Innholdsfortegnelse for 2023-04-14 i Pretoria News

HEINEKEN and South African Breweries, the two leading beer groups operating in the country, yesterday announced a whopping R21.3 billion of new investment projects over the next five years. Earlier this year Heineken finalised the acquisition of Distell and Namibia Breweries, which were to be combined with Heineken South Africa into a new Heineken majority-owned business, Heineken Beverages. Yesterday at the 2023 South Africa Investment Conference (SAIC), Heineken Beverages announced a R15.5bn investment over five years, including a R3.8bn investment for a new greenfield brewery, and a R1.7bn investment into a maltery. The remaining R10bn investment would be used for capital expenditure projects to expand and maintain existing operations in South Africa, Heineken SA managing director Jordi Borr said in a statement. In 2019, Heineken South Africa had announced…

Ramaphosa sets new target to mobilise approximately R2 trillion in new investments over another five-year period THE ONGOING energy crisis has overshadowed President Cyril Ramaphosa’s achievement after his target of raising R1.2 trillion in a five-year period was reached yesterday at the South African Investment Conference (SAIC) following an ambitious drive to kickstart the economy and create jobs. Ramaphosa yesterday announced that the 5th SAIC had achieved the target of reaching R1.2trln worth of investments, which was set in 2018 after the previous four conferences attracted R1.14trln in investment pledges. Ramaphosa has now set a new target to mobilise approximately R2trln in new investments over another five-year period, between now and 2028. However, Ramaphosa acknowledged that the energy crisis, which remains unresolved, was a thorn in the government’s plans…

INDUSTRIAL and energy metal commodity prices have started lagging as the chances of recession in the developed world looms large, while gold has traded at near-record highs on the back of its resilience as a safe haven asset. Schroders South Africa country head Kondi Nkosi said this week commodities typically get weighed down during recessions, with the worst-performing sectors being energy and industrial metals as they are most sensitive to changes in economic growth. In contrast, gold tended to shine during recession as investors sought its safe-haven status. Monetary policy loosening and lower real interest rates also supported gold prices during economic downturns, although this was offset to an extent by a stronger US dollar during recessions. According to online publication FXempire, monetary policy failure globally, re-accelerating inflation and recession…

Everything is just really expensive right now. Thanks, inflation. So if you’re trying to cut back on eating out, we have some good news for you. Chef Sharon Visagie has shared below her favourite delicious and creative dinner recipes that prove that you can still have a great meal while being kind to your wallet. Chicken and lentil curry Serves: 2 Ingredients 100g lentils (yellow, red or green) 250g boneless chicken thighs or breasts 2 tbs oil ½ onion, diced 4 curry leaves (optional) 2 bay leaves 1 tsp ginger 1 tsp garlic 1 large tomato, chopped 2 tbs curry powder ¼ tsp garam masala ½ cup coconut milk 1 cup chicken stock ½ tsp tamarind paste ½ tsp salt ½ tsp white pepper 2 cups steamed basmati rice Fresh…

Elizabeth Holmes will be going to prison at the end of the month. The disgraced tech entrepreneur, 39, was sentenced to 11 years after being found guilty of fraud charges in connection with her start-up, Theranos, and her false claims she invented a revolutionary way to test for diseases with a drop of blood, which was found to be untrue in 2018. The Stanford dropout was convicted in November. She tried to appeal her jail term but was thrown out by a federal court, despite her concerns for her two young children with her husband, Billy Evans. Prosecutors believed Holmes was a flight risk after she bought a single ticket to Mexico, which Judge US District Judge Edward Davila, in his ruling, called “ill-advised”. “Booking international travel plans for…

COULD the Springboks be in danger of being undercooked for the Rugby Championship, and ultimately the Rugby World Cup? That became a distinct possibility after the two remaining South African franchises were knocked out of the Champions Cup in Europe last weekend. The Stormers went down 42-17 to the Exeter Chiefs at Sandy Park in England in their quarter-final, while the Sharks were dispatched 54-20 by the powerful Toulouse at Stade Ernest Wallon in France. The Bulls had gone down 33-9 to the same Toulouse in their last-16 clash a week earlier, so now the leading Boks only have the United Rugby Championship (URC) games to prepare for the international season. And apart from the second-placed Stormers it is not a sure bet that the Bulls and Sharks are even…

WHEN the Netball League of South Africa started in 2014, it became the first semi-professional tournament of its kind on the continent, and there would have been genuine questions regarding its future and sustainability. Starting with 10 founding teams, the now named Telkom Netball League has slowly, steadily and inexorably marched on, growing in stature and strength. The renewal of the league’s sponsorship for another three years – announced in Sandton on Wednesday – will only help continue that growth, while the addition of two more teams in an expanded 15-team tournament will increase its footprint even more. Netball in South Africa will arguably reach an apotheosis this year when it hosts the World Cup in July in Cape Town, but Netball SA president Cecilia Molokwane is dreaming even bigger…

THE bad news for third-tier outfit Dondol Stars, as they look to complete what would be an incredible hat-trick of Premiership scalps in the Nedbank Cup tomorrow, is that the team standing in their way are looking for their own trio of successes too. Orlando Pirates are in the quarter-finals of the country’s premier knockout competition having accounted for two second-tier outfits and thus know only too well the risks involved in playing against ‘unknown’ opposition. There is, therefore, very little chance of the Buccaneers slipping on the potential banana peel like SuperSport United and AmaZulu who came-a-cropper against Stars – not when they have already gotten the better of Cape Town All Stars and Venda Football Academy. Too often in this competition, elite league teams that fall…

AROUND 18 months into the Covid-19 pandemic, commentators and governments alike noticed a prevalent feeling of disinterest and listlessness regarding new information about the virus and steps that could be taken to control its spread. People just didn’t want to hear about masks anymore or news about new treatments. The phenomenon was termed “Covid fatigue”. More than a year into Russia’s war with Ukraine, a similar attitude has developed. News about the latest developments in the conflict no longer dominates headlines, and the war is no longer the standard “water cooler” conversation. Quite simply, there are other things going on, especially in South Africa. However, people interested in economics should guard against Ukraine fatigue. The latest developments, in fact, could signal not only important opportunities for strategic investment in global…

BUSINESS and red tape worries were raised by various organisations yesterday after President Cyril Ramaphosa signed the Employment Equity Amendment Bill (AAAB) on Wednesday. Legal action is also being considered by others, with calls for further government engagement. On Wednesday, Solidarity said its legal team had already started to prepare for litigation and had indicated that it would serve its court papers soon, saying the amendments were unconstitutional. The bill seeks to progress the transformation of South Africa’s workforce by “setting equity targets for economic sectors and geographical regions and requiring enterprises to develop transformation plans” with new measures to promote workplace diversity and equality. Jonathan Goldberg, the chairperson of Global Business Solutions, explained that the amended bill would probably be one of the most far-reaching labour statutes in the…

Buckingham Palace on Wednesday confirmed that Harry, the Duke of Sussex, will attend the ceremony being held at London's Westminster Abbey on May 6. “Buckingham Palace is pleased to confirm that The Duke of Sussex will attend the Coronation Service at Westminster Abbey on May 6. The Duchess of Sussex will remain in California with Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet,” Fox News reported. The coronation coincides with Harry and Markle’s son Archie’s fourth birthday. According to ABC News, preparations for the coronation have also been overshadowed in recent months by Prince Harry’s damning allegations about the King, Prince William and other royals in his recent memoir, a Netflix documentary and TV interviews. King Charles will be crowned alongside Queen Consort Camilla. As per ABC News, the King’s coronation takes place…

STEDMAN Gans turned 26 in March, and by now – considering his immense talent and performances earlier in his career – he should have been a Springbok. But a few serious injuries, coupled with his time with the Blitzboks, have contributed to him missing out on a Test cap. What has been strange, though, is that he hasn’t had much game-time for the Bulls in recent seasons, having starred in the Super Rugby Unlocked competition in 2020. He got a rare start at outside centre in last week’s 40-3 Currie Cup victory over Griquas, and although he didn’t get many opportunities in open spaces with ball-in-hand, Gans made his fair share of carries and tackles at Loftus Versfeld as the backline played with greater cohesion on attack. The playmaker will…

JON Rahm may have put his Masters celebration plans on hold so he can play this week’s PGA Tour event at Hilton Head Island in South Carolina, but the Spaniard is already thinking about his Champions Dinner menu choice. A tradition of Masters week is the previous year’s winner choosing what is served when former champions gather on the Tuesday of tournament week in the clubhouse at Augusta National Golf Club. Rahm wants to talk with twice Masters champion Jose Maria Olazabal, who is from the same part of Spain as him, to learn what he served at his Champions Dinners. “I have one of the appetisers down, which would be jambon, Spanish ham, the dessert, which I won’t be disclosing, and the wine,” Rahm said at Harbour Town Golf…

WHILE signing England international lock Charlie Ewels is a “double win” for the Bulls, coach Jake White doesn’t think it will result in an influx of foreign players looking to join South African teams in future. The Bulls confirmed yesterday that the 27-year-old second-rower will move to Pretoria on a short-term deal until the end of the season as he makes his return from a serious anterior cruciate ligament knee injury. Ewels is trying to find some form and match-fitness in a bid to impress England coach Steve Borthwick and force his way into the World Cup squad, and White sees real benefit for the Bulls. He won’t be involved in either the Currie Cup game against the Sharks or the United Rugby Championship clash against Zebre this…

MAMELODI Sundowns might be victims of their own success, but coach Rhulani Mokwena is puzzled by the criticism they’ve copped for their three successive draws in the Premiership. Crowned league champions for a record sixth season in a row, Sundowns were expected to win their remaining matches for fun and smash more records. Instead, they have been a shadow of themselves, enduring three successive draws against Cape Town City, Swallows FC and most recently Golden Arrows. That feat has seen Mokwena’s troops receive a lot of criticism from their naysayers who say they have lowered their intensity and are being complacent since wrapping up the title. Mokwena, though, isn’t blaming his players for a lack of effort, insisting that they had created more chances to win the games…

SOUTH Africa’s economy might have truly entered a technical recession in the first quarter of 2023 after mining output remained on the downside in February, adding on other negative economic growth indicators. Data from Statistics South Africa (StatsSA) yesterday showed that mining production sank worse-than-expected by 5% year-on-year in February, following an upwardly revised 2.7% decline in January. This was the 13th consecutive month of contraction in mining activity, amid the adverse impact of prolonged load shedding imposed by troubled utility Eskom. Production in the mining industry has been negatively impacted since January 2022 by energy supply constraints due to heightened load shedding, prolonged industrial action, and logistical challenges from Transnet. StatsSA said the annual decline in mining output was broad-based, with eight out of 12 divisions falling in February.…

AVENG’S share price slumped 19.83% to close at R9.54 on the JSE yesterday after it flagged additional losses and delays in a major project by its Australian construction subsidiary. The group’s Australia-based Southeast Asia construction unit McConnell Dowell, one of two major subsidiaries in the group, said it now expected to report an operating loss in the year to June 30 due to higher provisions for the BLNG project in the Philippines. In February 2023, Aveng said the Batangas LNG terminal project in the Southeast Asia business unit of McConnell Dowell was loss-making. The project had started during the Covid-19 pandemic, and saw delays and disruptions caused by the pandemic, including supply chain disruptions and the inability to mobilise people to work locations. Australian border closures made travel impossible over…

THARISA, the platinum group metals (PGM) and chrome producer, said its mining volume recovery was slower than expected in the second quarter to March 31, due to bad weather impacting the open pit operations. CEO Phoevos Pouroulis said in a statement that they continued to generate healthy free cash flow in the quarter despite the impact of the weather. “While chrome production was up, the ore mix saw PGM output in January and February fall below expectations. “With our operational improvement implemented during the quarter already delivering results, and the additional flexibility that both new equipment and the additional waste contractors will bring to the pit, the second half of our financial year will see an improvement at our flagship Tharisa mine,” said Pouroulis. A contractor had been appointed on…

China has recorded the first death due to avian influenza A(H3N8) virus, the World Health Organization (WHO) said on Wednesday. China on March 27 notified the WHO of an H3N8 virus infection in a 56-year-old woman. The woman from Guangdong province fell ill due to the virus on February 22 and was admitted to hospital for severe pneumonia on March 3. She subsequently died on March 16, the WHO said. “The case was detected through the severe acute respiratory infection surveillance system. The patient had multiple underlying conditions. She had a history of exposure to live poultry before the onset of the disease, and a history of wild bird presence around her home.” According to reports from health officials, the preliminary epidemiological investigation into this event suggests exposure to a…

Back to face music as officials assure there won’t be any Houdini escapes from C-Max prison DR NANDIPHA Magudumana, who allegedly assisted “Facebook rapist” Thabo Bester will join her father Zolile Cornelius Sekeleni in the dock – charged with the same offence of aiding and abetting a prisoner. Yesterday, Magudumana made her first appearance in the Bloemfontein Magistrate’s Court charged with multiple counts of murder, violation of bodies, aiding and abetting an escapee, defeating the ends of justice and fraud. She was not asked to plead. She stood accused beside Teboho James Lipholo – who is only charged with aiding and abetting an escapee. Lipholo was allegedly working for a company that operated cameras at the Mangaung Correctional Centre in May last year on the day that Bester…

AS SOUTH Africans woke up yesterday morning to digest the news of the highly-anticipated landing of fugitives Thabo Bester and Dr Nandipha Magudumana from Tanzania, it emerged that the so-called Facebook Rapist had been confined to the fortified Kgosi Mampuru II Correctional Centre, known as C-Max, in Pretoria. Magudumana was quickly whisked to Bloemfontein, under heavy police security, where she was processed and charged with murder and aiding Bester’s escape. However, given Bester’s escape from the Mangaung Correctional Centre run by multinational security company G4S, questions quickly swelled over government’s ability to keep the convicted rapist and murderer behind bars at the facility on the outskirts of Pretoria CBD. At a press briefing in Cape Town yesterday, hours after Bester and Magudumana arrived back in South Africa, national commissioner of…

SOUTH Africa has reached its investment target of R1.2 trillion in five years. This was announced by President Cyril Ramaphosa yesterday morning, during the fifth South African Investment Conference. Ramaphosa addressed 1 300 delegates attending the conference at the Sandton Convention Centre, and said the government remained convinced that South Africa was an investment destination with significant untapped potential. “This fifth South Africa Investment Conference affirms local and international investor confidence in the structural reforms we have been driving to improve the business environment. The energy sector remains our foremost priority. “The lack of reliability in electricity supply weakens business and consumer confidence, taints international perceptions about our country and affects investment sentiment and decisions. “Our immediate focus is on improving the performance of our existing, coal-fired power stations…

With the numerous challenges the country is facing, award-winning content creator Lemii LoCo, real name Molemo Lehoko, encourages people to smile more in his new campaign. The popular comedian said the KitKat “Put a Smile in Your Break” campaign has been a game-changer for him. Joining a list of other renowned comedians, they remind South Africans to never let challenges get in the way of enjoying life. “The KitKat ‘Put a Smile in Your Break’ campaign has been a game-changer for me. People who follow me on social media and know me personally know that the end goal was always to be a stand-up comedian, and this campaign has paved the way for exactly that,” he said. Sharing details about the campaign, he explained that he encourages people to do…

Idols star Lloyiso was thrilled to see his face appear on a New York billboard recently. Lloyiso, whose real name is Loyiso Gijana, shared his excitement with Instagram followers when he shared a snippet of his international billboard feature. The Seasons hitmaker wrote: “Mama I made it to New York Times Square. Super blessed @spotify.” Gijana had followers of his music swoon after his Seasons EP release on March 31 and has been basking in the glory of his fine work ever since. The seven-track EP boasts work from the bigwigs of the international music industry, including Earwulf and Grammy-award-winning producers Mr Hudson, who worked with John Legend, Janelle Monae, Jay-Z and Stargate, who produced for Beyoncé, Rihanna and Sam Smith. The singer, songwriter and producer took over social media…

IN track and field parlance Arsenal would have hoped their relentless pace over the last few laps of the Premier League race might have taken the sting out of sprint finish specialists Manchester City as the bell approaches. Arsenal's seven-match winning run in the league allowed them to maintain their lead over their pursuers but they have simply not been able to crack Pep Guardiola's side. And this weekend they might well start to feel City's hot breath on their backs with the gap most likely to be cut to three points by the time they kick off at relegation-threatened West Ham United on Sunday. Reigning champions City have countered every Arsenal move in recent weeks and appear to be reaching top gear at the perfect time, just as they…