Indholdsfortegnelse for 2024-04-09 i Mercury

T​HE AGRICULTURAL sector has expressed a number of concerns ahead of the Department of Water Affairs shutting down the Katse and Mohale dams supplying the Vaal River for a six-month rehabilitation to fix corrosion in the tunnel. The sector’s concerns range from the timing in relation to seasonal activities, adequacy of contingency plans, reserve water quality, biosecurity threats and lack of consultation. Deputy director-general for infrastructure management at the Department of Water Affairs Livhuwani Mabuda yesterday announced that contingency measures were in place from a cluster of 14 dams to compensate for the reductions as the tunnel will be closed from October to March next year, but stressed that farmers would be affected, especially those drawing water directly from the Vaal River. The tunnel is part of the first phase…

MEMBERS of labour union, Independent Municipal and Allied Trade Union (Imatu), in eThekwini Metro are outraged following revelations that they could lose a large portion of their pay as a result of the unprotected and violent strike by City workers last month. The metro is implementing a “no work, no pay” policy following the strike which crippled service delivery. Imatu members, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the policy was being implemented even for those workers who were not part of the strike. Imatu had said publicly that it did not participate in the strike. The strike was led by members of the SA Municipal Workers Union (Samwu). The weeks-long strike crippled service delivery across departments. It was also violent and working City employees were attacked. At least one…

THE Electoral Court is expected to deliver judgment today on whether former president Jacob Zuma should be included on the list of candidates to Parliament following an application by his party objecting to his removal. The uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) Party lodged an application opposing the removal by the Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC) of Zuma from the party’s list because of his conviction for contempt of court and sentencing by the Constitutional Court for defying its order. Judge Dumisani Zondi said the court will deliver the judgment today, to stick to the IEC timetable to make a decision on objections made against candidates contesting for seats in Parliament. The commission squared off with the MK Party yesterday, where they argued over the removal of Zuma from the list of…

At a time when the eThekwini Metro is beset by so many self-inflicted shortcomings, how does The Mercury justify its headline story concerning the lack of gender parity (April 8)? Those of us who actually pay our utility bills are interested only in service delivery, regardless of colour or gender. There should be only one criterion: merit. Instead of wasting time and resources bean-counting the numbers of women who are employed and in what posts, focus should be on fixing the infrastructure that is broken and neglected. The eThekwini metro is in a state of crisis – no matter which aspect one wants to scrutinise. An equally absurd article on The Mercury’s front page concerns the views of our R3.9 million a year city manager, Musa Mbhele, on US investments…

How many children go missing in South Africa every year? Joshlin Smith is one such statistic. According to figures released by the SAPS Missing Person’s Bureau, a child goes missing every five hours in South Africa. According to Missing Children South Africa’s statistics, 77% of children are found. However, 23% of them are suspected to be trafficked or found deceased. With so much going on in South Africa, a child going missing adds to the anxiety and strain on parents, families and friends. Joshlin was reported missing on Monday, February 19, 2024 and has not yet been found. The news of her disappearance has gone international. A ship in London was subsequently searched for more than two days, to no avail. Four people are in custody for the kidnapping and…

SEVERAL media monitoring groups are challenging the new Film and Publication Board (FPB) regulations which, among others, criminalise the distribution of “disinformation” and “misinformation” ahead of the elections. The Media Monitoring Africa Trust (MMA), the South African National Editors’ Forum (Sanef) and others are expected to turn to the Gauteng High Court, Pretoria, on April 23 in an urgent bid to set aside a far- reaching notice published by the board on March 22. The applicants will argue that the notice unconstitutionally purports to widen the definition of “prohibited content” in the Films and Publications Act, to include “disinformation” and “misinformation”. The applicants say that the notice aims at criminalising the distribution of “disinformation” and “misinformation" and empowers the issuing of fines to anyone it finds to have distributed…

A 52-year-old teacher, employed by the Limpopo education department, has been sentenced to pay a R60 000 fine or five years’ imprisonment wholly suspended for five years for fraud, by the Polokwane Specialised Commercial Crimes Court. Refilwe Maphuthi Molepo was sentenced on Friday after she pleaded guilty to 10 counts of fraud and contravention of the Public Service Act. “During April 2012, a forensic investigator attached to the Polokwane-based Special Investigating Unit (SIU) received a proclamation for the investigation of serious maladministration in connection with unlawful conduct by an official of the Limpopo department of education,” said Warrant Officer Lethunya Mmuroa, Limpopo spokesperson for the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation, also known as the Hawks. Between April 2010 and August 2012, the Hawks said Molepo acted in the capacity of…

Embattled former Speaker of Parliament, Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula, complied with the stringent bail conditions set by the Gauteng High Court, Pretoria last week by handing over her passport to investigators yesterday. The former Minister of Defence was last Thursday released on R50 000 bail after she appeared before Magistrate Anna Oosthuizen in a packed Pretoria Magistrate’s Court. The State had requested that bail be set at R100 000. However, Mapisa-Nqakula pleaded with the court, stating that she was now a pensioner and could only afford a maximum of R50 000. Oosthuizen ordered that Mapisa-Nqakula hand over her passport to the investigators, with a deadline set for yesterday. The Investigating Directorate (ID) of the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) said Mapisa-Nqakula had handed over her passport to authorities. Additionally, the…

The Lady Frere Regional Court has handed down sentences to three accused involved in a heist that shook the Eastern Cape town in 2018, when security guards from the company, Fidelity were targeted while preparing money for pension payouts. Xolisile Xhayimpi, 45, Abongile Ncinithwa, 35, and Luyanda Mhlayimpi, 35, were convicted of robbery with aggravating circumstances, and possession of a stolen vehicle, firearms, and ammunition. The case also involved a fourth accused, Siyabulela Mjongile, 35, who died during the trial. Hawks spokesperson Yolisa Mgolodela said: “On September 14, 2018 at about 7.50am, security guards from Fidelity were preparing money for the pension payout in Lady Frere when they were accosted by four suspects at gunpoint. The pensioners were ordered by the suspects to lie down. “The suspects overpowered the security…

In the battle against crime, the recent actions of the police in KwaZulu-Natal, particularly in the Mariannhill incident near Pinetown, where nine suspects were shot and killed, raise complex and contentious issues. It’s undeniable that the police play a vital role in rooting out violent criminals who pose a threat to communities, and commendations are due for their efforts in tackling such crimes. The gang of suspects, predominantly young individuals, had instilled fear and chaos in the community for months, prompting some residents to flee their homes. In such dire circumstances, it’s understandable that the police responded with force to neutralise the threat. In a province as volatile as KwaZulu-Natal, where crime rates are alarmingly high, the ability of law enforcement to employ lethal force when necessary is crucial in…

Eclipse mania swept across North America as a breathtaking celestial event promised a rare blend of commerce, science and celebration. The Moon’s shadow was to land on Mexico’s Pacific coast at 2.07pm ET (18.07 GMT), then speed northeast across a 15-state swathe of the US and on to Canada, exiting the continent over Newfoundland just under an hour and a half later. Festivals, viewing parties, and even a mass wedding were planned along the eclipse “path of totality,” where the Moon will completely obscure the Sun’s light for up to a few minutes. “Eclipses have a special power,” Nasa administrator Bill Nelson said. “They move people to feel a kind of reverence for the beauty of our universe.” This year’s path of totality was 185km wide and home to nearly…

SAN FRANCISCO: Elon Musk said yesterday that X would defy an order by Brazilian Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes to block some accounts amid a growing confrontation between the social media company and the country’s judiciary over free speech and misinformation. Moraes, who also heads Brazil’s top election court, has spearheaded a crackdown on fake news, hate speech and incitement in Latin America’s largest nation, citing disinformation as a singular threat to its democracy. X’s global government affairs team said the company had been forced by the court to block some accounts in Brazil. Musk said that the company would reinstate the affected accounts even at the risk of losing business. | The Washington Post…

BUENOS AIRES: Mosquitoes are hatching earlier in Argentina and reaching cooler regions than before, as rising temperatures drive the country’s worst outbreak of dengue fever and raise the risk of more regular epidemics of the insect-borne virus, scientists said. So far in the 2023/24 season, Argentina has recorded 232 996 cases of the disease sometimes known as “break-bone fever” for the severe muscle and joint pain it can cause, along with high fever, headache, vomiting and skin rash. That’s above the previous all-time high of 130 000, recorded last season, and five times the figure of a year ago, the latest official data showed. | Reuters…

I AM DELIGHTED to announce that Siphelele Dludla is to head the news desk of Business Report (BR) as news editor. Dludla, who has been part of the BR team for many years, has demonstrated a strong nose for news coverage and excellence in reporting. His reporting often graces the front page as the lead story with his content often being shared with Independent Media carrier titles, The Star, The Mercury and Cape Times. Dludla, like fine wine, just gets better over time. As Dludla takes on this new chapter in his journalistic career, I wish him all the best. Readers can be assured of a top quality read every day with Dludla taking on a key leadership role at Business Report, which has an established national footprint and online…

SIRIUS Real Estate, owner and operator of branded business and industrial parks in Germany and the UK, has completed more than €100 million (R2.2 billion) in acquisitions in the UK and Germany, and further deals are in the pipeline. The company said yesterday that it had completed four notarised acquisitions in Germany and the UK: Vantage Point Business Village in Gloucestershire, UK, acquired for €56.4m; a business park in Köln, acquired for €20m; a multi-tenanted business park in Göppingen acquired for €19.8m; and an industrial park and land parcel in Klipphausen, near Dresden, acquired for €13.75m. Sirius’s share price closed 0.09% lower at R22.71 on the JSE yesterday, but its price has risen 25.3% over 12 months. “We are continuing to make good progress on our acquisition pipeline,…

Scores of people from across the globe are on a quest to lose weight, improve their health and better their lifestyles. With this in mind, fitness experts at PTPioneer.com have compiled a study to pinpoint the most sought- after weight loss questions in America. The platform, which helps aspiring personal trainers find employment in the fitness industry, analysed search volumes for various weight loss-related terms and inquiries. Its research also examined the average monthly search numbers for weight loss-related queries over the past year. 1. What is the ice hack for weight loss? – 19K This was the most googled question related to weight loss. The fitness experts say that exposing your body to cold temperatures, such as ice baths or cold showers, is a popular weight loss technique. “This…

The DA in KwaZulu-Natal yesterday hosted its “Ready to Govern Summit” ahead of next month’s national general elections, saying it was an opportunity to learn from the Western Cape government and to fix the challenges in the province. The speakers included uMngeni Municipality mayor Chris Pappas, Western Cape Premier Alan Winde, Western Cape Health MEC Nomafrench Mbombo and Cape Town mayoral committee members Zahid Badroodien (water and sanitation) and Carl Pophaim (human settlements). The DA in KZN said it is aiming to be part of the government after the elections and the summit was in preparation to deal with the province’s challenges after the May 29 ballot. Pappas yesterday said the summit brought together expertise and learned experiences from across the country to prepare the DA to take over government…

DO YOU have a challenging meeting coming up with your boss or with your children’s teachers or coach or with a difficult employee? Self-awareness, objectivity about oneself, and space and time to gain perspective, are perhaps the pieces of the jigsaw that make for emotional maturity. These are relationship life-savers. They will help you (and me) get the focus off others and the behaviour of others – people and things we cannot control – and on to ourselves, where at least we have some semblance of power and control. Few people, and this is understandable, in the heat of the moment, have the emotional muscle to benefit from the valuable lifelines that self-awareness, objectivity and time for reflection and planning offer. Preparation is crucial, especially when stressful times can be…

IN ADDITION to all the ills in the country, initialised by the after effects of blood-sucking colonial apartheid, followed by gargantuan, on-going, Gupta-proportion corruption at the local Pretoria office, especially during the double-reign of Zuma, superseded by economy-devastating, mostly fatal, Covid-19, we experienced heavy onslaughts by natural, but cruel, destructive storms that pushed our finances even further into the red ... So it’s no a surprise that we find ourselves now in the dumps, deep- down among the dead-men. Amid all that great state of deep depression, the sudden, greatest recent event that lifted the spirits of all right-thinking, liberal left-wingers in the country – no prizes for guessing (who) – was, of course, South Africa's courageous kicking of Goliath’s ass by challenging Israel and accusing it of creating a…

HEARKEN to the trill: Eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!” Yes, readers will no doubt recognise, in abbreviated form, the trilling of the cicada, also known in the US as the Christmas singer or the Christmas beetle. According to “Sky News”, people in the US will need ear plugs to keep out the sound. Trillions of cicadas are about to emerge in parts of the US in numbers not seen in decades and possibly centuries. People in the south-east of the US are set for a “sight to behold”, experts say, as periodical cicadas – which surface every 13 years – will emerge, coinciding with another brood which come out in a 17-year cycle. While annual cicadas, which are bigger and greener than their black-bodied cousins, can be found anywhere in the world, periodical bugs,…

President Cyril Ramaphosa faces three legal challenges if he signs into law three contentious Bills, as political parties and civil society organisations have warned they are unconstitutional and unlawful. They have asked Ramaphosa to send the Bills back to Parliament to allow for necessary amendments. However, if he fails to return the bills to Parliament for correction, political parties and other stakeholders have threatened to challenge them in court. Parliament passed the National Health Insurance (NHI) Bill last December, which parties and stakeholders criticised as flawed, unconstitutional, and unworkable. Ramaphosa has also been urged not to enact the Electoral Matters Amendment Bill, citing similar concerns. The President has been warned of legal action should he enact the Expropriation Bill. This Bill enables the government to expropriate property in the public…

The owners of the Enyobeni Tavern were absent from court when the inquest hearing into the deaths of 21 children at their business resumed yesterday. It is reported that the pair, Siyakhangela Ndevu and his wife Vuyokazi, were not informed that they were needed for the inquest. The inquest was postponed to May 11. The couple are key witnesses in the inquest, scheduled to take place in the Mdantsane Magistrate’s Court in the Eastern Cape. Twenty-one young people aged between 14 and 20 died at a pens- down party at the tavern in June 2022. In February, the East London Regional Court found the pair guilty of allowing minors into the tavern and selling alcohol to them, and they were slapped with a fine of R5 000 each or…

Two men are expected to appear in court today for allegedly kidnapping six victims for ransom in Pietermaritzburg. The six victims were rescued in Newlands West. The Hawks in KwaZulu-Natal said the rescue and arrests came after an intensive investigation by the Hawks and several police units, with assistance from private security companies. The victims were kidnapped after leaving one of the casinos in Pietermaritzburg, the Hawks said. They said the victims had been held against their will and tortured. “Victims received medical treatment before being reunited with their families,” said the Hawks. The two arrested suspects, aged 33 and 41, will be appearing before the Pietermaritzburg Magistrate’s Court today. Shaheen Suleiman, from private security company Magma Security, which was involved in the case, said the six victims were taken…

Struggle stalwart viewed establishment of TRC as one of his greatest achievements WITHOUT fear or favour, the four main contending ideologies or tendencies in the Struggle for liberation in South Africa, especially in the Western Cape, were: Chartism/AmaCharter, pan-Africanism (AMaPakanisi), Black Consciousness (Zim-Zim) and workerism. Some people, especially those subscribing to a certain tendency, might not be comfortable with certain names or labels. Unfortunately, that is how they were named. But some, particularly those who are mature and understand where some of the names come from, will not take offence. The tendencies vary in many respects, not only ideologically but in approaching the Struggle and intellectually. I will not rank them now, but a day will come for that. Dullah, as Omar was affectionately known, went through nearly all four…

A Hamas official said yesterday that no progress was made at a new round of Gaza ceasefire talks in Cairo attended by Israel, Qatar and US representatives after the Egyptian hosts said headway had been achieved on the agenda. Western powers have voiced outrage over what they see as an unacceptably high Palestinian civilian death toll and humanitarian crisis arising from Israel’s military onslaught to destroy Hamas in densely populated Gaza. Israel and Hamas sent teams to Egypt on Sunday after the arrival on Saturday of CIA director William Burns, whose presence underlined rising US pressure for a deal that would free hostages held in Gaza and get aid to isolated civilians. “There is no change in the position of the occupation and therefore, there is nothing new in the…

At least 100 Russians asked for help from President Vladimir Putin yesterday in a city struck by the worst flooding ever recorded, chanting “shame on you” at local officials who they said had done too little to help their plight. Russia declared an emergency in the Orenburg region near Kazakhstan after the Ural River, Europe’s third longest river, swelled several metres in hours on Friday, and burst through a dam embankment in the city of Orsk. Swathes of Orsk, a city of 230 000 about 1 800km east of Moscow, have been left submerged. People came out in front of the local administration in Orsk, some chanting “shame on you, shame on you” and “Putin help”. With their properties either destroyed or severely damaged, some are unhappy with the compensation…

Washington: Abortion rights should be left up to US states to decide, Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump said yesterday, effectively rejecting a national abortion ban after months of mixed signals on one of the November election’s most contentious issues. His statement came after questions had swirled for weeks over what his stance would be on the issue, fuelled by a New York Times article in February that said he had told advisers he liked the idea of a 16-week national abortion ban. Some states have enacted near-total bans while others passed laws to enshrine abortion rights. Democrats say that polls show most Americans oppose a federal ban. | AFP…

Paris: A French water charity sounded the alarm yesterday about pollution in the River Seine, set to be used for swimming during the Olympic Games. Surfrider Foundation said it had analysed six months of tests by a laboratory and the river water remained polluted and potentially dangerous. Paris authorities are in a race against time to clean up the Seine before the start of the Olympics on July 26, with the famed waterway set to play a starring role during the Games. About €1.4 billion (R28.3bn) has been spent upgrading sewage and storm water treatment plants in the Paris region over the last decade to improve the Seine’s quality. | AFP…

THE Proteas Women are bracing for the start of the three-match ODI series against Sri Lanka today at the Buffalo Park Stadium in East London. The most important question leading into the series is whether they will be able to pick themselves up from the 2-1 T20 series loss to Sri Lanka at the same ground last week. Captain Laura Wolvaardt reckons they will be able to complete a successful turnaround despite becoming the first Proteas Women’s team to lose a series against Sri Lanka in South Africa. “I think we can pick ourselves up because we know where we went wrong and we know what we can improve on,” Wolvaardt said yesterday. “(It’s) not the way we wanted to end the (T20) series but we’ve had a good couple…

Royal AM are on an upward trajectory and have now inserted themselves into the list of teams vying for a top-eight finish at the end of the season. Thwihli Thwahla had been earmarked as one of the teams destined for a relegation battle at the end of the 2023/24 campaign given their early season form. The Pietermaritzburg-based outfit has also had to juggle various in-club disputes alongside an ongoing transfer ban that has seen them unable to bolster their ranks in the last two windows. However, club head coach John Maduka has handled the club’s struggles in a classy and productive manner, which has seen Royal AM all but escape the possibility of a drop into the second division. The 30-point mark has been the ‘promised land’ for many top-flight…

OIL PRICES have surged in recent days, threatening to push Brent Crude, the global oil benchmark, to $100 (R1 875) a barrel for the first time in almost two years. Traders have been taken by surprise by a surge in oil prices. Mere days ago, oil jumped above $90 a barrel, triggered by military tensions between Israel and Iran. Reuters reported that global oil benchmark Brent steadied above $91 a barrel yesterday, reducing early losses. This was prompted by Israel withdrawing more soldiers from Gaza and committing to fresh talks on a potential ceasefire in the Middle East conflict. Brent crude futures were down 16 cents, or 0.2%, at $91.01 a barrel by 3.35pm. US West Texas Intermediate crude was down 9c, or about 0.1%, at $86.82. Both…

SOUTH Africa’s beef exports experienced a slight recovery last year, increasing by 3% year-on-year (y/y) to 27 675 tons, after falling below the five-year average a year before due to the outbreak of the foot-and-mouth disease (FMD). According to recent data from Trade Map, beef exports fell below the prior five-year average in 2022, down by 16% y/y and totalling 26 881 tons. Agricultural Business Chamber (Agbiz) chief economist Wandile Sihlobo said yesterday that the previous two years had presented major challenges for the South African livestock industry. “The spread of the FMD and higher feed costs were the two major factors that weighed on their business,” Sihlobo said. “The government worked to control the spread of FMD, the impact was deepening on the revenues of farming businesses…

Master’s Offices were saddled with a backlog of more than 13 000 matters as at December 2023 and only 6.75% of the backlog has been cleared. This was revealed by Justice and Correctional Services Minister Ronald Lamola when he was responding to DA MP Werner Horn, who asked about the backlog faced by the Master’s Office. Lamola said the backlog in the Master’s Office consisted of backlogs in Guardian’s Fund applications, Trust matters and the issuing of appointments in deceased estate matters. “As at December 31, 2023, the backlog was 13 851 matters; 935 (6.75%) of backlog matters have been cleared and offices are working on clearing the rest of the backlog,” he said. “The Masters are still plagued by several challenges, including systems downtime, load shedding and a high…

FROM Speaker of Parliament to an accused in a dock, from the limelight of Parliament to the glare of cameras in court, from a position of authority in the National Assembly to a common criminal in the dock, Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula cut a lonely figure in court as her world tumbled in a matter of days.(D-Day in court for former Speaker, The Mercury, April 5). It had been a long, torturous day for the former, embattled Speaker of the House. She had tried to be defiant, making a court application to stop her arrest. But it didn’t work. The court threw out her application, ruling that she must hand herself over to the police. Released on bail of R50 000, she faces 12 counts of corruption and one of money laundering.…

THE South Durban Community Environmental Alliance (SDCEA) is an environmental justice organisation, fighting for the rights of the people and the environment. It is the duty of the SDCEA to advocate for a sustainable future and in doing so, the voices of the people need to be heard. The SDCEA is made up of 22 affiliate organisations and have been active since 1995. We are an NGO existing solely on finances and voluntary support sourced from non-profit foundations, sponsors and residents, in order to remain independent. We make no profit and exist solely for the benefit of the people we represent. The motto of the SDCEA is: The Right to Know, The Duty to Inquire, The Obligation to Act. People are experiencing load shedding daily for the past few…

The ANC Veterans’ League (ANCVL) says it will oppose legal action to overturn the disbandment of the Gauteng national executive committee. Gauteng ANCVL members said the disbandment in June last year was unlawful and unconditional in terms of the ANC constitution and that the move has prevented them from participating in party activities ever since. The Gauteng ANCVL members want the decision to be declared unconstitutional and filed papers at the Gauteng High Court, Johannesburg on March 18. Sipho Shezi, the leader of the Gauteng grouping, in his affidavit, said: “The vision of the ANC and the reality we are seeing are sadly complete opposites. “The corruption in the party is rampant, and it is no secret that the party shielded its members from consequences.” In his affidavit, he asserts…

The National Professional Teachers’ Organisation of South Africa (Naptosa) said while the number of teachers being produced may balance out with the number of posts available, there is a shortage of Grade R to Grade 3 teachers who are specifically trained to teach the foundation phase. This is according to executive director of Naptosa, Basil Manuel, who said the problem lies in that teachers entering the system are not always trained in the right subjects and phases. “As a result, we find that when we focus specifically on the foundation phase we have a lot of teachers trained for other phases who find themselves in the foundation phase.” Manuel said not enough was being done to ensure that these teachers who are out of alignment are being skilled to reposition…

A South African soldier is among the four Southern African Development Community (SADC) soldiers who were killed in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The other three soldiers who died are from Tanzania. “This unfortunate incident happened after a hostile mortar round had fallen near the camp they were staying,” SADC confirmed in a statement released yesterday. Other soldiers from Tanzania were also injured. According to SADC, the South African soldier died while receiving treatment for health challenges at a hospital in Goma, DRC. The soldiers were deployed under the auspices of SADC as part of a regional response to address the unstable and deteriorating security situation prevailing in the Eastern DRC. “The SADC family expresses its heartfelt condolences to the beloved families and the governments of the Republic of…

As the South African general election date (May 29) draws nearer, and so too the official celebration of 30 years of our hard-won democracy, pre-election polls have been frequenting our headlines. And while the utility of such polls, for gauging public sentiment, is not entirely lost on me, the predictions of these polls are seemingly becoming ever more outlandish, leading me to question the place for such pre-election polls in our democratic process. Take, for instance, a recent poll that made its rounds, suggesting that South Africa’s incumbent ruling party, the ANC, would receive a mere 39% of the vote. This would entail a 20% fall from the 57% of the vote it secured during the 2019 elections. While frustration with our government is palpable, could such sentiment alone precipitate…

Rescuers carried out search operations off the northern coast of Mozambique yesterday after a makeshift ferry boat carrying people fleeing a cholera outbreak capsized, killing at least 97. The converted fishing boat, with about 130 people on board, ran into trouble late on Sunday as it was headed for an island off Nampula province, officials said. Most of those on board were trying to escape the mainland after disinformation about cholera caused a panic, according to Nampula’s secretary of state Jaime Neto. Many children were among the victims, he added. On Sunday, authorities said the boat was believed to have sunk as it was overcrowded and unsuited to carrying passengers. It was later clarified that the vessel capsized after taking on water. “Water filled the boat... and the tragedy happened,”…

The US “will not accept” a situation where underpriced Chinese goods flood the global market, battering industries elsewhere, US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said yesterday as she wrapped up high-level talks in China. Yellen has warned about the risks of China’s excess industrial capacity during four days of meetings with officials and business leaders in the southern city of Guangzhou and capital Beijing. Washington is concerned that Chinese government support is leading to more production capacity than global markets can absorb, resulting in a surge of cheap exports in sectors such as solar and electric vehicles and stifling, growth elsewhere. The two countries have also agreed to open channels for further talks on excess capacity. But Chinese Premier Li Qiang earlier told Yellen that Washington should view the matter of…

Vatican City: The Vatican published a new document yesterday setting out “grave violations of human dignity”, listing abortion, surrogacy and gender theory alongside discrimination against migrants and LGBTQ people. The 20-page document, endorsed by Pope Francis, is the culmination of five years of work but comes amid splits in the Roman Catholic Church over a range of social issues, most recently the blessing of gay couples. Titled Dignitas infinita, the document covers the key themes of the Argentinian’s 11-year papacy. For the first time, the Vatican forcefully denounces gender theory, which espouses not having to adhere to the gender you were born with. | AFP…

Bangkok: The Myanmar junta requested permission for “special” flights to land in Thailand and repatriate Myanmar nationals, the Thai foreign ministry said yesterday, following clashes in a nearby vital border hub. Myanmar’s civil conflict has stepped up in recent months with forces opposed to the military – which seized power from a democratically elected government in a 2021 coup – making gains across the country. Over the weekend there were reports of intense fighting by anti-junta groups near Myawaddy town, across the border from the Thai town of Mae Sot. Thailand was “closely monitoring the situation on the Thai-Myanmar border”, the ministry said. | AFP…

Banayana Banyana goalkeeper and her Nigerian rival Chiamaka Nnadozie are shaping up as the key figures in today’s epic African women’s football showdown in the quest to secure a ticket to the Paris 2024 Olympics. South Africa, the reigning Wafcon champions, will face off against Nigeria, Africa’s top-ranked team in the world, in the second leg of the final round of Olympic qualifying at Loftus Versfeld in Pretoria (kick-off 7.30pm). Nigeria won Friday’s first-leg encounter at the MKO Abiola Stadium in Abuja 1-0, with Atletico Madrid forward Rasheedat Ajibade scoring a penalty just before half-time. This proved to be the difference between the two sides. Nnadozie told the Nigerian media that the Super Falcons won’t be intimidated by South African fans, even if they packed the 51 000-seater stadium. She…

THE fan base in the IPL is widely known for often being unreasonably critical. Most times, the standards that are expected of players are almost unrealistic. Almost every IPL player has been on the receiving end of the critics and Tristan Stubbs is no different. After two seasons with the Mumbai Indians, a period when Stubbs had very little success, there were suggestions that perhaps the 23-year-old is not cut out for the league. It reached a point were parallels were drawn between Stubbs and the many overseas players before him who simply crumbled under the pressure of the packed stadiums in India. However, Delhi Capitals coach Ricky Ponting believed that there was more to Stubbs than his past returns suggested and that he was worth investing in. Ponting and…

The Western Province Women’s team engraved their status as the premier T20 team in the country with their fourth consecutive CSA T20 Challenge trophy at Newlands. Claire Terblanche’s side have been the dominant force in the shortest format for a long time. Having already secured an insurmountable lead in the standings, Province rubber-stamped their authority with an eight-wicket victory over the Titans in their final league match of the season. The win highlighted Province’s immense depth as it was achieved without their Proteas stars Nadine de Klerk and Delmi Tucker, as well as SA Emerging players Lara Goodall, Faye Tunnicliffe and Kayla Reyneke, while captain Leah Jones was also ruled out through injury. Instead, it was youngster Jemma Botha who took centre stage. The 16-year-old Grade 11 pupil at Wynberg…