Innholdsfortegnelse for 2026-01-26 i Star

Transnet has announced a landmark signing of a strategic Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Port of Antwerp-Bruges International (PoABI) and the Antwerp/Flanders Port Training Center (APEC). The signing took place on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. Transnet said the partnership signifies a major milestone in efforts to modernise South Africa’s port system, enhance operational efficiency, and strengthen regional trade competitiveness. “It establishes a framework for cooperation in port operational excellence, digitalisation, sustainability, infrastructure planning, and regional corridor development to strengthen South Africa’s logistics performance.” Transnet added that the collaboration introduces global best practices, technical training, benchmarking, and advisory support to build long-term institutional capacity within Transnet divisions. “The MoU includes cooperation on hinterland corridor development and global investment programmes, including opportunities linked to…

Team South Africa has returned from the 2026 World Economic Forum (WEF) Annual Meeting in Davos expressing confidence that the country’s reform agenda is beginning to resonate with global investors, a marked shift from previous years dominated by concerns over energy shortages and logistics bottlenecks. Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana on Friday said this year’s engagement with investors took place against a far more positive domestic backdrop, particularly regarding electricity supply. “The positive thing is that we have come to this WEF with good news. Electricity challenges and outages are now a thing of the past,” Godongwana said in an interview on Friday. He added that structural reforms are starting to bear fruit, while South Africa’s macroeconomic environment remains stable — a necessary, though not sufficient, condition for stronger growth. “The…

Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana said on Friday that South Africa returned to this year's World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos with tangible evidence of economic progress, presenting a compelling case to global investors and business partners that the country’s reform agenda is delivering results. Key government ministers and leaders from industry and state agencies accompanied Godongwana. He reiterated that the team used the forum in Davos to highlight recent achievements, including the removal of South Africa from the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) greylist, an upgrade of its sovereign credit rating by S&P Global, and structural reforms under Operation Vulindlela that have improved electricity supply, modernised port and freight rail operations, and boosted investment in infrastructure. “When we came here in 2025, we presented our ambitious plan for driving economic…

A life uninspected is not worth living says Plato. Over a period of 24 years and counting, I have been a columnist in the Business Report, writing two articles a week interrogating South Africa through a lens of numbers. The interrogative narrative is undergirded by a trove of evidence. This has created a Lehohla Ledger of 2 745 instruments. The Lehohla Ledger with its Ten Commandments that consist of Digital Codes of one-one (11), two-two (22), three-three (33), four-four (44), five-five (55), six-six (66), seven-seven (77), eight-eight (88), nine-nine (99) and zero-zero (00) is the Numerical Conscience through which the totality of South African life and life elsewhere will be inspected, the nation is inspired, the nation reclaims its freedom and in the final analysis life is…

Valterra Platinum’s share price built on a year-long rally on the JSE on Friday after it said headline earnings per share (HEPS) will increase sharply by between 85% and 105% for the 12 months to December 31, 2023. The mining group, which was previously known as Anglo Platinum, said in a trading statement the sharp increase was due to a 26% stronger PGM dollar price of $1 852 per PGM ounce, as well as the delivery of R5bn operational cost reductions, more than offsetting the impact of inflation and R1.7bn one-off demerger related costs. Valterra’s share price increased by 3.29% to R1 687.84 on Friday afternoon on the JSE. The share price has steadily risen over 176% over the past 12 months. Headline earnings were expected to increase by the…

Grief and silence hung over the Vaal yesterday as families, friends, and community members gathered at the Saul Tsotetsi Sports Complex to bid farewell to children whose lives were cut far too short. Tears streamed unchecked, hugs offered fleeting solace, and a community’s heartbreak hung heavy as it mourned the young lives stolen in the January 19 scholar transport tragedy. Three of the 14 learners killed in the crash were honoured in a joint funeral service yesterday. The 16-year-old Thato Moetji, 7-year-old Ofentse Jayden Vinger, and 14-year-old Bokamoso Mokhobo were remembered in a solemn ceremony marked by grief, prayer, and disbelief, as loved ones struggled to come to terms with the unimaginable loss. Thato Moetji’s classmates spoke through tears about their last moments with the Grade 12 learner. “Thato was…

There are shows in almost all 12 official languages. But no matter what the language, entertainment always finds the right audience. With the beloved 7de Laan gone from TV schedules, one might be looking for their new favourite Afrikaans show, or maybe you just don’t know what’s available. Fret not, here are options that you are sure to enjoy. Volspoed Volspoed is now streaming exclusively on Showmax, with new episodes every Tuesday. The adrenaline-fuelled reality series takes viewers straight into the demanding world of endurance racing, following Antonie Marx as he chases podium finishes at full speed. At his side is his wife, Ronette Marx, a former Miss South Africa finalist who keeps everything running smoothly off the track and holds the fort when the pressure peaks. Spanning eight episodes,…

Grief and silence hung over the Vaal yesterday as families, friends, and community members gathered at the Saul Tsotetsi Sports Complex to bid farewell to children whose lives were cut far too short. Tears streamed unchecked, hugs offered fleeting solace, and a community’s heartbreak hung heavy as it mourned the young lives stolen in the January 19 scholar transport tragedy. Three of the 14 learners killed in the crash were honoured in a joint funeral service yesterday. The 16-year-old Thato Moetji, 7-year-old Ofentse Jayden Vinger, and 14-year-old Bokamoso Mokhobo were remembered in a solemn ceremony marked by grief, prayer, and disbelief, as loved ones struggled to come to terms with the unimaginable loss. Thato Moetji’s classmates spoke through tears about their last moments with the Grade 12 learner. “Thato was…

While confirming that the driver’s father holds a senior position in the organisation, the Gauteng Education Transport Services (GATS) scholar transport association has taken steps to disassociate itself from the driver accused in the tragic Vaal crash that killed 14 students. The 22-year-old driver, Ayanda Dludla, who is accused of 14 counts of murder in addition to reckless and negligent driving, is not a member of the association, according to Matthew Mokhachane, the provincial chairperson of GATS, despite operating a car that belongs to one of its registered operators. “Yes, Ayanda was driving a vehicle that belongs to one of our members, but he himself is not a member. Employment does not automatically give you membership in the organisation. The employer is the member, not the driver,” Mokhachane said. The…

An Eskom worker was shot dead and his wife wounded in Mpumalanga on Saturday, the SABC has reported. The couple, both stationed at the Kriel Power Station, were reportedly ambushed while travelling home from work, a scenario that has raised grave worries about the security of utility workers in the region. According to Eskom spokesperson Daphne Mokwena, the husband succumbed to his injuries at the scene of the attack, while the wife was rushed to a nearby hospital, where she is receiving medical care. “We urge the public and media to refrain from repeating unverified claims or speculation and to allow law enforcement the necessary space to complete their investigation process. “Eskom is working closely with the authorities to assist with the investigation. “We are also providing support to the…

Woman Down Colleen Hoover Narrated by Sarah Naughton Brilliance Audio WHEN the name Colleen Hoover comes to the forefront of a literary discussion, you often see an explosive combination of deep storytelling interlaced with emotional rollercoasters. Her latest audiobook, Woman Down, narrated by Sarah Naughton and released just a week ago, adds a thrilling twist to her repertoire. Clocking in at nearly 12 hours, this story promises a journey filled with riveting scenes, unforeseen revelations, and an unwavering layer of suspense. It’s a captivating experience that evidently aims to claim a special place … but does it succeed? The premise revolves around Petra Rose, a once-revered author who has hit rock bottom. The casting shade of public opinion after a viral scandal has left her feeling like a fraud, igniting…

The Chairperson of the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Higher Education, Tebogo Letsie, obtained a restraining order against the deputy of a forum called Save Unisa from publishing allegations that Letsie had secured a R82 million security tender from Unisa. Letsie issued an urgent application last week against Simamkele Xani from publishing or republishing these allegations on social media platforms. The court confirmed Letsie’s contention that the allegations are defamatory as it directly implied corruption on his part. The allegation was made in a letter written by Xani’s attorneys in November last year, in which it was claimed that the tender, stretching over three years, was corruptly made to Letsie. The letter was sent to various recipients. Xani has crossed swords with Unisa in the past regarding issues which include the…

I was aware that President Donald Trump would expand his authority outside of the United States when he won the presidency for the second time in January 2025, but I was unaware of the extent to which he could spread fear throughout the world by combining threats of military assault with tariffs, his only significant weapon. Second, he is the first president in history to be in the news every day with a new objective he hopes to accomplish. This is what we refer to as assertiveness, a crucial trait in a leader that entails vision, decisiveness, and determination. I commend him and his keen intuition. There was a petition circulating that claimed to remind Elon Musk that he was an undesirable immigrant in the United States and should return…

In a plea for action, Human Settlements Minister Thembi Simelane has called for a comprehensive framework aimed at mitigating the impacts of climate-induced disasters across South Africa. Speaking at municipal council chambers, Simelane highlighted that the initiative should extend far beyond the borders of Mpumalanga. On Saturday, Simelane conducted an oversight visit in Mpumalanga to the area recently ravaged by floods. This visit followed her trip last week Friday to Limpopo. Both provinces have been severely affected by recent flooding due to sustained, heavy rainfall. “The initiative should not be limited to Mpumalanga but must extend nationwide to safeguard communities and strengthen resilience,” Simelane said. She highlighted that relief efforts, particularly those concerning the human settlements emergency housing programme, are often hampered by the lack of suitable land for relocating…

Orlando Pirates head coach Abdeslam Ouaddou has urged patience and perspective after his side were held to a goalless draw by Sekhukhune United in the Betway Premiership. Pirates dropped points against Babina Noko on Saturday but remained firmly in the title race, with Ouaddou stressing that consistency and belief in the process will ultimately be decisive in what he described as a demanding league. “Every point counts in this league and I think we all agree that it’s a tough league and Sekhukhune is a very good team, one of the best teams in the league,” Ouaddou said. Pirates dominated large spells of the contest, controlling possession and territory, but once again found converting pressure into goals to be their biggest challenge. In spite of that, Ouaddou felt the overall…

Aston Villa closed to within four points of the Premier League summit with an impressive 2-0 win at Newcastle, while Chelsea climbed into the top four on Sunday. Villa bounced back from a shock 1-0 defeat at home to Everton last weekend to remain on the fringes of the title race. Emi Buendia put Unai Emery’s men on course for their first win at St James’ Park since 2005 with a brilliant strike from outside the box on 19 minutes. Newcastle were shorn of inspiration without injured captain Bruno Guimaraes in a damaging defeat for their chances of Champions League qualification. Ollie Watkins set the seal on Villa’s victory when the England international headed in Lucas Digne’s cross two minutes from time. Newcastle slip to ninth but remain only three…

After more than 60 years of production in Rosslyn, Nissan has sold the plant to Chinese manufacturer After more than 60 years of production at the Nissan Plant in Rosslyn, Pretoria, the sale of land, buildings and associated assets including its stamping plant was driven by needing to look at how to keep an important South African manufacturing plant viable, protect jobs, and find a long-term solution that made sense not only for the business, but for the country. That thinking ultimately led Nissan to a deal with Chinese manufacturer Chery. Speaking to Independent Media on the sidelines of the Nissan GTR's AGM at their head office in Irene, Pretoria, Nissan Africa president Jordi Vila said that once production of the NP200 ceased, it became clear that something had to…

Health Minister Dr Aaron Motsoaledi has said the department has long accepted the reality of the United States’ withdrawal from the World Health Organisation (WHO) and will continue to work with other countries that retain their membership in the global body. This follows the US announcement on Friday, in a joint statement by Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Secretary of Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr, confirming its withdrawal from the WHO, as promised by incumbent President Donald Trump when he took office last year. In a response to Business Report, Motsoaledi said the warning had come soon after Trump took office in 2025, when the US president announced that his country would withdraw from the World Health Organisation. The US subsequently boycotted multilateral health forums…

Workers and the nation this week received a deeply worrying reminder about the still fragile state of the Denel Group, the state’s defence manufacturing company, with management’s warning to staff at two of its divisions, Denel Dynamics and Denel PMP (Pretoria Metal Pressings), that there may not be funds to pay their salaries this month. Fortunately, after interventions by the Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu), and the unions organising at Denel; the National Union of Mineworkers, the National Union of Metalworkers and Solidarity, this crisis was averted and workers were paid. We must remain extremely concerned given the devastation unleashed upon the Denel Group during the decade of state capture and corruption, about the state of this once great state-owned enterprise. The systematic vandalism of Denel is well…

Shoppers gave the retail sector a welcome boost in November, with new figures showing that sales were stronger than expected and supported by Black Friday-related promotion. Data released by Statistics South Africa (Stats SA) reveal that retail trade sales rose by 3.5% compared with the same period last year, a positive sign for both consumers and businesses. Experts have welcomed the increase in retail sales. Stats SA said that the largest positive contributors to this increase were general dealers (2.2% and contributing 1.0 percentage point); all ‘other’ retailers (8.0% and contributing 0.8 of a percentage point); and retailers in pharmaceuticals and medical goods, cosmetics and toiletries (10.1% and contributing 0.6 of a percentage point). Stats SA added that seasonally adjusted retail trade sales increased by 0.6% in November 2025 compared…

South African men who travelled to Russia and later became linked to the Russia-Ukraine conflict say they were not coerced or misled, contradicting claims that they were lured into combat. Sbusiso Zuma, one of the men, spoke to The Star yesterday despite participants being reportedly restricted from speaking to media. He described his experience and the broader situation in Russia: “I travelled voluntarily and was not forced to join the trip. We departed openly from King Shaka International Airport in Durban. “No passports were confiscated, and no one was compelled to take part in combat. We were treated with respect by Russian authorities and no one was deceived or pressured into leaving South Africa.” Russia is preparing militarily for any eventuality, especially in light of the US’ aggression. The country…

South African men who travelled to Russia and later became linked to the Russia-Ukraine conflict say they were not coerced or misled, contradicting claims that they were lured into combat. Sbusiso Zuma, one of the men, spoke to The Star yesterday despite participants being reportedly restricted from speaking to media. He described his experience and the broader situation in Russia: “I travelled voluntarily and was not forced to join the trip. We departed openly from King Shaka International Airport in Durban. “No passports were confiscated, and no one was compelled to take part in combat. We were treated with respect by Russian authorities and no one was deceived or pressured into leaving South Africa.” Russia is preparing militarily for any eventuality, especially in light of the US’ aggression. The country…

A medical expert this week explained to the Gauteng High Court, Pretoria that there were several warning signs regarding the manner in which now former Pretoria midwife Yolande Maritz Fouchee handled the births of several of her clients. Fouchee is facing 14 charges, including one of culpable homicide and several charges of assault after a baby died weeks after delivery and three others were born disabled while she was in charge of delivering them. Fouchee, now a deregistered nurse, earlier denied any wrongdoing and explained that she did everything according to the book when she delivered the babies. But head of the gynaecology department at the Steve Biko Academic Hospital, Professor Priya Soma-Pillay disagreed. She has issued a statement to the prosecution as an expert witness to shed light on…

In response to ongoing service delivery challenges, the ANC has announced a new task team and war room specifically designed to fix local government issues before this year’s municipal elections, with water supply and rural infrastructure as top priorities. Yesterday, during the party’s second day of the three-day lekgotla currently taking place in Boksburg, ANC Deputy President Paul Mashatile revealed that the party will set up a war room to deal with local government challenges across the board. Mashatile’s address to the media yesterday came a day after the party tabled a political overview report presented at the gathering, which pointed to a lack of policy implementation as one of the party’s long-standing issues. Mashatile indicated that this targeted intervention, aimed at stabilising municipalities and improving service delivery, will be…

In the upcoming municipal elections, Johannesburg will be the centre of attention. Why? Political heavyweights Helen Zille, Herman Mashaba (who had not declared his candidacy but was seriously considering running for Johannesburg mayor), and Kenny Kunene will compete for the mayoral chain. Mashaba has previously served as the mayor of Joburg, although not for a full term. He led the City of Johannesburg under the DA banner. Now he is considering contesting the mayorship as the Action SA leader. He will also be contesting against his former leader in the DA, Zille. Interestingly, the Action SA leader had no interest in running for the Joburg mayorship until the DA chairperson declared her candidacy. Therefore, in my view, his reason for contesting the Mayorship is not solid. It is driven by…

The Bulls may have won their last two matches, but coach Johan Ackermann is keeping his troops grounded following the horror of their recent seven-match losing streak. The Bulls returned home yesterday from a dogged 19-17 defeat of Edinburgh and have already turned their attention to this week’s “revenge” SA derby against the Lions at Ellis Park. In November last year, the Lions shocked the Bulls 43-33 in Pretoria. In Edinburgh, the Bulls started slowly and had to overcome a 17-5 half-time deficit to secure the spoils. For Ackermann, the result was too close for comfort. “We all strive for that perfect game where you finish every 22m entry, so that is a big work-on,” Ackermann said. “I think the first positive is that we made Edinburgh work hard in…

Sunrisers Eastern Cape pulled off an incredible heist to secure a third Betway SA20 championship in a thrilling final at Newlands yesterday. Dewald Brevis’ magnificent 101 had seemingly set up the Pretoria Capitals for their maiden title, but Sunrisers captain Tristan Stubbs (62 not out off 41 balls) and Matthew Breetzke (68 not out off 50 balls) delivered an unbroken 114-run partnership to steal victory from the jaws of defeat. The Sunrisers appeared dead and buried when they required 56 runs from the final four overs. Breetzke had held the innings together with 45 off 41 balls at that point, but he needed a partner to inject impetus from the other end. Enter Stubbs. The Sunrisers captain had been guilty of not seizing the momentum earlier in the competition, but…

Sharks coach JP Pietersen threw down the gauntlet to prop Phatu Ganyane and loose-forward Nick Hatton ahead of Saturday’s crunch United Rugby Championship (URC) clash against the Stormers in Cape Town this past weekend – and he was proud of the way the young duo responded against their much-vaunted rivals. The visitors claimed a famous first victory at the DHL Stadium in the URC-era, powering to a 30-19 bonus-point win in front of a sold-out crowd. Loosehead prop Ganyane enjoyed a strong 30-minute cameo from the start – Pietersen did not reveal if the move was borrowed from Rassie Erasmus’ Bok playbook – before the Junior Bok made way for Springbok powerhouse Ox Nche. His battle against veteran Bok tighthead Neethling Fouché in the scrums was crucial, as the youngster…

Tourism Minister Patricia de Lille is facing mounting criticism after stating that “there has never been a crisis at South African Tourism (SAT),” a remark that has sparked outrage among opposition parties and industry stakeholders. Speaking during an interview at the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos last week, De Lille defended the embattled tourism agency and her decision to dissolve its board last year, replacing it with an interim structure. The move followed the suspension of SAT CEO Nombulelo Guliwe over allegations of financial misconduct. Among the claims was a R4.1 million prepayment to a service provider for work that investigators allege was never completed. The company implicated in the matter has denied any wrongdoing. “There’s never been a crisis in SA Tourism because at every financial year, as…

WeBuyCars investors would have seen an impressive 198% increase in their investment in the used vehicle group in just under 18 months since its listing on the JSE in April, 2024, chairman Johan Holtzhausen said. Writing in the annual report released on Friday, he said their shareholders had enjoyed an aggregate 195.4% growth in share price and cumulative dividend payout of 55 cents a share since listing. In the past financial year to end-September 2025, the share price had increased 64%, which he ascribed to mostly a function of performance and growth prospects. During that year, core headline earnings, which is the key performance metric for management to gauge the company’s success, increased 15% to R937.6 million. Revenue increased by 13.1% to R26.4 billion. Meanwhile, Friday’s closing price of R52.85…

Domestic financial markets continue their bullish run. The All Share index (ALSI|) on the JSE last week gained another 2 112 points, or 1.75%, after breaking through the 120 000 level the previous week. Since the beginning of the year the index has already traded higher by 4.9%. Over the last year the index is now higher by 44.7%. This reminds us of the previous massive boom in 2005 where the ALSI improved by more than 50%. The main reason for this sharp rise remains the same as over the last six months. The geo-political factors in the US, Middle East, Europe, and the Russia Ukraine conflict, together with the negative effects of the Trump administration current economic policies on the Dollar. These factors contributed to the ongoing safe-haven investments…

Wholesale trade sales indicated a decrease by 0.8% in November 2025 compared with November 2024. An economist believes that the economy is still stabilising. Stats SA said that seasonally adjusted wholesale trade sales increased by 2.0% in November 2025 compared with October 2025. “This followed month-on-month changes of 0.1% in October 2025 and -0.9% in September 2025.” Stats SA added that in the three months ended November 2025, seasonally adjusted wholesale trade sales increased by 0.5% compared with the previous three months. “Measured in nominal terms (current prices), wholesale trade sales increased by 1.2% in November 2025 compared with November 2024. The main positive contributor was dealers in solid, liquid and gaseous fuels and related products (5.0% and contributing 1.0 percentage point). Wholesale trade sales increased by 1.0% in the…

More than 3,000 employees could keep their jobs as AMSA engages in advanced discussions with the Industrial Development Corporation (IDC) and its parent company, ArcelorMittal Group, over a potential transaction. IOL previously reported that Newcastle communities have raised major concerns about the possible closure of ArcelorMittal South Africa (Amsa) and its long steel business, putting thousands of jobs on the line. At the time, Amsa said that the company had worked closely with the Industrial Development Corporation (IDC), government, and other stakeholders to explore every possible strategic option. No solution had been concluded. Talks between AMSA, its Luxembourg-based parent ArcelorMittal Group, and the IDC collapsed late last year after the company rejected a previous R8.5 billion non-binding proposal, which included the repayment of R7 billion in debt to its parent…

Gordon Ramsay is the subject of an exciting new Netflix documentary that promises to show a side of the culinary icon we have never seen before. Titled Being Gordon Ramsay, the six-part series is officially set to premiere on February 18. While we are used to seeing him as the fiery, shouting mentor in Hell’s Kitchen or the blunt saviour of failing businesses in Kitchen Nightmares, this project takes a much more personal turn. It follows him over a high-pressure nine-month period as he prepares to open five new restaurants in London’s 22 Bishopsgate building. For those who might only know him for his colourful language and sharp wit, Ramsay actually rose to fame through incredible talent and a relentless work ethic. Born in Scotland and raised in England, he…

A devastating fire has swept through three shops located at the busy intersection of Bree and Small streets in Johannesburg’s city centre, leaving behind a scene of destruction but fortunately resulting in no reported injuries. Emergency services responded swiftly to the blaze, which erupted in the early hours of the morning. Johannesburg Emergency Medical Services (EMS) spokesperson Xolile Khumalo confirmed that the shops were trading in cellphone accessories, cigarettes, and rubber bands, all of which contributed to the rapid spread of the fire. Khumalo said the cause of the fire is being investigated. The fire destroyed three shops. EMS would like to caution business owners in central Johannesburg to ensure the separation of merchandise to reduce fire risks. Robert Mulaudzi, spokesperson of EMS, stated on Saturday that “flammable goods must…

Southern food is a rich and varied cuisine, full of complexities that make it nearly impossible to confine to a single cookbook. But that is precisely the challenge culinary historian Michael W Twitty took on in his latest cookbook, Recipes From the American South. “The South is not the Confederacy,” Twitty told the audience while we were in conversation at a Washington bookstore. “How do you take a place that has been settled by human beings for 13 000 years and reduce it to four years of white supremacy rule?” There is no strict border separating distinct worlds in the United States. “There is no such thing as you leap over a border and all of a sudden everything’s different,” Twitty said. “There is no sweet tea line. There is…

Another morning, another tragedy. Fourteen pupils are dead following a head-on collision between a scholar transport minibus and a truck on Fred Droste Road in Vanderbijlpark last Monday (19 January). Parents sent their children to school. They will not be coming home. Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi described the scene as “unbearable,” noting that the taxi had been attempting to overtake multiple vehicles when it collided with the oncoming truck. An eyewitness painted a damning picture: the taxi driver ignored an approaching truck, and even when the truck driver tried to prevent the accident by moving to the side of the road, the taxi driver moved to the same side. This is not an isolated incident. It is a pattern. Just last year, a similar crash in Vanderbijlpark claimed the lives…

If moral authority were a currency, the ANC’s DIRCO would be bankrupt. Yet it continues to spend recklessly, never guided by principle, only by ideology. This hypocrisy was on full display when DIRCO rushed to demand a special UN Security Council sitting within 24 hours of the United States arresting Venezuela’s illegitimate strongman, Nicolás Maduro. A man accused of rigging elections, presiding over the flight of millions of refugees, and nurturing ties with terrorist groups. At precisely the same time, civilian protests erupted across Iran as ordinary people rose up against soaring living costs and collapsing infrastructure. The response of Iran’s clerical regime was brutal and swift. Estimates suggest between 2 000 and 12 000 civilians were killed. A massacre by any measure. From the ANC and DIRCO? Deafening silence.…

A social worker, Jessie Thompson, in the case (“illegal firearm discharge”) of Julius Malema, the president of the EFF, explained that in the charge, there was no intent to cause harm … it was a celebration. However, the magistrate, Twanet Olivier, questioned whether “anyone who is having a birthday today may walk down Oxford Street, shoot a firearm, and say it is their birthday and they are celebrating …?” One should conclude that the magistrate was sarcastic or ignorant or deliberate or wanted clarity. Anyone would know that the usage of weapons during celebrations is not a new phenomenon. The 21-gun salute is the most obvious and popular one. The custom is linked to the naval tradition, and there are several reasons argued on why it existed. The first…

Pretoria Capitals 158/7 Dewald Brevis 101, Bryce Parsons 30; Marco Jansen 3/10, Anrich Nortje 1/19 Sunrisers Eastern Cape 162/4 Matthew Breetzke 68*, Tristan Stubbs 63*; Keshav Maharaj 1/23 SEC won by six wickets Unheralded Sunrisers Eastern Cape batter Matthew Breetzke described winning the Betway SA20 as “special” after the Gqeberha-based team beat the Pretoria Capitals by six wickets to claim their third title in four seasons. Going into the final, Breetzke was by no means the form player, while Tristan Stubbs’ numbers were arguably worse. However, under immense pressure at Newlands on Sunday, it was this duo that stood out, digging in to take the Sunrisers over the line. Both batters showed great determination, rotating the strike consistently and running hard between the wickets as they struggled to find boundaries…