Innholdsfortegnelse for 2025-06-12 i Star

The vaping industry has called for smarter nicotine policies as South Africa grapples with alarming increases in combustable tobacco smoking rates. This comes as Parliament continues to hold public consultations on the Tobacco Products and Electronic Delivery Systems Control Bill, which seeks to impose stricter product and related product processing, regulate tobacco product and advertising, and standardise the ‘packaging and appearance’ of tobacco and electronic delivery system products. The Tobacco Bill prohibits leaves no room for any form of display of tobacco and electronic delivery systems, including both nicotine and non-nicotine products. Delivering oral submissions to the Portfolio Committee on Health on Wednesday, Kurt Yeo from Vaping Saved My Life made a plea not only for regulated alternatives but for a complete paradigm shift in how South Africa views…

During a session marred by discontent, the committee objected to the classification of information by the BRPs Parliament's Select Committee on Economic Development and Trade has rejected an attempt by the South African Post Office's (Sapo) Business Rescue Practitioners (BRPs), Anoosh Rooplal and Juanito Damons, to provide a partial update containing classified information deemed commercially sensitive. The committee, chaired by Sonja Boshoff, on Wednesday cited the significant public interest in Sapo's ongoing struggles and the use of public funds in the rescue process as the rationale for their decision. During a virtual session marred by increasing discontent, the committee expressed strong objections to the classification of information by the BRPs, arguing that their role in managing a public entity should not shield them from stringent accountability expectations. Boshoff resolved to…

Sentiment in the business sector in South Africa has remained volatile despite a minor rebound following fears over US trade policy, including former President Trump’s threat to impose 30% tariffs. The latest release of the Business Confidence Index (BCI) by the South African Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Sacci) has revealed a complicated landscape for businesses, as the index experienced a notable fluctuation in recent months. The BCI dropped by 8.6 index points in April to a measure of 114.9, before recovering slightly by 0.9 index points in May, culminating in a score of 115.8. Waldo Krugell, economics professor at North-West University, said that this decline was in line with other high-frequency data indicators. “Basically, it’s businesses that are now more pessimistic about the prospects for doing business during the…

Though the buzzwords “job creation” and “economic growth” often dominate boardroom discussions, it is the humble Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) that truly bring these concepts to life. SMEs are the ones taking risks, hiring locally and revitalising our markets. Yet, they are the ones struggling, particularly in accessing the skills they desperately need. The growth potential is clear - SMEs do not simply fill gaps in the market, they create new ones. They innovate and they adapt with a nimbleness that bigger entities lack but this potential is often choked by a lack of resources, especially in upskilling their workforce. It is unrealistic to expect SMEs to compete on a global scale, if they’re perpetually battling to stay afloat due to a skills deficit. Corporate self-interest - strengthening the…

Assura, a leading UK healthcare real estate investment trust, on Tuesday accepted a sweetened, best and final cash offer from private equity-backed Sana Bidco, valuing the company at approximately £1.7 billion (R41bn). Assura is listed on the London Stock Exchange with a secondry listing on the JSE. The deal comes after a brief bidding war with Primary Health Properties (PHP), which has now been effectively sidelined. Sana Bidco - a consortium formed by US private equity giant Kohlberg Kravis Roberts (KKR) and infrastructure investor Stonepeak - increased its cash offer to 50.42 pence per share, up from its original bid announced on April 9. Including declared dividends of 1.68 pence, the offer values Assura shares at 52.1 pence, representing a 39.2% premium over the pre-offer closing price on February 13.…

The celebrity edition of Deal or No Deal is set to return for a second season. Hosted by TV personality Katlego Maboe, the popular game show returns to the small screens this Saturday with a new season featuring 52-hour episodes. Deal or No Deal Celebrity is a spin-off celebrity edition that sees South African A-listers going up against the Banker for money that goes towards charity. From singers to content creators, the show will be showcasing some of the country’s household names such as Sol Phenduka, Sithelo Shozi and Langa Mavuso as they compete against the show’s Banker to win money for a good cause. After raising R2.2 million for more than 40 charity organisations across South Africa in season one, more celebrities will be on the show to change…

It’s easy to eye yet another Disney IP remake and wonder: Why are we doing this again? The latest is a hybrid live-action retelling of 2002’s Lilo & Stitch, about a lovably unruly Native Hawaiian girl and the alien “dog” that crash-lands in her life. Give it this: it makes the eponymous creature of cuddly mass destruction more adorable than ever, with a fresh coat of CG so photorealistic, you’ll itch to reach out and scritch his fuzzy blue fur. Better yet, an abundance of vitality flows from 8-year-old discovery Maia Kealoha, who makes her acting debut playing the young Lilo with an irresistibly rambunctious charm. In a frantically paced remake so uninterested in veering from the blueprint that it apes the original right down to dialogue, camera moves and…

President Cyril Ramaphosa has announced the launch of a National Convention set for August 15, marking the formal start of a sweeping “National Dialogue” process aimed at forging a new social compact and redefining what it means to be South African. The president claims the dialogue will develop a national ethos and shared value system to unify a divided country, plagued by economic inequality, high crime, unemployment, and political instability. But critics are already branding the initiative as out of touch, elitist, and likely to result in little more than symbolic gestures. Ramaphosa has appointed a group of “Eminent Persons” to oversee the process, including former IEC chair Dr Brigalia Bam, Justice Edwin Cameron, Springbok rugby captain Siya Kolisi, and humanitarian Dr Imtiaz Sooliman of Gift of the Givers. While…

The KwaZulu-Natal Department of Education has strongly condemned a violent altercation among learners at Lakehaven Secondary School in the uMlazi District, describing the incident as unacceptable and contrary to the principles of safe learning environments. The video widely shared on social media shows a number of learners engaged in physical fights while in full school uniform. The Department confirmed that the incident is being investigated and that allegations of racial intolerance have emerged alongside the footage. It emphasised its zero-tolerance approach to school violence and assured the public that disciplinary measures would be taken. While the full investigation is underway, officials pledged to hold those responsible accountable. MEC for education in the province, Sipho Hlomuka, reiterated that learning institutions should be secure spaces for learners where education is the main…

In a bid to save the City of Tshwane millions of rand, the multiparty Mayoral Committee has approved a proposal mandating all city construction projects to use the city’s internal professional services, which are part of the Physical Development Services section within the Department of Economic Development and Spatial Planning. “The insourcing of these services for new building design projects, alterations, additions, and as-built documentation has already begun to save the City of Tshwane millions of rand in fees that would otherwise have been outsourced,” Councillor Sarah Mabotsa said. She added that the Physical Development Services of the Department of Economic Development and Spatial Planning is staffed by qualified architectural professionals, quantity surveyors, and building works inspectors. They are equipped to manage projects from inception through to completion. She explained…

EFF leader Julius Malema is expected to address supporters in Durban on Sunday at the party’s national Youth Day event as it looks to rejuvenate its support in KwaZulu-Natal ahead of next year’s local government elections. The event will be held at King Zwelithini stadium in Umlazi, with the EFF saying it wants to pay a special focus on Umlazi to increase its seats in the eThekwini Municipality. The party has tasked its eThekwini councillor Thami Xuma, who also chairs the Municipal Public Accounts Committee, to work on the ground in Umlazi to ensure that the party retains the almost 28 000 votes it received in the 2021 local government elections. Umlazi is the province’s biggest township, with a population of close to a million. On Tuesday, Xuma said that…

With unwavering dedication to conservation, a python ensnared in electric clear-vu fencing at a secret conservation site was successfully freed and given CPR. In a remarkable display of teamwork and quick thinking, security officers, technicians, Durban snake rescuer Nick Evans, and veterinarian Dr Carla Goede came together last week to rescue the python that was entangled in the electric fence while trying to squeeze through. Evans said the electric fence triggered the alarm, and security responded. The first officer on the scene ran back into the bush to get some sticks and tried wedging the electric cables off the python until help arrived. “Clever thinking,” Evans remarked. He said more security officers arrived, but not much could be done while the electric fence was on. This prompted a call for…

Mercedes-AMG has released two new ‘53’ badged models in South Africa. Until the more extreme ‘63’ versions arrive, the new Mercedes-AMG E53 Hybrid Sedan and CLE 53 Coupe will be the most potent models in their respective line-ups. But how much do they cost? The new E53 Hybrid 4Matic Sedan is now on sale for R2 499 596, while the CLE 53 4Matic+ Coupe gets into your garage for R2 065 982. They might sound technically similar, but they are both very different variations of AMG’s latest six-cylinder turbocharged petrol powertrain. Mercedes-AMG E53 Hybrid To that end, the E53 is a fully-blown plug-in hybrid, pairing the aforementioned straight-six engine with a 120kW electric motor for system outputs of 430kW and 750Nm. With Race Start mode activated, which momentarily raises maximum…

Willie le Roux has enjoyed a stellar career, with the two Rugby World Cup triumphs with the Springboks the stand-out moments. The 35-year-old fullback has featured for many clubs, franchises and provinces too – from Boland and the Cheetahs in the early days, to Wasps in England and now the Bulls. Yet in over 15 years, he has only celebrated one trophy: the 2011 Currie Cup First Division title with Boland, alongside his late teammate Cornal Hendricks. So, Saturday’s United Rugby Championship final against Leinster in Dublin (6pm SA time start) is an extra special encounter for Le Roux, who will hope to lift the cup for his friend Hendricks too. Le Roux feels that the key to victory at Croke Park will be about handling the magnitude of the…

LONDON: Kagiso Rabada has already delivered a special bowling performance. He may now have to double up with the bat on Thursday for the Proteas to keep going toe-to-toe with Australia in this fast-moving World Test Championship Final at Lord’s. The opening two sessions belonged to Rabada and the Proteas. They had the large number of Proteas fans in the stands chanting traditional South African songs as the Aussies were blown away. “It felt like a home game,” Rabada said. But he also admitted that the eventual Australian may have been a few too many. “212, you'll take that. But we thought probably 160 is what we should have had them at,” he said. The fact that it was that much was largely due to a non-review by the Proteas…

There is a hush around the famous old ground. Everyone is waiting in eager anticipation. The coin goes up in the air. Heads is the call. It feels like an eternity before it hits the Lord’s turf. Match referee Javagal Srinath picks it up and walks over to Temba Bavuma. The Proteas captain has called correctly. A big cheer goes out from particularly the Mount Stand, which has been transformed into Castle Corner here at St John’s Wood. Bavuma alludes to it when the skipper says "we can hear the South African accents in the stands" after opting to unleash his quicks Kagiso Rabada and Marco Jansen first. The ICC have hauled out the greats from both teams' legendary eras of the past. Hashim Amla and Matthew Hayden, sporting a…

ENTERTAINMENT company MultiChoice, releasing its results for the year ended March 31, 2025, disclosed a loss of 2.8 million active linear subscribers in the past two financial years. In the reporting period linear subscribers were down 1.2m, or 8%, to 14.5m active subscribers, with the loss evenly split between South African (0.6m) and Rest of Africa (0.6m). The group said although reflecting an improvement on 2024 trends, "this indicates ongoing broad-based pressure across the group’s entire customer base". "The past two financial years have been a period of significant financial disruption for economies, corporates and consumers across sub-Saharan Africa due to challenging macro-economic factors. Combined with the impact of structural industry changes in video entertainment such as the rise of piracy, streaming services and social media, this has materially affected…

After months of stagnation and uncertainty, South Africa's economic landscape has witnessed a notable shift in the BankservAfrica Economic Transactions Index (BETI). The index, which measures the value of electronic transactions processed through BankservAfrica on a monthly basis at seasonally adjusted real prices, rebounded to an index level of 138.3 in May, a rise from 136.2 recorded in April. This marked a welcome break from an eight-month trend of inactivity, sparking hope for sustained economic recovery. According to Shergeran Naidoo, BankservAfrica’s head of stakeholder engagements, this improvement could signify a turning point. “The BETI improved to an index level of 138.3 in May, up from the 136.2 recorded in April, breaking an eight-month trend of sideways movement,” Naidoo said. However, experts urged caution, emphasising that while this uptick was encouraging,…

Parliament's Standing Committee on Public Accounts (Scopa) has expressed serious concerns regarding more than R86 million paid to the South African Post Office (Sapo) business rescue practitioners (BRPs), Anoosh Rooplal and Juanito Damons, since their appointment in 2023. Members of Parliament on Wednesday questioned the revelation of zero consequence management at Sapo as wasteful and fruitless expenditure was sitting above R200 million since 2021. This comes as R152m remains unaccounted for in the current year, with further reports of R136m being written off by the BRPs. "I would like to understand that it is two people, that is already R86m spent on them, please Auditor-General, take us nicely. Did you have sight of what the R86m was paying for? What are the other consultants? What is the period of…

The Global Entrepreneurship Congress (GEC) returned to the US for the first time in 15 years, where it was first hosted. In 2009, Kansas City welcomed just a few hundred ecosystem stakeholders who banded together with one vision – to build a “one global entrepreneurial ecosystem’’. The movement has now quite literally mushroomed over the years and has seen thousands of ecosystem stakeholders meet annually to discuss better ways to support the development of entrepreneurs across the globe. In 2017, South Africa hosted the GEC, which welcomed over 5000 delegates from 160 countries onto our shores. Last week, the City of Indianapolis greeted 3455 participants from 141 countries, marking the 15th Global Entrepreneurship Congress under the theme, the “Bold Change the World”. With over 148 sessions and 200 speakers, the…

Pan African Resources on Wednesday reported record second-half gold production and a sharp reduction in debt for the 2025 financial year, as the miner looks to ramp up output by more than 40% in the coming year. The announcement, however, was overshadowed by a fatal accident at its Barberton operation earlier this month. The South Africa-focused gold producer said one employee lost their life at the Sheba Mine on June 6. The company said it will continue efforts to achieve “zero harm” across its operations. Despite the tragedy, operationally the company ended the fiscal year on a strong note. Gold production for the second half of 2025 is estimated at approximately 112 000 ounces, a 32% increase from the first half (84 705 ounces), driven by improved grades, stronger performance…

The Gauteng provincial roads and transport department is under fire after revealing spending over R32 million upgrading a stretch of Evaton Road in the Vaal, yet the area has nothing to show for it. Instead, Evaton Road between Adams and Selbourne roads in Small Farms has a gravel street, a footpath over a stream and an illegal dumping site. The area is between iMfundo Primary School and Tokelo Secondary School and is separated by the Rietspruit stream. During his 2016 state of the province address, then-Gauteng premier David Makhura announced that his administration would upgrade Evaton Road between Adams and Selbourne roads. DA member of the Gauteng provincial legislature Kingsol Chabalala asked the roads and transport MEC Kedibone Diale-Tlabela about the promised upgrade. She indicated that the project started in…

A 43-year-old law enforcement officer was arrested three weeks after a man kidnapped in Kraaifontein was found buried in a shallow grave in an open field on the dunes between Monwabisi beach and Macassar. He was arrested in Belleville on Monday on charges of kidnapping, extortion and murder. This came after a victim was allegedly kidnapped in Kraaifontein on May 16. The victim was last seen by a friend who reported that the victim went to Bellville to view a vehicle he intended to buy and never came back. Instead, another friend of the victim received a call from the victim himself reporting that he had been kidnapped and had been assaulted. Hawks spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Siyabulela Vukubi said, at that time, the suspects demanded a ransom of R100 000…

The Portfolio Committee on Correctional Services has expressed deepening concerns regarding the alarming budgetary excesses plaguing the Department of Correctional Services (DCS), as projections indicate an over-expenditure of R1.4 billion. This situation has arisen amid increasing operational costs, which could severely hinder the department’s ability to fulfil its mandate effectively. During a briefing on the DCS’s second and third quarter performance report for the 2024/25 financial year, committee members were informed that the year-to-date expenditure for the department stood at a considerable R21.6bn, constituting 78% of the projected annual spending of R29.2bn. This figure starkly overshadows the adjusted budget of R27.8bn, thus highlighting the pressing need for fiscal accountability within the correctional system. The committee identified several contributing factors to this over-expenditure. Chief among them is a cost-of-living adjustment implemented…

President Cyril Ramaphosa is set to meet with US President Donald Trump on the sidelines of the Group of Seven (G7) Summit in Canada this weekend. The meeting will focus on key issues, including the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) and US-SA tariffs. Ramaphosa’s meeting with Trump comes after South Africa submitted a revised framework proposal to the US, aiming to expand trade and investment relations between the two countries. The US imposed tariffs on South African imports in April, with a 90-day pause on reciprocal tariffs of 30% against South African exports. The tariffs were part of a broader set of “liberation day” tariffs imposed by Trump on all US trading partners. However, they were later reduced to a base rate of 10%, with the expectation that countries…

South Africans like their “special edition” cars and manufacturers are keen to tap into that market. Put on a couple of decals, different rims and a few interior upgrades and it’s a sure-fire winner. Ford South Africa has produced a number of these popular spin-offs over the years with their Ranger bakkie range and they have now extended that to the family-orientated Territory. Launched last year, the Chinese made SUV has proved a popular purchase within the Ford stable and the new Dark Edition aims to capitalise on that. Exterior Let’s take a look at what they’ve done. Based on the range-topping Titanium model it gets black accents and trimmings with a satin black grille, high-gloss black treatment for the skid plate, fog lamp accents and mirror caps provide a…

CHILD Protection Week has just been concluded, but year after year we are still stuck in the same momentum. Recently a 3-year-old was left unattended for hours on end resulting in his death, and the girl child is no longer safe in South African schools. Despite many adults being educated and aware of how to care for and nurture South Africa’s children, they still opt to inflict harm upon them. In some instances, the harm is caused by practices that can be classified as child neglect, malnutrition, and maltreatment, and in other instances, children are victims of sexual misconduct, verbal and physical violence as well as psychological abuse such as bullying. The challenges that children face are dire and this is further exacerbated by socio-economic circumstances such as poverty and…

Orbit College was forced to settle for a goalless draw against Casric Stars in the Premier Soccer League promotional playoff match staged at the Olympia Park Stadium in Rustenburg on Wednesday. The result sees both sides sitting on one point apiece, as the Rustenburg-based team now faces a long trip to the Western Cape, where they will meet PSL side Cape Town City, who are set to begin their bid to defend their top-flight status on home turf. With a valuable place in the Betway Premiership on the line, both teams entered the encounter fully aware of what was at stake, and the cautious opening exchanges clearly demonstrated how vital it was to begin the promotional playoffs on a positive note and build momentum going forward. Playing in familiar surroundings,…

In some ways, David Kriel has been a Swiss Army knife for the Bulls over the last few years. Having started out as a fullback for the Pretoria franchise, Kriel was then shifted to wing, and eventually inside centre. This season, he has operated mainly at outside centre, and even been called upon to take over the goal-kicking at times. His best effort off the tee was undoubtedly the two match-winning kicks against Benetton and Leinster. Last October, Kriel banged over a touchline conversion after the hooter to secure the victory over Benetton in Treviso, and in March this year, he landed a penalty in the fifth minute of injury time – about 40 metres on the angle as well – to clinch a 21-20 triumph over Leinster at Loftus…

Avedia Energy has made a significant move in the country's energy landscape by receiving its first delivery of imported LPG at their facility in Saldanha Bay, Western Cape. This milestone by the South African-registered liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) company marks a promising new chapter in the LPG market that aims to provide cleaner energy sources to lower-income households. In an interview with Business Report on Wednesday, Avedia's managing director Atose Aguele expressed enthusiasm over the delivery of LPG in Isotainers. “We also have LPG pipelines that are under construction in Saldanha Bay. However, we are pleased to have received our first Isotainers,” Aguele said. “This will be a game changer for LPG, as it currently is expensive, and with us entering the market, we expect that we will provide LPG…

A structural reversal in global capital allocation away from US assets now appears to be underway. We expect this to weaken the US dollar and provide significant support to emerging markets, which are increasingly well-positioned to benefit from this rebalancing in global portfolio flows. The world is overexposed to US assets. Since the global financial crisis in 2008, the allocation of US assets in global investment portfolios has increased rapidly, reaching extreme levels. Although this trend has been recognised as unsustainable for some time, a combination of key factors has continued to reinforce it. These include large fiscal deficits in the post-Covid period, persistent weakness in eurozone growth, the dominance of the US technology sector, and a prolonged period of elevated interest rates in the US. These dynamics pushed US…

There is a strong case for diversity and inclusion in business – and not just among large corporates. Given the vital role that small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) play in the South African economy, their potential to contribute to a more inclusive and diverse economic landscape should not be overlooked. Research shows that building diverse teams is so much more than a moral or ethical imperative. In an increasingly interconnected working world, diversity can translate into tangible business metrics. For example, in a study conducted by LinkedIn, 60% of respondents said that diversity within their sales team contributed to greater levels of success. In this particular study, ‘success’ was benchmarked across a number of different metrics. The study reveals that teams with more diversity were tied to higher sales conversion…

The National Employers’ Association of South Africa (Neasa) and Sakeliga have officially notified the Minister of Employment and Labour, Dr Nomakhosazana Meth, of their intent to seek an urgent interdict against the contentious Employment Equity (EE) regulations. This comes after the department published two sets of EE Regulations on 15 April - the General Administrative Regulations, and Regulations on Sector Numerical EE Targets - following the commencement of the Employment Equity Amendment Act, No. 4 of 2022, on 1 January 2025. The proposed regulations mandate employers to adhere to strict hiring quotas based on race, sex, and disability, with penalties for non-compliance reaching up to 10% of a company’s turnover. Section 15(A) of the Equity Employment Amendment Act empowers the minister to set numerical targets. According to the Act, the…

South Africa’s residential rental market has kicked off 2025 with a remarkable performance, showcasing the best results in several years. According to the latest PayProp Rental Index, average national rental growth reached 5.6% in the first quarter of this year, marking the strongest quarterly increase since the third quarter of 2017 and pushing the average rent to R9 132. Notably, February saw a staggering year-on-year rental increase of 6%, the highest monthly growth recorded since August 2017, indicating a burgeoning recovery in the sector. This impressive rise comes alongside a favourable inflation landscape as the Consumer Price Index (CPI) inflation fell from 3.2% in both January and February to a low of 2.7% in March. The resulting gap between rental growth and inflation is significant—standing at 2.8% in both February…

Award-winning presenter Relebogile Mabotja is stepping back in front of the camera as the host of a bold new talk show. The new Showmax Original Untied sees Mabotja sit down with some of South Africa’s most recognisable women who have been through a divorce. Businesswoman Norma Mngoma, whose high-profile marriage and public fallout shocked the country, is the first guest. Mngoma was previously married to former Minister of Finance Malusi Gigaba and their split made headlines. The emotional resonance deepens as each episode spotlights stories from public figures including reality stars Beverly Steyn and Nonku Williams, celebrated actresses Dawn Thandeka King, Mona Monyane, and Palesa Madisakwane, iconic media personality Zandi Nhlapo, and model and social entrepreneur, Sonia Booth. Sonia publicly shared her discovery of infidelity by her ex-husband, former footballer…

The Gauteng Department of Education has confirmed the death of a 34-year-old teacher from Tetelo Secondary School in Soweto, who was found on Monday, June 9 – five days after being reported missing. According to the department, the educator allegedly requested an e-hailing service on Wednesday, 4 June, before disappearing. His family was only informed of his death on the Monday. Police have opened an investigation into the circumstances surrounding his death. Gauteng Education MEC Matome Chiloane expressed his condolences, describing the teacher as “a beacon of hope who was meant to empower young minds in the heart of Soweto, inspiring them to succeed beyond their capabilities.” The teacher, who taught English and isiZulu to Grades 11 and 12, was highly respected within the school community. In response to…

Gauteng is getting new number plates and they’re already in the trial phase, with local government fleets testing them out in order to iron out any bugs. Announced by the Gauteng Department of Roads and Transport on June 5, the new number plate system is described as a “leap forward” in crime prevention capability. The redesigned plates feature forensic QR codes and also incorporate special decals that expose any tampering attempts, while the system is supported by a fully digitised back-end portal. These enhancements, the department says, will help to combat vehicle theft, fraud as well as cloning. The Gauteng Department of Roads and Transport says the pilot programme will take approximately six months, implying that the public roll-out could take place early in 2026 if all goes according to…

City of Tshwane Speaker, Mncedi Ndzwanana, has hit back at claims of ruling on emotions, particularly accusations from the Democratic Alliance (DA) alleging that opposition voices are being silenced. In a firm statement, the Ndzwanana dismissed the allegations as “misguided and baseless,” asserting that his conduct in Council was governed strictly by the rules and orders law, not emotion or partisanship. “It is wholly incorrect to claim that opposition parties are being silenced,” Ndzwanana said. “All councillors continue to enjoy full freedom of debate in our meetings, which are transparently live-streamed for the public.” Ndzwanana is a councillor from the African Transformation Movement (ATM). The Speaker emphasised his commitment to impartiality, saying that managing debates fairly is central to his role. He stressed that no political party has been denied…

Whether we like it or not, New Energy Vehicles (NEVs) are an inevitable part of the motoring landscape. So whether it’s a full battery electric vehicle (BEV), plug-in hybrid, hybrid or mild hybrid, manufacturers are launching a myriad of options to the public. They all have their strengths and weaknesses but for a country like South Africa, the hybrid option seems to make the most sense. Hyundai, which has a number of award winning BEVs in their stable with models like the IONIQ 5, IONIQ 5 N, IONIQ 6 and Kona Electric as well as a couple of hybrids, are the latest manufacturer to come to the local party with the Santa Fe Hybrid Elite AWD. It garnered the 2025 Women’s Car of the Year as well as the Sports…

Following numerous delays, Gauteng’s new high-tech number plate system has been unveiled, with the government vehicle pilot process having officially commenced. The new number plates, which were presented by the Gauteng Provincial Government on Thursday, were created with the aim of reducing crime by deterring the use of counterfeit or cloned plates. To that end, the plates are embedded with QR codes, and have track and trace features for easy vehicle identification and registration. They also feature a tamper-evident security decal, designed to expose counterfeiting measures. Other details, on the far left-hand side of the plates, are an image of the national flag, country name and United Nations (UN) country code. “85% of all the crimes that are committed in Gauteng, a motor vehicle is involved, either as the getaway…

LONDON: Kagiso Rabada and Marco Jansen were at the crease when the Proteas unchoked at Centurion in December last year to qualify for a first-ever ICC World Test Championship final. Two big fast fast bowlers embraced passionately in the middle of the wicket after Jansen delightfully steered the winning runs past point. Jansen hauled out the big bear hug on Rabada again at Lord’s on a pulsating opening day of the WTC Final on Wednesday. Only this time it was to celebrate Rabada’s five-wicket haul and second at The Home of Cricket. But much has happened in between these two fateful days. Rabada, of course, tested positive for a banned substance and was instructed to appear before his comrades to apologise for his actions. It would be fair to say…

Mamelodi Sundowns’ legend Hlompho Kekana says the current crop of players have a chance to do better at the Club World Cup compared to the class of 2016. Sundowns will be back at the global showpiece which is scheduled to get underway on Saturday in the United States (US). Their last participation in the tournament was nearly nine years ago in Japan after they won their maiden CAF Champions League crown. That event exposed that they are still far-off from being a well-oiled machine as they lost their two games to Kashima Antlers and Jeonbuk Motors respectively. However, the play-offs format has since changed heading to the upcoming event in America as the football governing body, FIFA, has extended the event to 32 teams. As such, Sundowns are pitted in…

There’s been an understandable outpouring of disbelief of Paseka Mako and Thabiso Monyane’s departure from Orlando Pirates this winter. The two fullbacks have had their fair share of fortunes at Pirates when Mako operated on the left and Monyane on the right. Mako arrived at Pirates seven years ago, and won numerous trophies in the process, including four MTN8 trophies and two Nedbank Cups. Monyane also achieved the same feat - and even more - as he joined Pirates when he was only 12 years old, spending 13 years at the club. The duo was so good at some point that many tipped them to continue operating down the flanks for Bafana Bafana in the same games. However, it’s been the latter - Monyane - that has been favoured by…