Indholdsfortegnelse for 2024-03-07 i Mercury

Jubilee Metals Group, a metals-processing group, said yesterday that it had formed dedicated executive boards for its South African and Zambian operations, with the local board to be led by deputy chairperson Mathews Phosa. Jubilee makes a big contribution to chrome concentrate production in South Africa (SA Operations) and has expanding copper operations in Zambia. Phosa was appointed chairperson of the holding company of Jubilee’s South African operations, with immediate effect, while Jubilee's chief operating officer Bertus van der Merwe was appointed as managing director (MD) of the SA board. “The formation of the SA board recognises the maturity of the SA operations as an established cash flow generative business, able to fund its growth objectives with its partners,“ the group said in a statement. In Zambia, a dedicated board…

IT WAS World Obesity Day on Monday, March 4. The media made much of it. Obesity has become a growing worldwide problem, but more so in the First World countries. The world’s human population reached the 8 billion mark in January this year and, according to recent statistics, one billion of us are not just fat but obese. The World Health Organization (WHO) says it’s alarmed that there are so many obese people on Earth. The worst affected are women. The World Obesity Atlas, which monitors obesity, predicts that 50% of the women in South Africa will be too fat by 2030. Joining them are the children. But you don’t need these figures to show that obesity is a growing concern in the country. Go to any mall and watch…

NOT long ago, President Cyril Ramaphosa announced the date of the elections as May 29. The day will be declared a public holiday to allow citizens to vote. A high voter turn-out, especially among the youth, who make up the majority, is expected. Political pundits say the 2024 elections will be a game-changer. There might be a shift in power and coalition governments might be the order of the day. Independent candidates will also take part in the general elections for the first time. The ANC has been in power for 30 years, uninterrupted. That’s a long time, especially in the so-called democracy. This shows the faith that voters had in the governing party. Did voters get a return on their investment by voting for the governing party? There is…

Finding out your child has not been invited to an event that all the other children are attending can be painful. Do you say something? Do you fight it? Do you let your child know? I’d suggest you talk about this before it occurs or as soon as possible in case it does happen. Here’s how: Acknowledge the hurt. Few things are as painful for a child as finding out about a birthday party that’s occurred among friends. The pain is real, appropriate and expected, no matter how logical the explanation or innocent the oversight. Failure to include your child might have nothing to do with your child or you. Nevertheless, examine yourselves. Is there anything your child is doing or you are doing that makes it easier for others…

Newly appointed commissioner of the eThekwini metro police Sibonelo Mchunu says ensuring discipline among his members will be one of his top priorities as he assumes responsibility for the unit. Mchunu said it was essential that members of the metro police are above reproach. After months of acting in the post, Mchunu was finally announced as the head of metro police last week. He succeeded his friend and mentor, Steve Middleton, who retired more than a year ago. Speaking to The Mercury recently, Mchunu said he was grateful for the opportunity. His ascendancy has been fraught with challenges. He has faced allegations of wrongdoing, and there were attempts to challenge his appointment as deputy commissioner, which failed. “I feel humbled and honoured having been chosen by the full council with…

Police have confirmed that the suspects – believed to be four – taken into custody for the disappearance of missing 6-year-old Joshlin Smith will appear in the Vredenburg Magistrate’s Court in Saldanha Bay today. The charges against the suspects are not known at this stage. Western Cape police spokesperson, Brigadier Novela Potelwa, confirmed the court appearance. Potelwa said the Western Cape Provincial Police Commissioner, Lieutenant-General Thembisile Patekile and the Western Cape MEC for Police Oversight and Community Safety Reagen Allen would be in attendance. This comes after police said that four suspects were taken in for questioning. The suspects, two men and two women, are aged between 26 and 34. Residents in the area continued to search for Joshlin yesterday despite news of the arrests. They searched from early…

South Africa, Zambia and Zimbabwe have recently published reports indicating a potential decline in grain harvest because of intense El Niño- induced dry weather. These developments could put the entire southern Africa maize supply chain at risk, with Zambia and South Africa hard hit by heatwaves and dryness. The neighbouring small producers such as Zimbabwe, Botswana, Lesotho and Namibia are also struggling with dryness. Given that South Africa, Zambia and Zimbabwe are among the largest maize producers within the Southern Africa region, a potential decline in the harvest in these countries suggests there could be an increase in the risk of food insecurity. This would necessitate imports to meet the shortfall in the region’s maize supplies. The dryness in an El Niño event is not unexpected in the southern…

German researchers have examined a “hypervaccinated” man they say received more than 200 coronavirus shots without any noticeable side effects or harm to his immune system. Their findings, published this week in The Lancet Infectious Diseases, a medical journal, indicate that coronavirus vaccines have a “good degree of tolerability”, the researchers said, although they noted this was an isolated case of “extraordinary hypervaccination”. The 62-year-old man came to researchers’ attention when German prosecutors opened up a fraud investigation, gathering evidence that he had obtained 130 coronavirus shots in a nine-month period, far more than recommended by health authorities. “We learned about his case via newspaper articles,” Kilian Schober, one of the study’s authors, said. “We then contacted him and invited him to undergo various tests.” The man agreed to provide…

Iranian authorities are subjecting women to widespread surveillance to enforce the obligatory headscarf, even inside cars, and then imposing punishments including the confiscation of vehicles, Amnesty International said yesterday. The Islamic republic’s leadership was in 2022 shaken by mass protests that saw women denounce the dress code but has made clear it has no plan to abandon the obligatory hijab imposed after the 1979 Islamic Revolution. Amnesty said that women were being targeted with “widespread surveillance” in public spaces and “mass police checks” targeting women drivers. It said pictures captured by surveillance cameras or reports from agents identify licence plates of vehicles with female drivers or passengers deemed to have violated the rule. The women then receive text messages ordering them to report to the police and hand over the…

A report looking at the impact of the strike by eThekwini Municipality workers has called for the “beefing up” of intelligence, the deployment of additional police officers and for technical expertise to be called for from the SANDF. It was presented during an executive committee meeting on Tuesday afternoon. While the recommendations only made mention of the SANDF being asked to render technical expertise with no indication of what this may entail, opposition parties called for the army to be deployed. Workers affiliated with the SA Municipal Workers Union (Samwu) have been on strike since last week. The report revealed that units across the city are almost completely non-operational, to the detriment of the public. Among the recommendations was a call for the national government to support the City…

COUNTERFEIT malaria medication is estimated to be directly attributable for the deaths of up to 158 000 Africans every year. According to the latest statistics from the Journal of Vector Borne Diseases, the antimalarial market in some African countries comprises 88.4% fake drugs. The trade in illegal medicine is driven by vendors looking to profit from the low cost of these imitations. It is clear that urgent action is required to address this crisis. Government leaders in Africa would be well-advised to take a pan- African approach to the counterfeit pandemic by creating an environment in which knock-off medication becomes increasingly unprofitable for sellers, in order to stifle the illicit trade. The need for stricter import controls and regulations will remain a critical undertaking in this regard, as such measures…

THE arts soirée at St Clement’s broke fresh ground this week by featuring Comrades Marathon legend Tilda Tearle. But it was legit. Tilda has joined the arty types by writing and publishing a book, My Personal Comrades Marathon Journey. As she told her story at the microphone, she was backed by another female Comrades winner, Cheryl Winn (an apt name), from a slightly earlier period. Cheryl remains deeply involved with the Comrades Association. As I say, a somewhat novel arts soiree and a lot of fun. There was also pressure from some of the punters for me to challenge Tilda to a race around the block. But I resisted. Tilda is a distance runner while I am a renowned sprinter. Fair is fair. Who am I to rain on her…

After a judge raised concerns about an all-white legal team in a case before him, the Office of the Solicitor-General said there had been a commendable increase in the percentage of briefs issued to historically disadvantaged and female legal practitioners over the years. The Office of the Solicitor-General said it acknowledged the concerns recently raised by Judge Mandlenkosi Motha regarding the representation of historically disadvantaged individuals within the legal profession. It said Judge Motha’s directive, urging an examination of the absence of diversity among legal practitioners, underscored a critical need for transformation in the legal system. In responding to the concerns, the office said it was committed to fostering a legal profession that reflected the principles of diversity, inclusion and equity. Judge Motha earlier ordered the legal teams in a…

Five people appeared before the Orkney Magistrate’s Court in the North West facing charges of fraud and money laundering after a man was conned out of R290 000. The Hawks identified the five as Tehogo Kgang, 31; Tebogo Chosi, 32; Tlale Tshabalala, 46; Lebogang Sedumedi, 47; and Zamile Maroti, 51. They allegedly conned a man who had received over R800 000 from the Road Accident Fund (RAF) in a payout, according to North West provincial spokesperson for the Hawks, Lieutenant-Colonel Tinyiko Mathebula. “On July 16, 2021, the complainant allegedly received over R800 000 from the RAF. In the same month, (he) was reportedly approached by three suspects, who claimed to be employees of the RAF. “The suspects allegedly informed the complainant (the RAF beneficiary) to install a banking app on…

This comes as the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) met with experts at UKZN’s Howard College campus late yesterday afternoon to address the ongoing water supply challenges in eThekwini. There have been ongoing community protests in recent months by residents demanding water in their taps especially in Verulam, oThongathi, Phoenix and surrounding areas. Speaking at the SAHRC meeting, Rob Dyer, former civil engineer and ex eThekwini Water and Sanitation employee, spoke about his experiences within the city. Dyer said the amount of technical expertise was not measured by the number of qualified people but by the combined experience and knowledge of all the people who work together in the organisation. “I retired from eThekwini almost eight years ago and I could see even at that time the technical experience…

The Hawks in Limpopo have arrested two senior officials from the Greater Giyani Local Municipality and a businessman for alleged corruption linked to the VBS Mutual Bank scandal involving more than R148 million. The suspects, aged 33, 42 and 64, were arrested during a raid on Tuesday. Hawks spokesperson Colonel Katlego Mogale said the 64-year-old arrested in Lulekani is a former chief financial officer and acting municipal manager for the Greater Giyani Local Municipality. The 42-year-old, a former manager of budget in the municipality, was arrested in Giyani. She still works for the municipality as a chief financial officer. The 33-year-old businessman was arrested in Muhuya village, Thohoyandou, on accusations of money laundering. According to Mogale, in 2017 two of the accused invested over R148m into VBS Mutual Bank.…

The nomination of Deputy Chief Justice Mandisa Maya to replace the current Chief Justice Raymond Zondo should serve as an inspiration to the new generation of young female lawyers who wouldn’t dream of occupying the country’s top judicial position. Though her nomination comes as no surprise, the possibility of the country having the first female chief justice underscores the strides South Africa has made in bridging the gender gap. It’s worth noting that Justice Maya was the preferred candidate for the top post by the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) before President Cyril Ramaphosa overruled it and placed Justice Zondo at the helm of the judiciary. That Ramaphosa now announced her nomination on the eve of a crucial election on May 29 is also something worth noting. It shouldn’t, however, overshadow…

Envoys pushed on with efforts for a Gaza truce and hostage release deal in Cairo talks yesterday, hoping to halt nearly five months of fighting before the start of Ramadaan next week. US President Joe Biden had urged Hamas to accept a ceasefire plan with Israel before the Muslim fasting month begins, which could be as early as Sunday, depending on the sighting of the crescent moon. As negotiators in Egypt sought to overcome tough stumbling blocks, deadly fighting again rocked Gaza where the UN warns famine looms and desperate crowds have stopped and looted food aid trucks. Shortages of food and water amid the devastating Gaza war sparked by Hamas’s October 7 attack have killed at least 18 people, said medics in the Hamas-controlled Palestinian territory. Biden has called…

AS THE date draws near for the Bowls for the Disabled South Africa (BDSA) National Championships in Somerset West from March 16-26, the air is electric with anticipation for three participants hailing from Port Natal. Their journey extends beyond the national stage, with their selection to represent Bowls South Africa on a global platform at the International Bowls for the Disabled (IBD) World Championships in Ekurhuleni later this year. Among the trio is Keith Orrel, a member of Durban Collegians Bowling Club. For Keith, the forthcoming BDSA National Championship serves as a pivotal moment to confirm his selection to wear the prestigious Proteas blazer. He will form part of the team that will carry the hopes of South Africa at the IBD World Championships, scheduled from May 18-31. Alongside his…

CAPE TOWN is gearing up to host the Global Entrepreneurship Congress Africa (GEC+Africa) on March 13 and 14 at the Cape Town International Convention Centre. This groundbreaking congress, powered by the Department of Small Business Development and African Bank, is poised to spotlight Africa’s entrepreneurial prowess by connecting visionaries with global opportunities. The GEC+Africa is a gathering of entrepreneurial champions and leaders in 43 countries on the continent, which will include international thought-leaders and practitioners who are part of a global movement to make it easier for anyone, anywhere to start and scale a business. With more than 3 000 delegates confirmed to attend, as well as more than 100 investors and thousands of entrepreneurs, it is a showcase not to be missed! In an exciting turn of events,…

ANC president Cyril Ramaphosa and the rest of the party’s top seven leadership have been given the responsibility of determining who represents the party and the government in the next five years. A special meeting this week of the party’s National Executive Committee (NEC), its highest decision-making body between elective conferences, decided that Ramaphosa and other senior party leaders must decide the fate of those accused of corruption. Two of those leaders – national chairperson Gwede Mantashe and deputy secretary-general Nomvula Mokonyane – were named in then-Deputy Chief Justice Raymond Zondo’s state capture report as having allegedly benefited from state capture. And Ramaphosa himself has not shaken off the allegations regarding the Phala Phala scandal, where a parliamentary-appointed panel found prima facie evidence that he had violated his oath of…

South Africa will play a key role in the further expansion of the BRICS bloc this year, with a further 34 countries submitting an expression of interest in joining the bloc of major emerging economies. Professor Anil Sooklal, Ambassador at Large for Asia and BRICS and the South African Sherpa, said Russia was accepting the applications after assuming rotating chairmanship of the group this year. “At the Johannesburg Summit last year, a declaration was issued for foreign ministers to look at the issue of partner country membership as per the leaders’ directives.” Russia will be the first member to oversee the body since it significantly expanded its global footprint at the start of the year, when Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Iran, Egypt, and Ethiopia became the first…

Ten years ago, Flight MH370 vanished from radar screens never to be seen again. It is highly probable that the Malaysian government will agree to launch a new search to locate the remains of this plane. Ocean Infinity will most likely lead the search. Currently, there are new nautical maps that could probably indicate where the remains of Flight 370 eventually settled; these areas were missed in the initial searches. The areas in question were identified by the University of Western Australia and Ocean Infinity. The resting depth of the wreckage is at 5 000m. Many parts of the wreckage were washed up along the African coastline; some were retrieved, others were never discovered. The intact part of the wreckage lies 1 500 kilometres west of Perth, Australia. The crash…

The Department of Home Affairs’ systemic backlogs have fostered an environment where bribery has become commonplace. In 2022, the Lubisi Report confirmed that issues of theft, fraud and corruption were being instigated by opportunistic officials and unscrupulous syndicates within the Department of Home Affairs. The department issued around 45 000 fraudulent visas between 2014 and 2021. This week, the minister was required to present the progress made since the Lubisi Report to the home affairs portfolio committee. Due to prolonged investigations, many of the officials identified continue in their employment in the department. Just this week, allegations have surfaced that the minister's ministerial staff have been involved in a bribery scandal. A British couple stated by affidavit that after emailing the minister’s PA, Mamokolo Sethosa, to follow up on a…

Home Affairs Minister Aaron Motsoaledi has explained why he cannot just freeze fraudulent visas and permits issued by his department’s officials to foreign nationals without following due processes. Motsoaledi said that when his department encountered fraudulent documents, those involved in fraudulent activities tried to fight back. “They claim they are not the ones who committed fraud and would claim to have been helped by an immigration agent and say they were not aware the agent practised fraud, so we are forced to investigate,” he said. Motsoaledi said he wished he could just freeze the affected visas. “That is my desire and that is a desire of every member of the public,” he said. But, the minister said, the law did not allow his department to take this route. “When we…

Limpopo police arrested a 39-year-old man after a high-speed chase for being in possession of a hijacked Ford Ranger Raptor. The vehicle was reported stolen in Gauteng, and was recovered on Tuesday, Limpopo police spokesperson Colonel Malesela Ledwaba said. The suspect was apprehended along the N1 bypass behind the Peter Mokaba Stadium, Ledwaba said. “The vehicle in question was reported hijacked in Moffat View, Gauteng,” he said. “Further investigations have revealed that the suspect is a frequent traveller across Zambia, Mozambique, Zimbabwe and Malawi, allegedly involved in the transportation of stolen 4x4 vehicles.” Earlier, it was reported that police in Limpopo had arrested a man who was allegedly found in possession of a stolen Isuzu KB double-cab vehicle, heading towards Zimbabwe. He was expected to appear before the Polokwane Magistrate’s…

MEMBERS of Parliament are preparing for a “meeting of answers” with the Department of Correctional Services, security company G4S and other stakeholders over the escape of prisoner Thabo Bester. This emerged when the justice and correctional services portfolio committee met yesterday to plan for the meeting to be held in two weeks’ time. The meeting follows others held last year where the department, G4S, the Judicial Inspectorate for Correctional Services (Jics) and SAPS were quizzed about circumstances around the escape of Bester from the Mangaung Correctional Centre in 2022. At yesterday’s meeting, content adviser for the committee Mpho Mathabatha listed a number of focus areas for the follow-up meeting. He said one of the questions to be asked was on the lifestyle audits of G4S officials that Jics requested G4S…

Former US Ambassador to the UN Nikki Haley was set to suspend her presidential campaign yesterday, according to a source familiar with her plans, ensuring that Donald Trump will win the Republican nomination and once again face Democratic President Joe Biden in November’s election. Haley will urge Trump to try to win the backing of her supporters, which include a significant chunk of moderate Republicans and independent voters, the source added. Haley’s decision to suspend her campaign came a day after Super Tuesday, when Trump beat her soundly in 14 of the 15 Republican nominating contests. Haley lasted longer than any other Republican challenger to Trump but never posed a serious threat to the former president, whose iron grip on the party’s base remains firm despite his multiple criminal indictments.…

A Kenyan opposition leader said yesterday that he would launch a fresh court challenge to a plan to send police officers to gang-ravaged Haiti, after the two countries signed a deal last week intended to fast-track the stalled deployment. Ekuru Aukot said the agreement between President William Ruto and Haitian Prime Minister Ariel Henry was invalid and failed to address objections by the judge who blocked the deployment in January following a lawsuit by Aukot’s party. Ruto said at a signing ceremony last week that the agreement with Henry would speed up Kenyan officers’ arrival in Haiti, but his government has not provided a timeline. A High Court judge ruled in January the officers could only be sent to Haiti if a “reciprocal arrangement” was in place with the host…