Indholdsfortegnelse for 2025-01-09 i Star

Gemfields is scrambling for a way out of a 15% tax on exports of emeralds from Zambia, saying the levy should be suspended or removed as it was introduced without consultation and deters investment. Last month, Zambia gazetted Statutory Instrument 88 of 2024 which revoked the 2019 suspension of the 15% export tax on precious gemstones. Gemfields has now said that it will engage the Zambian government and canvass for the suspension of the export tax. “The company will engage with the Zambian Government to seek the re-introduction of the suspension of this export duty or to remove it from the legislation given the impact on sector sustainability and investment attractiveness,” said Gemfields yesterday. It explained that the 15% export tax on precious gemstones directly impacted the Zambian emeralds mined…

TPT says shortage of equipment, and weather hampered recovery operations at the terminal Transnet Port Terminals (TPT) has said that it was confident that the on-take and assembly of new straddle carriers was on schedule after the December delivery at the Durban Container Terminal (DCT) Pier 2 and would be fully operational in mid-January. Last month, the DCT Pier 2 received the first four of 20 diesel-electric straddle carriers for assembly and commissioning on-site. The straddle carriers were handed over to operations to start their endurance testing and are expected to be fully operational in mid-January. TPT yesterday said the terminal was renewing its fleet as part of its recovery plan, having invested in haulers and reach stackers valued at over R440 million earlier last year, and all 20 straddle…

The Pietermaritzburg Economic Justice and Dignity Group (PMBEJD) has sounded the alarm as South Africans face a daunting increase in food prices at the beginning of January. Following a year-on-year rise of 2.8% in the food basket noted in December 2024, civil society organisations are echoing concerns that consumers will struggle to make ends meet as they welcome the New Year. Mervyn Abrahams, Coordinator of the PMBEJD, yesterday said the start of the year was a difficult period for many families as it marked the return to school for the children. “What we do know is that in December 2024 food prices remained high across the general spectrum in line with the general trend throughout the year of high food prices,” he said. “So, what we observed was that the…

Airlink resumes flights to Nampula on Thursday following reassurances from South African and Mozambican official authorities that the airline’s aircraft will not be seized at the northern Mozambique airport. This comes after Airlink announced that flights on 8 January would be suspended due to a lawsuit that was filed in a Mozambique court by two Mozambican passengers claiming damages after they were removed from a flight in Johannesburg. The claim was accompanied by a court application to have Airlink’s aircraft seized in Mozambique pending the outcome of the claim. “The passengers were offloaded due to their unruly, belligerent and threatening behaviour towards the cabin attendant prior to departure from Johannesburg to Nampula on 7 December 2025. Airlink does not tolerate unruly behaviour onboard its aircraft as it poses a direct…

The Class of 2024 will continue the tradition of receiving their matric results through newspapers. This follows a ruling by the Gauteng High Court in Pretoria, which struck the case challenging the practice off the roll, deeming it “not urgent”. IOL reported that the judge stressed that she did not deal with the merits of the application, but only dealt with urgency at this stage. She found that the Information Regulator’s (IR) urgency, in rushing to court at the last minute, was self-created. Reacting to the news, Good Party has taken note of the court order permitting the continued publication of matric results, as it has been the practice of the Department of Basic Education for the past three years. “As our understanding of adolescent mental health issues, trauma and…

MUNICIPAL managers in charge of municipalities owing pension funds R1.4 billion could face criminal charges should they continue failing to comply with their statutory obligations. The National Treasury has issued a stern warning to municipal bosses including some of the country’s biggest municipalities that they may be guilty of financial misconduct. ”It has been observed that municipalities have defaulted on their responsibility to ensure that third party payment obligations are met, despite deductions being made from employees’ salaries,” noted Jan Hattingh, Treasury’s chief director responsible for local government budget analysis. In the document dated December 6, 2024, Hattingh said the failure to pay over the deductions put several municipal employees in a very unfortunate situation where they have no funds in their pension fund accounts despite salary deductions having been…

The DA has threatened action against the relocation of Joburg mayor Dada Morero to the Usindiso Building as his new offices, raising financial concerns. Morero last month confirmed that the gutted building that claimed the lives of 77 illegal occupants in a fire will serve as his new office. The move comes after the closure of the Metro Centre in 2023 due to non-compliance with health regulations. DA regional caucus leader Belinda Kayser-Echeozonjoku chastised the Joburg municipality for splurging public funds on renovations while its inhabitants faced poor service delivery. “This will no doubt come after an extensive and expensive renovation and luxurious upgrade,” said Kayser-Echeozonjoku. She added renovations of the ruined building would dent the city’s purse. Spokesperson for the City of Johannesburg Nthatisi Modingoane could not confirm the…

The South African National Defence Force (SANDF) has been accused of neglecting a block of flats under its care in Pretoria’s inner city, which recently had sewerage spilling onto the streets, posing a health risk to the community. EFF regional chairperson Obakeng Ramabodu, who is also the City of Tshwane Member of the Mayoral Committee (MMC), slammed the SANDF in a video circulating on social media, revealing the appalling state of the organisation’s property. The video exposed the neglect and decay of the buildings, situated at the corner of Steve Biko and Justice Mahomed streets. The footage also shows sewerage spilling out of the premises onto the nearby streets, posing serious health risks to the surrounding community. Ramabodu could be heard in a video urging the SANDF to take responsibility…

The esteemed Nelson Mandela home was turned into a crime scene after the arrest of five suspects—comprising one female and four males—at the historic Nelson Mandela family residence in Houghton, Johannesburg, on Wednesday. A stolen vehicle and an unlicensed firearm were both found at the premises and these items are now subject to a criminal investigation. The identity of the suspects, who are being held at the Norwood police station, is still mostly unknown. One of Mandela’s grandsons, whose identity is known to Independent Media but has not been made public since he has not yet appeared in court, is rumoured to be among those detained. The group reportedly consists of two Indian males, a white female, and two Black males, adding layers of intrigue to an already complex case.…

The fourth generation of Suzuki's Swift has landed in South Africa and is already taking the market by storm. The Swift has always been a fun drive, but in its latest guise, the completely overhauled design has made it even more attractive to look at, while changes under the hood give it even more character on the road. It’s powered by a new 1.2l naturally aspirated three-pot, which gives it a very pleasant engine note, fast becoming known as the three-cylinder thrum – it’s music to the ear as you accelerate hard, giving you the impression it’s plodding along with urgency, even when the reality may be different. The redesigned clam-shell bonnet, blacked-out headlight clusters, new grille, and sharper, LED taillights also set it apart from the previous generation.…

Playing for a greater cause than oneself. Caring for your team member. Honest and open communication. Never being bigger than a game. And all of this being driven by a salt-of-the-earth individual from the Eastern Cape. Sound familiar? It certainly rings true, like the Springboks’ mantra that has seen Rassie Erasmus’ team win consecutive Rugby World Cup titles. It’s no surprise then that the Sunrisers Eastern Cape, who boast a similar team value system, have won back-to-back Betway SA20 titles and are gunning for a three-peat when they kick-start the third edition of South Africa’s premier T20 competition at what is expected to be a heaving St George’s Park tonight (5.30pm start). “It’s nice to be used in the same sentence as the Bokke, but I don’t think we're quite…

The blazing fire of the golden era of men’s tennis has been reduced to dying embers without Roger Federer and Rafa Nadal, but Novak Djokovic can send one last flame shooting into the Melbourne sky at this year’s Australian Open. Having ticked Olympic champion off his wish-list in Paris, Djokovic has the record for most Grand Slam singles titles in his sights – and few would bet against him walking off Rod Laver Arena on January 26 with the unprecedented 25th. Yes, at 37, the body is no longer what it was, and yes, World No 1 Jannik Sinner won both of their contests last year. But the fierce drive that made Serbia’s favourite son the most successful male player of all time endures. “My main motivation comes from love…

South Africa’s automotive industry is poised for a potential rebound in the new vehicle market in 2025, driven by stabilising inflation, anticipated interest rate reductions, and relieving energy constraints. This optimism comes on the heels of a challenging 2024, which saw total aggregate new vehicle sales decline by 3% to 515 712 units, marking the lowest annual figure since the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. The latest figures released by the Automotive Business Council (Naamsa) yesterday revealed a stark contrast between 2023 and 2024, where the vehicle sales dropped from 531 775 units to 515 712 units. However, the latter part of 2024 showed glimmers of recovery, with December marking the third consecutive month of year-on-year sales increase. The industry recorded an uptick of 2.5% in new vehicle sales for…

Modernising power networks through digitisation and innovative technologies, such as Artificial Intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML), is essential for utilities and municipalities to improve efficiency and manage the growing complexities of energy distribution. A key element of this transformation is using advanced software, which serves as the backbone for integrating AI and ML into utility operations. However, the financial investment required for such a shift often poses a challenge. By shifting from Capital Expenditure (CAPEX) models to Operational Expenditure (OPEX) frameworks, utilities can distribute costs over time through subscription-based payments for software, reducing the necessity for large upfront investments. This transition facilitates the gradual integration of advanced technologies into their operations, enhancing grid efficiency and reliability. Large electrical utilities typically invest in enterprise-level software like Supervisory Control and Data…

South Africa’s manufacturing sector is experiencing a troubling downturn as the Absa Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) for December 2024 recorded a contraction of 1.9 points, falling to 46.2. This contraction has largely echoed findings from the S&P South Africa Global PMI, which also indicated a decrease in business activity during the month, prompting economists to voice concerns about possible repercussions for economic growth in 2025. Absa yesterday said that the PMI remained in contractionary territory. “This puts the 2024 Q4 average PMI at 49 points, not significantly different from 49.8 points for 2024 Q3, but above Q1 (47.8) and Q2 (48.1). The manufacturing sector experienced a volatile 2024, with this second consecutive monthly decline in December reversing the upward momentum seen in September and October,” it said. “The business activity…

Durban businessman Ferrel Govender, who, together with his younger brother, is accused of killing another businessman, has lucrative business interests across the country. Govender, 40, the group chief executive officer of security company Pro Secure (PTY) Ltd and his brother Darren, 35, were arrested following the murder of Shailen Singh, 32, the owner of Shail Trans, a logistics company. Singh was shot multiple times while seated in his vehicle in the parking lot of a restaurant on Meridian Drive in Umhlanga, north of Durban last month. The brothers appeared in court on Friday but the matter was adjourned for further investigations, including an identity parade ahead of a formal bail application. The elder brother, Ferrel, has no criminal record and is listed as a director of 19 companies countrywide, his…

THE ANC marked its 113th birthday on Wednesday by embarking on a pilgrimage to Robben Island, where many of its leaders were incarcerated by the apartheid regime. President Cyril Ramaphosa led ANC leaders as the national executive committee kept to its practice of visiting sites of importance on the day the party was formed. Ramaphosa said it was fitting that they gathered on Robben Island to mark the occasion because the island occupied a significant place in the history of the movement and the people of South Africa. “Robben Island is a symbol both of enslavement and rebellion. It is a site of both imprisonment and resistance. On this day, at this place, we pay tribute to the men and women who fought so courageously against colonialism and apartheid,” he…

For Sonia Mabulawe, a resident of Kekana Gardens in Hammanskraal, the simple act of turning on her tap and accessing clean, drinkable water is a long-awaited dream finally realised. She spoke about her long-time struggles of living without water during a visit by Tshwane Mayor Nasiphi Moya, who officially declared water in the area fit for human consumption on Wednesday. For almost two decades, people in the area have been forced to use dirty water and the problem was attributed to the Rooiwal Wastewater Treatment Plant’s lack of capacity to purify water. In a collaborative effort, the City of Tshwane and the Department of Water and Sanitation joined forces to bring much-needed water to the residents of Hammanskraal through the construction of the Klipdrift Package Plant, with Magalies Water serving…

In a bold artistic endeavour aimed at combating the pervasive issue of gender-based violence (GBV) in South Africa, renowned TV and film actress Dr Mamphuti Khasu has taken centre stage with the premiere of “Gontse!”. The groundbreaking production is set to debut at the Soweto Theatre on January 24 and aims to ignite essential discussions about a social crisis that has tragically become commonplace in South African society. The urgency of “Gontse!” is underscored by a recent national study on GBV commissioned by Women and People with Disabilities Minister Sindisiwe Chikunga. Released in November, the alarming findings revealed that one in three women aged 18 and older have experienced sexual or physical abuse at some point in their lives. This statistic lays bare the reality that inspired Khasu and her…

Football is fickle at the top – something that Orlando Pirates will know all too well as they head to their CAF Champions League penultimate round group-stage clash. Pirates will face CR Belouizdad of Algeria in their fifth game of Group C on Sunday afternoon (3pm kick-off) sitting on top of the group with eight points, one ahead of Al Ahly. In simple terms, a win from that match, which will be hosted at Orlando Stadium, would be enough to sail the Sea Robbers to the quarter-finals since 2013. However, if that doesn’t happen, coach Jose Riveiro and his team might have to dig deep and get a result when they visit the ‘Club of the Century’, Al Ahly, in their last group-stage match in Cairo. But let’s start with…

France’s 2018 World Cup-winning coach Didier Deschamps announced yesterday that he will leave his post after the 2026 tournament in North America. “It will be 2026,” Deschamps told French broadcaster TF1. “I have been there since 2012. It is planned that I will be there until 2026... the next World Cup. “It will end there, because it has to end at some point. It’s clear in my mind. “I have done my time, with the same desire, the same passion to keep the France team at the highest level – but 2026 is good.” Deschamps, 56, led France to World Cup glory in Russia in 2018, and guided them to the final of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar where they lost to Lionel Messi’s Argentina on penalties. Following that…

The Lions are determined to get back to their identity when they resume their EPCR Challenge Cup campaign against Montpellier in the south of France on Saturday (7.30pm kick-off). The team from the highveld are known for their free-flowing, attacking rugby, and scrum coach Julian Redelinghuys admitted that they have often strayed from their blueprint, especially in wet conditions. “For us, balancing the Lions way works really well if it’s dry – if it’s lekker warm conditions, then we can let the ball fly,” he told the media this week alongside wing Edwill van der Merwe shortly before the team’s departure for France. “But if we are playing in the wet, we don’t want to become conservative, and sometimes we feel we do become conservative. “And for us to still…

SPRINGBOK legend Eben Etzebeth has won everything on offer at international level, and has adjusted his sights to winning silverware with the Sharks. The 33-year-old winner of two World Cup gold medals told The Times of London’s Ruck podcast that he is motivated to add club honours to what he has achieved with the Springboks. The Sharks will put themselves in contention for the biggest club/provincial title of them all if they can beat Toulouse on Saturday in Durban (5.15pm kick-off), and back it up with a defeat of Bordeaux in France next week. This is the toughest of tasks, because the aforementioned teams are currently No 1 and No 2 in the French Top 14 respectively. “I don’t think I’ve been too successful at club level. I haven’t won…

More than 60% of South African companies see skills gaps as a key barrier to business transformation by 2030, according to the World Economic Forum’s (WEF’s) Future of Jobs Report 2025, released yesterday. The report, which has been published twice a year for the past decade, provides insights into the emerging jobs landscape for the 2025-2030 period. It was compiled based on the perspectives of more than 1 000 employers, which represent more than 14 million workers across 22 industry clusters and 55 economies. The WEF jobs report comes at a time when youth employment is a serious issue, with 34.2% of South Africa’s young people between the ages of 18 and 34 not being in employment, education or training as of the third quarter of last year. This compares…

Naspers and Prosus have bright operational and commercial prospects despite shaving off as much as R300 billion in value on the JSE on Tuesday after Tencent was placed on the United States list of companies allegedly aiding the Chinese military. In afternoon trade on the JSE yesterday, Prosus and Naspers appeared to narrow down the previous day’s big losses. This comes after the two companies’ stocks plunged by more than 8% on the JSE on Tuesday. Analysts, however, said yesterday that Prosus and Naspers’ prospects were brighter despite the share losses on the JSE after announcement of Tencent being placed on the US Department of Defence blacklist. Naspers and Prosus hold about 24% of Tencent although they do not have management control of the Chinese fintech, gaming and media giant.…

While Hollywood has produced some phenomenal war dramas à la Saving Private Ryan, Dunkirk, The Thin Red Line and Fury, actor, film-maker and playwright Tyler Perry has latched onto a compelling true-life story with The Six Triple Eight. The war drama, written and directed by Perry, unpacks the lesser-known story of the 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion, an all-black and all-female battalion, in World War II. The segregated black Women’s Army Corps, helmed by Major Charity Adams (Kerry Washington) and her second-in-command Captain Noel Campbell (Milauna Jackson), are reassigned to Glasgow where they are given a seemingly impossible task of clearing a two-year backlog of undelivered mail within a six-month deadline. They are forced to live in uninhabitable conditions and endure numerous racist and sexist attacks, which makes their task…

THE Royal AM Football Club has attributed its failure to pay the salaries of players last month to the club being placed under curatorship following a preservation order obtained by the SA Revenue Service (SARS). Club president, Shauwn Mkhize, said in a statement yesterday that the curator is overseeing the club's assets. The issue came to the fore after the Premier Soccer League (PSL) club missed one of its home games due to the players not being paid their December salaries. The situation has raised concerns from Royal AM’s offIcial sponsor, the Msunduzi Municipality, which warned that “it will be a problem” if the club misses its home games. In terms of the multi-million rand sponsorship, R27 million was injected into the club by the municipality and the deal…

Former African National Congress (ANC) chief whip Tony Yengeni, who has come under fire over his social media comments against the party, is not bothered by reports that party Secretary-General, Fikile Mbalula is preparing charges of bringing the party into disrepute against him. This week, Mbalula accused Yengeni and others of spreading dissenting political views and went on to label him a “political Casanova”, adding that another senior leader, Obed Bapela, will be charged for their anti-ANC conduct. This is as the internal rift within the ANC continues to widen as Yengeni faces possible disciplinary charges from Mbalula. This comes after Yengeni’s recent criticism of President Cyril Ramaphosa’s leadership, sparking tension that threatens to unsettle the party ahead of its crucial January 8 Statement. Mbalula, speaking in Cape Town, has…

hope.mafu@inl.co.za The Joburg municipality has invited the public to send submissions stating its support or disapproval of the proposed partnership with the private sector to eliminate pollution. According to Section 79 of the Environment and Infrastructure Services Committee Chairperson of the metro, Vhengani Munyai, waste is rapidly piling up due to population growth and income levels of residents. “Existing landfills are running out of airspace at a rapid rate, and the development of new landfill sites is difficult due to a scarcity of suitable land within the jurisdiction of the city,” said Munyai. Landfill sites are also sources of methane gas, which is classified as a greenhouse gas that is 25 times more harmful than carbon dioxide (CO2)— its release to the atmosphere should be avoided. The proposed public-private partnership…

IN A SHOCKING turn of events, four people, including the grandson of former South African president Nelson Mandela, were arrested yesterday morning following the recovery of a suspected hijacked vehicle at Mandela’s historic Houghton residence in Sandton. The grandson, who is known to Independent Media but remains unnamed pending confirmation from police, is embroiled in the case that raises concerns not only about the safety of citizens but the alarming state of a once-illustrious family home. According to police reports, the hijacked vehicle was taken on Tuesday night in Benoni, with the suspects believed to have driven around while still possessing the vehicle’s driver. Details regarding the driver’s fate remain unclear, although it was reported that he was at a police station in Ekurhuleni, preparing to file an official hijacking…

Langa Dube, the grandson of the founding president of the African National Congress, Dr John Langalibalele Dube, has called on Black political and social formations to unite and continue to fight for the total return of land to the Black people. Langa Dube was reflecting on his grandfather’s values as the ANC turned 113 years old on Wednesday. Speaking to the SABC while standing next to his grandfather’s grave, Langa said although the ANC has not deviated from his grandfather’s values, the land question remained unresolved and this was something that his grandfather strongly advocated for. “We need a family with all Black political and social formations, be it churches and other formations, especially Black organisations to map out the strategy and discuss how we take the struggle for land…

When Mahindra launched the XUV 3XO they called it the “disrupter” in the compact SUV market and they’re not far off as it slowly starts to make its mark as more consumers take note in an incredibly cluttered segment. It makes up the bulk of their passenger sales by a big margin and with the top spec model we had on test it’s not difficult to understand why. As far as compact SUVs are concerned it’s one of the better looking ones out there which they say was a collaboration between their global network of design studios and its engineering hub at the Mahindra Research Valley in Chennai, India. It’s difficult to get away from the inevitable boxy shape, but eye-catching details like scuff plates, roof rails, a floating-effect…

That MG is relaunching the brand in South Africa is no secret considering the number of prominently branded dealerships that have sprung up countrywide, but the question has been just what is the new company going to offer the market. MG’s initial offerings in South Africa include the ZS and HS models. The ZS, a subcompact SUV, has already proven its mettle as an international bestseller with more than 1-million units sold, enjoying huge popularity in Australia and the UK where it actually increased sales during the Covid lockdown. It is priced from R289,900. Available in Comfort and Luxury variants, the ZS features a 1.5-litre petrol engine, advanced safety features including six crash bags and a modern infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto – and it comes…

THIS is not how it was supposed to be. Yet, such is the fickle nature of football at the highest level that forecasts and predictions often go horribly awry. And they certainly have in this season’s edition of the CAF Champions League. Mamelodi Sundowns and Raja Casablanca were pencilled in as the favourites to progress from Group B ahead of AS FAR Rabat and Maniema Union. Champions in 2016, Sundowns began the current campaign intent on adding a second star above their crest, with their then-coach Manqoba Mngqithi expressing confidence the Brazilians have what it takes to reign supreme in the continent’s premier club knockout competition. Two matches into the campaign, the South African champions had just two points and Mngqithi was sent packing, replaced as he was by Portuguese…

The Stormers are gearing up for a massive forward battle with a Sale Sharks pack spearheaded by the Du Preez twins and former Capetonian Ernst van Rhyn. The Manchester team are in the Mother City for Saturday’s round-three Champions Cup game at the Cape Town Stadium (3pm kick-off), and coach John Dobson’s side have to win to revive their chances of advancing in the competition. The Sale forwards have a reputation for their physicality in the English Premiership, and that is some accolade, given that the Premiership has a major focus on set-piece play. Besides Springboks Dan and Jean-Luc du Preez and Van Rhyn, Sale have an exceptional hooker in England’s Luke Cowan-Dickie, while the younger brother of Tom Curry, Ben, is a highly-regarded flanker. But the Stormers will back…