Innholdsfortegnelse for 2023-04-25 i Pretoria News

PURPLE Group’s share price plunged more than 9% after it reported a 152% decline in headline earnings to an 85 cents headline loss per share for the six months to February 28. The group’s expenses increased sharply as new projects took longer and proved more costly than expected to implement. On top of the headline loss, the online share-trading and investing group, said it would shortly announce plans to raise R150 million in new capital to fund growth over the next years. Purple’s share price closed 8.87% lower at R1.13 on the JSE yesterday, after the price had declined over the year from R2.70. The share, a favourite among many retail investors, drew mixed reactions. Junior Smith (@JuniorBuffet) commented on Twitter: “Purple group I still believe in the…

DISGRUNTLED shareholders of Eastern Platinum Limited (EPL), a holding company with mining interests in South Africa, are set to take the company to court over the unauthorised sale of 100 000 tons of chrome concentrate worth hundreds of millions of rand. In a statement, the shareholders claim the sale was conducted by EPL’s majority shareholder, Chinese businessman Liu Changyu. Liu, who acquired a controlling stake in EPL in 2016, before increasing his stake to 32% in 2021, is accused of selling the chrome concentrate at a significantly discounted price without the approval of the company’s board of directors. The shareholders plan to institute urgent proceedings in the High Court of South Africa to obtain an interdict preventing any further unauthorised transactions from taking place. They will also be taking…

STAKEHOLDERS living around the Voortrekker Monument have raised the alarm about rising crime in the vicinity after reports of armed robberies targeting visitors and staff on two separate occasions. Kingsley Wakelin, MMC for corporate and shared services in the City of Tshwane, expressed shock at the recent robberies, saying the situation was unacceptable and could not be allowed to continue unabated. He said the city and the monument would join hands in tackling the scourge of crime in the area. “As the MMC responsible for operational matters in region 3 of the city, I am deeply concerned about the sharp increase in crime in and around the Voortrekker Monument,” Kingsley said. The monument was one of the city’s most prominent landmarks, and visited and enjoyed by local and international visitors…

President Cyril Ramaphosa has accepted the withdrawal of three people nominated to receive Orders in a ceremony scheduled to take place on April 28 in Pretoria. The Presidency said withdrawal of the names follows objections from sectors of society and recommendations by the National Orders Advisory Council. Esteemed film-makers Duma Ndlovu, Freek Robinson, and Mike Horne have been withdrawn from the list of 35 chosen recipients. “To uphold the integrity of National Orders, the council will further adopt measures to strengthen the selection process. These measures include a workshop to be undertaken by council members at the end of April. Timelines of the selection process will also be reviewed,” it said. National Orders are the highest awards that a country, through its president, bestows on its citizens and eminent foreign…

After amassing rave feedback and endless sold-out shows in numerous countries, the globally acclaimed show, The Head and The Load, made its thrilling debut at Joburg Theatre, eliciting a dialogue on African history. This William Kentridge award-winning performance goes in-depth into African history and further explores the untold and traumatic role of Africans during the World War I. In the production, not only was history marked by combining music, dance, film projections, mechanised sculptures, and shadow play, but there was also a thought-provoking dialogue that featured notable personalities. Esteemed activist, actress, storyteller, poet, playwright, director, and author Gcina Mhlophe unpacked the essence of oral African history and the role it plays. The production illuminates the untold story of the millions of African porters and carriers who served and, in many…

In the aftermath of the brutal killing of 10 family members early on Friday in Pietermaritzburg, one South African jokingly remarked on social media that “if Lesotho wants parts of KZN, let’s give them Pietermaritzburg”. While this was said in jest, unfortunately it underlines the shock and horror that has greeted the latest mass shooting that took place in the capital city of KwaZulu-Natal. Apart from well-documented service delivery failures that have become synonymous with Pietermaritzburg, the city is quickly gaining a reputation for extreme violence, assassinations and mass shootings. Unless something drastic is done to improve policing in the city, criminality and violent crime will make the area the mass murder capital of the country. Apart from the latest killings spree in Unit 14 of Imbali township, in July…

South Korea’s President Yoon Suk Yeol flew to Washington yesterday for a six-day state visit as the allies moved to bulk up military co-operation over North Korea’s expanding nuclear threats. Pyongyang has conducted another record-breaking string of sanctions-defying launches this year, including test-firing the country’s first solid-fuel ballistic missile this month – a key technical breakthrough for Kim Jong Un’s military. In response, Yoon has pulled South Korea closer to long-standing ally Washington, and the trip has a packed schedule including a summit with US President Joe Biden on Wednesday, where the pair will celebrate 70 years of ties. “The two leaders will spend a lot of time together over the course of many events to celebrate the achievements of the South Korea-US alliance over 70 years, and exchange in-depth…

Beirut: Israel’s army yesterday shelled a position belonging to a pro-Iran group in southern Syria near the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights, a war monitor said, the second such bombardment in days. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said “Israeli ground forces” bombarded a location on the outskirts of Quneitra where fighters from the Syrian Resistance to Liberate the Golan are located, without reporting any casualties. The Hezbollah-linked, Iran-backed group was formed to launch attacks in the Israeli-occupied zone. Two local media outlets close to the government reported an “Israeli aggression” that targeted the outskirts of Quneitra. | AFP…

BERLIN: Industrial action grounded dozens of flights at two major German airports yesterday as security workers and ground services employees in the capital, Berlin, and in Hamburg held a one-day strike over pay. Berlin-Brandenburg airport cancelled all departures and said some landings would also be affected after the Verdi union called security workers out on strike until midnight. Roughly 240 flights had been scheduled to take off. As in other countries, Europe’s largest economy has seen repeated disruption from strike action as workers press for more pay and better working conditions to tackle a surge in the cost of living. | Reuters…

Singapore: British tycoon Richard Branson has urged Singapore to halt the imminent execution of a man sentenced to death over 1kg of cannabis, saying it “may be about to kill an innocent man”. Singaporean Tangaraju Suppiah, 46, is scheduled to be hanged tomorrow. “Tangaraju was actually not anywhere near these drugs at the time of his arrest. This was largely a circumstantial case,” Branson wrote on his blog yesterday. “Killing those at the lowest rungs of the illicit drug supply chain … is hardly effective in curbing an international trade worth hundreds of billions every year,” he said. | AFP…

Safa are ready to pull the plug on their partnership with the SABC if things do not improve. After agreeing on four-year contract in 2019, Safa were expected to see the SABC plough a significant amount of money into the association, while ensuring that their matches - across junior and senior national teams - are televised on SABC 1, 2 and 3. But the South African national broadcaster has failed to live up to expectations on both ends, cutting the R110million yearly investment to a measly R25m, while some crucial Safa matches have only been broadcast on streaming services - such as OTT. Those irregularities have backed Safa into a corner in terms of the day-to-day operations - despite reporting that they have incurred a loss of only R2.9m in…

They are not in a good position on the Currie Cup log at the moment and that's why a desperate Western Province side will rock up for the North-South derby with the Blue Bulls on Saturday in Cape Town. Both teams sit just outside the top four in South Africa's premier domestic competition, with the Bulls (17 points) in fifth and WP (16 points) in sixth, looking to break back into the play-off spots. The winning team will most likely jump up the log, leapfrogging one of the Griquas (19 points) or the Sharks (19 points), who meet each other this weekend when the second round of the competition starts. "Both the teams will be desperate for a win," WP defence coach Norman Laker said "It will be important for…

Plan to do it over the next four years in a bid to recover at least 7 000MW into the grid and end the load shedding ESKOM has proposed to embark on a R16 billion programme of installing smart-meters in every household in South Africa over the next four years in a bid to recover at least 7 000MW into the grid and end load shedding. If this demand management strategy is given the green light, it would represent a change of approach in Eskom’s cocktail to end rotational power cuts as load shedding is a tactic of limiting electricity supply based on generation capacity. Eskom first touted an approach to demand-side management in 2012 as it warned that 3 000MW of committed capacity from supply…

Lamingtons are a delicious treat and take me back to my childhood days. Traditionally made from vanilla sponge cake, coated in a chocolate sauce, and then rolled in desiccated coconut, they have iconic status in Australia but are also available in other parts of the world. If you would like to make them at home, chef Hendrik Pretorius has the perfect recipe. Chocolate lamingtons Ingredients Vanilla sponge 400g sugar 4 large eggs 240ml sunflower oil or vegetable oil 1 tsp vanilla extract 420g all-purpose flour 1 tbs baking powder 1 tsp salt 120ml milk For the chocolate syrup 75g cocoa powder 360ml hot water 600g sugar 15g unsalted butter Desiccated coconut Method Preheat the oven to 180°C and place a rack in the middle. Spray and line the bottom and…

THREE Limpopo men were arrested on Sunday after a woman was gang raped at Phagameng location in Modimolle. According to Limpopo police spokesperson Colonel Malesela Ledwaba, it is alleged that the 35 year-old woman was with her boyfriend coming from a local tavern when they came across five men, one known to the couple. Ledwaba said the man known to the couple invited them to his house for further entertainment. “Upon arrival, the suspects threatened the boyfriend while the others dragged the woman to the bedroom and took turns in raping her. “However, the boyfriend managed to escape and alerted the police about the incident and they rushed to the scene.” The police found that the suspects had already fled and the victim said that all five suspects took turns…

THE cash-strapped Emfuleni Local Municipality has spent millions on law firms to discipline its suspended chief financial officer (CFO), Andile Dyakala, while the municipality was struggling to deliver services to its customers. The revelations were made public by the MEC for Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs, Mzi Khumalo, in his written replies to questions from the DA’s Kingsol Chabalala in the Gauteng provincial legislature. Dyakala was suspended on March 16 last year following allegations of his role in the unlawful extension of contracts of employees in the political office. He also stands accused of financial misconduct: unauthorised, wasteful and fruitless expenditure on short-term insurance. Khumalo revealed that Dyakala was also facing another charge of financial misconduct where the municipality suffered unauthorised, wasteful and fruitless activities, in breach of Regulation 32…

Tylo Ribeiro, 30, was crowned Mister Supranational South Africa 2023 at the grand finale at The Venue in Melrose Arch, Johannesburg at the weekend. This edition of Mister Supranational South Africa was the third, with Rushil Jina taking the title in 2019 and Akshar Birbal the winner in 2021. It was also the first under new licence owners Centre Stage Productions. The glamorous event was hosted by the dashing TV presenter and model Tino Chinyani. The top 10 finalists were dressed in the latest fashion by South African designers Lindani Styling, New Romantics Couture, and Black Tie, and there was a sizzling swimwear section with participants dressed by local brand Bulge & Bum. Singing sensation Tamara Dey kept the audience entertained as she delivered a show-stopping performance of the hit…

IN THE eyes of many, Joseph Stalin was just a killer and dictator. It is true that many people in the Soviet Union died at his ruthless hand. It began when he was on the path to power, using the subtle method used by evil authorities – he “eliminated” his opponents. The worst was turning comrades against each other, especially the “old guard”. One of the worst examples was his having a hand in the death of Leon Trotsky. Trotsky was close to Lenin, though they differed ideologically. But because he was a true comrade, a revolutionary, and a combatant, Lenin trusted him. He entrusted him with a crucial component, the army, when they were still in a revolution, a struggle to free Russia from the yoke of oppression. A…

Europe, China and Japan raced to extract their citizens from Sudan yesterday and thousands more people used a partial lull in fighting between the army and a paramilitary force over the past two days to escape the country’s deepening crisis. The sudden eruption of violence between the military and the well-armed Rapid Support Forces (RSF) paramilitary group on April 15 has killed at least 427 people, knocked out hospitals and other services and turned residential areas into war zones. Tens of thousands of people, including Sudanese and citizens from neighbouring countries, have fled in the past few days, including to Egypt, Chad and South Sudan, despite chronic instability there. “There is still a challenge in accessing food, there’s still a challenge accessing electricity and water and that is prompting people…

Most Britons want to keep the monarchy but King Charles III lacks support from young people, a new poll suggested yesterday, less than two weeks before his coronation. Fifty-eight percent of respondents backed retaining the monarchy, compared to 26% in favour of an elected head of state and 16% who “don’t know”, according to the YouGov survey. But the poll, commissioned by the BBC before Charles’s May 6 coronation, indicated that only about a third of young people support the monarchy while 38% would prefer an elected head of state. They showed broad indifference towards the institution, with more than three-quarters of 18-24 year-olds saying they were “not interested” in the royal family. Support for the royals was greatest among older people, with 67% backing among those aged 50-64, and…

Addis Ababa: Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed said his government had opened dialogue with a rebel group active in the Oromia region, the country’s largest and most populous region, surrounding the capital Addis Ababa. “The peace negotiation that will be held with (the Oromo Liberation Army) will start the day after tomorrow in Tanzania,” Abiy said on Sunday. “The Ethiopian government and people will need this negotiation very much. “I call upon everybody to play (their) part.” Abiy spoke at a gathering of parties to the Tigray peace process which saw a deal on November 2 end a two-year conflict with rebelling regional authorities. | AFP…

Kathmandu: Nepal has issued a record 454 permits to climb Mount Everest this spring, officials said yesterday, four years after at least four deaths on the world’s highest peak were blamed on overcrowding. “This is the highest number of permits the department has issued to summit Mount Everest,” said Bigyan Koirala from the tourism department, adding that numbers could rise further. As most of these mountaineers will attempt to summit Everest with the help of a Nepali guide, more than 900 climbers will be heading for the summit in the next few weeks. This could cause heavy traffic and bottlenecks en route to the summit. | AFP…

Garlic is a herb that is grown around the world. It is related to onions, leeks, and chives. It is thought that garlic is native to Siberia but spread to other parts of the world over 5 000 years ago. Garlic is a superstar ingredient that gives meals a nutritional punch and adds wonderful flavour to many recipes. But it has also been used as a medicine throughout ancient and modern history. Garlic has been taken to prevent and treat a wide range of conditions and diseases. For thousands of years, it has been touted for its health benefits, which range from boosting the immune system to reducing high blood pressure and heart disease. Many cultures have home remedies for the common cold using garlic, whether it’s a chicken soup…

HEALTH Minister Dr Joe Phaahla has revealed that 19 707 children under 5 died due to pneumonia and diarrhoea in public hospitals, and 12 582 from moderate and severe acute malnutrition, in the past 10 years. In total, more than 178 000 children under 5 died at public hospitals in the country during the same period. Phaahla also revealed that 12 224 children’s deaths between 2013 to 2018 were due to unnatural causes. The minister made these revelations in reply to parliamentary questions from the DA spokesperson on health, Michele Clarke. Clarke asked Phaahla for details on the number of children who died in public health facilities in each of the provinces. She also wanted the minister to give a detailed breakdown of the reason for each death and the…

WAS a claim submitted against the Road Accident Fund (RAF) by a woman who alleged she was involved in a hit-and-run accident a bogus claim or not? That was the dilemma the Gauteng High Court, Johannesburg, had to deal with, after Disebo Betty Ntoro turned to court to claim damages from the RAF. According to the police who took her to hospital after she was injured, Ntoro told them she was assaulted. However, she said this was not true, as she was involved in a hit-and-run accident. One of her versions was that the vehicle had hit her on her right arm. But somehow there were no injuries to her right arm and she mainly suffered injuries to her face. Acting Judge CSP Oosthuizen- Senekal said it was not for…

THE Gauteng High Court’s Pretoria and Johannesburg divisions will this week hold ceremonial sittings to commemorate the centenary of the Women Legal Practice Act, which opened the doors and paved the way for women to join the legal fraternity in the country. Yesterday the Office of the Chief Justice said prior to the Act of 1923, the courts had ruled that women were not included as “persons” who could be admitted to legal practice. However, the enactment of the act turned this around as it served to open the door to women by decreeing that “women shall be entitled to be admitted to practice and to be enrolled as advocates, attorneys, notaries public or conveyancers in any province of the Union subject to the same terms and conditions which applied…

World-renowned sculptor Noria Mabasa, 84, is brimming with pride after being conferred with an Honorary Doctorate in Art and Design by the University of Johannesburg (UJ). Dr Mabasa, who has been practising and perfecting her artistic skills as a sculptor since 1974, is known for her pottery and wood sculptures. She boasts national and international accolades for her outstanding artistry and creativity. She says she is humbled by the recognition and looks forward to continuing with her work as long as she can. “I have done this work for years, and it has put me in many different places. “Today, it has led me to UJ, which has placed me among the stars. I am deeply humbled to have this honour bestowed upon me. “I realised that even though this…

Choose honest, capable independent candidates of calibre THERE is a certain irony that this year we celebrate “Freedom Day” – the name given by South Africans to mark the first democratic and non-racial elections on April 27, 1994 – uniquely challenged to consciously exercise our equal enjoyment of the freedom to make political choices that will shape the next 30 years and beyond. President Cyril Ramaphosa’s signing of the much-awaited Electoral Amendment Act into law on April 17 directly challenges us to be deliberate in our political choices to form a political party; to participate in political party activities, including recruiting members and to campaign for a political party or cause; to massively participate in free, fair and regular elections by voting in secret, by also standing for public office…

Kenyan authorities have exhumed dozens of bodies, mostly children, from a forest in south-east Kenya in what appears to be a religious starvation cult, with Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki describing it as a “massacre”. At least 73 people have been confirmed dead, including 50 whose bodies were exhumed, while 28 people survived, said Charles Kamau, a criminal investigation officer from the Malindi area. He said most of the bodies retrieved from graves were children. Kamau said that at least four had died of starvation, though post-mortems still had to be done. The dead are believed to be worshippers of Paul Mackenzie’s Good News International Church. A total of 800 acres of the Shakahola forest have been sealed off and declared a crime scene, Kindiki said. The site is close…

Leaders from European countries surrounding the North Sea are set to pledge to expand renewable generation in the region to strengthen energy security, at a summit in Ostend, Belgium, yesterday. Seven EU countries, including France, Germany and the Netherlands, alongside non-EU countries Norway and the UK, will commit to build wind farms rapidly, develop “energy islands” – or connected renewable generation sites at sea – and work on carbon capture and renewable hydrogen projects in the region. The aim is to curb reliance on Russian gas, and reduce use of CO2-emitting fossil fuels. Norway last year became Europe’s biggest gas supplier, after Russia cut deliveries to Europe following its invasion of Ukraine. A draft of the leaders’ summit declaration said the nine countries aimed for a combined 120 gigawatts of…

Rome: More than 20 people are feared to have drowned off Italy, the UN’s refugee agency said yesterday, as good weather prompted fresh attempts at the perilous Mediterranean crossing. “Two shipwrecks off Lampedusa with 22 missing,” Chiara Cardoletti, the UNHCR’s representative for Italy, said on Twitter. The 36 survivors of the first shipwreck told the Italian coastguard that 19 people on board their boat had died after it partially capsized. Three other people were reported to have died in a second incident. Those saved hailed from Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Guinea, the Ivory Coast and Sudan. More than 36 000 migrants have arrived by sea in Italy this year. | AFP…

New York: Jury selection was set for yesterday in a trial to determine whether British pop star Ed Sheeran plagiarised American music legend Marvin Gaye’s Let’s Get It On in his 2014 hit Thinking Out Loud. The plaintiffs are the heirs of Ed Townsend, a musician and producer who co-wrote Gaye’s 1973 soul classic. They allege there are “striking similarities and overt common elements” between Gaye’s sultry classic and Sheeran’s Thinking Out Loud. It’s not the first time Sheeran has been taken to court, as copyright lawsuits in the industry flourish. Sheeran’s team contests the allegations, saying “there are dozens if not hundreds of songs that predate and postdate” Gaye’s song, “utilising the same or similar chord progression”. Sheeran’s Thinking Out Loud shot up America’s Billboard Hot 100 charts and…

Kaizer Chiefs are getting their just desserts as they continue to play housie-housie with the iconic club by allowing the chairman's family to occupy strategic positions in the day-to-day running of the organisation. On Sunday, Chiefs suffered a 1-0 defeat to a very ordinary Sekhukhune United side. Without the usual penalty or opposition red card, Chiefs slumped to defeat after a four-match unbeaten streak in the Premiership. During this fruitful Premiership streak, Chiefs either won after a penalty proved decisive or they were advantaged by playing against 10-man opposition teams. This occurrence prompted coach Steve Barker to remark, "Chiefs must be practising against 10-man opposition", after his side suffered a red card and a penalty in a 2-1 defeat. Sunday's defeat prompted an outcry from the AmaKhosi faithful, and a…