Table of contents for 2025-08-18 in Star

Barloworld set to delist from JSE as Saudi Arabia’s Zahid Group takes shareholding The Competition Tribunal has granted approval for the acquisition of industrial giant Barloworld by Newco, contingent upon fulfilling specific public interest and empowerment criteria aimed at benefiting historically-disadvantaged persons (HDPs) in South Africa. This heralds a significant shift not only for Barloworld but for its employees, as the merger promises structural changes rooted in empowerment and employee participation. Former executives in Barloworld are acquiring the group through Entsha Proprietary Limited, while Saudi Zahid Group is the other shareholder in Newco. With Newco intending to bump up its shareholding in the South African company, Barloworld will ultimately be delisted from the JSE. The merging parties, through their legal representative, told the Competition Tribunal hearing last week that the…

The International Court of Justice’s (ICJ) advisory opinion of July 23, 2025 marks a defining moment in international climate law. For South Africa, it is not a verdict of limitation; it is a verdict of leadership. The ruling invites developing nations to act decisively while balancing growth, justice and innovation. As the only African country to preside over the G20 and a principal voice within BRICS, South Africa’s role is pivotal. It must now demonstrate how technological solutions, fiscal diplomacy and climate justice can co-exist without sacrificing energy security or economic dignity. The ICJ has clarified that climate harm constitutes a breach of international obligations. States must prevent foreseeable damage, protect vulnerable populations and pursue mitigation aligned with the 1.5°C global target. This reinforces the principle of common but differentiated…

The All Share index on the JSE remains strong after a third consecutive week of record levels. The index ended last Wednesday at 100 278 points and closed on Friday marginally lower at 100 950 points, gaining 1.2% for the week and is already 21.3% higher since the beginning of the year. Due to the stronger Rand exchange rate and the effect of the lower interest rates on financial institutions, the financial index performed exceptionally last week. The Fin 15 increased by 3.5% last week. This is more than half the total acceleration for the year-to-date. This index, as a proxy of domestic sentiment, indicates an improvement in confidence. This is echoed by the healthy recovery and increase in the Business Confidence index. Recovery in Business confidence in RSA The…

Sibanye Stillwater’s share price gave up some of its sharp 12-month gains and fell 3.5% on Friday after it reported impairments for its US platinum operations and on its Keliber lithium project, and despite forecasting a 19-times increase in headline earnings per share (HEPS). The multinational mining and metals processing group headquartered in South Africa with gold and platinum and other operations on five continents said HEPS for the six months to June 30 was expected to be between 180 cents and 200 cents, representing an increase of more than 100% compared with the 10 cents reported last year. The basic earnings per share loss was expected to be between 120 cents and 133 cents, a 55% to 60% improvement compared to an EPS loss of 259 cents in the…

Bonko Khoza is the definition of TV gold. The 33-year-old has rapidly established himself as one of South Africa’s most captivating leading men. Khoza appeared on the small screen early in his career in SABC1’s comedy-drama 13 Weeks to Find Mr Right, but his big break came when he was cast on Showmax’s The Wife as Mqhele Zulu – a role that saw him dubbed “the national husband” by fans hooked by his charm. After his exit in season two, he continued to entertain viewers in a string of popular productions, including Red Ink, Heart of the Hunter, The Woman King, The Drop, and Netflix’s Marked, which is currently making waves around the globe. But Khoza’s latest role promises to capture the public’s imagination even further. Come September 7, Khoza…

A grieving family in Boksburg North may have to wait up to 10 years for a toxicology report after the death of their 41-year-old son, a father of two, sparking outrage. The family was promised the autopsy report within eight weeks in April, but has since been bounced between three police stations and mortuary offices, left without answers. “The waiting is unbearable, and it feels like justice is being denied to us,” said the family, too distraught to speak publicly, relying on DA Gauteng Health spokesperson and MPL Madeleine Hicklin to speak on their behalf. Earlier this year, their son underwent what was meant to be a routine neck surgery, which was aborted mid-procedure due to scar tissue from radiation treatment in 2010. Surgeons performed an emergency tracheotomy to help…

A dramatic multi-disciplinary police operation in the Nkangala District has led to the arrest of a suspect and the recovery of stolen property following a house robbery at a farm near the Kusile Power Station in Delmas. The incident took place last week, when five armed men allegedly stormed the property and made off with vehicles, livestock, and household goods. Among the stolen items were a silver Ford Ranger Club Cab, 11 sheep, 50 egg-laying chickens, a silver BMW, a generator, a fridge, jumper cables, and several cellphones. With the assistance of a tracking company, police traced the stolen Ford Ranger, a BMW, and a silver Mazda, all believed to have been used in the crime. The vehicles were spotted along the R42 between Bronkhorstspruit and Delmas, sparking a high-speed…

The Gauteng Department of Education (GDE) said it’s in the final stages of appointing an independent investigative law firm to probe the tragic death of a Grade 3 boy learner from Alberview Primary School, in Alberton, Ekurhuleni. The boy died on August 1, after sustaining an injury at the school field that morning. “The independent investigation will probe circumstances surrounding this tragic incident,” said the department spokesperson, Steve Mabona. “Our Psycho-Social Support Unit was deployed to the school to provide necessary support for all who were affected by the incident. The family and all stakeholders will be engaged once the GDE has the independent investigative law firm onboard for necessary introductions and outlining of terms of reference accordingly,” added Mabona. Meanwhile, MEC Chiloane expressed his condolences to the boy’s family,…

Transport Minister Barbara Creecy has attributed the disuse of trains refurbished by the Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (Prasa) to infrastructure damage caused by theft and vandalism that affected the railway lines where the old fleet could be used. Creecy said Prasa has embarked on a rebuilding and recovery programme to revitalise the lines and introduce new trains in the recovered lines. “The old fleet trains may be best utilised in lines and corridors that are mainly outside the metros. Most of these lines are owned by Transnet, and Prasa is in discussion with Transnet on the recovery of these lines for use to transport passengers,” she said. Some of the refurbished old fleet trains are being used in the Eastern Cape and Western Cape, said Creecy when responding…

The Department of Correctional Services has plans to address smuggling and overcrowding in correctional facilities, with Minister Dr Pieter Groenewald revealing this during a visit to KwaZulu-Natal. Groenewald said that following a prison raid, they try to determine which officials were involved in smuggling contraband and disciplinary action is taken. “Since I became the minister, 155 officials’ services were ended with Correctional Services because they were part of contraband smuggling,” Groenewald said. “The actions we are taking, of course, depend on what we find. If it is drugs, for instance, we call the police to come in and they lay further charges.” Groenewald said that in July, Correctional Services National Commissioner, Makgothi Thobakgale, conducted seven raids. “We do identify the hotspots, and if you look at some annual statistics, more…

Russia announced curbs on calls on the WhatsApp and Telegram messenger apps last week Wednesday, saying that this was necessary to fight criminality, state media reported. “In order to combat criminals, measures are being taken to partially restrict calls on these foreign messaging apps (WhatsApp and Telegram),” communications watchdog Roskomnadzor said, as quoted by the RIA and TASS news agencies. The messenger apps have become “the main voice services used for fraud and extortion, and for involving Russian citizens in subversive and terrorist activities,” the watchdog added. Russian security services have frequently claimed that Ukraine was using Telegram to recruit people or commit acts of sabotage in Russia. Moscow wants the messengers to provide access to data upon request from law enforcement, not only for fraud probes but also for…

Thousands of jobs in Gauteng are on the line due to the termination of the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) and the introduction of punitive trade tariffs imposed by the United States (US) President Donald Trump’s administration. According to MEC Tasneem Motara, who replied to my oral question in the Gauteng Provincial Legislature (GPL), should AGOA not be renewed beyond September, Gauteng exporters stand to lose duty-free access to US markets. This will directly affect jobs, market share, and industrial capacity. Jobs that are most at risk are those in the automotive, agriculture, chemical and manufacturing industries, which dominate AGOA- linked exports. These exports made up over 61% of South Africa’s AGOA exports in 2024. Gauteng hosts nearly 37% of South Africa’s automotive workforce, with manufacturers such as Ford,…

As Women’s Month continues to be commemorated in South Africa with colourful banners and applause, it is worth noting that for many women and girls, the struggle for equal opportunity is a daily lived experience. Efforts to empower women and girls in South Africa have not resulted in an impactful shift in addressing historical disparities. The labour market continues to favour men and shows minimal signs of making real progress towards improving prospects for women. Stats SA’s latest Quarterly Labour Force Survey for the second quarter of 2025 reveals ongoing disparities in the labour market. A media statement by Stats SA notes that the unemployment rate for women in this period was 35.9% compared with 31.0% for men, a gap of 4.9 percentage points. “These differences reflect persistent gender imbalances…

Abdeslam Ouaddou says he knows what is expected of Orlando Pirates this season, which is why they will never give up until they meet those expectations. Pirates drew 1-1 with Mamelodi Sundowns in the MTN8 semi-final first leg on Saturday afternoon at Orlando Stadium in Soweto. Sundowns took the lead in the first half through Teboho Mokoena before Kamogelo Sebelele equalised late for the hosts. Before levelling matters, Pirates appeared headed for defeat — something that could have been disastrous for Ouaddou, possibly even costing him his job. The 46-year-old went into the match under pressure, having lost his first two Betway Premiership games despite beating Polokwane City in the MTN8 opener. Critics had questioned Ouaddou for chopping and changing his squad, favouring new signings instead of building on the…

Bafana Bafana coach Molefi Ntseki is banking on his players’ individual and collective international experience to prove vital in their crucial final CHAN group stage match. Bafana will face co-hosts Uganda at the Mandela National Stadium in their last Group C match on Monday night (7pm kick-off). Ntseki’s men must win the clash to qualify for the knockout stage, as they currently sit third with five points, one behind log leaders Uganda, known as the Cranes. The hosts are expected to be formidable opponents, with supporters likely to pack the stadium and rally behind their team. Despite his squad being largely made up of free agents, Ntseki believes they have sufficient experience to survive in hostile environments. “Some of them have played for the national team and at AFCON before,”…

An investigation conducted by the World Economic Forum's board on Friday cleared the body's founder Klaus Schwab and his wife of wrongdoing, after a probe into whistleblower complaints. "Following a thorough review of all facts, the Board has concluded that ... there is no evidence of material wrongdoing by Klaus Schwab," the board announced. In April, the Wall Street Journal reported that an anonymous letter sent to the prestigious institution's board of directors accused Schwab and his wife Hilde of mixing their personal affairs with Forum resources without proper oversight. A spokesperson for Schwab had immediately denied all these accusations, but the 87-year-old said he would step down as head of the WEF. The board of the WEF, best known for its annual summit for political and business elites in…

Cosatu applauds the tabling of the Insourcing Bill at Parliament. The Federation eagerly looks forward to its passage into law and implementation by organs across the state. This progressive and, indeed, long overdue Bill requires state organs to insource security, cleaning, gardening, catering, transport, administrative, healthcare, maintenance, information technology, auditing amongst other functions and, where this is not possible, to seek authorisation for such an exemption under specific conditions and criteria. State organs clearly specified by the Bill include national and provincial departments, municipalities, entities and State-Owned Enterprises. This bold and timely Bill speaks to Cosatu’s principled demand to insource key functions performed by various state organs. It responds to long-standing resolutions of the Federation and the ANC and the Tripartite Alliance. The call to insource has been…

Stadio Holdings, the JSE-listed private higher education company, continued a 12-month rise in its share price on Friday after it predicted that core headline earnings per share (HEPS) will increase between 22.8% and 32.7% for the six months to June 30. In a trading statement, the company forecast core HEPS to be between 19.9 cents and 21.5 cents, compared with 16.2 cents for the same period a year before. The group utilises core headline earnings, which is headline earnings adjusted for certain non-recurring items, to measure and benchmark the underlying performance of its business. Earnings per share (EPS) were expected to be between 20 cents and 21.6 cents, being between 22.7% and 32.5% higher than the 16.3 cents EPS reported for the six-month period in 2024. HEPS will be between…

South Africans are renowned for their love for the bush, with Mzansi’s breathtaking natural surroundings also attracting scores of travellers from across the globe. Whether it’s for the chance to catch a glimpse of one of the Big 5 in action or to unwind in scenic settings under the embrace of the African sun, the nation’s nature resorts are a hot commodity. Then there is the beloved South African hospitality, as well as those khaki fits, which have generated plenty of viral fashion trends. With all of this in mind, local film-maker Brett Michael Innes decided to put a comical and raunchy spin on the country’s bush culture with Khaki Fever, a new film premiering on Showmax next month. The Afrikaans comedy, which Innes wrote and produced with his husband…

South African musician Young Stunna, born Sandile Msimango, is overjoyed after hitting a career milestone he’s long envisioned. The Durban-born rapper recently featured on singer Shekhinah’s track, marking a moment he describes as a dream finally coming true. “Amaphupho ayafezeka (dreams do come true). I’m so speechless, I have been waiting for this moment my whole life, and I wish I could go back and tell my younger self wagwan in ‘25’, man.” “When big sis hit me up for this, I could not believe it because I am a big fan. Thank you so much for trusting me with this one, sis. Ticked another wish on the list,” he shared on Instagram, conveying both gratitude and awe at collaborating with one of his biggest musical inspirations. The track, Spoonky,…

Gauteng police have shut down their investigation into the disappearance of Sedibeng’s R465 000 mayoral chain, with no arrests made and the symbolic piece of regalia still missing more than two years later. This follows the mysterious disappearance of the mayoral chain after the State of the District Address on June 23, 2023. Mayor Lerato Maloka had allegedly placed it on a shelf in her office, but it was never seen again. A case of theft was only officially opened in November 2023, nearly five months after the chain disappeared. The lengthy delay in reporting the matter has fuelled speculation about possible cover-ups and raised questions about why immediate steps were not taken to recover the costly ceremonial item. Police spokesperson Colonel Dimakatso Nevhuhulwi confirmed that no arrests had been…

Thirteen years after the Marikana tragedy, which resulted in the death of 34 miners in the mining village of Marikana in the North West Province, the victims and their widows are said to be still searching for justice for the slain miners. This past Saturday marked 13 years since police gunned down 34 striking workers, while at least 10 people, including police and security officers, were killed in the weeks leading up to the bloodshed. Scores of residents, including families of the victims and other prominent figures, gathered at the Marikana Koppie with Advocate Dali Mpofu, accusing the government of moving at a snail’s pace in compensating the victims of their tragedy and their families. Mpofu, who represented the miners, also indicated that the government has so far paid more…

People with disabilities on Saturday complained bitterly about being ignored and not fully represented at the first national convention of the National Dialogue at the University of SA’s main campus in Pretoria. Members of President Cyril Ramaphosa’s Presidential Working Group on Disability expressed their unhappiness about the exclusion of representatives of the sector from gathering. In letter read during the plenary, the working group stated that while it commended the vision behind the dialogue to foster unity, social cohesion and a renewed social compact, it was disheartened that voices from the disability sector appear to have been excluded from the process. “We, the members of the Presidential Working Group on Disability, write to express our deep concerns regarding the lack of meaningful inclusion of persons with disabilities in the planning…

A 43-year-old Gauteng man handed himself over to police after he was wanted for allegedly using fraudulent documents to buy a R1.7 million Porsche Cayenne. Police spokesperson, Warrant Officer Thatohatsi Mavimbela, said Lucky Kgomotso Mokwena has been charged with fraud and made his first appearance in the Alexandra Magistrate’s Court immediately after handing himself over to authorities last week Wednesday, August 13. Mavimbela explained that in 2017, Mokwena fraudulently applied for a vehicle financing at WesBank allegedly using false documentation to qualify for financial assistace. “Due to this, the application was approved, and the suspect purchased a Porsche Cayenne value at R1.7m,” said Mavimbela. After Mavimbela failed to honour the payment agreement, the matter was reported to the Hawks’ Serious Commercial Crime Investigation, and investigations revealed that the documents used…

The digital revolution has brought with it an unprecedented ease of access to information. However, as our reliance on artificial intelligence (AI) grows, a new, potentially lethal threat has emerged: the dangerously persuasive power of AI chatbots when it comes to our health. While a quick search for symptoms online has long been a source of anxiety, a recent, alarming case highlights how generative AI can lead to severe, real-world harm. In a recent case, a 60-year-old man, seeking to reduce his salt intake, turned to ChatGPT for dietary advice instead of consulting a medical professional. The AI chatbot suggested he replace sodium chloride (common table salt) with sodium bromide. Sodium bromide, while having some historic medicinal uses, is now primarily an industrial chemical and is toxic in large doses.…

A total of 97% of schools identified in 2018 for the Sanitation Appropriate for Education (SAFE) programme have been provided with safe and appropriate sanitation facilities as of July, Basic Education Minister Siviwe Gwarube said. “The Department of Basic Education has advised that, as of 1 July, out of the total 3 372 schools identified for intervention through the Sanitation Appropriate for Education (SAFE) Initiative, a total of 3 254 schools (97%) had been provided with safe and appropriate sanitation facilities,” Gwarube said. She was responding to IFP MP Siphosethu Ngcobo when he asked about the progress made in eradicating pit latrines at public schools in each province since the launch of the SAFE initiative in 2018. Gwarube’s responses showed that the breakdown of schools in the Eastern Cape was…

PROTEAS coach Shukri Conrad has backed Aiden Markram to rediscover his form in the upcoming ODI series against Australia. Markram endured a lean T20I series, which the Aussies won 2-1 off the penultimate ball of the decider in Cairns on Saturday evening. The skipper’s contribution across the three matches was a paltry 31 runs at an average of 10.30. It would be easy to brush Markram’s poor return by the way side had it been a once-off. But the 30-year-old has been searching for form since before last year’s T20 World Cup when he led the Proteas to a first-ever final. In fact, his last T20I half-century was at the previous T20 World Cup back in October 2022 against India in Perth. He has walked to crease 31 times since…

Chechen-born MMA superstar Khamzat Chimaev broke South Africa’s Dricus du Plessis’ nine-fight UFC winning streak to become the new Middleweight champion of the world today. “In the last round I went for it... I almost had it... but it didn’t happen.” said Du Plessis after the fight, apologising to South Africa for “letting you down”. Fighting out of the United Center in Chicago, Illinois, Chimaev dominated Du Plessis over five rounds with elite grappling and wrestling to which Du Plessis had no answer. From the first round, Chimaev enjoyed early takedowns and top control as he restricted Du Plessis’ movement and breathing with a beautiful crucifix. Chimaev dominates Du Plessis with wrestling prowess and striking For more than two minutes, Chimaev had the South African in that position as he…

The National Association of Automotive Component and Allied Manufacturers (NAACAM) 2025 show revealed that South African manufacturers are poised to reap significant benefits from the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). Unveiling the latest industry insights, Luthando Vuba, executive head of international trade at Standard Bank Group's Business and Commercial Banking, last week highlighted how the AfCFTA is paving the way for South African suppliers to deepen their presence in burgeoning automotive markets across Africa. Emerging automotive hubs in countries like Morocco, Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya, and Egypt demonstrate an increasing demand for South African components, ranging from engine parts and tyres to cutting-edge Electric Vehicle (EV) technologies. Vuba pointed out that while the sector showed resilience, it faced challenges. He said the latest data from NAACAM revealed a contraction of…

Thousands of bank accounts are being closed in South Africa on the basis of reputational risk despite legislative changes in the United States that seek to stop this. Reputational risk as a metric is a slippery slope. Banks do so on the basis of negative media press. Banks use data platforms LexisNexis, World Online and World-Check that aggregates news from media outlets. The problem is that these articles that flag reputational risk lack any forensic or legal basis. Banks don't have to verify if the perceived reputational risk carries weight and on the basis of the negative articles they can debank you whether the news is true or not. The irony is that the banks themselves, such as Standard Bank and Nedbank, are also flagged by the Zondo Commission for…

Why is the 15th of August - a chaotic and shambolic moment in South Africa - so impactful? It ran for two days, two days ago – the National Convention that launched the National Dialogue. To sketch the background that led to this very moment it was during the last Cabinet Lekgotla that President Thabo Mbeki presided over in July 2008. On the agenda was the discussion of South Africa’s scenarios, the second in the series from the first launched as Memories of the Future: South African Scenarios to 2014: Welcome to Foresight For Development. The first scenarios had four possible outcomes: Dudisanang, Sgud S’ Nais, Skedonk and Shosholoza. By all counts by 2007, South Africa was on a Shosholoza Scenario of high hope, high economic growth, declining unemployment with…

Prime Kapital Investments (PKI) said Friday that it had acquired 14.38% of the shares of JSE-listed eastern and central European property group MAS Real Estate, following an offer to buy out all of its shareholders. Following the settlement of the voluntary bid, PKI will own 254.09 million MAS shares, or 36.32% of its share capital. PKI, with other shareholders deemed to be concert parties, will jointly hold 49.4% of MAS's shares. It brings to a conclusion one aspect of the corporate battles being fought in MAS - South African REIT Hyprop withdrew a competing bid for MAS weeks ago, because MAS and its development joint venture partner (DJV) PKI had allegedly refused to provide Hyprop with the required documentation to make a bid. PKI’s offer to buy all of MAS’…

The Gauteng Provincial Legislature’s Portfolio Committee on Community Safety is set to join the community of Eldorado Park and various civil society organisations at the Protea Magistrate’s Court today. This gathering arises from the formal bail application for two parents charged with the heinous murder, rape, and abuse of their four-year-old child, who lived in Eldorado Park. The tragic incident that has led to these charges has sent shockwaves through the community and beyond, with many expressing disbelief and outrage that such violence could occur, allegedly within a family setting. The circumstances surrounding the child’s death have sparked a deeper conversation about child protection, domestic violence, and the responsibilities of parents. “The Committee has consistently emphasised the need for the State to oppose bail for the accused and has called…

A probe is under way to establish the cause of the devastating fire that gutted a tyre factory in Rosslyn in Pretoria North amid claims by the DA that the City of Tshwane refused assistance from private fire fighters during the blaze on Saturday. Lindsay Mnguni, spokesperson for the Tshwane Emergency Services Department, disputed the DA’s claims, saying the department responded promptly to the fire and deployed sufficient resources to the scene to carry out effective firefighting operations. He said the team deployed to fight fire consisted of 57 firefighters, seven command staff, five water tankers, two fire engines, one ladder truck, one mobile command unit, one hazardous materials unit, two district commander vehicles, two foam tenders and two rapid intervention units. “Five additional water tankers from the Water and…

Economic Freedom Fighters leader Julius Malema speaking during the Siyabonga rally held at Seshego in Polokwane, Limpopo on Saturday, criticised the National Dialogue. Malema lambasted the dialogue using money, which the government does not have, yet people do not have services needed. “While it was disorganised, it was just government elite that was all over the place. “It really did not serve any purpose. If anything, it was saving the egos of certain people, and therefore it was a waste of money. “NGOs and people who participated in that preparations suggested that it must be postponed, because they are not ready only to go and embarrass themselves the way they did. “We don’t support this convention. We don’t support the national dialogue. “We know the demands of our people. We…

The South African National Defence Force (SANDF) chief General Rudzani Maphwanya’s recent visit to Iran, where he reportedly pledged military and political support for the country, could deepen tensions between South Africa and the US. This according to international relations expert, Dr Noluthando Phungula, who said South Africa’s ties with Iran have been a bone of contention with the US. Maphwanya, who travelled to Iran last week Tuesday, held meetings with several high-ranking military officials, including Major General Aziz Nasizadeh, Iran’s defence minister, Major General Abdolrahim Mousavi, the chief of staff of the Iranian Armed Forces, and General Amir Hatami, the Iranian commander. The trip was aimed at strengthening military cooperation. According to Iranian newspaper Tehran Times, Maphwanya said that the two countries had common goals, and always stood alongside…

Gideon Chitanga (Star, 6 August) gives a one-sided view of the USA. Had it not been for the US, Europeans may now be mainly German-speaking, and Japanese the language of the East. Which country prevented Russia from extending its influence during the Cold War? Which country has been financing NATO and other world bodies for decades? There is much to denounce colonialism for, and apartheid in South Africa was the height of human evil. The Western world’s history of slavery is nothing to be proud of, but it would shatter readers to watch the video, “The Horrifying Arab Slave Trade That History Forgot”. And before that, it was the Romans. The character of Donald Trump may not be everyone’s cup of tea, but he is doing more for the US…

The City of Johannesburg has once again suffered a setback in its efforts to proceed with a mixed housing development to de-densify informal settlements in the Greater Ivory Park area, as the properties earmarked for this project are being occupied by more than 250 homeless people. The City and the occupiers of the land have been embroiled over the years in numerous legal applications – some brought by the City and others by the occupiers who want to be left alone. Both parties have scored minor victories over the years, but the fight for the land is still continuing. In the latest legal tussle, the City turned to the Gauteng High Court, Johannesburg, to obtain an urgent eviction order against these homeless people. In this latest ruling, the court said…

I’m not sure if Rassie Erasmus is familiar with the poetry of Robbie Burns, but he will grasp the drift of the famous line: “The best-laid plans of mice and men often go awry.” That is precisely what happened at Ellis Park over the weekend, where the plan the Boks produced from a three-week training camp yielded 22 wonderful points in 20 minutes, only for the scoring spree to give way to 38 unanswered points as the Wallabies roared home in the second half. It appeared that the Boks were lured into Barbarians-style rugby and forgot that Test matches are won by first doing the hard yards. In short, they departed from their DNA of physicality, territorial kicking and set-piece dominance, and instead did an impersonation of the Blitzboks. To…

Chelsea suffered a Fifa Club World Cup hangover as they were fortunate to escape with a 0-0 draw against Crystal Palace in their Premier League opener on Sunday. Palace were denied an early goal when Eberechi Eze’s free-kick was ruled out following a VAR review, with Marc Guehi adjudged to have obstructed the Chelsea wall. New Chelsea signing Estevão came closest to finding a breakthrough for the home side, but the newly-crowned world champions were blunt in attack against a disciplined Palace defence. The Eagles’ key duo of Guehi and Eze started despite mounting speculation that the England internationals are set to join Liverpool and Tottenham, respectively. “As long as they are 100% committed, they will play, as they are so good,” said Palace boss Oliver Glasner. “They didn’t…

After their promising start to the Betway Premiership season, which saw Kaizer Chiefs secure two victories in their opening games, the team has enjoyed a few days of tranquillity ahead of Tuesday’s game against winless visitors Richards Bay. Two Premiership rounds in, the team’s triumphs and clean sheets have also fostered a sense of calm within the squad as they gear up for their upcoming encounter. Mzansi’s most beloved football club, Chiefs frequently face sky-high expectations from their devoted fanbase. The weight of these expectations can be burdensome, especially in moments of defeat. However, the recent victories have alleviated some of that pressure, inspiring confidence that could prove pivotal in their next fixture. In the enforced absence of Nasreddine Nabi, assistant coaches Khalil Ben Youssef and Cédric Kaze have been…