Innholdsfortegnelse for 2025-03-25 i Star

Economists on Monday said they believed that motorists were in for some relief next month buoyed by a stronger rand and lower international oil prices, with a big cut in the petrol price predicted for April. This will bring some reprieve to financially-constrained consumers after the South African Reserve Bank decided to leave interest rates unchanged at 7.5% per annum on the back of steadily rising inflation. Old Mutual Group chief economist, Johann Els, on Monday forecast a petrol price cut of around 85 cents a litre for next week. “At the moment, the daily recovery is running at 58 cents a litre. The running average for the month thus far is 87 cents per litre, because the daily is slightly lower than the running average the average will ease…

Energy experts yesterday welcomed Eskom announcing the addition 800MW to the grid from Kusile Unit 6, saying this marked a crucial step toward dealing with load shedding, which was surprisingly implemented at Stage 2 last week. Experts were also of the view that Kusile Unit 6 meant the completion of one of the country's largest infrastructure projects and a key milestone in Eskom’s strategic objective of adding 2 500MW of new capacity to the grid by the end of this month. Kusile Power Station will contribute a total of 4 800MW to the national grid once all units are fully operational, making it South Africa’s largest infrastructure project. “Its sister project, Medupi, will see its Unit 4 return 800MW by the end of April 2025 from an extended outage following…

THERE’s something broken about the current state of automation. From automated calls to bots that are limited by answers that are fed in advance, consumers are often left hanging without getting the assistance they need. This is probably worse for consumers who are served by institutions that only exist online. This begs the question, are we ready to do without buildings and physical spaces in the pursuit of digital-only businesses? No one can deny that access to banks via apps has added more time for busy professionals and improved productivity for some. Many who are unable to move around have better access to services, thanks to online access. Businesses on the other hand have managed to save by avoiding rental costs and other overhead costs that are related to physical…

Raubex Group’s share price increased over 8% on the JSE Monday morning after it predicted a 15% to 25% increase in headline earnings per share (HEPS) and a stronger pipeline of new contracts, including the repair of the Parliament building. The group said included in its pipeline of new work was the recent award for the repair and upgrade of the Parliament buildings in Cape Town, valued at R1.98 billion. “This project will be a key project for our Commercial Building business in the new financial year,” Raubex directors said in a trading statement Monday. Earnings a share were expected to be between 590.1 cents and 637.3 cents, while HEPS was expected to be between 547.7 cents and 595.4 cents (2024: 476.3 cents) for the year to February 28, the…

In an industry often dominated by male voices, Esjay Jones is a powerful force reshaping the landscape of music production. A Grammy-featured record producer, songwriter and entrepreneur, Jones has spent over two decades carving her niche in a sector where women are typically underrepresented. Her impressive resume includes collaborations with acclaimed artists like Dave Navarro, Sean Kingston and Jeffree Star, a testament to her innovative approach to music-making. Born in Durban, her early exposure to music came from her time spent in church, where she learned to play a wide array of instruments. She first tasted success with her band, Stealing Love Jones, achieving chart-topping hits and experiencing both the thrills and challenges of the music industry. In 2009, Jones relocated to the US, diving head-first into music production and…

In a breakthrough under Operation Vala Umgodi, Limpopo police have arrested 33 undocumented foreign nationals and three illegal miners, delivering a significant blow to illegal mining and immigration violations in the region. Limpopo police spokesperson Brigadier Hlulani Mashaba stated that the operations, conducted between March 21 and 22, were a joint effort between the South African Police Service (SAPS) and the South African National Defence Force (SANDF), resulting in the arrest of suspects aged 38 to 57 in the Mankweng and Giyani policing areas. Mashaba reported that SAPS and SANDF members patrolled the province, identifying illegal mining sites and conducting stop-and-search operations. One of the three suspects arrested for illegal mining was found extracting sand at Segwai River. “During these operations, three suspects were arrested separately on Friday, 21 March…

The Free State Development Corporation (FDC) is embroiled in controversy after a land deal previously denied by the organization was uncovered by The Star’s investigative unit. The deal centres on a property at Erf 1015, Namahali Village, in Phuthaditjhaba, which the FDC had leased under a Permission to Occupy (PTO) agreement with the QwaQwa Development Corporation, now operating as the FDC. The lease, signed in 1989, involved the land being used for a petrol station, the Maanankoe Filling Station, owned by lessee Mr Litabe Khiba Jan. While the FDC has previously denied plans to sell the land, The Star’s investigation revealed that Mr Litabe has made numerous offers to purchase the land over the years, with the most recent offer standing at approximately R1.3 million. Despite these offers, the deal…

THE court yesterday heard that missing child Joshlin Smith’s brother told the police that state witness Lourentia Lombaard only arrived at their home after their mother had left for work. Lombaard had previously told the Western Cape High Court, sitting in White City Multipurpose Centre, Diazville, Saldanha Bay, that she arrived at the shack before Racquel “Kelly” Smith left her home, hours before Joshlin went missing, and believed taken allegedly for her skin and eyes. Joshlin had been in the care of Smith’s boyfriend Jacquen “Boeta” Appollis when she went missing on February 19, 2024 – the child was six years old at the time. Steveno “Steffie” van Rhyn and Lombaard were arrested along with the couple, and they were all charged with kidnapping and human trafficking. Lombaard turned…

Following a series of delays, the City of Joburg has announced the reopening of the first phase of the Johannesburg City Library. The doors to the library were partially reopened on Friday just as South Africa was observing Human Rights Day, the event also coinciding with South Africa Library Week. The partial reopening has given Joburg residents public access to the first floor of the three-storey heritage site with more than 1,5 million books, newspapers and other materials. "To the residents of Johannesburg, we have promised and committed that in 2025 the library will be opened. Indeed today we are here to reopen the first phase of the library. Seventy-five percent of the work has been completed. The library is open and the children's section. The other sections are open,…

Cricket South Africa's (CSA) national teams and high-performance director, Enoch Nkwe, has confirmed Proteas spinner Keshav Maharaj will be out of action for the remainder of the season. Playing for the Dolphins over the weekend in a CSA 4-Day Championship clash against the North West Dragons, Maharaj bowled 27.3 overs in the first innings, before being taken out of the attack at Kingsmead. Dolphins skipper Prenalyn Subrayen completed the over, although Maharaj came out to bat facing 85 balls for his 39. Maharaj, though, did not bowl at all in the Dragons’ second innings. The 35-year-old has been struggling with his groin throughout the summer with a "left adductor strain" forcing him to miss two ODIs against Pakistan. Maharaj was doubtful for the Test series against Pakistan too but recovered…

As a critical clash looms in their Fifa World Cup 2026 qualification campaign, Bafana Bafana captain Ronwen Williams is brimming with enthusiasm ahead of Tuesday’s match against Benin in Ivory Coast. A victory for South Africa could significantly boost their chances of qualifying for next year’s global showpiece, set to take place across the US, Canada, and Mexico. Currently, Bafana Bafana sit two points clear of Benin at the top of the Group C standings, and a win would provide a major boost to their World Cup hopes. Goalkeeper Williams has been a cornerstone of the team’s defence. Speaking at Monday’s press conference, he expressed respect for Bafana's opponents while reaffirming his belief in the squad’s abilities. “It’s going to be a tough one. Benin are a very good team,…

Scrolling through Proteas Women’s star Nonkululeko Mlaba’s social media pages locating a cricket post is like finding a needle in a haystack. Instead, it looks more like an influencer’s Instagram with Mlaba posing in urban hip fashionable attire for the most part. And if it’s not that, she’s showing off her technical sponsor in some new gym kit. It’s therefore no surprise that Mlaba loved the last ICC T20 World Cup in the UAE where she could spend hours in the mega malls of Dubai - the global capital of fashion and designer labels. “I loved Dubai … I was doing my things,” Mlaba exclusively told Independent Media. “I think maybe it was the environment. Or maybe because I was in Dubai. You know, in Dubai I get to meet…

Naspers’ Europe-based and Amsterdam-listed subsidiary Prosus, and Just Eat Takeaway.com said Monday they are making good progress on preparations, including regulatory approvals, for the deal to buy Just Eat for €4.1 billion (R80.6bn). “Today, Prosus submitted a request for review and approval of the Offer Memorandum to the AFM” (Autoriteit Financiële Markten), the Dutch financial markets regulatory body, the internet group's said in an update. The offer is expected to commence in the second half of 2025, and it was expected that settlement would take place by year-end, subject to customary conditions, including regulatory approvals. The offer has been pitched at €20.30 in cash per share. Just Eat's share price was 0.13% lower at €19.46 on the Amsterdam stock exchange on Monday afternoon. Naspers’ share price was 0.39% lower at…

Ulrik Bengtsson has big shoes to fill as he steps into the CEO role at Sun International, succeeding Anthony Leeming effective July 1, or earlier pending his work permit. Leeming, 55, will retire early on December 31 after 26 years with the hospitality and gambling group, including eight as CEO. Leeming will step down on July 1 but remain until year-end to ensure a smooth transition with Bengtsson, supporting the board as needed. In an interview with Business Report, Leeming gave more details on his retirement plans, saying, “There’s a big world out there I’d love to see - more golf, maybe some adventures.” Sun International said, “Anthony has provided formal notice to the board that he intends taking early retirement from Sun International on December 31, 2025 to…

A technological revolution is sweeping global finance, and it’s shaking up traditional monetary policy. The US is championing stablecoins, China is pressing ahead with its digital yuan, and our BRICS partners - India, Russia, Brazil - are zoning in on the new wave of digital innovation. This shift isn’t merely reshaping legacy currencies - it’s stamping a digital footprint on money itself, upending decades of tradition. But in South Africa, SA Reserve Bank (SARB) Governor Lesetja Kganyago is taking a cautious stance on central bank reserves as he champions gold’s enduring appeal. His prudence is not misplaced, yet it prompts a pressing question: can he afford to delay rethinking our reserves? With debt tied to the dollar, our BRICS partners being innovative, and peers racing ahead, shouldn't South Africa embrace…

LAST week, Nigerian travel content creator Alma Asinobi attempted to break the Guinness World Record for the fastest journey across the world's seven continents. The current record of 64 hours is held by Johnny Cruz Buckingham of the US, set in February 2025. Asinobi's journey began on March 20th from Antarctica, taking her through Chile, the Dominican Republic, Spain, Egypt, and Dubai. Her record-breaking ambitions were ultimately dashed by the obstacles that come with travelling while Nigerian - including being denied boarding a flight to Perth, which delayed her arrival in Sydney. Total travel time: 71 hours and 35 minutes. Although she failed to break Buckingham's record, Asinobi's journey has ignited fresh conversations about passport inequality and travel restrictions faced by citizens of developing nations. It's a reality even Africa's…

FANS of Ed Sheeran have been sent into a musical frenzy following the sensational announcement that the chart-topping artist has completed his eighth studio album. The beloved singer-songwriter recently announced the exciting news, captivating the hearts of his devoted listeners worldwide. In an announcement video posted on Instagram, Sheeran hangs out in the studio with his producer, Ilya Salmanzadeh, listening to an unreleased track Azizam. The singer-songwriter couldn't contain his enthusiasm as he sings and dances along, moving all around the room and bopping his head. “And if love’s just a game, come and play,” Sheeran sings over a carefree dance beat on the track. “Azizam/ Meet me on the floor tonight/ Show me how to move like the water/ In between the dancing lights/ Be my, be my Azizam.”…

The Free State’s Mangaung Metro Municipality is again facing severe allegations of unlawful and irregular staff appointments, as Mangaung Seven (M7), the seven former councillors of the municipality, have lodged an official complaint with the Public Protector's office. The organisation has raised concerns about a series of appointments made in the municipality, which it claims violate several legal frameworks governing local government operations. M7 insists these appointments were made with full knowledge of the legal implications and therefore should be investigated thoroughly. In its complaint, M7 outlines numerous instances where staff appointments at Mangaung Metro appear to contravene the Local Government: Municipal Systems Act and the Municipal Staff Regulations of 2021. According to M7, the municipal leadership, including City Manager Mr. Sello More, actively circumvented legal provisions by either creating…

Police in Zimbabwe have arrested three people in connection with the grand theft of US$75 000 (more than R1.4 million) from the in-laws of Zimbabwean mogul Wicknell Chivayo. The Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) has launched an extensive manhunt for the outstanding suspects, following an armed robbery that happened in the city of Marondera, around 70 kilometres east of Harare. The stolen money was part of the proceeds from a lavish traditional lobola ceremony where Chivayo reportedly paid around US$300 000 (more than R5m). The extravagant businessman and entrepreneur, who is close to President Emmerson Mnangagwa, watered down the widespread media reports about the figures spent on his lobola for his wife, Lucy “Lulu” Muteke. Last week, State media in Zimbabwe reported that three suspects from Harare had been arrested by…

The National Shelter Movement of South Africa (NSMSA) acknowledges the reduced VAT increase from 2% to 0.5% as a minor relief for shelters but remains deeply concerned about the broader funding gaps and Treasury’s weak response to addressing gender-based violence and femicide (GBVF) in the national budget. While the slower rise in costs slightly alleviates immediate financial pressures, shelters remain in an unsustainable financial position, struggling to provide essential services to survivors. “The reality is that even a 0.5% VAT increase – which will eventually add up to a 1% increase in 2026 – still translates to higher costs for food, utilities, security, and other operational essentials,” said NSMSA Board Member, Greer Schoeman. “Many shelters across the country are already operating on shoestring budgets, relying on underpaid and unpaid labour.…

The Gauteng Department of Health has urged the former mine workers to claim social security benefits. This follows the revelation in the Medical Bureau for Occupational Diseases (MBOD) database that over 2,0000 former mine workers in West Rand have not claimed their benefits. The department said many of these former mineworkers left the industry without receiving social security benefits for occupational diseases such as silicosis, tuberculosis (TB), and hearing loss. The department has implemented an initiative with the Medical Bureau for Occupational Diseases to trace ex-mine workers who may be eligible for social security benefits for work-related illnesses and pension funds due to them. The programme will be rolled out across the province. The department said phase one will start in the West Rand District due to a large concentration…

Prudence Sekgodiso left footprints where no other South African-born athlete had walked before, securing a gold medal in the women’s 800m at the World Indoor Championships in Nanjing, China, on Sunday. Her triumph was not only the first for a South African female athlete at the championship but also marked a significant milestone in her career, as she secured her first major gold medal following several victories in junior and senior championships across the African continent. The 23-year-old looked stronger with every stride from the heats forward and went on to defeat tough competition from Ethiopia’s Nigist Getachew and Portugal’s Patrícia Silva, setting a world-leading time of 1:58.40 in the final. Sekgodiso had missed out on the final of the women’s 800m at the Paris Olympics last year after finishing…

Three victories from four clashes are not something to scoff at for the South African sides in the United Rugby Championship (URC). Although they were all heart-in-mouth stuff at the death, some brilliant teamwork secured the wins for the Stormers, Bulls, and Sharks. The Lions were their own worst enemies in a clash they should’ve won, looking at how they dominated. Easily the most entertaining match of the four SA sides, the Stormers put up a dazzling backline display with fullback Warrick Gelant at the helm and flyhalf Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu playing a brilliant supporting role. The return of Damian Willemse also added another edge to the side against the Scarlets. Gelant was magical and had a direct hand in two of their four tries with a host of dummies and…

The AfCFTA is expected to raise Africa’s GDP by 1.2% and welfare by 0.9% in 2o45 The United Nations (UN) Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) has encouraged African governments to capitalise on the prevailing global economic tensions and fragmentation by fully implementing the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). The AfCFTA aims to create a single market for goods, services, facilitated by movement of persons in order to deepen the economic integration of the African continent, and thus enhance the competitiveness of the economies of State Parties within the continent and the global market. The AfCFTA is expected to raise Africa's GDP by 1.2% and welfare by 0.9% in 2045. The ECA’s Economic Report on Africa 2025, released on Monday, examined the AfCFTA and its transformative opportunity to accelerate trade-led…

Alexforbes, a JSE-listed financial services group, announced a boost to its investment team on Monday, appointing specialised chief investment officers to strengthen its institutional, retail, and private markets offerings. It said in a statement the move is aimed at delivering superior outcomes for clients across various regions as well as to maintain its position as a leading investment destination Senzo Langa, a 14-year veteran of the firm, has been promoted to Institutional Chief Investment Officer, leveraging his extensive experience to drive institutional investment strategies. Gyongyi King, who has served as Chief Investment Officer for eight years during her 15-year tenure, will transition to Retail Chief Investment Officer while also taking on the role of Private Markets Chief Investment Officer. King’s dual appointment reflects her integral role in the company’s private…

A user's messaging app account might be of interest not only to jealous spouses and nosy coworkers, but also to cybercriminals. Stolen WhatsApp accounts are used for various types of criminal activity, ranging from spam distribution to sophisticated scam schemes. Cybercriminals constantly look for WhatsApp accounts and use various methods to gain access to them. There are two ways cybercriminals can gain control of a WhatsApp account: they can add another device to an existing account using the "Linked devices" feature, or they can re-register the account on their own device as if the user had bought a new phone. In the first case, the user continues to use WhatsApp as usual, but the criminals also have access to all recent conversations. In the second case, the user loses access…

Higher education and recruitment group ADvTech expanded in their home market and across Africa and reported a 16% increase in earnings for the year to December 31. The owner of the Varsity Colleges in South Africa that enrolled over 100 000 students last year reported moderate fee increases, better margins, and further investment in technology a statement said Monday. “We are also pleased to report double-digit enrolment growth in both our schools and tertiary divisions and that our education business has broken through 100,000 students for the first time,” CEO Geoff Whyte said. A final dividend of 63 cents (2023: 57) a share brought the full-year dividend to 101.0 (87) cents per share. Revenue was up 8% to R8.52 billion after increasing 8% in the education division and slipping 8%…

Although the JSE’s All Share was, as of this morning, up more than 100% since the year that Covid-19 killed millions and hit global economies hard, and the rand has lost incredible ground against the dollar in recent history, South Africa won’t hit enough economic growth to fulfill the business and government partnership of a million jobs this year. This, says Dr Azar Jammine, director and chief economist at Econometrix, is because there are simply too many physical and structural impediments. Citing issues such as logjams at ports, inadequate education, high levels of crime, and continuing spatial inequalities, he says the growth target is “not happening,” and South Africa is also not currently a good investment destination, despite the local currency looking attractive from a dollar perspective. Jammine explains that…

The DA in Tshwane has warned that the metro is poised to increase its income from property rates significantly in the 2025/26 financial year. The party recently suggested the City’s property valuation roll, which is currently open for review, has caused great unhappiness amongst residents as, in many cases, property valuations have doubled. Member of the Mayoral Committee for Finance Eugene Modise said the city has completed the process to re-evaluate properties to levy property rates and the new tariffs will come into effect from July 1, 2025. He urged residents to carefully review their updated property valuations and, if necessary, submit objections if they believe the new values do not accurately reflect the property's market value as of the valuation date. “This is meant to ensure that property owners…

pule.makgale@inl.coza The Right to Justice, a prominent non-governmental organisation (NGO), is actively pursuing access to information regarding the suspension of Ayanda Dakela, the former head of Infrastructure at the Department of Health. This move comes amid serious allegations of corruption and misconduct within the department. Dakela, the former head of Infrastructure at South Africa’s Department of Health, has become a central figure in a series of scandals involving allegations of corruption and misconduct. His suspension in early 2024 follows months of scrutiny surrounding his role within the department and his involvement in controversial dealings. The Promotion of Access to Information Act (PAIA) came into effect in the year in 2000 and is designed to promote transparency, accountability, and good governance by giving the public the right to access information held…

Many towns and cities throughout South Africa have deteriorated dramatically. Local government is in trouble in many areas, and with municipal elections looming in 2026, there might well be many government changes. Also, with the arrival of coalition throughout government and the unlikelihood of majority parties in most areas, local government is destined for a significant shakeup. From President Ramaphosa to ordinary citizens, there is an increasing impatience with poor service delivery, filthy streets, parks, open spaces, traffic lights that do not work, potholes, water problems, and sometimes no electricity for weeks. The president “visited” Johannesburg, (in which he lives), and was shocked at the filth and degradation, as well as the failed and failing infrastructure. He must regret his invitation to members of the G20, which is an intergovernmental…

Residents of Bronkhorstspruit, a town in the Tshwane Municipality, find themselves in an alarming predicament. They are forced to consume water that is not only discoloured but potentially unsafe. Many are drawing stark comparisons to the ongoing water crisis in Hammanskraal, where similar issues have led to serious health concerns, including cholera outbreaks. Residents are urging government officials to take immediate action, but the city has indicated that solutions may not be implemented until late next year. Despite repeated discussions with City of Tshwane officials and local councillors, residents express frustration over the lack of adequate action since their concerns were first raised in 2011. One concerned local stated, “The situation is deteriorating, and we're worried about the impact on our health. To make matters worse, our water bills have…

Bafana Bafana coach Hugo Broos believes that their Fifa World Cup 2026 qualifier against Benin on Tuesday (kick-off 6pm) could be a defining moment in their campaign, with the potential to either make or break their hopes of qualification. Bafana are currently on a high, sitting at the top of Group C in the qualifiers with 10 points after three wins, one draw, and one loss in five games. Their impressive run of form has seen supporters rally behind them at home, hopeful that they could return to the World Cup finals for the first time in 16 years. A packed New Peter Mokaba Stadium was in full voice on Friday as Bafana comfortably dispatched neighbours Lesotho, taking a major confidence boost into their clash against Benin. Broos' men will…

With only the Lions falling short of a victory in the United Rugby Championship (URC), all eyes will be on them this weekend as they bid to close out their overseas journey in the tournament with a win. The Johannesburg side are the only local team outside of the tournament’s Top 8 and will be desperate to claw their way back. For the three other South African teams – the Stormers, Bulls, and Sharks – they’ll hope to continue their winning ways to cement their knockout spots. In the eighth spot: The Stormers P13 W6 L7 Pts33 They replaced the Lions in the final qualifying spot after a last-gasp bonus point win over the Scarlets this past Saturday. A victory will suffice when they take on Ulster on Friday (9.35pm…

As tough as it is for the Lions and their supporters to hear this, maybe a move away from Ellis Park is what speedster Edwill van der Merwe needs to propel him to greater Springbok heights. The flight-footed winger has been linked with a move for a while now and it looks like the Sharks in Durban won the arm wrestle for his signature ahead of next season. Looking at his World Cup ambitions as a 28-year-old, slotting in with a star-studded team and a backline littered with Springboks just seems like the right decision. I am not saying that the Lions do not possess a backline with plenty of skills, a couple of young Boks, and potential future stars, but what Van der Merwe needs now is to break…