Innholdsfortegnelse for 2025-02-05 i Star

Anglo American, De Beers and Sasol have signed a groundbreaking joint development agreement that should in time result in the development of up to 400 million litres of locally manufactured biodiesel for use in mining. The three groups signed the agreement at the Investing in African Mining Indaba on Tuesday, which is being held at the International Conference Centre in Cape Town. The plan is to make biodiesel from an invasive species Moringa and the tobacco variety Solaris plant, on land that has been degraded by mining, with the vegetable oil to be processed at Sasol’s Natref refinery in Sasolburg. Sasol business and technology development director Dr Sureshen Pillay said the three groups were operating in an environment where South Africa, and the rest of the world, was transitioning…

Mining is critical to South Africa’s economy. In the first three quarters of 2024 the sector contributed an added value of approximately R448.4 billion (6.8%) to the country's Gross Domestic Product (GDP) underscoring its importance to the economy. That is in nominal terms. Its historic significance as the main cog to SA’s industrialisation trajectory cannot be overstated - the more reason that government has placed this industry at the core of its efforts to transform the local economy. Over the years, the sector has undergone significant changes, moving away from being an isolated sector to becoming integrated into the wider economy, making it more imperative to transform the sector. And try as some might to disagree, it is irrefutable that South Africa’s mining sector has vastly transformed 30 years into…

Africa GreenCo is the only regional buyer and trader of renewable energy in Southern Africa with current operations in South Africa, Namibia, Zambia and Zimbabwe. It will be extending its operations to include Angola, Botswana, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Eswatini, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique and Tanzania. GreenCo provides customised Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs) for independent power producers and bespoke solutions for corporate off-takers. Their expertise lies in forecasting energy production and in trading, along with their involvement in the Southern African Power Pool (SAPP), ensures a reliable and stable energy supply for clients with over 1 terawatt-hours (TWh) traded. A terawatt-hour is equal to one trillion watts for one hour. "The synergy between renewable energy and mining in Southern Africa has never been more critical. We have the…

South African equity markets bounced back from a three-month losing streak in January with the FTSE/JSE Capped SWIX Index up 2.6% month on month (m/m). Miners had held the local bourse back in the fourth quarter of 2024 at -10% quarter on quarter, but were responsible for most of the January gains, rising 16% m/m, particularly the precious metals miners (gold miners +33% m/m and platinum miners +20% m/m). Luxury conglomerate, Richemont, which was up 31% m/m, was another star performer for the JSE, bolstered by a trading update that showed revenue growing 10% year on year (y/y) in the most recent quarter, well ahead of expectations (+1% y/y). Cellphone companies MTN rose 25% m/m and Vodacom, up 8% m/m, were another bright spot on the local bourse as…

A growing chorus of organisations has come out to condemn AfriForum’s lobbying of US President Donald Trump over South Africa’s land expropriation bill. The controversy erupted after Trump announced that he would be cutting off aid to South Africa pending an investigation into the alleged confiscation of land from white farmers. Trump announced that he would be suspending the US President’s global Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) program. AfriForum has since claimed that the newly signed Expropriation Act seeks to take land by force from white owners, sparking criticism of SA by the US government. Save South Africa, a civil society organisation, has been scathing in its criticism of AfriForum, accusing the lobby group of putting the lives of those living with HIV/AIDS at risk. “The irresponsible statement by…

Former minister of State Security Agency, Bongani Bongo, 47, has appeared in the Cape Town Magistrate’s Court, following his arrest for alleged corruption charges. He was granted R5 000 bail yesterday and will be back in court on March 4. Bongo is being re-tried for corruption after he was previously acquitted by impeached judge John Hlophe. He is accused of offering a bribe to evidence leader in Parliament’s Eskom inquiry, Ntuthuzelo Vanara, in 2017, and is accused of contravening the Prevention and Combating of Corrupt Activities Act 12 of 2004 (“PRECCA”). Hawks spokesperson Katlego Mogale said: “It is reported that during September to October 2017, the accused approached a member of the then Portfolio Committee on Public Enterprises to allegedly arrange a meeting to prevent the next sitting where the…

The men responsible for the brutal 1994 attacks on Alison Botha are back behind bars after the Minister of Correctional Services, Dr Pieter Groenewald, revoked their parole. In a statement issued by his office yesterday it was said that Frans du Toit and Theuns Kruger were back in jail after their parole was cancelled. “This decision follows thorough evaluation and consultation of legal opinions. This decision was made in accordance with the Correctional Services Act, which empowers the minister to cancel parole for individuals sentenced to life imprisonment,” his office said. “The minister's primary consideration is the imperative of protecting and securing the community, particularly in instances where acts of violence against women and children have been committed,” the statement read. Tania Koen, Alison’s lawyer, meanwhile said: “Today is a…

THREE disgruntled ANC North West members are heading to the Supreme Court of Appeal (SCA) over the disputed provincial conference held in 2022. Since the conference in August 2022, Lebogang Medupe, Sello Molefe and Itumeleng Moswane have been fighting the provincial executive committee (PEC) led by chairperson Nono Maloyi, his deputy Lazzy Mokgosi, provincial secretary Louis Diremelo, deputy provincial secretary Viola Motsumi and provincial treasurer Sello Lehari. In their court papers, they argue that the term of the office of the ANC North West interim provincial committee (IPC) appointed in July 2019 had expired at the time of the convening of the provincial conference and the election of conference committees. Medupe, Molefe and Moswane want the SCA to determine whether there was a hostile takeover of the conference by the…

The Gauteng High Court, Johannesburg, has firmly rejected the demands of an unemployed woman seeking interim maintenance from her divorcing husband while living with her lover, who provides her with financial support and credit cards. The court said it would be contrary to justice and equity and would further be against public policy for the woman to be entitled to collect support from her husband, as well as from her “putative” second “husband”. The woman turned to court after her husband stopped paying maintenance pending the finalisation of their divorce. He reasoned that she is now being taken care of by her lover, who provides her with everything she needs and he thus no longer needs to provide for her. The woman also wanted her husband to contribute towards her…

The Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) is keeping a tight leash on dog fighting rings. In five days, the society’s Cape of Good Hope branch inspectors arrested three men during a bust in two raids in Eerste River and Ottery, Cape Town. SPCA spokesperson Belinda Abraham said they were in collaboration with the City of Cape Town’s Law Enforcement Animal Control Unit. “We are alarmed. Two major dogfighting operations have been uncovered just 30km apart — one in Ottery and another in Eerste River. These are only the second and third full-scale rings we’ve found since 2021, when we raided an organised dogfight in progress in Atlantis. “Most reports involve street fighting, but these discoveries suggest a much larger, more organised problem. This is likely just…

Manchester City signed Nico Gonzalez from Porto in the biggest move from Premier League clubs on Monday's transfer deadline day, while Bayern Munich's Mathys Tel headed to Tottenham on loan. City's midfield frailties without Ballon d'Or winner Rodri, who is out for the season due to a serious knee injury, were exposed in a 5-1 thrashing at Arsenal on Sunday. Pep Guardiola's men find themselves in a battle just to qualify for next season's Champions League, with the defending champions sitting fifth in the Premier League, 15 points behind leaders Liverpool. City were also in need of reinforcements for a blockbuster Yefa Champions League play-off round tie against holders Real Madrid later this month. Former Barcelona midfielder Gonzalez, 23, arrives for a reported £50 million (about R1.16 billion). "This is…

The Lions have been stretched thin at flyhalf this season, so the news this week of the departure to Japan of the versatile Sanele Nohamba, who can play both at scrumhalf and flyhalf, will have come as a shock to many. Young Sam Francis has had to shoulder a heavy burden at pivot, and has stood up valiantly to the challenge. But his lack of experience has been exposed at times ‒ especially in the Jukskei Derby against the Bulls. But that is only a minor blip in an otherwise solid campaign, and one which coach Ivan van Rooyen is willing to overlook. The 21-year-old, who has shown that he has all the tools to be great, with his fine display in the mauling of the Dragons a prime example.…

In the short history of the SA20, the Sunrisers Eastern Cape have shown they know when to win. It may sound simplistic, but there’s an art to peaking at the right time and being able to handle the unique pressure of knockout cricket. Well, they now again find themselves at a point where defeat on Wednesday evening to Joburg Super Kings at Centurion (5.30pm start) will cause their elimination, with all wriggle room vanquished. It is imperative that they learn quickly from their inconsistencies that have seen them either blow the opposition away or be flattened themselves. It is slightly perturbing that even at this late stage of the competition that the Sunrisers’ top-order continue to misfire. Englishman Zak Crawley was jettisoned after a string of failures, but his…

Mounting pressure to accommodate 1.2 million learners by 2030, report calls for transformation of education system Education reform is key in South Africa to grow its economy, according to the World Bank’s 15th South Africa Economic Update released on Tuesday. “South Africa is currently facing a severe learning crisis, as its education outcomes are too low compared to the country’s level of development and the resources invested in this sector by the state,” it said. The organisation has recommended that transforming the basic education sector by improving the quality of learning from an early age can drive inclusive growth in South Africa and reshape the nation’s economic future. It said enhancing the quality of learning from the earliest stages can be a catalyst for inclusive growth. The report underscores that…

China’s 15% tariff on coal shipped from the US will likely leave the global market for the energy commodity precarious in terms of supply, pricing and marketing, but could also provide an additional opportunity for smaller suppliers to the Asian giant such as South Africa. US President Donald Trump imposed a broad-based 10% tariff on Chinese imports last weekend, with the new measures coming into effect this week. This has prompted China to impose a 15% tariff on coal and Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) imported from the United states in addition to a 10% tariff on oil imports from the world’s biggest economy. Although South Africa is a small exporter of coal to China, it has become a big player on the international coal market. The Richards Bay Coal Terminal…

Power – or the lack thereof – has been a hot-button issue in South Africa for the past few years. Every South African knows the story: ageing infrastructure meant that the grid took strain, loadshedding kicked in, business operations ground to a halt, and profitability took a nosedive…all seemingly faster than the speed of light. Cut to 2025 and after months of no loadshedding, the country’s favourite bugbear seems to be once again making an appearance. As a result, reliable electricity remains a hot topic.The recently-announced tariff hikes will only compound this frustration. However, there is still a greater sense of cautious optimism surrounding the future, driven by the rapid expansion of the renewable energy sector. Four renewable energy trends that we can expect to see in 2025: Flexibility switches…

Douw Steyn, the insurance giant responsible for reimagining and revolutionising the insurance landscape, has passed away at the age of 72. Steyn will be remembered as an exceptional entrepreneur who built a global business of immense scale across seven countries, and a visionary with a deep-seated commitment to South Africa and its people. In 1975, Steyn founded Steyn’s Insurance Brokers in Johannesburg. He saw the potential of a monthly policy that covered both cars as well as home contents, and promoted this type of policy via door-to-door leaflet distribution campaigns. After operating in South Africa for a number of years, Steyn set his sights on the US market. However he returned to South Africa in 1985 after obtaining an insurance licence that allowed him to pioneer a global first –…

Shares in MultiChoice surged nearly 6% after it announced that the ambitious R55 billion buyout of the South African private broadcaster. by French media giant, Canal+, is being finalised. The shares rose to an intraday high of R113.22, closing the day 2.96% higher at R110.17. This transaction represents a pivotal shift in the media market and raises crucial questions about ownership and empowerment in a competitive industry. According to the companies on Tuesday, the envisioned post-transaction structure will likely be enacted by the MultiChoice Group on or shortly before the Closing Date, ensuring compliance with the relevant restrictions on foreign ownership while safeguarding MultiChoice's Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment (BBBEE) credentials. This strategic approach aims to navigate not only local laws but also the intricate landscape of corporate responsibility in South…

Khanyi Mbau has publicly announced a split from her long-time Zimbabwean boyfriend, Kudzai Mushonga, explaining that she has finally found the courage to leave. The reality TV star confirmed the news in an Instagram post. She also removed all of their pictures on her account. “He was a good guy but he did some bad things, he tried everything he could to make it up to me. I did most of my grieving while we were together. I finally got the courage to leave. And of course I wish him the best,” she wrote. Mbau and Mushonga have had their fair share of on-and-offs in their five-year relationship. In 2021, IOL reported that the media personality left her boyfriend in Dubai and returned to South Africa. It was later revealed…

Parliamentarians from different parties yesterday ripped into the country’s banks, questioning their conduct, preferential treatment, lack of transformation, high fees, and arbitrary decisions on closing accounts without reason. The South African Reserve Bank (SARB), its Prudential Authority Institute, the Banking Association South Africa (BASA), Financial Sector Conduct Authority (FSCA), Standard Bank, FNB, Absa, Investec, Nedbank, and Capitec attended the joint sitting of the standing committee on finance and trade, industry and competition portfolio committee to engage the finance sector on issues of transformation, and related matters raised by consumers. MK Party MP Sanele Mwali said they wanted to raise concerns that the giants in the financial sector “perpetuate unfairness and neo-apartheid systems of racist practices post-1994”. “Why is it that the banks have not closed certain accounts for certain clients…

A security officer is in ICU after being shot three times while pursuing armed robbers involved in a deadly cash-in-transit heist, which left one woman dead and several others injured. The robbers had bombed a Fidelity ADT van on the N2, near the NPC cement factory, on Tuesday morning. Steffen Govender, 44, a tactical officer for Prosecure, was stationed at the Mobeni Heights off-ramp, Chatsworth, in Durban when the suspects who were making their getaway shot at him. He sustained a gunshot wound to his right hand. The suspects were travelling in a white Mercedes Benz and were shooting their way out of the area from the sunroof of the vehicle. Despite being shot, Govender bravely chased after the suspects to Silverglen Drive. During this time he sustained two more…

THE South African Reserve Bank (SARB) deflected questions relating to the liquidation of Ithala Bank when it appeared before Parliament yesterday. The bank was among the institutions that attended the joint sitting of the standing committee on finance and trade, industry and competition portfolio committee to engage the finance sector on issues of transformation, and other elated matters that are raised by consumers. MK Party MP Des van Rooyen noted that Parliament had resolved that the Prudential Authority should ensure that Ithala Bank was supported to become a fully-fledged bank. Van Rooyen said the Prudential Authority had instead snubbed the suggested parliamentary proposal. “Can you give reasons, what is your take on the resolution of Parliament. It is important for us to understand that,” he said. Van Rooyen also said…

THE Auditor-General of South Africa (AGSA) has been named one of the world’s top employers by the Top Employers Institute. The entity with headquarters in Lynnwood Manor, Pretoria, and offices around the country, announced that it has been certified as a 2025 top employer by the institute, which is a global authority on excellence in employee-human resource practices. “This latest accolade puts the AGSA among the elite 2 400 organisations globally who are making a tangible difference in over 125 countries, impacting the lives of more than 13 million employees,” the A-G’s office said. Top Employers Institute chief executive officer David Plink congratulated this year’s certified employers and noted that to become a Global Top Employer signifies an organisation’s commitment to globally aligned excellent people practices. AGSA chief people officer…

THE estranged wife of an attorney is facing a 30-day suspended sentence after she badmouthed her husband in a letter of complaint sent to the Legal Practice Council (the watchdog over the legal profession) in which she levelled many accusations against him, including that he is a “bully”. The divorce proceedings have been marred by acrimony. One of the ways in which this acrimony has been expressed is through the wife publishing allegations regarding the alleged impropriety of the husband in relation to his professional and personal conduct. The husband earlier obtained an order against his wife and her new lover following their relentless campaign against him, which involves repeatedly litigating against him and attempting to malign him. The court at the time ordered that the pair may not badmouth…

As the Betway Premiership heats up, Orlando Pirates are eager to maintain their momentum following a thrilling victory in the Soweto Derby, with their next challenge set against Sekhukhune United. The Buccaneers, who last lifted the league trophy in 2012, are on a 13-year quest to wrestle back the throne from defending champions, Mamelodi Sundowns. The upcoming clash at the Old Peter Mokaba Stadium on Wednesday, scheduled for a 7.30pm kick-off, is crucial in their pursuit of the coveted title. Currently standing second on the league table with 30 points, Pirates are determined to keep pace with Sundowns, who have established a commanding six-point lead after their recent triumph over Golden Arrows. This has put pressure on the Buccaneers, who possess one game in hand and must capitalise on this…

SUPERSPORT Park will host the repeat of the 2023 SA20 second semi-final tonight, an encounter between Sunrisers Eastern Cape (SEC) and Joburg Super Kings (JSK). This time around, the contest will be under a different banner as the knockout stage of the tournament has undergone a slight makeover in that the tournament now has two qualifiers and an eliminator with tonight's encounter being an eliminator. Despite the slight change in structure, the stakes remain the same as one of the two teams will be knocked out of the tournament tonight. Being the victors two years ago, courtesy of Aiden Markram's first and and only T20 century, the Sunrisers Eastern Cape will fancy their chances tonight against Faf du Plessis’ Super Kings. However, Du Plessis has much more important things to…

The upcoming Tshwane Derby promises to be a gripping encounter as SuperSport United prepares to take on their crosstown rivals, Mamelodi Sundowns, in the Betway Premiership this Wednesday at the Lucas Moripe Stadium, with kick-off scheduled for 7.30pm. However, SuperSport head coach Gavin Hunt has expressed disappointment over the unavailability of new loanee Lebohang Maboe, who recently joined the club from Sundowns. In a twist of fate that has irked the SuperSport camp, Maboe, who made a deadline-day switch and made a promising debut against AmaZulu, will not be eligible to compete against his parent club due to an agreement that prohibits players on loan from facing their home team. This ruling adds insult to injury for Hunt, who views Maboe as a pivotal addition to the squad. “It’s disappointing…

The Financial Sector Conduct Authority (FSCA) has told Parliament the lack of appropriate information and transparency on banking fees and customer ethics were areas of concern subject to an imminent report the regulator would release shortly on the banking sector as Parliamentarians went for the jugular with lack of transformation and apparent favouritism. Before Parliament on Tuesday were leading banks, FNB, Nedbank, Standard Bank, Investec, and Capitec, as well as regulatory bodies including the SA Reserve Bank, Prudential Authority, the FSCA, and the Banking Association South Africa (Basa). These banking participants said that while transformation was happening in the sector, significant gaps were identified in the evolution of the industry. Parliament members sought clarity on several issues, including legislation regarding consumer protection that appeared to be inadequate, greylisting and…

Diamond mining countries Angola, Botswana and Namibia have launched the seeds of a fightback against the inroads that synthetic, laboratory grown diamonds are making on the global diamond market, and it has nothing to do with traditional marketing campaigns. “It is not a marketing campaign, but a campaign to tell the truth,” De Beers Botswana Chief Executive Officer Al Cook said in a discussion about the economic benefits for African countries of diamond mining, at the Investing in African Mining Indaba held in Cape Town on Tuesday. An online search reveals that synthetic diamonds equal to one quarter of total natural diamond production was produced globally last year. Synthetic diamonds have had the effect of lowering diamond prices and have become competition for diamond miners in markets where consumers have…

In South Africa we have lived through an “energy and mineral complex", which entails that the extraction and processing of mineral resources, for energy production like coal, oil, and uranium, are deeply intertwined with the broader energy sector; most notably recently highlighting the significant role of mining in the country's energy production and overall economy. While South Africa’s high dependence on fossil fuels makes it particularly vulnerable to the emerging energy transition, it’s abundance of untapped renewable energy potential means the country is also well placed to benefit from the global transition to a low carbon economy. Driven by deteriorating energy security, the exacerbated impacts of climate change, and a concern about livelihoods in the fossil fuel sector, the just energy transition has become the pollical- economy dialogue flavour of…

Although Pick n Pay and Boxer returned what parent company Pick n Pay described on Tuesday as “steady like-for-like sales improvement from the Pick n Pay segment and another strong performance from Boxer Retail” for the 45 weeks to January 5, the retailer continues to face significant challenges. In trading updates, Pick n Pay, said group sales for the period gained 3.6%, with Boxer being the star in the portfolio and reporting gains in sales of 11.4%. On a like-for-like basis, stripping out changes in store numbers, sales overall were up 3.3%, with Boxer achieving a 6.7% gain. Pick n Pay shares soared 4.82% to R29.33 in late afternoon trade on Tuesday, while Boxer, which was spun out as a separate listing on the JSE at the end of last…

South African singer-songwriter Shekhinah recently opened up about the monumental financial investment required to produce her highly awaited new album. Known for her dynamic pop and R&B sound, Shekhinah expressed a mix of pride and excitement on X, saying: “I’ve never in my life spent so much money on an album but I had such a beautiful time making it.” Despite the extensive financial commitment, the artist has kept much of the album’s details close to her chest. Fans have been left in suspense regarding the title, collaborators and a potential release date. The excitement on social media is palpable, with many followers asking for more information. Comments range from “We can’t wait,” to cautious optimism, as one user said: “Hit albums come organically without spending an arm and a…

The smorgasbord of stage productions coming up should keep the diaries of theatregoers pretty full over the next couple of weeks. The Suit will be returning to Theatre on the Square tonight, The Jungle Book and My Fair Lady will be staged at the Pieter Toerien Montecasino Main Theatre and The Teatro, Montecasino, respectively, from tomorrow. That said, below is a list of productions that are not to be missed this February. This production is not new to theatregoers. It’s been staged several times and makes a comeback at The Market Theatre following a limited run at The Baxter Theatre in Cape Town. Based on Njabulo Ndebele’s novel of the same title, this production has enjoyed critical success over the years. If you haven’t seen it yet, here’s what you…

There has been no explanation over the killing of two Rea Vaya bus drivers, who were gunned down in two separate incidents in Soweto on Monday evening. However, Joburg Mayor Dada Morero and his MMC for Transport, Kenny Kunene, have both expressed shock and condemned the fatal killing of the two drivers. This is as scores of Rea Vaya commuters were yesterday, left stranded after the bus service operator suspended its services due to the incidents. Gauteng police, in a statement, also confirmed that following the shootings, they are now investigating cases of murder. In the first incident, Lieutenant Colonel Mavela Masondo indicated that the driver had stopped at a robot along Wildchestnut Street in Protea when he was shot and killed by unknown suspects. “In the second incident at…

Two security guards from Security Consortium SA were fatally shot while on duty in Langa, Cape Town on Monday night. The delivery van, marked with the company’s insignia, was travelling the streets of Langa when unknown assailants fired shots at the vehicle, targeting the officers inside. Police spokesperson Captain FC van Wyk said Langa detectives registered two counts of murder following a shooting incident on Monday evening at about 6.26pm at Harry Gwala Street opposite the Langa taxi rank, where two males (security guards) aged 24 and 31 were shot and fatally wounded. “According to reports, the security guards were escorting a delivery vehicle and the last delivery was in Langa. On their way back to the circle, it is alleged that two unknown males shot at the white Nissan…

South African banks are facing heightened scrutiny following further allegations of discriminatory practices and arbitrary account closures, with calls for stricter regulations to ensure transparency and accountability in the sector. During parliamentary hearings on banking transformation, MK Party MP and former Eskom CEO Brian Molefe raised concerns about the continued dominance of the white minority in the financial sector, arguing that existing statistics mean little when banking practices remain exclusionary. “There is an unequal relationship between the banks and clients and yet legally banks can close bank accounts without justification,” said Molefe. Molefe said that banking was a public service and should be held accountable on the basis that they were granted a banking licence by the state. “Nobody can function in South Africa without a banking account. It is…

A group of Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) nationals took to the streets of Pretoria yesterday to express their outrage and frustration over the escalating conflict in eastern Congo. The protesters squarely blamed the Rwandan-backed M23 militia for the recent surge in violence. Rallying under the banner “Defense of the Nation”, they marched from Magnolia Park in Sunnyside to the Embassy of the European Union (EU), where they submitted their memorandum of grievances. The memorandum included a demand for an immediate end to all military and financial support to the Rwandan government, which was sparked by Rwanda’s alleged backing of the M23 militia linked to violence and instability in eastern Congo. They also called for targeted sanctions against Rwandan military leaders and political figures implicated in the conflict, and for…

The thrilling search for Raygun, the rogue baboon that captivated Pretoria East, might have successfully ended on Sunday, but locals continue to gush about their affection and admiration for the charismatic primate. The baboon roamed free for several days, sparking widespread speculation about its mysterious origins. After a nail-biting five-day search, Raygun was finally safely tracked to the picturesque Zwavelpoort Valley, located near Olympus, east of Pretoria. During the search the public was urged to report any sightings of Raygun by sending a pin drop to 082 719 5463. As Raygun continued his journey, he was spotted traversing Silverton and heading east, raising concerns that he might attempt to cross through the densely populated Mamelodi township. Despite concerns over Raygun’s journey, wildlife experts remained hopeful that he would follow the…

For the final year, the Metro FM Music Awards will be held in Mpumalanga on May 3, 2025, at Mbombela Stadium, and the nominees’ announcement event will take place on Thursday, February 27. Metro FM took to Mpumalanga this week to celebrate the start of the awards season with partners, key stakeholders, clients, and advertisers. Musician Basetsana Maluleka, popularly known as Bassie, performed at the launch, which took place at Hoyohoyo Angels View Graskop. In 2023, Bassie won her first Metro FM Music Award for Best Music Video for her collaboration "Izenzo" with Aymos. She told IOL that winning a Metro FM Music Award helped her career, as her booking fee has increased since winning the prestigious award. Entries for the Metro FM Music Awards 2025 closed on Sunday…

Harold Vorster is not a man of many words – clearly, he is someone who prefers to do his talking on the pitch. And that was again the way in which he fended off questions from the media – like he would opposing centres – when asked about the Bulls’ massive United Rugby Championship showdown with the Stormers in Cape Town on Saturday (2pm kick-off). The 31-year-old No 12 was part of the Lions squad that reached three consecutive Super Rugby finals, before a three-year stint in Japan with the Panasonic Wild Knights. But having decided to return to South Africa in 2021, Pretoria is his new home – a five-hour drive from his home town of Phalaborwa in Limpopo. And he has felt at home in the Bulls midfield,…

IT IS generally agreed that derbies are hard-fought encounters that can go either way. Very rarely is there an outright favourite when teams from the same city lock horns because the pride that is at stake ensures that both teams raise their game to levels often unexpected. We saw it last weekend when Kaizer Chiefs matched an on-form Orlando Pirates that was expected to play them off the park, the Buccaneers only winning the match at the death via a penalty goal. We have yet another derby on Wednesday when Mamelodi Sundowns host SuperSport United in a Betway Premiership tie that is often tightly-contested, while produces ample goals. Sundowns, the defending league champions who enjoy a six points lead atop the table from second-placed Pirates, will trot onto the pitch…

I seldom have time to watch Manchester United in action these days, but last week’s Europa League clash against FCSB caught my eye. Part of the reason I wanted to tune in was to see how erstwhile Kaizer Chiefs defender Siyabonga Ngezana would fare. The 27-year-old was lining up as a centre-back in a three-man FCSB (formerly Steaua Bucharest) defence in front of a packed National Arena stadium, with a capacity of over 55 000. It was a wonderful occasion for the European champions from the 1985-86 season, who are still the biggest club in Romania. What a stage for Ngezana, too, as he has stated previously that he is a big United fan. He was often criticised, sometimes unfairly, on social media during his Kaizer Chiefs stint, where he…