Table of contents for 2025-09-15 in Star

A recent report from the BRICS Competition Law and Policy Centre has spotlighted growing concerns regarding the impact of dominant global commodity traders on food prices, particularly in the grain sector. Released on Friday, this report sheds light on how a handful of companies control an overwhelming share of the global bulk grain trade, exacerbating issues of food affordability and availability worldwide. In an interview with Business Report, Alexey Ivanov, director of the Centre and a Professor of Law at HSE University, discussed the alarming concentration of power in the hands of traders commonly referred to as the ABCD group—Archer Daniels Midland, Bunge, Cargill, and Louis Dreyfus—as well as significant emerging players such as COFCO, Wilmar, and Olam, collectively termed ABCD+. Ivanov said this coalition now wields control over an…

The Accountant General has raised alarms over the increasing audit fees imposed on government entities and municipalities by the Auditor-General of South Africa (AGSA). During discussions before Parliament’s Portfolio Committee on the Auditor-General (PCOAG) on Friday, Accountant General Shabeer Khan revealed a staggering 13% increase for the upcoming 2024/2025 financial year, alongside a 7.2% rise observed in the current year. This escalation in costs raises serious concerns about its implications on critical service delivery across municipalities, particularly for smaller entities grappling with their constrained budgets. Khan articulated his frustrations over the AGSA's apparent disregard for mandatory consultations with government and parliamentary bodies regarding these audit fees. "Between 2023/2024 there has been an increase of around 13% and then between 2024/25 and the current financial year, there has been a 7.2%…

Botswana and southern African peers that built much of their prosperity on diamonds are scrambling for alternatives as cheaper, lab-grown stones threaten their economies. Diamond-dependent Botswana is leading the way and launched a sovereign wealth fund this week to lay the "foundation for a more resilient, sustainable and diversified future beyond diamonds". It is exploring other avenues too, like boosting luxury wildlife tourism, launching into the medicinal cannabis market and exploiting its abundant sunshine for solar power. President Duma Boko has even mooted taking a majority stake in industry giant De Beers and selling Botswana's diamonds independently. "Countries such as Angola, Namibia and South Africa are all exposed but not to the same degree as Botswana," economist Brendon Verster at the Oxford Economics Africa think tank told AFP. The stones…

On Saturday the 13th of September the inaugural lecture of a befitting to be Stan Sangweni Annual Memorial Lecture was hosted at Unisa under the joint authority of the Public Service Commission and the National School of Government. The lecture was addressed by a befitting President who in the words of Dr Geraldine Fraser-Moleketi said was the architect of the Public Service design with Dr Sangweni as the executor of the design. President Thabo Mbeki addressed the inaugural lecture. What made the lecture more contextual was the developments in the Northern Cape ANC NEC, Here the ANC leadership pledged that it will not protect wrong doers any longer. The declaration on this stance ironically corresponded with advice contained in “The Future We Chose Scenario.” One of the outcomes of this…

The share price of Gemfields Group, the JSE-listed miner of valuable coloured stones, shot up 0.5% on Friday afternoon after the company said a decision to reopen its Kagem mine had been vindicated by a successful emerald auction. The company announced that 38 lots of high-quality emeralds were offered for sale at an auction between August 25 and September 11, all of which were sold. The share price traded at R1.50 on the JSE, with the higher price providing a meaningful respite considering it traded at R2.77 a year previously. Total revenues of $32 million were realised at the auction. The average realised price was $160.78 per carat. The group has generated over $1.12 billion in revenues through the 52 auctions of Kagem gemstones held since July 2009. Gemfields owns…

Only Murders in the Building – TV’s coziest fantasy about life in New York City – starts its fifth, silliest and most enjoyable season with some unsettling changes to the status quo. Mabel (Selena Gomez), the disaffected millennial of the crime-detecting trio, seems discordantly hopeful and optimistic. Charles (Steve Martin), normally a diffident sort, radiates with newfound swagger. And Oliver (Martin Short), the colourful egotist whose pride and joy has long been life at the swanky Arconia, is considering moving out. The catalyst for the fifth season is, of course, a dead body. The fourth season punctuated Oliver’s climactic wedding to Loretta (Meryl Streep) with two cliff-hangers. The first was a mysterious visit from mob wife Sofia Caccimelio (Téa Leoni), who asked the podcasters for help finding her husband Nicky…

​Joburg and other parts of the country continue experiencing widespread water outages due to burst pipes and high demand, with Johannesburg Water actively working on repairs and infrastructure issues. Residents of Joburg are urged to use water sparingly, as reservoir levels are struggling to keep up with the demand. To monitor specific updates on their area, Residents are urged to visit Johannesburg Water X (Twitter) account (@JHBWater) or their official website. Over the weekend, Water and Sanitation Minister, Pemmy Majodina, confirmed that millions in taxpayer funds have been paid to contractors for water infrastructure projects that remain incomplete – leaving communities without access to clean and reliable water. Speaking to the media on the sidelines of the ANC’s special National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting in Boksburg last week Saturday, Majodina…

Police Commissioner, Fannie Masemola, has suspended his deputy Shadrack Sibiya with immediate effect. Sibiya confirmed to Eyewitness News that he received a suspension letter last week Friday from Masemola. This comes after he spent two months on forced leave while serious allegations were investigated. The suspension follows claims made by KZN Police Commissioner Lt-Gen, Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi, that Sibiya tried to disband the task team investigating political assassinations in the province. Sibiya recently lost a legal bid to have his leave overturned. In a scathing 34-page ruling, the Gauteng High Court upheld the SAPS decision, citing the “seriousness of the allegations.” His leave has now been escalated to full suspension, pending the outcome of a commission of inquiry into political interference in the criminal justice system. In a related move, 121…

The African Transformation Movement (ATM) has condemned the South African Police Service’s (SAPS) decision to clear Major-General Wally Rhoode, head of the Presidential Protection Services, of any wrongdoing in the controversial Phala Phala farm investigation. ATM parliamentary leader Vuyo Zungula labelled the clearance a “blatant attempt by the ANC to destroy state institutions to protect their compromised deployees and officials”. He said the matter underscored growing concerns about accountability and transparency within the South African government. Rhoode’s clearance came after a disciplinary hearing related to findings made against him by Public Protector Kholeka Gcaleka two years ago. Acting Police Minister Firoz Cachalia publicly confirmed that Rhoode was found “not guilty of any misconduct related to the findings of the Public Protector in that he conducted an illegal investigation in…

Nomvula Mokonyane, the first deputy secretary-general of the ANC, warns that without discipline and a shared purpose among the parties involved, the Government of National Unity (GNU) risks becoming unworkable. She describes the Government of National Unity (GNU) as “an amoeba” that lacks a clear shape. She singled out the behaviour of the Democratic Alliance (DA) as the biggest threat, bluntly labelling them “the most irresponsible party.” She noted: “They misbehave. Remember, they were going to oppose the budget. They try to address issues like foreign policy while wanting to play a dual role of being both in opposition and in government.” Mokonyane referred to the GNU as a “strategic setback” for the ANC but acknowledged that it emerged from the will of the South African electorate, during an interview…

The All Blacks’ record loss to South Africa was blasted by New Zealand media and commentators yesterday, with former captain Kieran Read asserting rugby’s most famous team lacked a “spine”. Scrutiny on coach Scott Robertson and his team was intense following their late capitulation in Saturday’s 43-10 Rugby Championship Test in Wellington. It was the heaviest defeat in all of New Zealand’s 658 Tests and prompted Read to condemn a lack of fight when the Springboks ran in four of their six tries in the final 18 minutes. “You’ve got to look at this All Blacks side and go, okay, there’s something not right there,” Read told Sky Sport. “There’s something within that group when you’re able just to leak and leak. Where’s that spine that we want to see?”…

Hosts Mamelodi Sundowns soared to the top of the Betway Premiership standings after defeating 10-man Magesi FC 2-0 at the Lucas Moripe Stadium on Sunday. Before the match, Sundowns, with 11 points, occupied third place on the log, two points behind joint leaders Sekhukhune United and Kaizer Chiefs with 13 points. With this latest win, Sundowns, now on 14 points, are one point clear at the summit. Despite being overwhelming favourites against winless Magesi, Sundowns initially had to contend with early pressure. Magesi striker Wonderboy Makhubu sprinted clear down the left flank before unleashing a low drive from an acute angle. Goalkeeper Ronwen Williams produced remarkable reflexes to deny Makhubu. Several half-chances went begging before Sundowns opened their account, albeit in fortuitous fashion, midway through the first half. Midfielder Thapelo…

Erling Haaland struck twice as Manchester City inflicted another damaging defeat on Manchester United boss Ruben Amorim with a comprehensive 3-0 win on Sunday. Phil Foden opened the scoring before Haaland took centre stage with a second-half double, either side of an incredible miss from the Norwegian, as City bounced back from two consecutive Premier League defeats. United went into a derby ahead of City in the table for the first time in five years. But that owed more to City’s early season struggles than signs of progress for Amorim’s men, who have taken just four points from their opening four games and were dumped out of the League Cup by fourth-tier Grimsby. To cap a fine City display, goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma marked his debut with a stunning save from…

South African companies who were part of the 30-member business delegation showcasing their products and services at the Intra-Africa Trade Fair (IATF) held in Algeria have said that they are looking forward to doing business in Algeria and the rest of the continent. This comes after generating many promising trade leads during the fair last week. Dr Khulile Mtsetfwa, CEO of Swatek Defence and Aerospace, stated on Friday that the company signed three memoranda of understanding focusing on distribution lines in Algeria. The company specialises in the design and manufacture of quality wiring harness, military dashboards, battery boxes, dashboard test bench and providing innovative electrical solutions to defence, aerospace, aviation, rail and automotive sectors. “The plan is to make sure that we build relations and maintain the line of communication…

The latest cargo movement report released by the South African Association of Freight Forwarders (SAAFF) and Business Unity South Africa (BUSA) for the week ending 7 September reveals a significant surge in cargo handling across the nation's ports and transport networks. This increase comes amid ongoing operational challenges that have raised concerns among industry stakeholders regarding the fluidity of cargo movements. According to the report, South African container terminals recorded an average handling of 14 727 Twenty-foot Equivalent Units (TEUs) daily, surpassing the previous record of 14 487 TEUs set in the week ending 20 July by 1.7%. This represents a notable week-on-week increase from 13 842 TEUs. However, despite the record throughput, several operational issues hampered efficiency, including adverse weather, equipment breakdowns, and vacant berths. Cape Town experienced reduced…

During August, women are celebrated for their resilience and uniqueness through various commemorations, acknowledgements and pampering events throughout the world. As much as its important to celebrate women who build homes and organisation’s, its equally important to be mindful that a woman’s role to build through their resilient and unique leadership and thinking approach is a daily task that is ongoing. Therefore, in honour of the prime and nurturing role that women carry from the beginning oftime, a group of professional women namely Galetlolwe Semenya, Chef Noni, Wendy Mbalo, Barbra Lawrence Strydom and Andile Nkosi Schmidt joined hands to create a life changing and memorable experience for the African child. A full day unorthodox workshop was arranged with the South African Radio Astronomy Observatory (SARAO) astronomy scientists and engineers, in…

Equities on the JSE, precious metal prices and Rand on Friday ended stronger for the third consecutive week. Despite the higher-than-expected US inflation rate for August that was released on Thursday, sentiment on global markets remains that the Federal Reserve will decrease its Bank rate this Wednesday September 17. The US core inflation did increase from 2.7% in July to 2.9% August as was expected by markets, but is now significantly higher than the 2.0% inflation target of the Fed. Prices increased were felt mostly for food (3.2% vs 2.9% in July), used cars and trucks experienced a sharp annual increase of 6.0% against the 4.6% in July and the yearly acceleration for new vehicles was 0.7% against 0.4% the previous month. Evidence suggests that the…

Accelerate Property Fund, with retail specialists Flanagan & Gerhard and the Moolman Group, are working on initiatives to elevate the shopping experience at flagship shopping centre, Fourways Mall. Fourways Mall is a super-regional shopping destination in the high traffic Fourways node, in Gauteng. It carries a value of R4.03 billion in Accelerate’s balance sheet, and it makes up by far the biggest component of its R5.59bn retail property portfolio, which comprises 8 other shopping centres. The retail component makes up 66.7% of the group’s revenue. Accelerate said in its annual report Friday the Fourways Mall continued to demonstrate strong performance in the year to March 31, with a year-on-year trading density increase of 6.1%. The enhancements underway include optimising tenant spaces, refining the tenant mix, and implementing sustainability initiatives, such…

Ndu Browns, born Ndumiso Mdletshe, is stepping into a new chapter of his career with his highly anticipated solo debut. Browns released his first solo single, Ubuhle Bakho, on September 12, which coincided with his 31st birthday. Born and raised in Ladysmith, KwaZulu-Natal, Browns has become a household name in South Africa’s music scene. He is celebrated for his soulful voice, storytelling and the ability to blend traditional African sounds with contemporary Afro-pop rhythms. With Blaq Diamond, Browns rose to national recognition through multi-platinum albums and chart-topping singles. Their 2020 album Umuthi cemented their status, while their signature style earned them widespread acclaim and a loyal fan base across Africa. Earlier this year, he announced his solo career, signalling a new direction in his artistry. “September 12 carries more than…

The decision to select Nasrec as the venue for the upcoming G20 summit, rather than Sandton, has generated some controversy, with concerns raised about Nasrec’s suitability, with some calling it a “cold, industrial site” unfit to represent the country to first-time visitors and world leaders. Another view is that the government should be open to considering other venue options, including Durban and Cape Town, to showcase the best of our country. The G20 comprises 19 countries, including Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, the Republic of Korea, Mexico, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Türkiye, the United Kingdom, and the United States and two regional bodies, namely the European Union and the African Union. The group of countries seeks to find solutions to global economic and…

An abandoned building in Sunnyside was engulfed in a devastating fire in the early hours of yesterday, resulting in the deaths of two individuals from smoke inhalation. The incident has sent shockwaves through the community. Nana Radebe-Kgiba, spokesperson for the Tshwane Emergency Services Department, said firefighters responded to a structural fire call at the De Williershof residential building, also known as Block 1, after 4am yesterday. Upon arrival, they found the basement engulfed in flames, with residents unsure if everyone had managed to evacuate the premises. In a disturbing twist, the Emergency Command Centre had received a prior structural fire incident report at the same building, Block 2, at 1:15am. Seven rooms on the ground floor had burned, but fortunately, no casualties were reported. Radebe-Kgiba said during the search and…

The widow of prominent right-wing activist Charlie Kirk announced last week Friday that she will continue her husband’s work following the capture of his alleged assassin by US authorities. Investigators had been making slow progress in tracking down the individual responsible for Kirk’s murder until they released security camera images of a young man. “We got him,” Utah Governor Spencer Cox declared at a press conference early Friday, identifying the suspect as 22-year-old Tyler Robinson. Reports indicate that Robinson was confronted by his father about the images and subsequently turned himself in. The 31-year-old Kirk was shot once while speaking to a large crowd at Utah Valley University in Orem last week Wednesday. Kirk was a dynamic figure on the US right, and his significant following played a crucial role…

President Cyril Ramaphosa is set to introduce a comprehensive action plan aimed at revitalising ANC-led municipalities in preparation for the crucial 2026 local government elections. Speaking at a special two-day ANC National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting, currently underway, Ramaphosa said the focus was squarely on addressing the escalating challenges facing the local sphere of government. The meeting brings together ANC leaders to develop and endorse a clear roadmap for local governance renewal. The NEC gathering will culminate in a mass roll call meeting at FNB Stadium today, where more than 6 000 ANC councillors and mayors will report back on their performance since taking office following the 2021 municipal elections. “The focus of the plan is to strengthen local government,” Ramaphosa told the NEC. “The ANC has developed a draft…

The Gauteng High Court, Johannesburg, has ordered a wife to return a R1.2 million car which she was allowed to use pending the divorce between her and her husband, but as the vehicle formed part of the corporate assets of a closed corporation now in liquidation, it was ruled that the vehicle belonged to the liquidators. The woman, who may not be identified as divorce proceedings are pending, was driving the Toyota Land Cruiser while being married. The vehicle belonged to Kanivest 3214 CC, the corporation of which her husband was the managing director. The vehicle was bought in 2020 by the corporation under an installment sale agreement. Her husband allowed her the use of the vehicle although the corporation was its registered owner. Last year her husband took steps…

Palestinian families streamed out of Gaza City yesterday, some crammed into pick-up trucks, others on foot, as Israeli forces pressed their assault on the territory’s main urban centre. Parents carried their children while the elderly hobbled along, an AFP journalist reported. A man in a wheelchair and another on crutches were among the long line of people heading south under Israeli military orders. The military has issued multiple evacuation warnings for Gaza City, but many residents have told AFP they have nowhere else to go, noting that Israel has repeatedly struck the area in the south where it has urged people to move. The scenes of mass flight from Gaza City came as US Secretary of State Marco Rubio arrived in Israel in a show of support, despite an Israeli…

While the Lions were purring as they booked a home Currie Cup final against the Griquas with a 67-19 mauling of the Boland Cavaliers, coach Mziwakhe Nkosi is slightly concerned about the dip in their level of play in the second half. The dominant Lions led 41-5 at half-time, and while there was no danger of being overhauled, the error count from the home side was high in the second stanza. “It was probably not our most accurate second half but as the game got scrappier, we got scrappier. But we take it,” Nkosi said, in his post-match media briefing. “In the first half I thought our set piece was good, I thought we scrummed well, while they tried to have one or two mauls that we stopped. “Our maul…

Stellenbosch FC coach Steve Barker has admitted that Orlando Pirates “outclassed” his team in the MTN8 Final at the Mbombela Stadium on Saturday night. Stellies were seeking revenge for a controversial defeat in last year’s final, but despite being goalless after 90 minutes the Winelands club slumped to a 3-0 defeat after extra time. It was the fourth consecutive MTN8 triumph for the Buccaneers. “Look, firstly I think we have to congratulate Orlando Pirates to win a trophy four years in a row is not easy so well done to them,” Barker said. “I thought during open play, the first 90 minutes there was no real better team than in the game, we could’ve maybe stolen it, they could’ve maybe got something but I thought it was an even match.…

The Springboks will keep their feet on the ground and look to sharpen up their game as they head into the final two Rugby Championship Tests against Australia in two weeks. After beating New Zealand 43-10 in Wellington on Saturday, the world champions revived their campaign, with their focus now shifting to the unpredictable Argentinians, whom they’ll face in Durban and at Twickenham. South Africa’s two-try hero in Wellington, Cheslin Kolbe, praised the efforts of his teammates as they took down the All Blacks with a fairly untested backline, scoring six tries on their way to the emphatic win. Kolbe opened the scoring with an interception, sprinting about 70 metres to cross untouched, while his second came from brilliant interplay between the backs and forwards off a dominant scrum. He…

Ratings agency affirms SA’s long-term foreign-currency issuer default rating at ‘BB-’ outlook stable Fitch Ratings has affirmed South Africa’s long-term foreign-currency issuer default rating at ‘BB-’ with a stable outlook, citing weak economic growth prospects, rising government debt and high poverty and inequality as the country’s main credit constraints. In its latest review published on Friday, the ratings agency said South Africa's sub-investment rating was also constrained by the rising government debt/GDP ratio and a rigid fiscal structure that hampers budget deficit reduction. South Africa slipped further into below investment grade in 2020, with foreign currency ratings reaching a bottom of BB- under Fitch. However, Fitch said the ratings were supported by a favourable government debt structure with long maturities and mostly local-currency-denominated, strong institutions and a credible monetary policy…

The Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu) will be convening its Central Committee this week where delegates, from the leadership of the Federation and its Affiliates, to shop stewards and workers from across the country and its economic sectors will gather. Cosatu’s Central Committee is a platform for members to reflect on the many challenges facing the working class, the Federation’s successes and obstacles tackling these and most critically what is to be done to improve the working and living conditions of workers. It is a workers’ parliament and a chance for their voices to be heard by government, business and society. Workers are the backbone of the economy. Their lived experiences need to be understood and their aspirations be provided a path to realisation. The Central…

Caxton & CTP Publishers & Printers' share price increased by 4.7% on Friday afternoon after it reported a 16% increase in annual dividend to 70 cents for the year to June 30 off the back of a resilient financial performance. Normalised headline earnings a share for the publisher of regional newspapers, printer, packaging & stationery manufacturer, and digital asset delivery company increased by 12% to 178.9 cents. Cash and its equivalent balances ended the year 20.7% higher at R3 billion. The share price traded at R12.25, slightly below the R12.70 it traded at a year before on the same day. “We delivered commendable results in difficult operating circumstances, characterised by little to no growth and subdued consumer spending in a highly competitive environment,” CEO Terence Moolman said in the results.…

Elon Musk may be trying to pivot Tesla away from electric vehicles and toward humanoid robots, but to skeptical investors there’s no hiding from its stagnating sales and eye-watering stock market valuation that leaves little room for error. Eager to transform the carmaker into an artificial intelligence powerhouse, Musk earlier this month declared on his social-media platform X that about “80% of Tesla’s value will be Optimus,” referring to the company’s robot initiative. But that’s for the future. In the here and now, Tesla’s 2025 earnings are expected to sink nearly 30%, while its robotaxi business is still years from turning a profit and faces stiff competition from Alphabet Inc.’s Waymo, among others. “You can pin any kind of valuation to robots at this point,” said Thomas Thornton, founder of…

Authorities have swooped Hangwani Maumela, the man at the centre of a syndicate accused of defrauding the state of more than R326 million. Maumela, a businessman linked to President Cyril Ramaphosa through a previous marriage, is the key target in a major investigation into corruption at Tembisa Hospital. Ramaphosa has denied knowing Maumela. The National Prosecuting Authority’s Asset Forfeiture Unit (AFU) has secured two preservation orders to freeze assets allegedly purchased with stolen public funds. The crackdown follows a forensic trail sparked by the work of the late Babita Deokaran, a senior official in the Gauteng Department of Health, who flagged suspicious procurement deals at the hospital. Deokaran was assassinated in August 2021 shortly after submitting a report detailing systemic abuse of the hospital’s supply chain processes. Her findings prompted…

South Africa has been here before – shiny commissions, thick reports, bold promises. Now, the Madlanga Commission faces the same question that haunts all its predecessors: will justice finally be done, or will it be yet another smokescreen? Established in July, the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry was tasked with investigating serious allegations of political interference, criminality, and corruption in the criminal justice system – particularly the police, prosecution, and intelligence services. The move followed explosive claims by KZN Police Commissioner Lt-Gen. Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi, who accused political leaders and senior police officials of colluding with criminal syndicates. This included the Minister Senzo Mchunu and the Deputy Police Commissioner, Shadrack Sibiya. But from day one, the commission has stumbled. Hearings were delayed due to missing ICT infrastructure and procurement failures – fuelling…

The ANC Youth League (ANCYL) has called for urgent and decisive action against the rise of criminal activity and the presence of illegal foreigners in South African towns, warning that the situation is spiralling out of control. Speaking at the 2nd ANCYL National General Council in the Northern Cape, ANCYL president Collen Malatji painted a bleak picture of lawlessness in urban areas across the country, saying South Africans feel like foreigners in their own communities. “The issue of crime and violence in this country is huge. Our towns are taken over by criminals, mainly illegal foreigners. Every small town in this country is hijacked by drug lords and illegal foreigners,” said Malatji. “And our law enforcement agencies are not doing anything about it.” He singled out areas such as Hillbrow,…

Democratic Alliance (DA) has urgently called on Acting Police Minister, Professor Firoz Cachalia, to deploy public order policing units to protect healthcare facilities and ensure that Operation Dudula does not block foreign nationals from receiving healthcare services. This follows disturbing reports of foreign nationals being blocked from accessing public hospitals and clinics in Gauteng and KZN, with groups such as Operation Dudula and March on March accused of aggressively targeting vulnerable individuals seeking medical care. In a statement, the DA condemned what it described as “despicable hindering and intimidation” by these organisations. The party emphasised that South Africa’s Constitution – specifically Section 27 – guarantees the right of every individual, regardless of nationality, to access healthcare services, including reproductive health and emergency medical treatment. “While South Africa’s public health sector…

It is disappointing how the world has been silent over the ongoing deadly Sudanese conflict, which has displaced over 13 million people, left millions in need of humanitarian aid, and killed over 150 000 people. Despite the amplified efforts of international media outlets in reporting on the Sudanese civil war, the international community has continued to ignore the cries of Sudan’s helpless children. Since April 2023, at the start of this deadly war, many women and children have been continuing to experience incidents of sexual violence, which is used as a weapon of war by the paramilitary group, Rapid Support Group (RSG), which has been waging a war against the Sudanese army. It is heartbreaking to witness how the world has muted its conscience, leaving the security concerns of the…

The Springboks will savour their victory over the All Blacks for a little while, switch off, and recover with family when they land in South Africa this week before returning to training in preparation for back-to-back Tests against Argentina. After dismantling the Kiwis 43-10 in Wellington on Saturday, the world champions retained the Freedom Cup for a second consecutive year. They also kept their hopes of defending the Rugby Championship title alive with a six-try, bonus-point win at the Cake Tin. The triumph also lifted the Boks back to the No 1 spot on World Rugby’s rankings, leapfrogging both Ireland and the All Blacks. “We knew scoring those last two tries was important to keep us in contention for the rest of the Championship,” said Bok utility back Damian Willemse.…

IT is simply not bluster from Aiden Markram when the captain speaks of a bright future for his young Proteas T20 team. They are a side blessed with the modern gifts and innovation of teenagers Lhuan-dre Pretorius and Kwena Maphaka along with ultra-talented 22-year-old Dewald Brevis. And while they have yet to put together a string of performances across three tours - Zimbabwe, Australia and now England - to earn white-ball coach Shukri Conrad his first T20I series win as yet, captain Markram feels they are on the right path building up to next year’s T20 World Cup. “We’re still looking at options. We’re still giving opportunities, which is exciting with the young, fearless crew that we have coming through,” Markram said after the Proteas drew the series with England…

Springbok Women coach Swys de Bruin believes “a giant has awoken for women in South African rugby” after his team’s inspired performances at the Rugby World Cup in England. Although the Boks ultimately went down to the mighty Black Ferns in their quarterfinal on Saturday at Sandy Park in Exeter, De Bruin’s charges were monumental during the competition. Glass ceilings were shattered over the last month, including winning a first-ever match at the Rugby World Cup against Brazil (66-6) before following it up with a victory over higher-ranked Italy (29-24) to book a maiden place in the Rugby World Cup quarterfinals. And if that wasn’t enough, they surprised friend and foe with a Herculean first-half display against the four-times champions by holding the New Zealanders to 10-10 at halftime. Although…

Kaizer Chiefs and Sekhukhune United will meet in a blockbuster, top-of-the-table Betway Premiership clash at FNB Stadium on Tuesday night. The two teams are neck and neck on the standings, level on 13 points, with Sekhukhune on top on goal difference after the first five rounds. Both teams have won four games and drawn one so far. Having scored the most goals — eight compared to Chiefs’ five — Babina Noko will arrive at the Calabash as favorites. They’ll also be motivated by the fact that they’ve already beaten another Soweto giant, Orlando Pirates, at home this season. Coach Eric Tinkler emphasised that his troops will continue to improve as long as they minimise mistakes, work as a unit, and heed his advice. Keletso Makgalwa has adhered to the latter,…

Veteran sprinter Akani Simbine’s quest for a first major singles outdoor medal continues after a disappointing seventh-place finish in the men’s 100m final on Day 2 of the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo. National champion Gift Leotlela crossed the line in fifth. Leotlela, who set a personal best of 9.87 seconds in the first-round heats the day before, recorded 9.95 seconds in Sunday’s blue-riband event, while Simbine clocked 10.04. Jamaican Oblique Saville won gold in a personal best of 9.77, with countryman Kishane Thompson taking silver in 9.82. Olympic champion Noah Lyles claimed bronze. Simbine (9.96) and Leotlela (9.97) had finished third in their semifinals earlier in the day but still progressed to the final. SA champion Zakithi Nene won his first-round 400m race in 44.34, while Lythe Pillay took…