Innholdsfortegnelse for 2025-09-11 i Star

Minister of Tourism Patricia de Lille has called on global investors to seize the country’s “immense tourism potential” and help transform the sector into a driver of jobs, growth and inclusive development. Delivering the opening address at the inaugural G20 Tourism Investment Summit in Cape Town on Wednesday, De Lille unveiled eight flagship, bankable projects worth nearly R1 billion in investment-ready opportunities, ranging from the God’s Window Skywalk in Mpumalanga to the Hole in the Wall Resort in the Eastern Cape. The God’s Window Skywalk is looking for R200 million investment and the Hole in the Wall Resort requires R141m. "These are projects from both the public and private sector, with strong return on investment and high community impact. And this is just a fraction of what lies in our…

Decarbonisation is part of broader efforts to be in line with European export demands South32 is pursuing a decarbonisation programme for Hillside, its South African aluminium smelter operation in South Africa as part of its broader carbon reduction emission efforts and to be in line with European export demands for the material. The company said it had temporarily shut down the Wessels manganese mine it runs in the Northern Cape before re-opening it. In March, Hillside was the subject of a claim by an Australian company that charged that the South32 subsidiary had improperly used intellectual property related to metal transportation at the South African operation. Now, South32 has on Wednesday said that it is “engaging with stakeholders to secure a comprehensive low-carbon energy solution for Hillside Aluminium and on…

The Department of Agriculture said on Wednesday that it was continuing to step up vaccination efforts in the fight against Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD). Minister of Agriculture, John Steenhuisen, joined by North West MEC for Agriculture and Rural Development, Madoda Sambatha, led a targeted cattle vaccination drive in Rysmierbult recently. Steenhuisen warned of the serious consequences if the outbreak is not contained. “FMD is not just a veterinary issue, it is an economic threat. If left unmanaged, it can destabilize rural livelihoods, and undermine national food security. We must act swiftly and collectively,” he said. Steenhuisen's visit formed part of the government's broader strategy to manage livestock disease outbreaks and protect the agricultural sector. Before the vaccination rollout, Steenhuisen and Sambatha met with local farmers, livestock owners, and community…

For many South African small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), economic conditions in the country have pushed profitability to a critical point. Under these challenging conditions, a recent Small Business Growth Index reveals that more than half of local SMEs are at risk of closure within the next year. The pressure to cut costs has never been greater, but this doesn’t have to mean cutting corners. In fact, some of the most effective cost-saving strategies are those that improve efficiency, allowing you to do more with less while maintaining quality and productivity. Here are five practical strategies to consider: Embrace technology and automation Technology is one of the most powerful levers for cost-efficient growth. Automating routine tasks like invoicing, payroll, and inventory management can save hours of manual work each week.…

Metair’s turnaround continued in the six months to June 30, with operating profit up 27% to R450 million after the supplier of auto components recovered volumes at its key vehicle manufacturer customers and it implemented measures to improve efficiency. Total headline earnings per share (HEPS) (including discontinued operations) rose significantly to 65 cents a share. This compares to a loss of 3 cents per share in the same period last year, which included losses from the recently disposed of Türkiye battery manufacturer, Mutlu Akü. “Our focus on the turnaround process has been on areas within our control, notably structural simplification, operational execution, and customer support. This allowed us to better adapt to market shifts and volume fluctuations while providing agility to be more efficient and flexible,” said the CEO, Paul…

The Map That Leads to You has many of the makings to be a memorable romantic comedy. The Amazon Prime Video movie’s lead stars – Madelyn Cline and New Zealand actor KJ Apa – are emerging talents with this production being the biggest of their careers so far. However, their lack of chemistry sees them fail to deliver convincing performances of two young lovers from different parts of the world who risk it all to live happily ever after. Their love story also takes place in picturesque Europe, but not even these splendid settings of historical architecture, crystal clear ocean waters and vibrant city life could save this bland production. The Map That Leads to You, directed by Lasse Hallström, is an adaptation of the novel of the same name…

Johannesburg’s escalating water crisis has sparked furious protests in Coronationville, forcing Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi to convene an emergency meeting with the mayor of Joburg as unrest spreads. Angry residents of Coronationville, Johannesburg, took to the streets yesterday, barricading roads with burning tyres, stones, and garbage as they demanded an end to the prolonged water crisis. At least 11 injuries have been reported due to police using rubber bullets for dispersal. However, Gauteng police spokesperson Colonel Mavela Masando denied any claims of fatalities. Residents have vowed not to back down until their taps ran again. According to reports, the area has been facing water shortages for over seven years. Recently, residents in Soweto, particularly in areas like Protea Glen and Diepkloof, have frequently protested against severe and prolonged water shortages,…

The South African Social Security Agency (Sassa) has announced operational changes at its Johannesburg Local Office amid ongoing challenges and allegations of fraud involving some of its officials. Effective Monday, 15 September, the office will be temporarily closed until further notice as the agency works to resolve the underlying issues affecting service delivery. The decision follows the suspension of eight officials who were arrested and charged with fraud at the Lenasia Magistrate’ Court. Sassa CEO Themba Matlou emphasised that their suspension “reaffirms Sassa’s intolerance of any form of malfeasance.” He added that the agency maintains a “zero-tolerance approach even against its own officials who have got a case to answer”. “We want to make sure that everyone is brought to book and they account for their actions. It is unfortunate…

Afrika Mayibuye Movement leader Floyd Shivambu has dismissed South Africa’s main black opposition parties as unfit to replace the ANC, calling the EFF ‘directionless’ and not focused on the people. In a scathing interview with the SABC yesterday morning, Shivambu declared that while the ANC is “naturally dying” and has “fulfilled its historical mission,” neither the EFF nor any other existing black political formation offered a credible alternative to address South Africa’s deepening socio-economic crisis. “The EFF is not an alternative to the crisis of South Africa,” Shivambu said. “If anything, it will deepen the crisis. Why? Because it’s directionless and has adopted the exact mannerisms and habits of the ANC.” In his most direct critique to date since founding his movement, Shivambu claimed the EFF of embracing corrupt governance…

Lawyers for Human Rights (LHR) will appear before the Gauteng High Court, Johannesburg, sitting as the Equality Court, tomorrow to represent a transgender woman challenging what she deems the discriminatory and degrading treatment she is experiencing while incarcerated at Johannesburg Correctional Centre. The application, brought by inmate Nthabiseng Mokoena, is launched against the Department of Correctional Services, the minister and other officials, on the basis that their conduct violated her constitutional rights to dignity, equality, and freedom from unfair discrimination. Mokoena argues that the department has entrenched systemic discrimination against transgender inmates by refusing to recognise their gender identity and denying them basic gender-affirming rights. The violations she claims include refusal to use her chosen name and pronouns, denial of her gender expression (clothing, cosmetics, toiletries), verbal harassment, and bullying.…

Mzansi, we might have discovered our very own Justin Bieber! Recently, TikToker @jamessweetnam, a Bieber doppelgänger, has gone viral and captured the attention of social media users after he replied to a comment that he is “Justin van Bieber.” The content creator certainly shocked many by just how much he resembles the American singer, and his video has amassed over 571 000 views, 86 000 likes and 15 000 shares. Like a true South African, though, he replied hilariously to the comment and decided to sing one of Bieber’s hit tracks, Baby, in Afrikaans and even changed the lyrics to better suit his nickname. The TikToker has now even claimed the nickname he was given and now introduces himself as “Justin van Bieber.” The comment section was flooded with hilarious…

Chinese manufacturer GAC and its importer, Salvador Caetano Auto, have lifted the lid off two more vehicles set to be released locally soon. Following their entrance into the sub R400 000 segment with the Emzoom Nova that we reported on earlier, they have released details of the plug-in hybrid (PHEV) M8 Master and the fully electric Aion Y. M8 Master If you think BMW’s large grille is a talking point, it’s got nothing on the M8’s in-your-face offering. Aimed directly at people carriers like the Mercedes-Benz V-Class, the Volkswagen Transporter, the Ford Tourneo and the Kia Carnival, it’s set to launch in Q4 of this year. Front of house is obviously the grille in what GAC calls a premium mobile lounge. It’s powered by a 2.0T GDI petrol engine with…

Bafana Bafana coach Hugo Broos has praised his side’s grit and resilience following their hard-fought draw against Nigeria at the Free State Stadium, insisting it was not about flair but about fighting for every inch on the pitch. The Belgian tactician was glowing in his assessment after seeing his side frustrate the Super Eagles, who arrived with a squad packed with big names but were unable to outplay South Africa’s determined unit. “The best team will win the game and not the team with the best players and I think the proof is there,” Broos said. "So, the performance that my team put up (Tuesday) made me enormously proud. It was not good football but the way they fought for every metre and every ball. This is nice to see…

Former Formula One world champion Nico Rosberg says Toto Wolff’s public criticism of Kimi Antonelli was no accident, describing the Mercedes CEO as “a very calculated man”. Wolff was blunt after the Italian teenager’s ninth-place finish at the Italian GP at Monza, where Antonelli slid into the gravel at one stage of the race, this past weekend. “Underwhelming this weekend. Underwhelming,” Wolff said after the race. “You can’t put the car in the gravel bed and expect to be there. All of the race was underwhelming. “It doesn’t change anything on my support and confidence in his future because I believe he’s going to be very, very, very good. But (Sunday) was… underwhelming.” Rosberg admitted he was taken aback by those words, but believes they were delivered with purpose. “It’s…

The newly appointed acting CEO of the Government Pensions Administration Agency (GPAA), Job Stadi Mngomezulu, has halted a contentious forensic investigation aimed at uncovering the source of leaked internal audit documents. The move follows mounting criticism from unions, particularly the Public Service and Commercial Union (PSCU), who condemned the exercise as a “witch hunt against whistleblowers.” Following the leaks, the GPAA wrote to its procurement committee to seek approval for the appointment of Nexus Forensics for R260 000 to investigate how confidential documents found their way into the hands of the PSCU and the media. The terms of reference for Nexus included imaging the devices of suspected employees, identifying staff who accessed or printed the draft audit, and investigating possible contraventions of the Protection of Personal Information (POPI) Act and…

The Agriculture sector is breathing a sigh of relief as it reports a commendable performance in its contribution to South Africa’s GDP, even as experts exercise caution over ongoing challenges. According to Wandile Sihlobo, chief economist at the Agricultural Business Chamber of South Africa (Agbiz), the figures from the second quarter of 2025 indicate a gradual recovery within the sector, albeit more cautiously than expected. Sihlobo highlighted that the agricultural gross value grew by 2.5% quarter-on-quarter (seasonally adjusted) during the second quarter, following a robust 18.6% growth in the preceding quarter. This follows an 18.6% quarter-on-quarter growth in the first quarter of the year, primarily due to the improved performance of certain field crops and the horticulture subsectors. Sihlobo said as the close observers of the sector know, the quarterly…

When South Africa’s policymakers and business leaders talk about entrepreneurship, the spotlight usually falls on retail, manufacturing, and technology startups. Yet sitting just off-centre stage is a silent force: service-based businesses. From freelance marketers and local content creators to township writers, designers, consultants, and customer service innovators, the service economy remains both overlooked and undervalued. In truth, it carries immense untapped potential to drive inclusive growth, generate jobs, and reshape South Africa’s entrepreneurial landscape.The numbers tell their own story. According to the World Bank. South Africa’s services sector has quietly become the backbone of the economy. Back in 1990, it accounted for 52.4 percent of GDP. By 1997, as the country stabilised post-apartheid, that figure had jumped to 60 percent, driven by growth in financial services, tourism, and retail. The…

Pan African Resources ramped up gold production in its 2025 second half-year to June by 28%, with overall output for the full year consequently increasing by 5.6% to 196 527 ounces against a 2026 projected bullion yield of at least 275 000 ounces. Production during the second half amounted to 111 822 ounces, a record for the company which is moving its UK listing from AIM to London’s main market. Through shifting to the UK main market, Pan African Resources - whose shares on the JSE inched up by 0.89% to R18.13 in afternoon trade on Wednesday - hopes to tap into a larger pool of investors and breathe impetus into its stock’s liquidity. Its prospects have been brightened by the ramp up in gold production. Moreover, the company’s Tennant…

Seven Chinese nationals were sentenced to 20 years in prison in the South Gauteng High Court yesterday. The group of four men, three women: Kevin Tsao Shu-Uei, Chen Hui, Qin Li, Jiaqing Zhou, Ma Biao, Dai Junying, and Zhang Zhilian, faced 160 charges, including human trafficking, child labour, and multiple violations of South Africa’s labour laws and were convicted of the charges on February 25. The multiple labour laws include failing to register their business, keeping financial records, or maintaining safe working conditions. The group was arrested in November 2019, after a joint raid conducted by the SAPS, Hawks, Department of Employment and Labour, and Home Affairs following a tip-off of the group allegedly involved in trafficking illegal immigrants to South Africa and subjecting them to forced labour. Their business,…

A court order must be obeyed until properly varied or set aside, a Johannesburg father was told. The father was held in contempt for failing to pay R722 000 in maintenance towards his child, and who was ordered to either pay-up or face 30 days in jail. The mother of the three-year-old child turned to the Gauteng High Court, Johannesburg to hold her estranged husband in contempt of court. He was earlier ordered to pay his wife R45 000 a month maintenance, pending the finalisation of their divorce. The husband, however, simply ignored the court order and when hauled back to court by his wife for contempt, simply maintained that he cannot afford to pay this amount. In terms of an order granted in January last year, the husband is…

Parliament’s ad hoc committee says KZN police commissioner Lieutenant General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi will not be available for the Ad Hoc committee due to commitments with the Madlanga Commission. This was confirmed during a committee meeting yesterday, where members received a progress report on ongoing consultations and preparations for the upcoming hearings. The committee had initially aimed to engage with Mkhwanazi before September 22, but this has now been deemed impossible due to his involvement with the commission, where he is expected to testify from 17 September for five days. “We sent him a letter again requesting that he appear before the committee on the 6th of September. He responded to say that he is still not available, he is busy with consultations that will lead to him taking a…

There’s seemingly no end to the stream of new cars entering the South African market as witnessed at the Festival of Motoring at the Kyalami Grand Prix Circuit. Indian carmaker Tata Motors (and the owner of Jaguar Land Rover), a recent newcomer, has hit the ground running with the launch of their entry-level hatchback Tiago. While the hatchback market may be playing second fiddle to small Crossovers, there’s definitely still an appetite for affordable and compact cars in that segment. Starting at R184 900, the Tata Tiago certainly falls into that bracket. Three options The Tiago will be offered in three derivatives with varying levels of specification. The XM and the XT are launching this month, while the XZ will be launched at a later date. The XM comes with…

Fans and promoters are tired of watching cars go around the track with no point or end goal in mind and thus, “Free practice Fridays” are likely to be dropped from the weekend schedule, F1 boss Stefano Domenicali said. He said they want to attract more youngsters to the sport and make it more appealing for fans who want to catch a bit of the action over the weekend. The idea of adding more sprint events into the calendar is what Domenicali has suggested, saying it will be more appealing for crowds to watch. Unlike F1, Moto GP has Sprint events every weekend, which make the sport more interesting compared to F1 because there are more points to fight for. Sprints were first added to the F1 calendar back in…

In a do-or-die Rugby Championship clash, Rassie Erasmus and his coaching staff have backed the next generation of Springbok backs to deliver on one of rugby’s most unforgiving stages against the All Blacks. For some, it might seem an audacious plan by the Boks, especially because they are fighting to stay in the hunt for the Championship title they currently hold. Another loss could put them on the back foot and possibly out of the running. However, the youthful flair, raw energy, and creativity among the backs for the duel at the Cake Tin in Wellington (9.05am kick-off) could prove to be the difference between the sides. During the first Test at Eden Park, the tried-and-tested combinations did not work, and something had to be done to freshen things up…

Nothing lights up a batter’s eyes more in white-ball cricket than a no-ball. They know what’s coming next – a free hit, a golden opportunity to swing freely with no risk of being dismissed. It’s a rare moment of pressure-free aggression. The Springbok Women find themselves in a similar position ahead of their Rugby World Cup quarter-final clash against the mighty New Zealand Black Ferns on Saturday (2pm kick-off at Sandy Park). This match feels like a “free-hit” for the South African side – a shot at something big, with nothing to lose. The Bok Women have already achieved their main objective at the tournament: reaching the quarter-finals of the Women’s Rugby World Cup in England. That milestone alone has made their campaign a successful one. Now, with no external…

There was a moment in the Betway SA20 auction when everyone inside The Galleria was transported back to Nairobi’s Gymkhana at the turn of the millennium. The match: The ICC Champions Trophy Final. Two fiercely competitive captains, Stephen Fleming from New Zealand, going up against the Prince of Bengal, India’s Sourav Ganguly. On that day, it was Fleming that emerged victorious – despite a Ganguly century – with his Black Caps as New Zealand claimed their first-ever major ICC silverware. Twenty-five years later it seemed like Ganguly had not forgotten that fateful day and was intent on revenge. Now wearing his Pretoria Capitals hat as the franchise’s new head coach, Ganguly has seen off another old rival in Paarl Royals’ Sri Lankan legend Kumar Sangakkara and was now locked in…

The Industrial Gas Users Association of Southern Africa (IGUA-SA) is raising alarms over the National Energy Regulator of South Africa's (Nersa) recent approval of a 4% increase in Sasol Gas's maximum gas price. This decision, which translates to a staggering 20% rise over the year, is expected to exacerbate the challenges facing South Africa's already pressured industrial landscape. In June, Nersa had permitted Sasol Gas to adjust prices quarterly based on fluctuating gas acquisition costs. Following this directive, Nersa confirmed Sasol Gas's adjustment from R87.04 per GigaJoule (GJ) to R90.57/GJ for the second quarter of the 2025/2026 financial year. Various factors contributed to this spike, including rising gas costs from Mozambique, fluctuations in oil-linked derivatives, currency exchange variations, and changes in the US Producer Price Index (USPPI). Nomfundo Maseti, Nersa's…

Danish pharmaceutical giant Novo Nordisk announced Wednesday that it would cut 11 percent of its workforce, as the maker of Ozempic and Wegovy faces rising competition for its anti-obesity treatments. The drug maker said in a statement it would save eight billion kroner ($1.3 billion) by slashing 9 000 jobs, including 5 000 in Denmark, across the company. And for the third time this year, the company lowered its earnings forecast - it now expects operating profit growth of between four and 10 percent, down from 10-16 percent previously. Novo Nordisk said the job cuts were part of a "company-wide transformation to simplify its organisation, improve the speed of decision-making, and reallocate resources towards the company’s growth opportunities in diabetes and obesity". The popularity of Novo Nordisk's weight-loss injections had…

In an industry often synonymous with luxury and exclusivity, 25-year-old Andile Hlongwane is redefining perceptions while crafting her path as a prominent young jewellery designer. Hailing from KwaDabeka Township in Durban, Hlongwane’s passion for jewellery transcends aesthetics; it is deeply rooted in cultural narratives and personal expression. With geometric designs that echo her influences, she is turning her dreams into reality, one piece at a time. Notably, Hlongwane's emerging brand, Topsy Jewellery has gained recognition and was selected to exhibit at the ongoing Intra-African Trade Fair 2025 (IATF2025) in Algeria. Speaking with Business Report at her stall over the weekend, she reflected on the rigours of entrepreneurship while remaining optimistic about the learning opportunities that come her way. “It came about two weeks ago, and they said, ‘you must come…

Growthpoint Properties, the JSE’s biggest primary listed REIT, exceeded the top end of its guidance for the year to June 30, with distributable income per share (DIPS) up 3.1% to 146.3 cents, while the dividend was raised 6.1% to 124.3 cents per share. Growthpoint’s return to growth comes a year earlier than initially expected. It entered the 2025 financial year forecasting an earnings contraction of -2% to -5%. Better-than-expected half-year results, driven mainly by the South African portfolio, better finance cost expectations, and a strong performance from the V&A Waterfront, caused a turnaround. Growthpoint upgraded its guidance to between 1% and 3%. A further upgrade in June tightened the range to between 2% and 3%. The same factors contributing to half-year outperformance boosted second half performance. The dividend was raised…

Warner Bros. Pictures has unveiled the much-anticipated first trailer for Wuthering Heights. Directed by Emerald Fennell, the film is set to release in 2026; however, this adaptation of Emily Brontë’s classic 1847 novel is causing a stir, particularly for its provocative scenes featuring lead actors Margot Robbie and Jacob Elordi. In the trailer, Elordi takes on the role of Heathcliff, who is seen asking Robbie’s character, Catherine, in a charged moment, “Do you want me to stop?” As he touches her stomach, she softly replies, “No.” The trailer features a soundtrack by Charli XCX, including her original song Everything Is Romantic, which adds a modern twist to the classic tale. Other cast include Hong Chau as Nelly Dean, Shazad Latif as Edgar Linton and Alison Oliver as Isabella Linton. Martin…

Thousands of vulnerable families in Gauteng are going hungry after the provincial government centralised food bank operations, leading to significant criticism. In the 2025 State of the Province Address (SOPA), Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi announced a strategic shift towards centralising food bank operations. This move was aimed at streamlining distribution and ensuring more efficient allocation of resources across the province, as part of a broader initiative to enhance service delivery and address systemic challenges within provincial food security programmes. However, the DA Shadow MEC for Social Development Refiloe Nt’sekhe has criticised this, citing that the party will table a motion in the Gauteng Provincial Legislature demanding that the GDSD reverse its centralisation policy and decentralise food parcel distribution to ensure vulnerable communities across Gauteng are properly served. Nt’sekhe added that…

A Limpopo construction company, Easyway, Tarmac, Pave and Projects CC, has been ordered to pay back close to R69 million it earned through a “fraudulent contract” with the Mogalakwena Local Municipality. According to the Special Investigative Unit (SIU) the Special Tribunal found that the company lied about its past projects and qualifications to win a R167.9m tender for water infrastructure in 2018. The contract has been declared unlawful, and the money must be returned with interest. This ruling comes after the SIU “successfully applied to review and set aside the award of the tender for the supply, delivery, installation, and/or construction of borehole development, storage reservoirs, and bulk gravity supply pipelines, which was awarded to Easyway in February 2018”. “The Tribunal upheld the SIU’s evidence that Easyway deliberately lied in…

A bus caught fire while driving on the R59 in Thulisa Park yesterday afternoon. The City of Ekurhuleni’s Department of Emergency Management Services (DEMS) was contacted and immediately dispatched firefighters from Alberton and Thokoza, who responded with two fire engines and one water tank. Upon arrival, they found a bus that belonged to the City of Johannesburg (CoJ), alight with no commuters on it. The crew started to extinguish the fire, but the bus was destroyed. The driver said he just saw smoke coming from the back of the bus and also noticed other motorists hooting at him. He immediately stopped and managed to escape without any harm. “The cause of the fire is still unknown, and local authorities are yet to investigate,” DEMS spokesperson Eric Maloka said. Maloka urged…

To boost the local economy, combat poverty, and create jobs, the City of Tshwane should incorporate the manufacturing sector into its economic strategy. Gauteng MEC for Finance and Economic Development, Lebogang Maile, expressed this view during the inaugural Tshwane Investment Summit, held at Menlyn yesterday. He was responding to a presentation by Member of the Mayoral Committee, Sarah Mabotsa, who outlined the city’s economic revitalisation strategy targeting between R17 billion and R26bn in investments. Part of the strategy aims to create 80 000 jobs for locals and boost Tshwane’s economic growth to 3.9% by 2029. The strategy identifies 10 priority sectors, including tourism, construction, automotive, agriculture, and agro-processing. Maile remarked that the manufacturing sector is notably absent from the strategy, despite the city’s significant role in this sector. “You can’t…

It’s been almost eight weeks and I was not aware it was possible to miss getting strapped tightly into my GR Yaris as much as I do. It’s been what feels like forever since the purr of the 210kW and 400Nm 1.6-litre turbocharged three-cylinder engine has reverberated in the pits and around a track in the GR Cup Challenge. Our last outing was at the super fast East London Grand Prix Circuit in wet and slippery conditions, so much so that the two race event was changed into a 12 lap single race. First time out This weekend we return to Cape Town’s Killarney International Raceway, the venue for our debut race in March and second last race of the seven round championship. To say I was nervous as a…

Nigeria are too proud a football nation to raise the white flag on their Fifa World Cup qualification quest, the fact they are now reliant on other results to go their way notwithstanding. The Super Eagles’ failure to beat Bafana Bafana in Tuesday night’s 1-1 draw at the Toyota Stadium in Bloemfontein has essentially put paid to their hopes of automatically qualifying for the global showpiece to be hosted by the US, Canada and Mexico. Speaking after the match, coach Eric Chelle admitted disappointment at their failure to beat Hugo Broos’ men, whom they now trail by six points with two matches to go. But the former Mali international remains hopeful. After all, they could still sneak into the play-offs by finishing as one of the best four second-placed teams,…

Former Proteas master blaster Heinrich Klaasen has offered Betway SA20 record signing Dewald Brevis sage advice on dealing with the pressure of his hefty new price tag. Brevis, 22, became the most expensive player in SA20 history on Tuesday after the Pretoria Capitals won a bidding war with the Joburg Super Kings to secure his signature for R16.5 million at the Season 4 player auction. Klaasen, who will feature for Durban’s Super Giants, knows all about big-money T20 deals, having been retained by IPL outfit Sunrisers Hyderabad for $2.73 million (R48.2 million) last year. “It’s quite easy to be fair,” Klaasen joked, about handling the price-tag pressure. “But seriously though, it’s what he has done before to get him that price tag. It’s not about what he’s going to do.…

Stellenbosch FC goalkeeper Sage Stephens insists that past results against Orlando Pirates will not influence their upcoming MTN8 final at Mbombela Stadium on Saturday (6pm kick-off). Instead, he says, the Cape Winelands side sees the final as a chance to recover from a slow start to the league season. With history ready to be made by either club, coach Steve Barker and his squad are focused on taking advantage of this opportunity. Stellies will be participating in the club’s third-ever final. Having won the Carling Knockout in 2024 – their only top-flight trophy to date – they will now get another chance to lift a trophy that eluded them last season, when they lost 3-1 to the Buccaneers at Moses Mabhida Stadium. Stephens, part of the side that suffered the…