Indholdsfortegnelse for 2024-04-22 i Mercury

The two-pot pension system will be one of the most important legis- lative reforms since 1994 and will provide badly needed relief to millions of struggling workers. The Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu) and its Affiliate, the Southern African Clothing and Textile Workers’ Union (Sactwu) first proposed allowing workers who had not been paid during the Covid-19 pandemic, early access to their pension funds so they could feed their families and avoid resigning from their jobs to cash out their pension. Whilst Covid-19 is no longer a challenge, workers are still struggling with high levels of debt. Many workers have seen their wages cut or received below inflation increases. Inflation hits workers the hardest, not only because they earn the least, but the goods they need to…

SEA HARVEST has started its 2024 financial year, the 60th since it was established, with additional fishing vessels acquired last year. These include the freezer trawler Harvest Cap Nord, a sister vessel to the Harvest Atlantic Peace and Harvest Mzansi, as well as strategic expansions in its fresh fish fleet. This is according to Felix Ratheb, CEO of the fishing and dairy foods group – which sells its product in more than 30 countries on five continents – in its annual report released on Friday. Ratheb said that in 2023, these investments in growing capacity had been pivotal in reducing the impact of fluctuating catch rates. “Even facing the worst catch rates in recent memory, our fishing business saw double-digit earnings growth, underscoring the resilience and defensive nature of our…

KwaZulu-Natal has more than 7 000 teacher vacancies, the highest in the country, however, the Department of Basic Education has emphasised this did not mean that pupils were left unattended. In a parliamentary question, Minister of Basic Education Angie Motshekga was asked by DA MP Baxolile Nodada, who sits on the portfolio committee on basic education, about the total number of teacher vacancies provincially and nationally. Motshekga said in total across the country, there were 31 462 teacher vacancies. She said KZN had the highest number with 7 044, followed by 6 111 vacancies in Eastern Cape, 4 933 in Limpopo, 4 497 in the Western Cape, 3 898 in Gauteng, 1 931 in Mpumalanga, 1 205 in North West, 1…

PRESIDENT Cyril Ramaphosa has ridiculed the opposition parties looking to unseat the ANC in KwaZulu-Natal, describing their efforts as pointless actions of a “deranged man”. Ramaphosa said the ANC was the “only bull in the kraal” and after the May 29 elections, it would return to power. The president was on a charm offensive this past weekend as he criss-crossed KwaZulu-Natal on the ANC’s campaign trail. He defended his party’s record in government and dismissed any concerns that the ANC might lose power after the elections. The ANC finds itself with its back against the wall in the province, facing a real prospect of being pushed out as the governing party. While the ANC was already facing a trust deficit with voters, the emergence of the MK Party and the…

THE UK, US and Germany feel obliged to prove that the Holocaust was a big mistake, which it was. Inhumane, barbaric, evil. But they should have made the Jewish population understand that retribution is not the answer to their past sufferings. The American babysitting is not helping, either. Instead, it is turning people against the Jewish people. In SA, the term was apartheid. The Zionists are yelling anti-Semitism. It is now okay to obliterate a people with the blessings of the Americans and their veto powers, but the whole world cried foul when the Nazis were bent on doing that with the Jewish people. Very strange that God’s Chosen are doing this, when the whole world had their back when the evil Nazis were subjecting them to the same.…

THIS is better than Wimbledon. Readers are advised to watch BBC or Sky television later today for the next episode in Parliamentary Ping-Pong. This refers to attempts in the British Parliament by the Tories to get into statute a bill providing for the sending of would-be immigrants, who arrive in Britain illegally in small boats, to Rwanda, in Africa, for their cases to be adjudged there – yea or nay – not in the UK. Also for them to be accommodated in Rwanda for this inevitably lengthy process, not in British hotels. The bill was introduced last November by Prime Minister Rishi Sunak as a matter of urgency. Five months on – such an emergency! – it’s been prolonged by a ping-pong match. The Tories approve the bill in…

THE decision by South African lawmakers to amend legislation to allow people the opportunity to withdraw their pension savings early, may come as a welcome lifeline for some, but trade union Solidarity has criticised the “rushed pace” of amendments. As some South Africans eagerly await the September 1, 2024, initiation date for the Pension Laws Amendment Bill which will allow them to withdraw from their retirement savings, Solidarity has raised concerns about some provisions of the two-pot system which is being finalised. It believes that forging ahead with the two-pot system which will enable people to access their pensions earlier, offered too little time for the government to test and develop a comprehensive system properly. There is also a concern that not enough attention had been paid to the technical…

Animal organisations have raised their concerns about the large number of animals that have been surrendered across the country in recent weeks. The Cape of Good Hope Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) said its dealing with an unprecedented influx of animals, not only from people who can no longer keep them but also from multiple shelters across the Cape metropole. SPCA spokesperson, Belinda Abraham said the SPCA was extremely overburdened. Based on current trends, she said the SPCA will admit around 20 350 surrendered and stray animals to its facilities this year alone. “Approximately 2 300 of these animals will come from other animal welfare organisations including those who call themselves no-kill. And while no-kill is certainly attractive to animal lovers, it creates a very misleading…

A wheel was damaged during take-off on a FlySafair flight from Johannesburg to Cape Town yesterday, and the plane was forced to return to Johannesburg. In a statement the airline said flight FA212 had departed OR Tambo International Airport on schedule at 11.32am. “Departure and take-off were normal and the crew set course for Cape Town. “After take-off, ground staff at OR Tambo reported what appeared to be damage to one of the aircraft back wheels. The crew were alerted to the observation and the decision was taken to return to Joburg,” said Kirby Gordon, FlySafair chief marketing officer. The aircraft adjusted course back for Johannesburg and entered a holding pattern near Parys to burn off fuel. “This is standard procedure when there is no urgency to land, as…

IN A country like South Africa, teachers play an important role in improving the reading skills of learners, especially those in the foundation phase, Grades R to 3. By enhancing the reading proficiency of learners, teachers help lay the foundation for future learning and academic success. It is, therefore, crucial that effective reading instruction takes place in the classroom. However, intense debates such as the “Reading Wars” continue to rage in literacy education. Reading Wars have been characterised by disagreements over the best approaches to teaching reading, particularly focusing on the debate between phonics (a component of reading instruction that focuses on the relationship between individual sounds and the letters that represent them) and whole language instruction methods, that is methods used to teach reading. They are not just about…

Crowds gathered at Sydney’s iconic Bondi Beach yesterday for a candlelight memorial for the six people killed by a knife-wielding assailant at a nearby shopping mall. Many hundreds sat on the grass in a beachside park to grieve for the five women and a Pakistani male security guard who died in the April 13 attack at the Westfield Bondi Junction shopping complex. The killings stunned many Australians who are largely unaccustomed to such violent crime. “When I heard this I cried. Because it is new to us. We don’t have this happen often. It’s a shock,” said 56-year-old local cafe owner Daniela Pontidas. “I know a lot of people that were impacted in some way,” she told AFP. “I feel like this has burst Australia’s bubble a bit.” Paul Inggall,…

Despite gloomy weather, Ukrainians in the capital Kyiv were cheerful and cautiously optimistic yesterday after their biggest ally Washington approved $61 billion (R1.17 trillion) in new war-time aid. The package, which the US House of Representatives passed on Saturday after months of infighting, comes as Ukrainian forces face a critical shortage of munitions on the battlefield and air defences to protect civilians. “It’s finally happened,” 50-year-old nurse Oksana said. “We’re really looking forward to it. It will help a lot.The most important thing is to have something to defend ourselves with.” Washington is Kyiv’s leading financial and military backer, delivering much of the hardware it uses on the battlefield. The bill passed on Saturday would provide Ukraine with nearly $14bn to train, equip and finance the needs of its army.…

TENERIFE: Thousands of people protested in the Canary Islands yesterday, calling for the Spanish island to temporarily limit tourist arrivals to stem a boom in short-term holiday rentals and hotel construction that is driving up housing costs for locals. Ahead of the tourist season, demonstrators said changes must be made to the tourism industry that accounts for 35% of gross domestic product in the Canary Islands archipelago. Environmental organisations say authorities should temporarily limit visitor numbers to alleviate pressure on the islands’ environment, infrastructure and housing stock, and put curbs on property purchases by foreigners. | Reuters…

LOS ANGELES: Intel has built the world’s largest neuromorphic system to support research for future brain-inspired artificial intelligence. The system mimics the human brain in processing information. Hala Point advances Intel’s first-generation large-scale research system, Pohoiki Springs, with architectural improvements to achieve over 10 times more neuron capacity and up to 12 times higher performance. Researchers plan to use Hala Point for advanced brain-scale computing research, focusing on solving scientific computing problems in device physics, computer architecture, computer science and informatics. | IANS…

The Titans’ seamers and SA Under-19 star batter Lhuan-dre Pretorius delivered an exceptional performance at Newlands to seal the remaining semi-final spot in the Cricket SA T20 Challenge. The Sunday afternoon clash on a glorious Cape Town autumn day was a virtual quarter-final with the winner set to qualify for the play-offs. Junior Dala (3-13) and Corbin Bosch (3-21) ensured it would be the visitors who progressed as they restricted Province to 113-9. The Titans’ batters, in particular Pretorius, had little trouble chasing down the target as the defending champions kept their campaign alive with a comfortable six-wicket bonus-point victory. Skipper Kyle Verreynne struck a valiant 48 off 31 balls, but he did not have any support from the remaining WP batters. The demise began with opener Eddie Moore (4)…

THE Presidential Employment Programme (PEP) in eThekwini Municipality has been flagged for irregularities after it emerged that more than half-a-million rand has been paid to people who were not supposed to benefit from the programme. People working in other government departments and deceased people have been beneficiaries of the programme. The PEP is a government initiative aimed at stimulating economic activity by giving employment to South Africans without work. A report compiled by the municipality’s economic development and planning cluster detailed the irregularities. It was compiled after the auditor-general (AG) found that there were material irregularities in the programme. The AG’s audit covered the 2022/23 financial year and was tabled before the municipal public accounts committee last week. The report revealed that R471 000 had been paid irregularly to people…

Minister of Defence Thandi Modise should not be “applying her mind” to the highly irregular and potentially illegal request for financial assistance that was submitted to the Department of Defence by the former speaker of the National Assembly, Nosiviwe Mapisa- Nqakula, to cover legal costs in her corruption trial. Should Modise accede to the request, the DA will not hesitate to take action to have it reviewed and set aside. There is absolutely nothing that entitles Mapisa-Nqakula to financial support for her corruption trial from the Department of Defence, and any steps taken to authorise this will be wasteful expenditure and abuse of taxpayer money. Mapisa-Nqakula’s implied position that the alleged crimes were committed during her tenure as the minister of Defence and therefore the taxpayer should foot her legal…

I recently read a piece in an international paper by Naama Lazimi which sheds a different light on Israeli citizens and is very thought-provoking. Lazimi is a member of the opposition in Israel’s parliament. She says Netanyahu’s long spell in office has left her generation disillusioned and robbed of its dreams for the future. His government, with its extremist allies, lacks a clear strategy for ending the conflict with Palestinians, Lazimi says, adding that it is crucial to recognise that his government does not represent the majority of Israelis. She spends a lot of time with citizens and has met Arab-Jewish civil society organisations that exemplify a different spirit from that of the government, and “this is the real Israel”. Netanyahu wants to see Israel conquer the Gaza Strip and…

When it was not election time thousands of domestic households had rooftop solar installations to avert frequent load shedding problems. A recent article stated that more than 50% of the installations were not registered with their respective local authorities and were hence illegal. The term “illegal” conjures immediate concern as especially established households do not wish to be involved in “illegal” matters. The question now is whether the strict term “illegal” applies? Outa (Organisation Undoing Tax Abuse) boycotted the paying of e-tolls, apparently because of the lack of prior consultation. Billions of rand were mentioned as owing to the state. Now the state has buckled and ceased levying e-tolls. As a result of the state’s inability to continue providing regularly an essential service, such as electricity, to the public (including…

The Road Accident Fund (RAF) is expected to table its financial statements before Parliament’s standing committee on the auditor-general after the Gauteng High Court, Pretoria ruled against it in its dispute with the auditor-general. The auditor-general has welcomed the judgment of the high court and said it affirmed her mandate. “The AG, Tsakani Maluleke, welcomes this judgment and says it affirms the AGSA’s constitutional mandate to audit and report, which must be exercised without fear, favour and prejudice,” said Harold Maloka, spokesperson for the AG. However, the RAF said it was taking legal advice and could appeal the judgment of the court. Chairperson of the committee Sakhumzi Somyo said this was a protracted legal dispute between the AG and RAF. The RAF could not table its audited financial statements in…

Three security guards who staged a cash-in-transit (CIT) heist back in 2021 have been jailed for 45 years. Bonginkosi Mabusela 34, Phelo Mdleleni,47, Sinenhlanhla Mhlamvu, 33, were handed the sentence in the Ezingolweni Regional Court on the KwaZulu-Natal South Coast this week. A fourth accused, Zitha Nobhadula, died as an awaiting trial prisoner. According to the Hawks, the trio were in an armoured cash vehicle on April 30, 2021. KZN Hawks spokesperson Captain Simphiwe Mhlongo said two armoured vehicles were on route from Port Shepstone to Kokstad after collecting cash from the depot. “While travelling in convoy, the one vehicle disappeared and the other was allegedly intercepted by the suspects. An undisclosed amount of cash and firearms were taken and the case was reported at Harding police station and the…

Explosions were heard as a huge fire engulfed a chemical storage site in Prospecton, south of Durban, in the early hours of yesterday. According to the eThekwini Fire Department, the fire started after midnight at the chemical storage site and the strong wind led to the fire spreading to the building next to it. “We responded to the site at around midnight and found metal drums and flow bin tanks that were alight,” said the Divisional Commander of the Fire Department, Pregasen Govender. “The municipal fire brigade responded with four rescue pumpers and a water carrier to extinguish the fire. “The wind made it difficult to extinguish the fire quickly but at around 5.30am it was put out." He said it appeared that the site was a chemical storage premises…

THE body of a skipper was found 50 metres off-shore at Brightwaters on the Atlantic side of Cape Point on Saturday, after the boat capsized in dense fog. Two others, aged 29 and 17, from Hout Bay, who were also on the boat, raised the alarm after they managed to get to safety. The National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI) Hout Bay station commander, Spencer Oldham, said NSRI Kommetjie, Simons Town and Hout Bay duty crews were activated after the Cape Medical Response and SANParks ranger raised the alarm. “Two men arrived at the Cape Point main gate and reported that their boat had capsized at Brightwaters, 1.5 nautical miles south of Olifantsbospunt, during the early hours of the morning, and their skipper was missing. “They had both managed to reach…

POLICE Minister Bheki Cele continues to give opposition parties enough ammunition to dispel the ANC’s claim of being a caring government with his lavish lifestyle at the cost of the public purse. Not that he is alone on the gravy train. However, as a minister responsible for fighting the alarming high levels of crime, Cele should be grounded in communities living in fear of criminals instead of being a high-flyer only showing up after the fact for interviews. This does not mean we expect him to be everywhere fighting crime, but the result should align with this considering the taxpayer coughed up about R24 million to fly him, his deputy and police top brass in SAPS aircraft over the past three years. The opposite is true. Take, for example, the…

In Mali’s capital Bamako, Aboubacar Pamateck runs a scarf under a trickle of water and wraps it around his head to cope with the West African nation’s soaring heat. Africa’s Sahel region experienced a deadly heatwave early this month, exceptional both in terms of duration and intensity. “I drink a lot of water and wear my turban, which I often get wet,” Pamateck said. “I even avoid wearing nylon boubous. I prefer to wear small cotton boubous to avoid the heat.” From April 1 to April 5, temperatures in Mali exceeded 45°C and peaked at a record 48.5°C in the western city of Kayes. A few days later, the thermometer fell back to a more familiar but still difficult 43°C at midday in the shade in Bamako. As the sun…

BERLIN: Yulia Navalnya, the widow of late Russian dissident Alexei Navalny, has warned of the unpredictability of Russian President Vladimir Putin, saying the possibility that he might use nuclear weapons cannot be ruled out. She compared the question to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, saying she had not expected Putin to attack back then, given the strong ties between the two countries. Navalnya said she was not sure whether Putin really has a “strong strategy”. Navalnya said the recent arrests of several suspected Russian spies in Europe were a further sign that Putin had been waging war in the heart of Europe. | IANS…

Kabul: One person was killed and three others wounded by an explosion in Kabul on Saturday, Afghan police said, with the Islamic State group claiming responsibility for the sticky bomb attack. The improvised explosive device (IED) was detonated in the suburb of Kot-e-Sangi, near an enclave of the historically persecuted Shiite Hazara community, which has been targeted by the militant group in the past. “The sticky bomb was planted on a minibus,” Kabul police said. “The driver of the vehicle lost his life, and three other civilians were injured.” The Islamic State (IS) group claimed responsibility, saying a minibus carrying Hazaras was blown up as it passed through a Taliban checkpoint. | AFP…

DERA ISMAIL KHAN: Unknown gunmen killed two customs officers in western Pakistan, officials said yesterday, following the killing of five other customs officials in the area in recent days. No group has claimed the two attacks since Thursday last week, which police are investigating. Security in regions of Pakistan bordering Afghanistan has deteriorated in recent years. Attacks, some claimed by the Pakistani Taliban (TTP) Islamist militant group, have risen, mostly targeting police and security officials. The rise in attacks has escalated tensions between Pakistan and the Afghanistan’s ruling Taliban administration. | Reuters…

AmaZulu coach Pablo Franco Martin has bemoaned the fact that poor officiating decisions against his team might result in them not reaching their targets at the end of the season. There’ve been a raft of questionable refereeing decisions that have been doing the rounds in the top flight, consuming the spectacle of the run-in. AmaZulu, unfortunately, have been victims more than most, with incidents in their last two games against Orlando Pirates in the Nedbank Cup and DStv Premiership. Usuthu conceded a dubious penalty against Pirates in the Nedbank Cup quarter-final while replays strongly suggested that Makhehlene Makhaula had dived to earn the spot-kick. That penalty proved to be the turnaround Pirates needed as they equalised en route to winning 4-2 and eliminating Usuthu from the competition. In a rematch…

OLD MUTUAL said on Friday that it had received approval to establish a bank, named OM Bank, subject to certain licence conditions. The insurance and financial services group that once controlled Nedbank said in a statement that approval had followed a “stringent regulatory review” of its licence application. Old Mutual’s control of Nedbank was unbundled in October 2018 in a R43.2 billion distribution. Old Mutual said the approval would allow it to proceed to the next critical stage in the process of establishing a bank. Old Mutual completed building the infrastructure and digital platform at the end of last year. “The group will now formally transition from ‘bank build mode’ and enter into a strict and rigorous industry testing phase with selected bank partners. Upon a successful error-free testing,…

In the vast world of health and wellness, supplements have become increasingly popular as individuals seek ways to enhance their nutritional intake and overall health. However, in South Africa, the lack of regulation by the South African Health Products Regulatory Authority (SAHPRA) around these products leaves many consumers wondering how to determine their quality and effectiveness. With the market flooded with numerous brands and types, finding the best product can be daunting. Here are some tips to help guide your decision. Supplements can help balance hormones and tackle problems like endometriosis, PMS, and menopause. However, figuring out which product is actually good and right for you can be tricky. Women's health issues don't get enough attention and because of that many women are taking matters into their own hands to…

The fashion season has just been unlocked, and emerging designers proved once again that our fashion industry is in capable hands. As per the spring/summer season tradition, South African Fashion Week kicked off day one by introducing us to new designers who showcased under the Mr Price New Talent Search. Before taking to the runway, Amber Jones, head of buying at Mr Price, thanked all the finalists for their hard work because despite having only one winner, showcasing at SA Fashion Week is a win on its own. The previous winner of the competition, Cyla Gonsolves, broke the ice for the finalists and showcased an enchanting collection paired with massive colourful knitted bags. The current finalists, Belhauzen, Heru Shezi, James Presents, Mother of Gao, Ngingu, Oddity and Reina Majoko, followed…

President Cyril Ramaphosa has paid tribute to late former leader of the Pan Africanist Congress (PAC) Motsoko Pheko. Pheko passed away at the age of 93 on Friday. Apart from his political career, he was also a lawyer, academic and author. Ramaphosa said Pheko had led the PAC in exile and during the democratic order when he became its MP. He added that Pheko’s interest was not only in the political arena as he had a passion for writing and penned a number of books. Pheko was part of a generation of leaders that were in the forefront for the liberation of South Africa, he said. “His diverse qualifications and interests made Motsoko Pheko an invaluable contributor to human development and the intellectual heritage of our nation and that…

I have been watching JJ Tabane’s Power to Truth programme for the past two nights. What fascinates me is all the hogwash certain party representatives speak when they tell us what they intend doing if they come to power. Cameron Dugmore is the chief culprit, as his party – the ANC – has collapsed the country and turned it into a failed state, and we cannot believe the drivel that comes out of his mouth. We need change. Hopefully the voters will vote with their heads and not their hearts. A glaring omission from these programmes is the EFF. One wonders if, by not taking part, they have nothing to offer the voter with their socialist policies. I found that no concrete solutions have been created to fix our…

I AM a resident of the Western Cape who regularly travels to other provinces on business. The contrast in the level of service delivery is striking. Residents in the country’s eight other provinces appear resigned to their fate, whether it’s lack of water, flowing sewage or uncollected rubbish. I therefore find it unsettling that the Western Cape – the only functional province left in South Africa – is being targeted for vote splitting by some political parties in the upcoming elections. I am sure that residents in our province agree that it works. Why then should anyone want to break what is working? No political party is perfect, and that includes the DA. But I will be the first person to say that the DA has tried to keep our…

SOME things are simply up to you: How open and available you are to new experiences, adventures and to meeting new people. How generous, kind and forgiving you are to others (and yourself) under every circumstance. How much you communicate with your aged parents and how much time you generously and freely offer them. How much you interact or communicate with your brothers, sisters and other relatives. How you treat your in-laws. How much you respect, and show that respect, to all people and especially those outside your chosen circle of relationships. How you use the power or illusion of power afforded to you. How much you allow friends and associates to know you and participate in your life. How angry or reactive you are when faced with poor driving…

A former Department of Home Affairs official has been convicted and sentenced to 14 years’ direct imprisonment for corruption by the Giyani Specialised Commercial Crimes Court. Mdunwazi Ngwenyama, 47, registered and issued a bogus birth certificate in December 2021 for someone who did not exist in the Department of Home Affairs’ system at the time. “He handed the document to Peter Baloyi, 38, acting as an intermediary. In exchange, he received R1 000. The investigation revealed that the certificate was to be handed to a Zimbabwean national,” Hawks spokesperson Warrant Officer Lethunya Mmuroa said. The Directorate for Priority Crimes Investigation (known as the Hawks) were informed and their investigation led to the arrest of Ngwenyama and Baloyi on December 8, 2021. Baloyi was apprehended in the Malamulele neighbourhood, and Ngwenyama…

THE Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development has spent more than R6 billion to purchase farms for land restitution and redistribution programmes over the past five years. This was revealed by Minister Thoko Didiza when responding to parliamentary questions from DA MP Noko Masipa. Masipa wrote to Didiza enquiring about the latest update on the progress made towards achieving land reform targets, including the number of farms bought, post-settlement support, and annual input cost support, among other things. “The Land Redistribution and Tenure Reform programme acquired 239 farms while the Land Restitution programme acquired 970 farms from January 1, 2019 to December 31, 2023 at a cost of R2.138bn and R4.304bn, respectively,” Didiza said. She said her department, through its Land Development Support Programme, had supported a total…

THE plea by former speaker of the National Assembly Nosiviwe Mapisa Nqakula for legal assistance from the Department of Defence and Military Veterans in her corruption trial has been described as unlawful by the DA who said it should be rejected outright. On Friday, the Defence and Military Veterans Ministry confirmed in a statement that Minister Thandi Modise’s predecessor Mapisa-Nqakula had requested the department to assist with her legal costs. The request came as the former speaker faces 12 counts of corruption and one of money laundering after she allegedly solicited bribes from a defence contractor during her time at the helm of the Defence Department. The ministry revealed that the request came through the Office of the Head of Legal Services at the SANDF. It was Major-General Eric Mnisi…

Allowing them to contest the elections is the start of a slow revolution THIS is what South Africa’s democracy should look like on election day: thousands of people queueing from sunrise to sunset, seeking to take control of a political system from unaccountable and uncaring political parties that treat voters like an afterthought. In the May 29 national and provincial elections, a remarkable democratic experiment will reach its first conclusion through the election of independent candidates for the first time since the dawn of democracy in 1994. A process of entrenching human rights that began 30 years ago with the operation of the Interim Constitution in 1994, the Final Constitution in 1996, and electoral laws over many years proceeded with successful high-level litigation over opening the space for independents and…

The Israeli settlers who rampaged through the West Bank village of al-Mughayyer on April 12 came in greater numbers and carried more weapons than during any of the previous raids on the Palestinian community, residents said. Days later, torched homes and cars still bear testament to the attack, which residents said lasted several hours and that they said Israeli soldiers did nothing to stop. With few means to defend themselves in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, they fear more such assaults on the village. “We have stones and they have weapons, and the army supports the settlers,” said Abdullatif Abu Alia, whose house came under attack. His roof was spattered with the blood of Palestinians wounded as they tried to repel the attackers with rocks. One of them, his relative Jihad…

Landslides in southern China injured at least six people and trapped others, state media reported yesterday as the region braced for severe floods “seen around once a century”. Torrential downpours across swathes of Guangdong province since Thursday have swollen rivers in the Pearl River Delta and triggered deluges in mountainous areas. State broadcaster CCTV said yesterday that rains had sparked landslides affecting six villages in the northern Guangdong town of Jiangwan, “causing people to become trapped”. No deaths were reported. CCTV said six people who were “trapped and injured” in the landslides had been airlifted to the nearby city of Shaoguan. Emergency workers were racing to restore communications to the stricken area and more than 80 rescuers were working “through the day and night” to assist people in the disaster…

Rio De Janeiro: Brazil’s former president Jair Bolsonaro rallied supporters in Rio de Janeiro yesterday in defence of freedom of expression, which he says is under threat in the country, as tech tycoon Elon Musk faces a legal showdown there over claims of censorship and disinformation. The rally took place at Rio’s Copacabana beach. Brazilian authorities are investigating whether Bolsonaro plotted an attempted coup to prevent current President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva from assuming office in January 2023. Bolsonaro has already been barred from public office for eight years for baselessly trashing Brazil’s voting system ahead of the 2022 poll. Last month, federal police also recommended he be charged for falsifying his Covid-19 vaccination records. He has denied all charges against him. Musk is also under investigation in Brazil…

Islamabad: Iran’s President Ebrahim Raisi travelled to Islamabad yesterday to meet his Pakistani counterpart Asif Ali Zardari, Pakistan’s foreign ministry said. This, as the two countries seek to mend ties following deadly cross-border attacks this year. Raisi will be accompanied by “a high-level delegation comprising the foreign minister... as well as a large business delegation,” the foreign ministry said yesterday. The tit-for-tat missile strikes in January in the porous border region of Balochistan stoked regional tensions. These tensions were already inflamed by the Israel-Hamas war. | AFP…

The Stormers will bring their heavy hitters back for this weekend’s United Rugby Championship (URC) game against a depleted Leinster in Cape Town. After losing 27-21 to the Ospreys there is no room for error in the last four games of the tournament as the inaugural champions look to seal a play-off berth for the third year in a row. The expectation is that utility back Damian Willemse, locks Salmaan Moerat and Ruben van Heerden, hooker Joseph Dweba and tighthead prop Neethling Fouche will all return to the starting fold to bolster the team on Saturday (kick-off 7.05pm). It was a poor display by the Cape side in front of a healthy crowd and a result that set them back in their search for a spot among the top four…