Indice dei contenuti per 2026-02-16 in Star

Personal Finance editor Dieketseng Maleke, Business Report editor Phillippa Larkin, and Independent Media editor-in-chief Adri Senekal joined in congratulating the winners of the 30th Raging Bull Awards at the Cape Town International Convention Centre. Marking three decades of excellence, the awards have earned a reputation as the “Oscars” of the investment world, honouring South Africa’s top-performing funds and managers whose consistency and skill continue to shape the country’s asset management sector. Alexander Forbes Investments took centre stage as it claimed the coveted South African Manager of the Year award, the highest honour of the evening, recognising excellence across its suite of funds and rewarding resilience and performance in a highly competitive market. The accolade underscored the firm’s ability to navigate shifting economic conditions while maintaining investor confidence. Winners were determined…

The Land and Agricultural Development Bank of South Africa (Land Bank) has declined to confirm or deny reports that cybercriminals demanded a R50 million ransom following a cybersecurity breach last month, saying it will not comment on alleged ransom demands while investigations are ongoing. This comes after the Land Bank reported a "temporary disruption affecting certain internal IT systems" that occured on 12 January, after which it took offline the affected systems as a precautionary measure to protect its operations and information. However, a source close to the situation has claimed that the bank’s IT systems were hacked and that the perpetrators allegedly demanded a R50m ransom. It remains unclear whether any ransom was paid. In an emailed response to BR on Friday, the bank confirmed it experienced a cybersecurity…

It may seem counter-intuitive that JSE and London listed British American Tobacco (BAT), a manufacturer of cigarettes, has "Building a Smokeless World" as its strategy. But it has, over the past few years, refined its strategy to reduce the health risks of its business by offering adult consumers a greater choice of reduced risk products, compared with cigarettes. According to the annual report released Friday the company still sold over 465 billion cigarette sticks in 2025, and over 12 billion other tobacco products, in 36 factories in 35 markets. The number of cigarette sticks sold however declined 8% compared to the 2024 financial year. The group is the second biggest international tobacco company behind the China National Tobacco Corporation. Over one billion people still smoke cigarettes across the world. By…

Alleged diamond dealer Louis Liebenberg will have to face a stint of 30 days mental evaluation at Pretoria’s Weskoppies Hospital after the Gauteng High Court, Pretoria dismissed his urgent application to have that order overturned. Judge Mandla Mbongwe found that it is in Liebenberg’s constitutional interests to be mentally evaluated at this stage, rather than later during his trial. The judge further found that the magistrate who had referred him for observation acted within the prescripts of the Criminal Procedure Act and that she did have the discretion to refer him for evaluation. Liebenberg argued that the magistrate’s order referring him for evaluation constitutes a gross irregularity in his criminal proceedings. The court decided to refer Liebenberg in this way, although a doctor who had evaluated him did not recommend…

The Asset Forfeiture Unit (AFU) of the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) in the Western Cape has had R89 000 seized by court order after two Zimbabwean nationals were arrested for allegedly kidnapping and extorting a University of Stellenbosch student. The suspects, Truth Mambemba and Takudzwa Chauruka, face charges including kidnapping, two counts of rape, robbery with aggravating circumstances, extortion, illegal possession of a firearm, and entering South Africa illegally. The alleged crime took place on October 2, 2024, when the 20-year-old student was returning from a club and was forced into a vehicle by the suspects. “She only remembers being inside a vehicle, sitting in the passenger seat with two strange men in the same vehicle, one driving and another sitting in the back seat. The two men drove with…

ActionSA has shortlisted candidates for Johannesburg mayor in what the party described as high stakes bid to address years of service delivery challenges, with the final announcement set for Saturday, February 21. The party said it undertook a thorough process, engaging its structures and assessing leaders on their ability to tackle the city’s ongoing service delivery crisis and restore effective governance. Previously, The Star reported that ActionSA opened nominations to find a leader capable of addressing Johannesburg’s deepening challenges. The party stressed the process would be competitive and transparent, aimed at selecting a candidate with the experience and leadership needed to manage the city’s complex coalition politics. “It was at Mashaba’s request that an open nomination process be pursued to ensure that the party considers all possible options for a…

Tensions between the Gauteng Department of Roads and Transport and scholar transport operators escalated this week as the government continues to tighten compliance measures, while operators took to the streets in protest and refused to attend a scheduled engagement. Last week Friday, Gauteng scholar transport operators gathered at Liberty Gardens before marching to Mary Fitzgerald Square, where they handed a memorandum to Gauteng MEC for Roads and Transport, Kedibone Diale-Tlabela. They also announced they would not attend a departmental engagement scheduled for Saturday, as only a handful of associations had agreed to participate. “We are not attending that event, she will have to wait until we give her our memorandum and after seven days, she will respond then we will attend whatever meeting she calls.” The standoff comes as the…

A 39-year-old man accused of a decade-old ‘ancestral’ investment scam that allegedly defrauded a teacher of more than R1.27 million was recently arrested. William Matyuba was arrested on February 5 at OR Tambo International Airport in Gauteng after evading police for many years. Hawks spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Avele Fumba said Matyuba allegedly convinced the victim that her ancestors were instructing her to resign from her job and invest her pension payout. He allegedly promised extraordinary financial returns. Acting on this advice, the victim transferred substantial sums of money to the accused, who allegedly misappropriated the funds and absconded. “After years on the run, Matyuba was arrested on February 5, 2026, at OR Tambo International Airport while entering South Africa.” Matyuba initially appeared in the Kempton Park Magistrate’s Court before the…

Trade unions in the Public Service Coordinating Bargaining Council (PSCBC), affiliated to the Federation of Unions of South Africa (FEDUSA), and other federations have threatened protest action against the Government Employees Medical Scheme (GEMS) over its recent monthly contribution increases. GEMS implemented a 9.8 % increase from January 2026. Yesterday, a coalition of unions, including the South African Policing Union (SAPU) and the Public Servants Association (PSA), condemned GEMS for implementing a 9.8% increase in member contributions, describing the decision as a “blatant departure from the scheme’s mandate to provide affordable healthcare to its members”. Paul Sauer, representative of the South African Teachers’ Union (SAOU), voiced the frustration of public service workers, stating: “In the past two years, we have been shunned by GEMS. We are now left with no…

It was a perfect day to rekindle a love affair that had gone sour. On Valentine’s Day at Loftus Versfeld, Jayden Adams tugged at Hugo Broos’ heartstrings with a solid performance as Mamelodi Sundowns beat MC Alger 2-0 to book their spot in the CAF Champions League quarter-finals. On the sidelines for so long, Adams was said to have been considering a loan move just to get game time and fight for his place in the national team. Instead, he decided to fight for his spot at Chloorkop and is now enjoying a rebirth that could well see him back in the Bafana Bafana fold in time for the FIFA World Cup. A favourite of Broos despite once irking the silver-haired Belgian by missing a flight to camp, the Capetonian…

India routed their bitter rivals Pakistan by 61 runs yesterday to qualify for the next round of the ICC Men's T20 World Cup, in a showdown that had been in doubt until only a few days ago. Suryakumar Yadav’s side posted 175/7 after being given a flying start by Ishan Kishan’s brilliant 77, before bowling out Pakistan for 114 in 18 overs. The defeat continued Pakistan’s woeful record against India in World Cups; India have now won eight of their nine T20 World Cup meetings and remain undefeated in all eight of their ODI World Cup encounters. Pakistan got off to the worst possible start in their chase of 176. Sahibzada Farhan top-edged a slog to mid-on for a duck in Hardik Pandya’s first over. It quickly became 6/2 when…

After President Cyril Ramaphosa’s State of the Nation Address classifying the foot and mouth disease as a National Disaster, a Government Gazette was issued on Friday declaring a National Disaster. The Red Meat Industry Services and the Foot and Mouth Disease Industry Coordinating Council (FMD ICC) have welcomed the announcement. Dr Elias Sithole said on Friday in his capacity as the Head of the National Disaster Management Centre that after having considered reports submitted on the foot and mouth disease outbreak in the Eastern Cape, Free State, Gauteng, Kwa-Zulu-Natal, Limpopo, Mpumalanga, North West, and the Western Cape provinces, and the impact and magnitude the outbreak has, or may have. “I hereby give notice that, in terms of section 23(1)(b) of the Disaster Management Act, 2002 (Act No. 57 of 2002),…

African leaders and development finance institutions have reaffirmed their commitment to turning water investment pledges into bankable projects, as the Africa Investment Programme (AIP) reported significant progress following last year’s landmark water summit in Cape Town. Speaking at a high-level continental gathering in Addis Ababa on the sidelines of the 39th Ordinary Session of the African Union (AU) Assembly of Heads of State and Government on Sunday, Alex Simalwambi, CEO of the Global Water Partnership Organisation, outlined how the AIP was structured to move beyond declarations and deliver tangible infrastructure outcomes. “When the African Union conceptualised the summit, they were very clear — we do not want a talk show. We want concrete projects,” Simalwambi said. The Cape Town summit, hosted under the auspices of the AU, featured 80 investment-ready…

The diversified JSE-listed industrial group KAP's share price lifted 2.2% on Friday after it forecast headline earnings per share (HEPS) to increase by between 28% and 35% for the six months to December 31, 2025. The group's businesses include polymers company Safripol, automotive component company Feltex, mattresses and bed products subsidiary Sleep Group, wood and decorative products company PG Bison, and transport and logistics company Unitrans. KAP's share price increased 2.22% to R32.39 on the JSE Friday afternoon, still well down from R3.97 three years ago, and 16% lower than the price a year ago. KAP said in a trading statement that earnings per share for the six month period were expected to increase between 24% and 31%, to between 20.1 cents and 21.3 cents, compared to the EPS of…

Industry leaders and a sugar farmer say that the provisional liquidation of Tongaat Hulett is a major blow to the industry and have called for Tongaat to be saved. Tongaat Hulett said in a statement last week that after an extensive and exhaustive Business Rescue process the Business Rescue Practitioners (BRPs) have now filed an application to the High Court seeking to discontinue business rescue proceedings and place Tongaat Hulett's South African operations into provisional liquidation. Thandokwakhe Sibiya, Chief Operating Officer at South African Farmers Development Association (SAFDA), said that moving from Business Rescue to provisional liquidation is quite scary. When SAFDA's leaders heard about the provisional liquidation on Thursday, they took a plane to Cape Town so that they could speak to decision makers on the sidelines of the…

Speaking to Independent Media Lifestyle, Loyiso Bala is clear about what this new chapter represents. “This is the first step,” he said. “It reflects where I am now and sets the tone for what is coming. It is honest, intentional and rooted in love.” With those words, Bala introduces That RnB, a single that marks his return to the genre that first introduced his voice to a wide audience and shaped the foundation of his career. It has been more than 15 years since Bala released a full R&B and pop album, a gap defined by personal growth and professional expansion rather than absence. Over that period, his life shifted in ways that reshaped his creative outlook. “I have come to believe very strongly that my life and my creative…

The Cape Town International Jazz Festival (CTIJF) and That Tuesday Funk (TTF) are thrilled to announce that their upcoming collaboration at Untitled Basement in Braamfontein sold out within hours. Taking place on Tuesday, February 24, from 6pm until 1.30am, the special Johannesburg edition promises a celebration of community and musical freedom. Due to overwhelming interest in the event, more tickets will be released tomorrow at 10am. They can be purchased through Quicket. The event will feature DJs Ms Niksta, JustThemba and Jab A Jaw, alongside musicians drawn from the CTIJF line-up, including Rorisang Sechele. Guests are encouraged to arrive early, bring their instruments, and be part of a powerful gathering that celebrates collaboration and authentic musical expression. As part of our community upliftment programme, the CTIJF, in partnership with Concerts…

The woman arrested in connection with the brutal murder of an e-hailing driver in Pretoria West is expected to make her first appearance in court today. Police spokesperson Colonel Mavela Masondo said, according to preliminary findings, the victim was allegedly attacked and killed by a man and a woman who had requested an e-hailing service on February 11. “The driver’s hijacked vehicle and his body were later discovered in Atteridgeville on the same day,” said Masondo. The video shows a woman in a bucket hat and a white t-shirt in the front seat, while a man sat behind and assaulted the driver until he overpowered him. After the driver’s body went limp, he was put in the backseat, and a third man is seen taking over the wheel. The woman…

The Water Crisis Committee in the City of Johannesburg has called on the government to communicate openly on how it plans to deal with the current water crisis, which has hit the city of Johannesburg hard in recent weeks. Johannesburg is in a dire situation with a reported shortfall of 200 million litres daily from Rand Water and persistent pipe bursts averaging 4 519 each month. Rand Water further warned that high consumption and ageing infrastructure are placing the system under severe strain, forcing restrictions across Gauteng. Ravi Singh, speaking on behalf of the Water Crisis Committee, called on the government to intervene in the worsening crisis in Johannesburg, which has seen communities in Melville, Brixton, Westdene, Parktown, Robertsham and other suburbs battle water challenges this past week. “The Water…

The heavy expectations that weighed on Kaizer Chiefs to win at least two trophies this season are now behind them. Amakhosi can now shift their focus to one competition: the coveted Betway Premiership. Chiefs had an unprecedented purple patch at the start of the year, winning their first four matches. As such, pressure mounted on them to win a treble, including the league, the CAF Confederation Cup, and the Nedbank Cup. But alas, the Chiefs of old began to reappear. Amakhosi failed to defend their Nedbank Cup title at the first attempt after losing 2–1 in the last 32 to Stellenbosch, coached by former mentor Gavin Hunt, earlier this month. Thereafter, Chiefs were implored by their supporters, club legends, and management to go all the way in contesting for the…

Lehlohonolo Mojela scored a brace, finding the net in each half, to help Sekhukhune United to a consummately easy 2-0 victory over Orbit College at the Peter Mokaba Stadium yesterday afternoon. The victory sees Ba Bina Noko remain in the hunt for the league championship. They now trail leaders Orlando Pirates by six points, although Eric Tinkler’s team have played two matches more than the Buccaneers. Sekhukhune were quick off the mark, hardly allowing the visiting rookies time to find their feet. Mojela scored as early as the third minute; the striker, with a penchant for dyeing his hair peroxide, profited from an assist by Vusimusi Mncube. Orbit had lost possession via a stray pass that found an opposition player and were duly punished. Such a flying start against inferior…

Secured lender pledges to salvage the business and implement turnaround The Vision Group, the secured lender to Tongaat Hulett Limited (THL), has pledged to salvage the business by securing control over the assets that had been pledged as security and protecting the integrity of the company. In a statement, the group said the filing for provisional liquidation provides an opportunity to begin implementing its five-year turnaround plan, which focuses on operational stability and returning the sugar mills to sustainable profitability. The group, which is the lead secured lender with substantial exposure to THL, said the liquidation filing follows the failure of the Business Rescue process to effectively stabilise THL’s operations and maximise the turnaround. This has left liquidation as the necessary legal mechanism to allow secured creditors like Vision to…

Mustek, the South African technology group, has predicted a whopping 250% to 270% increase in headline earnings per share (HEPS) for the half year to December 31, 2025. The group share price closed 4.45% higher on the JSE Friday to R15.25, a strong gain considering the JSE's Software & Computer Services Index was lower by 1.67% on the day. A year ago, Mustek's share price traded at R14.50. The group that assembles, distributes, and services ICT products and solutions said in a trading statement Friday that HEPS is expected to be between 82.13 cents and 86.83 cents compared with 23.47 cents at the same time last year. Basic earnings per share is expected to be between 255% and 275% higher than reported in the comparative period, at between 81.69 cents…

Cell C Holdings posted marginally lower headline earnings in its first results of being listed on the JSE, at 20 584 cents per share for the six months to November 30, versus 20 652 cents a year before.Cell C Sees Data Traffic Surge Despite Flat Earnings in First Listed Period "The first half of the 2026 financial year was a defining period for Cell C. We have emerged as a listed entity with a differentiated, capital-light business model built for sustainable, long-term value creation. Delivering our first interim results as a listed company marks the completion of our restructuring and the start of a new chapter," the Group CEO Jorge Mendes said in a statement. The company that has 8.6 million subscribers with a further 5.1 million Mobile Virtual Network…

Award-winning Afro-soul artist Mduduzi Ncube is inviting listeners to experience his journey through his latest album, Buyel’ekhaya. The 14-track project, whose title translates to “return home”, reflects Ncube’s desire to reconnect with his roots while speaking to the emotions and experiences that shape us all. “Buyel’ekhaya means returning to where you belong,” he explained. “It’s about revisiting the sounds and stories that formed me, and sharing them in a way that resonates today.” The album’s lead single, Imizwa Nje, has already captured attention for its direct and heartfelt delivery. “That song came from a place of honesty,” Ncube said. “It’s about navigating emotions we often keep to ourselves. I wanted listeners to feel that they’re not alone in their experiences.” Across the album, Ncube’s voice moves seamlessly from reflective ballads…

Alleged diamond dealer Louis Liebenberg will have to face a stint of 30 days mental evaluation at Pretoria’s Weskoppies Hospital after the Gauteng High Court, Pretoria dismissed his urgent application to have that order overturned. Judge Mandla Mbongwe found that it is in Liebenberg’s constitutional interests to be mentally evaluated at this stage, rather than later during his trial. The judge further found that the magistrate who had referred him for observation acted within the prescripts of the Criminal Procedure Act and that she did have the discretion to refer him for evaluation. Liebenberg argued that the magistrate’s order referring him for evaluation constitutes a gross irregularity in his criminal proceedings. The court decided to refer Liebenberg in this way, although a doctor who had evaluated him did not recommend…

At the end of October last year, the University of Cape Town and the Irma Stern Trust dropped quite a bomb: The Irma Stern Museum at the Firs, in Rosebank, was shutting its doors. The announcement was met with “huge consternation”. Art lovers would have none of it. Emergency meetings were convened at Nedbank’s V&A Waterfront offices, galleries were approached and a plan was hatched. Yet amid all the manoeuvring, one question remained glaringly unanswered: How? If journalism hadn’t died in 2020 (like I said it did), any journalist worth their salt could’ve easily uncovered that one need not be an Indian to be a Gupta in South Africa. Here lies the irony of our times: We are drowning in heaps of information, yet we do not know how to…

The political spotlight in the North West Province has intensified after the provincial legislature concluded a major phase of its investigation into allegations that have placed Premier Lazarus Mokgosi under formal scrutiny. The inquiry, triggered by claims from Naledi Local Municipality mayor Clifton J Groep, has moved into a decisive period following the premier’s appearance as the final witness in the latest round of public hearings. Mokgosi appeared before the ad hoc committee on Saturday, where he questioned affidavits presented by previous witnesses, including a municipal employee, Thabo Sejake, former employee Thabo Appolus, and former municipal manager Modisenyane Segapo. Their testimonies painted a picture of alleged misconduct against him. Groep previously told Parliament’s joint portfolio committees that Mokgosi and other legislature members manipulated audit reports to target political opponents. He…

After 1994, South Africa became a beacon of hope on the continent. African countries envied us and looked up to us as a nation. But today, South Africa is just another African country. It is experiencing electricity and water problems. Thanks to the ANC. Water is a basic necessity. You can live without electricity but not without water. And the democratic government is aware of that. Yet the water problems persist in our country. I saw a video clip of the minister of water and sanitation, Pammy Majodina, making a joke out of our water situation. Clap once. It has become common for communities (Black and white) to remain without water for a long time. And the government has not shown any commitment to solve this challenge. That means this…

The Proteas’ emphatic seven-wicket victory over New Zealand has given coach Shukri Conrad the freedom to rotate his squad for Wednesday’s ICC T20 World Cup clash against the United Arab Emirates. The T20 World Cup runners-up in Barbados two years ago, have effectively qualified for the Super 8s already with a full house of six points from three matches, and could even know their fate before the toss against the UAE. An Afghanistan win over the UAE today (starts 7.30am) will see the Proteas progress to the next stage. An UAE victory will keep the desert nation in the hunt for the play-offs on a potential four points along with New Zealand, but the Proteas run-rate (1.477) is far superior to any team in Group D at the moment. Conrad…

Leeds United survived an FA Cup scare to reach the fifth round with a penalty shoot-out victory against second-tier Birmingham City yesterday. Birmingham substitute Patrick Roberts snatched an 89th-minute equaliser at St Andrew’s to cancel out Lukas Nmecha’s 49th-minute opener for Leeds. With a feisty fourth-round tie level at 1–1 after extra-time, Leeds won the shoot-out 4–2. Joel Piroe, Dominic Calvert-Lewin, Brenden Aaronson, and Sean Longstaff all converted their penalties for Daniel Farke’s team. Tommy Doyle’s effort was saved by Leeds goalkeeper Lucas Perri, before Roberts fired over the crossbar. Battling to avoid relegation from the English Premier League, Leeds are now just one win away from reaching the quarter-finals for the first time since the 2002/03 season. Wolverhampton Wanderers also avoided an upset as they ground out a 1–0…

If England believed their winning streak made them untouchable, Scotland ruthlessly shattered that illusion on Saturday. That 31-20 Six Nations defeat was not just a setback; the English were exposed, and in South Africa, the Springboks will have been watching closely, analysing how to dismantle their Nations Championship opener opponents. While the tournament is not won in February, the Scots handed the English a damaging loss thanks to a couple of South Africans who played commanding roles. After losing to Italy last weekend, Gregor Townsend’s side — who will also be one of the Boks’ opponents in July’s Nations Championship — redeemed themselves and will have made head coach Rassie Erasmus take plenty of notes. Notes on England’s frailties and on how Scotland can turn things around when they are…