Indholdsfortegnelse for 2024-12-05 i Mercury

CFI Financial Group, a global leader in online trading, yesterday officially launched its operations in South Africa. CFI said this expansion reflects commitment to bringing innovative and secure online trading services to the African market. It also aligns with the company’s vision to empower traders and investors worldwide with cutting-edge financial solutions. The launch follows the successful acquisition of a Category 1 Financial Service Provider (FSP) licence from the Financial Sector Conduct Authority (FSCA) earlier this year, enabling CFI Financial, the group’s South African subsidiary, to begin offering a broad range of advanced trading technologies and financial products to local traders. A key part of this expansion is the appointment of Zihaad Israfil as CEO of CFI South Africa. With nearly 20 years of experience in the financial markets, Israfil…

HERE’S some not-so-cheery news. “Brainrot” is the Oxford dictionaries’ word of the year, according to Associated Press. Oxford University Press said this week that the evocative phrase “gained new prominence in 2024,” with its frequency of use increasing 230 percent from the year before. Oxford defines brainrot as “the supposed deterioration of a person’s mental or intellectual state, especially viewed as the result of overconsumption of material (now particularly online content) considered to be trivial or unchallenging.” The word of the year is intended to be “a word or expression that reflects a defining theme from the past 12 months.” “Brainrot” was chosen by a combination of public vote and language analysis by Oxford lexicographers. It beat five other finalists: demure, dynamic, romantasy, and lore. While it may seem a…

In the letter, DA gives Israel its full support (The Mercury December 2,2024) Ebrahim Essa, in response to Imran Keeka, referred to “our South African Indians”, claiming to share Keeka’s sentiment, but that there was “some irony” in Keeka’s complaint! But the irony is Essa’s reference to “our South African Indians”, despite accusing the Consul General of India in September 2021 of hurting the sentiments of Muslims by not separating Muslims from Indians when conveying good wishes to all Indian-origin South Africans and all South Africans in general on Heritage Day. Doubly ironic is that good wishes are not acceptable if Muslims are not singled out from other Indian South Africans, but a “hurt” to Indian South Africans is embraced wholeheartedly even if Muslims are not singled out. How exactly…

The DA has written to the KwaZulu-Natal Education MEC, Sipho Hlomuka, to insist that a circular be issued immediately instructing schools and educators to refrain from threatening to withhold learners’ report cards for any unlawful reasons. The DA also urged parents to report this practice to their nearest KZN Department of Education (DoE) district office if they believe that their child’s school report card has been unlawfully withheld. The appeal comes as the school academic year draws to a close later this week and as KZN’s schools prepare to issue learners report cards, but many are using this as leverage to make demands on parents and learners. The DA has received numerous complaints from concerned parents, stating that certain schools are withholding their children's report cards due to unpaid school…

PRESIDENT Cyril Ramaphosa has been criticised for a “political manoeuvre” in which he moved corruption accused Justice Minister Thembi Simelane to another department as part of a mini-Cabinet reshuffle. Ramaphosa announced on Tuesday that Simelane would be redeployed to the human settlements portfolio with Mmamoloko Kubayi to head up the justice ministry. Simelane is accused of receiving a R500 000 “loan” from Gundo Wealth Solutions, which facilitated unlawful investments by the Polokwane local municipality in the now-defunct VBS Mutual Bank in 2016, while she was mayor of the city. Ramaphosa has faced immense pressure to act and suspend Simelane and remove her from the justice portfolio, with his critics saying there was a conflict of interest as the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) falls under the Justice Department. The DA’s spokesperson…

The 2024 SALGA Games, commencing today in eThekwini, is South Africa's largest multi-coded junior development sports event, bringing together over 4 000 athletes to compete across 13 sporting codes. The event, which has been held annually since 1998 (except during the Covid-19 pandemic), is widely recognised for its critical role in nurturing young talent and fostering skills development in sports officiating and administration. Dr Vusi Mazibuko, chairperson of the SALGA Games, described the event as unparalleled in its scale and impact. “There are no games of this magnitude, both in size and in terms of the number of athletes and sports, like the SALGA Games.” “These games provide unique opportunities for athletes, officials and administrators to develop.” He also highlighted how the games foster growth beyond athletic participation. “The development…

About 150 illegal miners are believed to be trapped inside an abandoned mine in Sabie, near Mbombela, Mpumalanga. Mpumalanga police spokesperson, Brigadier Donald Mdhluli, said three people were confirmed dead while another three who were rescued claimed they were forced to work and mine for gold by their captors under dangerous and dire conditions. Mdhluli said the operation was discovered on Tuesday afternoon when members of the K9 unit of the security company were patrolling around the farms in the area when they encountered four men who appeared to be fleeing for their lives. “These men, who were found to be suspected illegal miners, informed the security guards that they and others were trapped inside an abandoned mine,” said Mdhluli. Mdhluli said various units of the SAPS, Emergency Medical Services…

Ratepayer associations in eThekwini said that they would be out in their numbers to object to Eskom’s proposed tariff hike at the National Energy Regulator of South Africa (Nersa) public hearing on Friday. The Nersa public hearing was originally scheduled for November 21 and 22 but was called off due to a large turnout and the venue not being big enough to accommodate the number of people. Nersa has since confirmed that the public hearings will take place at December 6 and 7 in Greyville, Durban. While Eskom has applied for a 36% tariff hike in 2025, if Nersa allows Eskom to recover an additional R8 billion from its Regulatory Clearing Account, this will lead to an additional 4% tariff increase in 2025. EThekwini Ratepayers and Residents Association (ERRA) chairperson…

Changes in South Africa’s political, economic and social situations have shifted boundaries between government, business and civil organisations to the extent that not one of these role-players in democracy and development can survive without accommodating the expectations of the others. The political and economic elites seemed to have used their powers to encroach the social space to the detriment of cultural power. The fast-growing influence of business in the country’s political space has either intended or unintended damages to the integrity of the Constitution, independence of donations’ recipient political parties and development of the masses. What should be given priority by business in the name of strengthening democracy between political funding and community donations? The huge donations to political parties have been accompanied by statements from business that suggest the…

Taiwan’s top China policymaker yesterday said Chinese military threats would only drive the two sides further apart, as state media in the island’s giant neighbour warned of a strong response to a US visit by Taiwan’s president. China, which claims democratically governed Taiwan as its own territory, has expressed anger at President Lai Ching-te’s weekend trip to Hawaii on his way to three countries in the Pacific that maintain formal diplomatic ties with Taipei. Lai, who is also due to spend one night in the US territory of Guam yesterday, is making what are formally only stopovers. However, he spent two days in Hawaii where he met the governor, gave speeches and visited a World War II memorial. Security sources have said that China could stage new war games around…

Public frustration over Ghana’s economic travails, including high prices and a dearth of jobs, has dominated the run-up to Saturday’s general election, which will likely test the nation’s long-standing democratic credentials. Support for outgoing president Nana Akufo-Addo and his ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) party has sunk in his second term amid the West African nation’s worst economic crisis in a generation, along with cost-of-living protests and turmoil in its vital cocoa and gold industries. Indeed, the clamour for change has tipped the presidential and legislative race firmly in favour of opposition leader John Dramani Mahama and his National Democratic Congress party, polls show, though voter patience with the political process is running low. “The country is ruined. I will vote but I don’t think it will change anything,” said…

While greater tact may be helpful, I’d suggest some of these lines may be helpful when you’re seduced into a negative or unhealthy conversation: You do not have permission to ruin my day with your negative observations. No matter how juicy it might be, I will not join you in gossip. If we must talk about people, let’s keep it to speaking about you and me. Sloppy manners do nothing positive for our relationship. If you want to be insulting you will have to choose a willing victim. It’s not going to be me. Is there anything that might have pleased you today? I’d rather hear about that. Please keep your complaints to yourself or share them directly with people empowered to assist you. I am sorry you are upset.…

One of the conspicuous aspects of society is how colour-blind some of us have become. This is widely evident wherever traffic lights are working. Opticians and ophthalmic surgeons should be doing brisk business rectifying the disability of many motorists whose eyesight, sadly, is unable to distinguish between the colours red and green. Of course, if we had a proactive City police unit they would be able to finance their budget easily based on the number of fines issued to motorists who brazenly ignore red traffic lights. It also begs the question of how these traffic light defaulters were able to satisfy the requirements for their drivers’ licences. Clearly, the optical part of the licence test needs drastic revision. The selfish disregard and indifference of motorists who routinely run red lights…

I have just read that SA spends R1.1 trillion on online gambling. I have been discussing this with my partner as there are more and more adverts for gambling appearing on DStv. The whole online gambling facility should be banned as it ruins many lives and families. Also, there is no way of verifying whether the person gambling is over 18. It is totally immoral to be encouraging people to gamble and I don’t agree that it should be endorsed as a sport either. Far worse than smoking. At least you only kill yourself. People are ignorant of the fact that for every big winner there are thousands of losers and broken families. I know of a woman who was fired for stealing R1.6 million from her company to do…

WHILE Eskom said it was turning the corner in terms of its operational and financial performance, R90 billion in municipal debt was among the crippling factors hindering its performance. The Eskom board and executives yesterday presented the 2024/2025 performance report to the Portfolio Committee on Electricity and Energy in Parliament. The R90bn debt was increasing by about R1.5bn a month, MPs heard. Eskom reported limited success with the Municipal Debt Relief programme, as low adherence to its conditions has caused municipal debt, including that of metros, to grow by more than R10bn per year. In response to the presentation, former Eskom CEO and MK Party MP, Brian Molefe said the power utility should put the whole country on prepaid electricity to avoid increasing municipal debt. He said Eskom would actually…

IN a groundbreaking development in the fight against the weaponised distribution of private and intimate images, a pressing issue that affects countless individuals, particularly women in our society, the Film and Publication Board (FPB) now has more muscle with the amendment Act in place. As we observe the 16 Days of Activism for No Violence Against Women and Children, the FPB said it is committed to regulating harmful content and advocating for the rights and dignity of victims. The recent amendments to the Film and Publications Act empower individuals to report and seek redress for prohibited content, reinforcing the legal framework against issues such as revenge pornography. Pursuant to amendments to the Act, the Board has been given the mandate to deal with complaints relating to the distribution of private…

Police at the OR Tambo International Airport have arrested another Brazilian national for alleged drug trafficking. The traveller arrived in Johannesburg from São Paulo on Tuesday afternoon. Last week, a 44-year-old Brazilian woman was apprehended at the airport after allegedly being caught with cocaine worth R1.9 million wrapped around her upper body. On November 24, a 25-year-old man from Brazil was also arrested at the same airport allegedly with R1.8m worth of cocaine strapped to his body. Therefore Tuesday’s arrest of a 21-year-old Brazilian man was the third incident involving a Brazilian national in the past two weeks. The man’s arrest comes after the SAPS Crime Intelligence had been on his trail. SAPS national spokesperson Athlenda Mathe said the alleged drug mule was taken to a local hospital…

President Cyril Ramaphosa’s recent decision to redeploy his beleaguered Justice Minister, Thembi Simelane, to the human settlements portfolio is emblematic of the troubling status quo within his administration. Announced on Tuesday, this mini-Cabinet reshuffle not only raises questions about the integrity of Ramaphosa’s anti-corruption agenda but also reveals a glaring inconsistency in how political accountability is applied. Simelane is accused of receiving a R500 000 “loan” from Gundo Wealth Solutions, which facilitated unlawful investments by the Polokwane local municipality in the now-defunct VBS Mutual Bank in 2016, while she was mayor of the city. While it is commendable that Ramaphosa has finally removed Simelane from the Justice Ministry – a department that has faced significant criticism under her leadership – this move appears more like a tactical retreat than a…

Namibia made history by electing the country’s first female president, 72-year-old Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah from the ruling South West Africa People’s Organization (Swapo) party. Nearly 1.45 million eligible voters were registered, with presidential votes at 1 099 582 and National Assembly votes at 1 092 685. Nandi-Ndaitwah, the country’s fifth president since independence in 1990, won by 57.31%, followed by Panduleni Itula of the Independent Patriots for Change with 25.50%. “The Namibian nation has voted for peace and stability, you have voted for unity and diversity, natural resources beneficiation, and youth empowerment for sustainable development. And this you will do through economic transformation,” said Nandi-Ndaitwah. In the National Assembly elections, the Swapo Party won 51 seats, while the Independent Patriots for Change party got 20 seats. | Xinhua…

MOSCOW: US conservative media personality Tucker Carlson said yesterday that he was back in Russia to interview Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov. Carlson, a supporter of US President-elect Donald Trump, said yesterday that he would ask Lavrov whether the US and Russia were heading towards a potentially nuclear conflict, and whether Moscow thought Trump will end the war in Ukraine. He said the interview with Lavrov, which had been pre-recorded, had proved to be “absolutely fascinating,” and would be aired “very soon”. Carlson said that the US embassy in Kyiv had forbidden Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskiy from giving him an interview. | Reuters and Sputnik…

Lewis Hamilton will bring down the curtain on his Mercedes career in Abu Dhabi on Sunday as his past and future Formula One teams, McLaren and Ferrari, fight for a constructors’ title to end years of waiting. Even if Red Bull’s Max Verstappen secured his fourth successive championship last month in Las Vegas, eras will end with the final chequered flag of the season under the Yas Marina floodlights. McLaren, who took Hamilton to his first title in 2008 but were last champions in 1998, are 21 points clear of Ferrari, the sport’s oldest and most successful team chasing a first crown since 2008. Whoever comes out on top will end a 15-year run where only Red Bull and Mercedes have won championships. Hamilton, the most successful driver in the…

The youth were key to developing the African Critical Minerals sector Dr Milka Madahana, a senior lecturer at the School of Mining Engineering at the University of the Witwatersrand told the second African Minerals Summit at the Sandton Convention Centre this week. “Africa’s potential to become a global leader in the critical minerals industry depends on empowering its youth,” she said. She suggested that some of the ways that the youth could be empowered would be for the government to invest in education and infrastructure to build a capable workforce by developing youth-focused employment schemes and apprenticeships. The government should also encourage local content policies to ensure young Africans benefit from mineral resources, so that the youth are well-prepared for the critical minerals industry through education, skills development, and career…

With sheer grit and determination, the founder and CEO of Imbizo Shisanyama has managed to reopen her busineses after shutting down for a period after being battered by the Covid-19 pandemic. Rita Zwane was recently celebrated with a Lifetime Achievement Award at the 2024 Township Economy Awards in Tembisa, hosted by the Township Entrepreneurs Alliance on 23 November 2024. Over the past few years, she faced formidable challenges, yet, Rita refused to fade into the background. Her fierce resilience shone through as she triumphantly reopened the Imbizo Shisanyama at the Mall of Thembisa on September 20 after closing it for just over a year due to the negative impact of the Covid -19 pandemic, marking yet another comeback in her remarkable journey. Since its grand reopening, the outlet has experienced…

I have a suggestion to make. There are scenic rail journeys all over the world: from Canada, the USA and Mexico to Britain, Europe, Russia, India, Sri Lanka, Australia and New Zealand. In South Africa we have the Blue Train and Rovos Rail but they are way beyond the means of ordinary South Africans. Train lovers travel all over the world to enjoy these scenic rail journeys. We have the popular Umgeni Steam Train but it runs just 11 kilometres now, as the line to Kloof was washed away by the last floods. The Eshayamoya Express operates mostly during the Creighton Aloe Festival. It is a lovely ride through the aloes but it is far away in the little town of Creighton. In times gone by we had a train…

I RECENTLY watched the Devi show on TV and there is no doubt our dysfunctional schools are down to the headmaster or mistress who are running the establishments. If they don’t run a good show, everything collapses. The fish rots from the top. This was a school in Soweto where the parents had complained to Devi Sankaree Govender about maladministration, dirt, sewage running down the walls, and their kids not learning. When Devi arrived, she said the stench was palpable, there was rubbish everywhere and the toilets were filthy. Sitting on his throne like a king was the headmaster. He had just bought an expensive chair for his office costing R10 000. This while pipes were leaking, lights were out, dirt everywhere. On being challenged, he said he would…

Those looking to partake in the Umkhonto WeSizwe Party (MKP) gala dinner celebrations this month can expect to fork out a minimum of R25 000 for a single ticket. The MKP has detailed the exclusive packages available for the gala dinner, with the most expensive costing R2 million. The party is celebrating its first anniversary this month, with most of the celebrations taking place in Durban. The main rally will be hosted at the Moses Mabhida Stadium and will be addressed by party leader and former state president Jacob Zuma, while the gala dinner will be held at the Olive Convention Centre. The MKP stunned opposition parties in the recent national government elections, becoming the biggest party in KwaZulu-Natal and the third biggest party in the country. Since then, it…

A lack of infrastructure budget to establish facilities that provide safety and support services to victims of crime and violence in some provinces remains one of the key challenges hindering the implementation of the National Strategic Plan on Gender-Based Violence and Femicide. This came to light during a briefing by the Department of Social Development to the portfolio committee yesterday on progress made in implementing the plan. The National Strategic Plan was adopted in 2020 as a society-wide programme to end gender-based violence and femicide (GBVF). It is organised around six pillars aimed at the prevention of GBV, strengthening the criminal justice response to GBV, and providing support, care, and healing to survivors of GBV. The department noted high costs associated with establishing shelters or Khuseleka One Stop Centres, as…

Busisiwe Memela-Khambula, the CEO of the South African Social Security Agency (Sassa), has been placed on precautionary suspension pending the outcome of an investigation into her appointment. The announcement was made by the National Minister of Social Development Nokuzola Tolashe. Minister Tolashe said the suspension is prompted by the need to conduct an investigation without hindrance or interference given Memela-Khambula’s position as CEO of Sassa. She further stated that the Office of the Public Protector has raised “serious issues” that have prompted her to take appropriate action as the executive authority over Sassa. Tolashe said the decision was also important to protect the dignity and integrity of the CEO and praised the humility demonstrated by her when she was informed of the suspension. She said all the decisions that have…

The ongoing taxi strike in KwaZulu-Natal has left thousands stranded, with students, workers and other commuters bearing the brunt of the standoff between taxi operators and the government. KZN Premier Thami Ntuli will be meeting the taxi associations today in Pietermaritzburg. Chief Director of Provincial Government Communications, Bongani Gina, said the meeting aimed “to find common ground and solutions”. The strike, which began last Friday, by long-distance taxi operators is over taxis being impounded and permits not being issued. The strike has also seen key routes blockaded, including the N3 highway. In Durban, several universities have closed their doors for the holidays, leaving students unable to return home due to a lack of transport. Workers who have wrapped up for the December holidays are similarly affected. “I had to ask…

SA can leverage Brazil’s experience to address climate finance and inequality challenges South Africa has taken over the presidency of the world’s premier economic forum, the G20, from Brazil. The G20 presidency operates on a troika system made up of the current, previous and next holders. The three members co-operate with one another in preparing for an annual summit. This means that South Africa will be working with Brazil and the US (2026 presidency). The G20 members – 19 countries plus the European Union and the African Union – account for about 80% of global GDP, 75% of global exports and 60% of the world’s population. How did Brazil connect its domestic policy discussions to the G20 agenda? First, Brazil managed to connect the climate agenda to the inequality agenda…

Thousands of protesters marched on President Yoon Suk Yeol’s office in the South Korean capital yesterday, joining a push by the country’s opposition to impeach the leader after his extraordinary but short-lived imposition of martial law. Yoon’s shock bid to suspend civilian rule for the first time in over four decades – before being overturned by lawmakers in a night of drama –plunged South Korea into deep turmoil and alarmed its close allies. The future of Yoon, a conservative politician and former star public prosecutor who was elected president in 2022, is now highly uncertain. Live feed video showed thousands of protesters marching towards Yoon’s office in central Seoul after staging a rally in Gwanghwamun Square. South Korea’s opposition parties – whose lawmakers jumped fences and tussled with security forces…

As Ukraine’s military struggles to find enough troops, particularly infantry, to hold off Russia’s much larger army, some units are giving a second chance to those who have absconded from service. Data from the prosecutor’s office shows nearly 95 000 criminal cases have been opened since 2022 against soldiers going “absent without leave” (Awol) and for the more serious crime of battlefield desertion. The number of cases has risen steeply with each year of the war: almost two-thirds of the total are from 2024. With many tens of thousands of troops killed or wounded, it is a depletion that Ukraine can ill afford. Now, some units are replenishing their ranks by accepting soldiers previously declared Awol. One of them is Ukraine’s elite 47th Brigade, which published a social media post…

The development of new lawn bowling talent is crucial for the growth of the sport, and a visit to Westville Country Club on Saturday morning for the final Newbies Trips Tournament of 2024 underscored this importance in two significant ways. First, the energy, camaraderie and sportsmanship radiating from the 90 bowlers on the greens were unmistakable, creating a truly enjoyable atmosphere. Second, it was clear that the standard of play had notably improved. Having attended the first Newbies tournament for 2024 in January, it was evident that these emerging talents are ready to present their clubs with fresh faces for selection in the 2025 league season. Chatting to three bowlers—Lindsay North, Francois du Plessis and Eric Grimaldi—who have reached their four-year registration milestone and are no longer eligible for Newbies…