Table of contents for 2026-01-08 in Star

OUTsurance Limited has been approved for a secondary listing on A2X Markets. OUTsurance shares will be available for trade on A2X from January 14, 2026. OUTsurance is a South African insurance provider that offers value-for-money short-term insurance products for your car, buildings, household contents, and items that you take and use outside the home. Kevin Brady, the CEO of A2X said: "For the past 28 years, OUTsurance has delivered innovative, value-for-money products to its clients, and we are pleased to help extend this approach to their shareholders. By listing on A2X, OUTsurance will provide its investors with the benefit of choice to transact its shares on an additional venue with reduced transaction fees and extra liquidity." OUTsurance joins 167 other securities listed on A2X, representing a combined market capitalisation…

Hosken Consolidated Investments (HCI) said Wednesday it had agreed to sell its 65% shareholding in the Whale Coast Village shopping mall in Hermanus, Western Cape, for R600 million. HCI's 80%-held subsidiary HCI-Whale Coast Village (HCI-WCV) had entered into a sale agreement to dispose of its 65% undivided share in the "Whale Coast Village Mall" rental enterprise. Whale Coast Capital Investments Proprietary acquired a 40% stake and Whale Coast Village Mall Proprietary acquired the remaining 25% of the share in the mall. HCI said the funds would be used to settle taxes and the debt funding owing by HCI-WCV to its debt funders, which was currently about R328m. The remainder of the purchase consideration was intended to be distributed by HCI-WCV to its shareholders, including HCI as to 80% thereof. The…

South Africa’s long-term economic competitiveness depends on how effectively it embraces digital transformation. Across the globe, industries are rapidly integrating Artificial Intelligence (AI) and automation into their operations, with technology changing how people work, how decisions are made, and how businesses compete. For South Africa, the challenge is not only technological adoption, but workforce readiness. Without a deliberate national effort to build digital capability, the gap between technology and people will continue to grow. This gap threatens productivity, innovation, and ultimately, economic growth, and it is reaching a critical point. In a global economy moving at digital speed, failing to adapt is not an option. The human element of AI should not be seen as a threat to jobs, but rather a tool that enhances human performance. When used effectively,…

There’s no disputing that Stranger Things is an incredible series, which helped establish Netflix as a streaming juggernaut. As memorable as the series was in its run since 2016 though, the finale was just about as forgettable. I’m not even talking about the major plot points though, as it was simply too long. At 128 minutes long, the final 40 minutes came after Vecna was defeated and the gates to the Upside Down were destroyed. Those final 40 minutes could have easily been made into a montage of a couple of minutes, but instead drew it out with some really cheesy endings and dialogues for what once was an epic tale. In fact, it reminded me of the Lord of the Rings: Return of the King climax. After that bloody…

Gauteng Education MEC Matome Chiloane says more than 97% of learners placed in public schools across the province are South African nationals. Chiloane was responding to an ongoing campaign by the anti-immigrant group Operation Dudula, which has been mobilising parents in parts of Gauteng and demanding that South African learners be prioritised over foreign nationals in school placements. The group has alleged that foreign children are being prioritised for placements, leaving many South African learners without school places for the 2026 academic year. Speaking to Newzroom Afrika, Chiloane said the claims made by Dudula activists were not supported by facts and were contradicted by departmental data. “We are guided by the law. We have a duty to place learners or children of school-going age. What I need to assure parents…

The man arrested for the brutal murder of media personality Warrick Robert Stock, widely known as DJ Warras, is likely to be released on bail when he returns to the Johannesburg Magistrate’s Court next week. This is according to Dumisani Mabunda, the lawyer for 44-year-old Victor Mthethwa Majola, who made a second appearance in the Johannesburg Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday following his arrest last month. Mabunda told journalists that the state does not have a strong case against his client and that Majola stands a good chance of being released on bail. “This accused was not arrested at the crime scene, he was not arrested on the same day of the incident, and during the arrest, nothing illegal was found in his possession. There is nothing that links this particular…

When Rikus Kylander disappeared snorkelling with friends in Mozambique a week before Christmas, his parents dropped everything, jumped in their car, and drove all the way from Krugersdorp, Gauteng, to search for him. And now, just about three weeks later, they are still there, about 700km from home, searching desperately for their 18-year-old son. Rikus vanished without a trace when he took to the water with a group of about 12 friends at Ponta Da Oura, along the neighbouring country’s tropical coastline. The friends had travelled to Mozambique to celebrate the end of matric, but the rest of the group returned without him. “Their focus right now is trying to locate Rikus,” Renegades Search & Rescue spokesperson Dawn Gounden told IOL. “They have been in Mozambique since he went missing…

The BBC has instructed staff to avoid describing the US abduction of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro as a “kidnapping” and to use less loaded alternatives such as “seized,” according to a leaked internal memo shared online by British journalist and Guardian columnist Owen Jones. Maduro was apprehended in a US military raid on Caracas over the weekend and flown to New York to face US drug trafficking and weapons charges, which he denied during his first appearance before the court. Maduro insisted that he had been “kidnapped”. However, according to the leaked memo, the BBC management now “de-facto bans .. journalists from stating that the US “kidnapped” Maduro, with acceptable terms being “seized” and “captured”. In his post, Jones called “seized” “at best, a euphemism,” branding the policy “Orwellian stuff”…

“Volkswagen South Africa is really showing us the middle finger with this one,” exclaimed a recent post about the Volkswagen Saveiro on a popular social media group. This is one of many similar posts over the years, showing that South Africans really can’t get over the fact that VWSA has never introduced this Brazilian half-tonne bakkie to South Africa. There was once a time when South Africans were spoiled for choice when it came to compact, half-tonne bakkies. From the Ford Bantam to the Fiat Strada, the Opel Corsa Utility that eventually morphed into the Chevrolet Utility and Nissan’s long-serving NP200 that effectively killed off the segment when it was discontinued as the last half-tonner standing in 2024. Volkswagen SA also sold the Caddy, based on the MK1 Golf, until…

THE Lions are far from throwing in the towel in the EPCR Challenge Cup, stressing that matches like Saturday’s visit of French side Lyon to Ellis Park (5.15pm kick-off) are key to building momentum in the United Rugby Championship (URC) and improving squad depth. Despite back-to-back defeats in their opening two Challenge Cup pool matches, the Lions remain mathematically alive in the competition, knowing that victories in their final two fixtures could still secure a play-off berth. More importantly, the coaching staff believe the competition provides a platform to sharpen performance levels and prepare a wider group of players for the demands of the URC, where they are in the play-off spots in seventh place, basking in the afterglow of the weekend's derby win against the Sharks. The weekend's victory…

BAFANA Bafana midfielder Bathusi Aubaas believes the hard lessons of their early Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) exit will forge a stronger team, shaping their journey in tournaments yet to come. The team’s campaign at this edition of AFCON ended in disappointment with a 2-1 defeat to Cameroon’s Indomitable Lions in the round of 16, extinguishing hopes of a long-awaited second title. South Africa had entered the tournament with high expectations, aiming to build on their third-place finish in the previous edition and, perhaps, go all the way. Heading into the competition, the current squad drew frequent comparisons with the iconic class of 1996, but with some below-par performances in the group stages and ultimately the knockouts, that title-winning side remains the only South African team to have lifted the…

Joburg Super Kings may have suffered their first defeat of the competition, but bowling coach Eric Simons believes there are plenty positives to take from the reversal to MI Cape Town at Newlands. Most notably, Simons was excited that left-arm fast bowler Nandre Burger came through unscathed upon his return to competitive action. Burger suffered a hamstring injury in the second ODI in Raipur that curtailed his participation on the Proteas’ tour to India last month, which forced him to miss the opening stages of the Betway SA20. The 30-year-old completed his full quota of three overs at Newlands and finished with excellent figures of 2/23. “Fantastic (to have him back),” Simons said. “Obviously anybody who comes back from a long-term injury is someone of his quality. Gives you balance…

The Takeover Regulation Panel (TRP) has ruled that Novus Holdings must increase its takeover offer for ICT product group Mustek by 15.4% to R15.41 per share, from the R13 per share initial offer value. The TRP's investigation arose from complaints lodged to it by Albie Cilliers, who is well known for his advocacy of shareholder rights in South Africa, in June 2025. Cilliers had raised red flags about potential undisclosed concert party relationships in the Novus mandatory offer. Novus said in a JSE news service statement it "fundamentally disagrees" with the conclusions reached by the TRP and will consider its rights and/or remedies. Novus intends applying to the TRP to set aside the (ruling) and is taking the requisite advice in this respect. The TRP ruling found that Novus breached…

According to the Naamsa aggregate new vehicles sales rose to 597 000 units in 2025 South Africa’s new vehicle market delivered a landmark recovery in 2025, with total sales climbing above 2019 pre-pandemic levels for the first time and reaching multi-year highs. According to data released by the Automotive Business Council (Naamsa) on Wednesday, aggregate new vehicle sales rose to 596 818 units in 2025, reflecting a strong 15.7% increase compared with 2024 and marking the best annual performance in more than a decade. This was after new vehicle market registered a 19.2% rebound for the month of December, with aggregate industry new vehicle sales reaching 48 983 units, an increase of 7 882 vehicles compared to the 41 101 units recorded in December 2024. Naamsa said the rebound was…

2026 is not even a week old and already the dark clouds appearing give little comfort to a nation that has seen more than enough drama. The President of the African National Congress and the Republic, Cyril Ramaphosa, will be presenting the ruling party’s January 8th anniversary statement. It is critical that this statement be grounded on the very difficult challenges facing society and in particular the working class, and most importantly provide a call to action for all spheres of government as it prepares for the State of the Nation Address and the tabling of the 2026/27 Budget at Parliament. The January 8th statement and government’s responding plans must speak to the very painful socio-economic challenges faced by the working class and society. It must focus on government’s plans,…

Whether they confirm it or deny it, it is quite clear that Rachel John and Siya Kolisi are indeed in a relationship. Following some digital detective work, the evidence suggests that the Springbok captain and the Dutch model celebrated her birthday together in Jeffreys Bay. The most telling clue? His unmistakable reflection in the window as he played photographer during the celebration. The second clue lies in the wardrobe. On his Instagram Stories, Kolisi was seen sporting a white T-shirt, light blue jeans, and his unmistakable signature yellow wristwatch. Sharp-eyed followers quickly connected the dots when the 25-year-old model shared a video featuring a man dancing in the background, wearing that exact same outfit and distinctive timepiece. The plot thickened when both of them checked into the same lodge at…

The South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) has issued a stark warning after reports surfaced of criminals pretending to be TV licence inspectors to gain access to people’s homes and commit robberies. The alert follows a message circulating on social media claiming that inspectors were visiting households, a claim the SABC said is completely false. “The SABC wishes to remind the public that it has not appointed any inspectors or officials to conduct physical inspections of television sets in homes,” the broadcaster said. Members of the public are urged to report immediately to police anyone claiming to be an SABC representative attempting to enter a residence. Such individuals are not authorised by the SABC and are attempting to exploit residents under false pretences. SABC spokesperson Mmoni Ngubane stressed that all communication…

ANC Secretary General (SG) Fikile Mbalula has delivered a stern message to councillors in the North West, urging them to prioritise tangible service delivery over “speaking big English” to communities. This strong message by the ANC SG was delivered during a community meeting held at the Mamakato Community Hall in Rustenburg on Tuesday. “ANC councillors have a responsibility to ensure that services are delivered to our people at all times. They should go into our communities and ensure they deliver on what they promise and not speak big English, but rather be on the ground and resolve all service delivery challenges faced by our people,” Mbalula charged. The SG pointedly noted that councillors who are disconnected from the communities they serve cannot effectively advocate for their needs. “We cannot have…

As families in Polokwane mourn the deaths of four children amid a deepening water contamination crisis, ActionSA has accused the city’s leadership of abandoning residents at their most vulnerable, vowing to escalate the matter to the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) and the Public Protector. The condemnation follows an urgent oversight visit by ActionSA to the Polokwane Municipality on Monday, where the party said it was met with a complete absence of leadership as residents grappled with fears over unsafe water. Malebo Kobe, an ActionSA Member of Parliament, said the party was shocked to find both the mayor and the municipal manager on leave at the height of the crisis. “Upon arriving at the municipality, we were surprised to find both the mayor and municipal manager on leave, leaving…

While the legal battle over the publication of the matric results is still ongoing, matrics awaiting their results will be able to access it via their local newspapers. Gauteng Department of Education spokesperson Steve Mabona yesterday confirmed that this will be the case. “There was a decision on this matter and yes, the results will be available in the newspapers,” Mabona said. The Information Regulator (IR), however, maintained that the information cannot be published in light of the pending appeal. The Gauteng High Court, Pretoria, in December turned down an application by the IR for an order barring the publication of the results. Three judges ruled that the results may be published, but that this had to be done by only using the candidate’s exam number. The IR, however, maintains…

We get behind the wheel of many different cars, but it’s rare to find one that turns heads and sparks curiosity across such a wide range of people. Most sportscars get a thumbs-up or a smile and loud firespitting cars always turn heads but when I got behind the wheel of the silent electric MG Cyberster, I wasn’t prepared for the way people reacted. No matter where I stopped, there were always people asking more about the car, and the single biggest reason was simply the way it looks and the striking colour. Exterior The Cyberster is no wallflower, with its scissor doors and soft top it shouts “look at me” at the top of its voice. It’s like a sportscar a child would draw if asked what their ideal…

AS Kaizer Chiefs turned 56 years old yesterday, the discerning Amakhosi fan would have been tempted to say the “Glamour Boys” of South African football are truly approaching the proverbial retirement age. After all, the team that once dominated the local game is seemingly off the boil — the one-time cup kings are playing second fiddle to arch-enemies Orlando Pirates while watching Mamelodi Sundowns rule the roost in the championship. But out at Taung Village in Naturena, the club’s headquarters, the outlook was highly positive as they cut the cake and celebrated yet another birthday for a club that has been painstakingly built to become arguably one of the biggest brands — not just in football but overall — in South Africa. Football manager Bobby Motaung — who, ironically, also…

PROTEAS batting coach Ashwell Prince has reiterated the importance of getting game time in the SA20 for the T20 World Cup-bound players, especially those returning from injury, including Kagiso Rabada, Anrich Nortje and David Miller. On paper, the Proteas T20 World Cup squad is filled with seasoned professionals, with Aiden Markram set to lead the side in his second ICC event after steering the team to the final in the previous edition of the showpiece. However, a deeper dive into the squad reveals that several key players are set to head into the World Cup with little to no recent international game time. Fast bowlers Rabada and Kwena Maphaka missed the Proteas T20I series in India due to injuries, while Nortje and Miller only returned during that series. At least…

Agricultural associations have welcomed decisive action by the Limpopo provincial government to curb the spread of Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD), but have cautioned that stricter movement controls could place added pressure on farmers if not efficiently implemented. Earlier this week, Limpopo’s Department of Agriculture and Rural Development introduced new requirements for pre-approved permits and risk-based assessments for the movement of cloven-hoofed animals into, within and out of the province. The measures apply to cattle, sheep, goats, pigs and game, and take effect immediately until further notice. The department said the regulations are grounded in the Animal Diseases Act, 1984 (Act No. 35 of 1984), under which FMD is declared a controlled animal disease. The Act empowers veterinary authorities to prescribe control measures to prevent the spread of animal diseases…

The European Union is taking a “very serious” look at Elon Musk’s Grok after the artificial intelligence-powered chatbot generated sexualised images of people including minors on the social media platform X. “We are aware of the fact that X or Grok is now offering a ‘Spicy Mode’ showing explicit sexual content with some output generated with childlike images,” commission spokesperson Thomas Regnier said at a press conference, referring to a setting that Grok debuted last year to generate suggestive material. “This is not spicy. This is illegal.” Users of X have been prompting Grok to digitally remove clothing from photos - often of women - so the subjects appeared to be wearing only underwear or bikinis. The proliferation of these images on a popular social media platform has alarmed regulators…

South African consumers are heading into 2026 carrying a heavy debt load, prompting renewed warnings from debt and credit experts that households need to make careful financial decisions to avoid sinking deeper into financial distress. Neil Roets, CEO of Debt Rescue, said the organisation is increasingly concerned about the level of debt consumers are bringing into the new year. While January is traditionally a financially demanding month, he said the pressure in 2026 is far more severe. “Households are starting the year already weighed down by accumulated debt, back-to-school costs, and essential living expenses that continue to rise faster than incomes can stretch,” Roets said. “Even with some welcome relief in fuel prices, many consumers are still living on extremely narrow margins, where one unforeseen cost can derail an already…

Fourteen South Africans who were detained in Thailand are expected to be deported back to South Africa in the coming days after allegedly being recruited for overseas jobs that did not materialise as promised. The group was reportedly approached in South Africa by a recruiter offering work in the information technology sector before travelling to Thailand. Families of the detainees say the employment arrangements turned out to be vastly different from what had been presented to them. One relative, speaking on behalf of a detained family member, told the SABC that the group was prevented from communicating with people outside Thailand and was held in poor and degrading conditions, including cramped cells, limited access to basic hygiene facilities and little information about their legal options. The public broadcaster reported that…

An elderly man from Ngojini in Ngqeleni has been arrested and charged with murder following the death of his 14-year-old son. Eastern Cape police said the incident allegedly arose after the child used his father’s bank card without permission. Police spokesperson Brigadier Nobuntu Gantana said police responded on Tuesday morning. “Preliminary investigations indicate that on the evening of Monday, at approximately 10 pm, the father allegedly assaulted the teenager with a sjambok and a stick. “The victim was reportedly tied with a rope and kept inside the house overnight.” Police said the teenager was found dead at around 4 am on Tuesday morning. “It is alleged that the assault was precipitated by the deceased stealing his father’s bank card and using it to purchase goods from a local spaza shop.”…

The bombardment of Venezuela and capture of President Nicolás Maduro echoes a long history of US interventions in Latin America since the Cold War. Washington’s influence in the region has taken many forms since the 19th century, ranging from economic leverage and diplomatic pressure to direct military action. While outright invasions have been relatively rare, the United States has repeatedly intervened during moments of political upheaval, most notably in Panama in 1989, when US forces captured the country’s strongman ruler, Manuel Noriega. Elsewhere, US involvement has more often unfolded out of public view. Covert operations and political pressure contributed to the downfall of elected governments and the rise of military regimes in countries including Brazil, Chile and Argentina during the Cold War. By contrast, open US military interventions have largely…

A widow and her two minor children are expected to receive R3.7 million from the Road Accident Fund (RAF) after the death of her husband and father to her children in a motorcycle accident. The widow turned to the Northwest High Court, sitting in Mafikeng, to claim loss of support from the RAF, as her husband was the family’s breadwinner. The RAF earlier accepted liability towards the woman and the children, and the matter was subsequently back in court to determine the amount with which she should be compensated. The court confirmed the deceased’s legal duty to support both the plaintiff and the minor children in terms of the Constitution and the Children’s Act. Despite actuarial evidence suggesting a 53% reduction in the amount the widow should receive based on…

South African Moto3 rider Ruche Moodley is looking forward to a smooth 2026 season after navigating a challenging debut campaign. Riding for BOE Motorsports, Moodley became the third South African in the paddock, joining Darryn and Brad Binder in other MotoGP classes. The Gqeberha-born rider not only became the third South African on the world stage but also made history as the first rider of colour from South Africa – and indeed from the entire continent – to compete at this level. He scored 14 points over the season and finished 27th, enduring a stop-start campaign disrupted by injuries that tested both his focus and his determination. Despite the setbacks, the 19-year-old has had his contract extended with the Spanish outfit and remains confident about what lies ahead. “The injuries…

Willie le Roux has always been a player that the fans tend to either love or hate, and it was the former emotion that pervaded Bulls supporters at the conclusion of last week’s enthralling north-south derby in Cape Town. In the last movement of the game, with the Stormers leading 13-8 but with the Bulls in possession, the Springbok full-back chose not to keep the ball in hand. Instead, he sent a speculative kick to the open-side touchline, but it sailed over the head of chasing Bulls wing Stravino Jacobs and into touch. The final whistle went, that was that for the Bulls, and a groan erupted out of Pretoria, followed by the collective refrain, ”Why the heck did he kick it?!” Why indeed … After the match, Bulls coach…

Four-time wheelchair tennis Grand Slam doubles champion Kgothatso “KG” Montjane is eager to put the heartache of 2025 behind her as she resumes her pursuit of a fifth major title at the Australian Open later this month. South Africa’s most decorated tennis player experienced a year of sharp contrasts in 2025. On court, Montjane continued to cement her status among the elite of women’s wheelchair tennis, lifting the French Open doubles title alongside her longtime Japanese partner Yui Kamiji and reaching the Wimbledon singles semi-finals in another reminder of her enduring class. Off court, however, she endured profound personal loss that tested her resilience more than any opponent ever could. “Last year was my toughest year, where I was dealing with the loss of my mom and still I’m grieving,…