Indholdsfortegnelse for 2023-10-06 i Mercury

DATATEC, the information technology group, said it continued to see good demand for its technology solutions and services across the world in the six months to August 31. “The group’s operations remain well-positioned to service customers in their respective markets as we continue to actively manage supply chain challenges,” the group said in a regulatory notice to the JSE yesterday. The company expects to release its interim results on or about October 23, 2023. It said that all its divisions delivered improved financial performance in the first half of the 2024 financial year compared with a year earlier. “Westcon delivered another excellent performance and Logicalis International had a strong result. Logicalis Latin America had a much-improved performance (compared to the same time last year), but regional macro-economic pressures remain with…

A report looking into the Msunduzi Municipality’s management of its firearms has painted a damning picture of shocking security lapses, including that 14 firearms were allegedly stolen in one day. The 14 are part of a list of 29 firearms that have been reported stolen from the municipality between 2008 and 2019. The report comes as the police said the escalation of crime in the country led to their members being targeted by criminals who steal their firearms. The SAPS revealed recently that more than 700 firearms were lost or stolen in the past financial year. The police said one of the reasons for the loss of so many guns was that they were stolen from members of the SAPS who were being targeted for their weapons. The report on…

THE Sekunjalo Group which includes Independent Media and 30 other companies, yesterday asked the Competition Tribunal to consider a further extension to the current interim relief it granted the group, or there could be catastrophic consequences. The extension is being opposed by Standard Bank, FirstRand, Access Bank, Mercantile Bank and Nedbank. The interim order, granted on September 16 last year and extended in March, came after several banks closed transactional facilities for each of the companies within the Sekunjalo Group. The interim relief ordered that the accounts be reopened with the same terms and conditions as before the closure, and prevented the banks from closing any Sekunjalo accounts for a period of six months, or until the investigation by the Competition Commission was concluded, or whichever came first. Advocate Vuyani…

South Africa has lost one of its greatest medical scientists, paediatricians and champions for freedom and justice. We are profoundly saddened by the passing of Professor Hoosen Coovadia, our mentor, colleague and dearest friend, who will be remembered for his unwavering integrity. “Jerry” as he was fondly known, was a remarkable human being – a force of nature and a brilliant scientist. South Africa has lost one of its greatest intellectuals who has consistently contributed to our international standing in medical research and democracy. Quarraisha and I were mentored by him. He was an unparalleled intellect and never compromised on anything less than world-class excellence. He supervised our PhDs and had a major influence on our research, forcing us repeatedly to push the boundaries of knowledge. As a mentor to…

Observations for students who are studying the art and science of talk therapy … You are working too hard if you – the therapist – are talking too much. It is the client’s hour, not yours. The therapy hour is for the client to learn about the client’s life and family, not yours. Listen to the client’s stories, avoid telling your own. You are working too hard and probably have an exaggerated concept of your role if you take clients “home” with you in your head. This does not mean you ought not think about your daily work at home, but it is an unhealthy sign if your clients are keeping you awake at night. Also, it is (usually) a red flag if one client gets more of your thinking…

The SAPS is facing civil claims of more than R108 billion for alleged offences committed by the police, including brutality cases and wrongful arrests. The police said by the end of March, they had received more than 51 000 civil claims for R108bn. Thousands of people sue the police every year. “As at March 31, 2023, a total of 51 085 claims valued at R108.7bn were still pending. These claims date to prior years,” said the police in the annual report with audited financial statements tabled in Parliament. The Auditor-General has flagged the civil claims against the SAPS, saying they were creating uncertainty regarding the finances of the police. “As disclosed in note 18 to the financial statements, the department is a defendant in a number of lawsuits. The department…

Gauteng Premier, Panyaza Lesufi has mentioned financial costs as among the challenges that are delaying the start of the Marshalltown fire inquiry. Three weeks ago, Lesufi officially introduced and announced the terms of reference of the commission of inquiry into the deadly Marshalltown tragedy of August 31. The fire at the Usindiso Building in Marshalltown in the Johannesburg CBD claimed at least 77 lives and left dozens more injured and homeless. The inquiry, chaired by retired Constitutional Court Judge Sisi Khampepe, and supported by advocates Thulani Makhubela and Vuyelwa Mathilda Mabena, was set to begin its hearing on Sunday. Lesufi on Wednesday explained there were “teething” problems with the support the inquiry wanted from the government. According to Lesufi, the inquiry had requested to have its own resources and tools,…

The eThekwini water and sanitation (EWS) unit is looking to test key technologies in a bid to find ways to make productive use of wastewater and sludge. The City said it was collaborating with research institutions to find new technologies that aim to provide improved water and sanitation systems that are economically and environmentally sustainable. Among the projects in the works is the demonstration of non-sewered sanitation systems in informal settlements and the demonstration of sludge treatment technology. Speaking on the City’s online platform, “eThekwini matters”, Lungi Zuma, the acting project executive for Research and International Relations in the municipality’s Water and Sanitation Unit, said they were looking at research taking place in other parts of the world with such technologies with the hope of finding a solution that could…

Four people have been arrested in connection with the murder of a Musgrave woman. Munira Mohideen, 66, was stabbed several times at a complex on Monday morning. Mohideen had been standing at the entrance of the property when she was accosted by knife-wielding suspects who stabbed her in the chest.She managed to make it back into her apartment where she died. Magma Security’s Shaheen Suleiman said Magma Security and Investigations, in conjunction with SAPS Berea, the SAPS eThekwini District Trio Tracking Team, and SAPS Durban Crime Intelligence, identified the suspects’ vehicle and further investigations led to the arrests. KwaZulu-Natal police spokesperson, Colonel Robert Netshiunda, added that the vehicle was seized and police found blood-stained clothing in the suspects’ possession. The suspects, aged between 21 and 36, appeared in the Durban…

Weighing the legacy of late Prince Mangosuthu Buthelezi THE REFLECTION on the life of KwaPhindangene Prince and Buthelezi clan chief Mangosuthu Gatsha Buthelezi’s “legacy” reminded me of the assertions by Mabogo Percy More that what constitutes a hero is subjective. A hero to one person might not be a hero to the next. Accordingly, politicians made adulations, making their own way to KwaPhindangene, praising Buthelezi as a hero and statesman. Politics aside, Buthelezi was and shall never be a hero. He was a propagandist of note and a self-centred politician willing to sacrifice his own people for self-glory. Nothing about his life resembles or reflects that of a statesman. For instance, after his suspension from Fort Hare University for participating in protests, he went back to KwaZulu and promised…

An Iranian rights group said that security forces yesterday arrested the mother of a teenage girl who was in a coma in hospital after a confrontation with agents in the Tehran metro for not wearing the hijab. Iran’s judiciary denied the report by the Iranian-Kurdish rights group Hengaw on the X social media platform. Iranian authorities also deny reports by rights activists that the 16-year-old girl, Armita Geravand, was injured on Sunday in a confrontation with officers enforcing the country’s Islamic dress code, which requires women to wear a head covering. Hengaw said security forces arrested Geravand’s mother Shahin Ahmadi yesterday near the hospital where her daughter was taken after the incident. State news agency IRNA reported that the judiciary denied any arrest having taken place. It said that unidentified…

Kampala: Ugandan opposition leader Bobi Wine said yesterday that he was under house arrest after being seized by security officials on his return home from a trip abroad. Wine, a pop star-turned-politician who ran against veteran President Yoweri Museveni in Uganda’s last election in 2021, has been arrested numerous times. Wine, whose real name is Robert Kyagulanyi, also said that 300 of his supporters had been arrested. Police denied Wine had been arrested, saying they had “escorted” the 41-year-old from Uganda’s Entebbe International Airport to his home. “The NUP president, Honourable Kyagulanyi Robert, was successfully escorted by our security team from Entebbe to his home in Magere,” the Uganda Police Force said on X. Wine’s supporters had planned to accompany him to his home, but police had said such a…

GENEVA: The UN said yesterday it was struggling to reach 18 million people in need in Sudan to fend off a humanitarian disaster, hampered by insecurity, interference from the warring parties and a lack of international support. Conflict between the Sudanese army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces erupted in mid-April, sparking a humanitarian crisis and pushing the country to the brink of civil war. More than 4.2 million have fled their homes, and nearly 1.2 million have crossed to neighbouring countries. Red tape was hampering the distribution of aid, and a $2.6bn (R58bn) humanitarian appeal to the global community was one-third funded. | AFP…

London: The UK government is facing calls to crack down on the backyard breeders of XL bully dogs, and even to cull the breed, following a string of horrifying attacks. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has pledged to ban the dogs but stopped short of saying they should be euthanised. The dogs, which have huge, powerful jaws and can weigh over 60kg, have risen in popularity since the Covid-19 lockdowns, which saw dog ownership soar. Under Sunak’s plan, owners will have to register their dogs and muzzle them in public places. They will also be required to neuter them so that the dog type dies out within a decade. | AFP…

KwaZulu-Natal MEC for Transport, Community Safety and Liaison Sipho Hlomuka says a multiparty political intervention committee will meet on Monday to discuss the political violence taking place in the province. Speaking during a briefing yesterday, Hlomuka said reports by the Inter-Ministerial Committee indicated that 321 dockets of political violence had been investigated. “This figure includes 134 cases reported from 2011 to June 2018, before the commencement of the work of the task team. The breakdown of cases being investigated includes 155 cases of murder, 51 attempted murder, 77 cases of intimidation and 12 cases of conspiracy to commit murder.” Hlomuka added that worrying incidents were taking place in Nongoma, northern KZN. “The first incident happened in August when NFP councillor Ntombenhle Mchunu was killed. Last month a suspect was arrested…

WHO cares what happens between Scotland and Ireland tomorrow? Bok supporters, that’s who. While it’s highly unlikely that the Scots can pull it off against the Paddies, this is rugby and anything can happen. The World Cup officials would then apply their voodoo analysis to both the Boks and the Scots to decide who goes through to the quarter- finals. Anything could happen. So tomorrow’s fixture is anything but a bye. The Irish simply have to win if the Boks are to stay in contention. That means the punters and damsels of places like the Pub With No Name will be in rah, rah, rah! mode again, supporting the Paddies just this once. The damsels will be again strumming at their knickers in anticipation of supplying elastic for a…

The trivialisation of the Sassa grant fiasco by ministers Mondli Gungubele and Lindiwe Zulu is appalling. It indicates how far the ANC has drifted away from the expectations of the populace in general and the needs of the less privileged, in particular. Surely, heads must roll and someone be held responsible for such a failure. A great error of the current ANC philosophy is that no one is accountable for their correct actions. The ruling party is like a tragic circus of the absurd and can be equated to the Mad Hatter’s Tea Party. The great leaders of the ANC, such as Oliver Tambo, Albert Luthuli and Nelson Mandela, must be turning in their graves. Will we ever have a government that is governed by its obligations? Quo Vadis, South…

Auditor-General Tsakani Maluleke has found the SABC’s finances in such a mess that she could not express an opinion when she conducted an audit on its 2022-23 financial statements. The audit opinion – a disclaimer – is the worst audit opinion that can be given and is a regression from the qualified audit opinion the public broadcaster obtained in the prior year. “I was unable to obtain sufficient appropriate audit evidence to provide a basis for an audit opinion on these financial statements,” Maluleke said in her report contained in the annual report tabled in Parliament. In her report, Maluleke said the SABC incurred a loss of R1.127 billion as at March 31, 2023 and its current liabilities exceeded the current assets by R612 million. “The public entity was, therefore,…

The Judicial Service Commission (JSC) has recommended Johannesburg high court Judge Edwin Molahlehi to fill the long-vacant position of deputy judge president of both the Labour Court and Labour Appeal Court. The position has remained unoccupied for seven years. Molahlehi emerged as the only candidate interviewed for this pivotal role and was recommended by the JSC on Wednesday. The JSC spent Monday and Tuesday interviewing for the vacancies at the Supreme Court of Appeal. Serving as a judge of the Gauteng High Court, Johannesburg since 2017, Molahlehi dedicated nearly a decade of service as a judge in the Labour Court. Molahlehi’s legal journey began in 2000, when he assumed the role of director for the Department of Labour's Employment Conditions Commission. He also held a key role as an acting…

KwaZulu-Natal Transport, Community Safety and Liaison MEC Sipho Hlomuka says that the government is making good progress in restoring flood-damaged roads. Speaking at a briefing in Durban yesterday, the MEC said the province had done exceptionally well in responding to the April 2022 floods. “We believe we underestimated the magnitude of the work that needed to be done to attend to all the repairs. We can safely say we have managed to restore mobility in many communities. There are areas still under repairs and some need long-term solutions.” Hlomuka commended the department’s Infrastructure Unit, South African National Roads Agency Limited (Sanral), municipalities and agencies that came on board to assist. “Many roads such as the M4 and R102 have been repaired and motorists can now use them. This includes work…

A fire broke out at a Durban CBD building yesterday. Delta Property Fund confirmed that the fire at its 88 Field Street Building had been extinguished and no injuries had been reported. Bongi Masinga, CEO of Delta Property Fund, said that they wished to commend their security team and the eThekwini Emergency Services for their rapid response. “Their swift action ensured that there was no immediate danger, and that damage to infrastructure was limited.” The company said its security personnel investigated an explosion shortly following the end of scheduled load shedding and found a fire in the main eThekwini substation. It said the substation provided power to the 25-floor building and other buildings within the city block. “The fire department is investigating the cause of the explosion. Damage is limited…

AS THE 2024 South African general elections loom on the horizon, political analysts and citizens alike are anticipating a potentially groundbreaking outcome – the possibility of a hung Parliament. This scenario, in which no single political party holds an absolute majority in the legislature, has never occurred in South Africa's democratic history. One of the primary reasons driving the prospect of a hung Parliament is the increasing fragmentation of South Africa's political landscape. Traditionally, the ANC has dominated the political scene, securing comfortable majorities in previous elections. However, in recent years the ANC's popularity has waned, giving rise to a host of smaller parties vying for power. This fragmentation is likely to dilute the vote share of larger parties and make it harder for any one party to secure an…

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy warned European leaders yesterday that Russia could rebuild its military capabilities and attack other countries within five years if the continent were to waver in its support for Kyiv. Zelenskiy, attending a summit of the European Political Community in Spain, also said he remained confident of continued US and European financial aid in spite of “political storms” in Washington and elsewhere. In an emotional speech, Zelenskiy described how Ukrainian children in the eastern city of Kharkiv were learning remotely or attending classes in subway stations because of air raids. “Until there is a fully effective air defence system, children cannot attend school,” he told the gathering in the city of Granada, 4 000km west of Kharkiv. Underlining the horrors of war, a Russian attack on a…

Indian rescue teams searched yesterday for 102 people missing after a devastating flash flood triggered by a high-altitude glacial lake burst killed at least 14, officials said. Violent flooding from glacier lakes dammed by loose rock has become more frequent as global temperatures rise and ice melts, with climate scientists warning it poses an increasing danger across the wider Himalayan mountain range. “The number of human lives lost is 14 so far, and the number of missing is 102,” Prabhakar Rai, director of the Sikkim state disaster management authority, said a day after a wall of water rushed down the mountainous valley in northeastern India. The army was working to reestablish telephone connections and provide “medical aid to tourists and locals stranded”, it said in a statement. The water surge…

WASHINGTON: Former Trump lawyer Rudy Giuliani has filed a defamation lawsuit against US President Joe Biden for calling him a “Russian pawn” during the final presidential debate in October 2020, according to a court filing. There had been allegations of Russian foreign interference in the US election, which Russia has denied. The lawsuit lists Biden, his campaign, and various fund-raising committee as defendants, alleging the statements “falsely claimed and depicted [Giuliani] to our nation as a liar.” | Sputnik…

WASHINGTON: The US would build additional barriers and roads in a Texas border area that has seen a large number of migrants crossing the border from Mexico, the government said yesterday. The Department of Homeland Security said it needed to waive a number of laws “to ensure the expeditious construction of barriers and roads in the vicinity of the international land border in Starr County, Texas”. The US Border Patrol had encountered more than 245 000 people entering the US in the Rio Grande Valley Sector this fiscal year, Homeland Security said. The increase put strain on cities at the border and further north. | Reuters…

Having suffered a T20I series whitewash in Pakistan, the Proteas Women will look to play positive cricket when they take on New Zealand in the five-match series that starts tonight at Buffalo Park in East London (6pm). The ODI series against the Kiwis was a success for South Africa after they won it 2-1, losing only the final game of the series in Durban last weekend. The tour now switches to T20 cricket, a format in which the hosts have had difficulties after reaching the T20 World Cup final in February on home soil. After that historic final at Newlands, South Africa have played three T20I’s and have lost all three as they were beaten by Pakistan Women, a team ranked eighth in the world. “It was our first…

DELTA Property Fund yesterday appointed Sibongile (Bongi) Masinga as the CEO of the firm for a period of three years with effect from October 4. Masinga was appointed interim CEO in December after Siyabonga Mbanjwa resigned as CEO and from the board of Delta Property Fund last year, citing personal reasons. “Masinga, who has extensive corporate experience as demon- strated in her appointments as interim CEO from August 25, 2020, to January 31, 2022, and December 2, 2022, to October 3, 2023, extensive progress in driving the restructuring of the Delta portfolio and has made strides in improving relations with our tenants and in securing improved funding terms. The board believes that this permanent appointment will further accelerate the execution of Delta’s strate- gy to unlock shareholder value and pro-…

With immense sadness the nation was told of the passing of ANC Struggle stalwart and medical icon Professor Hoosen “Jerry” Coovadia at the age of 83. Jerry was an iconic symbol of true grit, a hero of the struggle to obtain equality across the world. His courage and strength made you stand in awe. He never blinked. He gave hope to a generation of men and women, and was instrumental in our struggle for equality and played a crucial and pivotal role in our emancipation from racism. Stalwarts like him and many others made personal sacrifices that enabled us to shed our chains of enslavement and thrust upon us the virtues of liberty and freedom. Sadly, we also lost many other stalwarts during the past three months. They made sacrifices,…

Controversy rages in the football world. It’s not about Brexit, climate change or Liverpool striker Mo Salah becoming the highest paid footballer in the world, earning an insane million pounds a week, but over a disallowed goal. In the game against Tottenham, Luis Diaz’s goal was disallowed, as it was judged to be offside on the field and due to a misunderstanding the video assisted refereeing (VAR) officials did not award the goal. But replays showed that Diaz was clearly onside. Liverpool was seething. It asked for the video and voice recordings to be given to it. The VAR officials had blundered. Apparently, there was a lapse of concentration. The VAR official was tired, having just returned from officiating a match in Saudi Arabia. The Professional Game Match Officials Board…

SACP general secretary Solly Mapaila says South Africa must urgently find ways to buy oil directly from Venezuela and Russia at discounted prices. Mapaila said exploring alternative oil and fuel supply sources could go a long way in helping the country to reduce imported oil and fuel price increases and bring down the ever-rising cost of living. The SACP will hold its central committee plenary from today to Sunday to discuss a range of matters. SACP national office-bearers led by Mapaila will on Sunday hold a press briefing at Cosatu House in Braamfontein to communicate the key outcomes from the plenary of the party’s highest decision-making body in between its national congresses. The Department of Energy and Mineral Resources (DMRE) announced another month of fuel price hikes earlier this week.…

A call has been made for the health ombudsman, Professor Taole Mokoena, to investigate the incident where two security guards allegedly assaulted a 13-year-old patient at the Ladysmith Hospital in KwaZulu-Natal. The Mercury reported on Monday that the security guards had been dismissed by their employer, which was contracted to provide security services to the hospital. The KZN Department of Health also said that an investigation into the incident and internal disciplinary processes against the nursing staff implicated in the matter were under way. Michele Clarke, DA spokesperson on health, said while the party commended the swift action to dismiss the security guards and the implementation of internal disciplinary processes against implicated nursing staff, it believed the ombudsman should determine whether the assault was an isolated incident or part of…

While Msunduzi Municipality says it has spent R1 billion on infrastructure development, an executive committee councillor has urged the City to urgently deal with sewerage pipe bursts. The sentiment was expressed at yesterday’s executive committee (Exco) meeting where the CFO, Nelly Ngcobo, told members that the City had rolled out infrastructure amounting to R1bn in the 2023/24 financial year. Deputy mayor and infrastructure committee chairperson Mxolisi Mkhize applauded the report, saying it underlined the municipality’s commitment to building reliable infrastructure. He noted that roads were being constructed and potholes repaired. “We are doing well considering that we were once referred to as a city of potholes,” the deputy mayor said. He said the development augured well for a city that was attempting to court businesses to invest. However exco…

There was a funny moment at the captain’s press conference in India this week ahead of the start of the ICC Cricket World Cup. South African skipper Temba Bavuma had just arrived in the country after travelling home last week for family reasons. So, it was no surprise when Bavuma took a quick nap during proceedings, which was pounced on by England’s famous Barmy Army group on X (formerly Twitter) as they posted a photo of the right-handed batter with his eyes closed. Bavuma responded to the pic in good spirit, saying: “I blame the camera angle, I wasn’t sleeping”, along with a can’t-watch-face emoji. It is that cool demeanour that will hopefully rub off on the Proteas when they begin their campaign to finally end their World Cup hoodoo…

The British government will try next week to persuade judges at the country’s top court to overturn a ruling which declared unlawful its divisive plan to deport to Rwanda asylum seekers who arrive in small boats across the Channel. In a blow to Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s government and his pledge to “stop the boats”, London’s Court of Appeal ruled in June that the scheme to send tens of thousands of migrants more than 6 400km to East Africa was not lawful, saying Rwanda could not be treated as a safe third country. On Monday, government lawyers will argue at the Supreme Court that this ruling was wrong, while those representing migrants from Syria, Iraq, Iran, Vietnam and Sudan want the judges to conclude the scheme itself is flawed. The…

Elon Musk’s social media platform X has stripped headlines from news articles shared by users, in a move likely to further worsen relations with media groups. The tycoon has long railed against the “legacy media” and claims X, formerly Twitter, is a better source of information. However, he said the latest change was for “aesthetic” reasons – news and other links now appear only as pictures with no accompanying text. Musk took over Twitter last year in a $44 billion (R859bn) deal and renamed it X, sacked thousands of staff and drawn criticism for allowing banned conspiracy theorists and extremists back on the platform, sending advertisers fleeing. Instead of seeing a headline along with a picture, users now see only a picture with a small watermark.…

Madrid: Spain’s military deployed yesterday to help battle a wildfire on the holiday island of Tenerife, which reignited amid scorching temperatures in Tenerife after ravaging thousands of hectares of land in August, officials said. About 120 people were battling the blaze in the north-east of the island, including 60 members of the army’s Military Emergency Unit and 26 army vehicles, the unit wrote on the social media network X. The regional government of Tenerife asked the army to assist as strong winds fanned the flames. The fire forced the evacuation of some 3 000 people from the town of Santa Ursula, and another 200 from La Orotava, the regional government said. | AFP…

PORT-LOUIS: The Supreme Court of Mauritius has struck out a colonial-era law criminalising same-sex relations, bucking a trend elsewhere in Africa where a string of countries have passed or proposed anti-LGBT legislation. In a ruling on two cases brought by members of the gay community in the Indian Ocean island nation, the court said section 250 of the Mauritian criminal code, which dated back to 1898 during British colonial rule, was unconstitutional. UNAIDS, the UN agency in charge of combating the HIV/Aids pandemic, said the ruling was an important step forward for public health and towards equal rights and respect. | Reuters…

The bigger seas have made for “interesting” days on the water. Nobody likes a wet launch in the morning, so take care and don’t rush to launch. The KwaZulu-Natal coast has seen plenty of fish, so get out there and get the drags screaming. The North Coast has been throwing some spicy launches at the more shore break dominant launch sites. Guys, always be careful and don’t launch if you have hesitations. The North Coast has been seeing a lot of snoek in the mornings. The fish have been on the deeper side with some proper size specimens being boasted. The fillets have out-fished most lures with spoons performing when the bait balls show up. With regards to the spoons, make sure to use a spoon as small as possible…