Innholdsfortegnelse for 2023-02-15 i Pretoria News

TELKOM shares leapt 8% yesterday after the mobile operator said for the quarter ended December 31, 2022, it had grown its quarterly revenue by 2.3%, driven by continued growth in new-generation technologies and increased data consumption. The group flagged that it was also on track to unlock value for its shareholders with a full or partial disposal of the mast and towers business of Swiftnet, and the sale of a stake in Openserve. Its shares rose to an intra-day high of R36.94 on the JSE, having risen by 13.72% for the year to date. The group flagged that top-line performance was resilient considering ongoing load shedding, pressure on consumers due to ongoing interest rate hikes, high energy and fuel prices, and other inflationary pressures on the cost of living. In…

HOUSE price growth fell in December due to softer demand, higher living costs and deteriorating affordability, the latest FNB House Price Index showed. Annual growth in the FNB House Price Index moved slightly lower to 2.7% year-on-year in January, from 2.9% in December, with the decline spread across price segments and major cities. “We anticipate house price growth of around 2% this year, versus 3.5% and 4.2% in 2022 and 2021, respectively. “Price growth should start lifting in the second half of 2024, as interest rate pressures ease and marginal buyers return to the market,” FNB economists Siphamandla Mkhwanazi and Koketso Mano said at the release of the index. They said they expected home buying activity to decrease further in coming months as affordability becomes more stretched. Their view is…

SPEAKER of the Tshwane council, Dr Murunwa Makwarela, will today convene a special council sitting to allow political parties to deliberate on the validity of two letters of resignation tendered by mayor Randall Williams. On Monday, Williams unexpectedly handed in a letter of resignation to Makwarela, stating that he would call it quits with effect from midnight. But a few hours later, he submitted another letter with an amendment to the resignation date, notifying Makwarela he would stay on until February 28. His correspondence with Makwarela on his resignation has since caused confusion as to which letter the council would accept as valid. At Tshwane House yesterday, Makwarela announced the council was scheduled to meet today to resolve the matter of the two letters “in preparation for the election of…

the Women’s Premier League may be the biggest money-spinner in the game, but Chloe Tryon was out shopping while the auction was happening to remain focused on the Proteas’ crucial T20 World Cup encounter against New Zealand. It was only en route to Boland Park in Paarl on the team bus that the big-hitting right-hander was informed by her teammates that she would be on her way to Mumbai Indians for nearly R660 000. Tryon’s purchase price is not close to her Proteas’ teammates Marizanne Kapp (R3.2-million) and Shabnim Ismail’s (R2.1m) price tags, but it remains a significant amount for the all-rounder, who hails from Amanzimtoti. It certainly helped that Tryon remained in her bubble, for her national team needed all of her on Monday in Paarl. The 29-year-old duly…

Even though they went down for a fourth time in a row in their last match against the Stormers, the Bulls gained confidence in their scrum and that bodes well for Saturday’s United Rugby Championship (URC) showdown. Tighthead prop Mornay Smith went full tilt against Springbok juggernaut Steven Kitshoff at the Cape Town Stadium, and was able to win a few penalties himself in the set-piece despite the 37-27 defeat. The Bulls upped their physicality on that December 23 encounter, but were sucker-punched by a few quick tries after half-time, having gone into the break level at 13-13. Now the Stormers won’t have Bok stalwarts Kitshoff and Frans Malherbe available for the return clash at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday (5.05pm kick-off), it presents Smith and the rest of the pack…

The Lions have a big problem, one that they have not been able to overcome since December 2021, and which will create doubt in their abilities, stifle hunger in their bellies, and hamper belief in their convictions. Since that December, the Joburgers have beaten Irish, Italian, Scottish and Welsh opposition. They have also tamed one of the biggest rugby clubs in the world in Stade Francais. They have travelled abroad to Europe and won all their matches on tour there, but they have failed to beat any South African franchises in that period. Indeed, the last SA team to fall to the Doornfontein-based team at franchise level was the Stormers 14 months ago. It is a bugbear that will plague any side and a record that will make the Lions…

Time is not on Fernando Alonso’s side, but the 41-year-old double Formula One world champion, preparing for a new adventure with Aston Martin, has not given up on adding to his tally of 32 grand prix wins. The Spaniard recognised, however, that it was unlikely to happen in 2023. Alonso has joined from Renault-owned Alpine on a multi-year contract – believed to be two years plus an option – and with his hunger undiminished. “I do believe that there is a possibility,” the race winner for Renault, McLaren and Ferrari told reporters at the launch of the AMR23 car at the team’s Silverstone headquarters. “I don’t think this year. I am honest on that … I have the feet on the ground. “I cannot say to anyone that we will…

Orlando Pirates assistant coach Mandla Ncikazi will return to the hot seat for at least the next two matches following the suspension of head coach Jose Riveiro. Ncikazi, who led the Buccaneers to the Caf Confederation Cup final last season, will work alongside Sergio Almenara when Pirates take on Fadlu Davids’ Maritzburg United at Orlando Stadium on Friday, and then arch-rivals Kaizer Chiefs next Saturday at FNB Stadium. The suspension of Riveiro is reportedly due to his use of inexplicable language towards match officials in Pirates’ Nedbank Cup last-32 clash with All Stars last weekend. Ncikazi claimed after the match that although he could not confirm, there may have been an issue concerning offensive language directed at the referee on the day, Xola Sitela. “From what I heard from the…

INSURERS are bracing for a wave of claims following the declaration by the government yesterday of a State of Disaster due to the flooding in parts of the country. President Cyril Ramaphosa yesterday declared a national state of disaster, the second in a week, to enable an intensive response to widespread flooding that has affected seven of the country’s nine provinces. He also declared the electricity crisis a state of disaster in his National State of the Nation Address last week. Mpumalanga and the Eastern Cape have been most affectedby the floods, which were brought on by the haevy rainfall as a result of the La Niña weather phenomenon, according to a statement from the office of the presidency yesterday. There was also flooding reported in Gauteng, eastern KwaZulu-Natal, Limpopo,…

INVESTORS have warned about the impact of load shedding on South Africa’s fiscus in the years ahead, saying that the woes brought about by rotational power cuts were yet to hit the tax revenue collection numbers. This comes as Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana will next week table the Budget in Parliament in the midst of an unprecedented energy crisis that has severely crippled economic activity. The Budget is expected to reveal that the country’s debt load has crossed the 70% mark of the gross domestic product (GDP), or has increased by nearly R700 billion more. Investec chief economist Annabel Bishop said the gross loan debt was likely to be projected near 71% of GDP for 2022/23 and run around 70.5% for the following three medium-term years of 2023/24 to…

South Africa will be in mourning this weekend as hip hop maestro AKA, real name Kiernan Forbes, and Tebello “Tibz” Motsoane are laid to rest in private funerals. The deaths of the award-winning rapper and the entertainment entrepreneur, chef, and author sent shock waves across the country this past weekend after they were gunned down outside the popular Wish restaurant on Durban’s Florida Road on Friday evening. The Motsoane and Forbes’ families issued statements yesterday giving details of the memorial services and private funerals for the two game-changers in South Africa’s entertainment industry. In a statement, Forbes’ grieving family acknowledged the outpouring of love that they received over the past few days. “Kiernan wasn’t just loved by us as family, but by a nation, as we’ve seen from loved ones,…

THE National Prosecution Authority has explained why it elected not to prosecute anyone after the death of Anele Tembe, the late fiancée of slain rapper Kiernan “AKA” Forbes. Anele fell to her death from the 10th floor of a Cape Town hotel in April 2021. AKA was gunned down in a suspected hit on Friday night, while leaving a restaurant on Durban’s Florida Road. His killers are yet to be found. The NPA said Western Cape Director of Public Prosecutions, advocate Nicolette Bell, decided not to prosecute anyone for Tembe’s death based on extensive investigations by the SAPS and prosecutors, who produced expert opinions and forensic reports. “After careful consideration, (Bell) decided not to institute any prosecution and that the matter be referred for an inquest,” NPA Western Cape spokesperson…

THE shock exit by Tshwane’s executive mayor Randall Williams from office this week has been described as a breath of fresh air for the municipality. The SA Municipal Workers Union’s (Samwu) regional chairperson Nkhetheni Muthavhi, said Williams’ resignation on Monday had lifted staff morale. He attributed Williams’ exit to the “baas boy mentality” he demonstrated when he (allegedly) instructed senior municipal officials to rubber stamp a R26 billion unsolicited bid proposal for generating power for the city. The instruction was captured in a recording in which Williams was heard telling senior managers that the City's executive authority made “executive decisions” and that the administration was duty-bound to implement them whether they “agree or disagree”. He was subsequently accused of meddling in municipal procurement processes. “His exit will boost…

Poverty, unemployment and inequality all affected SOUTH Africa is one of the most unequal countries in the world; the divide between the rich and the poor is larger than ever. Currently, the unemployment rate, at more than 35%, is at a record level. Climate change exacerbates our triple challenges of poverty, unemployment and inequality. South Africa is in a part of the world that is severely affected by climate variability. The country frequently experiences drought, flooding and other extreme weather events, with evidence that the frequency and intensity of such events is increasing because of climate change. Addressing climate change means strengthening adaptation measures to improve the resilience to immediate events (eg extreme weather disasters) as well as long-term climatic shifts that affect water security, food security and human health…

Former star midfielder Teko Modise has heaped praise on Mamelodi Sundowns’ character development as they continue the early stages of their Caf Champions League journey. The Brazilians opened their group-stage campaign with an edgy home victory against Sudanese giants Al Hilal over the weekend, with Cassius Mailula scoring the solitary goal. Although almost unstoppable on the domestic front, questions have been raised about the mentality of the current crop of Sundowns players and coach Rulani Mokwena. With a majority of the players that won the 2016 Champions League already sidelined or departed, Mokwena was tasked with the difficult duty of ensuring the current squad stay hungry despite a clear lack of competition in South Africa. One of the members of that 2016 Champions League-winning team, Modise sat down with Hlompho…

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp said he was relieved after his team won their first Premier League game of 2023 by beating city rivals Everton 2-0 on Monday and urged them to use the “statement” victory to reignite their season. Mohamed Salah scored for the first time since Boxing Day, and January signing Cody Gakpo bagged his first goal for the club as they snapped a four-game winless run and earned only their second win in eight games in all competitions. “It was a massive relief,” Klopp said. “The performance was a statement for us that we can do this ... It was the best game for a while. “We have to carry on. To get out of our situation and to bring consistency, we need performances.” Klopp said Liverpool had…

Tonight’s pivotal Premier League match between Arsenal and Manchester City could hardly be more ill-timed for the North London side who are winless in consecutive league games for the first time this season. Arsenal are looking to win the league title for the first time in 19 years, yet approaching a game at the Emirates which has such big implications in the midst of their current slump will be undesirable for manager Mikel Arteta. His side followed up their unexpected defeat by relegation-threatened Everton with a 1-1 draw with Brentford on Saturday. The result meant Arsenal slipped to only a three-point advantage over City with a game in hand. They had 23 shots to Brentford’s nine, but looked uncomfortable and struggled to make any real progress when faced with the…

The move is intended to ensure the sustainability of the group TELKOM’S announcement yesterday that it would cut 15%, roughly 1 800, of its workforce was not a surprise. In fact, the only surprise was that it’s not a bigger cut, World Wide Worx CEO Arthur Goldstuck said yesterday. This follows the mobile operator informing its shareholders yesterday that it would retrench 15% of total employees across the group, citing it was challenged by managing its costs associated with the migration of rev- enue between old to new technologies. Telkom said it would enter a formal consultation process with relevant stakeholders in terms of section 189 of the Labour Relations Act (S189A process) regarding the restructuring of certain operations. “The S189A process will impact all business units and…

SPAR GROUP yesterday said it had improved its online offering through an updated Spar2U App, which had just been launched, as it said in a trading update that it had delivered a robust trading performance for the 18 weeks ended January 28, 2023. The grocery retailer said its on- demand shopping platform for groceries and liquor, Spar2U continued to gain momentum amongst retailers and customers. “Having launched its pilot phase during the prior comparative period, Spar2U ramped up its availability to 201 sites at the end of the period and consumer feedback has been extremely positive. “An improved offering is now available through an updated Spar2U App, which has just been launched,” it said. Spar has needed to grow its online offering as it competes with its rivals stronger delivery…

Actress Mischa Barton has claimed that she was told to sleep with Leonardo DiCaprio when she was 19 and he was 30. The Notting Hill actress had made the revelation in an old video which has now emerged from the dark depths of the Internet because, well, nothing really dies on the internet, reports Mirror.co.uk. The actress’ words from a 2005 interview resurfaced amid criticism of DiCaprio after being spotted with 19-year-old Eden Polani. Barton’s comments came from her interview with Harpers & Queen during the height of her fame playing Marissa Cooper in The OC. During the chat, she discussed the moment she and then-publicist Craig Schneider saw the Titanic man at a shoot in Malibu. Mirror.co.uk further states that the meeting came just as DiCaprio and Gisele…

Declaration of state of disaster ‘an abuse of legislation, will enable theft of state funds’ PUTTING South Africa under a national state of disaster is an abuse of legislation. According to trade union Solidarity, this will discourage economic investment into the country and enable looting of state funds. Solidarity has served court papers on the government to get the state of disaster due to the electricity crisis declared irrational and unjustifiable. President Cyril Ramaphosa announced the National State of Disaster during the State of the Nation Address last week. He said the government's plan of intervention to put a stop to the load shedding that crippled the economy. Among the government’s plans announced to put the brakes on load shedding is a minister of electricity, who will drive and…

IT HAS been 10 years since Oscar Pistorius killed his girlfriend, Reeva Steenkamp, claiming he had mistaken her for an intruder and shot her through the bathroom door. With the time he has served, he might soon be a free man. However, Reeva’s elderly parents are still advocating for the former Paralympian to remain in prison, with his parole hearing set for next month. Speaking to MailOnline, the family of the murdered model revealed details of a shocking prison cell confrontation with their daughter’s murderer – and why they now believe the killer should stay behind bars for life. The Steenkamp’s sentiments come after Reeva’s father and Pistorius met last year as part of the Victim-Offender Dialogue facilitated by the Department of Correctional Services. The programme is part of the…

Hard-working loose forward Junior Pokomela is not fussy about the number on his back when he wears the Stormers jersey, as long as he can contribute to the team – even if it’s from the replacements bench. But he has been so good for the Cape side that it’s getting more and more difficult for Stormers coach John Dobson to ignore his contributions and push for a place in the match-day squad … even when the resting Springboks and injured players return. At first, Pokomela had a massive impact from the bench, and he scored a couple of crucial tries for his team when he was let loose in the second half. In the last couple of matches as a starter, he also had big cameos in helping the United…

Curwin Bosch says the Sharks are ready to hit the ground running on Saturday at Ellis Park against the Lions (3pm kick-off) after a performance against the Stormers that was “just not good enough”. The Sharks were smashed by the Capetonians and then went into a bye week, before regrouping for this week’s visit to the Lions for a crucial United Rugby Championship (URC) match. Both teams are in the must-win territory as opportunities to make the crucial top eight (and Champions Cup qualification for next year) dwindle. “That performance was way below our standards, especially at home,” said Bosch, who is personally in fine form, although against the Stormers, he was playing behind a beaten pack. “We had an in-depth review of what went wrong, and on the day,…

The inaugural Betway SA20 was a rousing success. There was plenty of hype in relation to the entertainment off the field, but the premier attraction remained the sparkling cricket being played out in the middle. Here cricket writer Zaahier Adams picks his Team of the Tournament… 1 Faf du Plessis (Joburg Super Kings) Runs: 369, Average: 41, Highest Score: 113, Strike-rate: 147.60 The Joburg Super Kings skipper was integral to the process of transforming the Wanderers into a fortress for the Yellow Lions. JSK were unbeaten at home due to Du Plessis striking 232 runs in four innings, which included the tournament’s maiden century. Unfortunately for Du Plessis and the Super Kings, his form evaded him at a critical point of the campaign as he closed off with two successive…

Chelsea spent over $603 million (about R10.7 billion) on new players, but their first season under new ownership will end without trophies to show for it unless they can conquer Europe in the coming months. The Blues travel to face Borussia Dortmund in the first leg of their Champions League last 16 tie on Wednesday already out of both domestic cups and languishing 10th in the Premier League. Winning the Champions League for a third time could even be Chelsea’s best route back into the competition next season as they sit 10 points adrift of the top four in the English top flight. Graham Potter’s men have won just two games in their last 12 since European football shut down for the winter. Potter has had to juggle a lengthy…