Innehållsförteckning för 2025-10-13 från Star

THERE is a fierce battle under way for control of the Public Investment Corporation (PIC), Africa’s largest asset manager, entrusted with over R3 trillion in assets. According to highly placed sources, the tension reached a climax with the organisation severely divided over the suspension of its chief investment officer (CIO), Kabelo Rikhotso, earlier this week. On one side stands the established board of directors, and on the other, a challenging faction, reportedly linked to former spokesperson Adrian Lackay, which – according to insiders – is attempting to wrest control of the PIC through covert manoeuvres. The sources alleged that the “Lackay grouping” had actively intercepted communications involving senior PIC executives and was orchestrating a campaign to remove the current board and install a new one. “They have been intercepting internal…

President Cyril Ramaphosa has welcomed a new €11.5 billion (about R230 billion) investment package from the European Union (EU), describing it as a major step toward building South Africa’s “economy of the future” while strengthening long-standing trade and diplomatic ties with Europe. Ramaphosa said the package “opens new possibilities for trade and investment” and marks the start of “a new era of partnership and cooperation” between South Africa and the EU. The announcement was made jointly by Ramaphosa and European Commission President, Ursula von der Leyen, on the sidelines of the Global Gateway Forum at the European Commission’s headquarters last week. Ramaphosa said the investment would support growth in several priority sectors, including green hydrogen, renewable energy, critical minerals, electric battery manufacturing, and vaccine production. The package will also fund…

In Hans Christian Andersen’s timeless fable, the emperor’s procession glitters with splendour only in imagination. His courtiers, sycophants and onlookers nod approvingly, unwilling to admit what is plainly visible: that the emperor is, in truth, unclothed. It takes the innocent honesty of a child to break the illusion. South Africa, too, marches in such a parade. The robes shimmer with acronyms, commissions and summits; the crowd applauds resilience even as data exposes fragility. The parade’s rhythm endures through ceremonies of promise and policies without consequence, while the nation’s foundations strain under the quiet weight of unfulfilled governance. Governance, at its simplest, is principled stewardship: transparency, meritocracy and accountability in action. Yet it has become the unseen tailor of our times, invoked, costed and praised but rarely enforced. The numbers speak…

President Cyril Ramaphosa and European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen on Friday announced the European Union’s Global Gateway Investment Package for South Africa to the value of €11.5 billion (approximately R229bn). This is a positive boost to our economy, jobs, local businesses, infrastructure, including energy. In simple terms this injection is equivalent to 10% of government’s annual budget. This is a welcome injection of liquidity into a struggling economy that has been stuck at 1% growth per annum since 2008 and battling to attract the domestic and foreign investments needed to reach the 3% growth rate needed to create jobs and tackle our dangerously high unemployment rate of 42.9%. The package commits to raising European investments in South Africa with approximately R173bn in a Just Energy Transition, including…

Newpark REIT, which owns four properties including the JSE Building, lowered its dividend 13.1% to 26 cents per share for the six months to August 31, but has raised its guidance for the full year. The JSE-listed company said the dividend was declared after funds from operations per share (FFOPS) declined 24.5% to 26.80 cents from 35.50 cents. However, it revised upwards its FFOPS guidance for the full year to between 41.50 and 48.50 cents a share, with total dividends per share expected to be in line with the FFOPS. Previously, the company had guided for FFOPS for the year to be between 39 cents and 46 cents. The forecast was revised after taking into account the sale of the Crown Mines property at an assumed transfer date of November…

Since her debut with Tim McGraw, Taylor Swift’s fans have closely examined her lyrics to figure out who she is singing about. Early in her career, Swift would include clues in her lyric booklets, capitalising certain letters to reveal secret messages. Today, the hints have expanded far beyond printed lyrics, appearing in Instagram captions, talk show appearances, TikToks and other public moments. Fans now scrutinise nearly everything Swift does for signs of who inspires her songs. Her twelfth studio album, The Life of a Showgirl, quickly attracted attention, particularly for the track Actually Romantic. In the soft rock song, Swift describes someone so focused on her that it feels like love. She sings: “It’s actually romantic / I really gotta hand it to you / No man has ever loved…

Having been a die-hard of the Sex and the City franchise, I was delighted when the spinoff series, And Just Like That…, arrived. Admittedly, it was disappointing to see that Kim Cattrall didn’t make the final cast. And, no, that pacifying guest appearance in season 2 doesn’t count. But Sarah Jessica Parker (Carrie Bradshaw), Cynthia Nixon (Miranda Hobbes) and Kristin Davis (Charlotte York Goldenblatt) do a commendable job of holding down the fort as 50-somethings, navigating different challenges, albeit wiser, while also untangling the complexities of love, family and work. The addition of Sarita Choudhury as Seema Patel and Nicole Ari Parker as Lisa Todd Wexley elevates the girlfriend dynamics, while Mario Cantone and Evan Handler add comic levity in their respective roles. Amid her home renovations and penning a…

The ANC in the Western Cape Provincial Legislature has called for an investigation into Premier Alan Winde’s failure to declare sponsored travel to the United States in 2024. This follows revelations that Winde’s flight tickets to attend Climate Week NYC 2024 in New York, held from September 22 to 25 last year, were funded by the Under2 Coalition, a global network of subnational governments committed to climate action. While the sponsorship was recorded in the Department of the Premier’s 2024/2025 Annual Report, the ANC claims it was not declared in the Register of Members’ Interests, as required by the legislature’s code of conduct. “The code of conduct clearly stipulates that members must declare all gifts, sponsorships, or benefits, including sponsored travel, to prevent any perception of conflict of interest or…

The University of South Africa hosted the twelfth edition of the Chancellor’s Shaping Futures Golf Challenge over the weekend, at Randpark Club in Johannesburg. The annual fundraising event brought together business leaders, alumni, donors, students, and friends of the university for a day of sport and a powerful purpose – to raise funds for student bursaries and financial aid. This year’s Golf Challenge raised nearly five hundred thousand rand on the day, with all proceeds going toward supporting academically deserving but financially needy students. The event was one of several fundraising initiatives that have contributed to Unisa reaching a historic milestone of over one hundred million rand raised for student support so far. This marks the largest student support fund ever raised by a single university in South Africa. Addressing…

The Gauteng Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (Cogta) hosted a pivotal roundtable discussion to address the growing sinkhole crisis in municipalities across the province. The event, held at Silverstar Casino in Mogale City, brought together experts from various fields to share knowledge and expertise on managing dolomitic land and preventing future sinkhole disasters. The roundtable came after widespread concerns from residents, businesses, and political parties in various municipalities, who have been severely impacted by sinkholes disrupting their daily lives and operations. In Tshwane, the Freedom Front Plus has initiated a campaign to petition the city to declare Region 4 in Centurion a disaster zone due to the severe sinkhole issue. Currently, the city is dealing with over 64 sinkholes and officials have cited insufficient budget to rehabilitate the…

Backstory Gabriel Bergmoser Multicast narration Audible Originals NEWLY released, Backstory isn’t just an audiobook, but a slow confession. The nearly nine-hour listen is a story about ambition, friendship and the blurred lines between what we remember and what we choose to forget. It is the kind of novel that pulls you with an uneasiness, where the grip tightens and secrets rise to the surface. Bergmoser, the award-winning Melbourne-based author known for his gripping and emotionally intelligent storytelling, once again proves his command over the psychological thriller. His prose is cinematic yet intimate, his characters flawed but achingly human. He doesn’t just explore darkness – he finds empathy within it. The setup seems deceptively simple: five university friends reunite for a weekend away, a nostalgic nod to their shared years in…

Bafana Bafana coach Hugo Broos has praised midfielder Sipho Mbule for his growing influence in the national team setup and revealed how a simple half-time message sparked his second-half revival against Zimbabwe. The 2026 Fifa World Cup qualifier, played in front of a packed Moses Mabhida Stadium on Friday night, ended goalless – a result that dented Bafana’s qualification hopes. Though officially designated as the away team, the Warriors hosted the clash in Durban due to none of Zimbabwe’s stadiums meeting Fifa accreditation standards. Despite the frustrating result, Broos found reason for encouragement in Mbule’s display. The Orlando Pirates midfielder, affectionately known as ‘MasterChef’, has worked his way back into the national picture after missing out on several squads earlier this year. His recall came during the September international break,…

After a lukewarm display in his United Rugby Championship (URC) debut, Springbok flyhalf Handré Pollard will not be available for the Bulls’ next game against Connacht this weekend. Head coach Johan Ackermann confirmed that Pollard is heading back to South Africa to support his wife, who is due to give birth soon. That rules him out of the next Irish clash and the third tour match against former champions Glasgow Warriors.E Pollard, along with the rest of the Springbok reinforcements, failed to make a significant impact against Ulster, who claimed a convincing 28-7 win over their visitors. Following the defeat, critics were quick to speak out, but Ackermann insisted the team wouldn’t be distracted by outside noise. The focus now shifts to fixing key issues ahead of a tough assignment…

Lions supporters’ spirits must have sunk when Johan Ackermann returned to South Africa from England – not to save their team, but to take over from Jake White at the Bulls. Similarly, Swys de Bruin – Ackermann’s sidekick during the Lions’ heyday in Super Rugby – emerged from coaching isolation to lead the Springbok Women to World Cup success. Both these coaches are Lions legends, and either would be appreciated at Ellis Park right now. The Lions, in short, need a saviour. Another Currie Cup season ended in disappointment, despite fielding a full-strength squad, while the United Rugby Championship is off to a dismal start with three consecutive losses. They already look unlikely to make the Top 8, having never qualified for the play-offs since South Africa joined the URC…

Zinedine Zidane confirmed on Sunday that he would one day like to coach the France national team but did not specify if he was eyeing the job once Didier Deschamps steps down. Zidane, who famously scored twice in France’s 1998 World Cup final victory over Brazil, previously led Real Madrid to three consecutive Champions League titles during his only senior coaching tenure. “I’m sure I’ll get back into coaching,” Zidane said at an event organised by Italian sports daily La Gazzetta dello Sport. “I’m not saying it’s going to happen now, but what I want one day is to coach the national team.” The 53-year-old remains the favourite to replace Deschamps when the 2018 World Cup-winning coach steps aside after next year’s tournament in the United States, Canada and Mexico.…

South Africa and other member countries of the Global Forum on Steel Excess Capacity (GFSEC) have agreed to adopt market-based principles to tackle the persistent global oversupply of steel, which continues to pressure domestic industries through a surge of cheap imports. Ministers from steel-producing countries under the GFSEC met in Gqeberha on Friday and resolved to recognise “the importance of steel supply chains and the need for them to operate based on market” principles. Mervyn Naidoo, CEO of Actom and new president of the Steel and Engineering Industries Federation of Southern Africa (SEIFSA), said last week that the steel industry in South Africa will “advocate for procurement models and investment strategies that favour localisation, skills development and long-term” sustainability. South Africa’s steel manufacturing industry remains a key manufacturing cog and…

Efforts to make smoke-free products more widely available could help South Africa reduce smoking-related deaths, industry players have said, as the government finalises new legislation for the tobacco sector. However, the affordability of these alternatives has become a key concern. With over 8.6 million smokers in South Africa according to the Global Action to End Smoking, the number of smoke related deaths remains elevated at about 32 000 per year based on statistics from Tobacco Control Data. Tobacco manufacturers such as Philip Morris International (PMI) believe that smoke-free alternatives will play a key role in ending smoke related deaths as consumers shift to non-combustible nicotine pouches and other alternatives. Smoke-free products are also seen helping to end drug-related problems afflicting SA and other African countries. However, organisations such as the…

The ongoing spread of foot and mouth disease (FMD) in South Africa has placed the country’s beef industry at a crossroads. Despite significant progress in controlling the disease in 2024, new outbreaks in 2025 across provinces like KwaZulu-Natal, Gauteng, Mpumalanga, North West, and Free State are threatening the industry’s stability, export potential, and long-term growth prospects. The timing could hardly be worse. Just as the South African red meat industry was gearing up for its festive-season peak – a crucial period when national demand for steaks, roasts and braai favourites surges – new cases of FMD have been confirmed at a feedlot in Gauteng and Free State, with a possible case under investigation in the Free State. The progression of FMD outbreaks in South Africa from earlier in March to…

At 30, South Africa is in a dark place, none that any would have anticipated in April 1994. While April 1993 had cast a dark spell over the country, it was Madiba stepping up to be a de facto president and reassured the nation that whilst peace does not suggest the absence of violence, peace at all material times is the trophy we should pursue. Today, 30 years later, that dark spot of a suicide or assassin has revisited us. The question is will the leadership rise in this context and South Africa be granted respite to rise. When the news of Ambassador Nkosinathi Nathi Mthethwa’s death broke, I was not reminded of the story of the R22 million flag but rather one of a citizen-politician conversation that aimed at…

Standard Chartered is seeking to pivot on South Africa’s booming fintech sector to connect and bridge the country and the continent with international investors seeking exposure to the region. Bill Winters, Standard Chartered’s group CEO visited South Africa earlier this month as the bank views the country as a vital link to the rest of the continent. Standard Chartered recently told Business Report that there is renewed investor interest in South Africa’s renewable energy, IT, mining as well as finance. This was helping to shore up South Africa’s robust merger and acquisition activity amid rising regulatory scrutiny guided by public interest concerns. The country’s advanced financial sector and stability in the regulatory sector was also helping restore some certainty to investors seeking mergers and acquisitions (M&A) deals in the country.…

Co-creator Ryan Murphy’s Monster series on Netflix has struck gold once again with Monster: The Ed Gein story, in a story so depraved and disturbing it’s difficult to look away. Murphy, known for his often campy horror series American Horror Story, has transitioned to depicting stories based on fact. The first season – Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story, focussed on cannibal serial killer Jeffrey Dahmer. Season two – Monster: The Lyle and Erik Menéndez Story, followed the 1989 murders of the wealthy parents of Beverly Hills brothers Lyle and Erik Menéndez. The Ed Gein Story though, is as disturbing, if not more so, than Dahmer. Gein is a lonely, stunted man, raised by a verbally and physically abusive mother Augusta (played by Laurie Metcalf). In a case of nature…

President Cyril Ramaphosa’s spokesperson said a video showing him outside the posh Sandton home of Hangwani Maumela – a central figure in a massive corruption scandal involving the looting of over R2 billion from Tembisa Hospital – is purely coincidental. Ramaphosa has denied ever meeting Maumela, who was related to him through a previous marriage. Last week, the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) raided Maumela’s home as part of an operation to seize assets linked to the alleged Tembisa Hospital looting. A recent SIU report found that Maumela led one of three major syndicates that diverted public funds meant for healthcare services through a complex web of fraudulent tenders, inflated prices and non-existent deliveries. Among the items confiscated were three Lamborghinis, designer furniture, expensive artwork, and other property. The total value…

A man and a woman were found guilty of murder, kidnapping, and breaking into a house and were given life sentences. The two killed the woman’s stepdaughter and tried to murder her mother-in-law. Provincial spokesperson Colonel Malesela Ledwaba said the incident occurred on May 5, 2023, when the female accused, Zanele Nhleko, accompanied by her male accomplice, visited her 75-year-old mother-in-law at night with the intent to kill her for unknown reasons. “They broke a window to gain entry into the house and proceeded to strangle the elderly woman with a rope until she lost consciousness.” The court heard that during the attack, the victim’s 12-year-old granddaughter woke up and recognised Nhleko, her stepmother. Realising her grandmother was no longer breathing, the child screamed for help. Fearing exposure, the two…

Lucky Montana, the former CEO of PRASA, denied he owed the South African Revenue Service (SARS) any money, stating: “I do not owe SARS even a cent.” The dispute between the two agencies is still going strong. Montana’s tax debt of over R55 million and the R5.4m settlement offer he made last month were both revealed by the revenue service, which fulfilled its promise to reveal Montana’s tax affairs, according to an IOL report. This came after SARS warned the former PRASA boss to retract his allegations of fraud within 24 hours or face public disclosure of his confidential tax information. “Recently, on August 8, 2025, Mr Montana submitted a compromise offer to SARS, offering the sum of approximately R5.4m to satisfy the total tax debt outstanding, which currently stands…

The Gauteng Legislature has claimed that its watchdog role over the provincial government’s health was effective despite two public health institutions, Tembisa and Life Esidimeni hospitals, in the province having been caught in deadly controversies. This assertion comes amid ongoing investigations into alleged R2 billion tender fraud at Tembisa Hospital and follows the 2017 Life Esidimeni tragedy where approximately 140 mental health patients died due to systemic negligence. Some organisations have blamed parliament for not putting in place strong measures to hold those in charge of public institutions accountable. Provincial legislature spokesperson Thabisile Nzuke said the legislature has implemented its Sector Oversight Model (SOM) to ensure that the executive delivers on its mandate in line with policy commitments, budget allocations, and service delivery targets. “Within this framework, the Health…

African National Congress (ANC) Secretary-General Fikile Mbalula has warned that the party must clean up its act or risk losing the trust of South Africans. He was speaking at the reburial of struggle veterans Todd Matshikiza, Esme Sheila Matshikiza, and John Pogiso Maroo in Komani on Saturday. Mbalula described the ANC’s poor showing in the 2024 elections as a “strategic setback” and said the party must return to its founding values of honesty, humility, and service. During the elections last year, the ANC lost its outright majority for the first time since 1994, forcing it into a coalition to remain in government. “Our commitment to organisational renewal requires of the ANC to be responsive to the dreams and aspirations of the multi-forces for progressive change. “This renewal, comrades, demands that…

An acting judge, in dealing with a tug-o-war between divorcing parents regarding the custody of their child, urged parents to respect each other when it came to decisions regarding their children. Acting Judge Ceri von Ludwig, sitting in the Gauteng High Court, Johannesburg, remarked that it is a heavy burden on a court to have to decide what is best for a child when that child’s own parents are unable to do so. “It is a responsibility for which we must be grateful because the parents have turned to us and said, ‘help us’. It is not always an abrogation of the parents’ responsibilities by the parents. It is the parents saying: ‘I know what I think is best’, but it does not concur with what the other parent thinks…

Write Me For You Tillie Cole Loot.co.za (R249) Penguin Random House JUNE Scott is dying, she has cancer and her doctors have told her there is nothing more they can do. That is until she gets into a trial for a new drug regimen. She and her mom and dad travel to The Ranch, a beautiful hospital, and she meets the other young people who she will be undergoing the trial with. One of them is Jesse Taylor, an athlete, then there is Emma and Chris. Tillie Cole has written a story with a story within it. On the one hand the reader is confronted with the physical and emotional horrors of the trial, on the other she starts to write a story about herself and Jesse (yes they fall…

Hugo Broos has never been one to bow to pressure. His stubborn conviction and fearless leadership will again be tested when Bafana Bafana face Rwanda in Mbombela tomorrow night. The Belgian has built his reputation on doing things his own way. Whether it’s selection calls, formation tweaks, or how he speaks his mind in press conferences, Broos rarely compromises. But after Friday night’s goalless draw against Zimbabwe, his side finds itself on the back foot – and this is precisely when the coach’s experience, emotional intelligence, and tactical sharpness will be tested most. It’s easy to forget that South Africa were the better team for long periods against the Warriors. They created chances, played with intensity, and showed commitment. What was missing was a finishing touch. That’s why Broos’ handling…

While the Stormers started their opening overseas tour of the United Rugby Championship (URC) in fine fashion, they will have to be careful about getting overconfident ahead of their Italian job starting this weekend. The Cape side blanked a second team this past Friday, scoring a 34-0 victory over the Scarlets in Llanelli and are one of three unbeaten teams in the tournament. After the Bulls’ loss on Saturday, they are at the top of the URC log thanks to a significant points difference. A duel against Zebre awaits in Parma, and after the Italian club already toppled one South African side – the Lions – the inaugural champions will be wary of them. They also need to remain on top of their game as their final tour match against…

South Africa has entered a period of lower maize prices, offering relief to consumers, livestock farmers, and poultry producers following a bumper harvest that has boosted domestic supplies, according to the Agricultural Business Chamber of South Africa (Agbiz). Agbiz chief economist, Wandile Sihlobo, said the decline in prices marks a favourable phase for households and key food-producing sectors. “Looking at South Africa’s white maize spot prices they are down by over 35% from a year ago, trading at R3 595 per ton. In the case of yellow maize, the spot price is down by over 20% from a year ago, trading around R3 450 per ton,” Sihlobo said. He said the notable drop reflects improved supply conditions in the domestic market. “We have a sizable harvest in the 2024-25 season.…

The Southern Africa Agricultural Initiative (Saai) recently brought together farmers from across the globe, convening the G20 Farmers Dialogue. The discussions at the Faculty of Agricultural Sciences in Stellenbosch University aimed to forge a path towards a farmers’ declaration for the upcoming G20 Heads of State Summit in Johannesburg in November. Saai said that the event attracted delegates and digital participants from Europe, North America, Asia, and Africa, ensuring that the authentic voice of farmers was represented in global policy debates. Saai added that the dialogue focused on four central themes: family farming; digitalisation, innovation and AI; livestock and proteins; and trade and food security. Ettore Prandini, president of Coldiretti in Italy, said family farming is crucial. “Family farmers are the pillars of agriculture globally. They produce most of the…

Despite some uncertainty about world equity and bond markets around the US economy and the way forward for interest rates after the US government shutdown remains, share prices on the JSE remain bullish. The all share index broke through the 110 000 point level a few times last week and closed on Friday at 110 296 points. This is an improvement of 0.5% for the week and the sixth consecutive record Friday close. The prices for gold, platinum and palladium remain strong but have moved sideways since last Thursday. The gold price ended the week still above the $4 000 (about R69 900) level ($4 009) and $123 per ounce for the week, from $3 885 the previous Friday. Platinum ended flat on $1 617, but the palladium price shot…

There are early signs of greater urgency around infrastructure, education, and digital transformation in South Africa’s Government of National Unity, which plays into the strengths of JSE-listed ICT group Mustek. This was according to the group’s CEO Hein Engelbrecht, who said in the annual report released Friday that they were heading into the new financial year to June 30, 2026, with “cautious optimism,” a sharpened cost base, a more focused portfolio, and an active pipeline of business. This was after the relatively stable demand experienced by the group for the past financial year was only interspersed with worse-than-expected procurement delays and administrative uncertainty in the public sector, which resulted in lower device sales and slower delivery on major contracts. “We have every reason to believe that this is a temporary…

Sappi’s share price nudged up 5.1% on the JSE on Friday after investors likely took heart from an update on the global paper and packaging group's actions since it released weak third quarter results. The share price closed at R21.65, which is a far cry from the R50.39 it traded at a year ago, but the low price is also symptomatic of the financial positions of at least two global paper and packaging groups, Sappi and Mondi, which have both recently posted weaker financial results due to a sector that is at the bottom end of a structural adjustment and price cycle. Mondi’s share price of R105.29 on Friday was also over 41% lower than a year ago. In August, Sappi reported a $33 million (about R577.3m) loss for the…

SUSPENDED deputy police commissioner, Lieutenant-General Shadrack Sibiya, is expected to be grilled over his alleged involvement in the disbanding of the Political Killings Task Team (PKTT) when he appears before the ad hoc committee probing allegations of corruption and political interference in the police service today. Sibiya, according to KwaZulu-Natal police commissioner, Lieutenant-General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi, had ordered the removal of police dockets from KwaZulu-Natal to the police head offices, without the knowledge of his boss, National Commissioner General Fannie Masemola. Mkhwanazi said Sibiya had also instructed a deputy minister to manage and remove Masemola. He said Sibiya had sent a WhatsApp message to the deputy minister informing him or her of spyware procured by the Crime Intelligence unit to the tune of R13 million, without following supply chain management processes.…

Due to a severe lack of desks and chairs, children at Tembisa’s Mpumelelo Primary School are reportedly forced to learn while standing. Gauteng Education MEC Matome Chiloane had pledged to deliver 25 foundation phase chairs and 50 intermediate phase chairs between March 3 and March 7, during a DA oversight visit in March. However, Khathutshelo Rasilingwane, DA spokesperson for infrastructure development, said that when they returned to the school in October, they found learners still crammed onto broken furniture and others standing throughout lessons, with no sign of the promised desks and chairs, exposing what the party called a breach of public trust. “We found children crammed onto broken, unsafe furniture, with no evidence that the promised desks and chairs ever arrived. This is not bureaucratic incompetence; it is a…

The South African government has strongly condemned the deadly attacks carried out by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) on 9 October in El Fasher, North Darfur, which targeted a hospital and a displacement centre, killing at least 20 people. The assaults on civilian infrastructure have led to the tragic loss of innocent lives, left many severely injured, and worsened the already dire humanitarian situation in the region. Authorities say thousands of civilians, including women and children, remain trapped by ongoing fighting. Sustained attacks since September on places of worship and the central market have further compounded the crisis, representing “a grave violation of international law.” In a statement issued by the Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO), South Africa expressed its solidarity with the people of Sudan, who continue…

A worrying R29 billion loss in toll payments is anticipated for the 2024 - 2025 fiscal year, according to the South African National Roads Agency (SANRAL), which also highlighted expected credit losses on unpaid amounts owed to the agency. This is according to SANRAL’s annual report covering April 2024 to March 2025. Nearly R13 million in spending is presently being investigated, despite the agency not disclosing any unnecessary or wasteful spending during this time. The Board had previously approved writing off R33.7m of fruitless or irregular spending in 2023/24. In 2024/25, an additional R186m of irregular expenditure was confirmed, with R1bn still “under assessment” at the end of March. The report noted there was no confirmed irregular expenditure linked to criminal conduct. Employees responsible for R96m in condoned irregular expenditure…

The Supreme Court of Appeal has ruled against an association representing a small group of doctors who sought to halt the implementation of Pharmacist-Initiated Management of Antiretroviral Therapy (Pimart), increasing access to treatment and prevention medications for people living with HIV and Aids. This is an intervention premised on improving access to HIV and Aids treatment and associated medicines. Given the shortcomings of earlier efforts, the South African Pharmacy Council (SACP), which regulates the pharmacy profession, launched Pimart with the goal of expanding access to healthcare for HIV first-line treatment. Since Pimart supports the fight against HIV and advocates for the right to access healthcare, the SCA determined that it was logically related to that goal. The Independent Practitioners Association Foundation (IPA), in 2023 turned to the Gauteng High Court,…

With Washington once again reaching for tariffs as a political lever, China is taking a firm but measured stand in defence of its economic sovereignty. In response to US President Donald Trump’s latest threat to impose 100% tariffs on Chinese imports, Beijing is calling for restraint and dialogue, even as it signals readiness to protect national interests. At the centre of the growing dispute is China’s recent move to tighten controls on the export of rare earth technologies – vital components in advanced electronics, defence systems, and green energy production. Washington has accused Beijing of using its dominance in rare earths for strategic leverage. In turn, Chinese officials have dismissed that claim as unfounded and say the new rules are both legal and necessary in the current global environment. “Export…

Four PSL teams – Orlando Pirates, Mamelodi Sundowns, Kaizer Chiefs, and Stellenbosch FC – will resume their journeys in the CAF club competitions next week, all playing away matches that could define their continental aspirations. It will be history in the making as both Chiefs and Pirates set out on their first joint overseas venture, heading to Lubumbashi in the DRC for their CAF club competition second-round ties. They will play at the same venue, on different days. For Pirates, their journey will see them face St Eloi Lupopo on Saturday. Lupopo recently knocked out Sudanese side Al Merrikh, securing a surprising goalless draw in Libya after a wobbly first leg in Lubumbashi. Pirates are gearing up to relive their glory days in the African Champions League and will look…

Proteas netball coach Jenny van Dyk feels that the Test series against the Australia Diamonds has been an eye-opener, exposing areas they will have to work hard on if they are to challenge the best in the sport. The world’s top-ranked netball team claimed a 3-0 series sweep, culminating in a commanding 65-42 victory over South Africa in Adelaide, Australia, yesterday. “One thing I can say is that the Aussie Test series was twice as hard as the New Zealand Test series,” Van Dyk admitted of the back-to-back series, where the Proteas failed to pick up a win, despite coming close in the final match against the Silver Ferns. South Africa started strong in the final match of the tour and kept the Aussies on the back foot in the…