Indholdsfortegnelse for 2025-01-29 i Mercury

In recent weeks, self-care has taken centre stage in our lives and Google Trends is reflecting this shift in priorities. With the world increasingly recognising the importance of mental and physical well-being, many are turning to innovative practices and tools. Self-care apps on the rise One of the most striking developments is the surge in interest surrounding “best self-care apps”. Over the past month, searches for this term have sky-rocketed, indicating that more people are looking for digital solutions to enhance their well-being. Among these, meditation apps have emerged as a top trending related search. Meditation has long been recognised for its mental health benefits, helping reduce stress and anxiety while promoting clarity and focus. Popular apps like Headspace and Calm are leading the charge, offering guided sessions that…

The Democratic Alliance caucus in KwaDukuza welcome the proclamation notice by President Cyril Ramaphosa initiating a Special Investigating Unit (SIU) investigation into matters at KwaDukuza Municipality emanating from 2018. The investigation relates to the irregular intervention of municipal officials in multiple tenders, among those, the controversial road rehabilitation panels. We are calling on all those that are persons of interest to fully co-operate with the investigative process. In addition to this, the Municipal Manager, Nhlanhla Mdakane, must immediately present a report to full council, to appraise the new term of council on this investigation. To build a capable and ethical state, those that are still employed within KwaDukuza and in any other organ of state must be held fully accountable. The days of the supply chain department being used as…

“When We” people are everywhere. “When we” were under communism the church was stronger. “When we” lived in England it was before climate change. “When we” wore bikinis we didn’t care what people thought of us. “When we” could smoke on planes smoking was not such a big deal. “When we” played soccer in the street and had to be home when the street lights came on life was safer. These are reflections I’ve recently encountered. They usually (not always, of course) express an idealised notion of the past. Perhaps such reflections reflect a longing for what from a distance appears to be a better time, a better life. Perhaps such reflections reveal the amazing capacity humans have to recall what comforts they experienced rather than recall the downsides that…

AS the government battles to deal with the fallout from the killing of SANDF soldiers in the Democratic Republic of Congo by the M23 rebels, a retired army general has warned that the incident poses a major security risk for the country. Retired Lieutenant General Mojo Motau said the deaths of the soldiers have put the country’s reputation and security at risk, suggesting that the SANDF should retaliate, particularly against Rwanda, which is accused of exacerbating the conflict between the DRC and the M23 rebels. It is believed that the M23 rebels are receiving support from neighbouring Rwanda. The general made these comments during a talk radio show, discussed the state of the army and who should be held accountable for the deaths. A statement from the Department of Defence…

Leader of the African Transformation Movement (ATM) Vuyo Zungula has written to the Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure, Dean Macpherson, urging him to begin the process of expropriating unused and abandoned government buildings to address the critical shortage of properties. There are a slew of hijacked buildings in the country’s major city centres. Zungula said there was a need to take back what belongs to the government so they can be used for the benefit of all citizens. “Dear Honourable Minister, in light of the newly assented Expropriation Act, which grants government the tools to address critical land and property issues in the public interest, I write to urge your department to prioritise the expropriation of abandoned and hijacked buildings in key urban areas such as South Beach (Point)…

The City of Joburg’s City Power has welcomed the arrest of two suspected electricity thieves on charges of arson, tampering with essential infrastructure and extortion. Sipho Vundla and Jafta Mofokeng were arrested at the weekend. It is alleged that Vundla posed as a City Power team leader and allegedly extorted money from a Johannesburg business owner. The accused allegedly demanded a bribe of R97 000 from the businessman to fast-track the installation of a new electrical service connection. City Power spokesperson Isaac Mangena said the businessman paid over R337 000 to the City of Joburg Revenue Department for the installation of an electrical connection in June 2023. However, he was informed that he had made a payment to the wrong department last April. “Shortly thereafter, Vundla, posing as a…

THE R1.8 billion fraud and corruption case against former Bosasa chief operations officer Angelo Agrizzi and three of his co-accused is yet to get off the ground. Agrizzi made headlines at the State Capture Commission of Inquiry by implicating government officials and politicians in illicit deals. His case was before the Gauteng High Court, Pretoria yesterday. The matter was provisionally postponed to June 12, after his lawyer, Cliff Alexander, told the court that there were still preliminary issues to be sorted out. The trial of his three co-accused, former Bosasa executive Andries van Tonder, former correctional services chief financial officer Patrick Gillingham, and former correctional services commissioner Linda Mti, was also provisionally postponed to June 12. The court was told that in their cases the accused were in the process…

A 26-year-old suspect is expected to appear in court soon after he was found in possession of eight firearms, five stun grenades, and items suspected to have been stolen from murdered police officers. SAPS provincial spokesperson in KwaZulu-Natal, Colonel Robert Netshiunda, said the suspect, who was arrested in Westham, Phoenix, yesterday, was also found with ammunition, including armour-piercing ammunition, a drug manufacturing machine and drugs. Netshiunda said members of the Provincial Organised Crime and Provincial Drugs and Firearms Unit, received information about a man who was suspected of having firearms in each of his vehicles. “The suspect was arrested as he attempted to flee his residence. He was found in possession of a firearm and drugs. A subsequent search led to the recovery of two shotguns inside his apartment. “The…

JANUARY 29, 2025 is the first day of a new year, the Year of the Snake, on the lunisolar Chinese calendar. People of Chinese heritage all over the world are immersed in the festive joy of Chinese New Year – or the Spring Festival, as it is more commonly known. Just in time for this year’s Spring Festival, Unesco inscribed the festival on its Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. If you have ever seen the vibrant dragon and lion dances or wondered about the meaning behind the red envelopes handed out during this time, you have had a glimpse into the traditions of the Spring Festival. You may not know much about the details, but when it comes to family affection, the emotional core that defines…

They have lived for years in Zaatari, the world’s biggest refugee camp for Syrians, but many are unsure they want to return home from Jordan even after the ouster of former president Bashar al-Assad. They fear the security situation might once again deteriorate after 13 years of civil war, and some say their homes have been destroyed while others lost their jobs and feel they have nothing to go back to. In 2012, a year into the war in Syria, neighbouring Jordan opened Zaatari camp to host people fleeing the conflict. It is now home to 75 000 people, according to UN figures. To begin with, it was a squalid collection of tents dotting an arid landscape, but over time, it grew into a town of prefabricated homes, supplied with…

MUMBAI: OpenAI has asked an Indian court to quash a plea by a group representing Indian and global book publishers that accuse it of copyright breaches, arguing its ChatGPT service disseminates public information, legal papers show. The case, which began with legal action last year by local news agency ANI, was expected to be heard in New Delhi yesterday. It has the potential to shape the legal framework for artificial intelligence in India. In recent weeks, book publishers and almost a dozen digital media outlets, including those owned by billionaires Gautam Adani and Mukesh Ambani, have joined the case to challenge the AI giant. The Federation of Indian Publishers, which represents many Indian firms, has argued ChatGPT produces book summaries and extracts from unlicensed online copies, hurting their business.…

Belgrade: Serbian Prime Minister Milos Vucevic announced yesterday that he was resigning, following months of mass demonstrations over the fatal collapse of a train station roof in November. “My irrevocable decision is to resign from the position of prime minister,” said Vucevic during a press conference in Belgrade. “I had a long meeting with the president of Serbia this morning. We talked about this. We talked about everything, and he accepted my arguments,” he added. “So in order to avoid further complicating things, so we do not further raise tensions in society, I made this decision.” The Balkan country has been rocked by regular protests since a deadly disaster at a train station in the northern city of Novi Sad killed 15 people. | AFP…

The excitement is real! You just said yes and now you’re walking around with that rock on your finger. But once the initial glow starts to settle, the big question hits: how and where do you even start planning a wedding? Each journey is unique, both exciting and daunting, especially with the ever-changing trends that shape how couples celebrate their big day. In 2025, wedding trends are taking a refreshing turn, focusing on meaning, sustainability and personal storytelling. Before you start scrolling through Pinterest until your fingers cramp, take a moment to think about what kind of wedding feels right for you and your partner. What’s the vibe? Do you picture a grand celebration with 200 guests? Or maybe a small, intimate ceremony on a family farm? This year, the…

The National School Nutrition Programme (NSNP) Service Providers Association strongly condemns the false and misleading information disseminated by the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Education regarding the payment of service providers. The Department had announced that payments to service providers would reflect in their bank accounts on January 28, 2025, yet no payments have been made. This blatant disregard for truth and transparency not only erodes trust but also highlights the department’s continued failure to prioritise the NSNP, the small business sector, and, most importantly, the learners who depend on this programme for their daily nutrition. The lack of payment leaves service providers financially constrained and unable to ensure the timely delivery of food items to schools, posing a direct threat to the welfare of learners across the province. For months, the…

Cape Town is now embroiled in a tender scandal. Clean governance is a joke. Across our political spectrum, there is a deep sense of crisis. Our hard-won democracy is being torn asunder in an orgy of naked financial greed that is breathtaking in its scope, and pulverising in its depth. The nation has been betrayed, at a time of crisis unparalleled in our history. These brutal act of betrayal are a transgression that requires the severest form of sanction and punishment that is permissible under our legal system. The rule of law has been mercilessly relegated to the dustbin of history. The phrase “rule of law” is no pious aspiration from a civics textbook. The rule of law is what stands between us and the usurpers of our nation’s wealth.…

RESIDENTS of Msunduzi Municipality will have to dig deep to pay for essential services if the proposed tariff increases put forward by the municipality for the next financial year are approved. The proposed tariffs for the 2025/2026 financial year shows steep hikes, especially for electricity. Opposition parties have expressed outrage, pointing out that some of these tariffs are steep, unaffordable, and unjustified. The matter is expected to be discussed at the full council meeting today. However, the municipality has insisted that its tariffs must be cost-reflective, meaning they must reflect the true cost of providing that service. The draft proposal indicates that the city is proposing a 36% tariff hike for electricity, which could be more than double the current charge. Justifying the increase, the document states that part of…

As the murder trial of Gqeberha woman Vicki Terblanche gets under way, the court has heard how her ex-husband and boyfriend hatched a plan to kill her. In 2021, it was reported that the 42-year-old mother’s body was found dumped in a shallow grave in Greenbushes. Terblanche had been reported missing by her boyfriend, Reinhardt Leach. Leach was arrested soon afterwards and has been in custody since October 2021. Terblanche’s estranged husband, Arnold Terblanche, was also arrested. Arnold, who has maintained his innocence since his arrest, was granted bail of R1 million in 2023. A third accused, Dylan Cullis, confessed to his role in Terblanche’s murder and became a State witness. He was handed an 18-year prison sentence in 2023. In court this week, Leach indicated that he wanted to…

The Public Utility Transport Corporation (Putco) reported yesterday that 50 buses from its fleet were set ablaze in a suspected arson attack, and two of the bus company’s workers were injured in attacks at depots in Mpumalanga. Putco spokesperson Lindokuhle Xulu said buses were set on fire at four depots across Mpumalanga. “Reports indicate that on Monday evening a group of assailants ambushed and tied up security guards at the Moloto depot before setting buses alight and opening fire inside the depot,” said Xulu. The rampage spread, with Wolwekraal, Siyabuswa, and Vaalbank depots reporting buses set on fire. Xulu said Putco buses were still operating in the volatile areas, “under heightened supervision”. In 2022 five buses were destroyed after suspects opened fire on security officers at Putco’s bus depot in…

Economists had mixed reactions to the Gauteng High Court ruling which declared certain Social Relief of Distress (SRD) grant regulations unconstitutional. The ruling, delivered by Judge Leonard Twala, declared several key regulations invalid. The judge invalidated the regulation that set the income threshold for insufficient means at R624 per person per month. Judge Twala ordered the Departments of Social Development and Finance, to progressively increase both the value of the SRD grant and the income threshold. He also stressed the need to ensure that the SRD grant is provided to all individuals unable to support themselves financially. Independent economic analyst Professor Bonke Dumisa expressed scepticism about the ruling’s effectiveness in reducing poverty. He warned: “What it may unfortunately increase (is) the number of fake claims.” Dumisa highlighted past issues where…

In a bold declaration of optimism, KwaZulu-Natal’s Public Works and Infrastructure MEC, Martin Meyer, announced that the province is “open for business” at the inaugural Build KZN Better conference held yesterday at the Durban International Convention Centre (ICC). Spanning two days, the conference aims to look at the issues surrounding the built environment in KwaZulu-Natal, which ranges from neglected and dilapidated buildings to policy red tape and missed collaboration prospects. Addressing stakeholders, Meyer said: “We are standing at the start of a fresh journey, with many challenges ahead, but a journey that will lead to a KwaZulu-Natal that is the most prosperous province in South Africa, leading to the revival of South Africa as a whole,” he said. The MEC noted that his department has just over 10 000 buildings…

FROM here, things will not get any better for the DA. The ink of our Thursday editorial, questioning the role of the DA in the Government of National Unity (GNU), had barely dried when the ANC, through its President Cyril Ramaphosa, signed the Expropriation Bill. This obviously has not gone down well with the DA, which accuses Ramaphosa of not consulting fellow GNU partners before putting pen to paper. As such, DA leader John Steenhuisen has declared a GNU dispute to highlight their displeasure at the signing of the bill they intend challenging in court. On the other hand, the ANC correctly points out that the signing of the bill reflected its continued implementation of resolutions adopted at the 54th and 55th National Conferences, as well as the commitments…

Clashes in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo’s besieged city of Goma have resulted in at least 17 people being killed and nearly 370 wounded, hospital sources said, as the Congolese military fought to hold off M23 forces backed by the Rwandan army. Artillery fire and gunshots echoed across the major hub in the DRC’s mineral-rich east, as Kigali said five civilians were killed across the Rwandan border. There were conflicting accounts over how much of Goma remained under Congolese control after the M23 armed group and Rwandan soldiers entered the city centre. “We are in our beds because we are afraid,” Goma resident Lucie said. “We can hear the shooting outside our homes, we cannot leave.” The M23 resurfaced in late 2021 after years of dormancy and began seizing…

STOCKHOLM: A 45-year-old man was arrested early Tuesday in Stockholm after ramming the metal gate of the Russian embassy with his car, police said. Police were alerted around 7.00am. “The man tried to drive through the gates. He failed and was still in the car when police arrested him,” a statement on the police website said. The man “is suspected of aggravated unlawful intrusion”, it said. The Russian foreign ministry said on Telegram that the suspect was a Ukrainian citizen with permanent residency in Sweden, “well known to the embassy and the local police”. “In 2015 and 2018, he had already committed attacks on the embassy and the trade mission of Russia in Sweden,” it wrote. “He was recognised as mentally incapable, and was sent by the Swedish authorities for…

Iconic singer and Grammy Award winner Lizzo has shared an exciting milestone with her fans: she has achieved her weight loss goal and celebrated with a stunning reveal on social media. The dynamic artist took to Instagram, donning a maroon two-piece workout set and a confident smile, to flaunt her transformed physique, captioning the post with an empowering declaration: “I did it.” In her triumphant announcement, Lizzo revealed a significant change on the weighing scale, noting she saw a number that she hadn’t registered since 2014. Accompanying her post was a motivational message for her followers: “Let this be a reminder you can do anything you put your mind to. Time for new goals!” The post showcased photos where she confidently posed for a mirror selfie. In the top left…

Do you know Auschwitz? Many, especially the young, have not heard of it. Auschwitz was the most evil of Nazi Germany’s concentrations camps built by the Nazi regime during World War II. Hitler regarded the Jews as the scum of the earth wanted to eradicate them from Europe to preserve the Aryan race. He devised a grand plan for the “final solution to the Jewish problem” by building several concentration camps around occupied Europe. Jews were rounded up, loaded like cattle on to trains and sent to the concentration camps. Here they were asked to take a shower but instead of water, lethal gas was pumped into the gas chambers. The bodies were buried in mass graves. Over 6 million Jews perished during the Nazi dictator’s evil reign. Auschwitz-Birkenau, the…

THE 2018 report of the United Nation’s Food and Agriculture Organisation indicates that Africa’s small-scale farmers produce 75% to 95% of the food consumed in Africa. This is a heart-warming feat that requires governments across Africa to act to assist small-scale farmers to optimise production even more. One of the recommendations by the UN’s 37th session of the Committee on World Food Security suggested to members states that they must ensure that agricultural policies and public investment give priority to food production and nutrition and increase the resilience of local and traditional food systems and biodiversity. This must be done with a focus on strengthening sustainable smallholder food production, reducing post-harvest losses, increasing post-harvest value addition, and fostering smallholder- inclusive local, national and regional food markets including transport, storage and…

Is this some weird concurrence of events? World leaders – and survivors –met in Auschwitz this week to mark the 80th anniversary of the fall of the notorious Nazi extermination camp of World War II, which killed more than a million people, mainly Jews, though there were a few other minority groups as well. At the same time, Israel was involved in the shakiest of ceasefires and prisoner exchanges in Gaza. Could conditions be more fraught? Will the peace hold and become permanent? Or will it collapse again, bringing more calamity to an already shattered region? The Auschwitz commemoration should be a timely reminder to both sides of what the consequences can be of war. Britain’s King Charles was a major figure at the commemoration event. What occurred at Auschwitz…

The Durban High Court has dismissed an application to have a lead prosecutor removed in the murder trial of two ANC members gunned down in October 2021. Sandile Mzizi, Nkosinathi Emmanuel Ngcobo, Mkhipheni Mzimuni Ngiba, a former ANC ward 101 councillor, Sifiso Vincent Mlondo and Phathesakhe Ngiba are accused of the murders of ANC activist Mzukisi Nyanga and ANC councillor candidate Siyabonga Mkhize from ward 101. The defence counsel for Mzizi, who is accused number two, filed an application last week to have KwaZulu-Natal Deputy Director of Public Prosecutions advocate Lawrence Gcaba removed from the case. Gcaba is also a lead prosecutor in the murder case of rapper Kiernan “AKA” Forbes and his friend Tebello “Tibz” Motsoane. Defence counsel Sibusiso Dlamini, for Mzizi, said this application was based on a…

A JUDGE had harsh words for the Mafube Local Municipality in the Free State and some of its senior officials, including the mayor, who have turned a deaf ear to court orders compelling them to pay the pension contributions of workers over to the pension fund. In the latest of a series of judgments on the issue, the Bloemfontein High Court ordered the municipality, mayor Tloane Motsoeneng, the chief financial officer and the municipal manager, to personally pay more than R14.7 million to the Municipal Workers Retirement Fund. Judge Mareena Opperman said the municipality and the officials were jointly and severally responsible for this amount, which will accrue interest come February 1. She also ordered the registrar of the court to forward a copy of this judgment to the Free…

A case of defeating the ends of justice has been lodged against chairperson of the DA Federal Council Helen Zille. National Coloured Congress leader Fadiel Adams opened a docket at Cape Town Central Police Station this week. This comes after comments made by Zille where she claimed to have prior knowledge of the raids conducted at the offices of City of Cape Town Safety and Security boss and DA deputy federal chairperson JP Smith and Mayco member for Energy Xanthea Limberg on Friday. Adams said that Zille has a case to answer and he was tired of her questioning his party’s competency. “If you listen to Helen Zille, people like me don’t know what they’re doing. We don’t have the necessary skills to do certain jobs. “She has confessed that…

The State has insisted it has enough evidence to strengthen its money laundering charges against child pornography accused Darryn Wilken, who appeared before the Randburg Magistrate’s Court yesterday, along with his co-accused and girlfriend Tiona Moodley. Wilken and his web designer partner were arrested this month after police discovered an estimated 10 million videos and images of child sexual abuse, contraband, and drugs in their Midrand home. The accused’s bail application was postponed to February 3 to allow the State to finalise its additional money laundering charges, while it also verifies a new out-of-province address for the accused. State prosecutor Colleen Ryan said the State intends to charge Wilken on 24 counts of money laundering. He faces charges including fraud, possession and distribution of images of child sexual abuse, possession…

SOUTH Africa’s unemployment rate stands at a staggering 33.5%, one of the highest in the world. Coupled with an alarming poverty rate – where more than half of the population lives on less than R1 558 a month – the socio-economic landscape is dire. The country’s social assistance system has been a critical tool in the fight against poverty and unemployment. In fact, South Africa has one of the largest cash transfers programmes in Africa. More than 19 million grants are paid out every month. These are the Care Dependency Grant, Child Support Grant, Disability Grant, Foster Child Grant, Grant in Aid, Old Age Grant and War Veteran Grant. During the Covid-19 pandemic a new grant was added to the mix – the Social Relief of Distress grant. (It’s known…

Japanese tech firms sank yesterday after a sell-off in US titans following news of China’s DeepSeek chatbot, while the dollar rallied on a report saying Washington was considering universal tariffs on a range of goods. Tokyo-listed companies linked to the artificial intelligence sector tanked for a second straight day as investors tracked a rout on Wall Street that saw Nvidia crumble 17%, wiping more than half-a-trillion dollars off its market capitalisation. The retreat came after DeepSeek unveiled its R1 chatbot that has apparently shown the ability to match the capacity of US AI pace-setters for a fraction of the investments made by American companies. Nvidia has been the standout company that has led the drive by investors to seek out all things AI, spending vast sums of cash but seeing…

Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich has withdrawn a threat to quit the government if Israel does not return to fighting in Gaza, several Israeli news sites reported. Earlier this month, Smotrich opposed a ceasefire deal that aims to secure the release of nearly 100 hostages held by Hamas in Gaza in exchange for Palestinians held in Israeli jails, arguing it endangered Israeli security and stopped Israel from achieving its war goals. Hardline National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir and two other ministers from his nationalist-religious party resigned from Netanyahu’s cabinet over the deal. Smotrich stopped short of resigning but said if Israel agreed to a full end to the war before achieving its aims in Gaza – which include the complete destruction of Hamas – he and his party, Religious Zionism,…

WASHINGTON: Semiconductor business between Taiwan and the US is a “win-win” model for both sides given the high level of complementarity, the island’s economy ministry said yesterday responding to tariff threats from US President Donald Trump. Home to the world’s largest contract chipmaker, Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. 2330.TW, the island is a key link in the global technology supply chain for companies such as Apple and Nvidia. “Taiwan and the US semiconductor and other technology industries are highly complementary to each other, especially the US-designed, Taiwan-foundry model, which creates a win-win business model for Taiwan and U.S. industries,” Taiwan’s economy ministry said in a statement in response. | Reuters…

Aston Villa have one last chance to seal automatic qualification for the Champions League last 16 when they face Celtic in a crucial 'Battle of Britain' clash on Wednesday. Heading into the final round of league phase fixtures, Unai Emery's side sit ninth in the standings, with the top eight guaranteed to advance directly to the last 16. Teams who finish ninth to 24th will face a nerve-racking play-off round that determines the final eight clubs to progress. Villa, who are one point behind eighth placed Bayer Leverkusen, will almost certainly have to beat Scottish Premiership leaders Celtic at Villa Park to avoid the play-offs. They could have almost wrapped up a last 16 berth by beating Monaco last week, but instead slipped to a surprise 1-0 defeat against the…