Innholdsfortegnelse for 2023-01-26 i Pretoria News

GLOBAL Airways Consortium unit Takatso Airways maintains it is well equipped for the 51% takeover of SAA, even as insiders insist the ANC conference was a watershed moment for the deal as the February deadline looms for Takatso to show face. Takatso’s newly appointed spokesperson, Thulasizwe Simelane, said the consortium is ready to fulfil IRS commitment to funding SAA’s operational costs to the tune of R3 billion over two to three years, to ensure the airline is agile in a competitive market, commercially viable, and contributes to growth of the South African economy, especially tourism, aviation and related sectors, as well as regional and continental trade and integration. Industry insiders insist, however, that Takatso's window shopping of SAA is over, and that the looming Cabinet reshuffle will put paid to…

ECONOMISTS have widely predicted that the South African Reserve Bank (SARB) will hike the interest rate once again today. The SARB’s monetary policy committee (MPC) will make their decision on the repurchase rate (repo rate), with economists saying that a further hike will put more financial pressure on consumers. The central bank is expected to maintain its hawkish monetary policy stance a bit longer, in spite of consumer prices softening to a seventh-month low in December. Economists had widely predicted an increase of 50 basis points from the MPC in January, however, with the surprise decrease in the CPI, some economists say that it could be slashed to 25 basis points. Andra Nel, a purpose manager at KFC’s Add Hope, told Business Report: “A rate hike makes it very hard…

AUDITOR-GENERAL Tsakani Maluleke has found that the National Treasury failed to disclose R68 million in irregular expenditure spent on the Integrated Financial Management System (IFMS) in the 2021-22 financial year. The AG blamed the fiasco on a failure to take effective and appropriate steps to prevent the expenditure as required by the Public Finance Management Act (PFMA). This resulted in the department recording a qualified audit opinion. This emerged in the annual report tabled in Parliament last week, following requests for extensions by Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana. In her report, Maluleke said the PFMA required the department to disclose particulars of all fruitless and wasteful expenditure that had occurred during the financial year. “The department did not record fruitless and wasteful expenditure in note 26 to the financial statements of…

Two women university vice-chancellors will be championing the fight against gender-based violence and femicide (GBVF) in the higher education sector. This is to ensure that the post-schooling arena provides safe learning spaces for students. Unisa’s Professor Puleng LenkaBula and her Nelson Mandela University counterpart, Professor Sibongile Muthwa, were appointed this week by Minister of Higher Education, Science and Technology Dr Blade Nzimande to head key programmes to address the challenges of GBVF. Speaking to the media this week,Nzimande said the decision was taken in light of incidents of gender- based violence on campuses. This had resulted in women students being abused and brutally killed. The murders of students such as Nosicelo Mtebeni, Uyinene Mrwetyana, Precious Ramabulana, Jesse Hess and many others had highlighted the vulnerability of women students, he…

SOUTH Africa’s hybrid SUV space has another new entrant with the Haval Jolion HEV going on sale this week. Priced at R549 950 in Luxury trim and R579 950 in Super Luxury guise, the Haval Jolion HEV is the country’s second cheapest hybrid SUV, slotting between the Toyota Corolla Cross (R442 400 to R480 200) and its larger brother, the Haval H6 HEV, which sells for R669 950. Although it can’t match the Corolla Cross for affordability, the new Chinese contender does offer a performance advantage, with its 1.5-litre turbopetrol combining with an electric motor to produce system outputs of 140kW and 375Nm. For the record, the Toyota offers 90kW. Like its aforementioned counterparts the Haval Jolion HEV is a self-charging hybrid that can cover limited distances on electric power…

NOVAK Djokovic said he “sent a message” at the Australian Open by thrashing Andrey Rublev yesterday to make the semi-finals and edge closer to a 22nd grand slam title. The Serb was in the zone to blitz past the Russian fifth seed 6-1 6-2 6-4 on Rod Laver Arena and set up a meeting with Tommy Paul for a place in Sunday’s final. The unseeded American defeated countryman Ben Shelton 7-6(6) 6-3 5-7 6-4 in his quarter-final. Djokovic’s quest for a record-extending 10th Australian Open title was far from smooth at the start, plagued by a hamstring strain suffered en route to the title at Adelaide this month. The 35-year-old struggled physically in the early rounds, but was dominant during his fourth-round demolition of Alex de Minaur and was ruthless…

JON Rahm is aiming to join an elite club when he tees it up at the PGA Tour’s Farmers Insurance Open at Torrey Pines in southern California today looking for a third straight victory. The in-form Spaniard has made a flying start to 2023, winning the season-opening Sentry Tournament of Champions in Hawaii before claiming The American Express in California last weekend. A third consecutive tournament victory this week - at a golf course where he claimed the US Open in 2021 - would make Rahm the first player to win three straight starts on the PGA Tour since Dustin Johnson in 2017. “I’m aware this is very rare and I appreciate it, because if anything, it’s a humbling feeling of how much work you need to put in to…

MAMELODI Sundowns coach Rhulani Mokwena expects his team’s squad depth to play a vital role as the Caf Champions League and Nedbank Cup approach. The Brazilians participated in their seventh match in 24 days when they edged TS Galaxy 2-1 at Mbombela Stadium on Tuesday. Mokwena and his technical team were forced into making numerous changes to the starting XI after they exerted themselves against Kaizer Chiefs at the weekend. However, the defending Premiership champions produced another solid performance and Mokwena believes their ability to rotate players at will and have specific training details affords them a chance at keeping their standards high. “It’s the only possible solution to a hectic schedule - freshness and rotation to make everybody feel like a part of the process,” Mokwena said.…

Astral CEO Chris Schutte says that food security is threatened through agriculture reliance on failing infrastructure and services ASTRAL Foods yesterday warned not only that it might have to resize and cuts jobs, but South Africa’s food safety was compromised, as poultry companies in South Africa are being slaughtered by high feed input costs, devastating levels of load shedding and the general decay of municipal infrastructure. This as the JSE-listed poultry Astral Foods said yesterday in a voluntary update for the six months ending March 31, 2023, it expected its headline earnings per share (Heps) to drop by 90% year on year to 142 cents. It cautioned the market that Astral was expecting market conditions to deteriorate, with record high feed input costs, devastating levels of load shedding, and the…

SOUTH Africa’s message at the recent annual World Economic Forum (WEF) meeting in Davos was that it is open for investment and ready to partner with the local and global community to lift its economy to higher, jobs-rich and more sustainable growth, a statement from the Department of Finance said yesterday. The South African delegation acknowledged to the WEF that addressing the electricity shortage is “the first and most important step” to unlocking faster economic growth, creating employment and attracting investment, the department said in a statement. The WEF’s annual meeting, themed “Co-operation in a Fragmented World”, captured the economic, geopolitical and social challenges currently faced by the globe. The worldwide energy, food and cost-of-living crisis, driven by the conflict between Russia and Ukraine, and fast-rising inflation, were among key…

There is a Zulu saying that goes “ligotshwa lisemanzi”, meaning “nurture them while they are still young”. It’s important to pay attention to children’s talents to nurture them so they can master a craft as they grow. South African model Giselle Niemand is proof that you can never be too young to chase your dreams. The 13-year-old from Fourways, Johannesburg, is living the dream that many can only wish for. Niemand’s many talents include singing, acting, modelling and dancing. She has secured a contract in Hollywood with Upscale Recording and Productions, where she’ll be able to produce music with award-winning producer and talent manager Manny Mijares. Last year, she went to Hollywood to record her first three singles with videos, to be released in February. The star also earned a…

The State has averted having the R102 million fraud case against prophet Shepherd Bushiri and his co-accused struck off the court roll by finally completing its investigations. During the last court appearance in October, where Bushiri’s co-accused Willah Mudolo, his wife Zethu Mudolo, Landiwe Ntlokwana, Nomalarvasagie Reddy and Sateesh Isseri appeared in the Pretoria Magistrate’s Court, a final postponement of the matter was granted. However, in doing so it warned that should investigations not be complete when the matter returned to court this month, the matter would be struck from the roll. During yesterday’s appearance another accused, Stephanie Olivier, 53, was added to the matter, to appear alongside the others, after she was arrested in November. The State informed the court that it had completed investigations surrounding the fraud…

WITH women still being vastly under-represented in judicial positions, especially on the Benches of the courts of South Africa, the Aspirant Women Judges Programme was yesterday launched by Chief Justice Raymond Zondo. The year-long programme is to give women within the legal system – lawyers, advocates and magistrates – the necessary tools to later become judges. The programme is implemented by the South African Judicial Education Institution. The entity was established in order to promote the independence, impartiality, dignity, accessibility and effectiveness of the courts through continuing judicial education as provided for in the South African Judicial Education Institute Act. The purpose of the Aspirant Women Judges Programme is to provide entry level education and training to aspiring female judicial officers to enhance suitability for appointment to judicial office. Justice…

WITH the new Ford Ranger having hit the streets in double cab guise late last year, the emphasis now shifts to the two-seat versions. The new Ford Ranger Single Cab and Super Cab line-ups are set to go on sale in South Africa from March, according to Ford SA. Pricing for the Single Cab ranges from R464 200 to R545 000, while the Super Cab models will set you back anything from R485 400 to R772 800. A Wildtrak Super Cab variant has been added to the mix for the first time. On the Single Cab front it’s interesting to note there are no base-spec “workhorse” models, but Ford SA says these will arrive later in the year. The XL trim grade features prominently in the Single Cab and Super…

RENAULT Sport, as you know it, is about to make way for an electrified future under the Alpine banner, but not before the performance brand’s hot hatches get a last hurrah. Sporting subtle revisions, the 2023 Renault Megane RS Trophy has been launched in South Africa, at a somewhat eye-watering price of R899 900. But this is one of your last chances to buy a petrol-powered performance hatch from the French carmaker – the last will be the Megane RS Ultime that arrives later in the year, sporting unique design touches and likely an even higher price tag. The Megane RS 300 Trophy that you see here has been revised for 2023 with updated C-shaped LED headlights and taillights and a unique rear diffuser. Other design highlights include a model-exclusive…

AN Australian Open women’s draw that has defied prediction gets down to business in the semi-finals today with Victoria Azarenka on the cusp of a remarkable revival and her compatriot Aryna Sabalenka the only remaining top-20 seed. Although Sabalenka and Magda Linette of Poland will be playing in their first semi-finals at Melbourne Park, Azarenka returns to final-four action after a decade away when she takes on Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina. Now a self-confessed “obnoxious” soccer mom, the 33-year-old Azarenka looked every inch the player who won back-to-back Australian Open titles in 2012 and 2013 when she took apart in-form third seed Jessica Pegula in the quarter-finals. Russian-born Kazakh Rybakina, seeded 22nd only because no rankings points were handed out at Wimbledon last year, is also in hot form after…

FAF du Plessis has five T20 centuries, but there would have been none sweeter than his 113 not out at the Wanderers on Tuesday evening. Du Plessis, captain of the Joburg Super Giants, etched his name into the record books as the first centurion of the Betway SA20. The veteran faced just 58 balls, but struck eight boundaries and eight sixes that had the Bullring on its feet throughout the Super Kings’ successful chase against Durban’s Super Giants. It was only fitting that it was Du Plessis who struck the winning runs with a six over extra cover to take the Super Kings past the Super Giants’ 178/6. Du Plessis’ record-breaking feat had even greater substance as it came while his opening partner Reeza Hendricks (45 off 46 balls) was…

QUILTER, the British multinational wealth company, said yesterday that it had put in a resilient performance in the fourth quarter of 2022 despite a seasonal slowdown and lower net flows. “Although net flows for 2022 were below the level we want to achieve, we finished the year on a solid note despite the usual seasonal slowdown towards the end of the quarter. I was particularly pleased with the performance from our high net worth segment, which has continued to deliver a robust performance, with good flows from the Quilter channel offsetting a slowdown in IFA flows,” CEO Stephen Levin said. He commented at the release of a trading statement for the fourth quarter, a period of relative economic decline and rising interest rates and inflation in developed markets. The full…

DIGITAL bank TymeBank has roped in retail giant TFG (The Foschini Group) to exploit its footprint in expanding its financial products and services to its expanding customer base, both instore and on digital platforms. The partnership is set to deliver, among others, more than 600 TymeBank TFG Money branded kiosks to open TymeBank TFG Money bank accounts in TFG stores across the country. The TymeBank TFG Money debit card is linked to two of South Africa’s leading rewards programmes; customers benefit from TFG Rewards and Pick n Pay Smart Shopper when they shop at any of the 20+ TFG brands, in-store or online, and double Pick n Pay Smart Shopper Points when shopping at Pick n Pay. TFG customers will benefit from TymeBank’s ‘Buy Now Pay Later’ product MoreTyme, which…

The popularity of herbal infusions or tisanes, like rooibos, has surged in the past few years with more consumers drinking loose leaf, bagged, ready-to-drink and flavoured tisanes. In 2021, South Africans consumed more than 70 million cups of herbal tea – 5.7% up from 2020, with no signs of decline. Analysts say tisanes will probably record the second-highest growth of all tea categories, with an annual growth rate of 12.7% in the 2022 to 2026 forecast period. Tisanes are caffeine-free and can be served hot or cold. Herbal teas have a long history, dating back to ancient China and Egypt, where tisanes were drunk for enjoyment and medicinal purposes. As a result of their nutritional benefits and extensive flavour selection, tisanes are also gaining market share in the kids’ beverage…

LAW enforcement agencies averted a bloodbath between DA and ANC members in the Johannesburg CBD yesterday, following the official opposition’s failed bid to hand over a memorandum to Luthuli House, to demand an end to load shedding. The drama unfolded early in the morning as hundreds of ANC Youth League (ANCYL) members descended on the governing party’s headquarters – some armed with sjamboks, stones and other objects – saying they were guarding the building. So intense was the situation that the ANCYL formed a human chain outside Luthuli House aimed at preventing DA leader John Steenhuisen and thousands of his supporters from getting close to Pixley Seme Street, which borders the building. Despite the presence of the police, including the Joburg Metro Police, ANCYL members displayed their sjamboks in a…

THE City of Tshwane’s financial problems have once again come under scrutiny after Eskom yesterday called out the metro for non-payment of outstanding debt of R.1.4 billion for bulk power supply. This came in the wake of a leaked Auditor-General’s adverse audit report for the 2021/2022 financial year earlier this month. The report, expected to be discussed during a council sitting today, presented a worrying picture of the City’s financial management, with irregular expenditure of R10.4bn and fruitless and wasteful expenditure understated by R1bn. According to the report, the City failed to properly account for assets worth more than R52bn and more than R800 million was not properly accounted for leave payments. Yesterday, Eskom expressed concern that the metro’s electricity debt “has compounded to a bulky R1.4bn as of today,…

The days of Mpho Phalatse as the first woman mayor of the City of Joburg “are numbered” and some DA members have allegedly vowed to vote in favour of a motion of no confidence against her – mooted by the smaller opposition parties in council. Highly placed sources in the DA said both in the City of Joburg and other parts of Gauteng, there is a cohort unhappy with Phalatse at the helm of DA politics in Joburg. It is understood that some of these disgruntled DA councillors have vowed to vote with the smaller parties in support of a motion of no confidence against Phalatse today. The motion was filed by the ATM and supported by the African Independent Congress (AIC). The sources said Phalatse’s relationship with ActionSA in…

THE BMW M3 CS is back, to answer the prayers of those seeking a ferocious yet agile and practical M car and the latest-generation sedan brings more power and less weight to the equation. But hurry, stocks are limited, as they say in the infomercials. Our contact at BMW says just 20 units have been allocated to South Africa, and they’re likely to arrive around the third quarter of this year. The new-generation BMW M3 CS is powered by BMW’s 3.0-litre straight-six turbopetrol motor, which has been extensively upgraded to produce 405kW at 6 250rpm, which is a 30kW increase over the M3 Competition, while maximum torque remains at 650Nm. To achieve these power gains, engineers raised the maximum pressure of the two turbochargers from 1.7 to 2.1 bar and…

DAVID Kriel is kind enough to acknowledge the impact of Springbok stars Kurt-Lee Arendse and Canan Moodie on the Bulls attack, but the man himself has made some big strides forward this season. The 23-year-old utility back was the first-choice fullback at Loftus Versfeld for a few seasons, with Arendse at right wing, as the Bulls dominated the domestic scene under new coach Jake White during the Covid-19 lockdown. But White had an epiphany and moved Arendse to fullback, and the rest is history as the former Blitzboks speedster has become an attacking force from the back – even though he now operates at No 14 for the Boks. Later, Moodie came through as well as a fullback and wing, and Kriel was shifted to inside centre for a while.…

THE Proteas Men’s ODI team are in a mess. That much, naturally, can be ascertained from their position in the ICC World Cup Super League. But it goes beyond their 11th place, with only Zimbabwe and the Netherlands, below them. Things, everyone agrees, must change. And the man tasked with that huge undertaking is new white-ball coach Rob Walter. The only problem is that Walter is still “11 hours ahead” in New Zealand where he is wrapping up his previous assignment. World champions England are not going to wait for Walter’s arrival though. Most of their players, including captain Jos Buttler, have been in the country for the past month assimilating to conditions whilst plying their trade for the various teams in the Betway SA20, while others like Moeen Ali,…