Indholdsfortegnelse for 2024-03-06 i Mercury

South Africa’s ailing economy increased by a minuscule 0.1% in the fourth quarter of 2023. This is according to Statistics South Africa (Stats SA), which released the country’s gross domestic product (GDP) data yesterday for the last quarter of 2023. It showed that the economy grew by 0.1% in the fourth quarter, taking the annual growth rate for 2023 to 0.6%. Stats SA said real gross domestic product (GDP) in the fourth quarter was R1.158 trillion. This is above the pre-Covid-19 reading of R1.15 trillion, but still below the peak of R1.161 trillion recorded in the third quarter of 2022. In the fourth quarter, six of the 10 industries kept the economy in the green. The transport, storage and communication industry made the biggest positive impact, expanding by 2.9% and…

Election year 2024 in America is unlike any previous one because it is a struggle between two forces: one globalist, Marxist and psychopathic; the other constitutional, patriotic and traditionalist. At stake for the globalists is Donald Trump’s pledge to make America great again. His goal is an anathema to them because their Great Re-Set design requires America to be reduced to a Third World hemisphere compatible with a single Orwellian, authoritarian world government. Besides the four bogus indictments of Trump intended to destroy his credibility and eligibility as a candidate for the presidency, the latest effort by his deranged opponents to exclude him from the ballot in various states on the proven baseless charge of fomenting insurrection, (The Mercury, March 4) needs to be seen in a wider perspective. Fuelling…

While there’s a mushrooming expansion of migrant traders who sell unwholesome foodstuff, the coun terfeit goods are the fastest-growing commodities sold in our communities. The health inspection arm of the local government has been neglectful of its duty to clamp down on food and drinks not certified for human consumption. The lapses can be attributed to the unintended consequences of transferring the health inspection authority to the municipalities, whose priorities are dismally misaligned with the human health of communities. No wonder the law-enforcement officials are too emasculated to nab illegal suppliers or safeguard the wellbeing of residents. Yet some are rogue elements who accept a bribe, even from those known to sell drugs. Hitherto, children have fallen victim to such lapses and many have died consequently. Others were impelled to…

Home Affairs Minister Aaron Motsoaledi said his department was implementing the court order that found its practice of “ID blocking” without following a fair procedure was unconstitutional and invalid. In January, the court declared that the placing of markers by the Department of Home Affairs against identity numbers or identity documents resulting in the blocking of identity numbers in the absence of fair administrative process was unjust and irregular administrative action that was inconsistent with the Constitution and invalid. The department was taken to court by Phindile Mazibuko and Lawyers for Human Rights and LegalWise South Africa, with the Children’s Institute as an amicus curiae. DA MP Angel Khanyile wrote to Motsoaledi asking whether his department had put a timeline in place to comply with the judgment. In his response,…

Minister of Higher Education, Science and Technology, Dr Blade Nzimande, has decried the taxi-related gun violence that erupted in Braamfontein, resulting in the death of a second-year University of Joburg (UJ) student last week. David Nkosingiphile Nxumalo, from KwaZulu-Natal, was shot and killed, while another student was injured by a stray bullet in a taxi violence-related attack. Reports also indicate that two other people were killed in the shooting while sitting in a vehicle outside a student accommodation building opposite the Wits Arts Museum. The SAPS confirmed that three people, including a university student, were declared dead. The minister visited family of the two student victims, where he said he was concerned about the levels of violence in the country which has spilled over, affecting the lives of innocent students.…

President Cyril Ramaphosa has officially written to Western Cape High Court Judge President John Mandlakayise Hlophe informing him of his “immediate removal from office”. A letter dated March 5, and signed by Justice and Correctional Services Minister Ronald Lamola, shows that Ramaphosa’s decision to remove Judge Hlophe was recorded and signed in Bela-Bela on March 1. “I write to inform you that pursuant to the Judicial Service Commission’s finding that you are guilty of gross misconduct; and a resolution adopted by the National Assembly with a supporting vote of more than two-thirds of its members calling for your removal from office, President Ramaphosa has decided, in terms of Section 177(2) of the Constitution, to remove you from office with immediate effect. “A copy of the President’s Minute is attached for…

Suspended KwaZulu-Natal regional court president Eric Nzimande has said payments made into his personal bank accounts by attorneys who were acting as regional magistrates in the regional division were private loans and stokvel payments. He has argued, through his legal representative Ravindra Maniklall, that the payments were therefore not part of any wrongdoing and not against the Magistrates’ code of conduct. Nzimande’s disciplinary hearing on 162 charges of misconduct is under way in the Point Branch Court. Among the charges is that he had received money from attorneys who were acting as regional magistrates in the regional division. Maniklall, who yesterday continued his cross-examination of Magistrate Johannes Meijer from the Magistrate Judicial Quality Assurance Assessment unit, said that Lindelwa Gumede who made the initial complaint did not accuse Nzimande of…

Former ANC cabinet minister Nathi Nhleko has resigned from the ruling party, as was widely reported yesterday. The resignation follows an exchange with ANC secretary-general Fikile Mbalula, who had accused Nhleko of lying to Parliament in defence of then president Jacob Zuma during the Nkandla upgrade inquiry. In May 2015, Nhleko said Zuma did not have to repay the state a cent for the R246 million upgrade of his private home, in a 50-page report which set out a security purpose for all the features deemed luxuries by the public protector at the time, advocate Thuli Madonsela. Nhleko said a fire drill was held, and the rescue services arrived more than an hour after they were summoned. This, coupled with low water pressure in the rural area, meant that the…

Donald Trump looked set to cement his hold on the Republican presidential nomination yesterday as the first polls opened on one of the most important days of the US electoral calendar. “Super Tuesday” – the primary cycle’s largest single day of voting, with contests in 15 states and one territory – is historically a defining moment in the race for the presidential nomination. But the suspense of previous election years was largely absent this time around, with Trump expected to continue his sweep of Republican primary states, closing the door on sole remaining challenger Nikki Haley. “We’ve been sort of in a rocket, we’ve been launching like a rocket, to the Republican nomination,” Trump told supporters at a weekend rally in Richmond, Virginia, touting his victories in Iowa, New Hampshire,…

LONDON: British finance minister Jeremy Hunt will cut the rate of social security contributions by two percentage points in his budget statement today, possibly his last before an election expected later this year, reports said. The cut to National Insurance Contributions (NICs) will be the central measure of Hunt’s budget after he decided against more expensive income tax cuts because of the tight fiscal room for manoeuvre available to him. Hunt is also expected to create a new tax on vapes, extending by one year a windfall levy on energy firms’ profits and tightening the rules on “non-dom” people living in Britain on their income abroad. | Reuters…

TEHRAN: Iran executed at least 834 people last year, the highest number since 2015, as capital punishment in the Islamic republic surged to a “staggering” level, human rights groups said yesterday. The number of executions, which Iran has always carried out by hanging in recent years, was up about 43% on 2022. It marked only the second time in two decades that more than 800 executions were recorded in a year, after 972 executions in 2015, Norway-based Iran Human Rights (IHR) and Paris-based Together Against the Death Penalty (ECPM) said. So far this year, Iran has executed at least 83 people, according to IHR’s figures. | AFP…

The stakes are expected to be at an all-time high as a potential relegation six-pointer takes centre stage when Richards Bay travel to Chippa United tonight. The two teams will collide at the Buffalo City Stadium in a 7.30pm kick-off, seeking what could prove to be a valuable three points in the final run-in. After their decent start to the campaign, the Chilli Boys have somewhat fallen off the wagon in the last 10 league matches and slipped out of the top eight into a potential relegation discussion. Chippa’s free fall cost coach Morgan Mammila (who is now a technical director) his job. The club appointed Thabo September and Kwanele Kopo as co-coaches as they look to preserve their place in the top flight. Under the guidance of the two…

Manchester City may be 3-1 up in their Champions League round-of-16 tie against Copenhagen but manager Pep Guardiola has warned his defending champions against any complacency in tonight’s second-leg clash at home. City, second in the Premier League, face leaders Liverpool on Sunday, whom they trail by a point, but the Spaniard said the focus remained on reaching the Champions League quarter-finals. “In football, details make the difference. Everything can happen,” he said yesterday. “We concede a goal in the 85th minute ... concede two, we have to go to extra time. “I have a lot of respect for Copenhagen. They defend, they have a good system ... they’re really well organised.” Guardiola cited the example of RB Leipzig, whom City beat 3-1 on the road in the group stage…

England coach Steve Borthwick’s flirtation with a – relatively – more creative attacking game was horribly exposed in defeat by Scotland and he is likely to return to his tried and tested kicking approach in a bid to tame a rampant Ireland on Saturday. Other than a well-crafted early first-phase try by Fraser Dingwall, England failed to deliver the new aspects of attack that Borthwick has been promising to “layer on” and they looked toothless and confused in a 30-21 defeat. England find themselves in the unaccustomed position of being 4-1 outsiders on their own Twickenham patch, with Ireland a 6-1 shot to make it four championship wins in a row in the fixture. A bonus-point win for Ireland, meanwhile, will secure the title with a week to spare. Ireland…

LIFE OFFICES and asset managers represented by the Association for Savings and Investment South Africa (Asisa) had made “encouraging progress towards achieving transformation targets” set by the Amended Financial Sector Code (FSC) and have exceeded ownership targets, the association said yesterday. However, reaching management control and employment equity targets remained a challenge for an industry dependent on scarce specialised skills such as actuarial and asset management expertise, said Asisa senior policy adviser for transformation, skills development and education Lister Saungweme. “While we are not where we want to be, we are seeing progress, albeit slow progress, towards meeting management control, employment equity and skills development targets,” she said. The Amended FSC came into effect on December 1, 2017, and measures financial sector transformation using a balanced Broad-based Black Economic Empowerment…

CHIEF Justice Raymond Zondo is this week expected to review his decision to appoint retired justices, including controversial Justice Zak Yacoob, at the Constitutional Court to assist with applications for leave to appeal. This follows criticism from several NGOs and questions about the constitutionality of his decision. The Office of the Chief Justice had earlier said that the decision to appoint retired justices at the apex court was meant to be on a trial basis, and if it did not work as planned, the initiative could be discontinued. Justice Zondo had said the retired justices would be fulfilling a support service to the justices of the Constitutional Court because of their huge workload since the expansion of the court’s jurisdiction. He said that the retired judges would not take part…

“THEY say” the first step to success is moving towards it. The same “they say” applies to disaster. Israel’s mostly hated position began a long time ago. Zionists, like everyone else, of course, need their own space. And they were originally welcomed by indigenous Palestinians, who were incidentally mostly Muslim, a small percentage belonging to Judaism, as well as a handful of Christians. A single democratic state could easily have been installed. At the worst, perhaps a friendly sharing of resources and a planned two-state solution could, most probably, have been sorted out. It’s too late now. One state, two states, even 100 states … the hatred of the Zionist regime that wiped out probably 100 000, mostly innocent, lives will live on forever. Hollywood is probably writing 100…

A guinea pig has been found abandoned at a London tube station, with a note attached saying: “I need a new owner.” The little animal, named DiscoPig, was discovered inside a cage at Canning Town station, in the East End of London. Staff found it around 4pm, the Royal Society for the Protection of Animals said. He’s believed to be between six and 12 months old. But good news for DiscoPig: he’ll soon be available for adoption, the RSPCA says. Inspector Shahnaz Ahmad says: “He seems healthy and well cared for. It’s very sad that someone has abandoned their pet in this way. “We encourage people to reach out to local animal welfare charities for help with pet care, rather than leaving them in a vulnerable situation like this.” No…

The Department of Trade and Industry Competition’s agency, the Companies and Intellectual Property Commission (CIPC), has become the latest victim of the ever increasing spate of cyber- attacks in the country. The CIPC last week announced an attempted security breach and the compromise of personal information of clients and CIPC employees, held on their records, had been picked up. The commission reported that its ICT technicians were alerted, due to extensive firewall and data protection systems in place at the CIPC, to a possible security compromise. As a result, certain CIPC systems had to be shut down immediately to mitigate any possible damage. Lungile Dukwana, the CIPC chief strategy executive, said that through the diligent efforts of the ICT and information security teams, the compromise was isolated and curtailed, with…

A 27-year-old Pietermaritzburg man has detailed how, under the instruction of an awaiting-trial prisoner, he killed a woman who was a witness in a murder trial. Nkosinathi Mathobela pleaded guilty before Judge Kate Pillay in the Pietermaritzburg High Court recently. In a plea and sentence agreement handed to the court by Legal Aid attorney Amanda Hulley, Mathobela pleaded guilty to four counts of murder. The deceased were Lusanda Minenhle Zimu, 23; Nontando Ndlovu, 43; Thobelani Nduduzo Miya, 23; and Zamkuhle Siyabonga Phungula, 31. In his plea, Mathobela said that on October 1, 2022, he was at his residence in Nyamazane, Imbali, in Pietermaritzburg, drinking with a friend. He received a phone call from Mongezi Emmanuel Nyathi, an awaiting-trial prisoner at New Prison on a murder case. He apparently asked Mathobela…

A NEW anti-HIV injection, which aims to keep women safe from HIV exposure for up to two months, is being used in a study conducted by the Centre for the Aids Programme of Research in South Africa (Caprisa). Participants in the study, which has targeted young women in the 18-30 age group, will take an injection called Cabotegravir. Almost 1 000 women from two sites in KwaZulu-Natal and one in Zambia have been enrolled in the study. “In South Africa, young women between 18 and 25 carry the greatest burden of the disease, with persistent high HIV incidence and prevalence,” Caprisa said on its website. Professor Salim Abdool Karim, an infectious diseases epidemiologist and the director of Caprisa, said there were about 1.3 million new HIV infections worldwide and…

Hamas negotiators will remain in Cairo for another day at the request of mediators, keeping ceasefire talks going after two days with no breakthrough, an official from the militant group said yesterday. The Cairo talks have been billed as a final hurdle to reach the first extended ceasefire in the war between Hamas and Israel – a 40-day truce during which Israeli hostages would be freed and aid pumped into Gaza – ahead of Ramadaan, which is due to begin at the start of next week. “The delegation will remain in Cairo for more talks, they are expected to wrap up this round later today (yesterday),” a Hamas official said. Egypt’s Qahera television also reported the talks had been extended for a third day, but said they were “facing difficulties”.…

Raging violence in Haiti triggered by a top gang leader’s push to overthrow the prime minister has forced more than 15 000 people to flee their homes, many of which have been destroyed. The situation escalated at the weekend with Prime Minister Ariel Henry’s trip to Kenya to tie up a deal for the deployment of foreign troops in Haiti. Haiti’s threadbare government has declared a state of emergency after inmates escaped in two major prison breaks and heavy gunfire spread across the capital. Henry’s arrival date back in Haiti remains unclear. Meanwhile, multiple embassies have recalled their staff and neighbouring Dominican Republic says it will never accept setting up refugee camps. The UN’s immigration office said at least 15 000 people had been displaced due to violence. “I didn’t…

Washington: A Massachusetts Air National Guardsman accused of posting classified intelligence information online has pleaded guilty to the crimes, in exchange for a possible sentence of 16 years in jail. Jack Teixeira, the airman, pleaded guilty to all six counts of “willful retention and transmission of national defence information” in a federal court in Boston, Massachusetts. He previously pleaded not guilty. Under detention since his arrest in April 2023, Teixeira posted to an online gaming chat group secrets including about the Russia-Ukraine conflict. It may have compromised the way the US gathers intelligence, officials say. | IANS…

Tokyo: Starting today, robot deliveries will be offered in a small area of Tokyo by US-based food app Uber Eats, which hopes to roll out the service more widely in Japan. The country, facing growing labour shortages, changed traffic laws last year to allow delivery robots on public streets, and other companies including Panasonic are trialling cute new machines to transport goods. Moving at up to 5.4km/h and with flashing lights, there’s a human operator on standby in case of trouble. App users must wait outside for the robot to arrive, but one day it could come to their door, said Uber Eats. The service could also one day go to rural areas, where many are elderly and drivers are scarce. | AFP…

The 2024 edition of the T20 Challenge kicks off on Friday with South African cricket fans still buzzing after yet another successful SA20 tournament The stage is then set to see what the domestic set-up has to offer, as this might be the last opportunity for some players to impress ahead of the T20 World Cup, which will be hosted in the US and Caribbean later this year. The first few matches of the tournament will see full-strength teams taking to the field before the Proteas depart for the Indian Premier League (IPL). Here, Obakeng Meletse looks at five batsmen that might have the most impact leading up to the tournament. Janneman Malan Malan’s inclusion might raise a few eyebrows as he’s been missing in action. From the highs of…

THE South African Local Government Association (Salga) in KwaZulu-Natal has warned that the ongoing strike by workers in the eThekwini Municipality, that has caused damage potentially running into millions of rand, is based on incorrect information. The association of municipalities said the motive put forward for the strike, that the workers in eThekwini be paid a wage similar to what workers in other metros are paid, was based on a fallacy as the other metros have not implemented that wage structure. Municipal workers in eThekwini, who are members of the South African Municipal Workers Union (Samwu), have been on strike since last week. A court interdict was obtained against the striking workers as the strike has pushed service delivery to the brink. During a press briefing on Monday, the…

CONCERN has been raised about a video posted on social media showing ADEC (African Democratic Change) leader Visvin Reddy, who has aligned with the uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) Party, taking aim at the ANC and the judiciary over the legal battle on the MK trademark. This, as political parties in KwaZulu- Natal have raised concerns that fresh political violence could erupt in the province after recent incidents of violence and intimidation ahead of a highly contested May 29 general election. The ANC’s legal bid over the uMkhonto weSizwe trademark following the registration of the party is set to be heard on March 19 at the Electoral Court in Bloemfontein. The ANC’s legal dispute centres on the use of the logo and trademark which the party argues may lead the public to…

Losing an immense contributor, who gave monumental help and assistance to the impoverished and downtrodden in every aspect of human life, is among the most emotionally difficult and universal of human experiences. The death of Siyafunda CTC founder Ahmed Ismail is an incalculable blow. His dedication and concern for the masses will forever be imprinted in our history books. Death is inevitable. It is a journey everyone must take. Often, we wish death was not part of life. It is a grief-filled and traumatic encounter that permanently alters our perception of life. Nothing is ever the same again; loss is a transformative event. Ismail stood with those who needed education and social assistance. He was an extraordinary helper, an upright religious character full of life, an inspiring and uplifting person,…

I have thought a lot about how family members are linked – nourished or drained? – and checked exactly how it has been for me. In the past 24 hours, I have talked to my sister (Cape Town, South Africa), to my brother (Christchurch, New Zealand), to my elder son (in New York, US) and to my younger son, who lives with me in Indiana, US. When my sons call or text and want to talk or tell me something, I experience an immediate and involuntary sense of urgency. Duty or protection mode kicks in. Part of me – a small part – wants to drop everything to hear from them. It is a physiological reaction and I feel it. Almost instantly, thinking takes over and delivers context and reason…

The National Health Laboratory Services (NHLS) is saddled with a backlog of nearly 40 000 toxicology test cases at its forensic chemistry laboratories. This was revealed by Health Minister Joe Phaahla when he was responding in writing to parliamentary questions from DA MP Michele Clarke. Clarke enquired about the current backlog on toxicology analysis at the NHLS’s forensic chemistry laboratories in Cape Town, Johannesburg and Pretoria. Phaahla said the toxicology samples were supposed to be tested within 90 days of the date the samples were registered in the testing laboratory. “Any test that has not been completed and authorised within 90 days is classified as backlog,” he said. Phaahla said multiple factors have contributed to the backlogs that developed at the three laboratories. These included incomplete information on the request…

The Directorate of Priority Crime Investigation, also known as the Hawks, has made 28 410 arrests related to essential infrastructure crime leading to 2 308 convictions over the past six years, according to Police Minister Bheki Cele. Responding to parliamentary questions from Cope MP Teboho Loate about combating infrastructure theft at state-owned entities such as Eskom and Transnet, Cele said 20 economic infrastructure task teams were established throughout the country, and were operational since June 2022. “A total number of 946 personnel were allocated to the 20 economic infrastructure task teams. The human resource requirements have been recruited or sourced from existing structures within each province, including districts and stations, and consist of experienced and knowledgeable personnel within their respective functional environments.” The Hawks had declared damage to essential…

The University of Pretoria’s World Health Organization Collaborating Centre for the Prevention of Deafness and Hearing Loss is leading transformative efforts to address global hearing loss. Unmet ear and hearing care needs affect more than 80% of the world’s population and cost nearly $1 trillion (R19 trillion) annually as a result of unaddressed hearing loss. World Hearing Day was observed across the globe on Sunday. This year’s theme, “Changing mindsets: ear and hearing care for all, let’s make it a reality”, was a call for global collaboration to meet the unmet ear and hearing care needs. Hearing loss is an invisible epidemic that affects millions of lives due to the lack of accessible care and societal biases. In Africa, the repercussions of unmet ear and hearing care needs are especially…

The Philippines said yesterday that China Coast Guard vessels caused two collisions with Philippine boats and water-cannoned one of them, leaving four crew injured during a resupply mission in the South China Sea. Manila summoned a Chinese representative over the incidents, which happened in waters around Second Thomas Shoal in the Spratly Islands where the countries have contesting maritime claims. A Philippine government task force said in a statement that “China Coast Guard and Chinese Maritime Militia vessels harassed, blocked, deployed water cannons, and executed dangerous manoeuvres in another attempt to illegally impede or obstruct a routine resupply and rotation mission”. The China Coast Guard said it “took control measures” against Philippine ships’ “illegal intrusion” in waters around the shoal. The BRP Sindangan, along with a sister ship, had been…

Two men have been charged with violating export controls for allegedly conspiring to send millions of dollars worth of weapons to South Sudan, the Justice Department said yesterday. The pair allegedly sought to send rifles, grenade launchers, Stinger missile systems, hand grenades and ammunition to South Sudan, the department said in a statement. The defendants, Abraham Chol Keech of Utah, and Peter Biar Ajak of Maryland, “sought to unlawfully smuggle heavy weapons and ammunition from the US into South Sudan,” Assistant Attorney General Matthew Olsen said. South Sudan “is subject to a UN arms embargo due to the violence between armed groups, which has killed and displaced thousands,” he added. Between February 2023 and February 2024 the pair sought to illegally buy weapons from undercover law enforcement agents and smuggle…

MAPUTO: The number of people who fled their homes in northern Mozambique has peaked to over 112 000 in the last two months due to jihadist violence, with 61 000 being children, NGO Save the Children said yesterday. Fresh unrest broke out in the lawless province a few weeks ago, according to local reports and figures for displaced people from the UN. It has placed the total number of displaced people at 112 894 from December 22 to March 3. The thousands of families have fled by bus, canoe or on foot. The insurgency erupted in October 2017 when fighters attacked coastal areas in gas-rich northern Cabo Delgado, close to the Tanzanian border. | AFP…

Washington: Amazon founder Jeff Bezos took back his spot as the world’s richest man this week, dethroning Elon Musk on the Bloomberg Billionaires Index. Bezos’ net worth stands at $200 billion (R3.7 trillion), surpassing the Tesla chief’s $198bn. Musk, who also heads X (formerly Twitter) and SpaceX, has seen his riches fall by more than $30bn as Tesla’s share price has dropped 25% recently. A court in January approved the annulment of Musk’s Tesla compensation agreement, worth $55.8bn, struck in 2018. Bezos, who no longer runs Amazon, has benefited from its rising stock price. The French CEO of the luxury group LVMH, Bernard Arnault, is in third place, worth $197bn. | AFP…

The Springboks’ first alignment camp in Cape Town comes to an end today after 43 players had the opportunity over the last couple of days to be part of head coach Rassie Erasmus’ first plans as they build up to the 2027 Rugby World Cup. Although a short one, there would have been key information shared with the invited players that excluded those currently plying their trade overseas. Independent News looks at five outcomes the Boks would have wanted from the alignment camp. Understanding Rassie’s roadmap to the ‘threepeat’ The World Cup in Australia is still three years away, but this was the first step towards building for that tournament, where the Springboks will look to assert their dominance again. It will take baby steps, though, as the current crop’s…