Indholdsfortegnelse for 2024-07-22 i Mercury

Trade agreements between the US and African countries, such as the African Growth and Opportunity Act (Agoa), could undergo significant reforms after the November elections in the US, particularly if the Trump administration wins a landslide victory. This is according to US foreign policy expert Professor Michael Walsh – a senior fellow in the Africa Programme at the Foreign Policy Research Institute. Agoa allows more than 30 African countries to export 1 835 types of goods to the US consumer market, and in turn affords the US access to critical minerals, product value chains, and investment opportunities in Africa. It is scheduled to expire in September next year, but there is a new bill seeking to extend the preferential trade agreement by 16 years, pushing out the programme’s expiring…

There’s a sane and beautiful voice living within you that is trying to get through to you. It’ your inner voice, your conscience. What is your inner voice saying about your diet, spending, gambling, or your role in your family conflicts? I bet you hear it, feel the nudge of your inner voice, when you speak harshly or are hard or cruel. I believe that many of our interpersonal troubles come from the unwillingness or the inability to hear or trust our inner sane voice. If you give yourself time to think things through, you will know what is good and what is right, and what is not. I believe we know when we are using others for our own purposes and when we sacrifice their best interests for our…

THE DA welcomes the commitment of Minister of Home Affairs Dr Leon Schreiber to address the challenges within South Africa’s work permit system. The DA has long championed the resolution of the visa backlog and the implementation of Operation Vulindlela for issuing visas to attract skills, knowledge, and know-how to South Africa, for the benefit of South Africans. Simplifying the application process, reducing the backlog, and introducing measures like the points system for skilled workers will not only attract valuable talent but also foster a more inclusive and thriving economy. The Reserve Bank has estimated that four local jobs are created per skilled migrant. Contributing to an environment to rescue South Africans from unemployment was the top manifesto pledge of the DA and one that we will pursue with unwavering…

Agriculture Minister John Steenhuisen and the Eastern Cape Department of Agriculture are finalising action steps to respond to foot and mouth disease (FMD) outbreaks reported on multiple farms in the province, which have raised concerns in neighbouring Western Cape. This comes as Western Cape Premier Alan Winde, at the first meeting of the Western Cape Government’s (WCG) newly constituted cabinet, directed Agriculture and Economic Development MEC Ivan Meyer to urgently write to Steenhuisen requesting him to implement a temporary ban on the movement of livestock into the Western Cape. He also requested that Mobility MEC Isaac Sileku provide additional support from Provincial Traffic Services “to prevent the disease from spreading”. The provincial department explained that FMD is a highly contagious viral disease of cloven-hoofed animals such as cattle, sheep, goats,…

Swirl, sniff and sip your way through some of South Africa’s best wines at the annual Pick n Pay Wine & Food Festival Durban. The retailer brings the Cape Winelands to Chris Saunders Park in uMhlanga for one day only on Saturday, July 27, accompanied by delicious food and an afternoon of live entertainment. With every imaginable varietal on offer for wine lovers to sample, alongside a sumptuous selection of fresh and delicious food offerings, wine enthusiasts are invited to discover new wines and enjoy old favourites, from elegant, crisp white wines and full-bodied, robust reds, to the finest sparkling wine, Cap Classiques and MCCs. Some 30 farms will be showcasing their wines at the festival, and a general ticket includes a tasting glass and 20 wine-tasting vouchers. Producer representatives…

The provincial secretary of the ANC in KwaZulu-Natal, Bheki Mtolo has lashed out at the ANC’s alliance partner Nehawu, saying its “incompetent members” were responsible for the collapse of many government entities. Mtolo’s comment comes after Nehawu criticised the Government of National Unity (GNU). Addressing people in Kokstad at the weekend, Mtolo said the problems encountered at the Department of Home Affairs, Sassa, emergency services (state ambulances), and labour inspectors are due to the incompetence of Nehawu members. Nehawu is an affiliate of Cosatu, and an alliance partner of the ANC. Recently, its members were filmed in a widely shared video on social media chanting “Asiyifuni i-GNU” (we don’t want GNU). Mtolo said Nehawu hates the GNU led by the ANC because many of its members will no longer benefit…

SHORTLY after Professor Puleng LenkaBula was appointed as the University of South Africa’s (Unisa’s) first woman principal and vice-chancellor (VC) in 2021, she initiated a research-led project to identify catalytic niche areas (CNAs) that would not only activate and enhance Unisa’s academic agenda, but also strengthen academics’ experiences as engaged scholars who refuse to be academic pies in the sky, scholars who will care to address the needs of our society. Ten such CNAs were identified and introduced to Unisa’s epistemic community at a Lekgotla in March of that year, and approved by Council in June. Implementation is now well under way across colleges with some CNAs running across several colleges. The 10 CNAs and the colleges in which they have so far been adopted are: • Marine Studies –…

The death toll from an Israeli strike on Yemen’s rebel-held port of Hodeida climbed to six, Houthi health authorities said yesterday, with firefighting teams battling a blaze at the harbour. Saturday’s strike on the port, a key entry point for fuel and humanitarian aid to war-ravaged Yemen, is the first claimed by Israel in the Arabian peninsula’s poorest country, about 2 000km away. It killed six people and injured 83, many of them with severe burns, the rebel-run health ministry said in a statement carried by Houthi media. It said three others remained missing. Earlier, Houthi military spokesperson Yahya Saree said the rebels’ “response to the Israeli aggression against our country is inevitably coming and will be huge”. Israel said it carried out the strike in response to a drone…

French security services rejected more than 4 000 applications for Paris 2024 Olympics accreditations, including over espionage and cyberattack concerns, the country’s caretaker interior minister said yesterday. Gerald Darmanin said French authorities have so far checked close to 1 million accreditation requests for the Games that kick off on July 26 and had rejected 4 340 people, some over radical Islamist connections or suspicion of being foreign spies. Close to 100 were rejected over espionage fears or concerns they were agents trying to get an accreditation using a different profession. “They are probably not there to carry out attacks. But in addition to intelligence and traditional espionage, there is the possibility of accessing entry points into computer networks to carry out a cyberattack,” Darmanin told the weekly Journal du Dimanche.…

Sydney: A pram carrying twin 2-year-old girls rolled into the path of an oncoming train in Sydney yesterday, police said, in an accident that killed one of the children and the father who dashed to their rescue. One of the little girls survived after she landed between the rails when the pram fell off a platform, police said. She was “largely untouched” by the train that passed above her. The parents had taken a lift down to the station platform and as they exited, they took “their hands off the pram”, police said. It rolled in the direction of the train lines. The mother and surviving daughter were taken to hospital, and were in a stable condition. | AFP…

Beijing: Thousands of rescue workers and local volunteers are searching for people still missing after their vehicles plunged into a flooding river when a highway bridge collapsed in China’s Shaanxi Province. Aided by 205 vehicles, 63 vessels and 82 drones, authorities said the number of professional rescue workers at the site had increased to 1 630 by yesterday, more than a day after the collapse that has already left 12 dead and another 31 missing. More than 1 500 local residents have also joined the search. A 40m section of a bridge in Yanping village came down on Friday after a heavy rainstorm triggered a flash flood. | IANS…

After dispatching Portugal 64-21, several players gave themselves a chance to head Down Under with the world champions for their double Tests in Brisbane and Perth against the Wallabies. Independent Newspapers looks at five players who stated their case with good performances against Portugal. The rise and rise and rise of Sacha What a breath of fresh air Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezuluhas been, and it wasn’t just against Portugal that he strutted his talents – Ireland saw it too. And there is no doubt that the utility back will be a must for the Springboks in the Rugby Championship. He’s made a massive impact off the bench, whether at flyhalf or fullback – a first receiver who can kick, run and defend, and one who doesn’t stand back for anything. With more…

Athletes at the top of their game are powered not by steaks and eggs but by plants. Veganism, once considered a niche lifestyle, is now making waves in the world of sports. More athletes are embracing it and for good reason – it offers advantages that can boost performance and overall health. Athletes who choose veganism aren’t just following a trend; they’re strategically choosing to optimise their nutrition. Plant-based diets, rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and legumes, provide essential nutrients and antioxidants that support recovery and enhance endurance. As the excitement builds for the 2024 Olympics, which kicks off on July 26, the stage is set not only for athletic prowess but also for a groundbreaking culinary transformation. More than 200 chefs are gearing up to feed 15 000…

Dear Mr Markandan. Thank you for your response to my letters. It is encouraging to know that they are being read. It means the purpose in writing them has been achieved. Your concerns, although valid to an extent, appear to be contradictory and the premise of your arguments seem flimsy. I am unsure how you can equate the thousands of naturally occurring deaths which take place daily across the world with the wilful execution, murder, oppression and genocide of Palestinian people? This is the first thing. The second thing is that as much as I wish I could write about every single injustice being perpetrated on innocent human beings globally, I cannot. I simply do not have the capacity. Here’s a suggestion: why don’t you do it? I hear your…

IT IS difficult to dismiss the circumstances involved in the near-assassination of Donald Trump as just another conspiracy theory. Since he announced his candidacy for the presidency in 2015 and his intention to expose and oppose the Washington DC political establishment, Trump has been in their crosshairs: the Hillary/Obama fabricated Steele dossier of Russian collusion, spying on Trump Tower offices, the two-year Mueller investigation of Trump, two baseless impeachment trials, scrutiny of his tax returns, denied re-election by proven blatant election fraud in 2020, falsely indicted for the January 6 insurrection, three other politically motivated, baseless indictments, relentless political slander which likened Trump to Hitler, an armed raid on Mar-a-Largo, a $470 million fine. Demonising and destroying Trump is not a conspiracy theory. It has been and is the clear…

The work of a court and all who appear before it is serious business, a judge said, voicing his disdain at a magistrate who, among others, remarked during the sentencing of a rapist that the latter “could not keep his penis away from the complainant.” Judge Andrew Reddy, sitting in the Mahikeng High Court in North West, said unacceptable remarks by the regional magistrate tainted the decorum of the proceedings and impugned the dignity of the court. The remarks by the judge came to the fore following an appeal by John Griqua, who was found guilty of repeatedly raping his former girlfriend. He felt that his life sentence was shockingly harsh. Judge Reddy, however, said the magistrate was correct in handing down a life imprisonment sentence. But the judge was…

Religious organisations have called on the Airports Company South Africa (Acsa) to resolve the long standing issue of Muslim women who wear headscarves being targeted by security at airports. This comes after a notice was issued by Chief Dawid Stuurman International Airport in Gqeberha, informing passengers that individuals wearing any kind of headgear, including headwraps, “hijabs”, “burkas” and “niqabs”, will undergo a physical search. “Upon request, physical searches can be conducted in an enclosed area,” said the notice on the airport’s social media platforms. Acsa issued a statement, appealing for co-operation with airport security personnel as they undertake security procedures which it said are the internationally recognised standard operating procedures compliant with national aviation legislation and regulations. “Our security protocols include random physical searches that are performed for all passengers…

AI is not just a technological advancement, it’s a legal and cultural battleground UNDERSTANDING artificial intelligence (AI) has never been more crucial than in the age of algorithms and robots. News media stands as a vital bridge to achieving this, translating the complexities of AI for the public, shaping societal perceptions, and ultimately influencing how society interacts with these technologies. This is because news media, encompassing traditional outlets like newspapers and television, as well as online platforms and social media, directly reaches a vast and diverse audience, making it a primary source of information for many people. Further, the various news media narrative frames of AI present these technologies through specific lenses, emphasising certain aspects over others, a feature that shapes how the public perceives AI. But there’s a catch:…

Bangladesh’s Supreme Court yesterday scrapped most of the quotas on government jobs that had sparked nationwide protests by students that have killed at least 114 people in recent days. Dismissing a lower court order, the Supreme Court’s Appellate Division directed that 93% of government jobs in the country should be open to candidates on merit, Bangladesh Attorney General A M Amin Uddin said. “Students have clearly said they are in no way part of the violence and arson that have taken place in Bangladesh since Monday,” he said by phone. “I am hoping normalcy will return after today’s ruling and people with ulterior motives will stop instigating people,” Amin Uddin said. “I will ask the government to find out the culprits behind the violence and take strict action against them.”…

Ukraine needs long-range weapons to protect its cities and troops on the frontline from Russian bombs and drones, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said yesterday after a massive overnight drone and missile attack. Russia launched its fifth drone attack on Kyiv in two weeks overnight, with Ukraine’s air defence systems destroying all the air weapons before they reached the capital, Ukraine’s military said. Ukraine’s air force said that its air defence systems destroyed 35 of the 39 drones and two cruise missiles that Russia had launched overnight. The weapons, the air force said, targeted 10 of Ukraine’s regions. There were no casualties and no significant damage reported, Serhiy Popko, head of the Ukrainian capital’s military administration, said. Zelenskiy renewed his call for Western allies to allow long-range strikes on Russia on…

Nairobi: Kenyan opposition leader Raila Odinga insists “justice” is a prerequisite for any talks with the government after deadly clashes, as President William Ruto warned unrest could “destroy” the country. Initially peaceful rallies that started last month against planned tax rises descended into violence, with dozens killed after some marchers stormed parliament. Ruto shelved his tax reform and proposed a national dialogue. Odinga demanded “compensation for every victim of police brutality”. Rallies have continued across the country and the opposition has called for more. A court last week suspended a police move to ban protests in central Nairobi. | AFP…

Moscow: A man wielding a sledgehammer decapitated a statue honouring Soviet dictator Joseph Stalin in a city near Moscow, at the weekend. Video taken in the city of Zvenigorod showed the suspect staggering around the statue before knocking its head off in what appeared to be one swoop and walking away. The man also damaged a bust of Soviet founder Vladimir Lenin before fleeing, media reported. He is being sought by police. Stalin’s statue in Zvenigorod was erected by activists last year. It faced demolition after officials accused them of installing it without permission. The decision was later reversed. | AFP…

THE sunglasses are on, as they always are, despite the fact we are indoors. The walk is a swagger as usual and when he speaks, an uninformed observer would be mistaken for thinking they are listening to an American. Ryan Mphahlele has just taken to the stage, and just as he does on the track, he commands attention. Mphahlele will compete in the 1500m at Paris 2024 and while his character is the kind you’d expect smack talk from – like the American boxers – the lad from Tembisa delivers a sensible message as he speaks of participating in his maiden Games. “For me, it is just a matter of going through the rounds (heats) and if I made the final, it will be an opportunity to medal,” the 26-year-old…

President Cyril Ramaphosa’s Opening of Parliament Address offers a vision for South Africa to set itself on the path to growth and a better life. But if the government fails to deliver on its progressive calls, it risks alienating an already sceptical nation. Cosatu welcomed the president’s unequivocal statement that the ANC-led 7th administration would respect the country’s progressive labour laws, protect workers’ hard-won rights and seek to uplift their working and living conditions. This needs to be accompanied by resourcing the CCMA and overhauling the struggling Unemployment Insurance and the Compensation of Occupational Injuries and Diseases funds, stamp out corruption and ensure monies due to workers reach them quickly. The government has allocated a massive R943 billion for infrastructure investments over the next three years. If spent well and…

POMP and circumstance … you can’t beat the Poms for laying it on, like the recent Opening of Parliament in London. Cannonades, horse-drawn carriages, cavalry, infantry in scarlet marching into the Palace of Westminster (Parliament) to search the basements for gunpowder. They haven’t forgotten Guy Fawkes. It’s a great show, getting saturation coverage. I watched on Sky News where the commentary was as entertaining as it was informative. It begins in the House of Lords, the King and Queen under their crowns, the lords in their crimson robes. Here a fellow called Black Rod (equivalent to the Speaker of the House of Commons) is central. After the King’s speech (written by the Prime Minister), he takes over. Black Rod takes his title from the black rod (equivalent to the House…

SHAME. President Joe Biden unfortunately has contracted Covid. “Unfortunately,” because if he does not survive, get better and move like legendary El Cid (who was able to vanquish rebellious Arabs those days – even while his corpse was harnessed in the uptight position on to his steed) who is going to take responsibility for the deathtrap that he dug for the tens of thousands of helpless beings in Palestine? Once a government man moves out of regular circulation, he gets away scot-free. All the trees and shrubs all around the world can whisper the wholesale slaughter of Saddam and his gang. But the Bushes are now free to graze on grasslands, undisturbed and free as newborn foals. Obama (who’s that?), licked the last lap out of Libya. But he’s no…

WHENEVER something sensational happens in the world, such as the attempted assassination of Donald Trump, conspiracy theories abound almost immediately. For example, it is alleged that the assassination attempt had been “staged” by Trump and his campaign. The Secret Service quashed this theory. TikTok falsely suggested that the Secret Service was involved. Once again, not true. Some believe that President Biden and his administration had “some role” in the plot. Then there is the anti-Trump X user suggesting: “Everyone seems to be having a good time, laughing and smiling for the cameras.” Fact checking, however, showed it was a “manipulated version” of the assassination image. Some posts claimed Trump was wearing a bullet-proof vest and that this saved him “after being shot in the chest”. This proved to be false…

JOE Biden’s withdrawal upends what was already a White House race for the ages, but it will rattle Donald Trump, too –forcing him to recalibrate a campaign that was focused almost entirely on his former opponent. For months Trump and his allies have been playing on concerns that the 81-year-old Biden may no longer be fit for office, gleefully sharing video clips of every stammer, rhetorical gaffe and red carpet stumble. He was frequently a target of Republican mockery and scorn at the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee, where Trump’s newly announced running mate JD Vance called him “Fake Scranton Joe.” But with the Democrat no longer in the race, the Trump operation finds itself pushed into a strategic pivot, forced now to shift its messaging to fit a contest…

Newly appointed Basic Education Minister Siviwe Gwarube is hoping President Cyril Ramaphosa will take heed of the request to refer the contentious Basic Education Laws Amendment Bill (Bela Bill) back to Parliament. The Amendment Bill was passed by the National Assembly in May and only awaited the signature of the president. The DA, some other political parties and civil organisations had rejected the bill and threatened to challenge it in court. The ANC, South African Democratic Teachers’ Union (Sadtu) and other unions supported the bill under former minister Angie Motshekga. Gwarube is hoping the president will allow the bill to be referred back to Parliament for review in order to “fix” those parts which have been rejected. She said the bill should be revised to avoid hindering pupils’ futures with…

ResearcherS from the Faculty of Engineering at Stellenbosch University (SU) have found that using an indoor fireplace can result in the release of harmful particles that can be dispersed in the air and cause health problems when inhaled. Some particles can settle in the lungs, while others can even enter the bloodstream. The researchers point out that various studies have raised concern about poor indoor air quality in informal settlements, where fires are made indoors as a necessary measure for heating. However, its impact in formal housing, where fireplaces and indoor braais are commonly used as amenities, has not been investigated. “Our results show that the levels of harmful substances released during indoor fireplace use exceeded the recommended guidelines and standards of the World Health Organization (WHO). The WHO recommends…

Former president Jacob Zuma set foot in Parliament on Friday for the first time since he was forced to step down from office by the ANC six years ago. Zuma’s appearance in the parliamentary corridors took place during the debate on the Opening of Parliament Address (OPA) delivered by his successor, President Cyril Ramaphosa. He snubbed the opening of Parliament just as he had done with the State of the Nation Addresses since Ramaphosa took the reins in 2018. Zuma’s attendance at the debate was not without drama, though. uMkhonto weSizwe Party (MK Party) MP France Mfiki sang his praises on seeing him and shouted: “Msholozi, welcome to the House.” This was as the OPA debate was under way with Correctional Services Minister Pieter Groenewald on the podium and National…

In the quest for economic growth and poverty alleviation in South Africa, a critical factor that cannot be overlooked is the urgent need for traditional banks to step up and start funding black businesses. The establishment of a Government of National Unity (GNU) provides a unique opportunity to address the disparities that have long hindered the progress of black entrepreneurs in the country. The recent remarks by Vivian Reddy, chairperson of Edison Power Group, at the reSurgence Conference in Durban shed light on a deep-rooted issue in South Africa’s economic landscape – the lack of support from traditional banks for businesses led by black entrepreneurs. Reddy’s revelation that he did not receive a single cent from local banks for his ambitious R2 billion Oceans Mall and Radisson Blu Hotel…

China released a policy document yesterday, outlining known ambitions, from developing advanced industries to improving the business environment, with analysts spotting no sign of imminent structural shifts in the world’s second biggest economy. The 60-point document’s publication follows the closed-doors meeting of the Communist Party’s Central Committee, led by President Xi Jinping, which takes place roughly every five years, and is known as a plenum. It was held from July 15-18 as China verges on deflation and faces a prolonged property crisis, surging debt and weak consumer and business sentiment. Trade tensions are also flaring, as global leaders grow increasingly wary of China’s export dominance. These challenges have led some economists to urge Beijing to shift focus to boosting consumer demand and away from a debt-fuelled, investment-led model that funnels…

Washington: During a campaign rally in Grand Rapids, Michigan, US Republican vice-presidential candidate JD Vance has criticised Vice-President Kamala Harris. “Kamala Harris said something to the effect that I have no loyalty to this country,” Vance said. “Well, I don’t know, Kamala. I served in the US Marine Corps and built a business. What the hell have you done other than collect the cheque?” Harris had posted a 45-second video on X, criticising Vance for supporting a national abortion ban and voting against protecting In Vitro Fertilisation. Vance added: “She did serve as the border Czar during the biggest disaster open border that we’ve ever had in this country.” | IANS…

WASHINGTON: Former president Donald Trump said at the weekend that nobody warned him of a problem in the lead-up to his rally in Pennsylvania when a would-be assassin shot him in the ear. “How did somebody get on that roof? Why wasn’t he reported?” Reports said US Secret Service top officials rejected requests from Trump’s security detail for more manpower at events before the assassination bid on July 13. The agency reportedly denied these requests, saying it lacked resources. Secret Service director Kimberly Cheatle will testify at a hearing today on the shooting. | Reuters…

It would be hasty to say that Manie Libbok’s days in a Springbok jersey are numbered but he has almost certainly been overtaken in the flyhalf pecking order by Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu. Handre Pollard will also be looking over his shoulder after Feinberg-Mngomezulu delivered a masterclass in the second half of the defeat of Portugal in Bloemfontein. And if the 22-year-old continues on his current trajectory, it is not a stretch to suggest he will be the first-choice flyhalf at the 2027 World Cup in Australia. Pollard will be pushing 34 in 2027 and while that is not exactly ancient ‒ Johnny Sexton was 38 at the last World Cup for Ireland ‒ Feinberg-Mngomezulu will be in his prime at 25. At the Free State Stadium, the TV cameras regularly flashed…