Innholdsfortegnelse for 2023-03-13 i Pretoria News

AT LEAST 300 arrests have been made in efforts by business and the South African Police (SAPS) to stem extortion and attacks on projects by the “construction mafia”, although there remains some concern that the SAPS is reluctant to open some cases. According to the The National Priority Committee, there were encouraging convictions and recorded sentences as it prioritises advocacy for the business community to put an end to the scourge. The Global Initiative Against Transnational Organised Crime said there were no less than 183 infrastructure and construction projects worth more than R63billion ($3.9bn) struggling with protection rackets. “We are concerned regarding SAPS Customer Support Centres not being ready to record extortion cases. Victims allege that cases are not opened against high profile perpetrators. “Operational support in rural areas is…

LAST WEEK’S developments on different fronts had a negative impact on South African equity, bond and foreign exchange markets. This was due to dissatisfaction over the late and disappointing reshuffle of the Cabinet by President Cyril Ramaphosa; the negative economic growth rate of -1.3% due to load shedding; the downgrading of South Africa’s foreign debt prospects by S&P500, from positive to neutral; as well as the discounting of a further US Federal bank rate increase on March 30, after the US non-farm payrolls on Friday. At the close on Friday, the All Share Index was down by 1 839 points for the week (2.3%), now trading 3.2% lower than a month ago. The Industrial 25 Index lost 1.02% over the past seven days, while the Resource 10 Index…

FANS across the country are mourning the loss of 40-year-old Bacardi musician Sammy “DJ Pencil” Moripe, who died on Friday following an apparent battle with cancer. The DJ was part of the Barcadi duo Pencil & Zing Master. Details surrounding his death have not been revealed by his family, but reports on social media said the DJ died on Friday in hospital, where he was receiving treatment after he had been fighting cancer for more than three years. DJ Pencil was born in Atteridgeville, Pretoria, and began his music career in 2010. He later became famous for his hits songs Suna Papa, Tshwara Tshwara, and Serope Ko Ntle. Until his death, he was regarded as one of Bacardi’s greatest assets, and it was his efforts that contributed to the development…

A 20-YEAR-OLD Limpopo learner was arrested on Saturday, together with his friend, 24, for allegedly faking a kidnapping and demanding R7 000 ransom from his family. Brigadier Motlafela Mojapelo, provincial police spokesperson, said that on Friday, at about 7am, the learner, 20, left his home in Lusaka, Dennilton, heading to school 3km from his home. “His mother became worried when he didn’t return home as usual and informed her husband when he returned from work. The husband was also surprised because he said he received several messages from his son’s number indicating that he must call him but when he called back, he didn’t answer,” Mojapelos aid. The worried couple then enquired about their son's whereabouts from his classmates, who confirmed that he had not attended classes on Friday and…

The Gauteng government needs to increase its trade relations and investments with other African countries to boost the local economy, Finance MEC Jacob Mamabolo said in an address. The address came as the provincial economy was showing signs of having recovered from the financial hardships caused by the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic, which resulted in a massive loss of jobs and increasing levels of poverty. In his address last week, Mamabolo was upbeat about the economic recovery, saying Gauteng’s output comprised 35% of the country’s GDP, amounting to more than R1.2 trillion. “Data from our Socio-Economic Review and Outlook, one of the key publications that we are releasing today, shows that the provincial economy is estimated to have grown by 2.1% in 2022 against an expectation of 1.8%. “The…

Largest failure of a US bank since since 2008 meltdown FIFTEEN years since the 2008 global financial crisis that brought the international financial system to near collapse, banking regulators in key global markets last week were once again dealing with the fallout of the largest failure of a US bank since then. As if the lessons of the collapse of Lehman Bros that precipitated the 2008 crash have fallen on deaf ears despite the protestations of the G7 countries, the two gatekeepers of the international financial system – the Basle Committee for Banking Regulation and Supervision and its associated Bank for International Settlements, and the Financial Stability Forum of the International Monetary Fund – have failed to make definitive progress made since then. This despite the emergence of new threats…

The Ukrainian military was preparing yesterday for an upcoming counteroffensive, with a top commander saying his forces’ ongoing defence of Bakhmut in the face of fierce and sustained Russian attacks was necessary to “buy time” for that push. The remarks came as British intelligence said the front line had shifted in the fight for Bakhmut – the longest and bloodiest battle of Moscow’s year-long invasion – but that any further Russian advance in the devastated town would be “highly challenging”. Some military experts have questioned the sense of continuing to hold the city, but the commander of Ukraine’s ground forces, Oleksandr Syrsky, said that it helped win time in preparation for the coming counteroffensive. “The real heroes now are the defenders who are holding the eastern front on their…

People gathered across the Tohoku region to remember victims of the Great East Japan Earthquake and tsunami on Saturday, the 12th anniversary of a disaster that left more than 22 000 people dead or missing. From early in the morning, people offered prayers along parts of the coast devastated by the tsunami, while others pressed their hands together in front of cenotaphs. People also gathered at an elementary school to mourn students who died while attempting to evacuate. Disaster drills were held in the early hours of the morning in some coastal areas, in which people practised evacuating to higher ground on foot and by car. Through such drills, the lessons of the disaster are being passed on to future generations. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, speaking at a…

Washington: Former US vice-president Mike Pence said that history would hold former president Donald Trump “accountable” for his role in the 2021 attack on the US Capitol, US media reported. The remarks are likely to widen the rift between the former running mates, who have been at loggerheads since Pence refused to go along with Trump’s efforts to overturn the 2020 election results and remain in power. “President Trump was wrong,” Pence said in a speech at the annual Gridiron Dinner in Washington, a white-tie gala put on by journalists that draws top politicians. “I had no right to overturn the election. And his reckless words endangered my family and everyone at the Capitol that day. And I know that history will hold Donald Trump accountable,” Pence was quoted as…

Tehran: Iran’s judiciary yesterday confirmed the death sentence of a Swedish-Iranian dissident for “terrorism” over two years since his disappearance at an airport in Türkiye, the judiciary’s Mizan website reported. Habib Chaab has been held in Iran since October 2020 after he vanished during a visit to Türkiye and was tried in Tehran – which does not recognise dual nationality. Chaab, who was found guilty of “corruption on earth” and the formation of a rebel group, was sentenced to death on December 6. Yesterday, it was confirmed that Iran’s Supreme Court had upheld the ruling. Chaab is the latest person to be sentenced to death for membership of Harakat al-Nidal, which Tehran calls a “terrorist group”. | AFP…

As the Proteas Test side slowly takes shape, captain Temba Bavuma’s contributions will come in handy and go a long way in showing his young team what is required from them at Test level. The Proteas wrapped up a 2-0 series sweep over the West Indies at the Wanderers Stadium in Johannesburg on Saturday afternoon. A captain’s knock of 172 from Bavuma in the third innings played a big role in ensuring that the hosts closed off the season with a series win at home. “It gives me a lot of confidence because as a leader you always want to be leading from the front with whatever your discipline is. Me being a batter, it’s always at the top of my mind that I want to score runs,” said Bavuma.…

Arsenal powered five points clear at the top of the Premier League with a stylish 3-0 win at Fulham, while Casemiro was sent off in Manchester United’s 0-0 draw against struggling Southampton yesterday. Mikel Arteta’s side had seen second-placed Manchester City close the gap with victory at Crystal Palace on Saturday. The Gunners responded with the kind of composed display that has been the hallmark of their unexpected title charge. First-half goals from Gabriel Magalhaes, Gabriel Martinelli and Martin Odegaard - all set up by the influential Leandro Trossard - put Arsenal on course for a fifth consecutive league win. With 11 league games left, the north Londoners have the title in their sights. Since being knocked out of pole position after a defeat against City, which came during a…

Bulls (8) 15 Tries: Mosi, Hendricks; Conversion: Steyn; Penalty: Steyn Pumas (27) 63 Tries: Swart, Snyman, De Klerk, Stighling, Williams, Fouche, Appollis (2), Kleinhans; Conversions: De Beer (4), Snyman, Thomson; Penalties: De Beer (2) THE defending Currie Cup champions demolished their hosts – the Bulls – as they opened their 2023 campaign in emphatic fashion at Loftus yesterday. The Pumas ran in nine brilliant tries to the hapless two the Bulls could muster in a crushing 63-15 win that will set the alarm sirens blaring across the competition. The victory will certainly enforce the belief that the Pumas’ unexpected but fantastic triumph in the tournament last season was no fluke. The Bulls team that suffered the heavy defeat had some notable names attached…

FUTUREGROWTH Asset Management is running out of patience over the slow progress made to the Land Bank’s liability solution as the bank’s default position approaches its third year now. The leading creditor for the Land Bank on Friday said the continued de- fault position posed significant risks to its clients and did not bode well for the other solutions that may be needed for other State-owned enterprises. In April 2020, the Land Bank experienced serious liquidity challenges after failing to repay about R50 billion maturing loans. The bank’s entire debt portfolio of about R45bn, of which R5.2bn is guaranteed, was considered to be in default due to cross-default clauses. FutureGrowth head of credit Olga Constantatos on Friday said three years was a long time to negotiate and resolve what…

ACTING Public Protector advocate Kholeka Gcaleka has warned opposition and other interested parties against divulging the contents of her preliminary Phala Phala report, which has already been reported on by the media. The EFF and other opposition parties have rejected the preliminary report on the Phala Phala farm scandal. On Friday, Gcaleka released her much-awaited preliminary report on the theft, where a large amount in foreign currency was stolen by Namibians linked to President Cyril Ramaphosa’s domestic worker. Leaked copies of the preliminary report that emerged in the public domain have cleared Ramaphosa of any wrongdoing in the scandal, with the public protector saying the president did not contravene the Executive Ethics Code – the complaint that triggered the probe. Gcaleka found no proof that the president was actively involved…

EMBATTLED Limpopo DA leader Jacques Smalle has been reinstated following a lengthy suspension. A letter seen by the Pretoria News, written by DA federal council chairperson, Helen Zille, states that Smalle, who is also a member of the Limpopo legislature, will resign and be installed as an MP. The letter reads: “Following an intensive and prolonged disciplinary process the parties announce that the Federal Legal Commission disciplinary process was duly completed. Smalle not being found guilty of charges concerning dishonesty and fraud, and therefore no adverse findings were made against him.” The letter, however, read that Small was found to have failed as provincial leader, and to ensure proper oversight over the party’s provincial structures and procedures. It further stated that he was admonished and sanctioned for it despite not…

RENOWNED singer-songwriter Nomcebo Zikode is one of the leading women who were honoured at the 2023 Forbes Woman Africa Awards. These awards recognise the remarkable work of women on the continent, and for each category, the judging panel and the editorial team adopted a set of well-entrenched criteria to shortlist deserving nominees. This year’s ceremony followed the theme “Women 3.0: The Icons and Ideas Shaping Africa” across the public sector, business, finance, entertainment, society, and more. A thrilled Zikode said: “For me, as a woman, to be recognised by Forbes Africa is great.” Minister of International Relations and Co-operation Dr Naledi Pandor, delivered the opening address of the summit, highlighting the need to address female repression. “The Leading Women Summit creates a platform for women’s social, political, economic and…

Acting Public Protector advocate Kholeka Gcaleka’s preliminary report on the Phala Phala farm scandal – which found there is no basis to conclude that President Cyril Ramaphosa contravened the Executive Ethics Code in the manner in which he handled the housebreaking at his Phala Phala farm – leaves more questions than answers. The report clears Ramaphosa, while the lion’s share of the debacle is placed at the head of protection services, Major-General Wally Rhoode. It is believed that Gcaleka has not touched on how much was stolen and how much was recovered. Crucially, it does not explain if the stolen money was the proceeds of a game auction, or why those animals are still at the farm almost three years later. Instead, Gcaleka wants the president’s adviser, Bejani Chauke, Rhoode…

Cyclone Freddy battered central Mozambique yesterday after making landfall for a second time in a month and breaking records for duration and strength of tropical storms in the southern hemisphere. More than 171 000 people were affected after the cyclone swept through southern Mozambique last month, killing 27 people in Mozambique and Madagascar. More than half a million people are at risk of being affected in Mozambique this time, according to the UN Office for the Co-ordination of Humanitarian Affairs. After passing by the port town of Quelimane, the storm was continuing on inland towards the southern tip of neighbouring Malawi, satellite data showed. Communications and electricity to Quelimane have been cut. “The wind was very strong into the night ... There is a lot of destruction, trees fallen…

Israeli soldiers shot dead three Palestinian gunmen after they fired at troops in the occupied northern West Bank, the army said yesterday, as violence in the region continued. The military said “gunmen opened fire” at an army position near the Jit junction west of Nablus, with the soldiers responding with “live fire”. “Three armed gunmen were neutralised during the exchange of fire. An additional armed gunman surrendered,” the army said, noting none of the Israeli forces were wounded. The soldiers, members of the elite infantry Golani reconnaissance unit, grabbed three M-16 rifles and a pistol used by the Palestinians, the army said. The Palestinian health ministry said it was informed about the deaths of three men killed near Nablus. The incident took place a short distance from an Israeli settlement,…

Tehran: Iran has announced more than 100 arrests over the mystery poisoning of thousands of schoolgirls, charging that the unidentified perpetrators may have links with “hostile” groups. In the wave of cases since November, schoolgirls have suffered fainting, nausea, shortness of breath and other symptoms after reporting “unpleasant” odours on school premises, with some being treated in hospital. State media reported that the interior ministry had announced the arrest over the suspected poison attacks at more than 200 schools. “More than 100 people who were responsible for the recent school incidents were identified, arrested and investigated,” the ministry said in a statement. | AFP…

Brussels: The general secretary of the international trade union ITUC has been dismissed from his post, the confederation said, over his links to a European Parliament graft scandal implicating Qatar. Luca Visentini was arrested in December as part of the investigation into suspected corruption among MEPs involving Qatar and Morocco. The 54-year Italian – who was detained for two days then released, but remained a suspect – was suspended by the board of the International Trade Union Confederation in December. The board has decided he “no longer had the confidence of the General Council” and would be removed from his post. | AFP…

PRIME minister Sitiveni Rabuka led tributes after the Fijian Drua beat New Zealand powerhouse the Crusaders in Super Rugby Pacific on Saturday, a victory that made a major statement for islander rugby. For decades, Fijian rugby has been a resource pillaged by other countries but the admission of the Drua to Super Rugby last season finally gave the players of the island nation an elite local pathway in the 15-man game. Home matches last season were played mostly in Australia because of Covid-19 travel restrictions and in the 14 matches of their inaugural campaign, the Drua managed wins only against fellow strugglers the Melbourne Rebels and Moana Pasifika. On Saturday, however, they welcomed the reigning champions to Churchill Park on a steamy afternoon in Fiji’s second city of Lautoka and…

STOCKS on the JSE suffered one of the worst weeks this year, plunging for the fourth day in a row on Friday to another two-month low, as the latest US non-farm payrolls report triggered further rate-hike worries. The JSE All Share index plunged 1.6% to end Friday at 76 454 index points, its biggest daily decline since early January, bringing the bourse’s losses to about 2.3% for the week. Almost all sectors were trading in the red on Friday, led by logistics, property, renewables, tech, industrials, financials stocks, and resource-linked stocks. Equities were already under pressure amid lingering concerns that higher interest rates would trigger a global recession. This as investors were digesting the US jobs data and the possibility of faster interest rate hikes by the Federal Reserve…

IN THE CUT-THROAT world of technology, diversity and innovation can be hard to come by. That is why AYO Technology Solutions (AYO) stands out as a true trailblazer in the field. With its majority black ownership and 26-year track record of success, AYO has made waves on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE) since going public in 2017. However, despite the technology company’s commitment to digital transformation and customer service, AYO has been unfairly maligned by several media outlets over recent years – causing major setbacks for both the company and its valued customers. The investment in AYO by the Public Investment Corporation (PIC) was welcomed by both the JSE and Africa’s largest asset manager. But due to malicious media coverage, the PIC is seemingly suffering from a bout of regret.…

The countdown has begun. We are less than 15 days away from the African Fashion International (AFI) Cape Town Fashion Week, and the showcasing designers have been announced. Taking place at the Cape Town International Convention Centre on March 21–25, this year’s AFI CTFW will be a combination of fashion, art and design. Attendees can expect to see established names like Kat van Duinen (South Africa), Taibo Bacar (Mozambique), Imprint South Africa (South Africa), Scalo (South Africa) and Hugo Flear (South Africa). Also attending will be the 2012 AFI Best Designer Award winner Ituen Basi (Nigeria). Making her AFI CTFW debut is Shamyra Moodley of Laani Raani, fresh from showcasing her work at Canex Fashion Show in Barbados and the AFI Fashion Experience in Abu Dhabi. Other designers expected…

A TUSSLE between a mother-in-law and a bride on whether she was legally married to her now deceased husband landed in court. And when all was said and done, it was the bride who won the battle. Mandy Ntuli had obtained an order in the high court in KwaZulu-Natal, in which Home Affairs was ordered to register her marriage with Thokozani Khumalo. His mother Bertina Khumalo, however, asked the court to have that order overturned, maintaining her son was never married to Ntuli. Ntuli told the court that she and Khumalo started a love relationship in 2015. Unfortunately, he died in February 2021, just over a year after they had married. According to her, they never registered the marriage due to the Covid-19 pandemic lockdown. However, she maintained that it…

AGED plant infrastructure, low-quality coal, internal sabotage and years of mismanagement may very well be among the reasons the country suffered its worst load shedding recently. But what will take us out? The nexus of South Africa’s energy crisis lies in the existence of two extremes on discussions of energy future in South Africa. At face value, these extremes may seem merely administrative and governance-related. However, they are ideological in nature. The battle of the ideological direction of the energy future in South Africa plunges this country further into darkness such that no man or woman, however qualified, would bring light on it any time soon. On the one hand, you have those who want South Africa’s energy provision in private hands. They cite clean energy as a necessary direction,…

Another powerful storm pummeled California overnight, forcing thousands to evacuate and resulting in at least two deaths, while causing a levee to give way in coastal Monterey County. “We were hoping to avoid and prevent this situation, but the worst case scenario has arrived with the Pajaro River overtopping and levee breaching at about midnight,” Luis Alejo, a Monterey County supervisor, said on Twitter. Residents told AFP they were alerted by local fire officials in the middle of the night that they needed to evacuate. “Their sirens and all – woke us up,” said Moses, a resident of the area for around 20 years. He said officials later came and knocked on his door multiple times, but that he decided to wait until 5am to make a decision. After returning…

GENEVA: Discovering the origins of Covid-19 is a moral imperative and all hypotheses must be explored, the head of the World Health Organization said on Twitter, in the clearest indication yet that the UN body remains committed to finding how the virus arose. A US agency was reported to have assessed the pandemic had likely been caused by an unintended Chinese laboratory leak, raising pressure on the WHO to come up with answers. Beijing denies the assessment which could soon become public after the US House of Representatives voted to declassify it. The first human cases were reported in Wuhan, China. | Reuters…

NEW DELHI: The Indian government opposes recognising same-sex marriages, it said in a filing to the Supreme Court yesterday, urging the court to reject challenges to the current legal framework lodged by LGBT couples. The Ministry of Law believes there may be various forms of relationships in society, but the legal recognition of marriage is for heterosexual relationships. The state has a legitimate interest in maintaining this. Existing legislation “was limited to the recognition of a marriage between a man and a woman, represented as a husband and wife”. Four gay couples have asked the court to recognise same-sex marriages, setting the stage for the legal face-off with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government. | Reuters…

Seoul: North Korea has decided to take “important practical” war deterrence measures, state media reported yesterday, a day before Seoul and Washington begin their largest joint military drills in five years. The decision was made at a meeting of the ruling party’s military commission presided over by leader Kim Jong-Un. The official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported that the move was aimed at “coping with the war provocations of the US and south Korea that are reaching the red-line”, but did not elaborate on the measures. South Korea and the US are scheduled to start the “Freedom Shield” exercises today. | AFP…

The Western Province coaching staff will be smiling after their team showed similar traits to the Stormers in their convincing Currie Cup win of 44-28 over the Lions at Ellis Park on Saturday. A massive defensive display when they were under the pump, in tandem with some brilliant touches on the attack, allowed the Cape side to win with a bonus point in their Currie Cup opener in Johannesburg. They scored five tries and kept the Lions at bay with solid tackles when the home side kept hammering at the door, looking for a way back into the game. WP led 24-7 at half-time and was cruising at one stage before the Lions valiantly fought back to score four tries. Despite this, it was a convincing WP victory against a…