The Star - March 31, 2025

In this issue

March 31, 2025

Ramaphosa says the Budget will be passed, with or without the DA

PRESIDENT Cyril Ramaphosa has expressed confidence that the budget will still be approved, regardless of the opposition from the DA.

1 min

United States cuts military defence ties to South Africa

IN A SIGNIFICANT development that marks a further deterioration in relations between South Africa and the United States, Washington has announced the suspension of military assistance and cooperation with the South African National Defence Force (SANDF).

2 mins

DADA MORERO SAVES THE DAY, FOR NOW

JOHANNESBURG mayor Dad \"Dada\" Morero is applying \"diplomatic sensitivity\" to the proposed name change that would turn Sandton Drive into Leila Khaled Drive.

2 mins

Tshwane's municipal rates and services set to increase from July 1

RATEPAYERS in the City of Tshwane can expect to pay more for municipal rates and services starting from July 1 after the tabling of Metro's draft budget for the 2025/26 financial year.

2 mins

Families reunited after Myanmar trafficking

THE 23 South Africans who were trafficked to Myanmar with the promise of lucrative job opportunities and repatriated back home last week have been reunited with their families and will continue to receive psychosocial support.

1 min

Operation Shanela tackles crime in Ekangala, Bronkhorstspruit

OPERATION Shanela is making waves in the fight against crime as authorities continue to dismantle criminal networks in a recent sweep across the rural precincts of Ekangala and Bronkhorstspruit, 351 suspects were apprehended, and an unlicensed firearm was seized, marking another significant victory for law enforcement.

1 min

Tshwane Economic Development Agency offers graduate internships

IN A BID to boost employment opportunities for graduates and provide them with valuable work experience and skills development, a municipal parastatal, Tshwane Economic Development Agency (Teda), is calling for graduates to apply for 12-month internship positions at the entity.

1 min

Teenager who raped three boys jailed to 60 years

A NORTHERN Cape teenager who raped three minor boys from the time he was 14 years old has been sentenced to 60 years in jail.

1 min

Court ruling on lifesaving cancer treatment welcomed by advocates

SECTION27 and Cancer Alliance, welcome the judgment handed down today by the Johannesburg High Court in the matter of Cancer Alliance v MEC for Health, Gauteng, and 10 others, declaring the failure of the Gauteng Department of Health (GDoH) to manage and desaster radiation oncology services to patients on the backlog list unlawful and unconstitutional.

1 min

Success as two calves born at CARE for wild rhino sanctuary

MARCH marked another win for rhino conservation for Care for Wild Rhino Sanctuary for the birth of two calves, weeks apart.

1 min

Early warning systems save jobs, lives, and infrastructure

EARLY warning systems (EWS) have become the buzzword throughout the meteorology community across the world over the last three years.

3 mins

Survivors search for hope

RESIDENTS scoured collapsed buildings yesterday searching for survivors in the aftermath of a devastated city of Mandalay two days after a massive earthquake killed at least 1 700 people in Myanmar and at least 17 in neighbouring Thailand.

2 mins

‘Makoti, Are You The One?’ returns with a new season

MZANSI Magic’s Makoti, Are You the One? makes its grand return to the small screen with a drama-filled third season three.

1 min

Kenny G to bring his smooth jazz magic to SA this October

IN A thrilling announcement for music aficionados across South Africa, Kenny G is poised to captivate audiences with his enchanting melodies this October.

2 mins

DJ Speedsta makes a triumphant return

POPULAR South African DJ Speedsta is changing the radio game with innovative approaches, and fresh content that allows listeners back to traditional broadcasting.

1 min

A joyful spirit: the comedy and resilience of ‘Dying for Sex’

PREPARE for an emotional and comedic ride with Dying for Sex, a brand new comedy drama which will premiere on DStv on Friday.

2 mins

Embattled ArcelorMittal South Africa welcomes steel tariff review process

ARCELORMITTAL South Africa (AMSA), which is in dire financial straits, has welcomed the International Trade Administration Commission (ITAC) review of the steel industry tariff review.

3 mins

Budget negotiations and Trump tariffs spark rand’s decline amidst political turmoil

THE rand fell by nearly 1% to R18.40 against the US dollar over the course of last week as market concerns continued over National Budget deadlock. Whether consensus in Parliament will reach consensus before the Wednesday deadline.

2 mins

Standard Bank executives’ remuneration increases and decreases: A detailed report

STANDARD Bank Group CEO Sim Tshabalala’s single figure remuneration increased to R9.5m to R89.22 million in the year to December 31, while that of his former deputy CEO Kenny Fihla, who this month announced his resignation to become CEO of Absa, fell by 3.7% to R67.29m.

2 mins

South Africa’s policy uncertainty index plunges to record low as global and local tensions rise

THE latest Policy Uncertainty Index (PUI) from North West University (NWU) releases on Friday, painted a grim picture of South Africa’s economic landscape, with the index plummeting further into negative territory, registering 78.5 for the first quarter of 2025, up from -81.7 in the preceding quarter.

2 mins

Mining industry pushes for zero harm as fatalities reach record low

THE Minerals Council South Africa has remained confident that the mining industry was firmly on the path to Zero Harm after recording a historic low of 42 deaths in 2024, a 24% decrease from 55 in the previous year.

2 mins

South Africa’s telco sector: defensive, resilient, and emerging from a rough patch

THE South African telecommunications sector has long been considered a defensive play through economic cycles due to its relatively inelastic infrastructure role and dependable cash flow generation.

2 mins

April’s economic dilemma: SA’s Budget vote and Trump’s tariffs

\"APRIL is the cruellest month, breeding / Lilacs out of the dead land, mixing / Memory and desire, stirring / Dull roots with spring rain.\" — T.S. Eliot, The Waste Land (1922).

4 mins

Rex Trueform reports decline in earnings and revenue

INVESTMENT holding group Rex Trueform passed the dividend after subdued sales at its clothing stores and headline earnings per share fell 3% to 97 cents in the six months to December 31.

1 min

Netcare reports modest growth in patient days amid holiday timing challenges

PRIVATE healthcare provider Netcare’s total paid patient days (PPD) are expected to increase by only 1.1% for the first six months of its 2025 financial year due to the timing of the Easter holidays, which will slow activity levels.

2 mins

Gerrit Fourie retires as CEO of Capitec Bank: Graham Lee appointed as his successor

CAPITEC Bank Holdings’ founding member and CEO Gerrie Fourie retires at the bank’s annual meeting on July 18, 2025, after being part of the management team for 25 years.

1 min

Workers cannot afford for Parliament not to pass a progressive Budget - Cosatu

WORKERS cannot afford for Parliament not to pass a progressive Budget. Whilst there have been previous minor delays in the formal passing of Budgets by Parliament, South Africa has never ventured into the current impasse where society and government are not sure when and in what form the Budget will be passed.

4 mins

Gold hits record highs while JSE thrives; Rand falters amid Trump's tariffs - Chris Harmse

GOLD recorded a new record level of $3 085 in intra-day trade on Friday. Analysts like Goldman See the price for bullion at $3300 over the next 12 months.

2 mins

South Africa at 30: Lessons from the past and a call for leadership

SOUTH Africa at 30 reminds me of the discussion I held with the late Dr Vuyo Mahlati in 2018. Among other achievements, Mahlati was the president of the African Farmers’ Association of SA, a member of South Africa’s National Planning Commission and chaired the Presidential Advisory Panel on Land Reform and Agriculture. The discussion was about Msinga, a village in KwaZulu-Natal. The story of South Africa at 30 is captured in Genesis 41:53-57 where Pharaoh had two dreams.

3 mins

Gallants shock Galaxy and boost survival hopes

MARUMO Gallants boosted their chances of survival as they shocked TS Galaxy 2-1 at the Mbombela Stadium on Sunday.

1 min

SuperSport and CT City hold each other to a draw

SuperSport United and Cape Town City were called to hit the ground running after holding each other to a draw in the New Peter Mokaba Stadium on Sunday night.

2 mins

Van Rooyen praises Glasgow for attacking master class

The Lions were almost literally blown away in Glasgow on Saturday but the conditions were the same for both teams and coach Ivan van Rooyen regrets his team’s inability to adapt.

2 mins

Adams will want to take his blistering form to continent for Mamelodi Sundowns

MIDFIELDER Jayden Adams has been in fine form of sorts for both Mamelodi Sundowns and Bafana Bafana in recent days, scoring crucial goals.

2 mins

White: Not about bonus points as Bulls embrace KO challenge

COACH Jake White was delighted with how the Bulls scored nine tries against Zebre, but wants to see \"knock-out rugby\" on the upcoming tour of Europe.

2 mins

Rain, poor lighting forces Dragons and Titans to draw

THE CSA 4-Day Series encounter between the Momentum Titans and North West Dragons was called a draw due to rain over Supersport Park in Centurion on Sunday afternoon.

1 min

Crisis at Chiefs: On the road to nowhere under Nasreddine Nabi

KAIZER Chiefs' 10th league defeat of the season has ignited a firestorm of frustration among Amakhosi supporters, who are now calling for the immediate dismissal of head coach Nasreddine Nabi.

1 min

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