Indholdsfortegnelse for 2024-07-17 i Mercury

Department of Trade, Industry and Competition Minister (dtic) Parks Tau’s budget vote for the 2024/25 financial year came under an onslaught of criticism yesterday on its lack of detailed attention to reviewing the entire tariff structure, the ocean economy with its 58% contribution to the economy, industrialisation and the lack of sustained strategies to sustain growth targets and job creation. The ANC, DA, EFF and MK said the budget was lofty and called on Tau to come up with more concrete plans to address industrialisation, and job creation in particular. “We have a 51% expanded definition of unemployment … There is need for a revolutionary approach but instead the government, in creating an incentive assembly scheme where multinationals will come with no downstream impact, no jobs that come out of…

Petra Diamonds, which mines for the precious stones in South Africa and Tanzania, yesterday reported that it lowered its net debt by $11 million (over R199m) during the half-year period to the end of June, while carats sold for the full year rose by 36%. The company is gearing up to deliver an annual cost-savings of as much as $30m. This would help to generate net free cash from the current financial year onwards and allow the company to “continue to deleverage and provide flexibility with regard to refinancing” its 2026 notes. Petra Diamonds CEO Richard Duffy said yesterday that the company’s “net debt decreased by $11m to $201m at June 30, 2024 compared to $212m” at December 31, 2023. This reflected Petra Diamonds’s “agility in exceeding the cost…

We love beautiful clothes and often it’s the designer who gets all the praise because they are the brains behind the specific garment. However, for it to come to life from the sketch to being an actual wearable garment, there are many hands involved, and these are the most important people in the industry who are somehow underrated. While some brands are still growing and the designer has to do most of the work themselves, other brands have invested in the following people for effective production, although they are still part of slow fashion. Creative director This is the person responsible for coming up with the designs. Most designers do it themselves, while others (mostly franchise brands) hire people to be creative directors. For example, South African designer Thebe Magugu…

The outcome of the recent general elections in which no political party obtained an outright majority, forcing parties to form coalitions, and the ease and speed with which the government was established in KwaZulu-Natal has boosted confidence in Durban’s business climate. The latest Business Confidence Index report, compiled by the Macroeconomics Research Unit at the University of KwaZulu-Natal for the Durban Chamber of Commerce, revealed an increase by 17.07 index points to 55.49 points in the second quarter of this year – up from 38.42 points in the first quarter. According to the report, this was the first time since its inception in the third quarter of 2022 that the index breached the 50-point mark, which signified a strong rebound in confidence in Durban’s business environment. Overall, it said all…

AN EXTRACT from Sky News coverage of the attempted assassination of Donald Trump: “Police said they were ‘not taking for granted that this was a lone wolf attack’ and the attack has now been described as a potential domestic terrorism act by the FBI.” I’d no idea the FBI indulge in domestic terrorism attacks. But if the coppers say they do, who am I to argue? Football patriotism A FOOTBALL fan who got a tattoo of the words “England Euro 2024 Winners” says he intends to keep the permanent inking despite the team’s 2-1 defeat to Spain in the final. Dan Thomas, 29, of Swindon, Wiltshire, got the tattoo, including a depiction of the Henri Delaunay Cup, on his left leg days before the final, but says he does not…

The conspiracy theories, linking the attempted assassination of former US president Donald Trump to various organisations and institutions, is destabilising in a politically charged environment. In its wake, the shooting spawned a tsunami of conspiracy theories, from the bizarre to the mundane and from the outlandish to the plausible. People gravitate toward conspiracy theories that affirm or validate their political views. The scope and massive widespread distribution of the shooting blurs its origins in a world enveloped in deception, disinformation, misinformation and strategic concealment. Conspiracy theories reinforce a belief that nothing in the world happens through coincidence. The refusal to recognise the role of chance leads many to develop a global view in which sinister and top secret conspiracies permeate all layers of society. Deluged by mountains of information, it’s…

As the Western Cape Government starts counting the costs of the severe weather that battered many communities, Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs (Cogta) Minister Velenkosini Hlabisa has agreed that the floods be declared a disaster. He was joined by his deputy, Dickson Masemola, and local officials in conducting site visits to a number of affected areas in the metro on Monday. Hlabisa described the situation of informal settlements as a “ticking time bomb” and warned residents against living on land that is not suitable for human settlement. “We are living in a period of climate change and we need to be more proactive and ensure we plan ahead. As the Government of National Unity we need to work together and deal with the situation of informal settlements in low-lying and…

A NURSE who was verbally abused for years by a doctor who used vulgar language towards her is due to get R300 000 in damages from the hospital which failed to act against the doctor, despite her complaints. In 2016, Tilana Louw, now a theatre manager at a private hospital in Bloemfontein, instituted a claim in the Bloemfontein High Court against Dr S P Grobler, who had made her life hell with his vicious words towards her. Grobler later died and Louw reached a confidential settlement with his estate. She, however, also claimed damages from the Netcare Universitas Hospital where both she and Grobler had worked. Louw’s claim against the hospital was based on the submission that she had laid numerous complaints against Grobler, without getting an appropriate response from…

We will have to move away from being a reactionary nation if we are to stop the road carnage, like that which claimed the lives of 11 children and their school transport driver in Carletonville last week. The vehicle in which they were travelling overturned and caught fire after being hit by a bakkie from behind. The driver of the bakkie remains under police guard in hospital and will be charged as soon as he is discharged. As has been the case in the past following these kind of tragedies, politicians and activists have been making all the right utterances regarding scholar transport. However, this debate should be ongoing and not just erupt in the wake of yet another tragedy. The responsibility of ensuring that children reach school and home…

The INTERNATIONAL Monetary Fund (IMF) held its global growth expectations for 2024 steady in a report yesterday even as it cut forecasts for the US and Japan, while warning of inflation risks and trade tensions ahead. The IMF expects the world economy to grow 3.2% this year, unchanged from its April forecast, according to its World Economic Outlook update. “Global activity and world trade firmed up at the turn of the year, with trade spurred by strong exports from Asia, particularly in the technology sector,” said the fund. For 2025, it expects global growth of 3.3%. But even as many countries saw better growth than anticipated in the first three months of this year, the IMF flagged what it called notable surprises in Japan and the US. The Washington-based lender…

LONDON: A UK judge said yesterday that he would ask prosecutors to consider perjury and forgery charges against an Australian computer scientist who falsely claimed to be “Satoshi Nakamoto”, the pseudonym used by the creator of the cryptocurrency bitcoin. James Mellor ruled at the High Court in London in March that Craig Wright, 53, was not the mythical figure credited with first launching the cryptocurrency in 2008, following a five-week trial. The Crypto Open Patent Alliance had sued Wright. He has claimed since 2016 that he was Nakamoto and insisted he was the author of a white paper that unveiled what would grow to be the world’s most popular cryptocurrency. | AFP…

PYONGYANG: North Korea has maintained an “extensive and multilayered” system of forced labour in a bid to use it as a means of controlling and monitoring its people for the interest of the state, a UN report showed yesterday. The UN Human Rights Office released a new report on North Korea’s use of forced labour, conducted between 2015 and 2023 with victims and witnesses. It highlighted “the widespread use of violence and cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment” by officials to discipline workers who fail to meet work quotas. Victims included individuals forbidden to leave their worksites and a female worker who was sexually abused. | IANS…

AN Olympic year should bring beautiful, nostalgic memories to anyone who has experienced the global sporting showpiece live. It is, after all, the ultimate stage for every aspiring sportsman or woman to showcase their talent – a stage reached only by a few. One of those few is Lebo Phalula. Yet, instead of the Soweto runner getting excited in anticipation of the Paris 2024 Games, the event triggers a sense of bitterness in the famous twin. “I got nothing out of going to the Olympics. It was a waste for me,” the accomplished runner said – the tinge of regret palpable in her voice. Phalula remains the only black woman to represent South Africa in the marathon at the Olympics. The 40-year-old was part of Team South Africa for the…

We all should be knowing that the climate transition is going to be very disruptive to our economy; some sectors will grow while others will decline. This is the clarion call which inspired the National Treasury and the Presidential Climate Commission (PCC) to collaborate in hosting a Climate Resilience Symposium, which was officially opened by President Cyril Ramaphosa in Pretoria yesterday. On the back of this symposium, the PCC released its Recommendations Report for a Just Transition Financing Mechanism (JTFM) to address the financial barriers and mobilise and allocate finance effectively, ensuring that projects which deliver community empowerment, alternative livelihoods, aid in diversifying local economies, and skills development are adequately structured and financed. Multiple market failures and complex challenges The JTFM provides an evolutionary roadmap on how we can finance…

THE ANC in KwaZulu-Natal has warned of making “wholesale” changes, even in the administration of eThekwini Municipality if necessary, to ensure the stability of municipalities. ANC provincial chairperson Siboniso Duma said the appointment of Cyril Xaba as the new mayor of the municipality is one of many changes that they are willing to make in eThekwini and other municipalities in order to ensure stability and performance. Duma described eThekwini municipality as a “flagship municipality” that is a “drawcard for investors” in the province. In a wide-ranging interview, Duma said there are no holy cows as even the most senior staff in the municipal administration who are not performing will not be spared in order to improve services. Duma, who is also the MEC for Transport and Human Settlements, was speaking…

ACTIONSA rejects the proposed budget cuts to the SA Revenue Service (Sars). We believe they will adversely impact on the taxman’s ability to collect revenue and perform its mandate, potentially affecting the overall fiscal balance sheet. As outlined in the proposed budget, Sars faces substantial cuts, with a nominal reduction of R769 million and a real cut of R1.3 billion. We contend that the cuts are unworkable and demand reversal. Owing to the critical role that Sars plays in collecting more than 90% of the government’s revenue, ActionSA believes it is ill-advised to further limit the capacity of the revenue collector. If Sars can’t operate at capacity, it will lead to constraints on the fiscal coffers. By cutting Sars’s budget, the government is biting the hand that feeds it, which…

As we celebrate the life of Madiba this month, we think of those who fought in the Struggle and their contributions towards democracy in South Africa. This past Saturday, the life and legacy of Desmond Tutu was commemorated with the Laughs for the Arch gala, auction and dinner – the second annual fund-raiser of the Desmond and Leah Tutu Legacy Foundation. Capetonians gathered, braving the stormy weather and missing the rugby, to celebrate the legacy of the Archbishop and support the work of the foundation, through an evening to raise money with an auction with entertainment by the country’s best comedians, who all had a personal relationship with the Arch. Set in the historic Cape Town City Hall, the Laughs for the Arch gala held greater importance during Mandela month.…

Communications and Digital Technologies Minister Solly Malatsi has underscored that policy credibility and certainty are pivotal for fostering an environment conducive to his department’s objectives. Malatsi on Monday said his department should promote and protect the soundness and predictability of the policy space to unlock the enormous investment and job creating potential of the ICT sector. “This means we must become obsessive about developing evidence-based policies and that policy direction does not change arbitrarily,” he said. Malatsi made the statement when he tabled the department’s R3.9 billion budget for the 2024-25 financial year during a budget vote debate in the National Assembly. He said the department has over the years committed to numerous timelines, including analogue switch off, spectrum auctioning and digitisation of the state, which were not met. “This…

University students who use Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools like ChatGPT to complete assignments, need to be careful not to cross the line between cheating and enhancing their academic work or they may face disciplinary action. This follows a recent report that hundreds of Unisa students were caught using AI tools during an exam, a report which was later slammed by the university stating that it has a balanced and reasonable approach to the use of AI tools like ChatGPT by students. Professor Irrshad Kaseeram, from the University of Zululand’s Economics Department, said the issue of students using AI tools to complete assignments and passing it off as their own work is problematic. Kaseeram said the university identified this as a problem early last year. “We have trained staff to identify…

SA’s future depends on its united ability to defy these regressive forces With its dominant ideological apparatus, the global liberal order has significantly normalised and legitimised the recolonisation of South Africa. It is the foreign-funded media outlets like the Daily Maverick and News24 that have been most instrumental in this process. These platforms seek to portray themselves as progressive voices. Yet their mandate is to shift the narrative to portray neoliberalism/recolonisation as a necessary and even benevolent step. Under the guise of balanced reporting, these media outlets have downplayed the sovereignty implications and highlighted the supposed benefits of foreign intervention. By framing the discourse in terms of economic pragmatism and political necessity, they have obscured the profound ethical and political compromises involved. This media complicity is an ideological betrayal that…

Donald Trump received a hero’s welcome this week as he entered the Republican National Convention arena with a bandaged right ear in his first public appearance since being wounded in a weekend assassination attempt. Hours after winning the formal nomination to be the Republican presidential candidate on Monday and announcing right-wing Senator JD Vance as his running mate, Trump marched into Milwaukee’s Fiserv Forum flanked by aides and waved at supporters on the opening day of what is expected to be a triumphalist gathering. Trump, who is due to give a formal acceptance speech tomorrow, took his seat to the sound of country singer Lee Greenwood’s patriotic hit God Bless the USA without delivering any remarks but appeared markedly moved by the rapt ovation he received from a packed venue.…

At least one person was killed in renewed anti-government protests across Kenya yesterday, as police clashed with demonstrators demanding President William Ruto step down. Youth-led nationwide protests that broke out a month ago against proposed tax hikes have continued even after Ruto withdrew the legislation and fired almost all of his cabinet. Activists say they want Ruto to resign and are calling for systemic changes to clean up graft and address poor governance. At least 50 people have been killed in the protests to date, the government-funded Kenya National Commission on Human Rights said yesterday. In Kitengela, a town on the southern outskirts of the capital Nairobi, police fired repeatedly in the direction of hundreds of protesters, some of whom were throwing rocks, TV footage showed. The protesters also burnt…

PESHAWAR: Islamabad: Eight Pakistani troops were killed when a suicide bomber rammed an explosive-packed vehicle into an army enclave, the military said yesterday, as the country battles a rise in militant activity. A group of 10 militants launched the attack on Monday in the western city of Bannu but were prevented from breaching military facilities, armed forces staff and their families, the army said. The attackers rammed an “explosive laden vehicle” into a wall on the perimeter of the area, killing eight soldiers and paramilitary troops. All 10 militants were killed in the ensuing battle in the city near the border with Afghanistan | AFP…

BANGKOK: Thai Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin ordered an urgent probe into the deaths of six foreigners at a luxury hotel in Bangkok yesterday, as authorities rushed to contain any fallout on the nation’s key tourism industry. The bodies of the victims were found at the hotel located in Ratchaprasong, an area popular with foreign tourists, officials said. The victims were all Vietnamese with US citizenships and died of suspected cyanide poisoning. Tourism is one of Thailand’s key industries accounting for about 20% of total jobs and making up about 12% of the nation’s $500 billion economy. Srettha’s administration has set a goal of attracting 80 million tourists by 2027. | The Washington Post…

Many will not take him seriously but Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus says Portugal will seriously test his team in Bloemfontein on Saturday. It is a leveller of sorts that Erasmus is fielding a second-string side and it has to be said that Portugal were the surprise package of the last World Cup and provided rich entertainment with their cavalier approach. The Portuguese have risen from 27th in the world rankings at the start of 2019 to their present ranking of 15th. “Portugal are a good team, as we saw with their victory against Fiji in the World Cup, while they also drew their clash against Georgia 18-18,” he said. “They proved that they could compete successfully against some of the top teams in the world and they will lift their…

The lead-up to a new season has always provided drama and shocks in the DStv Premiership and it has been no different this time around. Steve Komphela has found himself at the centre of attention after his surprise return to champions Mamelodi Sundowns as a senior coach. This comes after Rulani Mokwena was let go by the Pretoria giants leaving Manqoba Mnqgithi and Komphela to lead the technical team. Komphela departed Arrows after initially starting pre-season preparations as the club’s head coach. The 57-year-old is said to have not even had an opportunity to bid farewell to Abafana Besthende, as he jumped at the call of the Brazilians. One of his technical team members at Arrows, Mabhuti Khenyeza, who is said to be leading operations at the club, once again…

South African Fashion Week is preparing for another season towards the end of the year, and they have just announced the Mr Price Scouting Menswear Competition finalists who will be part of the showcase. Every year, SA Fashion Week invites menswear designers to enter the competition, and the finalists get to showcase their sustainable collections at a fashion showcase that usually takes place in October. Since its inception in 2012, the Scouting Menswear Competition has set out to select the best of the best within a large pool of young menswear design talent. Besides allowing them to showcase on a larger platform, the Scouting Menswear Competition introduces emerging designers to the media and buyers and helps them break into the retail market. After receiving many applications, the SA Fashion Week…

KWAZULU-Natal MEC for Transport and Human Settlements Siboniso Duma says his department will use a carrot-and-stick approach in law enforcement to deal with the scourge of accidents that claim thousands of lives on the roads each year. He said those who comply with the country’s laws, especially in the logistics industry, must be incentivised, while those who violate them should be punished. Duma said accidents on the country’s roads often involved trucks and the issue of drunk drivers was also a serious concern. Recently appointed to the position, Duma said he was grateful that the two portfolios were previously held by the ANC, making it easy to continue the work that had been done. Speaking to members of Independent Newspapers’ editorial team in Durban yesterday, he said the new administration…

YOUR* spirituality is not affirmed by how much you read the holy Scriptures, sing hymns, pray, clap your hands or dance to contemporary religious music. It’s not determined by how much you visit your place of worship or how much money you donate to its causes. It’s not affirmed by your title (if you have one) or the ornate design of your robe (if you wear one) or the position you hold in the hierarchy of your faith. It is affirmed by your willingness to take responsibility for your life and your choices, and the good use of your skills and talents. It is measured by how you treat people, especially loved ones and strangers; how you love your enemies, offer hospitality, and respect, regard and love those who reject…

The one issue that would indicate the extent to which the members of the Government of National (GNU) are birds of a feather concerns climate change. Despite the historical and scientific fact that man-made emissions have nothing to do with climate change, thanks to the herding abilities of the mass media, bought scientists and the World Economic Forum’s (WEF) agenda of depopulation and Orwellian order, it is shameful that pursuit of the policy called the Just Energy Transition (Jet) by President Cyril Ramaphosa (Business Report, July 16) is not challenged by some of the GNU members. An enlightening decision by the GNU would be to abolish the Presidential Commission on Climate Change. It is simply a lackey of the globalists and their insidious agenda to transform countries like South Africa…

Durban’s internationally acclaimed Kearsney College Choir bagged an international accolade, the overall Grand Prix award, and were crowned champions of the Golden Voices of Barcelona earlier this month. The 54-strong touring choir were named winners in the Youth Choirs category. Before their win in Barcelona, the choir had a successful concert tour in Germany. The boy’s choir director of music, Bernard Kruger, said they stole the show and left the audience craving for more in a sold-out 2 000-seater venue in Hamburg, Germany. Professor Dr Horst Köhler, former president of Germany and former head of the International Monetary Fund, was the choir’s patron in Germany. The boys also performed in Lüneburg at the Leuphana University’s 1 000-seater auditorium, as well as in Bremen, Hagen and Hannover, where they performed at…

Imagine an organisation where every decision is made transparently, impartially and inclusively. This utopian vision isn’t just a fantasy – it’s a cornerstone of effective governance and stakeholder relationship management. Welcome to the world where fairness in administrative justice reigns supreme, transforming stakeholder interactions and catapulting organisations to new heights of trust and success. Fairness in administrative justice isn’t a nebulous concept; it’s a concrete principle that demands equitable treatment for all individuals and groups by administration transparently, impartially and inclusively. This means decisions are transparent, unbiased and respectful of all parties involved. Fairness encompasses clear processes and open communication, decisions free from favouritism or prejudice, accountability for actions and decisions, and ensuring stakeholders can voice their views and concerns. Fairness isn’t just a legal necessity – it’s a strategic…

Israeli forces battled Hamas-led fighters in several parts of the Gaza Strip yesterday, and Palestinian health officials said at least 50 people were killed in Israeli bombardments of southern and central areas. The Palestinian Islamist militant group Hamas has accused Israel of stepping up attacks in Gaza to try to derail efforts by Arab mediators and the US to reach a ceasefire deal. Israel says it is trying to root out Hamas fighters. In Rafah, a southern border city where Israeli forces have been operating since May, five Palestinians were killed in an airstrike on a house, the Gaza health officials said. In nearby Khan Younis, a man, his wife, and two children were killed, they said. Later yesterday, an Israeli airstrike on a car killed at least 17 Palestinians…

WASHINGTON: Billionaire Elon Musk has plans to commit around $45 million (R814 million) a month to a new pro-Trump super political-action committee (PAC). Musk had indicated that he planned to start his donations this month to the America PAC, backing Donald Trump’s presidential run, it was reported. However, Musk was not listed on a filing by the group, which shows that it has raised more than $8 million. Lonsdale Enterprises and the Winklevoss twins were among the donors to America PAC. Lonsdale donated $1m, and Cameron and Tyler Winklevoss each contributed $250 000. This move gives Trump a high-profile backer in the November 5 election. | Reuters…

Rome: A French tourist has been taken to hospital after being attacked yesterday by a bear in northern Italy. The victim, 43, had been out running. His life was reportedly not in danger. The man was helped by medics and airlifted to the Santa Chiara hospital in Trento with injuries to his limbs. Forestry officials are investigating. There are about 100 bears in Trentino, officials said. Last year, a jogger in Trentino was killed in a bear attack on a woodland path, launching a debate on the dangers posed by the animals reintroduced in the region between 1996 and 2004. Just 50 bears were to be introduced, but their numbers have grown in recent years. | AFP…

Tiger Woods said his decision against serving as captain of the 2025 US Ryder Cup team was a result of having too many other commitments. Keegan Bradley will be the captain when the Americans face the European team at the Bethpage Black Course in September next year in Farmingdale, New York. “Well, the decision was very difficult for me to make,” Woods said yesterday, two days before he will compete in the Open Championship at Royal Troon in Scotland. “My time has been so loaded with the tour and everything and what we’re trying to accomplish. I’m on so many different subcommittees that it just takes so much time in the day, and I’m always on calls.” Woods, 48, wears many hats when he doesn’t have a golf club in…