Indholdsfortegnelse for 2023-11-10 i Mercury

AS TWO Namibian nationals made their first court appearance for allegedly stealing hundreds of thousands of undeclared US currency hidden in President Cyril Ramaphosa’s furniture at his Phala Phala farm, opposition parties are urging law-enforcement agencies to not shield him from being held accountable. Ramaphosa’s then-housekeeper, Froliana Joseph, and her accomplice Emanuwela David appeared in the Bela Bela Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday on four counts of money laundering, conspiracy to commit housebreaking with intent to steal, and theft. The Hawks said yesterday that a third suspect, 27, would appear in court today after he handed himself over to police. United Democratic Movement leader Bantu Holomisa said their arrest should not take away the focus from Ramaphosa. “The important question here is where the money came from and how it ended…

Various reports of especially elderly women being accosted by gangs of a few female thugs are alarming. The women are bundled into vehicles, assaulted and robbed in broad daylight. Sometimes, they are tortured and/or kidnapped and a ransom is demanded. The matter needs to be addressed by authorities immediately. Their modus operandi is to have one scoundrel pose as a police officer, produce a fake police identity card and accuse the victim of some crime, leaving them shocked and bewildered as they are caught off guard. Renowned private investigator Brad Nathanson says such incidents have become a recent trend in streets, shopping malls and entertainment centres in KwaZulu-Natal. In addition, in Gauteng and the Western Cape, rich foreign businessmen and children from wealthy families are kidnapped by heartless criminals. Ransom…

The 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month – tomorrow much of the world celebrates Armistice Day, which marks the outbreak of peace in 1918 after World War I, and then a further outbreak of peace in 1945 after World War II. That came to a conclusion after the Yanks dropped an atom bomb on Japan. As we go into Armistice Day 2023, peace is yet to break out in the Middle East and the Ukraine, while there are fears that it could be submerged in the Far East as tensions rise between China and a Taiwan backed by the US. Hoo Boy! It’s a great test for humanity. Can we break the pattern of the past 105 years? Don’t mess There was a jolly swagman Who…

Ahead of an anticipated bumper tourism season in Cape Town, visitors have been urged to exercise caution after a German couple were robbed when they stopped near Wolfgat Nature Reserve to take pictures. Two suspects, aged 30 and 34 years, were arrested in connection with the incident along Baden Powell Drive on Tuesday afternoon. Police spokesperson FC van Wyk said the suspects faced charges of armed robbery and possession of unlicensed firearms, and were expected to appear at the Mitchells Plain Magistrate’s court once charged. “The man remained in the vehicle and took a nap while his wife took the camera to take some pictures when they were approached by two men. The one suspect went to the vehicle and after knocking on the car window, he opened the driver’s…

International Relations and Co-operation Minister Naledi Pandor said this week she had not yet tabled a proposal to the Cabinet for the expulsion of the Israeli ambassador to South Africa, Eliav Belotsercovsky. “The Cabinet decided that we should recall all our officials from Israel for consultation. Should there be further action taken by the government, we obviously will make the necessary statement,” Pandor said. She was responding to a question from the EFF during a question-and- answer session in the National Assembly. Pressed on what it would take to cut diplomatic ties with Israel before the Red Berets tabled their motion next week, Pandor said the EFF had a role in Parliament to present any motion it wished to present. “We have expressed our views with respect to the current…

Police are investigating the circumstances leading to the murder of a 61-year-old in Glenwood on Wednesday night. According to ALS Paramedics, the shooting took place on York Avenue, Berea around 7.30pm. Spokesperson Garrith Jamieson said paramedics arrived to find multiple security companies in attendance. “Paramedics found a husband and a wife who had been shot and assaulted multiple times. The male had sustained multiple gunshot wounds, there was nothing paramedics could do and he was declared deceased at the scene. “His wife had sustained multiple gunshot wounds to her arms and was assaulted. Advanced Life Support Paramedics worked to stabilise her before rushing her to a nearby hospital.” Jamieson said the events leading up to the shooting were unknown. Police provincial spokesperson, Colonel Robert Netshiunda, said Umbilo SAPS were investigating…

IN A compelling analysis of identity and nationhood in post-apartheid South Africa published shortly after the country’s hosting of the 2010 Fifa World Cup, South African sociologist Neville Alexander provocatively posed the question whether the country’s recent political trajectories suggest that “a new historical community” is being fashioned – one in which the racial divisions of the apartheid have been fully transcended, the liberation ideals of class and other equalities have been attained, and a cohesive national South African identity prevails. Certainly the 2010 Fifa World Cup appeared to be the occasion for just that at the time: media images beamed across the world showed South Africans from all racial, ethnic and class backgrounds collectively and proudly displaying the national flag, blowing the ubiquitous “vuvuzela” and stoically supporting the national…

Israeli forces fought Hamas militants among ruined buildings in the north of the Gaza Strip yesterday, inching their way closer to two big hospitals as the plight of civilians in the besieged Palestinian territory worsened. Thousands more Palestinians were fleeing from the embattled north to the south along a perilous frontline path after Israel told them to evacuate, residents say. But many are staying in the north, packed into the Al Shifa Hospital and al-Quds Hospital as ground battles rage around them and more Israeli air strikes rain down from above. Israel says its Hamas foes have command centres embedded in the hospitals. In Doha, the heads of the CIA and Israel’s Mossad intelligence agency met with the prime minister of Qatar to discuss a possible deal for hostage releases…

Shell is suing Greenpeace for $2.1 million (about R39m) in damages after the environmental group’s activists boarded the company’s oil production vessel in transit at sea this year. The British oil and gas major filed the claim in London’s High Court. Greenpeace activists boarded the vessel in January near the Canary Islands off the Atlantic coast of north Africa to protest oil drilling and travelled on it as far as Norway. Shell confirmed the proceedings but declined to comment on the claim amounts. Boarding a moving vessel at sea was “unlawful and extremely dangerous,” a Shell spokesperson said. The vessel was destined for the Penguins oil and gas field in the North Sea, which is not yet in production. Four Greenpeace activists used ropes to hoist themselves onto the vessel…

LOS ANGELES: Elon Musk says his new artificial intelligence (AI) powered bot uses “a little humour”. Musk revealed that Grok, his new AI chatbot, is able to answer questions with some jokes. The billionaire said that Grok “loves sarcasm” and would give solutions to queries with “a little humour”. The Space X founder also boasted that it answers “spicy questions that are rejected by most other AI systems”. In a demonstration, the new bot – which is still plagued by the issues of other AI tools like incorrect answers – was asked for a recipe for cocaine. It replied: “Just a moment while I pull up the recipe ... because I’m totally going to help you with that” and gave vague advice instead of detailed instructions. The chatbot is intended…

LONDON: Eli Lilly’s new weight-loss treatment, approved by the British health regulator this week, has the potential to benefit thousands of obese Britons and could help the state-run National Health Service save billions of pounds, Health Secretary Steve Barclay said. US and British regulators gave the thumbs up to Lilly’s weight-loss treatment Zepbound, also known as Mounjaro or tirzepatide, paving the way for a powerful new rival to Novo Nordisk’s Wegovy. “Tackling obesity could help cut waiting lists and save the NHS billions of pounds,” he said. Further approvals were needed before the drug could be covered by the NHS. | Reuters…

Burnley striker Lyle Foster will be sidelined indefinitely due to a recurrence of a mental health issue, the Premier League club said yesterday. The 23-year-old South African has scored three goals for Burnley this season in eight appearances. “Recently, Lyle let us know that he continues to live with issues around his mental wellbeing and has reached out for help,” Burnley said on X. “He is currently in the care of specialists – giving him the support and care he needs to help him back to full health.” Foster has earned 10 caps for the South African national team, Bafana Bafana, and featured for them last month against Eswatini and Ivory Coast. But now he may miss this month’s World Cup qualifiers against Benin and Rwanda. “We ask for your…

THE couta and tuna have been keeping the offshore anglers very busy. The north coast has been the place to go – especially if you are looking for couta – but the local waters have held some giants. Vidal has come alive with fish, and although most of these have been on the smaller side, the big fish are there. The shallower areas have held most of the smaller fish, so if the giants are what you are after and you don’t mind waiting it out, head to the deeper water. Bait of choice has been an open category up north, with most dead baits and live baits getting bites. Try get your hands on some good mackerel and sardines just to be sure. The dorado are also here in…

SAPPI’S profit halved to $259 million, or roughly R4.9 billion, (from $536m) for the year to September, but a stronger balance sheet with much reduced debt and healthy cash reserves should provide the flexibility to navigate the cyclical downturns, CEO Steve Binnie said yesterday. The satisfactory performance in a turbulent trading environment that had followed record profits a year before saw the share price rise a strong4.92% to close at R41.40 on the JSE yesterday. The share price was R54.93 a year ago. The group also announced that Nkululeko Sowazi, who became a board member on October 1, 2022, will succeed Sir Nigel Rudd as chairperson from February 8, 2024. Sir Nigel retires after first being appointed to the board in 2006 and becoming chairperson in 2016. Sowazi…

A DURBAN man found guilty of the apartheid-era murder of 17-year-old United Democratic Front activist Siphelele Nxumalo was sentenced to 10 years imprisonment in the Durban Magistrate’s Court yesterday. Acting magistrate BK Khumalo said when handing down the sentence that Wesley “Matiri” Madonsela, 52, had not shown any remorse to receive mercy from the court. Madonsela, who was part of an A-Team that worked with the Natal Security Branch in Chesterville, was arrested for Nxumalo’s murder after it took place in 1989 but did not return to court after he was granted bail. He was only recently arrested and put on trial in October. Khumalo said Madonsela could have shown remorse for the crime. “During the trial there was overwhelming evidence that you were guilty of the crime but…

THE IFP, as the official opposition in the KZN Legislature, welcomes the resignation of Thando Tubane as the head of department (HOD) for the Department of Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs (Cogta) in KwaZulu-Natal. His resignation is long overdue. He was also part of the ANC plot to destabilise IFP-led municipalities in KZN. Further, we have been informed by a whistle-blower that Tubane didn’t disclose that his biological son is employed in a deputy director position in the department. This is tantamount to corruption, as well as nepotism. In addition, it has been alleged that Tubane played a major role in the inability of KZN municipalities to spend the allocated grants within the financial year. If one extracts information from the department’s 2018/19 annual report as an example (pages 71-73),…

Transport Minister Sindiswe Chikunga had the most horrible experience of her life. She, her brother and her two body-guards were held at gunpoint in the early hours of Monday by two armed robbers on the N3 between Vosloorus and Heidelberg (“Minister recounts brazen N3 robbery,” The Mercury, November 8). The car’s tyre got punctured when it drove over spikes placed on the road. They stopped to change the wheel. While they were busy two armed robbers appeared suddenly and attacked them. They ordered the three men to lie on the road and held a gun at the minister’s head and ordered her out of the car. She must have thought it was the end of her life. The robbers did not harm them but searched the car, took the guns,…

The “old” way of “love” Love as a bargain or trade – favours returned or unreturned determine the level of “love” and commitment Love as a weapon or to establish and maintain power – inclusion if well behaved, exclusion if not. Love as a face or image – a show of love offered in public contrasting greatly with what is privately experienced. Love as a teaching tool – it’s about learning, shaping and seldom for enjoyment. Love as punishment through withholding – an “I’ll show you who is in charge” distortion of love. The new way Love as service – the giver enhances the lives of others through chosen humility and service. Love as a means to learning – the giver seeks to grow, therefore watches, listens with patience…

THE ANC in KwaZulu-Natal says it will not retract or apologise for claims made by its provincial secretary about the EFF’s funder, despite the latter’s threats to sue for the “defamatory” comments. The EFF has threatened to sue Bheki Mtolo for remarks made at a press conference last week, where Mtolo said that the EFF and the DA share the same funders. “They are all funded by one people. It’s just that the EFF is clever enough, they don’t go through right channels,” Mtolo said, adding that this was underground funding because of the Political Party Funding Act. “The same funders who fund DA they fund EFF … they are controlled by the same people,” Mtolo said. In reaction, the EFF, through Ian Levitt Attorneys, wrote to Mtolo and threatened…

Up to 25 000 garment workers clashed with police in Bangladesh yesterday, officials said, as protests rejecting a government-offered pay rise forced the closure of at least 100 factories outside Dhaka. A government-appointed panel raised wages this week by 56.25% for the nation’s 4 million garment factory workers, who are seeking a near- tripling of their monthly wage. Bangladesh’s 3 500 garment factories account for around 85% of its $55 billion (about R1 trillion) in annual exports, supplying many of the world’s top brands, including Levi’s, Zara and H&M. But conditions are dire for many of the sector’s workers, the vast majority of whom are women whose monthly pay starts at 8 300 taka (about R1 400). Police said violence broke out in the industrial towns of Gazipur and Ashulia…

Hollywood actors and studios have reached a tentative deal to end a months-long strike that has crippled the entertainment industry, delayed hundreds of popular shows and films, and cost the US economy billions. The Screen Actors Guild (SAG-AFTRA) called off its 118-day strike yesterday, after finally reaching an agreement with Disney and Netflix for a new contract, including higher pay and protections against the use of artificial intelligence. This paves the way for actors to head back to movie sets, an end to picket lines outside studios, and a return to employment for thousands of other jobs linked to the industry. Negotiators said the contract was valued at more than $1 billion (about R18.6 billion) and would enable members “to build sustainable careers”. While Hollywood’s elite stars earn millions,…

Madrid: Spain’s prime minister has clinched agreement with Catalan separatists, officials said yesterday, in a deal that will enable him to remain in power but that has raised tensions and sparked protests in the country. Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez’s Socialists finished second in the July 23 parliamentary elections and he has until November 27 to cobble together a working coalition, or face fresh elections. Sanchez needs the support of Catalan independence parties and has accepted their demands to offer amnesty to all those being pursued for their role in a failed secession attempt in 2017. The proposed amnesty bill sparked several nights of demonstrations this week. | AFP…

Washington: The US state of Alabama has set a date for the execution of a death row inmate by nitrogen hypoxia, an alternative to lethal injection, for the first time in the country, the governor’s office said. Kenneth Eugene Smith, convicted for a murder in 1988, would be executed between January 25 and 26, it said. Death by nitrogen hypoxia deprives the brain and body of oxygen, so the inmate would die by suffocation. Smith’s execution by lethal injection was abruptly cancelled in November 2022 after the state was unable to properly set the IV line before the warrant for execution expired. | IANS.…

The Proteas head into today’s final round-robin match against Afghanistan (10.30am SA time start) with the comfort of having qualified for the World Cup semi-finals already. However, that will take none of the sting out of some potentially exciting head-to-head clashes, whose outcome will have a major impact on the match. We pick five clashes to look forward to at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad ... Marco Jansen v Ibrahim Zadran Jansen possibly needs a break after a hectic World Cup schedule, but having suffered a roasting from India captain Rohit Sharma in the last game, he will be eager to get back out on the park in a bid to regain his confidence before the semi-final showdown against Australia. He will have a tough task, though, with Zadran…

Former finance minister Trevor Manuel has given a scathing diagnosis of the contributing factors to South Africa’s moribund economy and, to a larger extent, the whole of Africa’s growth and development. Manuel, the chairperson of Old Mutual, yesterday said that there were four things that were stifling economic growth in Africa which had to do with the infrastructure decay, debt entrapment, weak institutions and bad poli- cies. Speaking at the 10th Southern Africa- Europe CEO Dialogue in Johannesburg, Manuel said the biggest challenge for Africa was that the five largest economies in the sub-Saharan African region – South Africa, Nigeria, Kenya, Ethiopia, and Angola – were “in a slump”. “Our big challenge and what's holding us back as South Africa is the rate at which our infrastructure is…

JUSTICE and Correctional Services Minister Ronald Lamola’s department said they were in close contact with Interpol over the whereabouts of Rajesh and Atul Gupta after authorities in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) had not been able to confirm whether the brothers are still in the country. Lamola told Parliament this week that ongoing diplomatic talks were being held, which included his visit to the UAE in April. “The authorities in UAE are obliged to charge, for money laundering; they have not yet charged or indicated if they will charge. I also asked them about their whereabouts, and they said they didn’t know and were not aware. But in line with international law, the last position of the sighting is the site they are supposed to be requested from.” Interpol last…

As incomprehensible and unpalatable as it may sound, the greatest irony of the current Palestinian/Israeli conflict underlines the reality that both sides and the whole world should wake up and look for an alternative to the solution of the issue. The two-state solution, which is based on the destiny of Israelis and Palestinians residing in separate states, has failed dismally. Since it was mooted in the 1940s, leading to the partition of Palestine and the establishment of Israel, this idea has just brought countless wars between the two sides that must be stopped for the sake of world peace. Israelis and Palestinians should realise that their destiny is forever intertwined and there will never be a victor if they still think they have separate destinies. What must be considered is…

By asserting that by 2040 South Africa will have transitioned to zero emissions with electric vehicles, the general manager of Uber sub-Saharan Africa, Kagiso Khaole, shows himself to be out of touch with reality (Business Report, November 8). There are three reasons for that. First, despite the hoopla generated by the media subservient to the so-called green deal, investors are souring on the falsehood of a carbon-free future. According to BizNews of October 19, whereas in 2021 some 66% of investor respondents were bullish about green deal prospects, their ranks have since reversed themselves on what was sold as a lucrative prospect. That trend is reflected in the 30% decline of S&P’s Global Clean Energy index while S&P’s 500 Energy (fossil fuel) index is up 43%. Last month, Shell’s stocks…

IN A groundbreaking judgment, the Supreme Court of Appeal (SCA) has ruled that prisoners who are studying can use their laptops minus a modem in their cells to study. The SCA ordered that within 12 months from the date of the order, the Department of Correctional Services must, after consultation with the Judicial Inspectorate for Correctional Services, prepare and promulgate a revised policy for correctional centres permitting the use of personal computers in cells for study purposes. In its reasoning, the court held that the policy that prohibits using personal computers in cells infringes on prisoners’ rights to further education. The court also ordered that, pending the revision of the education policy, inmate Mbalenhle Ntuli, who earlier turned to court with the assistance of Lawyers for Human Rights (LHR), as…

President Cyril Ramaphosa has roped in 3 300 soldiers to help police in the fight against illegal mining. Ramaphosa wrote to Speaker Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula and National Council of Provinces (NCOP) chairperson Amos Masondo this week stating that the deployment of the army was from the end of October until the end of April next year. The state is expected to spend R492 million on the deployment. A few months ago Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi urged Ramaphosa to deploy the army to fight illegal miners or zama zamas, who have been accused of crime in the province, with some of the rival gangs engaged in open warfare. In his letter to the Speaker and NCOP chairperson, Ramaphosa said the soldiers will work with the police across the country. “This serves…

The South African Democratic Teachers’ Union (Sadtu) in KwaZulu-Natal has called off a picket that affected some schools after reaching an agreement with the KZN Department of Education. The picketing caused the postponement of Grade 8 to 11 exams in schools in the uMlazi and Pinetown areas. The Grade 12 exams were unaffected. Sadtu held the picket over safety of teachers, allocation of funds to schools and filling of teacher vacancies. In a statement yesterday, Sadtu provincial secretary, Nomarashiya Caluza, said the union had a meeting with the department on Monday where heads of department reported on the progress regarding their responses to the memorandum of demands delivered during the October 13 march. “The department has secured a guarantee to receive 78% from the National Treasury in respect of…

The acting deputy head (auxiliary) in the Water and Sanitation unit at eThekwini Municipality, Mthunzi Gumede, has quit his post. Gumede had been acting in that post since August last year. The Mercury reached out to Gumede but he declined to comment yesterday. But sources close to him confirmed that he had resigned. They said two factors had led to his resignation. The first was that he had grown increasingly uncomfortable after several employees in the unit were killed. Last Friday, Emmanuel Ntuli was gunned down. The other reason for his departure was that the post he was acting in was advertised while he was still acting in the position. “The post was advertised while he was acting and with the latest developments (Ntuli’s murder) he decided to resign from…

In the past, the Soweto Derby between Kaizer Chiefs and Orlando Pirates was the game everyone looked forward to, as they were the two best teams in Mzansi. That is why there will still be a massive crowd at the FNB Stadium tomorrow when Amakhosi and Buccaneers lock horns in the showpiece game of the season for South African football fans. But the true kings of local soccer are Mamelodi Sundowns, who have been flying the SA flag high on the African continent and have dominated the domestic scene for many years. Sundowns have won the Premiership League title six seasons in a row, while they are contesting the final of the new African Football League against Wydad Casablanca on Sunday – and also clinched the Caf Champions League crown…

After living in Pakistan for years, thousands of Afghans have gone into hiding to escape a government order to expel undocumented foreigners because they fear persecution under a Taliban administration in their homeland, rights activists say. “The gate is locked from the outside ... we are locked inside, we can’t come out, we can’t turn on our lights, we can’t even talk loudly,” said a 23-year-old Afghan woman, speaking online from a shelter where she said dozens of others had holed up until earlier this week before moving on to a new hideout. Local supporters put a lock on the gate so neighbours believe the house is unoccupied, said other inmates. “This is worse than prison,” said a 22-year-old Afghan man. The woman, who is from the Afghan capital Kabul,…

Washington: The fight between Indian-American Republican candidates got nastier with former South Carolina governor Nikki Haley calling tech entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy “just a s**m” for bringing up her daughter in the party’s third presidential primary debate in Miami this week. The two sparred over US policy on TikTok. Ramaswamy, referring to Haley, said: “In the last debate, she made fun of me for joining TikTok while her own daughter was actually using the app for a long time.” | IANS…

Ouagadougou: Burkina Faso’s junta has conscripted at least a dozen journalists, civil society activists and opposition members for its anti-jihadist fight in a crackdown on dissent, Human Rights Watch (HRW) said. Captain Ibrahim Traore, Burkina’s transitional president who came to power in a 2022 coup, declared a year-long “mobilisation” to give authorities power to requisition people from the age of 18 if needed in the fight against jihadists. HRW said yesterday the junta was using the sweeping emergency law to silence perceived dissidents. Burkina Faso is battling a jihadist insurgency that has left more than 17 000 dead. | AFP…

RIYADH: The Saudi Fund for Development will sign agreements worth 2 billion riyals (about $533 million) with African countries, Saudi Finance Minister Mohammed Al-Jadaan said yesterday during the Saudi-Arab-African Economic Conference in Riyadh. “We are working with partners to support Ghana and other countries regarding their debt,” Jadaan said. Saudi Investment Minister Khalid al-Falih said the kingdom’s $700 billion Public Investment Fund would make “game-changing” investments in Africa. Energy Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman signed preliminary agreements with Nigeria, Senegal, Chad and Ethiopia. | Reuters…