Innholdsfortegnelse for 2025-12-05 i Star

President Cyril Ramaphosa has paid a poignant tribute to the late Oupa Magashula, the former South African Revenue Service (Sars) Commissioner. Magushula passed away at the age of 63 this week. According to his family, he died in hospital on Wednesday evening following a long illness. In his tribute, Ramaphosa said Magashula "devoted his life to the development of our economy and the stimulation of entrepreneurship among a new business generation." Ramaphosa said Magashula led Sars at a critical period during which South Africa's economy was affected by the global downturn of 2008, at a time when SA also relied on fiscal resources to host the 2010 FIFA World Cup. "Oupa Magashula was an astute, ompassionate leader whose mission at SARS was driven by the needs of the most…

South African agricultural organisations have raised urgent concerns over reports that an illegal Foot-and-Mouth Disease (FMD) vaccine manufactured in Kenya is being smuggled into the country. Industry leaders warn that the unauthorised importation and possible use of the vaccine poses a severe biosecurity threat that could trigger new outbreaks and devastate the livestock sector. The Department of Agriculture this week confirmed it is aware of the risks, stressing that only the Botswana-produced Aftovaxpur vaccine containing SAT1, SAT2 and SAT3 strains is authorised for use in South Africa. “Importing any veterinary vaccine without proper authorisation is a serious biosecurity breach and criminal offence. Vaccines must be declared and imported under strict permit conditions, as they require cold-chain management and are classified as high-risk cargo,” said Moses Rannditsheni, the department's spokesperson. “We…

The JSE was one of the best-performing global stock markets in November with the FTSE/JSE Capped SWIX Index up 2.3% month on month (m/m); the only major bourse to outperform the JSE last month was the Brazilian Bovespa, up 6.4% m/m. The November rally pushed the FTSE/JSE Capped SWIX Index to a 51% year to date (YTD) gain when measured in US dollar terms. Only the Bovespa and the Spanish IBEX 35 (+53% and +64% YTD, respectively, in US dollar terms) have been able to do better thus far in 2025. Precious metal miners were back as the driving force of JSE returns in November, with gold and platinum miners up 13% m/m in aggregate, boosted by a re-acceleration in precious metal prices. Gold and platinum prices both rallied 6%…

An investment firm is buying in with the Ackerman family selling down Pick'n Pay shares. Just after Pick'n Pay said the family’s holding fell from 25.4% to 16.8%, the company told shareholders that Allan Gray had increased its stake to 10.43%. The Ackerman’s sale down has reduced its ownership of the company to 16.8% as it continues to refund itself after ploughing R1.1 billion into the ailing company to right it. The family borrowed the cash and is now settling that debt by selling shares. That funding was prompted by the fact that Pick'n Pay was under strain because of weak operations and a number of poorly performing stores. As a result, it underwent a major reset, including new leadership, and the separate JSE listing of discount brand Boxer. CEO…

ANC Gauteng provincial co-convenor Panyaza Lesufi has urged contenders for leadership positions in the Johannesburg region to stop fighting for control of what he described as a “sinking ship” and instead focus on resolutions to revive the organisation. Speaking on Wednesday night at the opening of the ANC Johannesburg regional elective conference, Lesufi cautioned delegates against allowing internal contests to turn ugly at a time when the party faces significant decline. “And in this ship, this ship is sinking. It’s sinking at a faster rate. Instead of all of us collectively determining how to save this ship, we are squabbling amongst ourselves about who is the owner of the ship,” he said. “You can be the owner of the ship, but it will be at the belly of the sea.…

Former President Jacob Zuma lost his Gauteng High Court, Pretoria bid to appeal the order that he has to pay back the R28.9 million bill for his private legal fees. Judge Anthony Millar yesterday turned down Zuma’s application for leave to appeal the pay-back judgment before a full court (three judges) or the Supreme Court of Appeal. Judge Millar said that he is not persuaded that another court would come to a different conclusion. “To keep the doors of the court open indefinitely to a litigant who refuses to accept the judgment on a particular matter, serves no legitimate purpose. All it does is serve to be a drain on scarce judicial resources and to strengthen the view that accountability can be deferred for so long as one has the…

A 24-year-old former Student Representative Council (SRC) member at Rustenburg TVET College has been arrested for allegedly defrauding first-year students of their National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) allowances. The suspect was apprehended on December 3 in Rustenburg in the North West by members of the Hawks’ Serious Economic Offences Section based at the organisation’s Pretoria headquarters. The SAPS statement stated that first-year NSFAS-funded students approached the woman in 2023 seeking help to access their allowances. As an SRC member at the time, she reportedly had prior access to students’ Tenet accounts. It is alleged that she used this access to log into several student accounts without permission. She then allegedly withdrew money at various retail stores before later advising the students on how to access their allowances – after…

Correctional Services Minister Pieter Groenewald has confirmed that his department is working towards the repatriation of approximately 27 000 foreign nationals currently incarcerated in South African prisons. Groenewald emphasised that overcrowding in remand detention facilities is a critical issue, with some prisons operating at over 200% capacity. Foreign nationals contribute significantly to the strain on the system, and efforts are underway to repatriate them to their countries of origin. However, Groenewald noted that this process requires legislative amendments, which take time. Groenewald was responding to questions from members of Parliament during a sitting of the Peace and Security Cluster on Tuesday, where he addressed issues surrounding overcrowding in correctional facilities, particularly in remand detention centers. The minister detailed efforts to reduce overcrowding, including the use of Section 63A of the…

Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus says his biggest challenge in 2026 will be getting the balance right between maintaining winning momentum and ensuring his top players are relatively fresh for the 2027 World Cup. The Bok boss hinted that he is prepared to make a few sacrifices next year in terms of the relentless need to win every game, so that the Boks are in the best possible condition for the World Cup. Erasmus used boxing parlance to describe the challenge that 2026 presents. He said the team may need to take a few uppercuts, so that some players do not end the year punch-drunk. It will be fascinating to see how Erasmus tackles a year in which the Boks contest the inaugural Nations Cup, with games against England, Scotland, and…

Bafana Bafana’s 2010 Fifa World Cup frontman Katlego "Killer" Mphela is positive about the current team’s chances of reaching the knockout stage of the 2026 edition ahead of the group stage draw tonight (7pm start) in Washington DC. Bafana are in Pot 3 for the draw, and while much still depends on the draw procedure itself, one thing is certain: Bafana will not be in the same group as any of the eight other African teams that have automatically qualified for the showpiece in North America. South Africa’s return to the World Cup has restored national pride, especially given that it will have been 16 years since they last played at the event — they were hosts in 2010 — and 24 years since they last qualified automatically. While the…

The Champions and Challenge Cups kick off this weekend, and the Highveld will host two matches when the Bulls take on champions Bordeaux at 5.15pm tomorrow at Loftus Versfeld, and the Lions entertain Benetton at 3pm at Ellis Park. Adding rich flavour to the fixtures is the return of the international players from the November Autumn Series in Europe. We look at five players who could influence the outcome of the matches. Handre Pollard (Bulls) After six years in Europe, Pollard is back at the Blue Bulls union that launched his brilliant career. During his time away from Pretoria, he has been key to the Springboks winning two World Cups. But this year, the 31-year-old dropped down the flyhalf pecking order to third behind Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu and Manie Libbok. The…

As South African football celebrates a momentous year, marked by a return to the Fifa World Cup and qualification for the Africa Cup of Nations, deeper issues threaten to overshadow progress on the field. Under the stewardship of coach Hugo Broos, the nation’s hopes of advancing to the knockout stage for the first time in World Cup history have taken centre stage. Yet, the shadow of instability within Safa looms large, as financial and leadership crises continue to plague the organisation. One key incident that has aggravated tensions was Fifa’s sanction of a points deduction, following a yellow-card blunder involving Teboho Mokoena. This sanction came at a precarious time, leaving fans and analysts alike questioning Safa’s leadership and their ability to represent South African football effectively. In light of these…

Acquisition gives Vodacom control over its biggest African market with 62 million customers Vodacom Group will spend about R35.77 billion ($2.1bn) to acquire a further 20% stake in Safaricom, bringing its stake to 55%, as the Kenya government moves to raise additional capital instead of raising taxes or debt. The South African telecoms group said Thursday it will acquire 15% of the shareholding from the government of Kenya and 5% from Vodacom's parent, the UK-based Vodafone group. The deal gives Vodacom control over its biggest African market - Safaricom holds about 62 million customers, more than the 46.1 million customers Vodacom holds in South Africa, and roughly the same size of the group's 51 million customers in Egypt. The deal attracted widespread comment on social media. On "X", Lawrence Kitema…

South Africa stood at two remarkable crossroads last month. A continent-first G20 summit in Johannesburg put our nation — its people, institutions and hospitality — in the global spotlight. At almost the same time, I was in Barcelona at Workday Rising, where enterprise leaders explored the near-term reality of AI-driven, people-centred workplaces. The two experiences together crystallised a single, urgent point: South Africa can not only adapt to the future of work — it can lead it. First, the context. Global leaders arriving on our soil exposed us to the highest expectations in security, logistics, digital capability and service delivery. Coverage from international and local outlets praised South Africa’s delivery — our media centre, our event management and the warmth shown to delegates were singled out repeatedly. That goodwill is…

Global markets are pricing in a continued rally in gold next year, although geopolitical uncertainty could inject volatility into bullion prices, according to the World Gold Council (WGC). The rally in gold prices this year has provided South African bullion miners - among them Sibanye-Stillwater, Pan African Resources and Gold Fields - with prospects of bumping up revenues. However, for South African miners, a rise in costs has negated robust growth of production. Data from the South Africa Reserve Bank showed the country’s net gold exports in the third quarter 2025 slowing down from R150 billion in the same period last year to R149bn. Some South African gold producers are now planning production ramp ups which places them in position to benefit from the expected continued rally in gold prices…

Economists remain divided over Anglo American’s proposed tie-up with Canada’s Teck Resources, with some arguing that the transaction will unlock significant value for South African shareholders while others warn it signals the final unravelling of the miner’s South African legacy. This comes as shareholders are expected to vote in favour of the deal, touted by Anglo American as a merger of equals. The two resource giants also expect the deal to yield $800 million in pre-tax recurring annual synergies. However, South African economist Duma Gqubule, this week said the tie-up is not a merger of equals. In a report he compiled on the meger, Gqubule said the transaction will “provide a final death knell” for the Johannesburg and London-listed resource giant. Anglo American has been shedding its South African assets…

Former President Jacob Zuma lost his Gauteng High Court, Pretoria bid to appeal the order that he has to pay back the R28.9 million bill for his private legal fees. Judge Anthony Millar yesterday turned down Zuma’s application for leave to appeal the pay-back judgment before a full court (three judges) or the Supreme Court of Appeal. Judge Millar said that he is not persuaded that another court would come to a different conclusion. “To keep the doors of the court open indefinitely to a litigant who refuses to accept the judgment on a particular matter, serves no legitimate purpose. All it does is serve to be a drain on scarce judicial resources and to strengthen the view that accountability can be deferred for so long as one has the…

It’s the look that’s launched 1000 TikToks – it’s that deadpan, unreadable stare and it’s coming for this summer’s Christmas-casual workforce. But behind the meme, experts at the University of South Australia say the so-called Gen Z stare is less about attitude and more about how young people are navigating today’s social expectations. Born between 1997 and 2012, Gen Z are the most filmed, most online, and most scrutinised generation. They’ve grown up with the internet, smartphones and social media, and younger Gen Zs experienced Covid-19 lockdowns during some of their most critical social development years. Now that the school term is coming to a close, UniSA educator Alexandra Gavrilidis is asking people to recalibrate their expectations of Gen Z, calling for empathy rather than judgment. “Every generation has…

Zimbabwean businessman Frank Buyanga Sadiqi has been held in South Africa for nearly three years without trial, amid claims that he is being targeted by powerful figures in his home country. Lawyers representing Buyanga say his detention is linked to personal and political disputes involving Zimbabwe’s presidential family, and that there is nefarious activity surrounding his case. According to his legal team, Buyanga became a target after he allegedly got “involved with a woman” connected to one of President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s sons. This, they argue, angered influential individuals in Zimbabwe who may have used their power to influence his arrest and detention abroad. Besides Buyanga being imprisoned for three years, the charge sheet is still incomplete, and he is still denied bail. Buyanga’s lawyers have now approached the Madlanga Commission…

After a deadly farm attack on a 77-year-old man in Baltimore, Limpopo, and a swift manhunt ordered by Provincial Commissioner Lieutenant General Thembi Hadebe, police have successfully apprehended one of the suspects. Provincial police spokesperson Colonel Malesela Ledwaba confirmed that 28-year-old Hendrik Chimole, was arrested for the murder and robbery, appeared in Senwabarwana Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday, and was remanded in custody. “The matter was postponed allowing for Legal Aid representation, and Chimole is expected to appear next at Tolwe Periodical Court on 4 December,” Ledwaba said. Ledwaba said that Chimole was arrested in the early hours of December 2 following a coordinated operation by the Provincial Murder and Robbery Unit, Tolwe Detectives, Bosbeld Misdaad Ondersoeke, and Bosveld Plaasbeveiliging Security Companies. The operation also recovered the victim’s firearm, a 38…

While the world commemorated this year’s International Day of Persons with Disabilities, the Gauteng Department of Health made significant progress of its own, issuing more than 42 000 assistive devices in the first two quarters of the fiscal year as part of its efforts to build a more inclusive and supportive health system. The department said it is intensifying efforts to ensure that inclusion is not just a slogan but a lived reality across the province. In the first two quarters of the 2025/26 financial year alone, ranging from wheelchairs, hearing aids, and walking aids to orthoses, podiatry devices, prostheses and Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) devices. According to the department, this large-scale rollout reflects a continued commitment to empowering persons with disabilities through tools that restore mobility, independence, and…

When the late Mbongeni Ngema released his hauntingly emotional song Ingculaza, he captured the anguish of a nation that had just triumphed against the brutality of apartheid, only to be confronted by a new, silent, and devastating war: HIV/AIDS. In his lament, Madlokovu (Ngema’s clan name) reminded us that freedom had been won from a ruthless regime, but another enemy that was less visible, more insidious, was claiming lives in every township, village, and city. The song was not just art; it was a cry of pain, a mirror held up to a society grappling with loss, stigma, and fear. That lament still echoes today. South Africa’s HIV/AIDS story is one of pain, resilience, and unfinished struggle. From the devastation of the 1980s and 1990s, through the world’s largest treatment…

Khalil Ben Youssef has downplayed Kaizer Chiefs’ title talks, saying they have to crawl and walk before they can run. That’s why they remain focused on the “steps,” not the final product. The Amakhosi have had a decent start to the season – they sit fifth on the Betway Premiership standings with 23 points and five behind leaders and arch-rivals Orlando Pirates. Their stats could have been even better had they not been their own worst enemies at times, dropping points they could have collected with ease. They were also held to a goalless draw by Chippa United on Wednesday, despite creating chances and dominating possession. Nevertheless, the points they have collected and the impressive performances they’ve put on have convinced some supporters that the team could mount a serious…

Lando Norris will battle his own nerves as much as his rivals’ speed, as he bids to end Max Verstappen’s four-year reign as F1 world champion in Sunday’s season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. After two weekends of self-inflicted setbacks, championship leader Norris and his McLaren team-mate Oscar Piastri need an error-free event to ensure Red Bull’s number one cannot complete a spectacular end-of-season recovery in glorious style. For the first time since a four-way scrap at the final race in Abu Dhabi in 2010, the title will be decided by a contest involving more than two drivers, with McLaren, in particular, nervously glancing in their mirrors for Verstappen. Norris has a 12-point lead on Verstappen ahead of the finale and a 16-point advantage on team-mate Piastri, and needs to finish…

South Africa’s construction sector posted a strong rebound in the third quarter of 2025, with the Afrimat Construction Index (ACI) recording a double-digit quarterly increase and signalling a marked improvement in industry activity. The ACI, a composite measure of building and construction activity compiled quarterly by economist Dr Roelof Botha for Afrimat, rose 10.2% quarter-on-quarter, far outperforming the country’s 0.9% GDP growth over the same period. Construction sector activity outperformed the GDP by a healthy margin during the third quarter, although it lagged behind overall economic activity compared to the third quarter of last year. Importantly, the index also broke a long-running downward trend in its four-quarter moving average, registering a slight upward turn for the first time in several quarters. Dr Botha said the latest results were driven by…

A new report released by the World Economic Forum (WEF) in collaboration with Boston Consulting Group (BCG) shows that businesses across multiple sectors are reaping the benefits of the rapidly expanding green economy, now the world’s second-fastest growing market after technology. The report titled "Already a Multi-Trillion-Dollar Market: A CEO Guide to Growth in the Green Economy", reveals that the global green economy has already reached an annual value of $5 trillion and is projected to exceed $7trln before 2035. In this report, the green economy refers to commercial solutions with a clear environmental purpose or solutions that are a direct response to environmental challenges. This covers both mitigation and adaptation and resilience, from advanced clean technologies to nascent agri-tech solutions. Despite global economic uncertainty and uneven policy environments, investment…

South Africans are increasingly turning to credit to survive the rising cost of living, a trend that is deepening indebtedness and leaving millions exposed to loan sharks, says Jack Halfon, founder and CEO of Atlas Finance. In an interview with Business Report on Thursday, Halfon said formal micro-lenders were calling for stronger policy implementation and tight regulation. Halfon said South African consumers are “taking loans to cover gaps in their spending as the cost of living rises” despite inflation trending down from the highs of the past few years. But South Africans are also borrowing for unseen expenditures such as burst geysers or new tyres for their vehicles. However, for many South Africans, the current state of the South African micro-lending industry also means that they have significant exposure to…

Zimbabwean businessman Frank Buyanga Sadiqi has been held in South Africa for nearly three years without trial, amid claims that he is being targeted by powerful figures in his home country. Lawyers representing Buyanga say his detention is linked to personal and political disputes involving Zimbabwe’s presidential family, and that there is nefarious activity surrounding his case. According to his legal team, Buyanga became a target after he allegedly got “involved with a woman” connected to one of President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s sons. This, they argue, angered influential individuals in Zimbabwe who may have used their power to influence his arrest and detention abroad. Besides Buyanga being imprisoned for three years, the charge sheet is still incomplete, and he is still denied bail. Buyanga’s lawyers have now approached the Madlanga Commission…

ANC Gauteng provincial co-convenor Panyaza Lesufi has urged contenders for leadership positions in the Johannesburg region to stop fighting for control of what he described as a “sinking ship” and instead focus on resolutions to revive the organisation. Speaking on Wednesday night at the opening of the ANC Johannesburg regional elective conference, Lesufi cautioned delegates against allowing internal contests to turn ugly at a time when the party faces significant decline. “And in this ship, this ship is sinking. It’s sinking at a faster rate. Instead of all of us collectively determining how to save this ship, we are squabbling amongst ourselves about who is the owner of the ship,” he said. “You can be the owner of the ship, but it will be at the belly of the sea.…

The City of Tshwane is liable to pay damages to Crawdaddy’s restaurant in Centurion after the food outlet suffered a loss in profit due to a massive sinkhole in front of its premises. This comes after the city faced several lawsuits – including that of Crawdaddy’s – following allegations that it dragged its heels in fixing the sinkholes that erupted around Centurion some years ago. In 2022 and 2023, Beknor CC, trading as Crawdaddy’s Centurion, obtained court orders from the Gauteng High Court, Pretoria, that the city had to compensate it for the profit losses the restaurant had incurred at the time. The judgments were obtained by default, as the city was not in court to oppose them. While it did, meanwhile, compensate the outlet, the city recently returned to…

Limpopo police have opened an inquest after discovering human remains at Mangwele Mountain in the Siloam policing area of the Vhembe District. The remains could be those of a long-lost woman from the village. Provincial police spokesperson Colonel Malesela Ledwaba said the alarm was raised at about 12:45 on Monday, December 1, when a community member reported to the Community Service Centre (CSC) Commander that they had spotted what looked like a human skull and bones on the mountain. Ledwaba said that Siloam SAPS members immediately responded and, with the assistance of local residents, were guided to the exact location of the grim discovery. “When police arrived at the scene, they found a decomposed skull and scattered bones, along with several personal items. Among the belongings were clothing pieces, a…

President Cyril Ramaphosa says South Africa will not lobby any nation to boycott next year’s G20 Leaders’ Summit in Miami, despite reports that the United States plans to exclude the country from the gathering. “The United States has said that South Africa will not be invited. We have not seen that in writing yet. We’ve only seen media reports. We are yet to receive anything formally, and we will deal with that when it comes,” Ramaphosa said. He was speaking with the media on the sidelines of Cosatu’s Golf Day, at Johannesburg Golf Club, yesterday. He stressed that South Africa remained a fully fledged member of the G20. “We have held a very successful G20. And this is not only being said by us – it is said by many…

A Free State nurse from the MUCPP Community Health Centre in Bloemfontein, has been awarded a year’s salary following her dismissal over allegations of stealing HIV medication. Nontuthuzelo Thokozile Taioe, who had dedicated her career to nursing since September 2008, was earning over R28 500 a month when she was dismissed in July 2021. Her firing stemmed from June 2018 allegations that she stole 11 boxes containing 69 bottles of Odimune and each bottle containing 28 ARV tablets. The second charge was that because of the alleged theft, she prejudiced the efficiency and administration of the department and deprived patients who were entitled to the medication. However, as the Labour Court in Cape Town reviewed the case, the lack of direct evidence became apparent. No stock lists had been produced,…

Mamelodi Sundowns ended their 2025 calendar year on another frustrating note as they failed to break down Siwelele FC, with the sides settling for a 1–1 draw in their Betway Premiership clash. It has become a recurring pattern this season, with the Brazilians struggling at times to produce the cutting edge they have long been known for. They will now hope that the 2026 restart brings sharper execution and a return to their clinical best. Sundowns head into the festive season break in an unfamiliar position — chasing the pack rather than leading it, as has so often been the case in recent seasons. They currently trail log leaders Orlando Pirates by two points, and with the Buccaneers having played a game fewer, pressure continues to mount on Miguel Cardoso.…

Virgil van Dijk says Mohamed Salah's omission from Liverpool's team for a second successive match shows no player at the club has "unlimited credit". The Egypt international was an unused substitute for Sunday's win at West Ham and was on the bench for the 1-1 draw at home to Sunderland on Wednesday. It was the first time in his Anfield career that he had not started in back-to-back league matches. The forward was brought on for the second half against the Saints but struggled to make an impact and is now goalless in five matches. Salah has scored just four Premier League goals for the struggling defending champions this season, in stark contrast to his haul of 29 last season. Liverpool captain Van Dijk was asked after the Sunderland draw…