Indholdsfortegnelse for 2024-08-14 i Mercury

A new mobile network virtual operator (MVNO) under the name C-CONNECT has been launched with the aim of bringing more competition to the South African mobile market. C-CONNECT, a SIM-only offering, is piggybacking on Cell C’s network and is backed by a venture capital and SIM card distributor, Basa. Blue Label Telecoms, which provides digital distribution of mostly prepaid products, is Cell C’s single largest shareholder. At the launch event yesterday, C-CONNECT COO Richard Anderson said previous MVNOs had approached the market in the wrong manner as they were only competing on price. “We’ve designed the product as we’ve designed it. We want to be different,” he said. C-CONNECT offers prepaid deals that reward users with 10% back whenever they buy airtime. Called Cha-Ching, these rewards can be used to…

You and I are much, much more than walking catalogues of excellent, good, poor, and bad choices. Humanity escapes cause and effect, linear simplicity. We are not slot machines. When it comes to our families, especially when it comes to our children, we embody astounding complexity, vast desired and undesired entanglements, some of which load our behaviours and can steer and drive our reactions. We have all seen this when tasting the power evoked within when a loved one is threatened or harmed. Of course, things are much better for all when we are rational and responsive and “responsible” and sound-minded, but there is always so much more going on under the surface for people. The primordial being within each of us is often far from reasonable. This is no…

The DA notes Momentum Health Solutions’ warning that it would cost more than R1.3 trillion per year for the National Health Insurance (NHI) to provide each South African with the same quality of care as received under the private health system. The DA has always been in support of universal health care especially for the poorest of the poor; however, NHI in its current form won’t solve this and can bring a collapse of the healthcare sector. We once again ask President Cyril Ramaphosa and National Treasury to explain how the NHI will be funded. We also require detailed information on how the NHI Fund will be safeguarded against the institutionalised looting and corruption rife within the public health sector. The DA has never and will never support the NHI.…

Sport Minister Gayton McKenzie together with a cheering crowd of just more than 1 000 joyous South Africans, warmly welcomed back Mzansi’s Olympic gold medalist Tatjana Smith (nee Schoenmaker) and the rest of the Team South Africa as they landed at the OR Tambo International Airport yesterday. Smith was Team South Africa’s top achiever at the Paris Olympics scooping the gold and silver medals in the 100-metre and 200-metre breastrokes, respectively. A proud fan who got to be up-close and personal with Smith was generous enough to hand the retiring swimming star a R100 note for her sterling performance in Paris. ”I wish I could give you more,” said the young woman as she handed over a note after posing for a selfie with one of South Africa’s greatest…

The Royal Household Trust has not been spared from the effects of the country’s sluggish economy and budget cuts after it was allocated R77.5 million for its operations this financial year. The allocation is a decrease from the R79m that had been allocated to it in the previous financial year. Premier Thami Ntuli presented the budget while tabling it for the Office of the Premier yesterday. The premier’s office is a co-ordinating department with a total budget of R784.1m for the 2024/25 financial year. Several political parties raised their concerns about the budget for the Royal Household Trust and the general treatment of King Misuzulu kaZwelithini and failure to map out a more significant role that the king can play in the affairs of the province beyond just a ceremonial…

Described as incredibly gifted, Ruben Jansen, who performed on some of the world’s top breakdancing stages, was on a journey to make his dreams come true when his life was cut short during a shooting in Eerste River, in the Western Cape. A matric pupil from Apex High School, Jansen had also been training as a sea cadet. His promising future was on display on world stages after he competed in breakdancing on international stages such as in Poland last year where he participated in the International Dance Organisation championships. He was declared dead on the scene of the shooting on Sunday night while two more people were wounded. Police spokesperson Wesley Twigg said: “Kleinvlei police responded to a complaint of a shooting. “On arrival they found the victims with…

A former South African teacher and self-confessed paedophile is liable to be extradited to stand trial in Scotland. Iain Wares, 84, is sought by the prosecuting authorities in Scotland to stand trial on various counts relating to sexual offences allegedly perpetrated on teenage boys at elite schools in the Edinburgh area during the 1970s. Wares challenged his extradition in the Western Cape High Court. The court found that he is liable to be extradited, but remitted the matter back to the justice minister for the final decision. He was partially successful in his review application as the court found that four of the charges he was due to face have lapsed in law. The court, however, found that the remaining three charges have not lapsed and if extradited, he will…

Senegalese news organisations widely heeded a call yesterday for a news blackout to protest against economic measures by the new government which they say threaten the industry. Most newspapers did not publish and two popular radio stations played music instead of broadcasting the news. Television stations such as TFM, ITV and 7 TV demonstrated solidarity with the protest by displaying its slogan and image – three raised fists gripping a pencil. The Senegalese Council of Press Distributors and Publishers said in a joint editorial published on Monday that the freedom of the press was “threatened in Senegal”. The body, which groups editors of private and public companies, complained that the authorities, who came to power in April, were “freezing the bank accounts” of media companies for non-payment of tax. It…

Botswana gave a rapturous welcome to sprinter Letsile Tebogo yesterday as he returned home with the country’s first-ever Olympic gold medal. Families with children, elderly people and young supporters waved Botswana’s sky blue and black national flag as the Olympic team landed back in the capital, Gaborone. Hundreds of supporters had gathered at the small airport, benefiting from an impromptu half-day holiday declared by President Mokgweetsi Masisi to celebrate Tebogo’s success. Before greeting the athletes, Masisi danced on the tarmac as an aide held an umbrella to shelter him from the sun. Tebogo, 21, became the first African to win the men’s 200m, in an African record time of 19.46sec, when he powered past Americans Kenny Bednarek and Noah Lyles in Paris on August 8. His gold as well as…

London: The Church of England yesterday apologised to abuse survivors after a priest reportedly assessed as a possible risk to children received a pay out. Anglican church head Justin Welby, the Archbishop of Canterbury, pictured, admitted the survivors had been “let down” and acknowledged the “concerning background” in the case of Canon Andrew Hindely. The Church confirmed that “a number of allegations were made about the clergyman over a number of years”, but said there had not been a criminal conviction or any finding of misconduct in independent church courts. Hindley, who was removed from office owing to ill health in 2021, had been subject to five police investigations into allegations of sexual assault, the BBC reported.…

Rome: Palermo police said yesterday they had carried out a raid in Brazil with their local counterparts to cripple the lucrative businesses of a leading member of Sicily’s Cosa Nostra. They arrested an Italian businessman from the Palermo area living in Natal in Brazil’s north-eastern state of Rio Grande do Norte, who is accused of helping a Mafia leader hide illegal gains by investing in business ventures in Brazil. The authorities seized financial assets worth E50 million (about R993m) and property belonging to 17 individuals, all of whom are under investigation, according to Palermo’s financial police.…

They know they have big shoes to fill this weekend, but the Springboks will look to emulate last weekend’s performance, without putting too much pressure on themselves. Bok coach Rassie Erasmus made wholesale changes for the second Rugby Championship match in Perth on Saturday (kick-off 11.45pm) against Australia, with outside back Aphelele Fassi one of 10 new faces in the team. The fullback last played in the convincing win over Portugal in Bloemfontein and will be geared up to put in another strong performance to keep his name among the Boks’ No 15 conversation for the rest of the international season. After the 33-7 win in Brisbane that brought the world champions five points, Fassi believes they will face an improved Wallabies, who are looking for redemption after their dismal…

BRUCE Ramokadi, like most Orlando Pirates faithful no doubt, would love nothing more than to see the Buccaneers become the first South African team to add a second star above the club’s crest. “We were the first ones to be African champions and we must lead the way in winning a second. Pirates must do it before (Mamelodi) Sundowns,” said Ramokadi, who was in that history-making team of 1995 that won the continent’s premier knockout cup. A young attacker back then, the now-retired Ramokadi believes Jose Riveiro’s team have what it takes to conquer Africa like they did and he is hopeful that they learnt a valuable lesson from last season’s campaign. Pirates were knocked out of the competition in the preliminary round by Botswana’s Jwaneng Galaxy on penalties, the…

The Blue Bulls may have scored nine tries last weekend, but they know that they can’t afford to waste any opportunities in Friday’s Currie Cup clash against the Pumas in Mbombela (kick-off 5.15pm). The Pretoria side were 24-7 up at half-time at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday, and completed a 55-21 victory against the hapless Welkom outfit. But captain on the day, Cornal Hendricks, said yesterday that coach Phiwe Nomlomo’s team had identified a few shortcomings that they will need to improve on to extend their unbeaten run to seven matches. They currently top the log with 26 points from five wins and a draw, three points ahead of the Lions. Jimmy Stonehouse’s Pumas outfit are notoriously tough customers at Mbombela Stadium, and will be keen to get going once more…

Productivity in South Africa’s mining sector slumped by 3.5% in June compared to the same period last year amid a weak global environment. Analysts said the key sector’s reclining output had a dragging effect on the country’s gross domestic product (GDP) in the second quarter. Data from Statistics SA yesterday showed gold was the biggest contributor to the 3.5% plunge in mineral productivity after it fell by 12.6% year-on-year in June. Platinum Group Metals (PGM), battling low prices and roiled by retrenchments and reduced investment, also recorded a 5.8% slump in output in June. Investec chief economist, Annabel Bishop, said the contraction in mining output had come against the backdrop of a “weak global environment” characterised by low commodity prices, inflation and elevated interest rates. South Africa’s manufacturing production also…

In the aftermath of World War II, Franklin D Roosevelt and the Allies faced the daunting challenge of rebuilding Germany in a way that would ensure peace, stability and the prevention of future conflict. The solution? Demilitarisation, decentralisation, denazification, re-education and economic restructuring. According to Seth Eisenberg of the The Times of Israel, the strategy should be considered when addressing the complex situation of post-war Gaza. His starting premise, that any plans for Gaza post war should be decided upon by Israel and its Allies, is the first red flag. According to his master plan, the demilitarisation of Gaza would ensure that future aggression by groups like Hamas would not take place. He has the shoe on the wrong foot. How about the removal of all Israeli military presence first?…

Here’s a guide for comparing the David vs Goliath proportionality in the Arab-Israeli conflict. There are 15 000 000 Jews and 1 500 000 000 Muslims in the world. There is one Israeli state and 22 Arab states. There is one Jewish UN member and 56 Muslim UN members. During the Mandate period (1920-48), the Arab population doubled by immi gration. Jews were called Palestinians and Arabs identified with their clans or countries of origin. From 1948 on, Jews became Israelis. Israeli Arabs called themselves Israelis or Arabs. Arabs in Judea & Samaria (West Bank) and Gaza were mostly Jordanians or Egyptians. In 1964, the Soviet KGB created the Palestine Liberation Organization to drive the Jews out of Israel and diminish American influence in the region. They recruited Arab terrorists…

A total of R14 billion has been earmarked by the Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) and the Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs Department for the maintenance of water infrastructure as well as new infrastructure in the 2024/25 financial year. Water and Sanitation Minister Pemmy Majodina said the R14.4bn allocation was made up of R6.8bn from the Regional Bulk Infrastructure Grant (RBIG), R2.4bn in transfers to water boards and R5bn allocation from the Water Services Infrastructure Grant (WSIG). Majodina disclosed this when she was responding to parliamentary questions from DA MP Stephen James Moore, who enquired about plans to ensure that local and provincial governments earmarked funds for maintenance of infrastructure and new infrastructure. She said both her department and Cogta allocate grants to municipalities for water and sanitation infrastructure…

Municipal managers and directors of companies responsible for polluting water could be in for a surprise should the Department of Water and Sanitation have its way in tightening the legislation dealing with water pollution. If the department succeeds in its attempt to introduce these amendments, municipal managers and directors of companies could be slapped with personal orders should their institutions be on the wrong side of the law. Water and Sanitation Minister Pemmy Majodina disclosed this when responding to parliamentary questions from MK Party MP Thembinkosi Siboniso Mjadu, who asked about the steps her department has taken to tackle the challenges of water pollution and inadequate sanitation facilities in rural areas. Majodina said water pollution may be from instances where the polluter cannot be pinpointed and it was normally due…

A man who, in a fit of rage, used his vehicle as a weapon to commit murder, has lost his bid to appeal against his murder and attempted murder convictions. Mbuyiselo Mphetsheni turned to the high court, sitting in Kimberley, to appeal his convictions and his effective 17-year jail sentence. He partially succeeded when the court reduced the sentence to 15 years. The lower court had earlier convicted him of murder, attempted murder and contravention of the Road Traffic Act as he had failed to assist the people he had hit and had not reported the accident to the police. Motse Mooki, who hid behind a tree, had later died of his injuries, while Priscilla Mooki had been knocked down and injured. The court was told that earlier on the…

At a time of great global uncertainty and heightened tension that threatens an all-out World War III – characterised in particular by this week’s grossly provocative assassinations of Hamas leader and top negotiator, Dr Ismail Haniyeh, and Lebanese Hezbollah commander Faud Shukr – the disintegration of multilateralism couldn’t be more blatant. Too many examples of competing geopolitical interests continue to pit nations and groupings against each other instead of uniting the international community under a common goal of peaceful coexistence. As Israel expected retaliation for the assassinations of the spelt out above, Washington was dispatching a dozen warships to the Middle East, the Persian Gulf and the Mediterranean Sea. The legacy of slavery and colonialism continues to be felt across the Global South, where former imperial forces still hold sway…

A 4.8-magnitude earthquake struck the city of Hama in western Syria on Monday night, with residents across Syria, Jordan and Lebanon feeling the impact and tremors lasting into yesterday morning. Syria’s health ministry said about 65 people sustained minor to moderate injuries as they fled in panic following the earthquake. The Syrian civil defence operating in the northern opposition-held areas of the war-torn country said it had deployed to several areas but had not received any reports of damage. Syria’s National Earthquake Center said 13 tremors were recorded east of Hama city until yesterday. Jordan’s state news agency reported a 3.9 magnitude aftershock less than an hour after the initial quake. Residents across Lebanon felt the quake. Both Lebanon and Syria have been hit by Israeli air strikes over the…

Several leaders of Tanzania’s main opposition party Chadema and hundreds of their supporters were released yesterday after mass arrests over a banned youth meeting in the southwest of the country, police and a party spokesperson said. Human rights organisations have criticised the arrests, with Amnesty International saying they were part of efforts to intimidate the opposition in the run-up to local government elections later this year and a national election in 2025. President Samia Suluhu Hassan has taken some steps to ease restrictions on the media and opposition since coming to power in 2021, but rights groups say arbitrary detentions have continued. Police banned the meeting in the city of Mbeya that Chadema’s youth wing planned to hold on Monday on the grounds that it was likely to “breach the…

The African Union’s health watchdog yesterday declared a public health emergency over growing mpox cases on the continent after an outbreak of the disease spread from the Democratic Republic of Congo to neighbouring countries. “I declare with a heavy heart but with an unyielding commitment to our people, to our African citizens, we declare mpox as a public health emergency of continental security,” Jean Kaseya, head of the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC), said during an online media briefing.…

Istanbul: Türkiye said Horn of Africa rivals Somalia and Ethiopia made “notable progress” on the second round of talks in Ankara yesterday to overcome their differences. Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan mediated talks between his counterparts from two rival neighbours in Africa as Türkiye is pushing for diplomatic and economic influence on the continent. Türkiye has been carrying out shuttle diplomacy between Ethiopian and Somalia’s foreign ministers since Monday. “I am pleased to announce that the number and extent of issues we discussed, has increased significantly, compared to the first round,” Fidan said.…

HERE’S an alarming bit of news from Sky. A wood-beamed pub, called The Old Neighbourhood Inn has, closed its doors after serving the villagers of Chilford Hill, in Gloucestershire, Olde Englande, for 150 years. Not just that, the pub was the only one in the village. And, truly alarming, its closure follows the closure in the first three months of this year of 239 pubs in England and Wales. It seems Britain’s pub culture is on the wane. Anyone who has spent time there will be heartbroken. Villager James Leach captures dismay at the disappearance of an institution that was more than a source of liquor; it also played host to local bands, mobile bakeries and an affectionate black Labrador. “The pub was all that was left to represent…

The National Health Insurance (NHI) will harm health care and result in poverty in the country spreading even wider. Solidarity brings such truths into the spotlight again after ill-considered statements by Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi after the ANC’s lekgotla of its executive committee in Boksburg. Motsoaledi criticised groups whose cost calculations predict high amounts for the NHI and said it would not really cost that much. He called it “mathematical hooliganism” and said the numbers were used against the poor in the population. Pressure groups started making calculations about NHI costs precisely because the government’s cost calculations were non-existent. He said analyses of NHI costs differed on estimated amounts, but all came to the same worrying conclusion. Not one independent analyst has been able to arrive at an amount that…

Some think that by partaking in worship like prayer, fasting and so on, they are the bee’s knees. Many overlook the reality that support for truth and justice is critical in their sojourn into the afterlife. They seek to deceive God while they spread chaos, injury and/or mayhem in the lives of other people. What am I talking about? The Palestinian genocide says much about Zionism and the Jewish, Christian and Muslim communities. Although we cannot assume all Jews support the genocide, the silent majority creates suspicion. Similarly, Germans and Europeans who did not support the Holocaust but were silent during and after the killings, must respond either in this life or in the next reality for their complicit silence. Let’s not be fooled; Israel cannot survive a week in…

Crime in KwaZulu-Natal is hindering Vodacom’s efforts to achieve the company’s goal of building an inclusive digital society that caters for everyone including those living in rural areas. The company yesterday said that of the 1 186 batteries that went into the network, 1 125 were stolen. Molefe Mahlangu, Vodacom’s executive of operations, speaking at the company’s regional head office in uMhlanga yesterday, said criminal incidents have gone down in the last financial year, but incidents of battery theft are still high. The company is affected by crime across the province with the hot spots including eThekwini, Pietermaritzburg and KwaDukuza. “Out of the 1 186 batteries that went into the network, 1 125 were stolen. That effectively means we only installed 61 batteries. “And if you consider that each site…

Ordinary members of the Umkhonto WeSizwe Party (MKP) are fearful of a “witch-hunt” within the party, saying their concerns are based on the number of party leaders who are being purged “on spurious grounds”. Two members, one deployed as an MP and another at branches in the Midlands area, have said the lack of elected structures in the party was a serious problem that needed to be addressed urgently. The Mercury also spoke to a member of the party who was instrumental in building the party’s support on the ground, who agreed that the lack of elected structures had opened the door to the party being misused. The party recently removed 18 MPs, saying they were not the people it wanted to send to Parliament, raising questions about how they…

As South Africa grapples with four “colliding” epidemics, ineffective leadership and corruption within the healthcare system adds to the country’s burden and poses an obstacle to building a better healthcare system. This is according to infectious diseases epidemiologist, Professor Salim Abdool Karim, director of the Centre for the Aids Programme of Research in SA (Caprisa) and a member of the World Health Organization’s Science Council. Abdool Karim was speaking at the 28th annual KZN Doctors’ Healthcare Coalition conference recently. The quadruple burden of disease in South Africa is actually colliding epidemics including maternal, newborn and child health; HIV/Aids and tuberculosis (TB); non-communicable diseases; and violence and injury, he said. “South Africa is in the middle of a transition, which means infectious diseases are coming down slowly, and chronic diseases are…

PERHAPS it is too easy to register a political party in South Africa and contest an election. It could also be that political parties formed out of spite for another do not have much to offer once the anger has subsided. Even the EFF, which initially appeared to be a success after being established as a breakaway from the ANC, lost votes in the national polls. The demise of Cope is a classic example of a fall from grace, while the UDM has also not been a phenomenal success since it was founded. The miracle and disruptor of the 2024 general election, the MK Party of former president Jacob Zuma, may need to watch its step or risk disappearing into thin air too. If not in court appearing before the…

The US and European allies have called on Iran to “stand down”, as fears mounted of an imminent attack on Israel that could spark an all-out war in the Middle East. Tensions are soaring in the region, with the US rushing a missile submarine and an aircraft carrier group in a show of support for its key ally. Iran and its Lebanese ally Hezbollah have vowed revenge for the killing of the political leader of the Palestinian group Hamas in Tehran, and of a Hezbollah commander in Beirut. International efforts to stave off an Iranian attack have intensified, with US President Joe Biden and the leaders of France, Germany, Italy and Britain warning Tehran in a joint statement on Monday. “We called on Iran to stand down its ongoing threats…

Tokyo: Japan’s unprecedented megaquake advisory has prompted thousands of hotel cancellations in areas flagged as high-risk, dealing businesses a heavy blow in what would have been one of the busiest seasons, hoteliers said yesterday. The weather agency said last week a huge earthquake was more likely in the aftermath of a magnitude 7.1 jolt in the south on Thursday, which left at least 15 people injured. The advisory, the first of its kind, doesn’t mean a colossal tremor is imminent, but that the risk of such an event has now been elevated, if still low, the authorities said. In western Kochi, among the regions projected to be hit hardest, at least 9 400 people have cancelled their bookings for the annual Obon holiday, when many Japanese visit their home…

BERLIN: Border controls introduced by Germany could be extended beyond December 15 as they have proved successful in fighting smugglers and irregular migration, the German interior minister said. “For me, the border controls will remain as long as necessary,” Minister Nancy Faeser said yesterday in Goerlitz on the Polish border. This would probably be until the European asylum system takes effect. The EU agreed in December on new rules to handle arrivals of asylum seekers and migrants, a deal hailed as a breakthrough after almost a decade of feuds on the issue. It could take until the end of 2025 for the pact to take full effect.…

Frankfurt: A Norwegian traveller managed to board a plane at Munich airport without a ticket two days in a row – and even flew to Sweden on the second occasion, police said yesterday. The 39-year-old sneaked past security at Germany’s second-busiest airport for the first time on August 4. Passengers are supposed to scan boarding passes at an automatic gate but he stood close to another traveller and got through without one, the Bild daily reported. He then snuck past airline staff at the gate and boarded the plane. But the plane was fully booked and his deception was discovered .…

Manqoba Mngqithi is a candid coach. As such, he has revealed how one of his key players could potentially fail to reach his best due to “losing his cool” at times. Lucas Ribeiro was one of Mamelodi Sundowns’ best players last season as he made a seamless adaptation to the PSL after his move from Belgium. The Brazilian, who boasts great dribbling skills and an eye for goal, was so good that many tipped him to be nominated for the Footballer of the Season award. But it wasn’t to be. Ribeiro scored 16 goals and registered nine assists in 39 games last season, and has been heavily tipped to build on that momentum this season. Sundowns’ coach Mngqithi has lauded the impact of the 25-year-old on their set-up. “I think…