Innholdsfortegnelse for 2022-09-09 i Pretoria News

ASTRON Energy, which yesterday in Cape Town unveiled its new look-service stations, was on track to re-open its refinery by the end of this year, chief executive Thabiet Booley said yesterday. There has been some speculation among industry commentators that the refinery, which Glencore acquired with all of Chevron SA’s assets in 2019, and which has been offline since mid-2020 after a fire, about when it might re-open, as Engen closed its Durban refinery after a fire in late 2020, Shell and BP have halted operations at their Sapref refinery, while Sasol has been considering the future of its Natref refinery that it owns with Total. Astron’s refinery has a crude oil capacity of 100 000 barrels and produces petrol, diesel, jet fuel, marine oils, liquified gas, and other…

PAN-AFRICAN financial services group Sanlam reported lower mortality claims in the six months to June 30 relative to the same period in 2021 after Covid-19 impacts eased and life insurance earnings rebounded. The group’s general insurance operations, however, reported a large earnings decline due to bad weather conditions including the KwaZulu- Natal floods, rising claims and steeply rising claims costs, as well as lower investment return on insurance funds. However, the group said yesterday that its diversification had helped it to navigate the challenging global economic backdrop, and its overall operating results were strong. Group investment management operations reported strong earnings growth despite lower returns in global markets, and after benefiting from strong recent net inflows, performance and fund establishment fees, as well as growth in brokerage income. Credit and…

RISING interest rates and sharp increases in food and transport costs could continue depressing the overall consumer confidence in South Africa after slashing the morale of debt-laden affluent households if inflation remains elevated. The FNB/BER Consumer Confidence Index (BCI) released yesterday remained deeply in contractionary territory in spite of clawing back 5 index points to -20 points in the third quarter, after plunging from -13 points to -25 points during the second quarter. FNB yesterday said that consumer sentiment remained extremely depressed and signalled a substantial deceleration in real consumer spending growth relative to the robust rates recorded at the start of the year. Confidence levels of high-income households (earning more than R20 000 a month) and middle- income households (earning between R2 500 and R20 000…

TONGAAT Hulett, the sugar and property group, said it hopes to present a new restructuring plan by the end of the month, and has asked the JSE to lift its share suspension. It said it expected that its annual results would reflect a lower earnings loss. This as it said it had secured a new R600 million funding facility, which was key to the restructuring plan, as it faces massive debt. An initial restructuring plan approved by the board was expected to be available by September 23, which it was hoped would deal with the firm’s R6.3 billion debt in South Africa. The troubled company is trying to set its house in order after an accounting scandal that led to its erstwhile directors returning to court on…

As a shopper, it’s easy to get confused between the best before dates and expiration dates. Expiry dates on food items are a health and safety measure, but they are also the mortal enemy of those opposed to food waste. Quite often people think that best before dates and expiration dates are the same thing and end up throwing out food that may still be good. This is an obvious problem as you are creating food waste for no reason. Next time you are about to throw food in the rubbish bin, you should double-check the date on it first. Food safety experts reveal knowing which foods have expiration dates and what the best before dates are will help you plan your meals. In addition, you will be able to…

AN INVESTIGATION has uncovered a total of 4 912 fraudulent transactions at driving licence testing centres in Gauteng. The transactions were conducted between January 2008 and March 2016 and had a combined value of about R39 million, but it could be more. According to Road Traffic Management Corporation chief executive, advocate Makhosini Msibi, the actual total amount that relates to the fees dumping and fraudulent transactions was R1.4 billion. He couldn’t elaborate on the matter as it was sub judice. Public Transport and Roads Infrastructure MEC Jacob Mamabolo said further investigations would be required to get to the bottom of these fraudulent activities. He was presenting the findings of an investigation conducted by a private company on all driving licence testing centres in Gauteng. The probe uncovered serious corruption and…

THE National Freedom Party (NFP) in Parliament says there is no leadership dispute in the party. NFP leader in Parliament Ahmed Munzoor Shaik Emam said in a statement yesterday: “The National Freedom Party in Parliament registers utter disgust and grave concern regarding the statements circulating in the media, which purport that there is a leadership dispute within the NFP.” On Wednesday, NFP interim committee convener Canaan Mdletshe had said that leadership squabbles were affecting the party. He was commenting after the Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC) confirmed it had frozen the party’s funding. Shaik Emam said Mdletshe was not the party’s secretary-general nor spokesperson, and that the media should speak to those who have been “legally appointed to their respective positions”. He added that the decision of the IEC…

TSHWANE’S first smart driver’s licence testing centre has opened at the Gautrain Station in Centurion. The centre, plus another that opened earlier in Midrand, are meant to aid and complement the Department of Public Transport and Roads Infrastructure’s efforts to address the backlog for renewing licences. The smart and solar powered testing centre effectively reduces time spent to renew a licence and utilises new and innovative technology. Applicants no longer need to bring new ID photos. MEC for Public Transport and Roads Infrastructure Jacob Mamabolo and Gautrain chief executive William Daches officially launched the testing centre. Both described the centre as another value-added service to residents and the many clients who used the Gautrain regularly to commute using public transport. Mamabolo said the department would continue to roll out its…

CHELSEA confirmed Graham Potter as their new manager yesterday, just over 24 hours after parting company with Thomas Tuchel after only six games of the Premier League season. The 47-year-old Potter, who has earned a glowing reputation as a visionary coach at Brighton & Hove Albion, has agreed a five-year deal with the six-time English champions. His appointment is quite a departure for a club who usually select household names with experience at Europe’s top clubs, but signifies a change of approach. He is the first managerial appointment under new American chairperson Todd Boehly, who led a takeover three months ago. “We are thrilled to bring Graham to Chelsea. “He is a proven coach and an innovator in the Premier League who fits our vision for the club,” Boehly said…

Nkosinathi Sibisi is finally living the dream after fitting like a glove at childhood club Orlando Pirates, following his move from Golden Arrows. Born and raised in Mpophomeni, a township in Durban, Sibisi has always dreamt about donning the famous black-and-white jersey of Pirates. But that dream became a reality when he moved to the Sea Robbers this season following an illustrious spell with Abafana Bes’thende. At Pirates, Sibisi has worn his heart on his sleeve, playing all eight matches – seven in the league and one in the MTN8 – since the start last month. His individual performances haven’t gone unnoticed as well, having racked up a handful of Man of the Match awards, while he’s scored a goal too. Sibisi holds an impressive record at the club as…

ANOTHER skirmish is brewing at State arms manufacturer Denel as unions gear up for a hearing possibly next week on the parastatal’s intention to retrench at least 663 Denel employees in five categories. Trade unions Solidarity and the United Associations of South Africa (Uasa) confirmed yesterday they had received communication from the Council for Conciliation Mediation and Arbitration to prepare for the sessions, which might start very soon. “We are waiting for the commissioners and trade union officials to be assembled. We can start tentatively next week … we are prepared to negotiate,” said Uasa’s sector manager Rick Grobler. Solidarity’s public sector deputy secretary-general, Helgard Cronjé, also confirmed that the union was gearing up for the fight and would represent the interest of its workers at the discussions. A proposed…

LENDER Capitec’s share price took a nosedive of almost 9 percent on the JSE yesterday after it reported that it forecast an increase in its interim results, but much lower than the mar- ket had expected. The share price tumbled to a low of R1 900.04 in intraday trade, later closing the day at R1 906.91. However, in the past year the bank’s shares have increased by 10.35 percent. In its trading statement for the half-year ended August 31, 2022, the bank said group headline earnings per share would be between 3 964 cents and 4 067c per share, representing an increase of between 15 and 18 percent. The banks also flagged that group earnings per share would be between 3 963c and 4 064c per share, repre-…

THE DECISION by the Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development Minister Thoko Didiza yesterday to lift the countrywide ban on the movement of cattle was “great news for the industry, consumers and the South African economy”. This was the view of Abrie Rauten- bach, the head of AgriBusiness and Relationship Banking at Absa, as well as other industry leaders who welcomed the move. The ban was imposed to help curb the spread of foot and mouth disease (FMD) in the country. Cattle are now allowed to be moved in all but three areas, KwaZulu-Natal, Limpopo and Free State which remain selectively restricted for now. Rautenbach said: “It is expected to have a positive impact on employment while also benefiting the logistics and grain industry. It is important for…

Oscar-winner, Jennifer Lawrence, 32, made an admission in her cover interview for October issue of Vogue magazine that she has had two miscarriages. In the same chat, she revealed the gender and name of her new child publicly for the first time, saying she has a son, Cy. The Silver Linings Playbook actress said she had her first miscarriage in her early twenties and had “100%” intended to get an abortion before she had a “miscarriage alone in Montreal”. When she was married and wanted a child, she added, she also miscarried and had a “D and C” – a surgical procedure to remove tissue from the uterus. She said it happened while she was filming climate change satire Don’t Look Up alongside Leonardo DiCaprio, which was release in December…

MINISTER of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development Thoko Didiza has taken the decision to remove the countrywide ban on the movement of cattle, after a 21-day restriction. Last month, spokesperson Reggie Ngcobo announced that Didiza had taken the decision to suspend all movement of cattle in the country in a bid to halt the spread of foot-and-mouth disease. Yesterday, Ngcobo said the decision to remove the ban was based on the work done by the state veterinary services, private vets and animal health technicians in the past 21 days. “The co-operation of traditional leaders, communities and the police assisted in limiting the spread. It is encouraging that the Eastern Cape, Western Cape and Northern Cape provinces have not had a single case before and during the 21 days,” said…

THE DA in Gauteng wants Health MEC Nomathemba Mokgethi fired for allegedly failing to act on damning audit findings which exposed gross and irregular tender awards at the Tembisa Hospital. The official opposition’s health spokesperson Jack Bloom made the call after he received written replies from Mokgethi confirming that an audit was conducted about non-compliance of supply chain management procedures and the findings were damning. Mokgethi made these revelations in her written reply to questions from Bloom, who asked why the audit was done. In her reply, she said: “This random audit was conducted per the chief financial officer’s request to ensure that compliance (on supply chain management and financial management) policies were adhered to and ultimately to advise on best practices to improve on financial management performance; also to…

THE National Union of Metalworkers of SA (Numsa) has appealed to the national Department of Transport to stop subsidising the Public Utility Transport Corporation (Putco) bus company should the company go ahead with its plans to fire around 1 000 striking workers. Putco workers have been on strike for a number of days, leaving hundreds of commuters with no choice but to use alternative modes of transport. The workers were given an ultimatum, to either end their strike or make representations to the employer explaining why they should not be fired or lose their jobs. It is understood that workers were demanding a 6% escalation in their salaries and back pay in bonuses. Putco argued that the matter was before the Labour Court and that it would be inappropriate for…

THEY might be up against tough opposition in their Rugby World Cup Sevens opener at Cape Town Stadium today, but the Springbok Women’s Sevens team believe they can deliver. The South Africans will open their campaign against France, and while the Europeans – who finished seventh at the last Rugby World Cup Sevens in San Francisco – are ranked higher than Paul Delport’s team, confidence isn’t lacking among the hosts. Speaking about the event yesterday, captain Sizophila Solontsi shared that they are taking a lot of confidence from the strong 15s flavour in their group. This season, the Springbok Women won five of their six Tests in preparation for the Rugby World Cup in New Zealand next month, and Solontsi said that the squad have gelled well since the 15s…

Rain at The Oval yesterday gave the Proteas batters at least 24 more hours to ponder how they would do a better job than they did in the second Test against England two weeks ago. Before it was covered up because of the incessant rain, former England players Mark Butcher and Kevin Pietersen – who are part of the Sky Sports commentary team – said the pitch looked like a belter. Ben Stokes had won the toss and chosen to bowl, presumably to put South Africa’s weakness under more pressure in what would have been tricky conditions given the cloud cover, and to keep with his team’s own preference for batting last. The Proteas fiddled with their batting unit, with three of the four changes made to the team from…

Kaizer Chiefs will be eager to return to winning ways in the DStv Premiership against Marumo Gallants on Sunday (3pm kick-off) following their draw with AmaZulu. Chiefs have had a lukewarm start to the season, having won two matches, drawn two and lost three under the guidance of new coach Arthur Zwane. They were unfortunate not to keep all three points at FNB Stadium on Saturday night as they were held to a goalless stalemate by Usuthu. Chiefs played their best football on the night, but they were let down by their finishing, a concern for Zwane. The arrival of striker Caleb Bimenyimana, who made his first appearance for the club after receiving his work permit on Saturday, is expected to help Chiefs at the Royal Bafokeng Stadium on Sunday.…

Dr Iraj Abedian says local sector continues to lag emerging market counterparts Increased activity and deliberate investment in manufacturing, driven by a clear localisation drive, will have a strong impact on the services, construction, trade, transport, communications and finance sectors, creating thousands of jobs in the process. These are the findings of the study released yesterday, which was aimed at finding the impact of localisation in the South African manufacturing sector, as well as the multiplier effect, thereof, on the economy. Proudly South African (Proudly SA), the country’s national Buy Local advocacy campaign, commissioned renowned economist Dr Iraj Abedian to survey the country’s job market, as well as opportunities for job creation in traditionally labour-intensive sectors. Abedian yesterday said the study dissected key manufacturing sub-sectors and their skills intensity and…

ENVIRONMENTAL lawyers ClientEarth said yesterday they were supporting a complaint filed in Australia against Glencore, which has a listing on the JSE, alleging that the miner and trader could be misleading investors and the public over its climate strategy. In a letter dated September 2, several green groups including the Environmental Defenders Office (EDO) asked the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) and the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (Asic ) to investigate Glencore’s statements detailing its plan to hit net-zero carbon emissions by 2050. The complaint alleges Glencore “is expanding its coal production in Australia“. “Despite Glencore publicly claiming to have Paris-aligned decarbonisation plans in place, the legal review of Glencore’s activities reveals that the company is using a decarbonisation pathway that fails to represent its coal business, which…

MANUFACTURING output in South Africa could turn the corner for the better in the second half of the year if the energy crisis does not disturb momentum following the rebound in July. However, if load shedding inten- sifies during the summer months – as Eskom has indicated – manufacturing output could continue to slow down and drag down the overall economic growth. Data from Statistics South Africa (Stats SA) yesterday has shown that manufacturing output increased by 3.7 percent year-on-year in July after three consecutive months of down- turn. Manufacturing was the biggest drag on gross domestic product in the second quarter, falling by 5.9 percent after floods damaged factories and plants and disrupted logistics and supply chains in KwaZulu-Natal, while rotational power cuts intensified. However, this July…

Authorities urged to set up a spaza mining regime, to convert illegal mining into a legitimate business INDEPENDENT political analyst and Hollywood playwright Gakwi Mashego has called on South African lawmakers to convert illegal miners into professional business owners with mining licences. According to Mashego, the brutal crimes associated with the so-called zama zamas can only be blamed on the criminalisation of mining activities that involve abandoned mineshafts. “There is an urgent need to establish a spaza mining regime in order to convert illegal mining into a legitimate business that can open a second economy, create jobs and sustainable livelihoods. “If this happens, there won’t be a need for dangerous zama zamas to carry deadly weapons because their activities will no longer be attached to criminality. “The reason you have…

YOLANDA Nontsikelelo Nkambule, 48, appeared before the Malelane Magistrate’s Court after she was arrested by the Nelspruit Hawks’ serious commercial crime investigation unit for fraud. “The accused forms part of the previous nine trustees: Mduduzi Nkambule, 43; Bongani Justice Mabilane, 45; two foreign nationals Desire Mzara, 43, and Ronald Chihwehwete, 42; Yashiel Singh, 37; Thato Kgapola, 34; Kenneth Nkambule, 45; Onkie Thabethe, 34; and Phephisa Mkhabela, 33, who were arrested on 14 April 2022,” said Mpumalanga Hawks spokesperson Captain Dineo Lucy Sekgotodi. “It is alleged that between December 2019 and October 2020, the accused looted Mpumalanga farmers (fund), through misrepresentation by creating and submitting fictitious invoices to RCL Food Distributors and Akwandze, stealing from the funds and prejudicing both entities, causing an actual lost amount of R28 million.” According to…

THE Vosloorus police officer who responded to the call of the shooting of Senzo Meyiwa told the court how he saw the lifeless body of the Orlando Pirates and Bafana Bafana captain lying on a bed. “When we got into the hospital, it was full. We met a woman who said she was MaKhumalo. Before we met MaKhumalo, we met a nurse who led us to where the (shot) person was. The nurse pointed out the person to us, and we saw that he had been shot and he had passed away,” said Sergeant Patrick Mlungisi Mthethwa. “The person (Meyiwa) was lying on a bed. The victim is not someone I can say I knew personally, but I had often seen him on TV. I saw that it is a…

FOR Springbok Sevens coach Neil Powell, the focus has always been on creating better human beings, not just better players. And it’s clearly a formula that has worked for him. Powell will take the Blitzboks into the Rugby World Cup Sevens in Cape Town in what will be his last tournament in charge of the South African Sevens side. Under him, the team have won three World Series titles, two Commonwealth gold medals and an Olympic bronze. After the World Cup, Powell will join the Sharks as director of rugby. Speaking yesterday at a media briefing, the former Blitzbok captain admitted that the emotions have hit him after being in the system for 15 years as a player and coach, but added that they have shelved all of that to…

DESPITE Mamelodi Sundowns managing to score a last-gasp winner on the stroke of fulltime to beat a resilient Chippa United 1-0 on Wednesday, co-coach Manqoba Mngqithi was unhappy with the officiating at Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium. Peter Shalulile, as he always does, was in the right place at the right time to fire home a well-delivered corner and ensure the Brazilians snatched three vital away points. Mngqithi, although pleased with his team’s victory, laid into the league’s officiating, blasting their time-management skills and inability to allocate relevant stoppage time on more than one occasion this season. “I’m very unhappy about what our officials are doing now. How many times did the goalkeeper go down? How many substitutions were made in the second half and they only added four minutes,” Mngqithi…

SUPERSPORT United coach Gavin Hunt will be looking to continue his team’s revival as they travel to KwaZulu-Natal to play against Maritzburg United at Harry Gwala Stadium today. Following a slow start to the season, Matsatsantsa will enter the game on the back of two Premiership wins against Richards Bay and Mamelodi Sundowns. After the club fared poorly last season, Hunt has been tasked to rebuild the club. Hunt, however, does concede that his squad are a bit short of quality and wants to improve its quality in the near future. “We need players. We need a midfielder and a striker. Two of our strikers’ careers are coming to an end, and we have another on loan,” Hunt said. “I want to win, but we have a team that is…