Indholdsfortegnelse for 2021-10-08 i Mercury

Banele Ginindza banele.ginindza@inl.co.za THE FLOODGATE of business insurance claims will open after Santam yesterday lost its appeal at the Supreme Court of Appeal (SCA) to pay Ma-Afrika Hotels (MAH) and Stellenbosch Kitchen for the full 18-month period of its policies during the Covid-19 lockdown regulations, which devastated the tourism and hospitality industry. The SCA dismissed the insurer’s appeal and upheld the Western Cape High Court’s finding that Santam was liable to indemnify its clients for the full period business was interrupted due to the lockdown, bringing relief for thousands of Santam’s Hospitality and Leisure division’s Business Interruption policyholders. In a matter dating back to last year, Santam argued that Covid-19 is not a notifiable disease. It rejected lockdown claims from Stellenbosch Kitchen and Ma-Afrika because whether or not there were…

SIPHELELE DLUDLA siphelele.dludla@inl.co.za SOUTH Africa’s liquidity position could deteriorate slightly after gross reserves slipped in September as the ongoing global recovery reduced investors’ demand for the safe-haven commodity, gold, in favour of other riskier and higher-yielding assets. The SA Reserve Bank (SARB) yesterday said foreign exchange reserves fell $1.35 billion (R20.33bn) to $57.05bn in September, from a record of $58.41bn in August. The SARB said the decline was due to the decrease in the US dollar gold price, the appreciation of the US dollar against other currencies, and foreign exchange payments made on behalf of the government. The rand depreciated by 4.1 percent against the US dollar during the month, while gold reserves slid by $350 million to $6.96bn. Investec economist Lara Hodes, however, said reserves remained elevated…

Thami Magubane thami.magubane@inl.co.za STAFF members in the Msunduzi Municipality’s firefighting unit are set to receive millions of rand in backpay following a legal victory at the Labour Appeal Court. According to the judgment, the court dismissed an appeal brought by the municipality against an earlier Labour Court ruling that ordered it to pay emergency services fire department personnel at double the normal hourly rate on Sundays. While the appeal judgment was handed down in March this year, the council only confirmed last month that it would implement the court order and pay more than R24 million in backpay to the staff members. In its documents, the Msunduzi council warned that the figure could be much higher than the R24m as the valuation had been done in May and could increase…

In a packed Istanbul passenger ferry between Europe and Asia, all eyes turn to one commuter enjoying the view from his window. Boji, a street dog, has become a regular sight on ferries, buses and metro trains in Europe’s largest city. A devoted commuter, the dog enjoys long journeys on public transport, up to 30 kilometres on a regular week day. Istanbul municipality officials who record the dog’s trips with a microchip say he drops by at least 29 metro stations a day and was even tracked at sea, taking a weekend break to the Princes’ Islands off the city’s coast. With golden-brown fur, dark eyes and floppy ears, Boji started to draw attention two months ago. “We noticed a dog using our metros and trains and he knows where…

THYAGARAJ MARKANDAN | Kloof SMARTLY dressed in suit and tie, Dr Zweli Mkhize seemed the epitome of propriety, a hard-working, dedicated doctor doing his daily rounds about the country. We were all impressed with the good doctor as he rolled out the vaccination programme speedily and efficiently all over the country to combat the virus. But underneath his suave, neat and respectful demeanour there lurked another side to the disgraced former health minister no one had ever suspected. Dr Mkhize employed a clever strategy to allegedly loot the state. While he masqueraded as a caring, diligent doctor he was allegedly busy stealing state money right under our noses, even while the Zondo commission was busy unravelling the vast extent of state capture. The Special Investigating Unit has given…

HANDS across the sea … success for the South Africa/East Finchley Cat-Finding Dream Team. A missing Bengal cat named Bacchus has been found in London after seven months, with the assistance of a Cape Town animal communicator. The story is reported in Ham&High, a newspaper in the north of London (yet read in every quarter of the globe). Vishay Naidoo, who has owned 4-year-old Bacchus since he was a kitten, was moving house from Muswell Hill to East Finchley when the cat ran away. His sister, Tash-Mika, 29, took the lead in the search for Bacchus, despite being in Cape Town. Five days after Bacchus was last seen, Tash-Mika contacted South Africa-based “animal communicator” Claire Fitzgerald. Claire told her: “It feels like Bacchus is in an area with…

Sakhiseni Nxumalo sakhiseni.nxumalo@inl.co.za THE Comprehensive Sexuality Education programme is in focus again as the Basic Education Department said it was looking to intensify its implementation. The department said that since the year 2000, there had been engagements with pupils which included discussions on taking care of themselves, and understanding the environment and people around them. According to the department, more than 36 000 girls, aged between 10 and 19, fell pregnant in the first quarter of this year. Speaking to eNCA yesterday, department spokesperson Elijah Mhlanga said in some cases, pupils were impregnated by people whom they were close to, in rape incidents. “Those parents who believe that we are not supposed to be touching the subject matter in relation to sexual assault, rape and unwanted pregnancies, we feel that…

Two years after a pregnant woman was killed at a chalet at the Hluleka Nature Reserve on the Wild Coast, police have offered a R100 000 reward for information that could lead to an arrest. The 33-year-old Karen Turner, who was nearly three months’ pregnant at the time, was holidaying with her husband Matthew and their 2-year-old son at the Eastern Cape nature reserve, about 30km south of Port St Johns, in September 2019. Locum teacher Turner, who had celebrated her birthday the day before her death, died of several stab wounds at the scene of the crime after two men entered the KwaZulu-Natal family’s chalet. Her husband sustained many stomach stab wounds and was rushed to hospital for surgery in Mthatha. Matthew, who had friends staying in a…

Sakhiseni Nxumalo and Baldwin Ndaba Cosatu in KwaZulu-Natal has called on the government and private sectors to stop using Covid-19 as an excuse to retrench and underpay workers. The KZN branch of the trade union federation made this call during its march in Pietermaritzburg as part of the “national day of action” which was held across country yesterday. Cosatu said the marches coincided with the Global Day of Decent Work which is observed worldwide. In KZN, Cosatu, together with its affiliated labour unions, marched from Dales Park, Pietermaritzburg to submit their memorandum of demands to the provincial Department of Labour office. As part of their demands, the unions want government departments and businesses to deal with the ailing economy and create job opportunities in order to address the sharp rise…

THE last time Bafana Bafana played in a Fifa World Cup was in 2010. We all remember those thrilling times – the vuvuzelas, Siphiwe Tshabalala’s stunning opening goal, Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi playing on South African soil, and Spain ruling the world by beating Netherlands 1-0 in the final. But in 2010, Bafana qualified as the host nation. The “real” last time South African went through a qualifying campaign and succeeded was for the 2002 World Cup in Japan and South Korea. That’s a long time ago, so it hasn’t taken much for Bafana fans to be excited about the current squad’s prospects of making it through to Qatar 2022. Under new Belgian coach Hugo Broos, they have earned four points from two matches, and will face Ethiopia in…

QUETTA: An earthquake with a magnitude of 5.7 struck southern Pakistan early yesterday and killed 20 people, most of them women and children, and injured about 300, at a time when many victims were asleep, authorities said. The earthquake struck at a shallow depth of about 20km, with its epicentre 102km east of the city of Quetta, the US Geological Survey said. It was felt across at least six cities and towns but the district of Harnai was worst affected, with landslides triggered by the jolt blocking some roads and hampering rescue efforts. Images published by the Balochistan Levies law enforcement agency showed men clearing fallen rocks from a blocked road, with only the headlights of cars parked nearby to cut through the darkness. Munir Shah, a resident of Harnai…

Edward West edward.west@inl.co.za FINANCIAL services group PSG Konsult increased recurring headline earnings per share by 23 percent in the six months to August 31 after its three key divisions achieved “market leading” revenue and growth in earnings. Recurring headline earnings per share of 30.6 cents were also 23 percent above pre-Covid-19 levels from the strong performances of PSG Wealth, PSG Asset Management and PSG Insure. The interim dividend was lifted to 10 cents from 8c in 2020 and 7c in 2019. Total assets under management increased 21 percent to R2.96 billion from R2.45bn in 2020. In 2019, the figure was R2.28bn. Gross premiums increased 4 percent to R2.82bn, from R2.71bn in 2020, while in 2019 the figure was R2.72bn. Chief executive Francois Gouws…

Banele Ginindza banele.ginindza@inl.co.za SOUTH African business, especially small and medium enterprises (SMEs), are besieged by an increasing number of cyberattacks and need to invest in defensive technology while the State urgently needs to enact legislation and enforcement capabilities, cybercrime experts have warned. This is as about 43 percent of cyberattacks target small businesses, particularly those in the financial, healthcare, retail, insurance, and legal sectors. Cybercrime expert, Neil Hare-Brown, chief executive of Storm, a private enterprise dedicated to addressing issues of cybercrime in the country, said South Africa was especially vulnerable on the continent be- cause of its advanced internet technology, advanced economy and the lack of appropriate technology and enforcement to deal with attacks, often by people safely outside the borders where they could attack with impunity. The…

EDWARD WEST edward.west@inl.co.za MONDI, the international packaging and paper group, said strong volume growth and higher prices offset by rising input costs had driven up earnings in the third quarter. Earnings before interest tax, depreciation and amortisation increased 27 percent to €388 million (R67.55bn) for the quarter to September 30, compared to the prior year, and by 9 percent compared with the second quarter, a trading statement said yesterday. Chief executive Andrew King said Mondi delivered a strong performance with higher average prices across the business and strong volume growth year-on-year, against a backdrop of “sharply higher” costs. “Throughout this period of high demand, we remained focused on ensuring security of supply and high-quality service. Our growth is underpinned by our leading packaging portfolio and we continue…

| Mercury Correspondent Eskom implemented stage 2 load shedding last night in order to replenish emergency generation reserves. The power utility had cautioned earlier yesterday that it might have to implement loadshedding at short notice should it experience further generation unit breakdowns. It urged the public to use electricity sparingly. In its statement last night, it said load shedding would be implemented from 9pm until 5am today. It added that to keep the lights on during business hours, this load shedding would be repeated tonight from 9pm until 5am. “Emergency reserves have been depleted faster than expected due to further breakdowns of a generating unit each at Kriel and Tutuka power stations today. Delays in returning generating units at Tutuka, Grootvlei and Kendal have also contributed to the depletion…

YUGEN MOODLEY | Chatsworth ELECTIONS are almost upon us and it is little surprise that the ruling party is losing more support and giving birth to lots of breakaway smaller parties. Also of little surprise is the official opposition party, whose only campaign strategy is to remind us of the usual failings of the ruling party. Two failing entities are all we have to show in our new democracy. Our people need to exercise their right to vote and make an informed decision when voting. This local government election is all about service delivery, so if your councillor has not delivered in the past five years, it is unlikely that he is going to do things any differently in the next five years. Also, when voting in this…

MUHAMMAD OMAR | Durban North NOW, with the vaccines and a possible Covid-19 pill, it seems the chances of serious hospitalisation from a Covid-19 infection is reduced. Maybe we should look at the media reports placing more emphasis on hospital admissions and deaths. Covid-19 is going to be around for a long time and infections are going to be normal. Hospital admissions and deaths will be the real issue going forward. Reporting numbers should be based on deaths, admissions and then new infections.…

Y HENRIKSEN | Cape Town Salespeople are as a whole, a pretty tough bunch. They are the front-line troops of any organisation. They have the responsibility of bringing in the money that pays the company expenses (including wages). They have to go into battle every day in the face of intense competition and represent their company as the best solution to their prospect’s problems – they are the oil in the wheels of industry, every last one of them is a hero! But they are also ordinary human beings who suffer the same fears, the same anxiety, the same pressure as everybody else in today’s South Africa. They need support, they need encouragement, they need motivation to get up and carry on fighting, because they know (even…

Siphokazi Vuso siphokazi.vuso@inl.co.za ZIMBABWEAN health-care workers seeking employment opportunities in South Africa have reacted with dismay after the health ministry rejected their applications on the grounds that their country was facing a staff crisis due to migration. A letter dated September 20, signed by the South Africa public health director of workplace management, Sindile Sodladla, stated that Zimbabwe was listed in the category of countries that the Department of Health should not recruit from. It said the government was obliged to adhere to “all the relevant protocols” between member states of the Southern African Development Community (SADC), the AU and the World Health Organization (WHO) “as it pertains to recruitment of health professionals from developing countries”. “These agreements, protocols and recruitment codes were designed to prevent the uncontrolled recruitment of…

Nomonde Zondi Nomonde.Zondi@inl.co.za KWAZULU-NATAL Premier Sihle Zikalala says he has concerns over the flighting of alcohol adverts on television during family viewing time as this has the potential to influence young people. He made the remark yesterday while launching the provincial Anti-Drugs Forum in Durban. “I do believe that the liquor industry should be supported to grow, but I stand opposed to educating and advertising liquor to young people. What you see today on our television screens, especially during 6pm to 8pm where families are sitting together and having dinner, is not inspiring,” said Zikalala. He said there needed to be discussions about whether it was acceptable or not. He said the Anti-Drugs Forum would help co-ordinate interventions and ensure a comprehensive plan. It would also strengthen member organisations and…

| Jolene Marriah-Maharaj A man believed to be around 76-years-old drowned on Sheffield Beach on the KZN North Coast yesterday. According to Paul Herbst, from IPSS Medical Rescue, upon arrival of paramedics it was established that the man had been brought to shore by passers-by. “He showed no sign of life and was declared deceased,” said Herbst. In another incident, the body of an unknown man believed to be in his 30s was found at Blue Lagoon on Wednesday afternoon. A police spokesperson said an inquest docket was opened in connection with the incident.…

WHERE are the legal challengers from within the South African professional sporting community to challenge the government’s insistence that spectators still cannot attend sporting events? Where are the clever people in this country to make a nonsense of what is blatantly a nonsense ruling? So much has been determined under the mask of Covid-19, but other agendas have been shown to be the drivers behind so many decisions. One only has to think of the smoking ban, which is now never a topic of discussion. And no, I am not a smoker, but the rationale behind shutting down the sale of cigarettes had no substance because if it did, the status quo would have remained. Professional sport has taken a commercial beating in South Africa in the past 18 months,…

The special inspector general for Afghanistan reconstruction told a US congressional subcommittee that his office would probe allegations that former Afghan president Ashraf Ghani took millions of dollars with him when he fled the country in mid-August. In a letter posted on Twitter last month, Ghani denied reports he escaped with over $150 million (R2.2 billion) in cash belonging to the Afghan people, calling them “false”. But speculation persists and John F Sopko said in testimony before a House subcommittee for development aid that his office was examining the allegations at the request of another congressional committee. In August, the Afghan ambassador to Tajikistan said that Ghani “stole $169m from the state coffers”, according to a report. The diplomat, who said he would file an arrest request with Interpol, did…

Mike Greenaway mike.greenaway@inl.co.za WITH just one win in eight starts, it has been an inauspicious start for the South African teams in the United Rugby Championship, but the Sharks can break the drought tonight in Cardiff against the Ospreys (8.35pm) if they can pick up where they left off against Glasgow last week. The Sharks found themselves 30 points down before half-time, but fought back to outscore the Warriors 14-7 in the second half and earn a respectable 35-24 final scoreline. Coach Sean Everitt says his team have had a shell-shocked start to the URC, but are learning fast. “It has been a very tough start to a new international competition for our teams, and I think it is because you are playing a different brand of rugby and in…

Banele Ginindza banele.ginindza@inl.co.za COSATU played to a muted gallery yesterday in its show of strength to press the government for fiscal policy changes, investment in State-owned enterprises (SOEs), stronger collective bargaining and stronger action against corruption. This as parties already in entanglement, the National Union of Metal Workers of SA (Numsa) and employer organisations in the metals and engineering sectors said they were talking more with mutual feeling to resolve a strike that kicked off on Tuesday. Cosatu had cautiously asked some members to stay at home in deference to Covid-19 protocols and thus saw turnouts at its marches held around major cities, including Joburg, Cape Town and Mahikeng, and in Kwazulu- Natal. Cosatu President Zingisa Losi said the four paramount issues were essential if an economic recovery would carry…

Dineo Faku dineo.faku@inl.co.za THE FOSCHINI Group (TFG) yesterday flagged a doubling in headline earnings for the half-year ended September 2021 as the acquisition of profitable Jet stores paid off and the stringent Covid-19 pandemic restrictions were relaxed. TFG, whose brands include Foschini, Fabiani and sportscene, said it would report a 100 percent increase in headline earnings a share in the six months ended September up from -91 cents per share a year earlier. TFG expects earnings per share to be more than 50 percent higher than the 161.5c per share reported in 2020. The group said among others, the acquisition of certain commercially viable stores and selected assets of Jet in South Africa, Botswana, the Kingdom of eSwatini, Lesotho and Namibia had impacted its earnings. It said…

Kailene Pillay kailene.pillay@inl.co.za The POISONED chalice of the national commissioner’s position appears to have not spared General Khehla Sitole, who faces suspension and an inquiry into his alleged misconduct and fitness to hold office. President Cyril Ramaphosa’s office yesterday confirmed that Sitole had been issued with a notice of suspension on September 20. A statement issued by the Presidency yesterday revealed Ramaphosa had since deemed it appropriate to institute a board of inquiry to look into Sitole’s alleged misconduct and fitness to hold the office of national commissioner of police. “This is merited by the public interest in the integrity of the office of the national commissioner,” it read. The Presidency stated that Ramaphosa had outlined this context in his letter to Sitole, and gave the commissioner 14 days to…

Sibusiso Mboto sibusiso.mboto@inl.co.za AS the DA announced its decision yesterday to remove the “racist” election posters that caused an uproar throughout the country, the ANC said it would forge ahead with its plan to lodge a formal complaint with the SA Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) over the “offensive banners”. ANC deputy secretary-general Jessie Duarte revealed this when she visited Phoenix yesterday. She said the ANC’s lawyers were also considering approaching the Electoral Commission of SA to determine whether the DA had violated the Electoral Code. Duarte and ANC KZN secretary Mdumiseni Ntuli were on the campaign trail in Phoenix, where they visited one of the sites where the posters had been put up. The posters read: “The ANC called you racists, the DA calls you heroes”. Duarte said it had…

GABI MARAIS | Gillitts Well done to Penny de Vries (The Mercury, September 30). We all know who she is talking about in her letter, and I have often wondered myself, at the opportunities this particular person has to air his views, although they go against everything the medical experts are trying to explain, and trying for the sake of the greater good to get people to co-operate with when it comes to the public well-being. While freedom of expression is part of our rights, we should all, however, act with caution and logic when it comes to expressing these opinions. Untold damage could be caused if people are influenced by the so-called know-it-alls, as opposed to listening to those who really know.…

WHEN writing about anxiety, I suggested taking time to “write yourself” to the source of your anxieties, to use paper and pencil to “deliver” you to its origins. I suggest the free flow of words that may lead you inwards, offer insight into your fragility, shed light on your amazing strengths, uncover your undermining uncertainties. Notice, there’s no technology involved. No computer, no phone. I’m asking you to dive inward into yourself, not into the web. I know this is countercultural for those who are rushing through life, seeking the next experience, chasing “likes”. It’s also countercultural for those who believe the solution is imported, downloaded, rather than latent, already within. Searching for something “out there” can exacerbate the very anxiety you seek to lessen and harness. It takes time…

MFEZEKO BUNU | Cape Town THIS chief justice position up for grabs has undoubtedly become one of the most talked about topics. The reason for that is whoever gets appointed must be someone beyond reproach, must be someone who will execute their judicial duties without fear or favour. In the last election of the chief justice, President Zuma broke ranks by not appointing the then, more than capable Dikgang Moseneke. Although I do not agree with how Justice Moseneke was overlooked, I think Zuma showed us that one can always go against the grain. In this position there is a need for a decisive leader who is able to make correct decisions very quickly. We certainly don’t want a chief justice who will perpetually ask for extensions of…

Chevon Booysen chevon.booysen@inl.co.za The Police Ministry will have to cough up more than R900 000 including interest to two women wrongfully arrested and detained in 2015, the Gauteng High Court ordered this week. According to court documents, Vuyokazi Morwanqana and Nomathamsanqa Matshaka met each other at the bus terminus at Park Station in Johannesburg on October 3, 2014, while on their way to their respective home towns in the Eastern Cape. Morwanqana was eight months pregnant at the time, hauling heavy luggage when Matshaka, seeing her struggling, came to her aid as they were about to board the same bus. “They then spent some time in each other’s company while waiting in the queue for their bus to arrive. This random act of kindness by the second plaintiff, unfortunately and…

Thami Magubane thami.magubane@inl.co.za FOR at least three days access to the offices of the uMkhanyakude District Municipality in northern KwaZulu- Natal has been blocked by residents protesting over poor service delivery. The blockade reportedly started on Tuesday as residents complained about a shortage of water. The latest crisis has prompted the Department of Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs (Cogta) to call a meeting with local councillors. On numerous occasions Cogta has had to intervene in the municipality as it is plagued by instability, including council meetings being unable to sit. The municipality is currently under administration. Its leadership consists of an IFP mayor, with the deputy and Speaker from the ANC. The political parties in the municipality have blamed different people as being behind the blockade. In a statement, Cogta…

Cricket still retains its patriarchal roots, institutionally and in terms of attitudes HAVE you ever bowled a maiden over? Don’t despair! Short of questioning your beguiling abilities or propensity to an act of “benign” violence, I am, of course, referring to the game of cricket. It is one of the core competencies of the likes of the top three fast bowlers in the world – Jimmy Anderson of England, Kagiso Rabada of the Proteas and Jasprit Bumrah of India – in addition to the mundane task of taking wickets. For centuries, cricket has been touted as a “Gentleman’s Game”, ostensibly to reflect its origins rooted in the affluent English patriarchy and its “values” associated with fair play. The reality is that cricket, like many other sports, has been a…

Herman Gibbs herman.gibbs@africannewsagency.com BANYANA Banyana crashed out of the Cosafa Women’s Championship after they were shocked 3-2 by Malawi in yesterday’s semi-final at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium. Malawi will now advance to the final tomorrow at the same venue where they will play Tanzania, who earlier beat Zambia 3-2 on penalties after the scores were level at 1-1 at the end of regulation time. Banyana have won seven of the past eight editions of the competition, and were tipped for yet another victory. Instead, they will play in the third-place play-off, which is also tomorrow. Poor clearances from set-piece play proved the undoing of both teams in the first half. First, Malawi scored after defender Ruth Nyirongo flicked on a free-kick put into the Banyana penalty area. Striker Fazila…

AS always, remember to subscribe to our YouTube channel to stay up to date with all our new video releases and to brush up on your species knowledge, tactics and tips/tricks. With all the rain the water has been given a lovely bit of colour, making the river mouths a great place to fish. https://www.youtube.com/c/TheKingfisherFishing The offshore fishing has been filled with epic fish and some big hidings from the depths. The north coast has seen amazing fish caught by both the bottom fishing fraternity and the gamefish guys. The yellowtail have been breaking the handles off of KPs in the hands of those too slow to keep up with the runs. These are immensely strong fish for their size and they deserve a lot of respect. Look at using…