Indholdsfortegnelse for 2022-01-28 i Mercury

Edward West edward.west@inl.co.za ELECTRICAL goods group ARB Holdings has received a R698.6 million buyout offer from privately-held Masimong Group Holdings, acting with investment group Sabvest Finance and Guarantee Corporation. JSE-listed Sabvest is controlled by the family trust of its chief executive, Chris Seabrooke. The Masimong investment group was founded by its chairperson, Mike Teke. The offer to ARB shareholders by way of a scheme of arrangement would result in its de-listing, a statement from the group said yesterday. Teke is also chairperson of investment company Anchor Group, in which Masimong is a shareholder, which delisted last year. Masimong’s other investments include in Seriti Resources, Masimong Energy, Southern Cross Investments, InteliChem and Rolfe Group. The offer was pitched at R8 per scheme share, which was a 21.9 percent premium…

Ntombi Nkosi ntombi.nkosi@inl.co.za The South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) has through its investigative reports found that there is a dire need to upskill and capacitate people working in municipalities. SAHRC researcher for economic and social rights, Sinethemba Memela, said municipalities should not only employ people with the right skills but also people with integrity and commitment to serve in their community. She said in the National Development Act, one of the goals includes the professionalisation of municipalities, which means municipalities should be less partisan and focus on hiring the right people with the right skills for the right jobs. Memela was speaking during a webinar by the SAHRC and the Municipal Infrastructure Support Agent (Misa) on local government service delivery, infrastructure development and management. “South Africa is a water-scarce…

ELMA RABE | DA KZN spokesperson on agriculture The growing number of attacks on members of KwaZulu-Natal’s rural communities should be of concern to every person in our province. Apart from the horrific brutality that comes with many such incidents, there is also the fact that these are the very people who put food on our tables. The question is – how are these men and women supposed to carry on under such circumstances? Equally alarming is the fact that serious crime is proving to be a massive deterrent when it comes to young people choosing careers within the farming and agriculture sector. One wonders where this will leave us in the future. If ever there was a lesson to be learned from what happens when there are food shortages,…

THABISI HOEANE | Pretoria WHY are we so naive to think that the Zondo Commission is going to deter malfeasance in government and state-owned companies? There is daily evidence that malcontents still exist within these institutions who are steaming right ahead with their corruption and incompetence and the executive is paralysed to act against them. A recent example is Prasa’s long distance travel rot. In December, it entered into a R130 million deal with a group of companies to supply it with locomotives to relaunch long distance travel. This was despite warnings that the infrastructure simply did not exist to accommodate these trains as it had been stolen after the service was stopped in 2020 due to Covid. But Prasa stubbornly went ahead with devastating effects. Hundreds of…

A 49-year-old man has been arrested in connection with fraud amounting to R2.1 million, the Hawks said. Hawks spokesperson Colonel Katlego Mogale said the man was arrested in Johannesburg this week on charges of fraud and money laundering. “It is reported that between 2019/2020, the suspect, who was employed as a general manager by a security company, approached area supervisors working around North West to start recruiting ghost employees. The suspect allegedly received undue payments of approximately R2.1 million in 12 months,” she said. In another matter, the Hawks in Klerksdorp in North West were searching for Matlakala Zacharia Rapholo, 40, wanted in connection with fraud and money laundering. The police said it was alleged that in June 2014, Rapholo operated a fraudulent investment scheme in Rustenburg under the…

Karen Singh karen.singh@inl.co.za The KZN Provincial Executive Council has resolved to retain interventions in eight of the province’s municipalities. The decision comes after the council received a comprehensive report on the state of municipalities under administration. These include Mpofana, Msunduzi, Inkosi Langalibalele, UThukela, Umzinyathi, Abaqulusi, Mtubatuba and uMkhanyakude. “The provincial cabinet has decided it was in the municipalities’ best interests to extend all current interventions, and to enable them to continue receiving support from the entirety of government due to the challenges they face,” the council said in a statement after its first meeting of the year. The council said that these municipalities faced serious financial difficulties, such as unfunded budgets, huge budget deficits, persistent power cut threats from Eskom, and infrastructure and service delivery challenges. “Some are besieged by…

Loyiso Sidimba loyiso.sidimba@inl.co.za Staff at the SA Revenue Service (Sars) are heading to the Labour Court to challenge their employer’s decision to cancel travel allowances. The matter was first taken to the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration (CCMA) by the Public Servants Association, but it dismissed the complaint this week. According to the union, it had therefore instructed its attorney to start drafting the notice of motion to review the award at the Labour Court. “Such a review at the Labour Court does, however, take some time and members are requested to exercise patience,” it warned its members. The PSA had referred the matter to the CCMA in December. It said that after studying the CCMA decision with its legal team it was of the view that there were…

This is an edited excerpt of Premier Sihle Zikalala’s speech presented on his behalf at India’s 73rd Republic Day celebrations in Durban KwaZulu-Natal places high value on our province’s solidarity, trade and investment relations with the international community of nations. Prominent on that landscape is India, which marked the 73rd anniversary of its republic on January 26. As the province, we extend to the people and government of India our greetings and good wishes on this milestone celebration. It is especially gratifying that India maintains an active consulate in Durban. That office is the highest level of diplomatic representation outside of an embassy or high commission. Consul-General Anish Rajan and his team enjoy a close working relationship with all facets of the provincial government, the ANC as the governing…

Tokyo: Six young people sued the operator of Japan’s stricken Fukushima nuclear plant yesterday over claims they developed thyroid cancer due to exposure to radiation after the facility’s meltdown. The plaintiffs, now aged between 17 and 27, were living in the Fukushima region when a huge earthquake on March 11, 2011, triggered a tsunami that caused the nuclear disaster. Yesterday, their lawyers marched into the Tokyo District Court where dozens of supporters were gathered, to file the first-ever class-action lawsuit over health issues against plant operator Tokyo Electric Power Company (Tepco). The group is seeking 616 million yen (about R82m) in compensation. No causal relationship between radiation exposure from the disaster and thyroid cancer has been recognised by an expert panel set up by the regional government, and whether such…

LOS ANGELES: Mary J Blige thinks performing at the Super Bowl is like “getting an Oscar nomination”. The 51-year-old star – who has been nominated for two Academy Awards during her career – can’t wait to take to the stage at the Super Bowl in Inglewood, California, on February 13. Mary – who only had a small role in her first Super Bowl performance in 2001 – said: “This time I’m going to be front and centre – Mary J Blige, in her glory and greatness and swagger.” This year’s star-studded half-time show will also feature the likes of Dr Dre, Eminem, Snoop Dogg and Kendrick Lamar. And Mary thinks the Super Bowl is the perfect platform to introduce hip-hop music to the world. She told the February issue…

Copenhagen: Ukraine yesterday welcomed Russia’s plans to continue talks in early February as “good news” and a sign that Moscow was intent on finding a diplomatic solution to the current crisis. Global concerns are growing over a potential Russian invasion of Ukraine, as tens of thousands of Russian troops have been stationed at the border in recent weeks. Russian and Ukrainian officials met on Wednesday with represent-atives of France and Germany. “The good news is advisers agreed to meet in Berlin in two weeks, which means at least for the next two weeks, Russia is likely to remain on a diplomatic track,” said Ukraine Minister Dmytro Kuleba.…

Bernelee Vollmer Bernelee.Vollmer@inl.co.za Many South Africans will be looking to 2022 as the kickstart they need to start living a healthier lifestyle. With all the health scares and Covid-19, this may be a good time to do so. It is also of importance to include re-looking at mental health, exercise regime and eating plans. Research at the South African Journal of Clinical Nutrition indicates that there’s an increasing number of deaths resulting from non-communicable diseases such as diabetes and high-blood pressure or largely lifestyle-related diseases. This could be prevented by interventions such as a healthy diet and trying a plant-based diet has a number of health benefits worth looking into. Don’t be afraid to make a change As a nation of meat-eaters, the term plant-based might sound a little intimidating.…

Sibusiso Mboto sibusiso.mboto@inl.co.za THE coalition between the IFP and EFF hangs in the balance after the red berets this week threatened to withdraw their support in several KwaZulu-Natal municipalities due to the IFP’s failure to respect their agreement. The coalition between the two parties has made it possible for the IFP to take control of several hung municipalities from the ANC after the local government elections last year. EFF KZN chairperson Vusi Khoza insisted yesterday that it was up to the IFP to retain control of its municipalities in KZN, saying this was possible if the party supported them in their quest to take charge of the Municipal Public Accounts Committee (MPAC) in the City of Joburg. According to Khoza, the reason the EFF wanted to take over the MPAC…

John Lennon’s son Julian is auctioning off pieces of memorabilia relating to the Beatles, including three guitars given to him by his father and handwritten notes about the 1968 song Hey Jude – but not physically. Instead, the auction is a sale of non-fungible tokens (NFTs), a type of digital asset. Each winning bidder will be able to claim ownership of a digital file described as an “audio/visual collectible” in which Julian Lennon narrates a “specific heartfelt memory”. “Through this NFT collection, I’m able to grant exclusive access to special items that I cherish and carry on the legacy of my father in a new way.” Non-fungible tokens (NFTs) use blockchain to record who owns a digital file, such as an image, video or text. Although NFTs are sometimes sold…

TONY BALL | Gillitts Your headline “Councillors living in fear”, (The Mercury, January 24) brings two things to mind. Firstly, all motorists on public highways live in fear of a combination of unsafe, unpoliced roads, unroadworthy vehicles, and potholes at every metre waiting to destroy vehicles and, secondly, when councillors’ duties were voluntary there was no scramble for the posts, but once it became a lucrative and easy job – depending of course on how dedicated each councillor chose to be – we started hearing about the incumbents being murdered. This once again highlights the indisputable fact that democracy does not sit comfortably in Africa.…

THE theft of pets – dogs especially – has become rife in Britain during the Covid pandemic. There has been a surge in people owning pets as companions during the lockdown, according to Sky News, but the demand has also led to a surge in thefts. It’s not that lonely folk are snitching other people’s pets, it’s rather that a classic mechanism of economics comes into play. Loneliness creates demand for a dog or a cat. Demand finds a supplier. But the problem is that the suppliers are not always a pet shop or a reputable breeder. Very often it’s a snitcher, a dastardly fellow who pinches somebody else’s pet to supply the new demand. The answer surely is for dog and cat owners to opt for companion pets that…

Shakirah Thebus shakirah.thebus@inl.co.za The National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD) has said there has been a recent rise in malaria cases. The NICD held a briefing on Covid-19 this week which forms part of regular sessions titled Covid-19: Decoding the science to provide a more comprehensive understanding of the pandemic. Principal medical scientist Dr Jaishree Raman said that over the past two years of the Covid-19 pandemic, malaria cases had declined. “But with the relaxation of travel restrictions and increased border movement, we’ve seen an increased number of cases and an increased number of deaths.” KwaZulu-Natal went from reporting fewer than 30 malaria cases over the past few months to 97 cases this month, and Mpumalanga went from fewer than 100 cases in December to 250 cases in January. “There…

Mercury Reporter AFRICAN travellers now require a visa to access just over half of the continent’s countries. This is according to the African Visa Openness Index (AVOI) report which measures the extent to which African countries are open to visitors from other African countries, produced jointly by the African Development Bank and the African Union Commission since 2016. The latest findings show for the first time since the AVOI report was published, openness levels dropped slightly in 2021, after some governments temporarily reversed their liberal visa regime partly in reaction to the Covid-19 pandemic and largely to respond to recent instability in their countries. To calculate each country’s score, the AVOI assesses the country’s visa policy and classifies each policy in one of three categories. The AVOI gives each category…

A study has revealed the top three vehicles that contribute the most to fatal crashes in the country. A baseline study – titled South African Fatal Crashes in Context – which was conducted by the Road Traffic Management Corporation (RTMC) and published last month analysed fatal crash data from October 1, 2017 to June 30 last year, a period of almost four years. It also analysed the Administrative Adjudication of Road Traffic Offences Act (Aarto) speed infringement data from January 1, 2019 to June 20 last year. “A total of 48 330 vehicles were involved in 37 583 fatal crashes with 45 232 deaths during the period, according to data on the RTMC’s national crash data management system,” the RTMC said in a statement. “An analysis of the top 20…

South Africa’s world-famous investigator Frank Dutton was sipping tea at the Michelangelo Hotel in Sandton, Joburg, when I first met him in 2018 with advocate Howard Varney. He had been deeply immersed in investigations on apartheid deaths in detention, and without him the cases of Ahmed Timol, Nokuthula Simelane, Neil Aggett, and the Cradock Four may never have been reopened. Dutton was a completely unassuming man, but a legend in the world of unearthing human rights abuses and crimes against humanity, and his vast experience in the killing fields of our own country and those around the world left one in awe. He was particularly interested at the time in the exposures by former Security Branch policeman Paul Erasmus in the involvement of Security Branch members in the murder of…

The Jordanian army killed 27 alleged drug smugglers in a clash early yesterday as they tried to enter the kingdom from Syria, it said in a statement. The traffickers were supported by an armed group, the army said, adding that “a preliminary search was conducted in the area, and large quantities of narcotics were found”. It was the deadliest clash in the Jordanian army’s fight against smugglers on the Syrian border, whose activities have intensified in recent months. The military operation at dawn “thwarted attempts to infiltrate and smuggle large quantities of narcotics from Syrian territory into Jordanian territory,” the army said. “The smugglers were supported by other armed groups,” added the army, which said its troops also wounded an unknown number of traffickers while others fled back into Syrian…

PROMINENT former UN judges and investigators have called on UN human rights boss Michelle Bachelet to investigate the 1988 “massacre” of political prisoners in Iran, including the alleged role of its current president, Ebrahim Raisi, at that time. The open letter, released yesterday was signed by about 460 people, including a former president of the International Criminal Court (ICC), Sang-Hyun Song, and Stephen Rapp, a former US ambassador for global criminal justice. Raisi, who took office in August, is under US sanctions over a past that includes what the US and activists say was his involvement as one of four judges who oversaw the 1988 killings. His office in Tehran had no comment yesterday. Iran has never acknowledged that mass executions took place under Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, the revolutionary leader…

Houston: At least six people were injured by an explosion at a chemical plant in Westlake, a city in the southern US state of Louisiana, police sources said. The explosion occurred at Westlake Chemical on Wednesday among its ethylene dichloride storage tanks, Xinhua news agency reported, citing the local media outlet KLFY. One worker was treated on-site, while five others were taken to local hospitals. None of the injuries were life-threatening, said plant spokesperson Joe Andrepont, adding that investigations into the explosion were under way and would likely take several weeks.…

A ruthless Ashleigh Barty swept into her first Australian Open final yesterday with a clinical, straight-sets demolition of Madison Keys to set-up a title match with the hard-hitting Danielle Collins. The world No 1 overwhelmed 51st-ranked Keys 6-1, 6-3 in just 62 minutes with another American awaiting after the all-business Collins crushed Polish seventh seed Iga Swiatek 6-4, 6-1. Barty is the first Australian woman into the decider of her home Grand Slam since Wendy Turnbull in 1980 and is aiming to become the first winner since Chris O’Neil two years earlier. But the tenacious Collins stands in her way tomorrow with the 28-year-old enjoying a second coming after surgery last year for endometriosis left her pain free. Nine months on and she has 32-7 win-loss record, capturing her maiden…

The fishing has been great on all fronts with weather being the only limiting factor. Top tip: Electrolytes and water. With the heat of summer well upon us and the fishing feeding well up north, the last thing you want is to cut your fishing short due to cramp and fatigue. Having plenty of water is essential in the summer when you are catching fish in the sun. It is also vital to have a good electrolyte drink to replenish all the salts and minerals you are sweating out. Make sure you are looking after yourself and you won’t start cramping on hour two of your battle with Poseidon. The offshore fishing has been very good on the entire coast. The sea and heavy launch has been the most limiting…

TIGHT supplies of commodities including sugar and cocoa plus global logistics problems could hit production of chocolate Easter bunnies, Germany’s confectioners warned yesterday. “The market for important raw materials has been swept empty, long time logistics chains no longer function,” said Carsten Bernoth, chief executive of the German confectionery producers association in a statement. “This could also have an impact on the Easter business such as production of chocolate rabbits because important raw materials, packing materials or transport capacity are lacking.” Chocolate makers are suffering from high world commodity prices for wheat, sugar, milk powder, sunflower oil and soy oil, he said. Poor harvests in some global regions coupled with heavy demand for commodities from industry in Asia had pushed prices higher. The recent surge in energy costs with a…

FAROUK ARAIE. Gauteng Energy Minister Gwede Mantashe’s claim of foreign-funded attacks aimed at him personally are extremely disturbing if they are proven to be true. Interference in South Africa’s internal affairs has been in progress for almost 75 years. Foreign intelligence service betrayed Nelson Mandela in 1962 and the tip-off led to his capture. He was arrested near Howick on August 5, 1962. Even today the world’s intelligence institutions are constantly monitoring events in South Africa. Intrusive spying is a gross violation of diplomatic protocol and international law. Brian Freemantle in his book CIA: The Honourable Company poses the question: “Which organisation foments revolution and civil unrest in countries which it regards as hostile? Which organisation has mounted assassination plots against world leaders and has run ‘mind control’ experiments leading…

THYAGARAJ MARKADAN | Kloof PONGAL is an ancient Indian harvest festival dating back to about 200BC. It is celebrated by Tamilians all over the world in mid January in honour of the Sun god to mark the end of winter and the beginning of bountiful harvests in the coming summer months. The harvest is not unique to Indian culture. Many cultures around the world, notably the Greeks and the Romans, celebrated the bounty of the earth. The British, too, have their harvest festival. The Thanksgiving Holiday in the US has its origins in ancient harvest festivals. Of course, we all know how the Europeans despised the culture, religion and customs of the indigenous people in the foreign lands they occupied and tried to impose their own western way of life.…

Edwin Fillies and Wilson Goeda – in Durban this week – are a formidable team. They have unparalleled face-to-face experience with diverse cultures and have paved the way for many with deep divisions and historic conflicts to find unlikely reconciliation. Yes, unparalleled experience. Addressing audiences in excess of 75 countries between them is hard to match. They have offered seminars and orchestrated encounters with tens of thousands of people world-wide. Although hard to prove, I should think their track records and flight patterns place them among the most well-travelled of all South Africans. Hailing originally from Brandwag and Humansdorp, they are miracles. Practised artists in matters of understanding and reconciliation, approaching opportunities with tranquil humility, embodying the courage demanded of their high calling. One of them, and I don’t say…

The North West woman accused of hiring two hitmen when she was 16, to kill her policeman dad, mom, pregnant sister, and younger brother, has been granted bail, along with her co-accused. Onthantile Sebati, 20, along with her co-accused Tumelo Mokone, 23, and Kagiso Mokone, 23, were granted bail of R10 000 each in the Brits Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday. Lumka Mahanjana, the regional spokesperson for the director of public prosecutions in Pretoria, said that the trio were facing four counts of murder, robbery with aggravating circumstances, possession of a firearm, possession of ammunition, and theft. Onthatile allegedly hired hit men to kill her parents and siblings in Mmakau, east of Brits, five years ago. The investigating officer testified that the accused submitted corroborating confession statements, stating the role they…

Yogashen Pillay yogashen.pillay@inl.co.za A Durban police officer and his two co-accused, who are facing charges of murder and attempted murder in connection with incidents that took place during last year’s unrest, have been granted bail. Police officer Sergeant Meghendren Naicker, Devash Benipershad and Dion Chetty were granted bail yesterday in the Verulam Magistrate’s Court. The court heard that Naicker, Benipershad and Chetty were among nine accused who have been charged in connection with the crimes. The six other suspects were previously released on bail. It is alleged that the nine suspects attacked people in Verulam and assaulted them with various weapons. In his application for bail, Naicker said, in an affidavit, that he is a breadwinner and he would not be able to provide for his family if he were…

Anita Nkonki anita.nkonki@inl.co.za VETERAN actor and media pioneer Patrick Molefe Shai was honoured yesterday during a memorial service held for him at the Market Theatre in Johannesburg. Shai died at his Dobsonville, Soweto home on Saturday aged 66. He was a prolific actor, activist working against gender-based violence, and someone who was a master of his craft, and was best known for his roles in television series and shows such as Soul City, Zone 14, Generations, Bophelo ke Semphekgo and Zero Tolerance. Many people shared their recollections of the legendary actor, whose contribution to the arts was described as monumental. His younger brother, Solly Shai, spoke candidly about his impact in uplifting his family when they were struggling. He mentioned that their background was not easy but through Patrick's presence…

Army veteran Tony Judge was just four years old when a young Queen Elizabeth ascended the British throne 70 years ago, though he remembers the day vividly as excited households huddled around television sets to watch the historic moment. “A number of families went to a neighbour’s house, the only neighbour in the street who had a television … the men were all dressed in their shirts and ties, the ladies in their best gowns,” Judge, now 74, said. “When they played the national anthem everybody stood up even though we were all in somebody’s living room … and that was quite amazing.” The longest-reigning monarch in British history, Elizabeth, 95, marks her Platinum Jubilee next month, with four days of celebrations planned from June 2-5. At London’s Royal Hospital,…

CRICKET South Africa (CSA) is arguably feeling the best about itself in a very long time. Not only was it able provide the Board of Control for Cricket in India with the assurance that it would be able to host the India men’s team in a safe and secure environment when the entire world was turning its back on South Africa due to the Covid-19 Omicron variant, it also managed to pull off a tour consisting of six matches – three Tests and three ODIs – across two bio-bubbles in different cities, without incident. That is a major achievement if you consider that England withdrew midway through a tour in 2020, and Australia would not even come at all. Everyone at CSA who was involved in making the tour a…

The junta that overthrew Burkina Faso’s government warned ex-ministers not to leave the capital or obstruct its military officers during talks over how to return to democratic elections, one of the politicians present said yesterday. The officers, who call themselves the Patriotic Movement for Safeguard and Restoration (MPSR), ousted President Roch Kabore on Monday, blaming him for failing to contain worsening violence by Islamist militants. The MPSR has said it would propose a calendar for a return to constitutional order “within a reasonable time frame” but has not elaborated on its plans for a transition. The MPSR’s leader, Lieutenant Colonel Henri-Paul Damida, met members of Kabore’s government on Wednesday, according to one of the ex-ministers present, who asked not to be named. Damida warned them not to do anything to…

Brexit hurt two-way trade between the EU and Britain, with the vehicle, textile and aviation sectors the worst hit, the French economy ministry said yesterday. The ministry released data on the sidelines of an EU ministerial meeting in Paris dedicated to reviewing the fallout from Britain’s departure from the bloc a year ago. EU exports to Britain fell by 15% in the first 10 months of last year compared to the same period in 2019, before the pandemic, according to the French economy ministry. EU imports from Britain sank by 30% over the same period. The Covid-19 pandemic has also had a major effect on trade flows between the two sides. But the EU’s total imports and exports exceeded 2019 levels during the first 10 months of last year, according…

JERUSALEM: Protesters against Covid-19 measures who liken themselves to Jews under Nazi persecution are stoking global anti-Semitism, the Israeli government said in a report marking International Holocaust Remembrance Day. Such Holocaust tropes have become “widespread” and, along with violent demonstrations linked to Israel’s May war in Gaza, were main factors behind physical or online attacks on Jews in Europe and North America last year, said the 152-page report by the Diaspora Affairs Ministry. Some demonstrators have worn yellow stars like those the Nazis forced on European Jews.…

TENNIS’ bad boy Nick Kyrgios was at it again yesterday, smashing a racquet and flipping a finger at the crowd as he and partner Thanasi Kokkinakis ensured an all-Australian Melbourne Park men's doubles final for the first time in 42 years. Kyrgios and Kokkinakis defeated third seeds Horacio Zeballos and Marcel Granollers 7-6 (7/4), 6-4 to set up a final tomorrow against fellow Australians Matt Ebden and Max Purcell. The combustible Kyrgios hit boiling point as he complained about the net cord machine, then pulled out of a service motion at 4-2 in the first set. He also complained that the Rod Laver Arena crowd were yelling in between first and second serves, despite the fact that he and Kokkinakis had been whipping the fans up into a boorish frenzy.…