Innholdsfortegnelse for 2025-01-16 i Star

MTN started the week off on a very solid footing, with its shares surging almost 11% on Tuesday on the back of good news that it can now increase its tariffs in Nigeria after a long-standing battle with the regulator there about pricing. Its share price righted itself somewhat yesterday, losing -1.07% to R96.25 by 3.17pm. MTN and other operators in Nigeria need to increase prices to combat rising inflation and the devaluation of the local currency against the dollar. The company, Africa’s largest mobile network operator, has 77 million subscribers in Nigeria. However, in the unit’s third quarter results statement, it noted that inflation has remained elevated because of rising energy prices and the depreciation of Nigeria’s currency, the naira. Inflation averaged 32.8% in the nine months to…

Motorists will have to dig deeper into their pockets as a significant increase in the fuel price is expected in February. Economists have attributed the increase to a weaker Rand and the price of Brent crude oil hitting $80 (R1 503) a barrel recently. Economist Dawie Roodt said on Wednesday that a significant increase in the fuel price can be expected at the beginning of February. “There are two main reasons for that; the first reason is that the price of international Brent Crude oil has been rising quite sharply in recent weeks. “The second is that the Dollar has appreciated in recent weeks, and the result is that the Rand has weakened in response to this,” he said. Roodt added that his suspicion is that an increase of close…

DeepSeek, China's latest entry into the open-source large language model race, has achieved something remarkable: matching Meta's Llama with just one-tenth of the resources, cost and parameters. Questions linger about their methods—including possible training on other LLMs without ethical appropriation. Yet their architectural breakthroughs, from multi-token prediction to mixture of agents architecture, hint at an intriguing future where efficient, decentralised AI development might challenge the dominance of resource-heavy Western models. It's a development that both excites and unnerves me, particularly when considering its implications for global media and information flows. As someone who straddles the worlds of journalism, media entrepreneurship and community stewardship in Africa's tech ecosystem, I find myself caught in a peculiar tension. The tools reshaping how we create and distribute information are evolving faster than our ability…

Small to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) often face challenges in managing payroll and recruitment due to limited resources. With budget constraints, these businesses may find it difficult to invest in advanced payroll software or establish a dedicated HR team. However, the complexities of payroll processing, coupled with the need to recruit the right talent and labour resources, can create significant strain on SMEs striving for growth and operational efficiency. Complex challenges require simple solutions Overcoming the complexities of payroll and recruitment can be a daunting task for SMEs. Limited resources and tight budgets often hinder the ability to invest in advanced payroll software or establish a dedicated HR team. However, a streamlined solution exists: partnering with a Temporary Employment Services (TES) provider. A TES provider offers a comprehensive, bundled service that…

Movie buffs can look forward to a stellar line-up of blockbusters scheduled for release this year. From high-stakes action to beloved family narratives, 2025 is shaping up to be an exciting one for audiences around the world. Here’s a look at five of the most highly anticipated films that are poised to captivate audiences. ACTION Mission Impossible: The Final Reckoning Ethan Hunt is back and, this time, it's for the final showdown. The high-octane The Final Reckoning is a thrilling conclusion to the adventures of Ethan Hunt (Tom Cruise), with the spectacular stunts and twists that fans have come to expect from the franchise. The trailer showcases stunning visuals, including the much-anticipated biplane chase. We also see more submarine action, along with ominous discussions of sacrifice and farewells. * Mission…

When Adulting season two ended last year, a lot was going on. Bonga (Thembinkosi Mthembu) got married while his best friend Mpho (Thabiso Rammusi) was going through a divorce. This month, Adulting is back for its final season, and there is going to be plenty of twists as the friends embrace new chapters in their lives. While we want to see how Bonga the playboy navigates married life, we are keen to see Mpho tackle life as a divorcée. Zithulele leaving him was such a bold decision because he thought she would be patient with him and stay but she chose herself instead. Now that they are no longer together, he needs to co-parent with the mothers of his children, including his mistress, with whom he has a second family.…

A DIPLOMATIC spat is brewing between the Democratic Alliance (DA) and China after the Chinese Consulate General in Durban took the unprecedented step of barring DA federal chairperson Ivan Meyer from entering the country. This ban extends to Meyer's family, prohibiting them from visiting or engaging in business with China-based firms. The diplomatic dispute stems from Meyer’s recent visit to Taiwan, which Chinese authorities see as provocative. Meyer, who also serves as the MEC for Agriculture, Economic Development, and Tourism in the Western Cape, has been at the heart of this escalating tension, drawing condemnation from Beijing. On Monday, the Chinese Consulate issued a scathing public statement regarding Meyer’s visit, accusing him of “blatantly violating the one-China principle” and “grossly interfering in China’s internal affairs.” The statement detailed that because…

The Soshanguve reservoir, situated alongside the M17 route, has stood idle for a decade despite being touted as a solution to the area’s water shortages. The reservoir remains uncommissioned after it was built in 2015, increasing water supply challenges plaguing Soshanguve and neighbouring areas like Mabopane township. The frequency of water disruptions has become alarming, with a recent incident in November 2024, where the Soshanguve Block L reservoir suffered leaks, resulting in water mysteriously depleting from the facility almost as soon as it was refilled. Ward 32 Councillor Floyd Thema expressed his dismay over the prolonged water scarcity affecting residents since last year, particularly in areas such as Soshanguve Block L and Mabopane. He said he took an initiative by dispatching a team consisting of the executive mayor, deputy mayor,…

Pretoria East residents’ frustrations reached a boiling point yesterday as they endured their fourth consecutive day without electricity. The prolonged outage was caused by the theft of an underground electric cable beneath the N1 Highway’s Garsfontein off-ramp on Sunday. Residents from Ashlea Gardens, Alphen Park, and Waterkloof Park suburbs have taken to social media to vent their anger and frustration over the extended power outage. “These criminals cost our government; they must be brought to book, and also this corrupt scrapyard needs to be searched and be closed, otherwise we will go round in circles,” one fuming resident said. Authorities said the time for restoring power remained unspecified as municipal workers had to dig into the ground on the side of the highway route, which they started yesterday. Ward 82…

Two of the men accused of killing Kiernan “AKA” Forbes and his companion Tebello “Tibz” Motsoane have been denied bail by the Durban Magistrate’s Court. Mziwethemba Gwabeni and Lindokuhle Ndimande had applied for bail for the third time based on “new facts”. As the accused got into court, Gwabeni looked tired and defeated and kept looking down. Once the proceedings started, Ndimande listened attentively. However, Magistrate Vincent Hlatshwayo said the accused should not be permitted to file bail numerous times. In May last year, the duo’s bail application was denied, and they appealed against the ruling to the High Court, and it was also denied. Hlatshwayo said the issue of Gwabeni’s children’s school fees was dealt with in the initial bail application. He said the matter of children is a…

The compact Crossover space is to a large degree where South Africans are spending their time searching on Google and ultimately spending their money. Almost every manufacturer is vying for attention and it plays out in the monthly sales charts against those that don’t have an offering in that space. Think Suzuki, Mahindra, Toyota and Hyundai who are knocking about in fourth place, just above Ford, thanks in part to their Exter having found 388 homes last month. That’s no small achievement . From the outside the Indian-Made Exter initially looks a bit odd, a bit like a Lego build, almost quirky. But it’s something different in an array of same-same SUVs whether big or small and it has a sense of individuality and even looks a bit funky. Either…

Everything about Imran Tahir reminds you of Peter Pan – the youthful innocence and free spirit of a man simply refusing to get older. And in the SA20 competition at Kingsmead on Tuesday night, the 45-year-old even flew through the air like the mythical figure from London’s Kensington Gardens to claim a wonderful catch to dismiss Wiaan Mulder for the Joburg Super Kings against Durban’s Super Giants. The celebration, of course, matched the fielding effort, with Tahir setting off in trademark fashion, like he’s just scored a goal to win the Fifa World Cup. “It was purely for my son. He is a big (Cristiano) Ronaldo fan in the world. It was for him... that’s why I did it (the Ronaldo celebration),” Tahir said. “More importantly, I was just happy…

Novak Djokovic created a slice of Grand Slam history on his way into the Australian Open third round yesterday, but last year’s women’s finalist, Zheng Qinwen, was knocked out in the biggest shock so far. Defending champion Aryna Sabalenka, in-form Coco Gauff, two-time Melbourne winner Naomi Osaka and a rampant Carlos Alcaraz were all victors on a rainy day four. But Norway’s Casper Ruud lost, going down in four sets to Czech teenager Jakub Mensik to become the highest men’s seed to fall at six. World No 2 Alexander Zverev kept his title charge on track yesterday with a straight-sets victory over Spain’s Pedro Martinez. The German proved too hot to handle for his fellow 27-year-old, sweeping into round three with a 6-1 6-4 6-1 win in under two hours.…

Trade between South Africa and Mozambique via the Lebombo/Ressano Garcia Border corridor has slowed to a third of its usual capacity due to lower truck activity, driven by fears surrounding heightened political tensions. These tensions culminated in the presidential inauguration of Frelimo's Daniel Chapo on Wednesday. Analysts anticipate that trade will recover over the weekend as businesses from both nations collaborate to sustain the supply chain. Data from bilateral business organisations, shown to Business Report, shows truck movements are operating at 30% of capacity—26% lower than the previous Thursday. Key categories such as general cargo, exports, and fuel saw an average 71% decline in line with reduced truck activity. However, small-scale importers of essential goods and foodstuffs recorded a 17% increase. In the lead-up to Wednesday, a…

The South African Non-Profit Organisation (NPO) ABALOBI was a finalist in the food category for the 2025 Zayed Sustainability Prize. The awards were presented by His Highness (H.H.) Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) at the Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week (ADSW) in Abu Dhabi and the ceremony was attended by 11 Heads of State and up to 6 000 participants including media from South Africa. ABALOBI created a mobile app and marketplace that empowers small-scale fishers to log catches and sell directly to consumers. The prize recognises the transformational impact of 11 pioneering organisations and high schools from across the world, and was started in 2008 to reflect the UAE’s commitment to fostering scalable solutions to global challenges and empowering communities in their…

The World Economic Forum (WEF) Annual Meeting in Davos, Switzerland, on January 20-24 will again bring a cohort of the world’s best leaders in business, government, state-owned enterprises, academia, and other institutions together to foster new ways of thinking in addressing key issues facing the globe, said Sekunjalo Investment Holdings chairman Dr Iqbal Survé. The prominent South African entrepreneur, philanthropist, medical doctor, and chairman of Sekunjalo and Independent Media, one of South Africa's largest media companies that also publishes Business Report, was interviewed on Wednesday ahead of his participation at the meeting. The key theme this year is "Collaboration for the Intelligent Age," but geopolitical developments and challenges facing the global economy will also be addressed. The discussions will focus on how converging technologies such as AI, quantum computing, and…

South Africa’s youth stand at a critical juncture. With more than four in 10 young people between the ages of 15-34 not in employment, education, or training, the challenge of youth unemployment has never been more urgent. But within this challenge lies immense opportunity – opportunity that can be unlocked through sunrise sectors. Sunrise sectors are emerging industries experiencing rapid growth in revenue, investment, and employment opportunities – and they are poised to play a significant role in the economy’s future. These include areas such as global business services, agriculture, the care economy, digital industries, infrastructure, and the green economy. What makes these sectors vital is not just their growth potential but their ability to provide meaningful, sustainable employment for young people. Addressing equitable access to these opportunities is…

Zimbabwean companies are grappling with severe economic challenges, including soaring inflation, a skewed exchange rate, and escalating operational costs, forcing some to retrench workers and others to reduce stock levels. Among the hardest hit is Tongaat Hulett’s Zimbabwean subsidiary, Triangle, which announced job cuts after other cost-saving measures failed. Retailers like OK Zimbabwe are also struggling, with de-stocking becoming a growing concern as businesses navigate the country’s volatile economic landscape. An uncertain monetary framework, characterised by run away inflation, a skewed exchange rate and pricing distortions, has left corporates in Zimbabwe battling for survival. Some of them have had to retrench while the retailers are de-stocking. Zimbabwe is already battling a high unemployment rate that has driven droves of locals to seek greener pastures in South Africa and elsewhere on…

South Africans have been left stunned after a recent episode of Sugar Mamas on Moja Love, which featured a 42-year-old woman in a relationship with a 19-year-old man. The reality TV show, known for diving into unconventional relationships, has sparked heated debate and drawn criticism on social media. Sugar Mamas gives viewers an inside look at the lives of older women who date much younger men, who are referred to as “sugar babies”. Each episode shows viewers their personal stories, motivations and the unique challenges of these relationships. The latest episode seems to have hit a nerve with viewers. A snippet from the show showing the couple with a 23 year age gap has gone viral and fans didn’t hold back in sharing their opinion. One post read: “This is…

Police Minister Senzo Mchunu has contradicted Minister in the Presidency Khumbudzo Ntshavheni's previous statement that the government would ‘smoke out’ illegal miners in Stilfontein. Speaking to the media this week, Mchunu deplored the deaths of illegal miners at Stilfontein in the North West province, where the bodies of dozens of men have been extracted. Mchunu said the government had never suggested it would not rescue the stranded miners despite Ntshavheni in November last year apparently suggesting this. “We have never ever been unwilling to assist, and I think I need to straighten that record. There is no way we would have repeatedly gone there, spoken about this, and even the design of Operation Vala Umgodi never suggested directly or indirectly that the government is unwilling to assist people to go…

This was revealed by Police Minister Senzo Mchunu in a parliamentary reply to ActionSA MP Dereleen James. According to the information provided to James, R1.1bn was spent on in-transit protection services and another R220 million for static protection services. Mchunu informed James that the budget and expenditure for the rendering of protection and security services by the SA Police Service (SAPS) for President Cyril Ramaphosa’s executive are managed as a national budget and not per member of the executive. In the 2020/21 financial year, in-transit protection services cost taxpayers almost R169m, R237.3m in 2021/22, and about R251m in 2022/23. The figure stood at R221.3m in 2023/24 and is currently R215.6m in 2024/25, which ends on March 31. For static protection services, the SAPS has already spent R40.3m in 2024/25 while…

A joint contingent of SAPS members, metro police officers, and crime prevention wardens was called in yesterday at Akasia Hoerskool, north of Pretoria, to keep at bay a group of parents protesting after their children were allegedly not placed at the school despite living in close proximity. Protesters voiced their discontent with the Gauteng Department of Education’s online application system, citing unfairness in its allocation process and that the system prioritises out-of-area learners over local children. They further alleged that numerous learners from outside the area had bribed their way into the school, paying R4 500 to secure admission. They claimed that some parents from outside the area were exploiting a loophole in the system by using local residents’ physical addresses to claim proximity to the school. One of the…

Julius Malema said the rise of the uMkhonto weSizwe Party (MKP), formed by former president Jacob Zuma, led to a significant loss of votes for the EFF, particularly in key provinces such as KwaZulu-Natal (KZN), Gauteng, and Mpumalanga. The party was relegated to fourth position in the national ballot with only 9.52% while the MKP claimed third position with 14.58% of the vote. Malema acknowledged that the EFF's numbers have not returned to their 2014 levels, despite an increase in 2019. Speaking in a television interview on Tuesday night, Malema attributed this decline to the MKP's influence, which he believes misled voters in KZN through ‘tribalism and backwardness’. “The EFF suffered like all other parties because of the MKP…We are not where we were in 2014. We got certain numbers…

COMMUNITY activists from the Shallcross earned their stripes for responding swiftly when one eagle-eyed resident raised the alarm that a tiger and her cubs might be prowling the area. The panic-stricken resident sent a voice note to the Shallcross Community Policing Forum (CPF), stating that she had spotted a “tiger and its babies” under a tree in the bushes along Madho Road on Tuesday. Shallcross CPF chairperson Vishal Lachman said when the group received a “distress” call from the resident, several security companies and CPF members sprang into action. In the voice note, the lady called for assistance in Madho Road, saying: “There is a tiger there sleeping with its babies. I do not know but at the dead end there is a tiger sleeping there. So there are guys…

Applications to be an Independent Media representative in the 2025 Fortuner Challenge powered by Quartz Engine Oil is in full swing. At stake is a Toyota Fortuner GR-Sport 2.8 GD-6 AT and this year’s challenge follows the same recipe as previous years with four sporting heroes teamed up with four contestants from different media houses including Independent Media. Over two days, each team competes in a variety of tough challenges and at the end, points are tallied to see who walks away with an incredible collection of prizes. Apart from the Fortuner GR-Sport worth R900 000, the winner also gets to take home enough prizes to fill South Africa’s favourite SUV. You’ll get a host of Thule accessories. Attached to the Fortuner are Black Thule Evo racks and a Thule…

IQRAAM Rayners has urged Mamelodi Sundowns fans to come to Loftus Versfeld in their numbers on Sunday (6pm kick-off) to help spur the team on to a result that will see them topping their group in the CAF Champions League. The South African champions host AS FAR Rabat in the concluding match of the round-robin phase needing to avoid defeat if they are to progress to the quarter-final – and the striker says they will do so on the backing of a passionate and vociferous Masandawana. “I just want to tell you to come out in your numbers, be behind the boys and we will make you proud. Please make Loftus yellow,” Rayners urged. It is a genuine plea, Rayners and Co often playing in a sparsely- populated Loftus for…

Arne Slot insisted Liverpool deserved to beat Nottingham Forest after the “outstanding” Premier League leaders needed Diogo Jota’s equaliser to rescue a 1-1 draw against their title rivals. Slot’s side were rocked by Chris Wood’s eighth-minute opener at the raucous City Ground on Tuesday night. But Jota came off the bench to head in fellow substitute Kostas Tsimikas’ corner just 20 seconds after Slot sent on the pair in the 66th minute. Although Liverpool had struggled to cope with Forest’s intensity and rock-solid defending until Jota’s leveller, they laid siege to the Forest goal in the closing stages. It took a series of superb saves from Forest goalkeeper Matz Sels and a goal-line clearance from Ola Aina to ensure Nuno Espirito Santo’s team held on. “Their goalkeeper had to make…

The Lions have had a “tough love” meeting after firing a few shots at Montpellier last week, and the Dragons can expect a backlash at Ellis Park on Saturday (5.15pm kick-off). The Lions went down 28-5 in the Challenge Cup fixture to go with an earlier loss to the Ospreys. They beat Pau in Johannesburg, but the two losses leave them precariously placed in fifth position in Pool 2 of the Cup. Lions flanker Izan Esterhuizen said his team have no choice but to go for broke against the Welsh side this weekend. “Some tough love was fully deserved after our (poor) performance at the weekend,” Esterhuizen said. “That was not the standard that we should play to. We disappointed ourselves and our fans because we went there in the…

FOR a club returning to continental football’s top table for the first time in a long while, you’d think Orlando Pirates would be content with making it to the knockout stages. After all, just about everyone in Jose Riveiro’s team – the coach included – is a rookie in CAF Champions League football. Making it to the knockout stages should, therefore, be an achievement to be proud of. These group of Buccaneers, though, are an ambitious lot – accustomed as they are perhaps to winning silverware – albeit on the domestic front. Winning, so the saying goes, is a habit, and Pirates just want to keep at it. Guaranteed a spot in the quarter-final alongside record champions Al Ahly, Pirates are now looking to finish top Group C over the…

WEF Global Risks Report paints grim picture of state of the economy The global risk landscape for 2025 has darkened, with state-based armed conflict and extreme weather key risks to global stability dominating the World Economic Forum’s (WEF) Global Risks Report released on Wednesday. While economic risks have less immediate prominence in this year’s survey results, they remain a concern, interconnected with societal and geopolitical tensions. The report, which captures insights from over 900 experts, who gave a bleak outlook, indicated that as we enter 2025 the global outlook is is increasingly fractured across geopolitical, environmental, societal, economic, and technological domains. Local experts have agreed with these findings. Saadia Zahidi, the managing director of the WEF, writes in the report’s preface, "Today, geopolitical risk – and specifically the perception that…

Afrimat yesterday announced that Pieter de Wit will resume all responsibilities as chief financial officer (CFO) of the company, effective immediately, following his brief stint as the integration officer for the Lafarge Transaction. The mid-tier mining and materials company providing Bulk Commodities, Construction Materials, Industrial Minerals and Future Materials and Metals, last year acquired 100% of the Lafarge South Africa group for $6 million and agreed to repay or procure the repayment of the loan amounts owed equating to R900 million. In August, the Afrimat board temporarily appointed de Wit as the integration officer for the transaction for a period of circa 6 to 10 months, given the complexity and importance of the successful implementation of the transaction and the integration of Lafarge South Africa into the Afrimat group. Whilst…

Small Business owners are looking to kick off the new year with renewed optimism, as economic projections suggest better times ahead. With the Bureau for Economic Research projecting 2.2% growth in 2025 and S&P's recent positive outlook for South Africa, SME owners might see economic growth double compared to 2024. While this presents opportunities, SME owners must stay ahead of emerging trends to capitalise on the new economic landscape. Here are five crucial business trends South African SMEs should focus on in 2025: Financial services are expanding beyond traditional banking to include digital tools for smart cash flow management. "Banks and fintechs are naturally diving into things like cash flow management tools and leaning into AI-driven insights to make cash flow management smarter than ever," Thomas McKinnon, Chief Growth Officer…

In the frenzy of an auction, it’s often the last bidder who pays the most, lured by the momentum of the crowd and the fleeting promise of winning. The moment the gavel strikes, reality sets in – the price wasn’t a reflection of value, but of emotion, timing, and misplaced confidence. The same dynamic plays out in Africa’s mining industry. Historically, during bull markets in commodities, mining companies have often found themselves flush with cash due to surging prices and increased investor confidence – persuading them toward aggressive capital allocation decisions, particularly in mergers and acquisitions. The rationale is understandable: high commodity prices create the illusion of sustained profitability and robust long-term demand, leading to a perceived urgency to expand production capacity or secure additional reserves. However, this pattern has…

Onetime Baywatch babe, reality star and ’90s sex symbol Pamela Anderson (also: activist, best-selling author and mother) has spent much of her career shoved into boxes beyond her control. But the Pam-aissance she’s undergone in recent years and really her entire 35-year career, has led to her buoyant, wrenching work in director Gia Coppola’s third feature, The Last Showgirl. The actress steps into her first dramatic star turn in years and proves that the chance to defy expectations is well overdue. Anderson, Golden Globe-nominated for the film, brings a bone-deep understanding to Shelly, a bubbly 50-something Las Vegas showgirl who’s poured her life into the once spectacular, now tired and struggling topless revue, Le Razzle Dazzle. As the show’s longest-tenured star, Shelly has sacrificed plenty in service to the kind…

It’s time to stop refreshing your feeds hoping for some Bieber magic because it’s finally happening. Justin Bieber, the man who made us cry, dance and ask: What Do You Mean? is officially gearing up for his comeback in 2025. Can we get a collective, Hallelujah, from the Beliebers? Let’s be honest – it’s been a hot minute since we’ve heard new music from the man himself. His last album, Justice, dropped in 2021. Since then, the singer has been low-key, focusing on his family life with Hailey and, more recently, their little bundle of joy, Jack. After some drama surrounding his split from long-time manager Scooter Braun in August 2023 (after over a decade together, talk about a plot twist), Bieber’s been keeping things chill. According to…

THE judge’s clerk who claimed she was sexually harassed by Eastern Cape High Court Judge President Selby Mbenenge told the Judicial Conduct Tribunal that she felt like he was sexually grooming her when he tried to solicit pictures from her and sent her explicit pictures during a late-night conversation. Andiswa Mengo, who laid a complaint of sexual harassment against Mbenenge, became emotional when she testified about pictures she claimed he sent her. Among the pictures was one she claimed was of his private part “with hair the same colour as the hair on his head”. She, however, said the person’s face was not visible in the picture, which, according to her, was quickly deleted by the judge president. Mengo also testified that Mbenenge had earlier on asked her for naked…

PUBLIC Protector Kholeka Gcaleka has cleared former cabinet minister Thulas Nxesi of allegations that he hired a number of senior officials attached to the SA Communist Party (SACP) at the public works and infrastructure department. Nxesi, who is the SACP’s deputy national chairperson, was accused of appointing the party’s Mpumalanga provincial chairperson Bonakele Majuba, who is currently the province’s finance MEC, former Limpopo SACP provincial secretary Gilbert Kganyago and central committee member Charles Setsubi. Also in the report are allegations that Proteas captain Temba Bavuma’s father, Vuyo Bavuma, formerly a news editor at The Star, was among the top officials hired by Nxesi. However, Gcaleka found no wrongdoing in the appointments. According to an anonymous complaint to the Office of the Public Protector, Nxesi was accused of recruiting unnamed people…

CemAir announced yesterday that the airline does not engage in the practice of overbooking. The company said flights are sold only to the seating capacity of the aircraft, and it is the company’s view that overselling flights amounts to unethical business practice. Popular low-cost airline, FlySafair found itself in hot water recently, for overbooking flights after an unsatisfied customer shared his unpleasant experience with FlySafair’s practice. Other customers also took to social media, complaining that they were informed by FlySafair at airports that there were no available seats on the plane, despite the customers having bought tickets in advance. Last week, the National Consumer Commission (NCC) gave FlySafair 14 days to explain its controversial overbooking conduct. FlySafair admitted that they overbooked flights to help keep ticket prices affordable. “FlySafair’s contention…

Having had a number of Ford Ranger double cabs as long-term vehicles, the latest one to join our stable is the Ranger Wildtrak Supercab. Basically the Supercab takes the double cab’s cabin, shortens it allowing for more space in the load bin, puts on two doors and two smaller “suicide” doors. It’s certainly not family friendly but when there’s only two of you and it’s a Wildtrak, then the Ranger is fit for purpose. Mostly though I reckon they’re purchased by businesses, especially the lower specced XLT and XL models, who use them to cart all manner of goods about with the added bonus that they are VAT deductible. As with the Wildtrak double cab, the Supercab has Ford’s tried and tested 2.0-litre Bi-turbo diesel engine that’s good for 154kW…

Following three consecutive years of growth, culminating in an all-time record in 2023, South African new vehicle exports declined by a significant 22.8% in 2024. Total exports fell from 399,594 the previous year to 308,380 units in 2024, Naamsa reported, citing numerous economic factors. Passenger car exports, at 192,542 units, fell by 25.4% while bakkie exports, at 115,192, were down 18% year-on-year. Naamsa attributes the fall in exports to a slowdown in demand in the European Union, which is one of South Africa’s key export destinations. This region suffered from low economic growth in the past year, however stricter emission rules and competition from cheaper electric vehicle imports from China also affected the demand patterns in its automotive market. BMW’s changeover from the old to the new X3 towards the…

Sekhukhune United will hope to inflict further damage on an already vulnerable Kaizer Chiefs outfit when the two teams clash in league action this weekend. The Amakhosi will host Babina Noko in their home away from home, Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban, on Sunday (3.30pm kick-off). The last time Chiefs graced the Durban-based World Cup stadium, the club’s rafters of fans left with their flags flying low after a defeat to Golden Arrows. Chiefs’ chameleon-like performances as coach Nasreddine Nabi and his technical staff attempt the tough task of rebuilding a side that have gone nine seasons without silverware are displayed in their last 11 results in all competitions. Following the Arrows loss, Nabi was shown a red card in the tunnel after expressing his frustration with the match officials’…

Manchester City coach Pep Guardiola blamed the fact that he is missing key players for his side’s late capitulation against Brentford in the Premier League on Tuesday as the Bees came from 2-0 down to grab a 2-2 draw. Visitors City had gone 2-0 up thanks to a pair of goals from Phil Foden, but Yoane Wissa pulled one back for the hosts in the 82nd minute and Christian Norgaard headed the equaliser in the second minute of stoppage time as City’s defence wilted. City are currently missing defenders Ruben Dias and John Stones, and influential midfielder Rodri, all of whom are injured. Guardiola said that with several key players missing through injury, City didn’t have the personnel to defend the type of balls they faced against Brentford. “We have…

Bulls flyer Steadman Gans says his team will only snap a five-game losing streak if the players keep faith in each other and the same processes that served them so well earlier in the season. The Bulls host Stade Francais on Saturday at Loftus Versfeld in a Champions Cup match (3pm kick-off), and while the competition is now meaningless to them, the match is of utmost importance. Rugby followers around the globe are nonplussed that a team that are in fourth place on the United Rugby Championship points table are currently winless across all competitions since beating Benetton in a URC game on October 25 last year. Jake White and his assistants have had their say, and Gans has spoken about the Bulls’ predicament from the players’ point of view.…