Innholdsfortegnelse for 2025-08-13 i Star

The Government Pensions Administration Agency (GPAA) has refuted all allegations of mismanagement of funds, irregular procurement, and subvertion of governance processes. This comes after weekend reports that the GPAA paid R270 million to contractors for refurbishing a building it allegedly has no legal access to, linked to a 10-year office lease agreement estimated at R1 billion. The GPAA is a government agency that administers funds for the Government Employees Pension Fund, serving 1.7 million employees and pensioners. GPAA spokesperson, Mack Lewele, on Tuesday said the allegations were the subject of an ongoing audit process. Lekwele told Business Report that due to this process, the GPAA was not in a position to make pre-emptive statements as they may jeopardise the audit outcome. “As stated previously, we reiterate that our process to…

The official unemployment rate in South Africa rose to its highest in one year as the jobless population surged by 140 000 in the three months to June, resulting in a total of 8.4 million individuals seeking work. The increase in unemployment has raised concerns, with the official unemployment rate jumping by 0.3 percentage points from 32.9% in the first quarter to 33.2% in the second quarter. This is the highest jobless rate since the second quarter of 2024. According to the Quarterly Labour Force Survey (QLFS) results for the second quarter of 2025, the labour market showed a modest increase in employment numbers but this was coupled with a worrying rise in the unemployment rate. Statistics South Africa said there was an increase of 19 000 employed persons, bringing…

South Africa’s productive sectors are poised to make a significant impact on the nation’s gross domestic product (GDP) growth in the second quarter of 2025, as new data reveals a positive uptick in both mining and manufacturing output. Data from Statistics South Africa (Stats SA) on Tuesday showed that mining production rose by 2.4% in June compared to the same month a year ago, up from an upwardly revised 0.3% increase in May. This June mining report marked the second consecutive month of growth, exceeding market estimates of 1.4% growth. Stats SA’s principal service statistician, Jean-Pierre Terblanche, said platinum group metals (PGM), coal and chromium ore were the main drivers of growth, as they rose 3.0%, 3.7%, and 9.0%, respectively. Production of PGM picked up following disruptive rains in…

Sirius Real Estate, JSE-listed owner of industrial parks in Germany and the UK, has announced a third acquisition in a week - it will buy Hartlebury Trading Estate in the UK for £101.1 million (R2.41 billion). “The acquisition is transformational for Sirius' UK business, which operates as BizSpace, where it will increase the size of the portfolio by 18% to 8.3 million square feet, while growing the gross UK asset value by about 20% and immediately boosting revenues by 10%,” said Sirius’s CEO Andrew Coombs. This transaction follows the announcement last week of acquisitions in Dresden and Bedford and it is the ninth business park the group has bought in 2025, with a total investment value of €289.9m that has added €20m of net operating income. The Hartlebury estate currently…

If you gravitate towards musicals, you don’t want to miss Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. Presented by Pieter Toerien and the Luitingh Alexander Musical Theatre Academy (LAMTA), this production exudes the vibrancy and infectious ambience of the beloved musical by Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber. Expect high energy performances to timeless tracks like Any Dream Will Do, Close Every Door, There’s One More Angel in Heaven and Go, Go, Go Joseph. In this timeless tale, underpinned by uplifting themes of hope, resilience and destiny, Dylan Janse van Rensburg plays the titular role. He is joined by powerhouse vocalist Lelo Ramasimong as the narrator and Chris Jaftha as Pharaoh. The rest of the ensemble cast comprises LAMTA graduates. Where: Pieter Toerien’s Montecasino Theatre. When: Runs until September 28, 730pm.…

In a bold move, the City of Tshwane’s MMC for Agriculture and Environmental Management, Obakeng Ramabodu, led a clean-up operation along the Apies River, resulting in the demolition of makeshift shelters housing homeless individuals. Ramabodu accused the homeless of being robbers and criminals, claiming they stole valuables like cellphones and handbags from students of Tshwane University of Technology (TUT) and Unisa. During the operation, metro police and waste management officials found individuals with allegedly stolen items, including handbags and a cellphone. Ramabodu believes that these items are evidence of the homeless individuals’ involvement in criminal activities. “These people who sleep under the bridge and around the CBD as you enter town are criminals. This is what we found: handbags which belong to students who go to schools here at Unisa…

Controversial lobby groups Afriforum and Solidarity have announced they are pulling out of the upcoming National Dialogue, days after key legacy foundations also withdrew from the highly anticipated event. The first National Convention is set to take place at UNISA’s main campus in Pretoria from August 15 to 16. Speaking at a media briefing on yesterday, Afriforum CEO Kallie Kriel said the two lobby groups had decided not to participate in this weekend’s national dialogue. “The reason for that is simple. The current process has been captured by the ANC as well as President Ramaphosa,” he said. Kriel claimed Ramaphosa had turned the national dialogue into an ANC monologue. “They want to dictate the agenda, and they expect us to just listen. The fact is, we must remember the crisis…

Economic experts have called for a balanced view on any possible changes to the country's Broad-based Black Economic Empowerment (BBBEE) policies. This comes as the DA through its leader, John Steenhuisen, proposed “sweeping changes” to some of the country’s pro-black policies. During a media briefing, Steenhuisen yesterday launched the party’s six-point plan to turbocharge the economy, which includes changes to the BBBEE, Land Expropriation and Employment Equity Act. Steenhuisen slammed South Africa’s BBBEE policies, saying these policies have failed to uplift the most disadvantaged citizens and have instead promoted elite enrichment of politicians and their affiliates. As a result, Steenhuisen put forward what he called an inclusive alternative to the current framework of transformation, which he said is based on need rather than race, and which unlocks opportunity for all…

The controversial Gupta family’s Saxonwold compound has been sold to a single buyer for approximately R34.5 million, the Park Village Auctions (PVA) said. PVA announced that all three properties – number 3, 5, and 7 Saxonwold Drive in Sandton, Gauteng – along with their contents – have been successfully sold. The sale includes furniture and appliances, with the total amount realised inclusive of buyer’s commission and VAT. “Park Village Auctions has realised approximately R34.5m for all three Saxonwold properties and their contents,” said PVA’s Clive Lazarus. Lazarus confirmed that the Business Rescue Practitioners (BRPs) accepted and approved the offer. The properties belonged to Confident Concept (Pty) Ltd, which is currently under business rescue. IOL News previously reported that the auction revealed that a single R3m offer was made for the…

Water is one of the most critical yet undervalued resources in modern business. As climate change accelerates and global demand increases, water scarcity is no longer a distant environmental issue - it is a present-day business risk. For companies operating in water-intensive sectors like mining, energy, manufacturing, and agriculture, water security directly affects continuity, reputation, and long-term profitability. As such, treating water as a strategic business issue is not just about sustainability. It is about survival. When water becomes unavailable, unaffordable, or unreliable, operations stall, communities suffer, and investors take notice. Businesses that continue to view water as merely a compliance item are missing the bigger picture. Moving from compliance to stewardship Historically, most businesses have focused on compliance-driven water management. This typically involves ensuring the quality of water discharge,…

It has been a rollercoaster few days for Crystal Palace supporters, who went from the euphoria of a dramatic penalty shoot-out Community Shield victory over Liverpool at Wembley to the disappointment of seeing their demotion from the Uefa Europa League to the Uefa Conference League confirmed by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS). The decision to uphold Uefa’s sanction against the FA Cup winners has once again placed football’s modern shared ownership structures under the spotlight. European regulations prohibit clubs under shared ownership from competing in the same tournament. Palace, whose former part-owner John Textor also held a majority stake in French club Lyon, breached those rules after Lyon also qualified for the Europa League. Textor sold his 43% stake in Palace in June, after the club had already…

Bulls Currie Cup coach Phiwe Nomlomo feels veteran scrumhalf Louis Schreuder’s return from Bath in the Premiership is helping knit together an already fearsome Boland Cavaliers backline. The Bulls face their high-riding ‘brothers’ – Bulls owners Johann Rupert and Patrice Motsepe are also majority shareholders in Boland – in round four of the competition at Boland Rugby Stadium in Wellington on Sunday (3pm kick-off). The hosts are fresh off a 29-10 bonus-point win against the Lions in round three in Wellington that increased their chances of making the Currie Cup play-offs. The Bulls are still smarting from a 41-7 humbling by the Pumas at home after two convincing wins. The two teams are joined on 11 points by log leaders the Pumas. “Boland are pretty sharp,” Nomlomo said during an…

Platinum metals group will dispose SA mining operations, to focus on Zambian copper business Jubilee Metals Group plans to dispose of its chrome and platinum group mining operations in South Africa - it is one of the five top chrome producers worldwide - for up to $90 million (R15.8 billion), so that it can focus on its copper business in Zambia. This appears similar, albeit at a smaller scale, to the strategy being adopted by former South African mining goliath, Anglo American, which has already divested of its South African platinum and coal assets and will also soon sell its diamond assets, to focus on its new core assets: copper, premium iron ore, and crop nutrients. Jubilee Metals, which owns and operates several chrome and PGM processing plants across the…

We know how to save, stretch a budget, cover school fees, and find the best deals. But ask us about investing or long-term financial planning, and many smart, capable women still feel like we’re getting it wrong. A survey shared by financial journalist Maya Fisher-French in partnership with Satrix revealed something striking: while women are highly competent money managers, only 15% rate themselves as very knowledgeable about investing, compared to 42% of men. That’s not a knowledge gap; it’s a confidence gap. And it’s costing us. The cost of playing it safe The 10X Retirement Reality Report (2023) found that nearly half of South African women (49%) don’t have a retirement plan, compared to 43% of men. More women see themselves as “savers,” while fewer identify as “investors.” It’s a…

Recent investigative reporting by Pieter-Louis Myburgh in the Daily Maverick into alleged bribery involving the suspended CEO of the Independent Development Trust and her spokesperson underscores how deeply embedded corruption has become in South Africa. Such incidents occur with alarming frequency, and rarely with consequence. For ordinary South Africans, the constant stream of revelations about bribery, fraud, and political patronage has produced a sense of fatigue. The scale and normalisation of such conduct should no longer surprise us. During his tenure as CEO of Eskom, André de Ruyter, exposed organised criminal networks operating inside the utility. In his book Truth to Power: My Three Years Inside Eskom, he described syndicates that extended into the highest political circles. These included the so-called “coal mafia” that supplied substandard material while diverting coal…

Weaver Fintech has declared a remarkable first half, a pre-tax profit surge of 48% to R370 million, attributed to a robust revenue growth of 29% that reached R2.6 billion. This was according to the company's half year results to June 30 that were released on Tuesday, and which followed the rebranding last month from the former name, Homechoice International. CEO Sean Wibberley expressed his enthusiasm for the firm’s performance, remarking on the company’s evolving 40 year relationship with both customers and merchants. “Our results show how deeply our ecosystem resonates with customers and merchants. We had a very good first half, off the back of a strong second half of last year. We are not just scaling – we’re transforming how financial services are accessed and experienced across South Africa,”…

As South Africans demand the removal of Minister of Sports, Arts and Culture Gayton McKenzie following his use of the K-word in a recent live video and previous social media posts, we delve into the legal implications surrounding this term. In 2025, the use of the K-word in South Africa continues to be a deeply offensive and unlawful act (rightfully so), carrying severe legal repercussions. As we have seen in previous cases, South African courts and human rights bodies have affirmed that this slur is an embodiment of racial supremacy and hatred, irrespective of context or the race of the perpetrator. What does the law say about the k-word? South Africa’s Constitution, adopted in 1996, enshrines fundamental rights, including the right to equality and dignity, and explicitly prohibits unfair discrimination,…

A parolee who impersonated a Hawks official and solicited R50 000 to “back up information” was denied bail in the Hatfield Magistrate’s Court this week. National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) spokesperson Lumka Mahanjana said Thabo Theletsane, 41, faces charges of fraud and impersonating a police official. Having furnished the court with a false address and his previous convictions, which also related to fraud, further hampered Theletsane’s application for bail. “It is alleged that on 25 October 2024, while out on parole after serving a sentence for fraud, Theletsane contacted a prominent businessman via WhatsApp using a profile picture of the former national head of the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (DPCI), Lieutenant General Godfrey Lebeya. “During the call, he allegedly claimed his phone had been hacked and that the businessman would…

Angry Eldorado community members who had marched to Protea Magistrate’s Court ahead of the appearance of the man accused of assault, rape, and murder of his four-year-old daughter continued their chants, calling for justice for the little girl outside the court yesterday. The man, who cannot be named due to strict conditions set out by the magistrate, appeared briefly in court, where his matter was postponed to Monday, August 18, for a formal bail application. His wife also appeared separately for her alleged failure to immediately report multiple incidents of child abuse to the authorities. According to police, the man was arrested after officers responded to reports of screams coming from a backyard shack. Inside the home, police discovered the young girl with severe head injuries, bruises, and a swollen…

Some opposition parties prefer to remain on the opposition bench as they flatly rejected the ANC’s suggestion to invite them into the Government of National Unity (GNU). The uMkhonto weSizwe Party (MKP) was unwilling to be part of the Cabinet that involved the DA and President Cyril Ramaphosa. However, the MKP said it was willing to hold discussions with the EFF and the ANC, without Ramaphosa’s involvement, for the formation of the pro-black government. MKP national spokesperson Nhlamulo Ndhlela said this in reaction to the ANC’s suggestion of adding more parties to the GNU. The ANC, whose spokesperson Mahlengi Bhengu-Motsiri is yet to respond to request for comment, announced in a statement released on August 6, that its National Executive Committee’s ordinary meeting held between August 1 and 4 resolved…

The South African government appears unmoved by the recent visa ban imposed by the US embassy in Harare, Zimbabwe, even as US President Donald Trump continues to disrupt global diplomacy with tariff increases and immigration policies seven months into his second term. The US has suspended all routine immigrant and non-immigrant visa services to Zimbabwe due to concerns about misuse and overstays. However, the issuance of other visa types remains unaffected. Although South Africa was exempt from new Trump visa restrictions on SADC countries, a new policy has been implemented for Malawi and Zambia. Citizens of these nations are now required to pay a bond of $5 000 (R88 656) to $15 000 (R265 967) to travel to the United States. Additionally, the citizens are required to use one of…

Higher Education Minister Buti Manamela announced yesterday an urgent overhaul of the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) funding model. The Minister outlined the department’s vision during a media briefing in Pretoria for the post-school education sector and emphasised that stabilising NSFAS is a top priority in the government’s education reform plan. The new model is expected to be developed within the next three months. The decision to implement these changes comes after widespread concerns about governance, delivery failures, and funding gaps at NSFAS. Manamela acknowledged that “there’s been fundamental challenges at NSFAS” but also highlighted that 800 000 students have currently received their allowances. To address the pressing issues, several actions are being taken: The Minister has instructed the CEO and Chairperson of NSFAS to convene an urgent briefing…

Israel has murdered 18 000 children in 700 days. That’s roughly 1 child every hour for 700 days. Let that sink in. 18 000 young lives ended by a ruthless genocide of Palestinians by an Israeli regime hellbent on exterminating a people through bombs, bullets and barricades. Just this week, five journalists were assassinated by Israel’s Zionist regime, bringing to over 270 the number of journalists and media workers killed in this latest escalation of conflict since October 7, 2023. No human should turn a blind eye to the atrocities committed by the apartheid state of Israel. It is morally reprehensible, cruel and savage. This is why we have chosen as a media organisation to honour the murdered children of Palestine. When you visit www.thestar.co.za today, you will see…

REVENGE might be a dish best served cold but Miguel Inacio says Kaizer Chiefs have long put their defeat by Polokwane City behind them and Amakhosi will thus not be trotting on to the FNB Stadium pitch with vengeance on their mind. Chiefs’ failure to qualify for the top eight a second season running had much to do with the goalless draw they played against the team from the Limpopo capital and many are of the view it is time to get even. “It's not a revenge game for us,” the Chiefs skipper told the media during the club’s open day in Naturena yesterday. “We just have to do our best to win the match. Last season we were not at our best but now that we’ve started this season…

The South African poultry industry has voiced concerns about the government’s decision to facilitate the import of 72 000 metric tons of poultry from the United States as part of measures to boost trade and reduce the tariffs. The local poultry industry on Tuesday said it has been sacrificed to benefit the automotive sector and others focusing on profitable exports to the US. The South African Poultry Association (SAPA) told Business Report that the decision was a surprise. SAPA CEO Izaak Breitenbach said the industry had instead been hard at negotiations with the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition (the dtic) to suspend the US imports prior to the tariff negotiations. Breitenbach said that the US, under the African Growth and Opportunity Act agreements, along with Brazil, were amongst the…

The Minister of Home Affairs Dr Leon Schreiber on Tuesday announced Capitec Bank and First National Bank (FNB) as the first banks that have elected to sign up to the Department’s new digital partnership model that will expand access to Smart ID and Passport services. This is from the existing 30 to hundreds more bank branches in both urban and rural areas across South Africa, as well as to digital banking applications. Schreiber said a third bank would be announced soon that joined the partnership. The Department of Home Affairs (DHA) said it marks the beginning of the end for long travelling distances to reach Home Affairs services, for long queues, as well as for the Green ID book with its unacceptable vulnerability to fraud and identity theft, and the…

Since 1994, South Africa has made substantive progress in advancing the rights of women, strengthening their representation in decision-making positions and developing gender-responsive policies and legislation. However there remains critical gaps to be addressed through public policy, institutional frameworks and implementation. Last week we marked our National Women’s Day as a stark reminder that the struggle for gender equality and women’s emancipation is yet to be won. In this context, the Department of Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities (DWYPD) is expected to deliver bold, intersectional leadership. The link between climate change and gender equality is undeniable, impacting essentials such as food, shelter, and livelihoods. It’s crucial that national climate policies, such as the nationally determined contributions (NDCs), incorporate gender-responsive actions to advance gender equality in this era of…

Vodacom Group and Airtel Africa on Tuesday announced a strategic infrastructure sharing agreement in key markets including Mozambique, Tanzania and the Democratic Republic of Congo, subject to regulatory approvals in the various countries. Airtel Africa is a leading provider of telecommunications and mobile money services in 14 countries across sub-Saharan Africa. The agreement marks a transformative milestone in promoting digital inclusion and expanding access to reliable connectivity across Africa. The initial partnership focuses on sharing fibre networks and tower infrastructure, to accelerate the roll-out of digital services in these markets, increasing connectivity for customers while reducing operators’ infrastructure costs and improving speed to market. By leveraging existing infrastructure, the collaboration aims to deliver improved connectivity, faster internet speeds, and more reliable services. This will not only enhance customer experience but…

Taxpayers have paid R779 million over the past five years to provide private security at state-owned properties across the country. This was disclosed by Public Works and Infrastructure Minister Dean Macpherson when he was responding to parliamentary questions posed by DA MP Edwin Bath. Macpherson said the expenditure on private security contracts was R140.9m in 2020/21, R124.6m the following year, R144.8m in 2022/23, R161.7m two years ago, and R199.9 in 2024/25. He also said the department has a total of 318 properties that are currently protected by private security companies. “This is a constantly changing number due to properties that get vacated by tenants and thus require security services to prevent and respond to threats of illegal occupation. This number includes occupied and unoccupied properties located in various regions.” Macpherson…

Gauteng police arrested two people following a protest action and a fire at the Department of Home Affairs building in Germiston yesterday morning. Gauteng police spokesperson Colonel Dimakatso Nevhuhulwi confirmed that the two have been charged with public violence. Firefighters had been battling a blaze at a Department of Home Affairs building in Germiston, Ekurhuleni, yesterday morning. William Ntladi, spokesperson for the City of Ekurhuleni Disaster and Emergency Management Service, said they received calls about the fire just after 8 am and confirmed that firefighters are busy at the scene. He said that the two-storey building has been severely damaged and there were no injuries reported. Ntladi said the incident is still unfolding, with no casualties reported so far. “The actual cause of the fire is still undetermined,” he added.…

The National Prosecuting Authority’s (NPA’s) bid to extradite fugitive businessman Richard Payne from the UK to face charges in the R1.2 billion graft case involving former Gauteng Health MEC Brian Hlongwa has hit a brick wall. Suspended director of public prosecutions, Gauteng local division Andrew Chauke, submitted an extradition request to the UK government in September 2022 to get Payne to return to South Africa to face 258 counts of contravention of the Prevention of Organised Crime Act, racketeering, fraud, corruption and money laundering in the long-running R1.2bn irregular tender case between 2006 and 2010. Payne is wanted in the country concerning the matter involving one of his companies, 3P Consulting, and various others, including Ukwakha Design, Midnight Masquerade Properties 72, and Golden Pond Trading 363. His other co-accused, besides…

A legal tussle between two widows over who was married to the deceased at the time of his death, with the applicant claiming she married him when she was 12 years old, was so unclear to a judge that he referred the matter for oral evidence to be presented to the court. The Gauteng High Court, Johannesburg, said it could simply not determine the facts on papers, including how a 12-year-old was able to get married in the 1970s, as claimed by the applicant. The applicant, Ms M, approached the court seeking a declaration that her marriage to B, who is now deceased, is valid at customary law. The first respondent, Mrs T, in countering the application, said she was married to the deceased at the time of his death.…

As we mark the 70th anniversary of the Freedom Charter, the soul of South Africa’s struggle document must be returned to centre stage, especially its most uncompromising and emotive clause, "The Land Shall Be Shared Among Those Who Work It." Born out of the searing injustice of the 1913 Land Act, this clause was not poetic idealism; it was a war cry, a confrontation with a colonial and apartheid order that uprooted, dispossessed, and dismantled the African peasantry and agrarian enterprise. The 1913 Natives Land Act was the legal scalpel that excised millions of Africans from their ancestral land, amputating them from their economic base and cultural lifeblood. It barred Africans from owning land in over 87% of South Africa and confined them to impoverished reserves, setting in motion a…

Standing at 2.03m and 145kg, and wearing size 19 boots (it doesn’t matter if it’s US or UK 19, does it?), Will Skelton is built like a brick outhouse. Over the years, there have been many urban legends about the big Wallaby lock. Many of them probably originated in Australian bars and were greatly exaggerated as the evening edged closer to bad-decisions-o’clock. One such tale involves Skelton going through airport security and being unable to fit through the full-body scanner. Before bringing out the metal detector, legend has it the security officer asked Skelton if he had any guns, to which he replied: “I only have these biceps and a half-eaten protein bar…” However, on a rugby field, the legend of Will Skelton is very, very real. A big, intimidating…

ERIC TINKLER has been in the game long enough to know of the dangers of facing a wounded foe. It is for that reason that the coach of Sekhukhune United will be wary of getting carried away by his side’s fantastic start to the season. Whereas the punters are sure to pencil his team in as outright favourites to win tonight’s Betway Premiership clash against TS Galaxy at the Peter Mokaba Stadium, local football’s most famous ginger is treading carefully. Granted they are on a hat-trick having progressed into the MTN8 semi-finals as well as chalking up maximum points in their league opener. But those victories against the self-same Galaxy and the surprise success at Orlando Pirates will count for nothing tonight if his team take things for granted, he…