Innholdsfortegnelse for 2025-06-11 i Star

The Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) has been mandated to retrofit decommissioned coal-fired power stations with advanced clean coal technology. This initiative aims to mitigate the challenges posed by soaring electricity costs and dwindling availability that have threatened the operational viability of ferrochrome smelters in the region. Appearing before the Portfolio Committee on Minerals and Petroleum Resources on Tuesday, the CSIR outlined a bold vision for the coal-to-carbon materials industry. The Council asserted that this venture not only offers alternative uses for coal but also promises sustainability for the local coal sector as part of the broader just energy transition. "The technology is ready, it's a matter of localising the technology, make it adaptable to the local conditions, the quality of the coal," the CSIR said. "There is…

The sugary beverages industry in South Africa is bracing itself for potential impacts as the South African Revenue Service (SARS) intensifies its focus on compliance among manufacturers. SARS is now targeting businesses involved in the manufacturing of sugary beverages, with the revenue collector saying manufacturers of sugary beverages must be registered as commercial manufacturers if they use more than 500kg of sugar in their manufacturing process. Professionals from Shepstone & Wylie Attorneys, Erasmus Theron and Herman de Jong, on Tuesday said the government was facing a daunting tax deficit following the vacuum left by an unchanged sugar tax amidst rampant fiscal constraints. They said that with an ambitious revenue target of R2.006 trillion set for the 2025/2026 tax period, the government has turned towards indirect taxes—specifically excise duties, fuel levies,…

There are established markets, and then there are conditions that precede them. Africa’s renewable energy sector finds itself suspended between the two – an area where assets have begun to accumulate, but where the mechanisms for scaled capital reallocation remain embryonic. The signs of emergence are there: a growing base of operational projects, increasing engagement by institutional investors, and a gradual deepening of regional power strategies. Project finance remains the dominant mode of capital deployment, limited by nascent markets and structured around risk more than strategy. Institutional capital remains cautious not because it lacks appetite, but because the architecture it relies on remains unevenly distributed. Without foundational reforms in funding architecture, including the creation of creditworthy pipelines, improved tariff bankability, and mechanisms for absorbing early-stage risk, the pool of M&A-eligible…

KAP, the group with industrial, chemical and logistics divisions, on Tuesday warned that it expects lower earnings for 2025 amid challenging trading conditions. Earnings per share (eps) is expected to decrease by more than 30% for 2025, which is a decrease of at least 13.1 cents per share from 43.8 cents the prior comparative period. Headline earnings per share (heps) is expected to decrease by more than 30% for 2025, which is a decrease of at least 13.6 cents per share, when compared to the heps of 45.3 cents for the year ended June 30, 2024. In an update guidance on the company’s operational performance for 11 months of the 2025 financial year up to May 31, 2025, compared with the prior comparative period, KAP said trading conditions have…

As Father’s Day approaches, many are seeking ways to express their appreciation for fathers, father figures, and paternal influences in their lives. What better way to honour these incredible individuals than with the gift of a book? Here are some fantastic book recommendations that cater to a variety of interests, ensuring there’s something for every father out there: A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman Meet Ove, a grumpy yet loveable curmudgeon whose solitary world is upended when a lively young family moves in next door. Backman’s A Man Called Ove introduces readers to a character often viewed as the “bitter neighbour from hell”. Ove’s life revolves around staunch principles, strict routines, and a short fuse – but underneath this cranky exterior lies a depth of story and sorrow. When…

Water and Sanitation Minister Pemmy Majodina painted a sad state of affairs in the local government sphere regarding the provision of water yesterday, saying many municipalities were unable to collect revenue. Majodina noted with concern that when municipalities collected the revenue, they used it for something else. “They don't ring fence water sales to be able to maintain the water infrastructure, because that is where the water infrastructure has totally collapsed, but also the technical capacity and skills of municipalities,” she said. Majodina made the comment when her department appeared before the Standing Committee on Public Accounts (Scopa). “In the past, when we started with local government, we had about 84.6% of engineers at a local government level, but as I speak now, we are sitting at about 6.4 engineers.…

Is Shamila Batohi, the head of the National Prosecuting Authority, the victim of an orchestrated campaign aimed at removing her from the office or is she responsible for the prosecuting body’s failure to prosecute several high-profile cases. Last week Batohi, responding to criticism over several embarrassing defeats in massive cases, said there had been “infiltration” of the prosecution service, but later backtracked, saying she had used the wrong term and instead that certain cases were being deliberately sabotaged. The embarrassing defeats include the case against Nigerian televangelist Timothy Omotoso, who was acquitted on more than 30 charges of sexual assault and the case against former ANC secretary-general Ace Magashule when the court ruled that the extradition of his former PA, Moroadi Colota, from the US was invalid. In the court…

WHEN the head of a prosecuting authority appears on national television and informs the nation that political interference affects the functioning of her office, it raises serious concerns for us as a nation. ​Shamila Batohi, during a television interview last week, revealed that the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) has been infiltrated by individuals who are not committed to upholding the rule of law. This, combined with her acknowledgement of internal challenges and the possibility of prosecutors being misaligned with the vision of delivering justice, is deeply troubling for the nation. As a state entity entrusted with the vital responsibility of ensuring justice, fairness, and the rule of law, the integrity of the NPA is essential. Batohi’s alarming claims necessitate a thorough explanation to the public. It is crucial that she…

LONDON: Australia’s serial winners are in no danger of becoming complacent ahead of their much-anticipated bout with the Proteas in the World Test Championship final at Lord’s today. Pat Cummins’ team are the defending champions and overwhelming favourites to retain their Test crown to go along with the 50-over World Cup title won in India a couple years ago. “With some success you just want to experience more of it and that means when the going gets tough or the pressure is on you embrace that. You take it on,” Cummins told the media at Lord’s on the eve of the showdown. “You want to be the match winner. Hopefully you don't get overwhelmed by big moments. “That's been most of the conversation this week. The guys just have excitement.…

FirstRand on Tuesday confirmed that regulatory approval has been received for the transaction for FirstRand to take transfer of the clients, the banking assets and liabilities, and the employees of HSBC's branch in South Africa. The clients of HSBC South Africa are mainly subsidiaries of multinationals operating in South Africa and some large domestic corporates and the transfer will be led and implemented by FirstRand's corporate and investment banking franchise, Rand Merchant Bank (RMB). "This will ensure that the transferred HSBC clients will have on-going access to corporate and investment banking services in South Africa. HSBC's multinational clients headquartered outside of South Africa can continue to have connectivity through HSBC's global digital channels for account visibility and payment initiation for their South Africa accounts once they have transferred to…

According to Stats SA the decline is broad based and is driven by contractions in nine of 10 manufacturing divisions Economists have warned that the ongoing macroeconomic and policy uncertainty will continue to leave operating conditions unfavourable for manufacturing production and drag the sector’s contribution to South Africa’s economic growth. This comes after manufacturing output fell 6.3% year-on-year in April following a revised 1.2% contraction in March. This was the sixth consecutive monthly contraction and the sharpest drop since March 2024. Maarten Ackerman, chief economist at Citadel, expressed deep concern over the sector's trajectory, emphasising its vital role in job creation and economic stimulation. Manufacturing remains one of the few sectors in the South African economy with significant potential to create jobs, stimulate broader economic growth, and provide opportunities for…

Minister of Agriculture John Steehuisen has announced a significant increase in vaccine supplies in KwaZulu-Natal in a bid to combat the ongoing outbreak of Foot-and-Mouth Disease (FMD). This announcement comes in the wake of urgent calls from livestock commodity groups united under the KwaZulu-Natal Agricultural Union (Kwanalu) for the province to be declared a disaster area due to the severe implications of FMD on local livelihoods. During his address at the TMR Conference hosted by the Milk Producers Organisation on Monday, Steehuisen FMD has severely impacted the red meat industry since the outbreaks in 2019. “It has closed doors to critical markets. It disrupted supply chains. And it sent shockwaves through producer confidence. We have learned some hard lessons. We cannot achieve prosperity through exports without credible, science-based, and trusted…

Premier Group, a leading consumer packaged goods company with brands Blue Ribbon, Snowflake, Dove, among others, produced strong results the year ended March 31, 2025 despite consumer spend still being under pressure. At a macro level, despite the successful transition to a Government of National Unity and inflation moderating to below the middle of the target range, high interest rates, volatile soft commodity prices and low economic growth continue to besiege the consumer. Despite this, shareholders got a final gross dividend of 271 cents per share up, up 23% from the prior year. The market welcomed the results, with Premier's share on Tuesday afternoon rising 2.95% to R137.39 on the JSE. Revenue increased by 7.0% to R19.9 billion, supported by revenue growth in both the Millbake and the Groceries and…

More than a year after the mysterious death of former Steinhoff CEO Markus Jooste, vital information regarding his death is unaccounted for, a police source has said. Jooste, who was ordered to pay a R475 million fine for accounting fraud by the Financial Sector Conduct Authority (FSCA), allegedly shot himself after police notified him that an arrest warrant had been issued against him. It was reported that he succumbed to a gunshot wound at his Cape Town residence in Hermanus. However, questions surrounding the circumstances of his death remain unanswered. The source said there is still no post-mortem and morgue number in the inquest docket and there is no proof of the weapon he allegedly used. The Western Cape police yesterday said these allegations were unfounded as a post-mortem…

A man died after reportedly jumping from the rooftop of Hotel Sky on Monday. According to reports, the man bought a ticket for the Sky-HI ride before jumping off the building. The incident prompted road closures around the scene, leading to significant traffic delays as traffic was rerouted to facilitate emergency procedures and investigative efforts. Provincial police spokesperson, Captain Frederick van Wyk, confirmed the incident and said the man’s body was found in the afternoon, just before 4pm. “A post-mortem will be conducted to determine race, age and cause of death. An inquest was registered for investigation.” I IOL News…

The Mpumalanga MEC for Health has to pay a mother R540 000 in damages after her baby boy was born with cerebral palsy due to the negligence of the staff at a government hospital in the province. The mother initially claimed R4 million in damages before the Mpumalanga High Court, which was sitting in Mbombela. Her child had, meanwhile, died at the age of six, and the mother only claimed general damages on behalf of herself for the hardships she had to endure while looking after the child until his death. The court earlier ruled that the provincial health authority was liable for 90% of the damages the mother could prove she had suffered. The mother blamed the fact that her son was born with brain damage on the negligence…

The Minister of Basic Education, Siviwe Gwarube, has called on all Provincial Education MECs and Heads of Department to urgently develop and submit comprehensive plans that safeguard the continuity of education service delivery and address irregularities in school personnel management. This follows a critical financial review initiated by Gwarube shortly after assuming office, which exposed severe strain in the education sector. According to the findings, the ana- lysis revealed that the education sector is facing severe financial strain due to a decade of chronic underinvestment by the national government, repeated redirection of public funds to bail out struggling state-owned enterprises, and poor financial management at the provincial government level. “The education sector is under extraordinary pressure,” Gwarube warned. “Without urgent intervention and robust financial planning, several Provincial Education Departments risk…

Kelvin Momo’s fans were left more than fulfilled at the Red Bull Symphonic with Adam Howard and the Egoli Symphonic Orchestra. In its second year, the Red Bull Symphonic was held over three days at the Montecasino Teatro, a bump from last year. Real name Thato Kelvin Ledwaba, music producer and artist Kelvin Momo’s top-charting catalogue took centre stage as it was brought to life through music conductor Howard and the electrifying Egoli Symphonic Orchestra. With the backing of Red Bull, who cut no corners when it comes to delivering top-notch production, attendees were left mesmerised. Kelvin Momo made a commanding entrance with Howard, with the two of them even embracing each other, a clear sign of a strong bond formed. For his big night, Kelvin Momo was the life…

Artificial intelligence has now made it possible to wake up to a video of your CEO seemingly admitting to fraud or receiving an urgent audio message from your CFO authorising a large, unexpected transaction, without any of it being real. Deepfakes aren’t limited to criminal use cases targeting individuals or governments – they represent a sophisticated and escalating threat to corporations globally, including South Africa. The use of deepfake technology has become one of the most powerful tools fueling disinformation. The rise in AI and machine learning embedded in commercially available tools such as generative adversarial networks (GANs) has levelled the playing field and increased the sophistication of deepfake content. Cybercriminals, disgruntled insiders, competitors, and even state-sponsored groups can leverage deepfakes for devastating attacks, ranging from financial fraud and network…

The World Bank has warned of economic slowdown as heightened trade tensions and a cloud of policy uncertainty loom over the global economy. The World Bank’s latest Global Economic Prospects report released on Tuesday projected growth to reach its slowest pace since 2008, excluding outright global recessions. The report highlights a striking trend: growth forecasts have been downgraded in nearly 70% of economies worldwide, spanning all regions and income categories. The World Bank estimated global growth will decelerate to 2.3% in 2025, a figure that falls short of expectations set just at the beginning of the year. While a global recession is not on the horizon, the World Bank said if current forecasts materialised, the average global growth throughout the first seven years of the 2020s will be the most…

South Africa is under siege once more, and this time not by force of arms, but through fibre cables and Wi-Fi routers. In the name of “connectivity,” we are witnessing the second coming of a land grab. First, they came for our land. Now, they are coming for our markets, our digital land, in townships and rural areas that black-owned Internet Service Providers (ISPs) have long nurtured and pioneered. We are not watching history repeat itself, we are living it. The Historic Echo: From Stolen Land to Stolen Market The dispossession of black people from their ancestral land is one of the darkest stains in South Africa’s history. Through the 1913 Natives Land Act and decades of apartheid legislation, 87% of land was allocated to a white minority. Even today,…

The renewable energy industry is booming in Southern Africa and beyond. However, we face a growing challenge in making the transition to a more sustainable energy future: the talent pipeline. The sector has typically relied on older, experienced professionals from the legacy power sector, but they are ageing and retiring, and young people are not entering the sector in meaningful numbers, leaving us without future talent to continue driving the industry forward. Fixing this gap to enable real transformation and long-term success will require collaborative action from both industry and the youth themselves, as well as a new approach to how we educate, inspire, and involve the next generation. The importance of starting early One of the issues we currently face is that education initiatives and recruitment drives into the…

The market on Tuesday cheered as Telkom rang in robust results for the year ended 31 March and resumed its dividend, which saw its share surge 7%. In morning trade the share was up 7.35% at R42.95 on the JSE. Telkom said mobile subscribers were up 13.4% to 23.2 million. Serame Taukobong, Telkom Group CEO said, “The company has largely modernised its technology infrastructure and executed on a robust, detailed strategy across its operations. The financial results for FY2025 confirm that the business has not only stabilised but has built a platform for accelerated growth." In key financial metrics, adjusted headline earnings per share rose 102.4% to 583.2 cents; while adjusted basic earnings per share were up 128.9% to 681.7 cents. Ebitda was up 25.1% to R11.8 billion; while revenue…

The government in South Africa and elsewhere on the continent has been urged to consider scientific evidence and innovation when coming up with policies and regulations for the tobacco industry. As experts highlight the dangers associated with tobacco consumption, players in the industry are pushing for the adoption and “proper regulation of smoke-free nicotine” products. Industry players are basing their approach on scientific innovation and data pointing to tobacco harm reduction through adoption of what they are calling "safer nicotine products" that are smoke-free. This comes at a time when smoking and tobacco consumption is on the increase across Africa, sharply contrasting other developed regions where trends are pointing to a decline in smoking. Nonetheless, Branislav Bibic who is Philip Morris International vice president for Sub-Saharan Africa, on Tuesday said…

Matilda The Musical Jr Roald Dahl’s classic book is set to come to extraordinary life on stage for the very first time in Joburg this week. The play tells the story of Matilda, a gifted little girl with telekinetic powers. The youngster lives a tumultuous life with her parents and the show chronicles her bid to free herself, using her brilliant mind. Directed by Jill Girard, the leading role will be alternated between 10-year-olds, Amira Nathan, Zia Kani and Peo-entle Pitso. Meanwhile, Miss Honey will be played by Amelia Stephens, Luciano Zuppa will take on the role of Miss Agatha Trunchbull, with Jordan Rogers and Raymond Skinner starring as Matilda’s parents. Where: The Peoples Theatre at the Joburg Theatre. When: Currently until July 27. Show times differ, depending on the…

In an emotionally charged memorial service held at the Sacred Heart Cathedral in Pretoria, mourners gathered in tears to pay their last respects to Zambia’s former President Edgar Lungu, whose sudden death has left both political allies and critics grappling with grief and unanswered questions. Among those who delivered impassioned remarks was Patriotic Front (PF) Deputy President Given Lubinda, who used the solemn moment to question the treatment Lungu endured in the final years of his life. With his voice cracking and eyes filled with anguish, Lubinda stunned the congregation when he cried out, “Why, God, why?” before recounting what he described as the former president’s humiliation at the hands of the Zambian authorities. “Lungu did not fight back. His house was surrounded by police. His gates were broken down,…

With South Africa experiencing its coldest weather yet, Health Minister Dr Aaron Motsoaledi has assured South Africans that the current Covid-19 variant, reported to be circulating in 22 countries, is no cause for concern as his department is closely monitoring the Nimbus or NB.1.8.1 Covid-19 variant. Yesterday, Motsoaledi addressed the 4th G20 Health Working Group meeting held at the Melrose Arch, where health professionals and policymakers from across the globe gathered to discuss various health-related issues, including having a clear focus on pandemic prevention preparedness, and response, which is one of the five G20 Health Working Group priorities. While cases of Covid-19 have been detected in India, as well as 21 other countries, including regions of Asia, Europe, the US, and Australia, Motsoaledi warned South Africans to take precautionary measures…

Minister of Higher Education Nobuhle Nkabane has revealed that her department is keeping a close eye on the situation at the University of South Africa (UNISA). This comes amid reports that the institution has been engaged in a series of suspensions involving some of its senior officials who are being sidelined for allegedly sounding the alarm on irregular financial transactions at the institution. In the latest wave of suspensions, it is reported that the university has suspended another senior official in its finance department for blowing the whistle on R500 000 that was allegedly spent on an ANC-aligned event. It is reported that this official is suspected of having allegedly downloaded the R500 000 proof of payment for the event. In a statement on Monday, the minister indicated that she…

Thousands of Mango Airlines passengers who were left out of pocket when the low-cost South African airline was grounded in 2021 may finally see some relief. Business rescue practitioner Sipho Sono has confirmed that affected travellers can now register their ticket details online to begin the long-awaited refund process. Mango, a subsidiary of South African Airways (SAA), was placed under business rescue in July 2021 after financial difficulties and regulatory hurdles forced it to halt operations. Since then, many customers who had purchased tickets for future flights have been left in limbo, unable to access refunds or rebook travel. In a promising development this week, Sono announced that the claims process is now open to those who never received their money back. “Passengers who were affected by Mango’s grounding…