Indholdsfortegnelse for 2024-06-26 i Mercury

It’s a wrap from Paris Fashion Week Spring/Summer 2025. And from Uncle Waffles getting a special invitation to several shows to South African models taking the spotlight, it’s been an eventful few days for African creatives. South African model Lebo Malope was the star of the shows as he walked for prominent brands, including Louis Vuitton, Y3 and Ami. He also opened for Wales Bonner and closed the men’s wear week with Sacai. As a newcomer model who was taught how to walk the runway by his brother, renowned model Denetric Malope, Lebo is doing amazingly well. When he first arrived in Paris in 2022, Denetric took him under his wing to show him around. He finished second at this season’s fashion week, having walked 10 shows. He follows Craig…

THE failure to conclude the negotiations that will lead to the formation of a Government of National Unity, has led to the eThekwini Municipality not being able to elect its new mayor. Thabani Nyawose, Speaker of the municipality, revealed yesterday that parties in the council had requested more time to finalise the negotiations around the formation of the GNU. At least 10 parties at national level are thrashing out how they should form the GNU. The outcome of these negotiations will cascade down to other spheres of government. It was expected that the new mayor would be elected during a council meeting yesterday. However, Nyawose revealed that he planned to call a special council meeting either mid-July or end of July to elect the City’s first citizen. Front-runner for the…

Ruler of the Queen’s navee, Whose praises Britain loudly chants, And so do his sisters and his cousins and his aunts … THE lines of Gilbert and Sullivan in their comic opera HMS Pinafore spring to mind as we read (London Independent) of an astonishing case in England involving a chief constable being sacked for misconduct because his CV didn’t match the realities. It happened in Nottinghamshire, where Chief Constable Nick Adderley claimed, when applying for the post, that he had been a lieutenant-commander in the Royal Navy – a high rank. He also wore a medal issued to those who fought in the Falklands War. Er, his rank in the Royal Navy was Able Seaman, the second lowest. If he fought in the Falklands War, he would have been…

TURNING OVER a new leaf, starting over, going back to basics, clearing the slate, and I am sure there are a few more terms and metaphors I am missing for re-starts. While noble, and maybe very necessary, it is not that easy. Homeostasis can kick up a fuss. Old habits and attitudes and behaviours resist change. It is as if they refuse to believe the hosts (you, me, whoever want to make a change) are serious about the shifts or the new starts we may want to make. I have found it best to start quietly and silently and with hidden resolve. The more that’s announced, the greater the expectations are to see results. Go carefully and quietly into your new behaviours. Exercise them very privately for a period of…

How can it be possible that ex- policeman Marius van der Westhuizen is going to be paroled after 13 years when he had a 24-year sentence for killing his three children to spite his wife? First, as this was premeditated, I think the 24 years were too few in any event. What sort of a person shoots his children in cold blood to get back at his wife? The children were a 21-month-old, a 5-year-old and a 16-year-old! What sort of person does this unless he is a psychopath who shouldn’t be allowed out of jail? I hope the wife’s lawyers can appeal this.…

A George farmer is set to be compensated for his loss – initially calculated at an estimated R31 million – after he was ordered to destroy livestock on two of his chicken farms due to avian flu. The farmer had to destroy more than 380 000 chickens and 5.3 million eggs. George Moerasrivier Boerdery was successful in litigation against the sirector of animal health at the Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development after judgment was handed down in the Thembalethu Circuit High Court. Judge Judith Cloete ruled that the applicant had a flourishing poultry business in the George area until an outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza, or “flu”, on two of its farms. In August 2021, the farmer applied to the director for compensation in terms of…

Rebuilding has been the number one priority for storm-hit communities in oThongathi (Tongaat) and surrounds. Volunteers, donors, non-governmental and non-profit organisations and government departments have streamed into the area to offer aid. A tornado left a trail of destruction, taking 12 lives, damaging 7 000 houses, uprooting trees and causing damage estimated at more than R1.3 billion. Yesterday, the Premier of KwaZulu Natal, Thami Ntuli, visited oThongathi to assess recovery and relief efforts, and expressed gratitude to all social partners for their contributions. “There is nothing greater than what you have done, how willing you are to partner with the government in rebuilding KZN”. Residents Sithembiso Moyo and Krishnee Naidoo said they were grateful for the assistance received from a private donor, Kevin Naidoo, who supplied building materials.…

All eyes will be on Cristiano Ronaldo in today’s Euro 2024 match against Georgia after selfie-hunting pitch invaders in Portugal’s last game raised security concerns and forced Uefa to introduce stricter measures to protect the players. Portugal’s 3-0 victory over Türkiye was marred by at least six fans invading the pitch desperate to get photos with Ronaldo during and after the game in Dortmund on Saturday. The result secured Portugal qualification for the last 16 as Group F winners while Georgia need a win to reach the knockout stages. “Safety and security in the stadium, on the pitch and at team facilities are the ultimate priority for Uefa, DFB (the German Football Association) and Euro 2024,” Uefa said in a statement. “To this end, additional safety measures will be deployed…

THE PRUDENTIAL Authority (PA) yesterday reported that it investigated 134 referrals alleging non-compliance with various laws such as the Insurance Act and levied administrative penalties totalling R2.7 million against four organisations under its ambit during the 2023/24 year. At the same time, the PA reported that two entities were under curatorship, while one institution was under statutory management, two under judicial management, and a further two in liquidation as the authority seeks to safeguard depositors and policy holders. In the annual report, CEO Nomfundo Tshazibana stated that the authority’s “experience with weak financial institutions continues to demonstrate that governance weaknesses and poor risk management result in financial losses, trust deficits and, ultimately, institutional failure”. However, South African Reserve Bank (SARB) Governor Lesetja Kga-nyago said that there “currently appears to…

In a world increasingly influenced by social media and Hollywood standards, the search for the “perfect body” has become an obsession for many. But this pursuit often hides a darker side, impacting both mental and physical health. The endless scroll of Instagram and Facebook feeds filled with influencers, celebrities and even friends flaunting toned abs and sculpted features can create unrealistic body standards. Magazines, television shows and movies also contribute to the idea that beauty equates to thinness or a muscular physique. South Africa is facing a serious health crisis linked to the obsession with achieving the “perfect body”. This is leading many to misuse weight-loss drugs. Healthcare experts are sounding the alarm about the long-term damage that can occur when people take weight-loss medications without proper medical supervision. Misusing…

LABOUR unions have vowed to fight for the rights of directors-general (DGs) in ministers’ offices, saying that senior public servants are also protected by the country’s labour laws. This comes after a “leaked letter” from the DA, circulating on social media, in which the party’s Federal Council chairperson Helen Zille said current DGs that fall under DA ministers’ offices would have their contracts reviewed. Zille cited the ANC’s cadre deployment policy as the reason for demanding the review of DG contracts. Zille’s letter, which has caused quite a stir in the country’s political landscape, was penned to ANC secretary-general Fikile Mbalula, telling him that her party wanted around 12 ministerial posts in the Government of National Unity. In the letter, Zille also demanded that DGs reporting to DA ministers need…

IN PROVERBS 29:2 the Bible says, when the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice, when the wicked rule, the people groan. Historically our politics, including the GNU (Government of National Unity) reflects South African history and remains a perfect place for the wicked to hide and govern from, behind the scenes. It started centuries ago when a Dutchman was caught stealing from the Dutch East India Company (VOC) in Batavia and banished to Cape Town to establish a refreshment station. The abuse, rape and plunder of indigenous people and material resources started immediately. Evidence of this abuse/plunder was the creation of a new ethnicity that did not exist until white men plundered the Khoi and San women creating the “coloured people”. Throughout slavery, colonialism and apartheid the rape of…

The colours – black, white, red and green – are used to preserve Palestinian civilisation and for the newer generation of Palestinians to remember where their families come from and to never forget their villages. Between 1947 and 1949, the Zionist military destroyed hundreds of Palestinian villages and more than 700 000 Palestinians were expelled or had to flee from their homes due to the establishment of apartheid Israel. Some Western and European countries are trying their best to suppress the Palestinian colours and destroy Palestinian culture, traditions and even cuisines. Hence, the keffiyeh and other symbols have become representations of Palestine as a means to find a way around attempts to ban Palestinian colours or the flag. Mocking or stirring up dislike against symbols of Palestinian identity is…

MANY citizens in our divided country continue to utter offensive racial comments, which if left unchecked could serve as a catalyst for racial and religious conflict on an epic scale. Hate speech and hateful comments are a ticking time bomb. Today people of prejudice have learnt how to camouflage their racism in various codes and convoluted euphemisms. These disgusting remarks should not be whitewashed. They need to be properly, accurately, and verbatim catalogued in our hall of shame and made available to future generations. These outbursts indicate deep entrenchment of prejudices and stereotypes. Racial and religious slurs have been buried and thrown on the trash heap, many times, yet they rise like zombies creeping across a bitterly prejudiced rainbow nation, hurtful words that destroyed careers for those uttering it, yet…

A JUDGE had harsh words for the Buffalo City Municipality in East London, for ignoring a ratepayer’s plea to probe her excessive water billing for over a year. The high court sitting in East London found the municipality had failed abysmally to meet its constitutional and legal obligations to the applicant. Judge Belinda Hartle said Octavia Ngceke had clearly been traumatised by the excessive billing for almost three years. Ngceke had tried to sort out the problem with the municipality for over a year. The municipality had failed to respond to her pleas to probe the excessive billing, forcing the desperate Ngceke to turn to the court to force it to do its job. Judge Hartle said: “If a consumer cannot under the constraints of the policy (credit control policy)…

As South Africa waits with bated breath for the announcement of the new Cabinet, public frustration and anxiety are reaching a boiling point. The delays and heightened uncertainty come at a time when the nation is already grappling with significant political and social tensions, making the atmosphere akin to a dry powder keg waiting to explode. The anticipation for the Cabinet announcement has intensified public restlessness, with the nation seeking clarity and stability following a contentious election period. Many South Africans are expressing their impatience and concern over the delays, fearing that the prolonged uncertainty could exacerbate existing tensions. The situation has been fuelled by online threats, especially on X, against political party leaders and supporters, journalists and editors who have been exposing racism within political parties such as the…

A growing number of parents are questioning the age-old practice of bathing newborns immediately after birth. This debate was thrust into the spotlight recently by a TikTok user called Kae-Rodriguez, who shared a video titled: “My Unwashed 5-Day-Old”. In the post, her baby appears happy and clean, despite not being bathed since birth. The substance often seen on babies right after birth is called vernix caseosa, a white, waxy layer that covers the skin. This natural coating, also known as vernix, has garnered attention for its numerous benefits, prompting many parents to reconsider immediate post-birth baths. In her TikTok post, Kae-Rodriguez explained her choice: “Vernix does not need to be washed away immediately. My baby was born with very little and has beautiful skin at 5 days old. No bath…

John Hlophe, the parliamentary leader of the MK Party, said his party regarded itself as the official opposition and would not be bullied by anyone. “We consider ourselves, the MK Party, as the official opposition in the country because the official party, the DA, is now part of the Government of National Unity (GNU). “We are going to work very closely with other progressive parties in the opposition. I have in mind the EFF, the ATM and other progressive parties.” Hlophe made the statement yesterday while briefing the media after the swearing-in ceremony of MK Party and ANC members who were not part of the first sitting of the National Assembly. Acting Western Cape Judge President Patricia Goliath and National Assembly Speaker Thoko Didiza administered the swearing-in. The MK party,…

A little bit of history beckons this week when South Africa and Afghanistan battle it out for their maiden ICC World Cup final appearance. South Africa beat hosts West Indies by three wickets on Monday and finished top of Group B. Australia, Afghanistan and Bangladesh were still in with a chance to grab the runners-up spot in Group A with the Proteas lying in wait. But Afghanistan beat Bangladesh by eight runs on the Duckworth-Lewis-Stern (DLS) method in a thrilling rain- affected encounter to advance to the semi-finals. South Africa won all three of their Super Eight fixtures en route to their semi-final qualification, and – having had two attempts at glory in 2009 and 2014, only to fall short on both occasions – they’ll hope it’s a case of…

I’M NOT a pessimist but an optimist. However, I’m not sure if South Africa is coming or going. I’m also not sure if the Government of National Unity (is it GNU or coalition?) will work. I hope it will work, for the sake of our country, children and generations to come. Since the May 29 elections, there has been – and still is – a political drama. Former president Jacob Zuma’s MK Party and its gang is pulling this way; the ANC and its crew the other. . It’s all about political power. The second most powerful political party in the country, the DA, is part of the GNU. However, seemingly, the DA wants to dictate the terms on how, and which, political organisations, should be part of the government.…

I refer to the front page article on Zizi Kodwa. I have an article (“Groups dismayed at Joemat-Pettersson’s move to energy portfolio) from the Cape Times (dated May 29, 2014) which quotes Zizi Kodwa as follows: “ANC spokesman Zizi Kodwa said: We do not determine an individual’s capabilities on the basis of past experience”. It would seem this attitude is currently prevalent in the about-to-be GNU! Ann-Gail Watson| Diep River What an incredibly sad day to read that Minister Naledi Pandor has bowed out of politics. What a loss to South Africa. She served with distinction, humility and aplomb … and enjoyed respect from all sides of the political divide. Her late father, the ANC’s Joe Mathews, we knew as “Uncle Joe” in Botswana during exile would have been so…

Anticipating the release on parole of child murderer and former top cop, Marius van der Westhuizen, his ex-wife’s legal team has lodged a complaint with the Judicial Inspectorate for Correctional Services (JICS). Charlotte van der Westhuizen’s legal team lodged the complaint with the JICS to bring under the spotlight “defects in the parole process” and to fight her ex-husband’s release on parole. Van der Westhuizen served 13 of his 24-year imprisonment sentence for the murder of his and Charlotte’s three children. Charlotte said it was a travesty of justice that her ex-husband had effectively served only four years for each of their children’s murders and said it was “shockingly inappropriate”. Van der Westhuizen, 61, is expected to be released on parole at the end of July until September 2034, after…

Come out to play! We’re all going to be at the East Coast Radio House and Garden Show 2024, which runs from June 29 to July 7 at the Durban Exhibition Centre. Every day and every night for 9 full days you’ll discover a brand-new world of fresh and fabulous takes on Creating Happy Homes … and you’ll leave with a headful of ideas, hands full of goodies and gadgets, and a heart full of joyful spoils and inspiration. We’ve got all the spoils this year, with over R300 000 worth of competition prizes in cash, product and experiences; not including our legendary show discounts and specials available every day. Bring the kids and join Plascon as they take you on a fun digital Treasure Hunt, and ka-ching, a chance…

KwaZulu-Natal premier Thami Ntuli officially introduced the provincial cabinet to AmaZulu King Misuzulu KaZwelithini yesterday at the Old Legislature Buildings in Ulundi. Ntuli said after the meeting, the discussions the cabinet had with the king centred on job creation and strengthening the province economically. “The king gave us his blessings and a message of support. It is important that we, as the leadership of this province, put the people of KZN first.” He said that the parties that make up the provincial cabinet had agreed to put aside their political affiliations and work for the people. Ntuli said they are building an inclusive government. “There is nothing I hate more than a government that promotes politics where it should not do so. It must not be a case where when…

DA Federal Council chairperson Helen Zille is yet to refute the letter bearing her signature spelling out her party’s demands from the ANC for it to be part of the Government of National Unity (GNU). In the absence of “fake news” declaration, it is safe to believe that Zille is demanding 12 Cabinet posts which, she wrote, should “rightly” include the position of deputy president “as is standard practice in similar governments around the world”. The hard line is seemingly intended to teach the ANC a lesson and the reality that it is no longer in charge of Parliament on its own. But should it have its way, the DA will basically be establishing a government within a government. There are other parties who have heeded the call to join…

Ukraine and Belgium go into their Euro 2024 clash today knowing that there is everything to play for and everything to lose as all teams in Group E are locked on three points heading into the final matchday. Belgium recovered from their opening loss to Slovakia to beat Romania 2-0 while Ukraine came from a goal down against Slovakia to win 2-1. There are all sorts of permutations and calculations to be made but both teams will know that a win guarantees a last-16 place and possibly top seeding in the group. Belgium looked like a wounded predator in their game against Romania, desperate to prove their best days are not behind them. No player exemplifies that more than Romelu Lukaku. The 31-year-old has had three goals disallowed by the…

AFTER an action-packed ODI series filled with a lot of disappointments, the Proteas women will shift their focus to the longer version of the game as they set their sights securing their second Test victory. The Proteas will go through another examination when they take on India at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai, starting on Friday morning at 6am (SA time). South Africa suffered a heavy innings and 284-run defeat at the hands of Australia in February. Now they will take on India for the third time in their brief history in Test matches. India have won both previous encounters and these are the key Proteas players that could turn the tie in their favour. Marizanne Kapp The 34-year-old holds the record for the most runs scored in…