Any team will feel the absence of a superstar like Kurt-Lee Arendse, and that will be case for the Bulls for the rest of the United Rugby Championship league campaign and Champions Cup. But utility back Devon Williams is hoping to minimise that impact, and in fact make a difference on his own accord, starting with Saturday’s URC clash against Connacht in Galway (kick-off 7.30pm). Arendse signed off from South African rugby until May next year following the Boks’ 45-12 win over Wales in Cardiff last weekend, and he will now join Japanese club Sagamihara Dynaboars before returning to the Bulls for the playoff rounds. Williams, though, has the ability to ignite the Pretoria side’s attack in similar ways to Arendse, and has the added advantage of a big left…

Parties had agreed that satellite TV provider would pay public broadcaster R500m million in exchange for the exclusive rights to the SABC’s entertainment channel, which would consist mainly of content from the SABC’s substantial archive of programs. In a legal quarrel that has been going on for more than six years, MultiChoice Group and the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) were yesterday arguing before the Competition Tribunal that a July 2013 agreement to exclusive content deals did not amount to a merger as MultiChoice did not have control over the public broadcaster. The deal, which the Competition Commission has stated should have been presented to it as a notified merger, is “of significant public interest” as it enabled the DStv owner to influence the SABC’s strategic direction. Caxton Media Group,…

During the Eastern Cape spring graduation ceremony, notable industry leaders within the region gathered to engage in a significant discussion with Unisa’s executive management. This group included University Of South Africa Chancellor, Dr Thabo Mbeki; Principal and Vice-Chancellor Professor Puleng LenkaBula; Eastern Cape Regional Director, Motale Nkgoang; Acting Vice-Principal: Strategy, Risk and Advisory Services, Dr Matshidiso Molapo; and prominent figures such as Andreas Brand, the president and CEO of Mercedes-Benz South Africa, and Lizelle Maurice, the executive director of the Border-Kei Chamber of Business. The discussion predominantly focused on exploring potential strategic collaborations that would benefit both the university and the automotive industry – a key area identified as a catalytic niche for Unisa. Additionally, the discussion recognised the vital importance of creating programmes that not only meet but anticipate…

TotalEnergies and its consortium partners, Mulilo and Reatile, have started construction of a major renewable project in South Africa comprising a 140 MW wind farm and a 120 MW solar plant. Stakes in the consortium are: TotalEnergies Renewables South Africa (33.5%), its partner Mulilo (15.5%) and Reatile Group (51%). TotalEnergies said in a statement on Tuesday that in 2023, the consortium signed Corporate Power Purchase Agreements (CPPA) with Sasol South Africa and Air Liquide Large Industries South Africa to supply 260 MW of renewable electricity over 20 years. “Located in the Northern Cape Province, the projects will supply around 900 GWh of green electricity per year to Sasol’s Secunda site, located 700 kilometers further North-East, where Air Liquide operates the biggest oxygen production site in the world,” it said. The…

South African music sensation Tyla is closing the year on a high note with eight nominations at the Billboard Music Awards (BBMAs). Hosted by Marriott Bonvoy, the BBMAs is a ceremony hosted by Billboard, a publication covering the music business and the music popularity chart, to honour artists’ exceptional work throughout the year. The nominees for this year’s BBMAs were announced in Los Angeles on Monday. Tyla was nominated for Top R&B Artist, Top Afrobeats Artist, Top R&B Song, Top R&B Album and Top R&B Female Artist Awards. The songstress made history as the first artist in the BBMAs to be nominated three times in a single category. Her songs, Water, Truth or Dare and Jump, were nominated for the Top Afrobeats Song Award. But Ayra Starr’s fans are not…

IN AN effort to combat tax evasion and criminal activity that undermines the country’s economy, the South African Revenue Service (Sars) raided the home of Durban businesswoman Shauwn Mkhize, affectionately known as MaMkhize. Sars clamped down on MaMkhize after being granted a preservation order and a search-and-seizure warrant by the Durban High Court. Sars said this was a strategic move to make it increasingly hard and costly for taxpayers who wilfully and intentionally engage in criminal activity. The orders were obtained to prevent the dissipation of realisable assets, which could hinder the collection of taxes, and to secure evidence of potential non-compliance with tax laws administered by the Sars commissioner, the nation’s tax-collecting authority said. Realisable assets are property that can be easily sold or converted to cash. Previously, a…

The Gauteng Health Department has confirmed that it has recorded no less than 600 food poisoning incidents since the start of the year. As a result, the provincial MEC for Health, Nomantu Nkomo-Ralehoko, has pleaded with Diepkloof, Soweto, residents to keep their neighbourhoods clean to prevent food-related illnesses after the deaths of two children from suspected food poisoning in the area. Yesterday, in the company of MMC for Finance, Margaret Arnolds, MMC for Economic Development, Nomoya Mnisi, and MMC for Development Planning, Eunice Mgcina, Nkomo-Ralehoko conducted a series of health and by-law enforcement visits to various spaza shops in the area, resulting in the closure of some non-compliant shops. “As (a) government, we are concerned when children die after eating snacks bought from local spaza shops and these rising cases…

As the festive season approaches, Kaspersky, a global cybersecurity company, and LIFT, a South African airline, offer a traveller’s guide to help travellers enjoy a safe and enjoyable holiday while recharging and getting away from routine. Brandon Muller, technical expert for the MEA region at Kaspersky, stresses the importance of vigilance highlighting that preparation is key to a stress-free holiday experience. “Regardless of your plans during the festive break, you should always be alert against potential online threats,” he says. Be careful of special offers Muller explains that a fundamental rule of thumb when searching for travel deals is: if an offer seems too good to be true, it usually is. He also reveals that cybercriminals are adept at impersonating legitimate airlines, hotels, and booking systems to lure unsuspecting travellers…

Mamelodi Sundowns 0 Maniema Union 0 The CAF Champions League success that Manqoba Mngqithi believes his team is capable of, is going to take some doing. To emulate the Class of 2016 that earned the Brazilians that star above the club crest, this current lot are going to have to do way better than last night's showing at Loftus Versfeld. Of course, any team that makes it to the group stage of the continent's premier club knockout competition has to be taken seriously. Still, such is Sundowns' pedigree in Africa and Maniema Union's minnow status that the smart money was on the South Africans to bag maximum points. However, the Congolese fought a fantastic rearguard battle that saw them take home a valuable point while leaving Sundowns to wonder just…