Indholdsfortegnelse for 2024-01-10 i Mercury

THE SA Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) is seeking to make school uniforms affordable, including getting the Department of Basic Education (DBE) to control the procurement of school uniforms and to provide for the wearing of gender non-conforming outfits to accommodate diverse gender identities. The commission has raised concerns that the cost of school uniforms can be prohibitive, leading to a lack of access to education for some pupils. This can be seen as a form of discrimination and a violation of their right to dignity. The Competition Commission revealed that it had received regular complaints about the cost of school uniforms, saying the increasing costs are largely as a result of anti-competitive behaviour, where a school forces parents to procure uniforms from one supplier. The Competition Commission said it had…

The old mayor climb’d the belfry tower, The ringers ran by two, by three; “Pull, if ye never pull’d before; Good ringers, pull your best,” quoth he. “Play uppe, play uppe, O Boston bells! Ply all your changes, all your swells, Play uppe, ‘The Brides of Enderby.’” It’s not often that our TV screens showing the astonishing and devastating flooding of Lincolnshire and other counties in England take us back to our school classrooms. The above stanza starts A High Tide On The Coast of Lincolmshire, by Jean Ingelow, capturing the panic of the populace as the waters rise. The poem laments the drowning of a girl who was milking cows at the riverside as the waters rose. Fortunately, nothing of the kind appears to have happened this time. However…

On January 8, 2024, the ANC turned 112. That’s a milestone. Few political parties reach that age. The governing party has played an important role in the liberation of South Africa. And it remains central in the politics of the country. The ANC has what it traditionally calls its January 8 statement, which is delivered by the party president. This year, the statement will be delivered this coming Saturday in Mbombela, Mpumalanga. The ANC’s January 8 statement used to be one of the most anticipated speeches. However, it has become one of those speeches. Why has it lost its significance? The governing party has failed to take the masses to the Promised Land. Instead, it is focusing on its power struggle and internal fights. In addition, Cyril Ramaphosa’s party no…

Centuries ago a wise man asked: Is it better to be hurt by the truth or made happy with deception? We exist in a reality where a few can harm or murder millions, with blatant impunity. Selfish political and economic leaders create mass suffering because they are in truth evil people. For example, in time those who support genocide against the Palestinians or any other innocent people will be held accountable. It is irrelevant if the oppressor believes in God or not. Reason and logic suggest that everything in the universe is created in a balance and justice balances out injustice. Leaders like Joe Biden, Benjamin Netanyahu and ambassadors like Anthony Blinken and Arab and European leaders who allow the genocide in the “Holy Land” will be judged harshly. As…

A MANUFACTURER of natural haircare products last month secured an urgent interdict against a former employee, whom it was said had bad-mouthed the company on social media. Native Child Africa (Pty) Ltd – a small business that makes and sells natural hair-care products – turned to the Gauteng High Court, Pretoria. The business was established in 2016. The company promoted and sold the products over the internet and in some retail stores. The applicant asked for an urgent interim interdict to be issued against Mary Akinwale, who was in its employment for about two months. This application was pending the institution of a damages claim against her. The haircare manufacturer wanted Akinwale to also remove any defamatory posts regarding the company from social media, for her to retract the…

MERCURY CORRESPONDENT Independent Media has appointed Adri Senekal de Wet as the new Editor-in-Chief, following the retirement of Aziz Hartley at the end of 2023. Mohamed Hoosain, Independent Media’s current CFO will step in as acting CEO, after current Chief Executive Officer, Takudzwa Hove stepped down to pursue his MBA. Dr Iqbal Survé will resume his role as Executive Chairman of Independent Media. Senekal de Wet has been part of Independent Media since November 2016, serving as the executive editor of Business Report and Personal Finance. “Her dedication, expertise, and leadership have played a crucial role in shaping the editorial direction of these publications,” Independent Media said in a statement. Senekal de Wet extended her appreciation to Dr Survé. “I am honoured to lead Independent Media and work alongside an…

The new party’s success hinges on Zuma’s ability to tap into the liberation Struggle legacy Dubbed “Zuma’s tour de resistance”, former president Jacob Zuma and his new uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) drew large crowds in Mkhondo as the ANC announced its preparations for its annual January 8 celebrations in Mbombela. Some observers view this as a “battle of two ANCs” poised to determine the outcome of the upcoming national elections. If last week’s events are any indication, the ANC could face serious challenges in some of its traditional strongholds. The re-emergence of Zuma and his party on the South African political scene continues to send shockwaves through the country and has left the ANC reeling, seemingly devoid of a coherent response to the disruptive force. The MK Party’s success hinges…

The Israeli army bombed Gaza and battled Hamas fighters yesterday as US top diplomat Antony Blinken was in Tel Aviv on a regional tour aimed at stopping the war from escalating across the Middle East. There were intense strikes overnight in Khan Yunis and Rafah, the biggest cities in the south of the besieged Palestinian territory, which are crowded with internally displaced people. The army said its forces had killed 40 militants over the past 24 hours in “expanded ground operations including air strikes” in Khan Yunis, and that troops had seized AK-47 assault rifles, rocket launchers and other weapons. Since the war broke out with the Hamas attack of October 7, fears have grown of an escalating conflict between Israel and its other regional enemies, a loose alliance of…

Gabriel Attal, named France’s youngest prime minister yesterday at the age of 34, has had a meteoric rise that has invoked comparisons with that of his mentor President Emmanuel Macron. He is also the country’s first openly gay French premier whose most pressing task will be to ensure that Macron’s centrist forces overcome the far-right – first in European elections in June and then in presidential polls in 2027. Attal’s more combative style is likely to be a contrast to that of his predecessor Elisabeth Borne, 62, a technocratic figure more comfortable behind the scenes than with the cut and thrust of soundbite politics. Taking high office at such a young age, Attal has sparked inevitable comparisons to Macron himself, who became France’s youngest president at the age of 39.…

CANBERRA: the Australian government has put on hold its plans to cut ties with the British monarchy by becoming a republic. Assistant minister for the republic, Matt Thistlethwaite, said holding a referendum on becoming a republic was not so much a priority as cost of living relief was for Australians. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese in 2022 vowed to holding a referendumon splitting from the monarchy if he won a second term, but a date has not yet been set. Australia last held a referendum on becoming a republic in 1999 when 54.8% of voters rejected a proposal to replace the British monarch as the country’s head of state with a president. | IANS…

Seoul: The South Korean parliament yesterday passed a special bill banning dog meat consumption, paving the way for ending the practice that has fallen out of favour in recent decades. The bill, which bans the breeding, butchering, distributing and selling of dogs for meat, passed through Parliament with 208 votes in favour and two abstentions. The bill also calls for providing subsidies to help people in the dog meat industry switch jobs. According to government statistics, there are around 1 150 dog farms, 34 butchering businesses, 219 distributors and about 1 600 restaurants that sell food made with dog meat in South Korea. | IANS…

SERIAL goalscorer Mohamed Salah has conquered the world, Europe and England with Liverpool. Now he dreams of leading Egypt to African glory. He has come agonisingly close twice with his country, being part of the teams that lost the 2017 and 2022 Africa Cup of Nations finals to Cameroon and Senegal. In-between reaching those title deciders, hosts Egypt suffered a humiliating last-16 loss to outsiders South Africa that left a 70 000-strong Cairo crowd speechless. Egypt are among the favourites for the 2023 title in the Ivory Coast as they seek a record-extending eighth title in the premier African sporting event. Drawn with Ghana, Cape Verde and Mozambique in Group B, it is widely expected that Egypt will finish first and qualify for the round of 16. But captain Salah…

ADRI SENEKAL de Wet, the executive editor of Business Report (BR) and Personal Finance, has been appointed the new editor-in-chief of Independent Media. This follows the retirement of Aziz Hartley. Newsdesk editor Philippa Larkin has been appointed acting editor of BR and Personal Finance until a new editor is appointed to the role. Larkin has worked at BR for nearly two decades in various capacities. Larkin said: “Business Report and Personal Finance have thrived under Senekal de Wet’s sterling leadership and positive mindset. We wish her well in her new role.” Senekal de Wet has been an integral part of Independent Media since November 2016. Her dedication, expertise and leadership have played a crucial role in shaping the editorial direction of BR and Personal Finance. Senekal de Wet extended her…

DELAYS in the issuing of visas to skilled professionals, who want to live and work in the country are causing a huge problem for businesses and is impacting negatively on economic growth and investment. This is according to Melanie Veness, chairperson of the Association of South African Chambers (Asac), who said the massive backlog in the issuance of visas is creating an untenable position for businesses that are reliant on the services of skilled foreign professionals. “These are people who are needed to fill the gaps on the critical skills list. We’re losing those professionals to other countries, because they simply cannot wait for extended and unreasonable periods to get a visa or a spousal visa,” she said. In response to a Parliamentary question in November about the processing of…

CAUSES of joy ... 1. Generosity – giving more than you can afford. 2. Faith – in God and in the humanity of others. 3. Forgiveness – absolute, and especially when undeserved. 4. Transparency – living without deceit or hidden agenda. 5. Openness – willingness to try new things and new adventures. 6. Awareness – of the impact left on others and on the environment. 7. Kindness – treating others in a manner that fosters their highest good. 8. Assertiveness – finding your way without impeding the growth of others. 9. Usefulness – finding a meaningful place in a community. 10. Love – deciding to love without expecting recognition or reward.…

The death of iconic lensman Peter Magubane has gripped the nation with a deep embrace of shock. As we grieve, we thank Almighty God for the memorable years that He gave to the photo legend and beloved purveyor of justice and humility. His death gives us cause to ponder how he touched our lives. Magubane’s commitment to social justice, reconciliation, human rights and the dignity of people will be remembered. The world pays tribute to his immense contribution to peace and justice and his emphasis on the dignity and worth of every individual from conception to the grave. His courage in exposing the horrors of apartheid through his camera lens gave the world a 3D view of life under state-enforced racism. Magubane educated the outside world, giving people a bird’s…

Police in the Free State have arrested two women after a 4-year-old girl went missing after being abandoned by the pair on Monday. The child was abandoned by her own cousins, aged 19 and 20. Provincial police spokesperson, Lieutenant Colonel Thabo Covane, said the women left their home in Kanana with 4-year-old Reitumetse Madibeng. The trio were headed for the farms along the R702. “It is alleged the two cousins left the 4-year-old girl lying under a tree by the roadside as they were walking towards Daspoort after the child got tired from walking and laid down under the tree,” Covane said. The women left the child where she was resting and they continued to walk to the farming area. Covane said they eventually arrived at their destination and…

The United Nations’ latest report on the economic situation for 2024 paints a concerning picture for Africa, with South Africa among the major economies experiencing significant slowdowns. The continent’s growth decelerated from 3.5% in 2022 to 3.3% in 2023, with a modest improvement to 3.5% projected for 2024. However, this growth is overshadowed by numerous problems, including tight financing conditions, currency depreciations, and climate change impacts. South Africa, a key player in the Southern African economy, has been particularly hard hit. The country’s ongoing electricity crisis, exacerbated by underinvestment in renewable energy, has led to an estimated growth of just 0.5% in 2024, the World Economic Situation and Prospects 2024 report reveals. This sluggish performance is not only a domestic concern, but also has ripple effects across the region. The…

Minister of Electricity Kgosientsho Ramokgopa has warned that the country will continue experiencing rotational power cuts in the medium term though Eskom was working on a solution to reduce their severity. South Africa experienced three days of full electricity supply during the first nine days of 2024, but Eskom quickly resumed its rotational power cuts. This comes as Eskom has also warned of severe load shedding this year, highlighting that demand will exceed available electricity each day – worse than in 2023 – though it successfully maintained minimal load shedding during the festive season. Ramokgopa yesterday said most of Eskom’s generation units remained unreliable, but this was being addressed through routine planned maintenance. There would be days of no load shedding, but the country was still going to experience power…

Russia said yesterday that its military would do everything possible to stop the Ukrainian shelling of Belgorod, a border town where hundreds were evacuated after fatal bombardments. The vow came as the defence ministry said it had downed four Ukrainian drones over western Russia, with debris injuring three at an oil facility in the Oryol region. Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu meanwhile said Russian forces were dictating the course of fighting on the front line, which has barely shifted in about a year despite fierce fighting. Belgorod has suffered an uptick in fatal shelling attacks in recent weeks that prompted city officials to recently evacuate hundreds and extend a closure of schools. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov accused the Ukrainian military of firing on civilian targets in the centre of the urban…

The Maldives is in hot water over calls by Indian celebrities for a boycott of the tropical beach destination, following derogatory remarks about Prime Minister Narendra Modi by government ministers. Tourism makes up nearly one-third of the economy in the archipelago nation, known for its upscale resorts and celebrity visitors, with Indians making up the largest share of foreign arrivals. Pro-China President Mohamed Muizzu’s administration has been scrambling to contain a diplomatic row with India after three of its junior ministers reportedly called Modi a “clown” and a “terrorist” in since-deleted social media posts last week. Bollywood actors and some of India’s cricket greats have responded with calls for their compatriots to boycott their southern neighbour and instead book their next holiday closer to home. The Maldives is also a…

Baku: A late-night blaze at a maternity clinic in Azerbaijan has left four infants dead, officials said yesterday, as the Caucasus country’s authoritarian leader vowed to personally oversee an investigation into the fire. Rescuers hauled out patients in incubators from the facility in the capital Baku and transferred them to ambulances. Prosecutor General Kamran Aliyev said the fire had been quickly extinguished. Prosecutors have opened a criminal investigation into violations of fire safety rules and negligence, and said that President Ilham Aliyev would oversee the probe personally. | AFP…

London: Irish musician Sinead O’Connor died last year of “natural causes”, a London coroner announced yesterday. The Grammy award-winning singer was found unresponsive at her south London home in July. She was 56. London police said at the time that officers were not treating it as suspicious. O’Connor’s agents said she had been completing a new album and planning a tour as well as a movie based on her autobiography Rememberings. She shunned the limelight after the death of her son Shane, 17, from suicide in 2022. | AFP…

GQEBERHA is a city known for many things, be it strong winds, the beautiful shoreline in the famous suburb of Summerstrand and the Boardwalk Mall that overlooks the beach. Most importantly, Gqeberha is known for its unique culture of friendliness, of loving and caring people, earning it the moniker of the Friendly City. From the townships of Zwide and Motherwell, to the city centre where St George’s Park Cricket Stadium overlooks the entire city, this culture runs in the veins of the people of Gqeberha. Two-time Rugby World Cup-winning Springbok captain Siya Kolisi was born and bred in this part of the country. Defending Champions the Sunrisers Eastern Cape, coached by local boy Adrian Birrell, naturally embody the iBhayi culture that was a driving force in them winning the trophy…

The South African Local Government Association (Salga) in KwaZulu-Natal says it has made an appeal for the government to release a disaster relief fund to support municipalities grappling with the aftermath of flooding. This come as storms continue to lash the province. On Monday, more than 100 people were evacuated in Ladysmith and surrounding areas in northern KZN after heavy rains caused flooding and infrastructure damage. The latest flooding in Ladysmith comes after several people in the town were killed two weeks ago when a river burst its bank due to heavy rains. In total, 40 people have died because of storm-related events since December. Salga KZN said it was making a call for urgent support, not just to rebuild the road network but to climate-proof bridges, stormwater mains and…

You might think I am some kind of weirdo to write about a funeral again in the New Year. But I found this funeral rather unusual and interesting and decided to share it with the readers. Remember the film Four Weddings and a Funeral starring Hugh Grant? Although what I saw wasn’t anywhere close to it, it reminded me about the film. While a funeral was taking place at my cousin’s house, a wedding was going on across the road in a church. A mournful ceremony in one place but a joyous celebration in another. How sorrow and happiness could be juxtaposed, I thought. But that was not all. While my cousin Pauline was a Christian, her husband Sunny was a staunch Hindu. When they married I expected Sunny to…

By its glowing January 9 editorial endorsement of the ANC regime’s “courageous” decision to indict Israel at the International Criminal Court (ICC) over alleged acts of genocide in Gaza, The Mercury seems to have short-term memory loss. In June 2015, when the Stalin of Sudan, Omar al-Bashir, attended the AU Summit in Johannesburg, the Zuma government breached international obligations by refusing to arrest him and dispatch him for trial by the ICC. Bashir ruled Sudan with an iron fist for 30 years. According to the UN, he was responsible for scorched-earth policies that killed 300 000 people and displaced 2.5 million in the Darfur conflict. The US listed Bashir as a state sponsor of terrorism. Amnesty International branded the ANC regime’s failure to execute a warrant of his arrest as…

Gold One Mine in Springs, Ekurhuleni, in Gauteng says it had no option but to dismiss more than 400 employees who allegedly took part in two underground sit-ins in October and December last year. It was reported on Monday that the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) had said it will appeal and challenge the dismissal of the 401 mineworkers. Yesterday Gold One Mine’s head of legal, Ziyaad Hassam, told broadcaster Newzroom Afrika that given the miners’ actions during the sit-ins last year, dismissal was an appropriate sanction. “It doesn’t give us any satisfaction to relieve anybody of their job. We, at all times want to work with employees in a constructive way to address any challenges they face,” Hassam said. “The situations as they unfolded in October and in December,…

The South African National Roads Agency SOC Limited (Sanral) has announced that toll fee collections will resume at the N2 oThongathi toll from next week. In a statement Sanral said this comes after the reopening of the M4 Tongaat River Bridge last month. Sanral eastern regional manager, Dumisani Nkabinde, said the Government Gazette, with regard to the resumption of the levying of toll fees from midnight on January 15 at N2 oThongathi north ramps for all vehicles, was published on December 29 last year. Nkabinde said the M4 Tongaat Bridge suffered major damage during the devastating floods of April 2022, and motorists had to use the alternative N2 national highway. Nkabinde added that the collection of toll fees on the N2 oThongathi north ramps was therefore suspended as per a…

EThekwini Municipality has confirmed that a Durban Solid Waste (DSW) refuse collection truck was set alight in uMlazi on Monday. Last year The Mercury reported that municipal vehicles were being targeted by criminals with more than 110 vehicles hijacked. The DSW unit and electricity unit were the most affected by attacks. Municipal spokesperson Gugu Sisilana said the City received reports on Monday regarding a municipal DSW truck that was on fire. “No injuries have been reported as a result of the fire. A case of malicious damage to property is being investigated by the SAPS,” she said. DA uMlazi councillor Nomfundo Khubone said the party strongly condemned the attack. “Metro officials said the truck was moving through V-section when the driver was held at gunpoint before the vehicle was set…

The Nkandla fire pool saga was gobbledygook of note. In fact, the nation was taken for a ride in the worst way possible. We really did not need ANC secretary-general Fikile Mbalula to “reveal” that the ANC used every trick in the book to protect Jacob Zuma regarding the upgrades to his private home in Nkandla. Coincidentally, it took a provocation by Zuma, who is now the voluntary leader of the new uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) party, for Mbalula to angrily disclose that the ANC lied to protect him when he was the head of state. There has been “excitement” since the Mbalula revelation at the weekend. Even Build One SA leader Mmusi Maimane threw a punch of his own at Mbalula and the ANC on social media.…

Big flat-screen televisions could start getting out of the way of lounge decor – if new see-through TV models showed off by South Korean consumer electronics giants LG and Samsung catch on when released later this year. LG says the TV is “practically invisible when turned off” and blends into the environment. Shaped like a glass box, one can see through the screen to what is behind it, but then switch to a high-definition television for viewing. Or one can enjoy a digital fish tank, burning fire or any digital image that will blend in well with an interior. Samsung showed off a TV screen prototype of its own that looks clear as a window but is embedded with micro-sized LEDs for high-definition imagery that come to life when turned…

New Delhi: Generative artificial intelligence (AI) has the potential to impact 44% of all working hours across industries, enable productivity enhancements across 900 different types of jobs and create $6 trillion (about R111 trillion) to $8 trillion in global economic value, a new report said yesterday. According to the global IT services firm Accenture, about 95% of business leaders globally believe that making technology more human will massively expand the opportunities of every industry. The report said 96% of executives agreed that leveraging AI agent ecosystems would be a significant opportunity for their organisation in the next three years. | IANS…

Quito: Ecuadorian President Daniel Noboa has decreed a state of emergency, imposing a curfew for 60 days, due to the “serious internal commotion” in several prisons. The decree came after reports emerged on Sunday of the alleged escape of Jose Adolfo Macias Villamar, alias “Fito”, the country’s main drug trafficker and leader of crime group “Los Choneros”, from a prison in Guayaquil, the capital of Guayas province. Ecuador recorded nearly 3 568 violent deaths from the beginning of 2023 until July, an increase of 75% over the same period the year before. The South American nation also shattered records for homicides in 2022, cataloguing a total of 4 603 violent deaths. | IANS…