Innholdsfortegnelse for 2023-04-18 i Pretoria News

ALTRON group’s operations generated double digit turnover growth in the year to February 28, but headline earnings a share growth was expected to be slower due to once-off impairments. The share price slipped 4.89% to close at R8.75 on the JSE yesterday. The IT group said in an operational update yesterday – the results are expected to be released on May 15 – that the good results were achieved in spite of increasingly challenging trading conditions. Revenue was expected to be between 14% to 18% higher, while headline earnings per share was expected to be 8% to 28% higher at 81 cents to 96c per share. Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation (Ebitda) was expected to increase by 1 to 21% to between R1.21 billion and R1.45bn.…

THE City of Tshwane, under the political leadership of the multiparty coalition government, will “fight tooth and nail” should the administration of the metro be taken over by the Gauteng provincial government. Executive mayor Cilliers Brink yesterday said his administration was prepared “to prevent Tshwane from being placed under the administration and going through the same disastrous abuse of power”. The abuse of power in question was experienced during the tenure of administrators appointed by the provincial government to run the metro in 2019. Brink was addressing journalists at Tshwane House, where he said former mayor Randall Williams had discovered a deficit in excess of R4 billion after the administrators were ejected from the metro. The administrators’ appointments ended after the decision to place the metro under administration was nullified…

THE South African Policing Union has lashed out at the provincial police for ordering the 2023 cohort of trainees to transport themselves to the Pretoria Training Academy. Gauteng secretary of union Mogale Mmutle said they were shocked and dismayed to learn that the HR of the country’s law enforcement ordered the 2023 trainees intake to transport themselves to the training college. Mmutle said the instruction for the trainees to find their own way to the training college was both unprocedural and unethical. “We can confirm that all other trainees from different provinces were transported to their police training academies, and what is so special with Gauteng that the trainees have to be ordered to transport themselves? “We demand that all the trainees who have used their own money for transportation…

Maintaining a relationship in the 21st century is extremely difficult. And that’s why when couples celebrate anniversaries, it should be given the respect it deserves. One couple, who have been proved their love has grown from strength to strength despite their many hardships, is Mzansi’s favourite radio personality couples, Thabo “T-bose” and Mapaseka Mokwele. The couple recently took to Instagram to publicly wish each other on their brass anniversary. For Mapaseka, it’s a double celebration because she also celebrates her birthday on this day. “This is us! 21 years later! Happy anniversary to us my love! To many more,” said the Radio 2000 presenter, Mapaseka. She added: “I still choose us! I choose you! Re kopa skhiya sa 21! We are legal now!” The Kaya 959 mid-morning presenter wrote: “Happy…

The Top 16 Youth-Owned Brands Awards (Yobas) have announced Standard Bank as the headline partner for the second annual edition of the Top 16 Yobas. The prestigious awards will be taking place on June 14 and 15, with the awards show preceded by a two-day festival where the largest number of youth-owned brands will be showcasing their work. Through the partnership between Standard Bank and the Yobas, the platform hopes to shine a light on the strides the youth are making in South Africa. The youth plays a huge role in economic growth in putting Africa on the map, and the partnership is set on empowering and supporting the youth of South Africa in growing their brands. Pat Mahlangu, founder, and CEO of the Yobas, said: “The Top 16 Youth-Owned…

IF South Africa was a country that held politicians accountable for their actions, Ronald Lamola, the Minister of Justice and Correctional Services, and Police Minister Bheki Cele would have been sacked for their poor handling of the Thabo Bester escape saga. Since the story of Bester’s dramatic prison break from Mangaung Prison, which is a privately managed correctional facility in Bloemfontein, embarrassing details have emerged about the government’s handling of the escape. The story of how Bester and his girlfriend, Dr Nandipha Magudumana, planned and orchestrated his escape from one of the country’s most secure prisons has left the government with egg on its face. As a result of this unfortunate saga, the country has been portrayed locally and abroad as lacking in the rule of law, with public institutions…

SpaceX yesterday postponed the first test flight of Starship, the most powerful rocket ever built, designed to send astronauts to the Moon and Mars and beyond. Lift-off of the gigantic rocket was called off just minutes ahead of the scheduled launch time because of a pressurisation issue in the booster stage, SpaceX said. SpaceX founder Elon Musk said a pressure valve appeared to be frozen, forcing a postponement of the launch which had been planned from Starbase, the SpaceX spaceport in Boca Chica, Texas. “Learned a lot today, now offloading propellant, retrying in a few days,” Musk tweeted. SpaceX said the launch would be delayed for at least 48 hours. The US space agency Nasa has picked the Starship spacecraft to ferry astronauts to the moon in late 2025 –…

LONDON: Britain’s King Charles and his wife Camilla have picked a recipe for Coronation Quiche for celebrations to be held next month when they are crowned, Buckingham Palace said yesterday. The dish, featuring spinach, broad beans and tarragon, is a nod to Coronation Chicken, a curry and mayonnaise-based dish invented for the 1953 coronation of Charles’ mother Queen Elizabeth II that is still enjoyed today. The palace said the dish had been chosen personally by Charles and Camilla for hundreds of community lunches planned across Britain to mark the May 6 event. | Reuters…

ROME: Almost 2 tons of cocaine with a market value of more than €400 million (R7.9 billion) were found floating at sea off eastern Sicily, in what Italy’s tax and customs police yesterday called a record seizure. The drugs were stored in about 70 waterproof packages, carefully sealed, held together by fishermen’s nets and equipped with a luminous signalling device, police said, which suggest the haul was dumped at sea by a cargo ship in order for it to be recovered later. According to police, Italy is a key transit route for the cocaine trade, and where Balkan criminal gangs were consolidating their positions. | Reuters…

PARIS: A wildfire destroyed nearly 1 000 hectares on the French-Spanish border on Sunday and yesterday, authorities said, as parts of southern Europe remain gripped by a drought. France’s first major wildfire this season was brought under control yesterday, the Interior Ministry said. The fire spread around French villages on the Mediterranean coast, fanned by strong winds. Fire crews had managed to prevent the fire from engulfing the villages. About 300 people were evacuated. The blaze later spread across the border into Spain, burning 500ha and prompting the evacuation of about 50 people. On the French side, a second fire later broke, burning about 10ha. | Reuters…

With autumn being about comfort food, this hearty chicken and prawn paella recipe by foodie Ilse van der Merwe is what we think you need. Serves: 5-6 Ingredients 30ml olive oil 1 onion, finely chopped 1 medium red pepper, diced 100g chorizo, sliced 10 ml smoked paprika or regular paprika 2 cups paella rice (bomba or arborio) 1 litre warm chicken stock 400g boneless chicken, sliced into bite-size chunks 250g prawn tails (peeled or unpeeled) 1 cup frozen peas A handful of Italian parsley, chopped Lemon wedges, to serve Method In a large deep pan (at least 30cm), over medium heat, add the oil and fry the onion, red pepper, and chorizo together until the onion is soft and translucent. Add the paprika and fry for another minute. Pour the…

Baby suffered brain damage after failed delivery attempts, delay in C-section A MOTHER is claiming more than R27 million in damages from the Gauteng Department of Health after her child was born nearly 13 years ago with permanent brain damage at a hospital in Gauteng. The mother was at first taken to the Lenasia Clinic in June 2011 after she started having labour contractions, from where she was taken to the Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital by ambulance. She told the Gauteng High Court, Pretoria, that the labour was slow at the clinic, and that a decision was made to have her transferred. There were unsuccessful attempts to deliver the baby by means of a vacuum extraction or ventouse delivery. She was taken to the theatre for an emergency…

THE Tshwane Metro Police Department said yesterday morning that all lanes on the N1 South, towards Joburg, were closed following a crash involving a tanker carrying hazardous material. The crash took place at around 2am. The truck transporting the hazardous material was apparently hit from behind by another truck. The driver of the second truck had not been found by yesterday afternoon. By 9am, metro police spokesperson Senior Superintendent Isaac Mahamba said all lanes of the N1 were still closed. “Yes, we can confirm that at this stage the N1 between Lynnwood and N4 off-ramps is still closed for traffic due to the recovery of the two trucks. “The two trucks were involved in an accident and immediately caught fire,” said Mahamba. “We can confirm at this stage that there…

ANC secretary-general Fikile Mbalula says the VBS matter that has implicated many of its party members will now be handled by the national leadership. This is after the Limpopo Provincial Executive Committee (PEC), under chairperson Stan Mathabatha, failed following a mandate to come up with solutions to resolve the matter. Many villagers, especially the elderly, were left counting their losses after the bank and municipal officials including politicians allegedly looted more than R2.3 billion from the bank’s purse. The party’s National Working Committee (NWC) was visiting the province last weekend, where leaders met regional structures before meeting the PEC on Sunday. Speaking on the sidelines of the meeting in Polokwane yesterday, Mbalula said the national leadership would take it upon itself to address the VBS matter. “In this meeting we…

THE DA in Gauteng is warning that terrible condition at schools in the province are resulting in thousands of learners being lost in the system. Khume Ramulifho, DA education spokesperson,said many learners dropped out of school while others were moved to schools with better resources. Out of 2 513 350 learners whom the department enrolled in 2021, only 2 252 291 returned to school in the 2022 academic year in Grades 1 to 12. There is an alarming number of 110 381 learners unaccounted for. This information was revealed by the Gauteng MEC for Education, Matome Chiloane, in a written reply to the DA’s questions tabled in the Gauteng legislature. Of the 110 381 learners who were lost in the system, 53 935 are…

The world has a huge waste problem. Globally, about 2 billion tonnes of municipal solid waste are generated annually. In 2017 alone, South Africa generated an estimated 55.6 million tonnes of general waste. Municipal solid waste contributed 23.1 million tonnes, and it is estimated that one third of municipal solid waste is made up of food waste. A 2021 study on food waste in South Africa by the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research, indicates that around 10 million tonnes of food waste are generated annually. This equates to one-third of the 31 million tonnes of food produced for worldwide human consumption annually. According to World Wide Fund for Nature data, about 90% of waste in South Africa is disposed of in landfill sites, and it is estimated that almost…

Sudan’s army chief yesterday branded the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) a rebellious group and ordered it be dissolved, as the faction battled the army in deadly violence that derailed a shift to civilian rule and prompted US calls for a ceasefire. Both sides claimed they made gains yesterday in a violent, nationwide power struggle, the Central Committee of Sudanese Doctors, an activist group, said has killed at least 97 civilians and 45 soldiers, with a total of 942 injured, since the fighting started at the weekend. The government has not published a toll in fighting that has spurred fears of a wider civil conflict. Bombardments and strikes from fighter jets rocked Khartoum yesterday, including near the military headquarters, and in Bahri just across the Nile River near another base,…

For G7 diplomats meeting in the Japanese resort town of Karuizawa, unity was the name of the game yesterday, with ministers lining up to insist there was no daylight between them on China policy. The two days of talks are taking place under the long shadow cast by controversial remarks from French President Emmanuel Macron, who last week suggested Europe should avoid “crises that aren’t ours”. Yesterday’s session focused on China and regional challenges, with Japan’s Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi urging counterparts to “demonstrate to the world the G7’s strong determination” to defend the “international order based on the rule of law”. Host Japan has put regional challenges atop the agenda, and recent events including Chinese military drills around Taiwan and North Korean missile tests have sharpened that focus. As…

Berlin: Former chancellor Angela Merkel has received Germany’s highest honour despite facing continued criticism of her legacy since leaving office, especially over her policy towards Moscow. Merkel, who led Europe’s biggest economy from 2005 to 2021, received the special class Grand Cross from President Frank-Walter Steinmeier last night. The award has been bestowed only twice before, to former chancellors Konrad Adenauer and Helmut Kohl. Although popular through most of her time in power, Merkel, 68, has seen her star fade since she retired in December 2021. The long-time leader has faced criticism of her policy towards Russian President Vladimir Putin and for leaving Germany dependent on Russian energy – a weakness laid bare by the war in Ukraine. Merkel has also been criticised for her decisions in 2011 to exit…

Nairobi: A police officer accused of murdering two teenagers in 2017 pleaded not guilty to the charges yesterday, in a case that raised questions about extrajudicial killings in Kenya after video footage of the shootings went viral. Ahmed Rashid was filmed shooting the two young men as they lay on the ground on a busy street in the capital, Nairobi. The Independent Policing Oversight Authority watchdog recommended murder charges last year. Rashid was arrested and released on bail of 200 000 Kenyan shillings (R27 466) yesterday. Kenyan police are often accused by rights groups of using excessive force and carrying out unlawful killings. | AFP…

Under a fortnight ago, Chelsea owner Todd Boehly picked up the phone and called Blues great Frank Lampard to come back and try to steady the ship, with the team in shambles. In another world, it might have been Carlo Ancelotti on the line to the American. Instead, Ancelotti returns to the Stamford Bridge dug-out strictly as an opponent, representing Real Madrid in the Champions League quarter-final second leg clash tonight. It was Madrid president Florentino Perez who brought the Italian back for a second stint at the helm, after Zinedine Zidane walked away again in 2021. Ancelotti’s Real picked off Chelsea in the first game, carving out a 2-0 lead through Karim Benzema and Marco Asensio, and they could have added further goals as they controlled proceedings. At the…

The City of Tshwane has blamed the collapse of an additional three power pylons on criminals dealing in metal, and now wants the industry to be regulated, said Themba Fosi, MMC for utilities and regional operations. And Fosi has urged residents to urgently notify the SAPS and the Tshwane metro police if they see people acting suspiciously near pylons in the city. The MMC made these comments after investigations by the City found that three pylons were vandalised, which caused the power lines to collapse onto the road. His views were echoed by mayor Cilliers Brink, who said criminals were now targeting the steel that forms part of the structure, causing the towers to collapse, bringing down cables they support and causing power outages. Fosi, however, said that the collapse…

WITH signs pointing towards imported cases of cholera leading to the local transmission of the bacteria via contaminated water supplies, calls have been made for heightened surveillance of the province’s water supplies. Cholera is not endemic to South Africa, but ince February 5 there have been at least 10 confirmed cases and one death in the province. At the time, no other cholera cases were reported in any other provinces. The number of cases has yet to increase in the province, but concerns have been raised about the safety of the province’s water supply. The DA’s Jack Bloom said the provincial health and municipal authorities needed to heighten surveillance to prevent the further spread of cholera after cases were confirmed in Johannesburg and Ekurhuleni townships. Bloom said of the last…

HER father’s love and words of encouragement are what inspired Cindy Pillay from uMbilo in Durban to complete the Two Oceans Marathon in Cape Town this past weekend. Pillay works as a shift leader for Surgical Intensive Care Unit (ICU) at Netcare St Augustine's Hospital and is also a wife and a mother of two. She said although she did not win, being able to complete the marathon and make it to the finishing line was an indescribable feeling of joy to her. “My father always encouraged me to run races from a young age and I started running in 2020 because gyms were closed during Covid-19 and in 2021 joined the Stellar Athletic Club as a runner. “Before my father passed, he always encouraged me not to limit myself…

The West, not Russia, needs an off-ramp from this crisis of its making On February 24, 2022, Russia being left with no other option but to protect the people of Donbass from constant violence emanating from the Kyiv regime, which included not just threats but daily shelling and bombardments of civil residential areas, as well as tackling strategic security threats to Russia, had to launch the special military operation in Ukraine for the purpose of its denazification and demilitarisation. Russia came to stop the war against the people of Eastern Ukraine, launched by the Kyiv regime and inspired by the West through its financial, military and political support. We are a year into this conflict now. We would like to use this opportunity to explore the role of the…

Russia yesterday sentenced Kremlin critic Vladimir Kara-Murza to 25 years in a “strict regime” penal colony on treason and other charges for criticising the Ukraine offensive. International leaders and supporters immediately condemned the verdict, the longest against an opposition figure in recent years, and called for his release. A Moscow court found the 41-year-old guilty of treason, of spreading “false” information about the Russian army and of links to an “undesirable organisation” after a closed-door trial. Kara-Murza appeared in a cage for defendants. He smiled and gestured to his supporters to write to him in prison. “A quarter of a century is an ‘A+’ for your courage, consistency and honesty in your year-long work. I am infinitely proud of you, my love, and I’m always by your side,” his wife…

The BRITISH parliament’s commissioner for standards opened an investigation into Prime Minister Rishi Sunak earlier this month, according to a list of open inquiries yesterday. The matter under investigation was a “declaration of interest”. The inquiry began on April 13. A spokesperson for Sunak said the investigation was linked to his wife’s shareholding in a childcare firm. The Liberal Democrats, an opposition party, called for an investigation after media reports said Akshata Murthy was a shareholder in a company that would benefit from a government policy on funding for child care. Under a code of conduct, all MPs are required “to provide information about any financial interest which might reasonably be thought by others to influence a member’s actions”. If the investigation finds Sunak has broken the code, a commissioner…

YANGON: Myanmar’s junta released 3 113 prisoners, including 98 foreigners, to mark the country’s traditional New Year yesterday, according to the military government It has jailed thousands of opponents and pro-democracy activists since it seized power in 2021 and brutally put down protests, drawing global condemnation. Ousted leader Aung San Suu Kyi, a Nobel laureate and figurehead of opposition to military rule, is serving 33 years in prison after a marathon of trials condemned as a sham. At least 17 460 people remain in detention and 3 240 have been killed by the junta, an activist group said. | Reuters…

PYONGYANG: North Korean leader Kim Jong-un attended a ceremony to mark the completion of a building project in which 10 000 housing units were constructed in Pyongyang, state media said yesterday, describing the project to supply more homes as one of the top policy priorities. Kim attended the ceremony, which marked the completion of the first stage of the housing project in the Hwasong district of the capital. It comes a year after the North began the construction in February last year under a five-year project to build 50 000 new homes in Pyongyang by 2025. The project is being driven by Kim to improve people’s lives amid economic hardships. | IANS…

Victor Osimhen and Mike Maignan will face off for a place in the Champions League semi-finals tonight when AC Milan travel south to Naples for the decisive second leg of the all-Italian quarter-final. Nigerian striking sensation Osimhen and France’s new first-choice goalkeeper Maignan arrived at two of Italy’s most storied clubs via Ligue 1 outfit Lille, where they played together for a season before both eventually made their way south of the Alps. Osimhen hadn’t played for Napoli since the last international break before making a substitute’s appearance in Saturday’s goalless draw with Verona which cut his team’s imposing Serie A lead to 14 points. The 24-year-old only played the final 17 minutes of that frustrating stalemate, but the match came alive once he was on the pitch. He caused…