Indholdsfortegnelse for 2023-12-18 i Mercury

DEPRESSION and the increase in financial stress has led to an increase in suicides, especially over the festive season. This is according to the South African Depression and Anxiety Group (Sadag) and clinical psychologists. They were responding to a study “Look after your mental health during the holidays” by Discovery which pointed to an increase in suicides over the festive period. The study said there was an 11% increase in suicides in December and 9% increase in January in recent years. It said 33% of South Africans had experienced depression since Covid-19. “Changes in social activities and the possible influence of the festive season may increase the risk of suicide. “Some people might be experiencing mental health problems for the first time. Others with existing mental health problems might have…

THE ANC in KwaZulu-Natal has said the future of former president Jacob Zuma in the party will be decided by the party’s national executive committee (NEC). The party, which had been hoping to have Zuma lead its campaign in the province for the 2024 national government elections, was stunned on Saturday when Zuma announced he would not be voting for the ANC and instead associated himself with a new party called uMkhonto we Sizwe. Zuma said he was disillusioned with the ANC and he would not vote for it but said he was not leaving the party. The leaders of uMkhonto we Sizwe told a broadcast channel that they had engaged Zuma and he had indicated that he was willing to stand as a presidential candidate, but added that these…

THE recent by-election in ward 101 of the eThekwini Municipality, which saw the ANC trounce other political parties such as the DA, IFP, ATM and EFF with a decisive victory, should serve as a wake-up call for opposition parties hoping to defeat the ANC. The DA opted not to field a candidate, instead throwing its support behind the IFP. While it is true that the ANC has brought this country to ruin and demonstrated a lack of concern for South Africans, the reality is that removing the ANC from power is not as easy as it may seem. In spite of ongoing corruption scandals that dominate the news, the ANC still managed to win by a large margin in ward 101. The by-election was held due to the murder…

PEOPLE will tell you who they are with reasonable accuracy: “The thing to remember always is that you’re surrounded by idiots. Once you get that right in your own head, things start moving in your favour.” “Everyone has something to teach me. I try to learn from everyone.” “I never fly economy. Who’d ever do that? It’s like moving cattle. See you later.” “It’s such a privilege to see the world. My company policy is everyone flies economy. Even the top brass.” “I make all the decisions in our home. He leaves it all up to me. I wouldn’t have it any other way.” “I just go straight to the top. I don’t mess with the lower-rank employees, the paid-by-the-hour sorts of people.” “I try to live without blaming others.…

THE South African Legal Practice Council’s attempt to have a candidate attorney’s name struck from the roll – for misconduct – was unsuccessful at the Supreme Court of Appeal (SCA) while the finalisation of the attorney’s disciplinary inquiry is still pending. The matter was dismissed and struck from the court roll due to it being moot. The disciplinary inquiry against attorney Lebohang Mokhele had established prima facie evidence of trust fund shortages in Mokhele’s trust account following complaints from the public. The investigations by the Legal Practice Council (LPC) so far have established alleged serious misconduct and evidence of a trust shortage in at least two matters. Further investigations continue. Mokhele has been suspended from legal practice, and the LPC sought from the Free State Division of the High Court,…

Late IFP leader Prince Mangosuthu Buthelezi was described by IFP president Velenkosini Hlabisa as a unifier of diverse people at an event in his honour in Chatsworth, Durban yesterday. During his keynote address, Hlabisa said the passing of Buthelezi on September 9, had a profound impact on South Africa and was felt throughout the world. He said the former IFP leader was a champion of freedom, democracy and peace, adding that Buthelezi did more in his lifetime to secure and entrench these ideals than any have done within this generation. “When we stood at his funeral in Ulundi and marked the respect accorded to him by heads of state and international dignitaries, it was evident that Prince Buthelezi’s legacy extends well beyond South Africa. “But here, in South Africa, within…

As the proposed Expropriation Bill returns to Parliament in February, there is a collective nod of approval for its earnest attempt to address the lingering scars of apartheid. The bill, in its pursuit of rectify historical injustices and level the socio-economic playing field, has commendable aspects that warrant acknowledgement. The glaring inequalities spawned by the apartheid era necessitate bold legislative measures, and the Expropriation Bill does take a step in the right direction. However, amid the applause, there emerges a chorus of concerns from civil society, academics and political parties, echoing the need for clarity in the definition of property, particularly concerning intellectual property. The proponents of the bill argue that a broad interpretation of property is essential to ensure comprehensive redress. However, the devil lies in the detail, and…

MUMBAI: At least nine workers were killed and several injured in a blast at an explosives factory in Nagpur, a central district in Maharashtra state yesterday, a local police officer said. The blast occurred at about 8.30am (local time) at a factory run by Solar Industries India. The factory manufactures industrial and military explosives, as well as propellants and warheads for India’s defence sector, Solar Industries’ website said. The injured were taken to hospitals. The number of casualties could increase. Police are still investigating the cause of the blast in the factory’s packing area. Calls to a contact number on the company website were not answered.…

Glaciologist Andrew Hodson used to collaborate with his Russian colleagues in the Svalbard archipelago in the Arctic, but snowmobile excursions to see them have come to a halt since the war in Ukraine. “We used to work with Russian permafrost scientists and hydrologists in the Barentsburg region. This doesn’t happen now,” the British scientist said. “We’re sad that we can’t use this basis for collaboration, but we’re not at all happy with the actions of the Russian government, obviously,” he said at his office at Longyearbyen University in the archipelago’s capital. Although a part of Norway, the islands have long had a strong Russian presence. But the frequently-cited diplomatic mantra of cohabitation there – “High North, low tensions” – no longer applies. In the Arctic, as in the rest of…

Kuwait’s Emir Sheikh Nawaf al-Ahmad al-Sabah, whose six-decade career in public service primarily focused on domestic issues, was buried yesterday following a prayer service. His successor, Sheikh Meshal al-Ahmad al-Sabah, 83, was seen shedding a tear at the prayer service attended by members of the ruling Al Sabah family and speaker of Kuwait’s parliament. Sheikh Meshal had been Kuwait’s de facto ruler since late 2021, when a frail Sheikh Nawaf handed over most of his duties. As he formally takes the helm of the Opec member with the world’s seventh-largest oil reserves from his half-brother, Sheikh Meshal is expected to preserve key Kuwaiti foreign policies, including support for Gulf Arab unity, Western alliances and good ties to Riyadh. Sheikh Nawaf’s three-year reign as emir, relatively short by Kuwait standards, was…

Free State Cheetahs: 32 Tries: M van der Merwe, G van der Merwe, Maartens, Jasper; Conversions: Pienaar (3); Penalties: Pienaar (2) Sharks: 29 Tries: Etzebeth, Venter, Williams, Mapimpi; Conversions: Bosch (3); Penalties: Bosch (1) The Cheetahs produced a display of guts and glory to outlast the Sharks in Bloemfontein yesterday in the most enthralling of contests. It was a massive statement from a Cheetahs team perennially treated as the poor relations in South African rugby and their win shows that they belong at the top table. At the same time, the Sharks have taken a depressing step backward in their journey under John Plumtree and they continue to be winless away from home this season in both the URC and the Challenge Cup. Most worrying for…

TS Galaxy head coach Sead Ramovic expressed immense pride in his side’s Carling Knockout Cup journey, despite losing in the final to Stellenbosch. The Rockets relinquished a first-half lead given to them by striker Lehlohonolo Mojela and were eventually edged by Stellies on penalties. The Mpumalanga-based outfit was left distraught at the Moses Mabhida Stadium as bodies fell to the ground after Stellenbosh midfielder Darrel Matsheke converted the decisive penalty. Despite their heartbreaking loss, Ramovic applauded the efforts of his players. Galaxy beat Mamelodi Sundowns, Sekhukhune United and AmaZulu on their way to the final of the competition. He said that although the results did not go their way on the day, their entire tournament was a remarkable story. “It was a beautiful ride, to reach a final is a…

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola blasted his team after their careless defending and a needless late-game penalty cost them a much-needed victory in a 2-2 draw with Crystal Palace on Saturday, saying they deserved the result. “It’s not bad luck, it’s deserved,” an angry Guardiola said after the game. “We give away two points. When you give away this penalty, you deserve it. “You see the chances we created and conceded, it’s quite similar to all this season – but we are not able to close the games. “That is the feeling.” City have looked uncharacteristically vulnerable after a run of six games with only one win. Jack Grealish and Rico Lewis scored in the first half at the Etihad Stadium on Saturday, but Jean-Philippe Mateta pulled one back for…

The elite team of expert administrators brought in to help resolve persistent water problems in eThekwini Municipality’s water unit has made a bold promise, saying water supply challenges will be eliminated within the next three years. The team will be in place for one year but will lay the foundation that could be implemented over three years to address the water challenges. “The people that are coming are seasoned individuals, but they are not replacing the current management of the unit ... this is not an intervention,” said a member of the team speaking on condition of anonymity. The team members include former City manager in eThekwini Municipality Sibusiso Sithole, former Harry Gwala District Municipality manager Nandi Dlamini, and former Ugu District Municipality Water Services Authority executive Maxwell Pawandiwa. The…

THE letter by Yogin Devan, as a tribute to Dr Morgan Naidoo, was heart-wrenching and thought provoking. It was sad to read. At his funeral, several speakers paid tribute to a man who lived a full life, being a scholar and a highly respected academic specialising in education management. He dedicated his life in service to education for more than 40 years and was regarded as an expert in his field. Being a committed husband, father, grandfather and friend, he preferred to be known as Morgan. A humble, outspoken soul who could not be deterred from calling a spade a spade. Morgan lived a simple philosophy and often quoted Gandhi to me – “Never in my life will I exploit loyalty. Never will I seek to gain a selfish end.…

It is unbelievable and unspeakable that corruption in Zimbabwe is out of control. President Emmerson Mnangagwa have caused corruption to enter the borders of South Africa where South African immigration officers are letting in illegal Zimbabweans for as little as R200. This is how the corruption in Zimbabwe is extending and encroaching on neighbouring countries. Zimbabwe senior government officials are also masterminding corruption and the net is extending even to the ministers in the Zimbabwean government. Many Zimbabweans have turned to illegally crossing the border, often through the crocodile-infected Limpopo River, to neighbouring South Africa to seek jobs to send money home to their families, or goods to smuggle back to Zimbabwe. Corruption is a cancer in Zimbabwe and has created abject poverty and eroded the economy. The horrific economy…

THE spotlight shifts in Old Blighty from Downing Street to Prince Harry and the Mirror group of newspapers. In most circumstances this would be a highly unlikely grouping on which to concentrate, but in this case the court has ordered damages of 1 400 quid to Harry for sustained hacking of his phone by the Mirror hacks in order to gain material for their scurrilous “news” reports. This is sensational stuff. It’s not clear whether Harry intends bringing further actions or whether the Fuzz will also step in with criminal charges. It has the Brits in a flurry, which is a welcome change from Rwanda, Rishi Sunak and the rest of it. And this has raised interest locally as well. One fellow asked me, admittedly in jocular vein,…

Social solidarity, where citizens lead and the government follows, is what we need last week my Great Governance ZA podcast reached the 100-episode milestone. About a year ago I interviewed Professor Jaap de Visser on the platform and he argued that coalition governments are a natural consequence of our South African electoral system and that we must get used to this reality. On December 5 we marked the passing of Nelson Mandela who led the first coalition government in South Africa, called the government of national unity. That coalition did not last beyond two years, with the National Party walking out in 1996 because the ANC would not agree to extend the government of national unity beyond 1999, as well as a failure to reach consensus on key economic choices…

MOSCOW: US President Joe Biden’s remarks about a possible Russian attack on Nato countries are “nonsense”, Russian President Vladimir Putin said yesterday, adding that Biden himself probably understands this. “This is nonsense. I think President Biden realises this as well. This is just a figure of speech to justify his erroneous policy on the Russian direction,” Putin told state-owned Rossiya 1 channel reporter Pavel Zarubin. Russia was interested in developing relations with Nato countries and did not want to spoil these relations, Putin said. Currently Russia and these countries did not have any territorial claims against each other, he added.…

The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) gears up for elections on Wednesday that could consolidate its democracy or unleash fresh violence as political tensions threaten to boil over. As many as 44 million registered voters are set to cast their ballots in the vast central African nation of about 100 million people on Wednesday in presidential, parliamentary, provincial and municipal polls. About 100 000 people are standing in the four votes, with President Felix Tshisekedi seeking another term after winning a disputed election in 2018. The sheer size of the DRC, which is roughly the size of continental western Europe, means staging elections is a logistical nightmare. The country is also one of the world’s poorest and has little high-quality infrastructure, with the Ceni electoral commission still struggling to distribute…

The number of selfless reporters risking their lives, as well as the lives of their families, in Palestine continues to take its toll. One Al Jazeera journalist lost his entire family two weeks ago. He himself was injured by shrapnel last Friday. His close companion, an Al-Jazeera photographer, was injured and bled to death because medical assistance was forbidden by Israeli forces to reach him on time. Why do these gallant people place themselves in the mouth of vicious beasts? Why do they volunteer to remain on duty in spite of almost certain death … not a gradual peaceful end but a sudden painful one brought on by incidental explosions, gunfire, falling shrapnel or even by designated wilful targeted assassination by enemy forces who essentially are breaking every rule in…

THERE’S a significant parallel between the drivers of the COP28 summit and the construction of the Tower of Babel in the Old Testament. In both cases, the goal of the proponents was and is the achievement of “one people, one language, one government” in a borderless world “for the common good”. In both cases, God-ordained human diversity and the elements with which he purposefully endowed the planet were and are being defied. The Babel champions defied convention by substituting baked bricks for stone and tar in place of mortar. The dissembling globalist COP28 climate “experts” seek to eradicate oil, coal and gas from which 80% of the world’s energy is derived and to rely on sun and wind for energy needs. The Tower of Babel project failed as a result…

yogashen.pillay@inl.co.za Some of the leading car manufacturers in South Africa are looking to alternate power supplies – including solar power – as the country continues to grapple with load shedding. At least one manufacturer told The Mercury that the additional costs brought on by seeking alternate electricity sources was having an impact on business. Deon Sonnekus, general manager: corporate communications Hyundai Automotive South Africa, said that like other manufacturers of vehicles in the country, they were also suffering from the impact of continuous power cuts. “Although our local assembly operation of the H-100 (bakkie) and the EX8 medium commercial truck in Benoni is a smaller operation than some original equipment manufacturers in South Africa, it (load shedding) has had an impact on the flow of work, and it has forced…

ENERGY experts say the suspension of load shedding is a temporary reprieve as it is a result of lower demand due to factories and big industrial companies closing for the holidays. They say the grid remains fragile and a return to normal stages of load shedding can be expected in the new year. Independent energy economist Lungile Mashele said that demand for energy is low at the moment. “It had averaged 23 500MW this long weekend – which is indicative of industry shutdowns and people going away for Christmas.” Mashele said she does not believe that Eskom has turned the corner on performance or energy availability. “It’s just the December lull because of industry shutdowns and long weekend travels. Weather also plays a role and will be reflected in the…

AS 2023 draws to a close, it is with immense pride that we reflect on the incredible journey navigated by the South African International Maritime Institute (Saimi), led by the Board throughout this pivotal year, and as such, capture the essence of the collective efforts in a concise review of 2023. This theme not only invites all of us to revisit the significant milestones, accomplishments and challenges that have been encountered, but also serves as an acknowledgement of our invaluable stakeholders, collaborations and partnerships. The past 12 months witnessed Saimi’s unwavering commitment to maximising the potential of South Africa’s maritime economy. The programmes, workshops and conferences, conducted in collaboration with esteemed stakeholders, underscored the influential role South Africa plays in shaping the African maritime sector. Simultaneously, they have highlighted the…

YAOUNDE: Chad has declared four Sudanese diplomats personae non- gratae, giving them 72 hours to leave the country. “This measure follows serious and unfounded remarks by Sudanese army deputy chief of staff Lt-Gen Yasir al-Atta accusing Chad of interfering in the inter-Sudanese conflict,” Chad’s foreign ministry said in a statement on Saturday, adding that the Sudanese ambassador to Chad had been summoned and informed of the decision. Sudan has been witnessing deadly clashes between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces in Khartoum and other areas since the fighting commenced on April 15.…

Paris: The family of Gerard Depardieu , 74, has denounced a “conspiracy” against the French film star, charged with rape and facing new a scandal over his sexist comments against women. Sexual harassment claims are mounting amid newly released footage of Depardieu making obscene comments. Culture Minister Rima Abdul-Malak said he might be stripped of the Legion of Honour, France’s top award. A Belgian municipality recently stripped him of the title of honorary citizen, and Quebec in Canada revoked its top honour.…

At least 61 migrants were missing and presumed dead after their boat sank off Libya’s coast, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) said on Saturday, in the latest such tragedy off the North Africa. The migrants are believed to have died because of high waves which swamped their vessel after it left from Zuwara, on Libya’s northwest coast, the IOM’s Libya office said. Citing survivors, it said there were about 86 migrants aboard, including women and children, from Nigeria, The Gambia and other African states. Twenty-five people were rescued and transferred to a Libyan detention centre, said the IOM. It said the survivors were all in good condition and had received medical support from IOM staff. Libya and Tunisia are principal departure points for migrants risking dangerous sea voyages in…

ANTANANARIVO: At the invitation of Madagascar president Andry Nirina Rajoelina, Hu Chunhua, special envoy of Chinese President Xi Jinping and vice-chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference, attended Rajoelina's inauguration on Saturday and met Rajoelina yesterday. China attaches great importance to the development of China-Madagascar relations and is willing to work with Madagascar to deepen co-operation, Hu said. Madagascar stands ready to expand co-operation with China in key areas, such as agriculture, industry, energy and human resources, to push bilateral relations to a higher level.…

Netball South Africa (NSA) closed the year with the news that Australian-born Norma Plummer will step down as coach of the national team. Plummer was reappointed in November last year, eight months before South Africa would become Netball World Cup hosts for the first time in July and August. It was a bright move by NSA to recruit the vastly experienced Plummer after she enjoyed tremendous success in her previous stint. She steered the Proteas to fourth place at the 2019 World Cup in Liverpool, England. Sadly, on home soil at the Cape Town International Convention Centre, the Proteas finished a disappointing sixth even though the target was a podium finish. The Proteas finished the year in fifth place on the world rankings. South African netball was in the international…