Indholdsfortegnelse for 2024-03-19 i Mercury

Baskets are ready as Easter is just around the corner! But how can you commemorate the Easter weekend if you had decided to live a vegan lifestyle and follow a vegan diet? Fear not, as we have put together inspirational advice for how you can celebrate a vegan Easter! Bring vegan alternatives to traditional dishes to gatherings Let’s face it. Some Easter traditions are downright disturbing. However, you do not have to go to a gathering of omnivore friends and family members without offering them delectable alternatives to animal-based dishes. With a bit of research, you can find vegan versions of your favourite foods. For example, instead of dairy milk, you can try hemp, coconut, almond, soy, or oat milk. Instead of meat, you can try tofu, jackfruit, tempeh, or…

The Jacob Zuma-led uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) Party has raised questions over the timing of the closure of the former president’s bank accounts by FNB, saying Zuma will be directly affected as his presidential pension is paid into one of the affected accounts. On December 16, Zuma announced that he would no longer campaign or vote for the ANC and instead would support the newly formed party. He is number one on the list of candidates for the party. It was reported on Sunday that the bank was closing his accounts including one into which the now defunct VBS Mutual Bank allegedly deposited a loan of R7.8 million to Zuma. FNB said it was complying with an order of the High Court in KwaZulu-Natal. “FNB is complying with a specific order…

MANY studies in economics prove that democracy is good for economic growth and stability because it is about freedom of expression, accountability, transparency, the rule of law, protection of rights…etc. South Africa has one of the most liberal democratic constitutions in the world, and we are a democratic country. Yet, we have high rates of poverty, unemployment, inequality, corruption, and crime. So, does this mean that we haven’t been able to benefit from democracy like the Western countries? On the other hand, the leaders of autocratic regimes worldwide believe that democracy, uncontrolled freedom and human rights are a waste of time and unsuitable for economic development and stability. And they also think that these rights cost more money than the repression they practice against their own people. But history shows…

Ebrahim Essa’s overt and covert antipathy to India is revealed in his skewed notions about Partition and the allegation that “apartheid” is taking hold of the country under the influence of Israel. Next he will blame Israel for Partition! Both came to India around 710-712. Jinnah himself said “The Pakistan Movement (Partition) started when the first Muslim, (conquistador Muhammad bin Qasim, 710) put his foot on the soil of Sindh.” The reference was to the Quranic “two nation” stipulation. Dr Tanveer Hussain of Pakistan explains: “Two-nation theory was pivotal in laying the foundation of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan. The Creator of the mankind has divided human beings into two main categories: Believers (Muslims) or Momins; and the non-Muslims, which BR Ambedkar, said divides humanity “inexorably”. The British acceded to…

During the early years of our hard-earned democracy, South Africa was a beacon of hope to the rest of the continent. It also won the Rugby World Cup and the Africa Cup of Nations. Now our beautiful country is regarded as just “one of those African countries” – thanks to the ANC. Not long ago, the ANC’s first deputy secretary-general, Nomvula Mokonyane, spoke to the international news agency Reuters. According to Mokonyane, 30 years was not enough time for them to turn the country around. They had tried, but couldn’t. Things such as high unemployment were stubborn, she added. The curious questions are: How many more years does the governing party need “to turn things around”? An extra 20 years? Let’s say it is afforded yet another opportunity to govern.…

KwaZulu-Natal Social Development MEC Nonhlanhla Khoza has offered condolences to the family of a 10-year-old girl who went missing in eMkhomazi on the KZN South Coast at the weekend and was found dead in a neighbour’s house yesterday. Department spokesperson Mhlaba Memela said the report of the missing girl triggered an urgent search effort by authorities and concerned community members. “Shockingly, her body was found today (Monday) in a neighbour’s house after she was reported missing at the weekend,” he said. The MEC extended her heartfelt condolences to the victim’s family, her classmates and the eMkhomazi community at large. Khoza called for calm as the community grapples with the child’s death after the suspect’s house was torched. She said acts of violence only compounded the trauma experienced by all involved…

The spectre of political intolerance has loomed large in recent days with political leaders making incendiary and inflammatory comments that suggest that the days leading up to the May 29 elections will be fraught with tension. It is understandable that the upcoming elections will be highly competitive and there is a majority consensus that this is good for democracy. However, the pain of violence and conflict, especially in KwaZulu-Natal during the 1980s and the early ’90s, is still fresh and the onus is on contemporary politicians to temper their emotions with responsibility and understanding of how their comments can add to the volatile nature of an election campaign. Recent events in Zululand reveal that maturity is needed, especially when displays of petulance can have far graver consequences than intended. It…

The Kremlin hailed President Vladimir Putin’s election win as “exceptional” yesterday, after the ex-spy won over 87% of the vote in a 3-day ballot blasted as illegitimate by Western powers. Moscow has presented the weekend presidential election as proof that Russians have rallied around Putin more than two years into the Ukraine offensive. Putin’s victory is widely expected to further tighten his grip on Russia, where dissent is no longer tolerated under fast-accelerating repression. In power since the last day of 1999, he is now on course to become the longest-serving Russian leader in more than two centuries. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said the result showed Russians were consolidating “around his (Putin’s) path.” All of the 71-year-old’s major opponents are dead, in prison or in exile and voting took place…

Chinese military and state-run media have accused the US of threatening global security, days after a report which found Elon Musk’s SpaceX was building hundreds of spy satellites for a US intelligence agency. SpaceX’s Starshield unit is developing the satellite network under a classified $1.8 billion (R34bn) contract with the National Reconnaissance Office (NRO), Reuters reported on Friday, citing five sources familiar with the project. A social media account run by the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) said the SpaceX programme exposed the US’s “shamelessness and double standards” as Washington accuses Chinese tech companies of threatening US security. “All countries worldwide should be vigilant and protect against new and even bigger security threats created by the US government,” Junzhengping, an account run by the PLA, posted on social media platform…

LONDON: London mayor Sadiq Khan, who launched his re-election campaign for a third term yesterday, pledged to build 40 000 new council homes by the end of the decade to address a housing shortage in the city. Khan faces voters on May 2 and has called for the “greatest council homebuilding drive in a generation”, like opposition leader Keir Starmer. Both Labour, the party Khan belongs to, and the ruling Conservative Party have made housing a key battleground before national elections due by January 2025. The government has struggled to meet its target of delivering 300 000 homes annually across the UK even as the crisis worsens on rising demand. | The Washington Post…

Paris: A photographer went on trial in France yesterday, accused of raping 17 women he lured on dating apps with a promise of taking their picture. Salim Berrada, nicknamed the “Tinder rapist”, invited women he found online in 2015 and 2016 to modelling photo shoots and assaulted them during the encounters, according to the prosecution. The defendant, 38, said the sexual relations were all consensual. Using detailed steps laid out on Excel sheets, he promised the women photo sessions. The spreadsheets included lists of key phrases he used to attract, compliment and proposition them. | AFP…

World No 2 Carlos Alcaraz cruised home in a 7-6 (7/5), 6-1 victory over Daniil Medvedev on Sunday to win a second straight Indian Wells ATP title, both coming at the Russian’s expense. Alcaraz captured his first title since Wimbledon last July and became the first repeat winner at Indian Wells since Novak Djokovic won three straight titles from 2014-16. For the 20-year-old Spaniard, 12 days in the California desert proved just what he needed after a stuttering start to the season, which included a quarter-final exit at the Australian Open and an ankle injury that forced him out of his opening match at Rio de Janeiro in February. “A lot of doubts for me,” he said of his mindset, coming in amidst his longest title drought since he burst…

Thembinkosi Lorch is fast becoming an immense figure in Mamelodi Sundowns’ set-up, but his coach Rulani Mokwena is still demanding more of him. Lorch has been the subject of fierce debate in recent weeks after leaving Orlando Pirates for Sundowns in the January transfer window and whether he was going to fit in at the champions, having been a key figure in the Sea Robbers set-up over the years. After all, Sundowns haven’t lacked quality players over the years as the team has been dominated the local front, winning six DStv Premiership titles in a row. But after playing eight games for the Brazilians in all competitions, Lorch has been finding his form, rather than being overwhelmed by expectations. His best game in Sundowns’ colours came on Sunday night, as…

Healthy, bronzed skin plump with hydration, with a hint of shimmer, is how most people describe the holiday glow. It’s the look that one would have after spending a few weeks relaxing on a lounger on the shores of a distant island somewhere. Experts explain that for some individuals, the pursuit of clear and glowing skin may be a coping mechanism to gain a sense of control in a world that often feels unpredictable. The ritualistic nature of skincare routines may provide a structured and calming activity, offering a temporary escape from the stresses of life. What most of us want from these ingredients is protection from the sun and other elements, pore minimisation, blemish and pigmentation reduction, hydration, care for the cells beneath our skin’s outer surface and, most…

Durban ratepayer organisations say service delivery has not been fully restored, despite the eThekwini Municipality saying the municipal workers’ strike is over. This comes as the SA Municipal Workers Union called on the City to halt the dismissal of workers found guilty of misconduct relating to the unprotected strike. The strike crippled service delivery for almost two weeks and left one worker dead and others traumatised or in hospital with injuries. Residents were left without water or electricity for extended periods because staff were either unavailable or feared attending to jobs because of threats directed at them. There was also no refuse collection. While some ratepayer associations said they noticed improvements in refuse collection yesterday, they pointed out that refuse trucks were still being escorted by metro police, which showed…

According to a recent report prepared by the Mexican Council for Public Security and Criminal Justice (CPSC), Nelson Mandela Bay now ranks as the most dangerous city in South Africa. The CPSC, which is a non-government organisation (NGO) has been publishing its annual ranking of the 50 most dangerous cities in the world for the past ten years. Standing at 78.33 murders per 100 000 people in 2023, Nelson Mandela Bay (NMB) slipped into the top 10 most dangerous cities in the world from 24th place in 2019 to 9th today, with only cities from Mexico, Haiti and Ecuador being more dangerous. According to the report, Nelson Mandela Bay’s murder rate has increased by a staggering 37% in the last year alone. The DA raised the alarm on NMB’s crime…

A GIANT alligator named Albert has been seized by the authorities in New York State – not New York City – but its owner vows to fight for the beast’s return, according to Sky News. Albert weighs 340kg and is 3.4m in length. He’s been kept in a residential home since the 1990s. Environmental officers seized him from the home in Hamburg, where they also found a swimming pool for the 30-year-old ’gator. According to the State Department of Environmental Conservation, the home-owner allowed people – including children – to get into the water with the reptile. The owner’s licence to keep the animal expired in 2021, meaning Albert has since been kept illegally. Officers pounced last Wednesday after learning “the extent at which the owner was seriously endangering the…

AS part of its nationwide manifesto rallies to garner more supporters, the EFF urged voters to vote for a “growing party that is hell-bent on creating jobs and freeing the Western Cape from white colonial rule”. Among its promises, the party reiterated its stance on expropriation of land without compensation, saying it would undo the injustices created by the 1913 Land Act, where black people were given only 13% of the land. The EFF promised that if it governs, the party will end load shedding, education will be free for all, and racism and discrimination will stop. Addressing the media, confident EFF Western Cape provincial chairperson Unathi Ntame said: “There is proof of the growth of the EFF in the Western Cape. There’s a ward in an area called…

DURBAN’S cash-strapped Westridge Tennis Stadium has resorted to fund-raising campaigns to try to keep the stadium open. EThekwini Tennis Association president Gary Brown said they managed to raise R34 000 through their fund-raising BackaBuddy campaign. “This will also help us survive for March as we have also received a loan from the KZN tennis association and some other generous donations. “However, for April, it looks bleak. We need R70 000 every month to survive and it’s not possible to raise that every month.” The stadium ran into financial troubles as its main source of revenue comes from advertising signage that is on the property. The signage had been approved by the eThekwini Municipality. However, the signage company had wanted to erect a digital advertising board and their application was rejected…

THE head of Electricity in eThekwini Municipality, Maxwell Mthembu, is allegedly on the verge of being suspended for failure to fire staff members in his unit who took part in the unprotected strike which crippled the metro for almost two weeks. The strike was led by workers affiliated to the South African Municipal Workers’ Union (Samwu) who had demanded to be paid the same as workers in other metros. EThekwini said it has fired more than 80 workers who took part in the strike and another 81 are attending disciplinary hearings. The Mercury has seen a letter of intention to suspend in which it is alleged that Mthembu failed to act against the striking workers. “You (Mthembu) are being investigated by the employer for the allegation of your failure to…

Free speech and unhindered political activity are essential for democracy EVERYONE knows free speech and unhindered political activity are under attack in South Africa as politicians scramble for votes ahead of the May 29 national and provincial elections. Revelling in their self-created victimhood, incumbent politicians at municipal and provincial levels not only refuse to invite their opponents to speak at government-organised public meetings or to debate ideas they disagree with, but actively seek to silence them verbally and physically. The latest incident took place at KwaCeza last Saturday at a KwaZulu- Natal government event to honour late Zulu king Dinuzulu kaCetshwayo, when Economic Development MEC Siboniso Duma abruptly grabbed the microphone from the recently appointed Zulu traditional prime minister and senior IFP leader, Thulasizwe Buthelezi, while he was introducing King…

Israeli troops raided the compound of Gaza’s al-Shifa Hospital early yesterday in an operation that Palestinian health authorities said caused multiple casualties and set off a fierce fire in one of the buildings. The Israeli military said soldiers had conducted a “precise operation” based on intelligence that the hospital was being used by senior Hamas leaders, and were fired upon when they entered the compound. “The troops responded with live fire and hits were identified. Our troops are continuing to operate in the area of the hospital,” it said. Al-Shifa, the Gaza Strip’s biggest hospital before the war, is now one of the only health-care facilities that is even partially operational in the north of the territory, and is also housing hundreds of displaced civilians. “Suddenly, we started to hear…

Somali police and international navies were preparing yesterday to attack a commercial ship that was hijacked by pirates last week, the Puntland region’s police force said, two days after Indian commandos rescued another cargo vessel held by pirates. The MV Abdullah was hijacked off the coast of Somalia last week, the latest of more than 20 attacks since November by Somali pirates who had laid dormant for nearly a decade. On Saturday, the Indian navy rescued another cargo vessel, the Maltese- flagged MV Ruen, which had been seized in December, freeing its 17 crew members and arresting 35 pirates. The police from the semi-autonomous region of Puntland, a base for many pirate gangs, said it was on high alert and prepared to participate in an operation against the pirates holding…

KABUL: Afghanistan’s Taliban said yesterday that Pakistan carried out two air strikes on its territory, killing five women and three children, and it fired heavy weapons at Pakistani forces along the border in retaliation. The neighbouring countries have traded blame over who is responsible for a recent spate of Islamist militant attacks in Pakistan. Pakistan says the attacks were launched from Afghan soil. The Pakistani foreign office said Pakistan had carried out “intelligence-based anti-terrorist operations in the border regions inside Afghanistan”. The Afghan Taliban has denied that it allows its territory to be used by militant groups. | Reuters…

COPENHAGEN: A volcano in Iceland that erupted on Saturday for the fourth time since December was still spewing smoke and bright orange lava into the air yesterday, although infrastructure and a nearby fishing town were safe for now, officials said. Magma had been accumulating underground on the Reykjanes peninsula near Iceland’s capital, Reykjavik, since the last eruption in February, prompting authorities to warn of an imminent eruption. The warning time late on Saturday was 15 minutes before fountains of molten rock began soaring from a 3km-long fissure. Man-made barriers have been successful in steering the lava away from infrastructure. | Reuters…

Civil society organisations are concerned that cuts to the Department of Justice and Constitutional Development budget will have a detrimental impact on the essential services it provides. The department has been allocated R21.6 billion for the 2024/25 period. The IFP’s Professor Themba Msimang, who sits on Parliament’s portfolio committee on justice and correctional services, put a question to Justice Minister Ronald Lamola asking him how budget cuts would affect programmes run by his department. In his response, Lamola said the budget cuts would obstruct the expansion of specialised courts for commercial crimes and hinder the full implementation of gender-based violence (GBV) legislation. “A significant increase in case backlogs is anticipated, with an estimated additional 150 000 cases,” he said, adding that delays in processing maintenance cases and administering estates…

About 235 South African Post Office (Sapo) branches are set to be closed, leading to employees being retrenched, after the conclusion of the Section 189 process conducted by the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration (CCMA). Among these branches, 104 were in the Central region (Free State and North West), and 41 in the Northern Region (North Gauteng, Limpopo, Mpumalanga and North West). There were 28 in the Western region (Western Cape and Northern Cape), 24 in the Eastern Cape, 21 in KwaZulu-Natal, and 17 in Gauteng (most of Gauteng and the Vaal Triangle). However, Communications and Digital Technologies Minister Mondli Gungubele could not say which Post Office branches would be closed. He could also not give the exact number of employees to be retrenched. The embattled public entity is…

On March 15, the IFP’s national executive committee, led by the party’s president, Velenkosini Hlabisa MP, met an IEC delegation led by its chairperson, Mosotho Moepya, in Durban to discuss the IEC’s state of readiness for the elections to be held on May 29. The meeting was extensive and cordial. The IFP recognises and validates the importance of the IEC’s role in maintaining the integrity and credibility of the electoral process, safeguarding democracy, and upholding the will of the people. The IEC has indicated its processes are well under way, and that all systems are in place for the polls. The IFP has expressed its confidence in the IEC and is committed to supporting it, where applicable, to deliver free and fair elections.…

Ways to promote greater health and clarity in your immediate and extended family: • Shift your focus from looking for what’s wrong in your family to what’s going well in your family. All families are doing something well. Identify your individual strengths rather than spend time on what’s not going well. • Try to separate your thinking and your emotions or your feelings. Being able to do this without rejecting either will help you to hold onto yourself when your emotions want to flood your thinking and drive your behaviour. • Take responsibility for your life as much as you are able and be responsible to other adults (get to places on time, do what you say you are going to do), and resist the urge to be responsible for…

A KwaZulu-Natal taxi owner accused of murdering Kiernan “AKA” Forbes and Tebello “Tibz” Motsoane claims he was assaulted by the police after his arrest. Lindani Zenzele Ndimande, 35, yesterday handed in an affidavit in support of his bail application to the Durban Magistrate’s Court. Ndimande, Lindokuhle Thabani Mkhwanazi, Siyanda Eddie Myeza, Mziwethemba Harvey Gwabeni and Lindokuhle Lindo Ndimande have been charged with the murders. Mkhwanazi and Myeza submitted affidavits in support of their bail applications last week. Ndimande – whose affidavit was read into the court record by his advocate, Joe Wolmarans – said he had been arrested in respect of another matter in October last year and brought to Durban. “I was arrested near my home in Empangeni and brought to Durban, where I was assaulted by police and…

With fuel prices expected to increase again next month, trade union federation Cosatu says the government should invest more in public transport and Transnet to cushion the poor from the rising cost of living. This comes as the AA expected a slight increase in petrol prices in April based on unaudited data from the Central Energy Fund (CEF). The data also pointed to a marginal decrease to diesel prices and illuminating paraffin, it said. ULP95 petrol is expected to climb by around 10c/litre, and ULP93 by around 9c/litre. The wholesale price of diesel is expected to decrease by between 34c to 38c per litre while the cost of illuminating paraffin is slated to come down by around 47c/litre. “The decrease in diesel and paraffin prices is good news; diesel is…

WHEN Sultan Ahmed Bin Sulayem, the hyperactive chairman and CEO of DP World, the giant Dubai-owned Global Ports, Logistics and Supply Chain Operator and Solutions Provider, visited Maputo in January this year, he had a clear and present message which should have sent shivers down the spine of the Ramaphosa administration and Transnet executives. The Mozambique Minister of Transport and Communications, Mr Mateus Magala, supported by the Maputo Port Development Company CEO Mr Osorio Lucas, on behalf of the Mozambique government, had extended the concession to run the Port of Maputo to DP World and its partners, including the JSE-listed Grindrod Ltd, by 25 years ending in 2058. The deal included DP World investing $2 billion (about R37.6bn) on expanding the Port’s infrastructure that will further draw cargoes away…

As a US campaign to sever TikTok from its Chinese parent heads to the Senate, analysts say Beijing’s response to a forced sale of the app – and its “secret sauce” algorithm – will be clear: hands off. Under new legislation that passed in the House of Representatives last week, TikTok could be banned in the US if it does not cut all ties with Chinese tech giant ByteDance. But in the battle over TikTok’s future in the US, what strikes many as a contradiction has emerged: while the company tries to convince Congress of its independence from Beijing, China has come out swinging in its defence. Beijing does not want a precedent to be set where a Chinese company is strong-armed into selling one of its most valuable assets,…

Seoul: Seoul’s Unification Ministry yesterday added its voice to growing speculation around Kim Jong Un’s succession plans, saying they have not “ruled out” that his daughter could be next in line to lead North Korea. Pyongyang state media at the weekend referred to Kim’s teenage daughter as a “great person of guidance” (“hyangdo” in Korean) a term typically reserved for top leaders and successors. Analysts said it was the first time Kim’s daughter – identified as Ju Ae by South Korean intelligence – had been described as such by the North. It has redoubled speculation that the teen, who often appears next to her father at key public events, could have been chosen as the next leader of the nuclear-armed North, for a third hereditary succession. | AFP…

BOGOTA: Colombian police said yesterday that they had seized more than 7 million gallons (26.5m litres) of crude oil in raids on illegal refineries, in an operation targeting production of bootleg fuel in Norte de Santander province. The fuel is refined from crude oil stolen from pipelines by criminal gangs and is a key ingredient in cocaine production. It can also be mixed with gasoline or diesel and used to run machinery, police say. The operation took place in Tibu, an area in Norte de Santander close to Colombia’s border with Venezuela. The bootleg fuel is a major problem in Colombia, where thousands of barrels of oil are stolen each day. | Reuters…

There was another action-packed round of CSA T20 Challenge fixtures with a couple of tense finishes, especially in both matches involving the Lions at the Wanderers. The Warriors, however, proved to be the form team as they maintained their 100% start to the competition with another couple of bonus point victories. Here, Independent Newspapers have chosen five players that starred for their respective teams over the weekend. Beyers Swanepoel – Warriors After missing the first couple of matches of the competition due to the availability of the Proteas, Swanepoel made a big impact with the ball on Sunday against the helpless Rocks. The all-rounder claimed excellent figures of 4/16 to entrench the Warriors’ top spot on the log. He was particularly devastating with the new ball, claiming both Malan brothers…

Nottingham Forest were docked four points for breaching Premier League financial rules yesterday, leaving them in the relegation zone. The Premier League said in a statement that Forest had admitted breaching the profitability and sustainability rules (PSR) threshold of £61 million (about R1.5 billion) by £34.5m (R834m). They are the second top-flight team to be penalised for PSR breaches this season after Everton were hit with a 10-point penalty in November, which was reduced to six on appeal. Everton are still waiting to discover if they will be hit with another points penalty relating to a second charge. Forest’s punishment means they drop into the bottom three, one point behind Luton and four adrift of Everton. Premier League clubs are usually allowed maximum losses of £105m (R2.5bn) over a three-year…

The Springbok Women’s path towards qualifying for the Rugby World Cup begins this weekend in Valladolid, where they will take on Spain later this week. Off the back of training sessions against Wales and Scotland, the Bok Women will play two Tests over the next two weekends, starting with Las Leonas on Saturday. The US are their other opponent at the end of the month, after which the national side will know exactly where they stand in terms of their readiness for the World Cup qualifiers. The Rugby Africa Championship – the qualifier for the 2025 World Cup in England, starts in May in Madagascar, where the Bok Women will attempt to qualify for a second successive tournament, after playing in New Zealand a couple of years ago. Stalwart Lindelwa…