Innholdsfortegnelse for 2023-03-17 i Pretoria News

EXXARO yesterday delivered strong annual results on the back of coal prices, but trimmed its annual divi- dend to shareholders as coal prices start to cool and as it remains hamstrung by Transnet logistical problems. In its financial results for the year ended December 31, 2022, the mining firm said headline earnings per share rose by 28% to R60.16 a share from R46.83 a share, while revenue increased 41% to R46.3 billion. Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortisation (Ebitda) came to R19bn in the reported period, from R10.6bn previously. Despite this, it declared a lower dividend, due to lower income from its iron ore investment and uncertainty over Transnet’s rail performance. It declared a final dividend of R11.36 a share, compared with R11.75 last year. Exxaro CEO Nombasa…

GOLD FIELDS and AngloGold Ashanti announced yesterday that they have agreed on the key terms of a proposed joint venture in Ghana, which would create the largest gold mine in Africa. The joint venture is between between Gold Fields’ Tarkwa and AngloGold Ashanti’s neighbouring Iduapriem mines, but the mining firms said they were not considering a full-scale merger. Shares in Gold Field rose 1.09% to R299.61, while shares in Anglo Gold fell 3.23% to close at R352.7. The Tarkwa Mine is held by Gold Fields Ghana, in which Gold Fields currently owns a 90% share, and the Government of Ghana (GoG) holds 10%. The Iduapriem Mine is currently 100% owned by AngloGold Ashanti. Both mines are located near the town of Tarkwa in the country’s Western Region. If the…

Police Minister Bheki Cele said it would be business as usual on Monday. The EFF is planning to shut down the entire country in protest to demand President Cyril Ramaphosa’s resignation and an end to load shedding. EFF leader Julius Malema said the protest would be peaceful, but if anyone tried to stop the red berets, there would be consequences. The party is also protesting against the high crime and unemployment rates. Cele said that law enforcement would leave nothing to chance and assured South Africans that police would keep them safe. “We want to reiterate that Monday will be a normal working day for all South Africans, and no amount of threat will disrupt the norm. We assure all citizens that they must and should go on with their…

A tug-of-war is under way between Cosatu-affiliated public service unions, the SA Democratic Teachers Union (Sadtu) and National Education Health and Allied Workers Union (Nehawu) over who was responsible for pressuring the government to accede to a new 7% salary increase offoer for public servants in July this year. The latest battle comes after Nehawu claimed that its eight days of industrial action had forced the government to relent. Nehawu general secretary Zola Saphetha said their action had had significant achievements and outcomes. “First, the government has recognised the need to have a Minimum Service Level Agreement. In the wake of the strike, the government has now appreciated the urgency of engagement on the draft framework on the agreement through the Public Service Co-ordinating Bargaining Council within a six-month…

Internationally-acclaimed singer/songwriter Elaine is laying the foundation for her new body of work in the form of a single, kicking it off with her first 2023 release, Loving You, today. The 23-year-old Pretoria resident made the big move to America to join a US record label Columbia Records, the musical home for the likes of Beyoncé and Adele. This single features another South African muso who is on the fast rise, Blxckie, who, according to Elaine, was able to step into her world and execute the song seamlessly. “I actually sent the song to a couple of people who I thought would sound great on the song and Blxckie was the first to respond. I feel like he took the time to understand me and understand my sound, and how…

China’s Two Sessions 2023, which consists of the first session of the 14th National People’s Congress and the first session of the 14th CPPCC National Committee, recently successfully concluded in Beijing. The first session of the 14th National People’s Congress deliberated and approved the government work report and other important reports, clarifying the overall requirements, major goals and work priorities for China’s economic and social development this year. A new generation of national leaders was elected, with general secretary Xi Jinping being unanimously re-elected as the president of the People’s Republic of China and the chairman of the Central Military Commission of the PRC. This fully reflects the common aspirations of the entire party, army and people of all ethnic groups in the country and fully embodies the high degree…

Thousands of Greek workers walked off the job yesterday and rallied in central Athens in protest at neglected safety standards which they say led to the deadliest train crash in the country’s history. Flights to and from Greece were grounded, ships remained docked at ports, and public services and state schools were closed as workers joined the 24-hour strike called by Greece’s largest labour unions, GSEE and ADEDY. The walkout is the latest in a series of protests since the head-on collision last month of a passenger train carrying more than 350 people – most of them university students – with a freight train near the city of Larissa, in the central Greek region of Tempi. The crash killed 57. Protesters accuse the conservative government and the country’s political system…

Europe’s main markets have opened higher after moves from the Swiss Central Bank reassured investors over the financial health of Credit Suisse. In the opening minutes of trade, the UK’s FTSE 100 was up more than 1%, and the French CAC 40 was up 1.5%. Shares in Switzerland’s second largest bank surged in the opening minutes of trading after it agreed a $53-billion loan from the Swiss Central Bank. Credit Suisse was up more than 30% in early trade. On Wednesday, the bank plunged more than 24% to a record low after its biggest shareholder said it had no plans to give any more funds to Credit Suisse. The Swiss Central Bank and the Swiss regulator said they were ready to provide financial support and the bank took up the…

Bogotá: Ten workers trapped in a coal mine in central Colombia were found dead, bringing the death toll from an explosion in the pit to 21, President Gustavo Petro said yesterday. A build-up of methane gas apparently triggered the Tuesday night explosion in the underground complex, according to local officials. Rescuers had found 11 other bodies in the mine, 75km north of Bogota. Dozens of rescuers had searched for the miners in six interconnected legal mines, where officials are now investigating whether there was enough air flow. For methane not to explode, proper ventilation and monitoring systems allowing for alerts are needed. | AFP…

LONDON: Britain said yesterday it would ban TikTok on government phones, a move that follows other Western countries who have barred the Chinese-owned video app over security concerns. TikTok has come under scrutiny due to fears that user data from the app, owned by Beijing-based company ByteDance, could end up in the hands of the Chinese government, undermining Western security interests. The British government had asked the National Cyber Security Centre to look at the potential vulnerability of government data from social media apps and risks around how sensitive information could be accessed and used. | Reuters…

EVIDENCE on day six of the case in which the Public Investment Corporation (PIC) is looking to dissolve and recoup its R4.3 billion investment in AYO Technology Solutions (AYO) pitted the differences between two financial accounting experts on the deal. In the witness stand, for the second day running, was Professor Harvey Wainer, an expert on financial matters with a particular focus on valuations. Wainer is appearing as an expert witness for the PIC and his mandate and approach to the share subscription agreement and the numbers involved came under the spotlight in his cross- examination by AYO senior counsel, Nazeer Cassim. Earlier in his evidence, which was led by PIC senior counsel, Vincent Maleka, Wainer had said that in his view, the numbers presented by AYO in its pre-listing…

Cope’s Gauteng chairperson Tom Mofokeng said the party was annoyed with its former member, ex-Tshwane mayor Murunwa Makwarela, for getting involved in the election of a new mayoral candidate in the metro. Mofokeng said Cope received information that Makwarela had been trying to push for the election of a certain Cope member. It was believed that the candidate in question was a neighbour and would look after his business interests. Makwarela was believed to have a company that is doing business with the municipality. Makwarela was elected mayor two weeks ago after the resignation of Randall Williams last month. This came after he joined forces with an ANC/EFF-led coalition. But he had a short stint as mayor because it was found that he had been declared insolvent and was therefore…

THE arts industry has been calling for change in the Ministry of Sport, Arts and Culture for many years. And the industry has welcomed the appointment of the new minister, Zizi Kodwa. Kodwa was appointed after Nathi Mthethwa was booted out in President Cyril Ramaphosa’s Cabinet reshuffle on March 6. Local stars are hopeful that with the new minister, the arts industry will see positive changes and support. To foster positive relationships and build trust with the local creative community, Kodwa paid veteran actress Connie Chiume an impromptu visit at her home this week. In a tweet, Kodwa explained that after a brief interaction with the multi-award- winning actress, he felt compelled to seek a deeper understanding of the challenges facing the local artist community. “Lifetime Achievement Award recipient Mme…

WE OFTEN use the terms “global change” and “climate change” interchangeably. This is not entirely correct and can distract us from finding solutions for our future. Climate change is serious but is only one component of global change. Global change is a broader term referring to the influence of the increasing pressure of humans on the Earth’s natural resources. Interestingly, the most formidable influence of global change has not been climate change, but what scientists call “land transformation”, which is the conversion of one kind of land cover or use to another. Of all the Earth’s land biomes, grasslands are one of the most heavily impacted by land transformation, owing to their importance for agriculture. But grasslands are also one of the planet’s most extensive biomes, covering 40.5% of the…

Japan and South Korea announced the end of tit-for-tat trade measures and pledged renewed diplomacy as leaders of the two countries met in Tokyo yesterday for a summit to thaw long-frozen ties. The neighbours, both key US partners in the region, have for years been locked in a bitter dispute over Japan’s use of wartime forced labour. Relations deteriorated after South Korea’s Supreme Court in 2018 ordered Japanese firms to compensate victims of forced labour, but this month Seoul announced a plan to pay those affected without Tokyo’s involvement. President Yoon Suk Yeol has been keen to end the spat and form a united front against regional challenges including North Korea, which launched a long-range missile just hours before Yoon’s arrival in Tokyo. After talks, he and Japan’s Prime Minister,…

KAMPALA: The son of Uganda’s ageing leader, Yoweri Museveni, has said he intends to stand for the presidency in 2026, the first time the general has given a timeline for replacing his father, who has ruled the country for 37 years. Uganda’s opposition has accused Museveni of seeking to impose a monarchy and claimed he was grooming his son, Muhoozi Kainerugaba, to take over from him. Museveni has denied this. The 48-year-old general is known for firing off tweets that have earned him reprimands from his father. Kainerugaba deleted the messages about his aspirations. | Reuters…

Paris: French President Emmanuel Macron has decided to force through his pension reform without calling a vote in parliament, using a constitutional power enabling the government to bypass MPs, sources said yesterday. This came after a series of meetings appeared to reveal there was no majority in parliament to adopt the reform. An emergency cabinet meeting chaired by Macron then authorised use of the article. The government can now raise the retirement age from 62 to 64 without the risk of losing a parliamentary vote. But it could further inflame protests and gives the opposition the right to call a confidence vote in parliament. | AFP…

Paris: Amnesty International yesterday accused Iran of subjecting children arrested in a crackdown on women-led protests to “horrific” abuse including beatings, electric shocks and rape. The human rights group said it estimated that thousands of children had been arrested in the crackdown, with minors as young as 12 suffering treatment equating to torture. Protests erupted in Iran in September over the death in custody of Mahsa Amini, 22, following her arrest for an alleged violation of Iran’s dress code for women. Amnesty said children were taken to detention centres and then prisons after being held incommunicado. | AFP…

THE LABOUR Court has ordered the reinstatement of 12 employees at Cashbuild’s Klerksdorp branch who had been fired following stock shortages. The workers must also receive backpay for the time they were deemed fired. The disgruntled employees worked in various capacities ranging from cashiers, forklift drivers and general assistants, to an assistant manager with 30 years service. When the Labour Court turned down their application to be reinstated, they took their plight to the appeal court, which agreed that their dismissal was unfair. The group were earlier charged with “collective misconduct/team misconduct” and dismissed after a disciplinary hearing. Cashbuild (Pty) Ltd, is a national wholesaler and retail supplier of hardware and building materials. It operates more than 200 stores. In January 2016, following a stock-take, losses were detected at the…

WHILE the EFF will be embarking on a national shutdown on Monday, former president Jacob Zuma’s son will be staging his own protest in Nkandla. Like the EFF, Zuma jr, clad in full ANC regalia, will be demanding that President Cyril Ramaphosa resign and for an end to load shedding. He has been a fierce critic of Ramaphosa in recent months, following Zuma sr being jailed for defying the Constitutional Court’s order to appear before the Zondo Commission into state capture. Edward hogged news headlines in July last year when he said that the police would have to kill him before he would let them arrest his father. However, his father handed himself over to law enforcement and was jailed. Edward was also vocal about Ramaphosa’s Phala Phala farm scandal,…

SONGSTRESS Nosy Lee comes alive in DJ Edit SA’s new single Bawo (Prayer for the Nation), which is due for release later this month. “I guess it’s because I had never written for and sung on a dance track before. I’m super excited,” she said with a laugh. And this is coming from a songwriter and vocalist who’s seen and done it all. Nosy Lee has over the years collaborated with great and extremely talented producers such as Record L Jones, Corry Da Groove, Steve Group, Kalawa Jazmee, superstars DJ Maphorisa and Godson, and many more. Her collaboration with DJ Edit SA, the Afrohouse producer, record label owner, DJ and recording artist, came about by pure luck – or, as she called it, “the hand of God”. Nosy Lee, who,…

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken arrived in Niger yesterday for a rare visit to a country seen as a bastion of support for Western military operations in a region where Russia is making inroads. Blinken is the first US official at this level to visit the former French colony, where both France and the US maintain forces to battle jihadist insurgencies in the troubled Sahel region. He was greeted in Niamey by Foreign Minister Hassoumi Massoudou. Blinken is expected to announce more US support to Niger, one of the world’s poorest countries, which returned to stability in 2011 after a history of coups. A senior US official travelling with Blinken said the trip was meant to support the efforts of Niger under President Mohamed Bazoum, a vocal critic of…

Capsized in a river in southern Iraq, the rusting wreck of a yacht that belonged to Saddam Hussein serves as a stark reminder of his iron-fisted rule that ended with the US-led invasion two decades ago. The 121m “al-Mansur” is today a destination for sightseers and fisherman who clamber aboard the wreck to picnic and drink tea. “When it was owned by the former president, no one could come close to it,” said fisherman Hussein Sabahi, who enjoys ending a long day on the river with a cup of tea aboard the wreck. “I can’t believe that this belonged to Saddam and now I’m the one moving around it.’ Saddam issued orders for the yacht, which he never boarded, to leave its mooring at Umm Qasr to Basra for safekeeping…

LOS ANGELES: Oprah Winfrey has urged the Duke and Duchess of Sussex to “do what they feel is best for them” when it comes to attending King Charles’s coronation. The 74-year-old monarch has invited his son Prince Harry and daughter-in-law Meghan, who stepped down as working royals three years ago, to the ceremony on May 6 but the couple have yet to confirm if they will attend. Asked by her pal Gayle King on CBS Mornings if she thinks Harry and Meghan should “go or not go”, Oprah said: “I think they should do what they feel is best for them and their family.” Royal commentator Richard Fitzwilliams believes the invitation had left Harry – who was critical of his father and brother Prince William in his recent memoir Spare…

SURABAYA: An Indonesian court yesterday jailed a policeman but cleared two other officers of negligence over crowd control measures deployed at a local soccer match that led to one of the world’s deadliest stadium stampedes. The October 2022 derby in Malang, East Java, between Arema FC and Persebaya Surabaya ended in chaos with 135 spectators killed, many crushed as they fled for exits after police fired tear gas into the crowd. Last week, two Arema FC match officials were also jailed for negligence. Authorities said the officer who was sentenced yesterday had ordered police to fire tear gas, which soccer world governing body Fifa has banned. | Reuters…