Indholdsfortegnelse for 2025-04-23 i Mercury

Small town folk know when to get together and help. Chelsea is a small town in the US state of Michigan. According to Associated Press, a week or so ago they formed a human chain to move more than 1 000 brand-new books hand-to-hand from one bookstore to a new one about a block away. The “Book Brigade” of around 300 people stood in two lines running along a sidewalk in downtown Chelsea passing each title from the Serendipity Books former location directly to the correct shelves in the new building, around the corner on Main Street. “It was a practical way to move the books, but it also was a way for everybody to have a part,” Michelle Tuplin, the store’s owner, said. “As people passed the books along,…

With heavy hearts, the World, had to bear the loss of a distinguished and dedicated humanitarian, Pope Francis who led the Vatican, with strategic outreach. The world will remember him because of his character, his humility, and his perceptiveness into the lives of people in the worlds’ brutal war zones. He fearlessly challenged injustices and sought reconciliation where possible. Pope Francis was a titanic figure in the global arena. The debt owed to him by the global masses is immeasurable and inexpressible. In our troubled times, his death is a colossal loss. Humanity will remember his good work on earth. An outstanding humanitarian, left our earthly shores, in transit to a heavenly abode. It is hard to eulogise any man to capture in words not just the facts and the…

The Special Investigating Unit (SIU) will investigate widespread corruption in the issuing of fraudulent roadworthy certificates, following the release of a damning report by the Organisation Undoing Tax Abuse (OUTA). The report alleges that vehicles which failed inspections in Gauteng were mysteriously issued roadworthy certificates by vehicle testing stations in Limpopo and North West sometimes in as little as 30 minutes. OUTA has made the report public, citing overwhelming public interest. “We cannot improve road safety while corruption at testing stations goes unchecked,” said Rudie Heyneke, OUTA’s senior project manager. “Issuing and accepting fraudulent roadworthy certificates is a criminal offence ...” Minister of Transport Barbara Creecy has since referred the report to the SIU, where the findings will be included under the current investigation into the Department of Transport’s affairs,…

While the Presidential eThekwini Working Group (PeWG) has made strides, President Cyril Ramaphosa acknowledges that challenges remain. In a parliamentary response to questions by the DA’s Anna van Zyl, Ramaphosa disclosed the implementation and achievements of the PeWG since its establishment in April of last year. In his response, Ramaphosa said the PeWG has made significant progress against its priorities, mainly accelerating eThekwini’s Water Turnaround Strategy, approved by the municipality in 2023; positioning eThekwini as an investment and tourism hub to boost the local economy and create jobs; and, improving service delivery, including road infrastructure maintenance and enhancing public safety. “While the Presidential eThekwini Working Group has made significant progress, momentum must be maintained – and in some areas increased – to tackle complex challenges such as reducing water demand…

FLOYD Shivambu deserves all the criticism that has been levelled against him for his endorsement of fugitive Shepherd Bushiri, who is wanted here for serious crimes. That Shivambu overlooked the fact the self-proclaimed Malawian prophet must still answer to rape and fraud charges, explains why the fight against gender-based violence remains a long battle. This is not to suggest that Bushiri is guilty of the charges against him, far from it. The mere fact that the National Prosecuting Authority is satisfied that charges against him will withstand the test is enough reason for our public figures, including politicians, to be seen to be on the side of Bushiri’s alleged victims. His visit during the long Easter weekend could not have come at a worse time for a country that…

African leaders praised the “legacy of compassion” and “commitment to inclusivity” of Pope Francis as they joined global mourning over his death on Monday. Francis, an energetic reformer who inspired widespread devotion from Catholics but riled traditionalists, died aged 88. The chairperson of the AU Commission, Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, praised “the Pope’s courageous engagement with the African continent, amplifying the voices of the voiceless, championing peace and reconciliation, and standing in solidarity with those affected by conflict and poverty”. Francis, whose real name was Jorge Bergoglio, had been leader of the Catholic Church since March 2013, and was the first Jesuit to lead the world’s almost 1.4 billion Catholics. Africa accounts for an estimated 20% of the world’s Catholics, according to the most recent Vatican statistics, most of them in…

Vietnam is targeting ordinary social media users for posts criticising the state in an expanding crackdown on dissent, Human Rights Watch (HRW) said yesterday. Vietnam, a one-party state, has long sentenced bloggers and human rights activists to hefty jail terms, but now even those with no appreciable public profiles risk arrest if they voice a grievance against communist party officials, HRW said in a report. Members of the public are being targeted through an expansion of the scope of article 331 of the penal code, which centres on the “infringement of state interests”, the report says. Between 2018 and February 2025, Vietnamese courts convicted and sentenced at least 124 people to harsh prison terms under article 331. In the six years to 2017, only 28 were sentenced under equivalent laws,…

TOKYO: British start-up Wayve, which makes artificial intelligence systems for autonomous vehicles, expanded into Asia yesterday with a new testing and development centre in Japan. Wayve last year said it had raised $1.05 billion led by Japan’s SoftBank along with US titans Microsoft and Nvidia – at the time the largest ever fund-raising among European start-ups at the forefront of the AI field. Traditional self-driving systems rely on pre-programmed maps. But AI allows for “natural and human-like driving behaviour” that can “safely navigate around other road users”, founder and CEO Alex Kendall told reporters. Although fully driverless cars are still some way off, Wayve has started training its data models and testing them on the road – under human supervision – in London as well as the US, Canada and…

As the vibrant notes of jazz prepare to echo through the halls of the Cape Town International Convention Centre (CTICC), Thandiswa Mazwai stands on the brink of another memorable performance, embodying the very essence of this audacious genre. With a career that spans decades, Mazwai looks back at her musical journey ahead of the eagerly anticipated Cape Town International Jazz Festival (CTIJF), reflecting on her roots, influences, and the dynamic power of live music. Renowned as one of South Africa’s most influential musical voices, Mazwai’s latest masterpiece, Sankofa, released in 2024, continues to challenge and redefine the boundaries of artistic expression. She originally burst onto the scene in the late 1990s as a member of the beloved groups Jack Knife and Bongo Maffin. Over time, she has transcended her early…

With the sad passing of his Eminence the Pope Francis, the world has lost, probably the only real last opportunity it had for some peace and equanimity, in so many areas around the globe that are infected simultaneously with the same identical artificial virus of the gross abuse of wealth and power to continue to keep disadvantaged communities perpetually marginalised and hopelessly downtrodden. Pope Francis was about the only contemporary, albeit lonely, voice that all religious groups from all countries recognised as a non-vested interest trying to drum some common sense into the madness that has clouded the lunatic minds of most world leaders. Frantic panic amongst leaders of nearly every country to tighten the screws on governance, aping one another as they demonstrate increasing insecurity by pointing to…

THE way I see it, there are no innocent cows in this whole mess. Serious damage has been caused affecting lives of millions of people worldwide. The fire that starts with just one match – stick or a carelessly discarded cigarette butt, destroys vast acres of land; so what started with a small lie that was allowed to spread like wild fire, has had devastating consequences for many countries and millions of people. Sober minds must now prevail. It is a known fact that the immature young people involved in the liberation struggle, are always pushing for a serious confrontation because they think that is how every struggle must always end; but in war there are no winners. By the time it ends all those involved will be counting huge,…

The fact that a woman, charged with six rape charges, was acquitted, does not mean that she is innocent, a judge said in turning down her damages claim for malicious prosecution against the NPA. In analysing the evidence against the plaintiff, only identified in the judgment by her initials LZ, the Mpumalanga High Court, sitting in Middelburg, noted that “the devil is in the details.” While LZ said it is impossible for her, as a woman, to rape girls, the judge said on the facts of the case she had been implicated as being an accomplice to rape. The rapes involving the children allegedly took place at the homestead of a traditional healer, only identified as Malinga, who was a co-accused in the criminal case. He faced most of the…

A newly operational web-based Environmental Screening Tool promises to speed up job-creating projects without sacrificing environmental protections. This is according to Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment, Dr Dion George. Launched under Regulation 16 of the National Environmental Management Act (NEMA) Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Regulations of 2014, the tool is mandatory for all EIA applications. It uses advanced mapping and data systems to identify environmental sensitivities at proposed development sites – a move which the ministry said is expected to reduce delays and encourage responsible investment. “This instrument is a game-changer for South Africa,” said Minister George. “It’s about making processes faster and smarter without compromising our environment.” The platform allows developers to assess areas for potential risks such as biodiversity loss or habitat disruption. It assigns sensitivity…

Swifties, get ready! The ultimate Taylor Swift tribute experience, TAYLOR: A Tribute to the Eras of Taylor Swift, will be in Durban next week. The organisers said the electrifying concert event brings the magic of Taylor’s music to life with a dazzling production, a live band, dancers, and over 30 of her biggest hits spanning every era of her legendary career. The tribute show takes audiences on a nostalgic and exhilarating journey through her ever-evolving sound and features chart-topping anthems like Shake It Off, Anti-Hero, Cruel Summer, You Belong With Me, Love Story, I Knew You Were Trouble, Blank Space, and Bad Blood, to name a few – this is the ultimate celebration of the pop superstar’s music. The organisers said: “This show is a must-see for any Swiftie. With…

The Select Committee on Security and Justice has raised grave concerns over the payment of R31 million to suspended magistrates, with some individuals having received substantial salaries since 2018 without performing any work. Committee chairperson Jane Mananiso, last week, expressed her dismay, stating that the public money cannot continuously be used to fund suspended magistrates. “This is taxpayers’ money that could have been used for much-needed programmes,” Mananiso said. “The Magistrates Commission, a regulatory body for the Lower Court Judiciary, updated the committee on disciplinary proceedings and measures to reduce the length of time these disciplinary proceedings take.” According to Mananiso, one magistrate has been on suspension with full remuneration since September 2018, having received over R8m since then for doing nothing. The magistrate from KwaZulu-Natal has taken home R8m…

What began as an inside joke now plays out on a global stage The annual Zulu parade in New Orleans in the United States presents a complex cultural paradox that bridges continents and centuries. What began as a local act of Black American resistance has evolved into a global conversation about cultural representation, appropriation, and the fluid nature of identity in the African diaspora. This article examines the multiple dimensions of this controversy, from its historical roots in Louisiana to its contemporary reception in KwaZulu-Natal, and considers pathways for respectful cultural exchange. Historical context The Zulu Social Aid & Pleasure Club established its iconic parade in 1909 against the backdrop of Jim Crow-era New Orleans. At a time when Black Americans were systematically excluded from official Mardi Gras celebrations, the…

Russian President Vladimir Putin proposed this week bilateral talks with Ukraine for the first time since the early days of the war, and his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelenskiy said Kyiv was eager to discuss a halt to attacks on civilian targets. While Zelenskiy did not respond directly to Putin’s proposal, he emphasized in his nightly video address that Ukraine “was ready for any conversation” about a ceasefire that would stop strikes on civilians. The two leaders face pressure from the US, which has threatened to walk away from its peace efforts unless some progress is achieved. Russia and Ukraine have said they are open to further ceasefires after a 30-hour Easter truce declared by Moscow at the weekend. Each side accused the other of violating it. Ukraine will take part…

When 25-year-old biology student Yao’s PhD programme enrolment was deferred due to funding cuts at her US university, she joined a growing list of Chinese students exploring other destinations. Visa revocations and university funding cuts by the administration of US President Donald Trump have become a source of anxiety for international students. Those from China face additional challenges due to Washington’s trade war with Beijing and the increasing vilification of Chinese citizens, students and industry insiders said. “I used to think politics was far away from me, but this year I really felt the impact of politics on international students,” Chicago-based Yao said, declining to give the name of her prospective university. China had accounted for the biggest international student body in the US for 15 years, until it was…

PARIS: French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot yesterday called Russian President Vladimir Putin’s Ukraine Easter truce announcement “a marketing operation” aimed at mollifying US leader Donald Trump. “The Easter truce that he announced somewhat unexpectedly was a marketing operation, a charm operation aimed at preventing President Trump from becoming impatient and angry,” Barrot told the FranceInfo broadcaster. The new attacks cast doubt on Trump’s hopes for a broader ceasefire between the two sides, after he said a “deal” could be struck this week. Trump has threatened to walk away from efforts to secure peace in the three-year war if he did not see progress. Representatives from the US, Ukraine, Britain and France are to meet in London this week to resume ceasefire talks after last week’s gathering in Paris. |…

KwaZulu-Natal will come to a standstill this weekend as AmaZulu and Golden Arrows lock horns in a high-stakes KZN Derby that promises more than just bragging rights. Usuthu and Abafana Besthende will clash at the Mpumalanga Stadium on Saturday at 3 pm, an encounter bubbling with anticipation. With both teams chasing a place in the Betway Premiership’s coveted top eight, the encounter carries significant weight as the season edges closer to its conclusion. Derbies are always passionate affairs, but this one arrives with added consequences. Only a few points separate the sides on the table, and both clubs understand that a strong finish could mean a place in next season’s MTN8. This objective could bring about financial gain, competitive prestige, and momentum heading into the next campaign. AmaZulu currently occupy…

Pregnancy is a magical time, filled with excitement and anticipation. But it also comes with its own set of challenges, and one of these is gestational diabetes (GD). If you’re pregnant or planning to have a baby, you’ve probably heard about it. While the term might sound scary, the aim is not to scare you but to educate and empower you, not to alarm you. What is gestational diabetes? Gestational diabetes, sometimes called maternal diabetes, is a condition where blood sugar levels become elevated during pregnancy. It typically develops in the second or third trimester and usually resolves after birth. However, it can have short and long-term health implications for both mother and baby. Globally, gestational diabetes affects about 17% of pregnancies, according to 2021 statistics. In South Africa, the…

EVERY person has a voice designed for full expression. Some have allowed their voice to be stolen or silenced and might find it necessary to take time to find or re-establish the voice they have chosen to deny or ignore. Thankfully, suppressing a voice seldom kills it. It can usually be found even after years of denial. Any person who refuses to hear what you have to say or who tries to silence you doesn’t love you, even if he or she proclaims otherwise. It is never a loving act, except in extremely unusual circumstances, to stop another from expressing who he or she is. Likewise, it is not a loving act to withhold your contribution to the world by maintaining your silence. You were not created to be silent.…

ONCE again Donald Trump has exposed who he really is and what he stands for. Trumps recent comment that he doesn’t care very much for President Zelenskiy and other dopey statements denigrating Zelenskiy … including that he started the war and chose to go to war with a country twenty times the size and strength of Ukraine indicates how out of touch he is with reality. Trump is a turncoat … surreptitiously supporting his buddy Vladimir Putin by not condemning his invasion of Ukraine. The cherry on top of the pile is Marco Rubin’s comment that it is Ukraine’s not Americas war. Was Vietnam America’s war? What about the Afghanistan war? What did the Trump administration expect Ukraine to do after the invasion in 2022? Throw their hands…

The council of the Walter Sisulu University (WSU) in the Eastern Cape has resolved that an independent investigation, led by Retired Justice Chris Jafta, assisted by two advocates and an attorney, will be established to investigate the events, including their underlying causes leading to the protest that resulted in a student being killed while marching over accommodation related issues last week. Other resolutions of the university's council include determining whether there were any lapses by either students or any organ of the university in managing the situation. The institution was the subject of violent protests last week when a student was shot and killed allegedly by a residence manager, while two more were wounded. The students were reportedly marching towards the manager’s on-campus residence when live shots were fired. The…

The Sterkfontein caves which closed nearly three years ago due to flooding have reopened with a new experience bringing tourists closer to the scientific action. The complex is housed within the Cradle of Humankind World Heritage Site, a rich source of artefacts for palaeontologists since it was first discovered. “My aim is to find important bones here,” said the 40-year-old Itumeleng Molefe. His most prized find since joining the excavation team in 2013 was an early human hand bone. His father was part of the team that uncovered South Africa’s most famous find, a skeleton dubbed “Little Foot”, in the caves. Deriving its name from the size of the bones first discovered in the 1990s, it is the most complete specimen of an early human ancestor yet discovered, estimated to…

INKOSI Albert Luthuli was killed because the apartheid government hated him for radicalising and militarising the liberation Struggle by adding the armed wing, Umkhonto Wesizwe to the ANC. Testifying at the Pietermaritzburg High Court yesterday during the continuation of the inquest into the mysterious death of the Nobel Peace Prize winner, ANC veteran Jeff Radebe, who is now the party’s convener in KwaZulu-Natal, said that apartheid had been unsuccessful in sabotaging the Struggle through incarcerating Luthuli, Nelson Mandela and many others. “No one in the ANC and the freedom-loving people believed the fictional story of a train accident,” said Radebe. Shortly after Luthuli’s death, an inquest was held and concluded Luthuli was hit by a train. It was concluded he may have crossed the railway line without noticing the goods…

THE two men accused of killing a Durban school girl, while she was preparing for her Grade 11 exams have turned the tables on each other, when they gave their version of events at the Durban High Court, yesterday. The victim, Wandile Aphiwe Ngcobo, 17, from uMlazi was a pupil at Durban Girls Secondary School. She was allegedly killed by Sifundo Bongani Bhengu, 39, and Bongani Freedom Jali, 24. Both men are also from uMlazi. According to the State, Ngcobo was home alone on May 28, 2024, studying, when the men allegedly entered her home, robbed and murdered her. Ngcobo was later found bound and gagged. Bhengu and Jali were charged with housebreaking with intent to steal, robbery with aggravating circumstances, and murder. During the cross-examination of Mondli Ngcobo, the…

The death of Pope Francis at his residence on 21 April 2025 marks the end of a significant era for the Vatican and the global Catholic following of 1.3 billion faithful. The first pope from the Americas and also the first to come from outside the west in the modern era, Pope Francis was elected leader of the Catholic church on March 13, 2013. By the time the Argentinian Cardinal Jorge Bergoglio was elected pope in 2013 there was a general feeling that the Catholic church was reaching the end of an era. At the time, the church was beset by crises, from corruption to clerical sexual abuse. It meant therefore that Cardinal Bergoglio was elected by the Catholic cardinals with a mandate to clean up the church and reform…

An Israeli drone strike south of the Lebanese capital killed a top commander from militant group Jama’a Islamiya, the group said in a statement yesterday. The strike yesterday killed Hussein Atawi, a leading commander in the armed branch of the Sunni Islamist Jama’a Islamiya known as the Fajr Forces, as he was driving from his home to his office in Beirut, the statement said. The Fajr Forces fired rockets across Lebanon’s southern border at Israel throughout the year-long war that ended last year in a ceasefire deal. | AFP…

KHARTOUM: Two Russian companies, including state-owned Zarubezhneft and Al-Rassi International Services (LLC), have signed a memorandum of understanding with Sudan’s Bashayer Petroleum Pipelines Company (BAPCO) to co-operate in the field of petroleum services. High-ranking representatives of the firms concluded an agreement in Port Sudan, the capital of Red Sea State, the Sudanese Ministry of Energy and Petroleum announced on Saturday. A delegation from the embassy in Sudan also attended the ceremony. According to the statement, acting undersecretary of energy and oil, Mohamed Awad Al-Khair, and the companies’ representatives also held technical and administrative discussions aimed at finalising agreements on other issues. The parties also addressed possible partnerships with the Sudan National Petroleum Corporation. | RT News…

NEW DELHI: India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Saudi Arabia’s Jeddah yesterday for his third visit as premier to the oil-rich Gulf kingdom. The trip comes a day after Modi held high-level talks with US Vice President JD Vance in India, with New Delhi looking to seal a trade deal with Washington and stave off punishing tariffs. “India deeply values its long and historic ties with Saudi Arabia that have acquired strategic depth and momentum in recent years,” said Modi in a statement. “Together, we have developed a mutually beneficial and substantive partnership.” Saudi Arabia has been a key supplier of oil to India. India’s rapidly developing economy relies heavily on petroleum imports, with Saudi Arabia ranked as its third-largest supplier according to the Indian foreign ministry. |…

Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti dismissed suggestions yesterday he is under mounting pressure at the club as they sit second in the La Liga standings and were knocked out of the Uefa Champions League last week. Ancelotti's future has been questioned following their Champions League quarter-final loss to Arsenal, with multiple reports suggesting he could leave Real at the end of the season to take over the Brazil national team. Bayer Leverkusen coach Xabi Alonso and former Liverpool manager Juergen Klopp are among the names that have been linked with the top job at Real in recent weeks. Asked if he was feeling the pressure, the Italian manager told reporters: "The club is aware that it has been a more complicated year than last year. “Together we manage the difficulties.…