Indholdsfortegnelse for 2025-02-06 i Mercury

I cannot fathom what Kamini Prakash is talking about. (“Can adequate reparations be made for colonial brutality?”, The Mercury, January 31.) I was prompted to write about what the British did in India because of the publicity the Western media gave to the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz. Yes, we cannot deny that, as the greatest crime against humanity, the Holocaust deserves all the attention. But there were other crimes, like the brutality of the British Empire, that largely went under the radar. Prakash is nit-picking that I mentioned only one author who wrote about the millions who were starved to death in British-occupied India. Marauding armies see it as their right to loot, pillage, rape and murder. The British claim to be a civilised nation with a…

It is in us to love. It’s human. We have the capacity for it. Even hurt and rejected people can love. Once a person accepts that love has more than romantic connotations, as powerful and valid as these are, he or she will be able to see its broader power. Love is unleashed through simple, but not easy, human acts of seeking the highest good both for oneself and for others. Acts of offering unearned forgiveness, of reaching out to the estranged, of welcoming a stranger, of letting go of all prejudice, of rejecting dishonesty – all begin within the individual human heart. When a person intentionally facilitates others toward finding and enjoying and exercising the full range of their humanity, they will know and see and experience the powerhouse…

Airports Company South Africa (Acsa) is putting measures in place to address refuelling infrastructure challenges at OR Tambo International Airport and Cape Town International Airport. This follows a statement issued last week by the Airlines Association of Southern Africa (AASA) raising concerns about South Africa’s aviation infrastructure. AASA said it noted with frustration the disruption of airline operations over the summer peak travel season. “The incidents are primarily related to the reliability of refuelling infrastructure, electrical power supply and redundancy systems at OR Tambo International Airport and Cape Town International Airport. There remains ongoing uncertainty regarding the management of fuel reserves as well as the security of the jet fuel supply.” Aaron Munetsi, the CEO of AASA, said: “Airlines and passengers pay statutory user charges to the various state aviation…

A businessman awaiting trial in prison for allegedly murdering his elderly parents, his stepdaughter, his domestic worker and the attempted murder of his wife, has to pay her R84 000 maintenance a month pending their divorce. The wife, who was shot in the face, turned to the Gauteng High Court, Pretoria, where she said she needed the money to take care of herself. Her husband, meanwhile, also has to foot the bill for some of her other needs, including her medical bills. The court was told that the couple were married in 2012, had a normal relationship and enjoyed a comfortable lifestyle. However, in January last year, the husband allegedly shot and killed his parents, the domestic worker, and the wife’s biological daughter. It is also claimed that he attempted…

There have been mixed reactions by workers’ unions and the agricultural sector following the Department of Employment and Labour announcing an increase in the National Minimum Wage (NMW) from R27.58 to R28.79, equivalent to R1.21 or 4.4%. The Department said South Africa introduced the implementation of the National Minimum Wage Act in 2019, which is subject to annual review and increases annually from March 1. The 2025 NMW amendments are a step forward in addressing income inequality, said John Botha, a labour market specialist. “By ensuring that farmworkers, domestic workers, and Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP) participants receive fair pay, the government is making progress in reducing wage disparities. Employers who embrace these changes may benefit from improved employee morale, reduced turnover, and enhanced productivity. With robust planning and collaborative…

WHEN President Cyril Ramaphosa declared that load shedding will “soon to be a thing of the past” during last year’s State of the Nation Address, it took Eskom only hours to prove that he was wrong. Ramped-up power cuts continued that week into the weekend much to the president’s embarrassment until a few weeks before election. This correctly raised a suspicion that it was a ploy by the troubled ANC to regain lost ground ahead of the May 29, 2024 elections. But that was too little, too late as South Africans rejected the ANC, reducing its majority to just over 40% of the vote – the first time the party received less than 50% during national elections. Thankfully, load shedding did not return for almost a year…

Palestinian militant group Hamas lashed out yesterday at US President Donald Trump’s shock proposal for the US to take over the Gaza Strip and resettle its people in other countries, seemingly whether they want to leave or not. Trump made his announcement to audible gasps during a joint press conference with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, whom he was hosting at the White House for talks. In a proposal that lacked details on how he would move out more than two million Palestinians or control Gaza, Trump said he would make the war-battered enclave “unbelievable” by removing unexploded bombs and rubble, and economically redeveloping it. “The US will take over the Gaza Strip and we will do a job with it, too. We’ll own it,” Trump said. He said there…

Beijing accused the US yesterday of “suppression” after its postal service said it was suspending parcels from China and Hong Kong, a move that could hit e-commerce giants Temu and Shein. Tensions between the US and China have soared in recent days as the world’s two largest economies slapped a volley of tariffs on each others’ imports, hitting hundreds of billions of dollars in trade. On Tuesday, the US Postal Service (USPS) also scrapped a duty-free exemption for low-value packages. The de minimis exemption allows goods valued at $800 or below to enter the US without paying duties or certain taxes, but it has faced scrutiny due to a surge in shipments in recent years. In a statement last month, the US Customs and Border Protection agency said exemption shipments…

BRUSSELS: European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen said that the EU was prepared for tough negotiations with the US to safeguard its economic interests. Her remarks came after US President Donald Trump announced plans to impose tariffs on imports from the EU. Von der Leyen underscored the deep economic ties between the two sides, noting that millions of jobs depended on the partnership. “European companies in the US employ 3.5 million Americans, and another million American jobs depend directly on trade with Europe,” she said. Von der Leyen stressed that both sides had much at stake. “We will be ready for tough negotiations,” she said. She reiterated that the EU remained pragmatic in achieving its objectives, but would defend its economic interests. | Xinhua…

Port Natal Bowls district teams returned triumphant from the Quadrangular tournament hosted by KZN Country Bowls (KZNCB), securing the overall titles for 2025 with commanding performances across all divisions. The men’s teams delivered impressive results, with the A-side finishing 8.5 points ahead of Natal Inland Bowls Association (NIBA) to claim the top spot, while the B-side placed third. The Veterans side narrowly missed out on victory, finishing just three points behind KZNCB, but the President’s side dominated their division with a remarkable 12-point lead to finish at the top of the log. The accumulated points gave PNB the overall win. The PNB women were equally formidable, with the A-side edging past Kingfisher Bowling Association (KBA) by just half a point in a tense battle. The B-side and Veteran…

The Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP) welcomes the decision to make the National Sex Offenders Register public. This is a significant step towards protecting our communities, particularly women and children, from sexual predators. For years, the IFP has advocated for tougher measures against sex offenders and greater transparency around the register. By making the register public, we believe that it will serve as a deterrent to potential offenders and provide communities with vital information to safeguard themselves. The IFP hopes that this move will contribute significantly to reducing sex crimes in our country. According to the latest crime statistics, sexual offences remain a scourge on our society. By making the register public, we can work towards creating a safer environment for all. We commend the Department of Justice and Constitutional Development…

The recent fearsome statement from Donald Trump after his fight about Ramaphosa’s racist expropriation without compensation bill, should make us all hopeful, not fearful. It’s about time someone teaches this arrogant ANC a lesson, and the world must come to know what a circus this country has become under the Zuma/Ramaphosa government. The emperor indeed has no clothes! From now on, Ramaphosa better watch his step, before Trump decides to go all guns blazing against the cadres. You never slap away the hand that feeds you, Mr Ramaphosa! And don’t say that Donald Trump “must leave SA alone and let us run our country” when for so many years, you begged the US for funding for HIV/Aids treatment! Many might argue that Trump’s decisions will hurt many South Africans, and…

A PILOT had to make an emergency landing in Austria after a fight broke out on board due to a passenger’s sustained flatulence, according to the BBC. The passenger, reportedly obese and reluctant to stop breaking wind, caused a massive punch-up while travelling from Dubai to Amsterdam with Transavia Airlines. Two men from the Netherlands sitting next to the gassy passenger asked the crew on flight HV6902 to do something about it. There was little the cabin crew could do, and when the passenger persisted with loud and smelly flatulence, a fight broke out. The ruckus forced the pilot of the Dutch low-cost airline to make an emergency landing at Vienna airport in Austria. Police boarded the plane and removed four passengers. A police spokesperson confirmed that the row was…

PRESIDENT Cyril Ramaphosa has come under fire for allegedly breaking protocol by phoning US billionaire Elon Musk to discuss his “misinformed tweets” over the Expropriation Act. The move has been criticised by opposition parties and analysts, who argue that it undermines the country’s sovereignty and diplomatic protocols. The EFF has accused Ramaphosa of compromising the country’s sovereignty by engaging with a private individual who is not part of the SA government. “The EFF is dismayed by the decision of President Cyril Ramaphosa to break diplomatic protocols by calling an unelected government official, Mr Elon Musk, to explain himself about the Expropriation Act that he recently signed into law. “This breaking of diplomatic protocol should never be taken lightly by citizens, as it is a clear indication of how the sovereignty…

THE Msunduzi Municipality has been accused of not prioritising the repairs and maintenance of water and electricity infrastructure in recent years and applying a Band-Aid approach to all infrastructure problems. This was the view of the Msunduzi Association of Residents, Ratepayers and Civics (MARRC), which was commenting on the recurring sewer pipeline blockages that have plagued some areas of Pietermaritzburg. Ward 28 councillor Renisha Singh highlighted the issue when she wrote to officials at the Msunduzi Municipality requesting immediate action. “Despite numerous complaints and promises of action, the municipality has failed to adequately address this crisis. The consequences of this neglect are dire, residents are exposed to unhealthy and unsanitary conditions, properties are damaged, and the environment is degraded. The DA demands immediate action from the municipality to clear the…

A 52-year-old South African National Parks (SANParks) employee has been arrested in connection with a break-in at the SAPS Stock Theft and Endangered Species Unit storeroom in Skukuza, Mpumalanga. The burglary, which took place on January 23, resulted in the theft of state-owned crime scene equipment used in poaching investigations, cleaning materials, and sets of knives. “The storeroom seems to have been broken into twice, allegedly by the same suspect. Members of the Stock Theft Unit became suspicious when they noticed that something was odd outside the storeroom, and they began to investigate,” said Mpumalanga police spokesperson, Brigadier Donald Mdhluli. Police believe the suspect tried to conceal the crime by restoring some items to their original places. The suspect is due to appear in Masoyi District Court facing charges of…

THERE has been an outcry over police heavy-handedness after a video emerged on social media purportedly showing police officers assaulting a woman. The incident allegedly took place at the Heidedal police station in Bloemfontein in the Free State. It was reported that the woman had gone to the station to report domestic violence when she was attacked. In the over two-minute video that was caught on CCTV, a woman is seen coming into the video frame and a female police officer slaps her across the face. Then another woman, in full uniform, is seen pushing her towards the outside entrance of the police station while the woman tries to fight back. The officers then start pushing the woman out. A third officer, a man, is seen following the altercation as…

PROFITS before people is the dominant mantra in the South African economy, and the financial services sector is no exception. It is glaringly disconnected from the harsh realities that millions face as they struggle to make ends meet. South Africans are grappling with exorbitant banking fees, crippling debt, and a disheartening lack of access to affordable financial services. This situation has marginalised countless individuals, leaving them underserved by institutions designed to support their financial aspirations. When the country transitioned from apartheid to democracy, there were high hopes for fundamental change. The financial services sector became one of the primary targets for transformation. Still, many remain unbanked and issues like high bank charges, high interest rates, predatory lending and asset seizures persist. Equally concerning is that the banking sector has…

Goma, which fell to M23 fighters and the Rwandan military last week, has become a symbol of the conflict that has ripped apart the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo over three decades. Last month, a push on the capital of North Kivu province, where thousands of UN and humanitarian workers were based, was seen as unlikely. But worrying signs soon emerged as clashes intensified in the surrounding region. First, M23 fighters and Rwandan soldiers took Minova, a port on Lake Kivu, to the south-west, tightening the noose around Goma, which is home to about a million people and nearly as many displaced by the fighting. On January 23, the front still held on the plain around Sake – the last obstacle to the north-west of the city. Congolese army helicopters…

British prosecutors yesterday charged a 15-year-old boy over the stabbing murder of a teenager in Sheffield, England in the latest high-profile knife attack. The teenager, who cannot be named due to his age, was charged after Harvey Willgoose, 15, was killed this week, said the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS). Harvey was stabbed on the grounds of All Saints Catholic High School in Sheffield. “We are utterly heartbroken at the loss of our beautiful boy, ‘Harvey Goose’,” the family said after visiting the school, where flowers and balloons were placed. | AFP…

BANGKOK: Thailand has cut electricity, internet and fuel supplies to five border areas in Myanmar, a senior Thai minister said yesterday, as the Southeast Asian nation steps up efforts to choke scam centres that have become a growing security concern. “They may face challenges of lower power supply, but we are at the point now where no one can blame Thailand for being part of or playing a part in supporting illegal acts,” Deputy Prime Minister and Interior Minister Anutin Charnvirakul said. “They may turn to other sources of power supply or generate their own electricity.” Scam compounds in Southeast Asia, including those along the Thai-Myanmar border, are suspected to have entrapped hundreds of thousands of people in illegal online operations, generating billions annually, according to a 2023 UN report.…

Sappi has reported a robust first quarter performance for the period ending December 2024, despite anticipating short-term pressure on dissolving pulp pricing as China braces for the seasonal slowdown associated with the Lunar New Year celebrations. The company’s adjusted earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) stood at $203 million (R3.8 billion)—significantly surpassing expectations and improving markedly from the previous year. In an update on Wednesday, the leading global provider of materials derived from woodfibre-based renewable resources underscored that year-on-year profitability had improved across all segments, buoyed by strategic cost savings, enhanced operational efficiencies, and stronger sales volumes of dissolving pulp and packaging papers. “Amid global macroeconomic headwinds, weak consumer spending, and overcapacity in paper markets, our Thrive strategy—especially our strategic capacity rationalisation and cost-saving initiatives—has yielded positive results,”…

The fact that Trump has jumped the gun on where the Expropriation Act is headed does not diminish the negative attention this Act warrants. In terms of section 104 of the Agoa (African Growth and Opportunity Act) agreement, the property rights of a country participating in the agreement must be ring-fenced. In terms of the EWC Act that is not the case because it violates section 25 of the Constitution. Given the strenuous opposition to the Act which the DA and others have been presenting, it is disturbing to note that suddenly John Steenhuisen seems to be trying to walk back his stance just because what Trump criticised is not actually occurring – yet. Yet in a press conference last month, DA minister of Public Works, Dean MacPherson was emphatic…

Minister of Mineral and Petroleum Resources Gwede Mantashe’s opening statement at the 2025 Investing in African Mining Indaba was an opportunity to attract local and international investment in South Africa’s mining sector. Instead, his reckless utterances were a national embarrassment, further damaging South Africa’s investment credibility. The minister squandered this moment, serving as a deterrent rather than a draw for potential investors. South Africa is already a risky mining investment destination due to its ever-changing and unpredictable mining policies. Rather than providing much-needed certainty, Mantashe chose to issue a veiled threat about potentially withholding minerals if the US proceeds with funding cuts to Africa. He also raised the prospect of a minerals export tax – an ill-advised move for a country that claims to be serious about attracting investment. The…

THE KwaZulu-Natal Department of Health has revealed that it is struggling to take disciplinary action against its staff members who have been implicated in alleged wrongdoing. The department said it is confronted by several cases of alleged misconduct that have not progressed for some time due to managers refusing to chair disciplinary hearings. This information was disclosed before the members of the Health Portfolio Committee on Tuesday as the department briefed them on its efforts to address the issues of alleged misconduct and the fight against fraud and corruption within the department. The department did not disclose how many cases it is currently handling. Other arms of government have also faced similar challenges. It has been reported that in the eThekwini Municipality, managers had refused to chair hearings because they…

The case against Louis Liebenberg, a diamond dealer accused of running a Ponzi scheme, was postponed in the Bronkhorstspruit Magistrate’s Court this week. The case against Liebenberg, his wife Dezzi, and seven co-accused will be back in court on July 8. However Liebenberg’s bail application is expected to resume on February 25. The accused are facing charges of fraud, theft, racketeering, and money laundering. During this brief appearance this week, Liebenberg said he wanted to be released on bail as he posed no flight risk and was committed to co-operating with the investigation. The State has argued that Liebenberg and Dezzi have attempted to hide more than R200 million from the authorities following a video depicting Liebenberg boasting about his fortune online. The State also alleges that Liebenberg operated a…

This week marked nine years since three miners, Pretty Nkambule, Yvonne Mnisi, and Solomon Nyirenda, were trapped underground at the Lily Mine in Barberton, Mpumalanga. To remember them, the families of the victims gathered at the site of the February 5, 2016 tragedy yesterday. The families, who want to bury their loved ones, have been disappointed by the apparent lack of political will to find a resolution to their plight. The three miners were trapped in the mine when a section of it collapsed, sealing the container office where the three were working, about 70m below the surface. Initial attempts to reach the victims were halted due to safety concerns, leaving the families in limbo. At this year’s gathering, community leader and spokesperson for the victims, Harry Mazibuko, voiced the…

Chatsworth residents, teachers and pupils are mourning the loss of Nokuthula Mbanjwa, who was killed in the crossfire between security officers and heavily armed heist robbers, during a high speed chase on Silverglen Drive, on Tuesday afternoon. The robbers had bombed a Fidelity ADT van on the N2 near the NPC cement factory on Tuesday morning and were making their getaway when Mbanjwa was killed. Mbanjwa, who would have turned 40 on Valentine’s Day, worked as a security guard at Lotus Primary School in Westcliff for the past four years. The mother of one, from Lamontville, was on her way to work – walking to Silverglen Drive to catch a taxi to school – when she was shot multiple times by the robbers. Vilosh Naidoo, a teacher at the school,…

LADIES and gentlemen, the service delivery van driver has announced the “fasten seat belts” warning. Not only have President Cyril Ramaphosa and Minister John Steenhuisen run into massive potholes over the alleged lack of consultation before the signing of legislation passed during the previous administration, but the driver’s cab occupant deliberately steered the Government of National Unity (GNU) vehicle into a bumpy road. That is an interesting choice for a much-praised coalition government already buffeted by serious opposition from political parties inside and outside government, and it is a choice that many ANC and DA leaders are struggling to explain to themselves. Steenhuisen says his party invoked section 19 of the GNU statement of intent because of Ramaphosa's alleged refusal to discuss contentious issues with the DA. However, Ramaphosa's office…

Japan’s Nissan 7201.T would call off merger talks with rival Honda 7267.T, the Nikkei newspaper said, abandoning a tie-up that would have created the world’s no 3 automaker and raising questions about how it would drive a turnaround by itself. Shares in Nissan slid more than 4% before trade was temporarily suspended by the Tokyo Stock Exchange following the report. Shares of Honda continued to trade and finished the day up more than 8%, in a sign of apparent investor relief that the deal would be scrapped. Honda, Japan’s second-largest car maker, and Nissan, its third-largest, last year said they were in discussions to merge and create the world’s third-largest automaker by sales, bulking up in an industry that faced a vast threat from China’s BYD 002594.SZ and other electric…

PRAGUE: The EU’s General Court yesterday dismissed complaints by Poland over e320 million ($333m) in fines it had to pay the EU in 2022 and 2023 in a dispute over judicial reforms. Poland’s government at the time was embroiled in a row with Brussels over judicial reforms that critics said undermined the independence of Polish courts. The dispute had blocked billions of euros in EU funds to Warsaw and also triggered the fines. In 2021, the EU’s top court ruled that Poland’s system for disciplining judges was incompatible with the bloc’s laws and then imposed a daily fine of e1m for Warsaw’s failure to implement its ruling that the disciplinary chamber for judges be dissolved. It later halved that daily fine as certain reforms were implemented. The EU collected the…

Kampong Chhnang: Two men died and five others were seriously wounded in a fire at a nightclub in Phnom Penh, capital of Cambodia, yesterday, according to the Phnom Penh Municipal Police. The blaze broke out at around 10.30am at the Midnight Premier Club in the capital’s Dangkao district, and the firefighters took three hours to put out the flames. “The 35-metre-by-40-metre club caught on fire after an electrical fault caused by a welder,” said Colonel Sam Vicheka. The fire destroyed all equipment in the club and five motorcycles, and the flames also caused damage to a nearby guest-house room, he added. There were no customers at the club at the time of the accident. Cambodia recorded a total of 823 fire accidents in 2024, killing 20 people and injuring 59…