Innholdsfortegnelse for 2025-02-14 i Star

Volvo confirms its intent to refine operations, decrease number of local dealerships VOLVO Cars South Africa’s bold shift towards electric vehicles (EVs) has stirred up controversy, with workers’ representatives yesterday strongly opposing the company’s announcement of a restructuring plan that includes reducing its dealership network. This strategic shift, meant to bolster Volvo’s position as the top-selling electric vehicle brand in the country, has raised concerns about job security among employees. Volvo is reportedly refining its operations, including adjustments to its marketing and commercial strategy, which will strengthen how Volvo vehicles are positioned and retailed through the dealer network as the top-selling EV brand in South Africa. Volvo confirmed its intent to refine operations, indicating that the number of local dealerships would decrease, although it did not specify the extent of…

Finance Minister, Enoch Godongwana will deliver South Africa’s 2025 National Budget Speech on 19 February 2025 against the backdrop of persistent economic challenges and a constrained fiscal environment. Balancing growth and fiscal sustainability Despite the initial optimism following the formation of the Government of National Unity (GNU), South Africa’s economy remains constrained. The key theme for this year’s budget will likely be balancing expenditure and revenue in a low-growth environment, without the ability to significantly raise taxes or increase debt. A major focus will be fiscal consolidation, ensuring that our debt to Gross Domestic Product (GDP) levels stabilise over the next three years while managing expenses such as the public sector wage bill. Government must tread a fine line between maintaining essential spending and avoiding excessive reliance on borrowing. Driving…

South32 has disclosed plans to curtail capital expenditure across its South African aluminium operations while preparing for an uptick over the upcoming year. This announcement follows the company’s successful receipt of approvals from the South African Competition Commission to divest its Metalloys manganese alloy smelter, which was previously placed on care and maintenance since 2020. “In Q4 FY24, South Africa Manganese entered into a binding agreement to divest the Metalloys manganese alloy smelter. South African competition approval of the transaction was received in Q2 FY25,” South32 said on Thursday. The company expects this transaction to complete before June. South32’s South African manganese production for the interim period to December 2024 decreased by 3% to slightly above 1 million wet metric tons. During the period, South32 reduced use of higher cost…

Sibanye-Stillwater has confirmed that its long-serving CEO, Neal Froneman, will retire effective 30 September 2025, heralding a significant leadership transition within the multinational mining and metals processing group. Richard Stewart, currently the Chief Regional Officer for the Southern Africa region, has been appointed as CEO designate from 1 March 2025, while continuing to manage his current responsibilities. Froneman’s retirement marks the end of a transformative era for Sibanye-Stillwater, which he has led since 2013. The decision to appoint Stewart as Froneman’s successor follows a rigorous succession planning process overseen by the Board, showcasing Sibanye-Stillwater’s commitment to effective leadership development. The board evaluated a range of candidates, both internal and external, ensuring that Stewart's extensive experience and grasp of the industry were paramount in this critical decision. Since joining Sibanye-Stillwater in…

The internet’s ability to uncover lookalikes knows no bounds, and the latest sensation capturing attention worldwide is Yilong Ma, a man whose resemblance to tech mogul Elon Musk is nothing short of astonishing. Once again, the realm of social media is abuzz with videos and images of Ma, sparking a blend of amusement and intrigue among viewers as they contemplate whether he is a genuine doppelgänger or a cleverly orchestrated AI trick. Ma, who has amassed an impressive following of over 1 million on TikTok and more than 400,000 on Instagram, has become a prominent figure in the digital landscape, often dressing in a suit that mirrors Musk’s style and sporting a hairstyle to match the billionaire himself. One of the video clips that sky-rocketed his popularity features Ma…

A metro cop has pleaded guilty to stabbing his girlfriend, Constable Yolanda Biancha Khuzwayo, 24, who was his colleague. Sizwe Ngema, 28, was sentenced to 20 years’ imprisonment for murder, one year for theft, and one year for reckless driving. The sentences will run concurrently. He stabbed a pregnant Khuzwayo on March 31, 2024, and posted a video of her taking her last breath. Ngema admitted in the Durban High Court yesterday that he intended to kill Khuzwayo. He stabbed her on her face, neck, shoulder, both breasts, and left upper arm. In his plea read by his counsel, advocate Simphiwe Mlotshwa, Ngema said they lived together with Khuzwayo in a flat located at Victoria Embankment in Durban’s CBD. He said their relationship became acrimonious, marred with abuse and…

Tensions within the Government of National Unity (GNU) ahead of next year’s local government elections were illustrated during a recent parliamentary debate, where Deputy Minister Sihle Zikalala (ANC) launched a scathing attack on his boss, Public Works Minister Dean Macpherson (DA). Zikalala, who was demoted to deputy minister after the formation of the GNU, accused Macpherson and the DA of trying to take credit for projects initiated by the previous administration. “They all speak as if everything is new; it is not in their nature to give credit where it’s due,” Zikalala said. “It is not in their nature to acknowledge work done by others, simply because they are obsessed with claiming easy victories out of desperation to woo South African voters,” he said during the debate. Zikalala also took…

ActionSA has tabled an urgent motion to address Gauteng’s failing traffic infrastructure, as widespread vandalism and dysfunctional traffic lights create safety hazards and traffic chaos. With the JRA requiring R70 million for repairs, the party demands immediate intervention from provincial leadership. This comes after the party’s oversight of both provincial and municipal roads, where they observed severe traffic congestion in Gauteng due to dysfunctional traffic lights and deteriorating infrastructure. In a statement, ActionSA highlighted key roads in the province that have become hijacking hotspots due to non-functioning traffic lights and streetlights. “These malfunctions and infrastructure issues pose severe risks to public safety, disrupt traffic flow, and significantly diminish the quality of life for our residents. The ongoing failures by both the local municipalities and provincial government to ensure the proper…

From humble beginnings in Katlehong to becoming pioneers of the Amapiano movement, Tumelo Eric Nedondwe, known as 'Ma-Ero' and Tumelo Sam Mabe, known as 'Force Reloaded' came together to form MFR Souls. While they’ve tasted success, the duo are not resting on their laurels. They have bold plans for this new year, including releasing new music and launching a record label. The duo met at an event in 2009, exchanged contacts, and bonded over their shared love for music. In 2013, they decided to form the group Ma-Ero & Force Reloaded, which was later shortened to MFR Souls. Ma-Ero's love for music was influenced by his father, who often bought records and played them on vinyl. “That's how I got the influence,” he recalls. Force Reloaded, on the other hand,…

If the Proteas are to be a successful bowling unit in the upcoming ICC Champions Trophy in Pakistan and the UAE, their pace bowlers will have to pull a rabbit out of a hat – as the conditions clearly favour the batters. Despite two losses against New Zealand and Pakistan in the Tri-Nation series – which is understandable, given that they played a younger team – the Proteas looked solid as a batting unit, with stand-out performances by Matthew Breetzke. Captain Temba Bavuma said it felt good to put up a decent knock “after some time”, scoring 82 off 96 balls (13x4) on Wednesday night at the National Stadium in Karachi before he was run out. The Proteas put up 352/5, but the target was successfully hunted down by Pakistan,…

Orlando Pirates coach Jose Riveiro says every competition is important, and his side are running their own race as they prepare to face Baroka FC in the Nedbank Cup round of 16 at the Orlando Stadium tomorrow (3pm kick-off). The Buccaneers have been in a heated league battle that has hit a few stumbling blocks along the way, and as they shift their focus to defend their cup crown, their chase for the domestic treble still has a pulse. Riveiro has already won the MTN8 competition earlier this season, and he is in search of a historic hat-trick of wins in the Nedbank Cup. The Spanish mentor has had to juggle between domestic and continental football, and as fixtures come thick and fast, he has welcomed the pressure and expectations…

The former, deceased, and disgraced CEO of what was Steinhoff, Markus Jooste, long blamed an Austrian businessman, Andreas Seifert, for the company’s demise, arguing that it was Seifert who instigated investigations in what has become known as South Africa’s biggest corporate scandal to date. However, a 7 000-page PwC investigation into the company, which was delisted in both Johannesburg and Frankfurt in October 2023 as the noose tightened around key players in the fraud, shows that a business deal between the two parties was misrepresented in Steinhoff’s books. Jooste claimed in Parliamentary hearings in September 2018 that it was lawsuits Seifert laid against the company after the joint venture collapsed that resulted in Steinhoff being investigated. Steinhoff, in several statements during 2017, initially denied any financial wrongdoing and also stated…

Although there have been some improvements in Transnet’s rail and port performance, this was unlikely to immediately set off big increases in production of commodities such as iron ore and manganese while Anglo Platinum was likely to benefit from its cost restructuring despite taking a knock in the year to December 2024. South African bulk commodity producers such as coal, manganese and iron ore miners have been battling reduced port and rail performance under Transnet. This has forced the miners to scale down production as ore stockpiles ratchet up. FNB wealth and investments head of investment research, Chantal Marx, told Business Report in an interview on Thursday that iron ore producers such as Kumba Iron Ore were also facing uncertainty to demand dynamics from less rosy Chinese growth dynamics. The…

Renowned local musician J’Something (real name Joao da Fonseca) and his wife Coco (real name Cordelia Fonseca) are one of Mzansi’s favourite couples. The pair, who often share romantic and posts on social media, have been inseparable since they got married back in 2015. They are also renowned for their love of food, with them even opening the popular eatery, Artistry, in Sandton in March 2024. In a bid to celebrate their union as well as their passion for food this Valentine’s Day, the Fonseca’s are hosting l the Lover’s Rock Food and Music Picnic on Saturday, February 15, in Joburg. The Mi Casa lead singer recently took to Facebook to announce that the event is also a way to celebrate their milestone anniversary. “This is a moment curated…

The African Transformation Movement (ATM) and analysts have cast doubt on the government’s claim that the Presidential Youth Employment Initiative (PYEI) has created over 1.5 million jobs since its inception in 2020. Deputy Minister in the Presidency Nonceba Mhlauli recently revealed that the PYEI had created 1.57 million job opportunities, citing a progress report compiled by the government. President Cyril Ramaphosa launched the PYEI in 2020 to combat youth unemployment, currently at 45.5%. The government aims to solve this crisis, but the ATM and analysts remain unconvinced about the initiative’s effectiveness. The party demanded transparency and accountability from the ANC-led Government of National Unity (GNU), questioning the credibility of the report. “We recognise the importance of youth employment in addressing the pressing challenges of unemployment and underemployment in our nation.…

Falling in love is unlike any emotion known to mankind. You put your best foot forward, you spend hours on the phone with this person, you feel energised, you skip responsibilities, you ignore your friends. It’s like your world has shifted in ways you’ve never experienced. You can’t wait to see the person again. It just feels so right. Your heart skips a beat or the tingle you feel just thinking about your next encounter. The adrenaline. The insecurity when texts are not answered fast enough. There’s an unexplainable magnetic connection that brings joy, ecstasy, uncertainty and anxiety, all at once. A rollercoaster. Sometimes chaos. Think about it. This is not healthy. And if he says that he will love you to death, make sure you run for the hills.…

Experience Soul Therapy — a celebration of timeless elegance and nostalgia, inspired by 90s deep house music. This exclusive gathering is designed for those who appreciate the finer things in life — offering a chance to slow down, savour, and relive the magic that shaped your youth. In a fast-paced world filled with endless demands, pausing to catch our breath enables us to rediscover our true selves, realign our priorities, and savour the moment. In moments of calm, imagination thrives, tension fades away, and genuine wellness is cultivated. Just like a captivating tune requires breaks to achieve balance, our lives benefit from moments of contemplation to recharge, gain insight, and find direction. In a world that moves at breakneck speed, The Slow Life ethos invites you to pause, step away…

Mamelodi Sundowns coach Miguel Cardoso has vowed that his team will be playing with full commitment when hosting Limpopo ABC Motsepe League champions Mpheni Home Defenders in a Nedbank Cup last-16 match at the Lucas Moripe Stadium on Sunday (3pm kick-off). The Limpopo outfit are the only amateur side left in the competition. But Cardoso has promised to show them respect, even though they compete in a third-tier competition. “We have big respect for every opponent, and must fight to get a result. We need to perform at the highest level to get a result,” Cardoso told the media at Thursday’s press conference in Sandton. “If you fail to pay attention to what your opponent does in 90 minutes, then you can suffer or leave with a moment you do…

If they haven’t done so with a string of unpopular executive orders in the past month, which have had a tremendous impact on the globe’s geo-political stability, the Americans really peeved off the world – well, the rugby one at least – when they decided this week to sanction the scrum in their league. Major League Rugby (MLR) made the rather odd choice of tinkering with the laws, trialling new decrees in an attempt to limit the set-piece in their upcoming season. Knock the ball on or forward pass into touch? Line-out option only. Do the same when over the tryline? Drop-out. Failure to use it or lose it? Free-kick; and the same result if a team fail to take advantage of their maul. The decision to do so by…

Kaizer Chiefs coach Nasreddine Nabi said that he wants to protect his youngsters, and that’s why he’s starting to blend them with the experienced players. Nabi has his job cut out for him at Chiefs. He’s expected to rebuild the team, while grinding out the results in order to end the club’s 10-year barren run. He has, however, struggled to help the team find consistency as they have blown hot and cold, including missing out on the Carling Knockout, while they are sixth on the Premiership standings. However, there’s been a huge resurgence of youngsters as Mfundo Vilakazi (19), Mduduzi Shabalala (21), Samkelo Zwane (22), and Wandile Duba (20) have all shone. Against Stellenbosch last Friday, Nabi opted for a more mature approach as experienced players played a leading role,…

FutureCoal launched its Southern Africa Chapter on Thursday, with Seriti Resources CEO Mike Teke appointed as its inaugural chairman, marking a significant milestone for the coal industry in Southern Africa. This initiative brings together four leading coal-rich nations: South Africa, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, and Botswana, which collectively possess an estimated 150 billion tons of coal reserves, cementing their status as major players in the global coal landscape. The new Chapter aims to build on FutureCoal’s commitment to champion sustainable transformation across the entire coal value chain. By uniting industry leaders, governments, and international partners, it seeks to establish consistent policies and strategies that promote the responsible and sustainable use of coal—an essential resource in sectors such as power generation, heavy industries, critical minerals, and hydrogen production. “Launching the inaugural FutureCoal…

The South African government is currently considering further tax increases on alcoholic beverages, ostensibly to combat alcohol abuse. At first glance, this might seem like a logical and well-intended initiative. However, as with many simplistic solutions to complex problems, history has shown that so-called sin taxes are not only ineffective but often make the problem worse. Rather than reducing alcohol abuse, this policy is far more likely to cause greater harm. It creates what is known as the Cobra Effect, where a supposed “solution” exacerbates the original problem or creates unforeseen complications. What Is the Cobra Effect? The Cobra Effect originates from colonial India, when the British government offered a bounty for killing cobra snakes to reduce the number of these deadly reptiles. Clever locals soon realized that breeding cobras…

British American Tobacco (BAT) made a profit in 2024 versus a loss the previous year, driven by the phasing of its smokeless products and benefits of investment in the US, tied with the unwind of wholesaler inventory movements. Dividend growth for the year to December 31 was 2% to 240.24 pence, with a £900 million (R20.79 billion) share buy-back that was planned for 2025. Profit from operations came to £2.74bn versus a £15.75bn loss in 2023, with 2024 including a provision of £6.2bn for a proposed settlement in Canada, while 2023 was negatively impacted by one-off impairments largely in the US. Revenue fell 5.2%, driven by the sale of the group’s businesses in Russia and Belarus in September 2023 and translational foreign exchange headwinds. Organic revenue was up 1.3%, driven…

On Valentine’s Day, many couples find themselves pondering over the perfect gift that expresses their affection. In our increasingly digital world, the idea of sharing passwords and other private data may appear as a gesture of trust and intimacy. However, experts from Kaspersky warn that this seemingly innocent act could expose vulnerabilities in a relationship, blurring the lines between love and control. In a time where technology plays an integral role in how couples connect, nearly half of the respondents (47%) in Kaspersky’s annual State of Stalkerware report confessed their discomfort over their partners potentially violating their digital privacy. This statistic serves as a grim reminder that while love often inspires trust, it can also become a pathway to invasive control. Trust vs control The complexities of modern relationships are…

Gauteng Education MEC Matome Chiloane has given assurances that the department is working hard to resolve the issue of “high-pressure” schools amid reports of worsening overcrowding in the province’s schools. The recent reports come after the DA found Cosmo Junior Primary School in Johannesburg reportedly has 92 Grade 1 learners in a single classroom. “We remain committed to transparency and ensuring every learner is placed in a suitable learning environment. We are on course to alleviate pressure from all identified schools. “Schools are proceeding with the self-build classroom project and new schools will also be introduced across the province accordingly,” said Chiloane. Gauteng Education Department (GDE) spokesperson Steve Mabona said the ongoing reports of high-pressure schools are misleading as the public was informed about this issue. In addition, the department…

As the 2025 academic year commenced this week at universities across the country, thousands of NSFAS beneficiaries are finding themselves buried in debt they cannot repay. Many students were unable to register due to outstanding fees, forcing some to abandon their studies altogether. This also affected the “missing middle” students who do not qualify for NSFAS due to the tough economic conditions. Graduates, now in the job market, are also feeling the impact of being unable to secure employment because universities are withholding their qualification certificates over unpaid debt. With rising unemployment and no clear solutions in place, the student funding crisis is not just an education issue but a growing economic disaster. In 2024, former Higher Education Minister Blade Nzimande reported that over 600,000 students in South Africa were…

A North West-based 64-year-old woman is languishing in abject poverty and demanding answers from First National Bank (FNB) after scammers allegedly transferred her R2 million pension without her knowledge. Speaking to IOL, Keneilwe (not her real name but her full details have been given to FNB) said when she resigned after working as a professional nurse for more than three decades, she had hoped that she would invest some of her money into a transport business. At the time of her resignation, the mother of four told IOL that she was involved in a romantic relationship with a man in his 40s, who had introduced himself as “Prince Jomo Kenyatta” – insisting that he was named after Jomo Kenyatta, the first president of independent Kenya. Since last year, IOL has…

Kaizer Chiefs coach Nasreddine Nabi entered Nedbank’s auditorium yesterday with a serious look, wearing his trademark baseball cap, club tracksuit and sunglasses. An external observer would be forgiven for thinking he didn’t want to be there. Such has been the tough start he’s had at the club, he’s had to defend himself. Chiefs are enduring a 10-year trophy drought, and Nabi is regarded as their messiah. But he’s yet to live up to that billing as his team have blown hot and cold. And so, given the fact that this was a press conference for the Nedbank Cup competition, media hounds were expected to pin him down on whether he’ll win the trophy. But he handled the flurry of questions that were thrown at him with aplomb. The Tunisian dropped…

Despite dominating the Stormers in the scrums, the Bulls are not getting carried away – and are wary of the Sharks pack in Saturday’s United Rugby Championship showdown in Pretoria (5pm start). The starting front row of Jan-Hendrik Wessels, Johan Grobbelaar and Wilco Louw won a few early penalties in the set-piece, and they continued the onslaught when another Springbok in Gerhard Steenekamp replaced Wessels in the 26th minute. Louw in particular made it a tough afternoon for Stormers No 1 Sti Sithole, but Steenekamp also largely got the edge over Bok stalwart Frans Malherbe. “I think it was a good performance,” Steenekamp said in a typically understated fashion this week. “I still think there are a few things that we can be better at. But as a forward pack,…

Orlando Pirates have a score to settle, but they cannot afford to look past Baroka FC when the two sides clash in the Nedbank Cup last 16 at the Orlando Stadium on Saturday (kick-off 3pm). Battered and bruised, the Buccaneers will have Bakgakga standing in their way as they continue in their quest to defend a competition they have won for the past two seasons. This will be the first time Jose Riveiro and his troops take to the field after they were emphatically taken to the cleaners with a 4-1 loss against Mamelodi Sundowns last weekend in their Premiership clash. The Sea Robbers will hope the change of competition will bring good omen as they passed their first assignment against Richards Bay FC (3-1) with flying colours last month.…

BONGINKOSI Makume is not fazed by the prospects of having to shut out Orlando Pirates’ marauding attack that includes the excitingly talented Relebohile Mofokeng and Evidence Makgopa – his former teammate. Once linked with a move to the Buccaneers, the defender – who turns out for Motsepe Foundation outfit Baroka FC – is treating the Nedbank Round of 16 clash like he does any other match. Such are the benefits of experience. At 29, Makume is one of Baroka’s senior players, and he would love nothing better than to send the defending champions tumbling out of the competition at this early stage. “It would be very nice to knock them out. We have plenty of youngsters here looking for the spotlight and the opportunity to be seen. I just hope…