Table of contents for 2025-07-24 in Star

The South African Reserve Bank (Sarb) may once again loosen its monetary policy before the year draws to a close despite recent data revealing an uptick in consumer price inflation. This comes as the Sarb’s Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) will announce its decision on the policy rate next week after cutting the repo rate by 25 basis points to 7.25% per annum in May. Data from Statistics South Africa (Stats SA) on Wednesday showed that the headline consumer price index (CPI) edged higher to 3.0% in June after holding steady at 2.8% in April and May. This was the 11th consecutive month in which inflation remained below the 4.5% midpoint of the Sarb’s 3-6% target range. Stats SA chief director of price statistics, Patrick Kelly, said the annual rate for…

Natco puts in ambitious bid for 135-year-old South African pharmaceutical company NATCO Pharma, a listed pharmaceutical manufacturer in India, has put in a bid to acquire 135-year old South Africa pharmaceutical group Adcock Ingram Holdings via a R4.2 billion deal involving a cash offer to minority shareholders. Adcock Ingram’s share price rocketed on the JSE on Wednesday on news of the bid, with the share price ending 18.1% higher at R67.70. The offer was pitched at R75 per Adcock Ingram share, which represents a significant premium to the share price. The offer comprises all the shares in Adcock Ingram, excluding those already held by NATCO Pharma and major shareholder Bidvest. Should the offer be accepted, NATCO Pharma will hold a 35.75% stake in Adcock Ingram, valued at R4bn, and the…

Norway-based renewable energy group, Scatec ASA, has been awarded preferred bidder status for a R13 billion solar cluster project in in the Free State province, which will add a total of 846MW to the electricity grid. In a statement on Wednesday, Scatec confirmed it had been awarded preferred bidder status in the seventh round of the Renewable Energy Independent Power Producer Procurement Programme (REIPPPP). The project, known as the Kroonstad PV cluster, is expected to operate under 20-year Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs), ensuring a steady supply of sustainable energy once completed. This latest development follows the Department of Electricity and Energy’s strategic re-allocation of energy capacity from onshore wind to solar photovoltaic (PV) solutions. The cluster will comprise three solar power plants, Oslaagte Solar 2 (293MW), Oslaagte Solar 3 (293MW),…

While many South Africans observed Mandela Day last Friday, July 18, with symbolic gestures of service, in townships and rural communities across the country, entrepreneurs marked the day by actively contributing to economic upliftment and community development. In areas often overlooked by formal investment, township and rural entrepreneurs have long been creating jobs, building networks, and strengthening local economies through small but impactful enterprises. Mandela Day this year amplified the ongoing efforts of these business owners, who used the occasion to give back in meaningful ways. Across Limpopo, small-scale bakeries hosted bread-making workshops to teach unemployed youth practical skills, helping them generate income with limited resources. These workshops offered more than baking techniques — they provided a pathway to financial independence and a source of hope for communities grappling with…

Vodacom Group’s share price slid by 5.46% even though first quarter service revenue growth of 13.8% tracked favourably against the group’s medium-term target of double-digit growth. The share price traded at R135.86 on the JSE Wednesday afternoon, after the release of a trading update for the quarter to June 30 - the price was over 42.2% higher than at the same time last year. “Encouraging trends from Vodacom Group's first quarter performance support the confidence we communicated in May this year, when we upgraded our financial targets, signaling that the organisation is poised for stronger growth in the medium term,” said Vodacom Group CEO Shameel Joosub. Egypt remained a star performer, having grown service revenue 43.8% in local currency. In South Africa, which accounts for more than half the group…

Some of the biggest Hollywood stars from different backgrounds have come together for Heads of State – an action comedy which highlights the value of leaning into commonalities. The Amazon Prime Video movie has been receiving rave reviews since its release earlier this month and for good reason. Its star power includes three heavyweights from different claims to fame. Award-winning English actor Idris Elba is one of the leading men and his more than three decades of experience shines through as he portrays the role of UK Prime Minister Sam Clarke. Starring alongside him is John Cena who broke into the industry after a successful stint as a WWE wrestler. His charismatic charm enhances the appeal of his character Will Derringer, a former action movie star who now occupies the…

Gauteng provincial government is owed about R300 million “mistakenly paid” to ghost workers who either retired, resigned, or deceased, according to Finance MEC, Lebogang Maile, who said “it’s not a huge problem” but rather “isolated incidents”. In an interview with Newzroom Afrika yesterday, Maile attributed the financial loss to the government’s payroll system not being linked to the Department of Home Affairs. This gap, he said, has allowed payments to continue long after employees have left the public service. “The system for instance is not linked to home affairs. “If someone passes on, the system will not know until we are made aware, once we are made aware, we will act immediately. “But it’s not a huge problem. So it’s isolated cases. “I think we’re out about (R)300 million for…

The attorney for murder-accused Tiffany Meek attempted to poke holes in the State’s case during the fourth day of the bail application, which is being heard in the Roodepoort Magistrate’s Court. Meek, 31, from Fleurhof, is accused of killing her 11-year-old son Jayden-Lee Meek. In addition to murder, she also faces charges of crimen injuria, attempting to defeat or obstruct the course of justice, and defeating or obstructing the administration of justice. Tiffnay was arrested on July 11, 2025, at her mother's home. Her son was reported missing on May 13, 2025, and his body was found a few hours later near his home. Her defence lawyer, Noven Naidoo, started his cross-examination of the investigating officer (IO). The IO’s testimony was heard over two days. Naidoo asked the policeman about…

More than 100 RDP houses in Kekana Extension 2, Hammanskraal, remain under construction more than a decade after they were initially started. Gauteng MEC for Human Settlements, Tasneem Motara, who handed over two completed RDP houses to beneficiaries in the area yesterday, revealed that over 100 houses in the area remain under construction, with some dating back 13 to 15 years. Ward Councillor Adam Mashapa said the houses were abandoned by contractors whose contract with the government was terminated after it was discovered they were not registered with the National Home Builders Registration Council (NHBRC). He said following a natural disaster over a decade ago that destroyed many houses in some parts of Johannesburg, the NHBRC conducted thorough checks on contractors, which revealed issues with those working in the township.…

A group of 25 schoolchildren from Cape Town were left stranded in Europe after travelling to Spain on one-way tickets for an international soccer tournament – with no confirmed return flight home. The young players, aged between 13 and 18, represented BT Football Academy, a Cape Town-based youth development club, at the Donosti Cup 2025 in San Sebastián, Spain. While they were scheduled to return home on July 15, it was soon discovered that their tickets only covered the outbound journey. This left the children stranded in Portugal, reportedly with no food, accommodation, or funds to secure their return to South Africa. The tickets were allegedly booked by the club’s founder, Brandon Timmy, who is said to have purchased the one-way flights at Cape Town International airport. Timmy also operates…

A Med-Lemon advertisement depicting a graphic sneeze with mucus flying all over other people has sparked two complaints before the Advertising Regulatory Board (ARB), but the ARB found that although it skates the fine line between “gross” and “offensive,” it does not breach the advertising standards code. One of the complaints before the board stated: “The ad is very disgusting and disturbing to watch. It doesn't promote hygiene and so soon after the Covid-19 pandemic, it's in really bad taste with no sense of promoting hygiene.” The second complaint was in a similar vein, with a member of the public who saw the TV advertisement being disgusted by the sneezing person’s bodily fluids spraying all over people. The advertiser responded that they recognise the heightened sensitivity around respiratory illnesses, especially…

While the smaller Chery Tiggo 4 Pro sets the sales charts alight in South Africa with its sharp pricing, two slightly larger models are fighting for a smaller share of the pie just above that. One of these is the Chery Tiggo 7, which has just received a comprehensive facelift and range realignment to shift it a notch or two more upmarket, presumably so it clashes less with the recently introduced Chery Tiggo Cross. The upgraded Chery Tiggo 7, which now rolls off the tongue a little easier thanks to the “Pro” being dropped from the end of its name, hits the market in three new specification flavours. The 1.5T Prime kicks things off at R429,900, with the 1.6T Prestige taking the middle ground at R499,900 and the 1.6T Legacy…

The quest for equality, socio-economic development has been a global phenomenon, and a vision that many developing nations aspire to. The journey to achieving overall development and improving the lives of all peoples residing in a country is a daunting and huge task. Kudos to India for implementing appropriate measures and strategically planning to meet these targets. Viksat Bharat 2047 is a motion based on the government’s vision to move India into being recognised and fully developed by 2047. The Consul General of India, Durban, Dr Thelma john Davids recently hosted an event that specifically aimed to publicise and inform South Africans of the progression of this strategy. Dr Nageswaran, chief Economic Advisor Ministry of Finance, India was the guest of honour and informed the guests of the progression of…

It was not hard to calculate who the most popular Springbok Women’s player at the girls coaching clinic held at the SK Walmers RFC ground at the Green Point Track was on Wednesday. Even with the Black Ferns XV in attendance, who boast legendary All Blacks and Auckland Blues flyhalf Carlos Spencer as part of their coaching staff, the youngsters flocked to SA Women’s Rugby Player of the Year Nadine Roos. Even during her scheduled media activities, Roos was called away to share a few inspirational words with the excited group. “I think obviously what’s really important for us as a group is to inspire the younger generation. “And I think this is exactly where it starts for us. “Investing our time and our effort and the skill and experience…

Johan Ackermann wants to change the Bulls — and not just on the field. The new coach, appointed in the wake of Jake White’s departure earlier this month, is fully aware that it will be there — on the field — where he will ultimately be judged by the majority of South Africans. But on Wednesday, Ackermann laid out a broader vision: to develop not just better rugby players, but better people. “I want a team that works hard,” said Ackermann in his first media appointment as head coach from Loftus Versveld. “So, if you're not willing to work hard, it's going to be a problem. I want a team that — he says — is a serving team … it’s not about you. You must serve the team first.…

The Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE) reached a monumental threshold on Wednesday as the FTSE/JSE All Share Index (ALSI) celebrated its ascent to 100 000 points for the first time ever. This remarkable figure is not just a testament to numerical achievement; it symbolises a prosperous evolution since the index began at just 100 points in January 1960, marking a staggering increase of 1 000 times over the past 65 years. The index's annualised returns have exceeded 11%, underscoring the resilience of South Africa’s capital markets and positioning the JSE as one of the best-performing markets globally in both US dollar and rand terms for the year 2025. The bourse has been breaking records since the year began as it started 2025 on a high above 84 000 index points. By…

The Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development (DALRRD) has updated labelling regulations for plant-based meat analogue products - a move welcomed by LIVEKINDLY Collective Africa (LKCA) and Fry Family Foods. The regulations do not allow the use of meat names such as beef, chicken, pork in the products but allow the use of names such as burger, sausage, nugget, hot dog. The name for a meat analogue needs to be preceded by a descriptive name such as “plant-based”, “fungi-based”, “mushroom-based”, “vegan”, “veggie” or “vegetarian” and/or a similar descriptive name or term that will assist or enable the consumer to determine the true nature and composition of the meat analogue, according to the regulations. The updated regulations are the result of a collaborative and consultative process that unfolded over…

Visa, an American multinational payment card services giant, on Wednesday launched its data centre in Johannesburg, its first in Africa and part a R1 billion investment over the next three years into South Africa. “This investment reflects our commitment to the long-term potential of South Africa and its economy,” said Michael Berner, the head of Southern and East Africa at Visa. “With the launch of this state-of-the-art Data Centre, we are building the digital foundations needed to drive inclusion, unlock innovation and power the broader vision of sustainable economic growth across the region.” In announcing the investment, Berner said part of the investment will also cover creation of the new jobs. It will support entrepreneurs, SMEs, female leaders and the broader communities, which need some additional financial literacy. Visa’s new…

South Africa has made strides in advancing mental health awareness, with government, schools, corporate wellness programmes, civil society organizations/and NGOs have made it a national priority. However, South Africa’s entrepreneurial community remain unsupported. Entrepreneurs bear disproportionate emotional burdens. For instance, a 2015 Berkeley University study found that 72 % of entrepreneurs reported experiencing mental health challenges, nearly half had formally diagnosed conditions like depression, ADHD, bipolar disorder, or substance-related issues. Meanwhile, there is no recent South African data that speaks to the invisible struggles entrepreneurs face and how these conditions, amplify stress, isolation and burnout. The 2025 South African MSME Access to Finance Report reveals that micro-enterprises businesses with turnovers under R1 million generate over 80 % of MSME jobs and account for nearly 86 % of funding requests yet…

In a significant step towards bolstering its international presence, Santam, the short-term insurer owned by Sanlam, has received in-principle approval from Lloyd’s of London to establish a new syndicate. This strategic initiative, branded as Santam Syndicate 1918, pays homage to the company's founding year and is set to commence underwriting in January 2026. “We are very excited about our partnership with Lloyd’s and the expansion opportunities into new territories and classes that the new syndicate will offer,” said Tavaziva Madzinga, CEO of Santam Group. “Lloyd’s is a global hub for insurance business, innovation and talent, and we are pleased to be building out new foundations in this market, with the support of our partners and the talent we have attracted,” he said. The anticipated gross written premium for Santam Syndicate…

If you felt your heart skip a beat when you saw Trompies trending online, you weren’t alone. The iconic kwaito group is officially back in the studio – and yes, there’s a brand new EP on the way. For many South Africans, the news felt like a warm reunion with old friends. The group’s Mandla “Spikiri” Mofokeng recently teased fans with a video of Trompies in the studio, captioned: “New Trompies EP cooking.” Since then, more clips have surfaced across social media showing the crew vibing in studio sessions, instantly sparking a wave of excitement among fans hungry for fresh sounds. But if you’re wondering who Trompies are and why this comeback is such a big deal, let us bring you up to speed. Formed in 1994 in Soweto, Trompies…

Keabetswe Moroane, 43, has been convicted of culpable homicide in the death of her neighbour’s eight-year-old son, who was mauled by her pitbull in November 12. The tragedy unfolded when the dog broke free from Moroane’s home and attacked the child as he played in the garage of his home. The court’s decision to convict Moroane came after it was revealed that she had repeatedly ignored the growing concerns surrounding the dangerous nature of her dog. Despite efforts by both herself and concerned neighbours, installing fences and wooden poles to keep the animal contained, Moroane’s failure to maintain these safety structures directly contributed to the horrific outcome, the courst said. On the fateful day, the pitbull escaped and plunged into the neighbouring property where the unsuspecting child was playing, resulting…

A divorcing husband, who signed a divorce agreement twice in which he agreed to sign over his half of the matrimonial home to his wife, came back to haunt him as he wanted to retract the agreement. The husband told the Gauteng High Court, Pretoria, that he thought the documents he was signing were only to acknowledge that he got the court papers. But this excuse did not hold water with the court, which pointed out that as an engineer, he is an intelligent man who knew what he was doing. His wife instituted the divorce proceedings against him. She claimed that even before they went to court, they had reached a settlement in which he handed half of their home to her. She attached a settlement agreement signed by…

“All the signs were there.” That’s how former Higher Education Minister Dr. Nobuhle Nkabane described her reaction to being dismissed from the position by President Cyril Ramaphosa, adding that many people wanted her to be fired from the position. Nkabane said she received a call from Ramaphosa on Monday informing her of his decision while she was on her way to Cape Town for a portfolio committee meeting on higher education scheduled for Tuesday. “All signs were there…that there are some forces on the ground that want me out of the system,” she told broadcaster eNCA on Tuesday. “To be honest, I am not even shocked, and I have just accepted the dismissal because the President, in terms of the Constitutional prerogative, has powers and functions. When you look at…

eThekwini’s Seaview Cemetery has become home to more than 400 people, with some families erecting shacks directly on top of graves, prompting urgent intervention calls from KwaZulu-Natal MEC for Transport and Human Settlements, Siboniso Duma. The shocking situation in Ward 64 along Coedmore Road has raised serious concerns over land use, dignity of the dead, and the growing desperation of the unhoused in the metro. On Sunday, the Head of the Department of Human Settlements, Max Mbili, was asked to fast-track the profiling of families currently residing in the cemetery. Duma said, “Cemeteries are sacred places where the dead must be allowed to rest in peace.” He acknowledged the complex dynamics behind the occupation of the cemetery, including urban migration and a shortage of housing and land. “While we understand…

The August fuel price outlook is a mixed bag, with good news in store for petrol and bad news for those with diesel-powered vehicles. Unaudited data from the Central Energy Fund (CEF) is currently pointing to petrol price decreases of 24 cents for 95 Unleaded and 28 cents for 93 Unleaded. Diesel, however, looks set to go up by between 65c (50ppm) and 66c (500ppm). These numbers can be a moving target and if the current daily price trends persist until month end, the petrol increase could exceed 30 cents, while the diesel increase could swell to over 70 cents. In that case, you can expect to pay around R20.78 for a litre of 95 Unleaded at the coast and R21.57 in Gauteng, where 93 Unleaded will cost around R21.49.…

Changan Automobile is returning to South Africa in the fourth quarter of 2025 with local distributor Jameel Motors set to offer five distinct models that cover the bakkie, medium SUV, compact sedan and EV sectors – click here to learn more about the initial line-up. That range is set to expand during the course of 2026 with additional Changan SUV models and another Deepal-branded electric vehicle (EV), Jameel Motors SA country manager Marinus Venter told IOL. On the SUV front, the midsize CS75 Pro that launches in late 2025, will be joined by a smaller SUV called the CS655. This model is about 30cm shorter than its sibling and it is set to compete with the Chery Tiggo 7 Pro. Later in 2026, another new model called the CS35 will…

OVER the past three seasons, the SA20 has grown in leaps and bounds, and the upcoming fourth edition promises to be even bigger with some of the biggest names in franchise T20 cricket having committed to the league already. This season, the SA20 barely clashes with any T20 leagues, meaning the world’s top T20 cricketers are available to grace the South African cricket with their presence and skills. Among the players who have been pre-signed for the upcoming season are West Indies all-rounders Andre Russell (Pretoria Capitals) and Sunil Narine (Durban’s Super Giants), both who have sparkling T20 careers. Allah Ghazanfar, the latest addition to the long list of Afghanistan’s mystery spinners, also joins the SA20 for the first time. He has signed with last season’s runners-up Sunrisers Eastern Cape…

THE efforts of a few good men and sponsors willing to invest in the future of Chatsworth football are behind the resurgence of the local football scene, according to the LFA President Spinx Kuppen. But with only three football fields in the entire Chatsworth region that boast functional change rooms and ablution facilities, managing a league with youth, especially, young women, becomes a challenge. Independent Newspapers spoke to Kuppen at the Pelican Pharmacy Football Festival this past weekend, and caught a glimpse into the impact the league has on parents and fans. Kuppen said one of the hardest parts of the job right now was trying to accommodate young female players in the league without proper change rooms for them to use. “In terms of our facilities, it's currently a…

The Competition Tribunal of South Africa has approved the R35 billion acquisition of the MultiChoice Group (MCG) by French media giant CANAL+. effectively consolidating two of Africa's biggest television and media groups. This landmark deal, designed not only to strengthen CANAL+’s foothold in sub-Saharan Africa but also to foster competition against dominant global streaming services like Netflix, comes with a series of stipulations aimed at promoting local empowerment in the audio-visual industry. CANAL+, recently spun off from parent company Vivendi, made an offer to MultiChoice shareholders at R125 per share—valuing the total acquisition at R55bn. The Competition Commission previously indicated that the merger would not impede competition within any market. Historically, CANAL+ has focused on francophone African territories, while MultiChoice has predominantly catered to the sub-Saharan demographic. The approval marks…

Despite global economic uncertainties and constrained exit environments, Southern Africa’s venture capital (VC) sector closed off 2024 with a record R13.35 billion in active investments across 1 325 deals, up 24% year-on-year, according to the 2025 Savca VC Survey. Nicola Gubb, interim executive director of Southern African Venture Capital and Private Equity Association (Savca), said the findings reflect an industry that has demonstrated remarkable tenacity and resilience. “Behind these numbers lies the story of a maturing market, more sophisticated capital deployment, deeper investor networks, and an encouraging shift toward early-growth stage funding, especially Series A, which speaks to a growing confidence in scalable local innovation,” she said. Stephan Lamprecht from VS Nova, Savca's research partner, said, “South Africa’s VC landscape is showing promising growth, with renewed government involvement - particularly…

By the middle of the year, most small business owners are so busy managing day-to-day operations that any medium- to long-term strategy goes out the window. But doing a mid-year business check-in can be one of the most powerful ways to keep your business on track towards achieving your goals. The economic climate in South Africa remains challenging: consumers are cash-strapped, and many businesses are operating in low-growth sectors. At the same time, we’ve seen positive signs: interest rates have stabilised, fuel prices have dipped even though there’s a threat of a diesel price hike in August, and some SMEs are reporting stronger cash flow compared to this time last year. Whether your business is struggling or thriving, now is the right time to take stock. Here’s how to approach…

Karooooo reported another set of strong results for the first quarter to May 31 with the number of Cartrack subscribers increasing by 17% while the interim dividend was up by more than 15%. On the JSE Wednesday morning, Karooooo’s share price shot up by 5.73% to R920, following the announcement of the results. The share price is up by over 57% over 12 months. The interim dividend of $1.25 per ordinary share was declared versus $1.08 at the same time last year, which was paid due to the strong cash position and good earnings growth, CEO Zak Calisto said in an interview. “We are pleased to report a strong start to the 2026 financial year highlighted by accelerating Cartrack subscription revenue growth across all regions,” he said. In June, Calisto…

Mr Price Group detailed a commendable 6.3% increase in retail sales, reaching R9 billion for the 13 weeks ending June 28, even though June presented a more challenging month, the group said in a trading update on Wednesday. June sales tumbled 5.1%. The group's performance was highlighted by an increase in comparable store sales by 3% over the 13 weekd, showcasing its resilience amidst a fluctuating market landscape. Despite the slip in sales for June, investors appeared cautious as the share price decreased by 2.63% to R209.34. It traded at R211.21 at the same time last year. Management remains optimistic about their competitive advantages, noting significant market share gains of 10 basis percentage points during the reporting period—an achievement that far exceeds the total comparable market's retail sales growth, as…

Former president Jacob Zuma’s recent visit to Morocco has ignited a political firestorm in Pretoria, but newly leaked documents reveal that his mission went far beyond diplomacy. In private meetings with Moroccan officials, Zuma made a bold and controversial request for strategic and financial backing to support new education, intelligence, and security initiatives in South Africa. According to documents now circulating among diplomatic insiders, Zuma appealed to the Moroccan government for help building two advanced education institutions: one in Pretoria and another in his rural hometown of Nkandla. These schools, he said, would focus on mathematics, science, coding, information technology, and artificial intelligence – skills he believes are essential for the future of South Africa’s youth, particularly those left behind by decades of government failure. But Zuma’s vision extended beyond…

The Democratic Alliance (DA) in Emfuleni has slammed the municipality for wasting R15 million on outsourced cemetery services, accusing officials of reckless spending while residents continue to suffer from collapsing infrastructure and poor service delivery. This comes after Kingsol Chabalala, the DA’s constituency head for Emfuleni North, revealed that over the past five financial years (2019–2024), the municipality spent a staggering R15 million paying 65 different service providers for basic cemetery maintenance and grass-cutting. “This spending is concerning, as the municipality has a Parks and Recreation Department equipped with full-time employees and the necessary equipment to handle these tasks.” Chabalala further stated that the DA will be submitting formal questions to Gauteng MEC for Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (COGTA), Jacob Mamabolo, to clarify the roles and responsibilities of the…

The 2025 and 2026 Appropriation Bill for all departments has been passed, with support from the DA, PA, IFP, ActionSA, BOSA, Rise Mzansi, among others, while the MK Party, EFF, and ATM rejected the bill. The announcement was made during a sitting at the Cape Town International Convention Centre yesterday. The sitting included the tabling of the Standing Committee on Appropriations’ report, a debate, departmental budget votes, and the second reading of the bill – the final step required to pass the national budget. Voting was conducted manually, with party whips announcing how their members voted. Individual MPs were allowed to indicate if they wished to vote differently from their party, though none did. A quorum of 201 MPs was required for the vote, as the National Assembly consists of…

Controversial former ANC Mpumalanga provincial treasurer Mandla Msibi has made a comeback to provincial ANC politics after his one-year suspension was lifted this week. The ANC’s National Disciplinary Committee (NDC) suspended Msibi in April 2024 for conduct linked to an alleged attempt to disrupt the party’s January 8 celebrations in Mbombela. Msibi’s suspension was for three years, of which two years were conditionally suspended and one year served actively. Charges Msibi was found guilty of included engaging in disruptive behaviour that contravened the governing party’s constitution. This included alleged attempts to block supporters from attending the event, which was held on Saturday, January 13. The ANC NDC upheld the ruling after an appeal from the Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (Cogta). With his suspension lapsing on Tuesday, the…

The Renault Duster has been a mainstay of the brand for many years and has an almost cult-like following in certain circles, especially the diesel off-road versions. They recently revamped the entire SUV range, which included dropping the well-loved diesel engine and replacing it with petrol and mild hybrid versions. There was much gnashing of teeth when the diesel mill was dropped, but whether we like it or not, Europe sees it as the devil’s brew, so we need to come to terms with it. The Renault Duster is a result of the joint venture between themselves and Romanian subsidiary brand Dasia and it is built on the Common Module Family-B build platform also utilised across several of Renault’s products, including the fifth-generation Clio, the second-generation Captur, the Arkana, the…

The fifth round of the Extreme Festival and the Toyota GR Cup was everything we expected and dollops more as we tackled the blisteringly fast East London Grand Prix Circuit. It was a race that hovered constantly in the background as the season progressed due to its unforgiving nature, legendary fast bends, tight infield and hairpin corners. As a result, Toyota Gazoo South Africa (TGRSA) had arranged for us to spend time on the simulator at their headquarters at Zwartkops under the watchful eye of instructor Devon Scott, so that we at least had an idea of the layout before getting in behind the wheel of our GR Yaris. Practice We were out early for practice on Friday morning to experience first-hand Potters Pass, a fast sweeping righthander, followed by…

Banyana Banyana coach Desiree Ellis defended her tactical approach from those who criticised her for starting the Caf Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (Wafcon) semi-final against Nigeria “defensively” after they lost 2-1 at the Larbi Zaouli Stadium in Casablanca on Tuesday night. The Super Falcons advanced via goals by skipper Rasheedat Ajibades, who slotted in from the penalty spot in the first half, and Michelle Alozie. Banyana’s lone strike came from the penalty spot early in the second half from midfielder Linda Motlhalo. For the better part of the first half Banyana were under siege from the Super Falcons’ attack that came in from all directions. During the post-match interviews with the press, Ellis was criticised for a defensive approach to the game. “The way we were positioned upfront, we…

Former Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp was well-documented during his time at Anfield about his resistance to spending large sums of money on transfer fees. Klopp was famously quoted as saying: “If you bring one player in for $100 million (about R1.75 billion) or whatever and he gets injured then it all goes through the chimney. “The day that this is football, I’m not in a job anymore.” Klopp, of course, is no longer in the hot seat at the Reds, but even he’s needed to change his tune as the Premier League champions have blown away their competitors during the current transfer window with a host of big-money signings, most notably Florian Wirtz. The German international cost Liverpool an initial £100m (about R2.37bn), topped up by a further £16m in…

Second place surely cannot be good enough this time around for Orlando Pirates. Bridesmaids to Mamelodi Sundowns in the league for the past two seasons, the Buccaneers must be hell-bent on usurping the Brazilians in the upcoming campaign. They showed last season that they can run Sundowns close, having significantly narrowed the points gap compared to the season before. The big question, though, is whether the change of coach will have a positive or negative effect on Pirates’ ambitions. Jose Riveiro managed to give Sundowns a run for their money because he had been at the club for three seasons and had already established a winning formula and built a trusted team that he stuck with. That continuity could well be affected this time around, with new coach Abdeslam Ouaddou…