Indholdsfortegnelse for 2024-08-16 i Mercury

■ In this week’s Personal Finance Saturday Page, we look at the real-life effects of fraud. Cisca Kaasjager, a registered professional accountant, had her identity stolen. She recounts the numerous hoops she went through to try to have the resultant issues with her credit record resolved. ■ Life Insurer Liberty said it paid R9.14 billion in insurance claims in 2023. The group said the top five claim conditions in 2023 were spread across cancer, cardiac and cardiovascular diseases and disorders, respiratory disorders, strokes, and traumatic injuries. ■ It’s election time, we consider the question: Should investors be worried? ■ If you have questions on investment, tax, and insurance matters, we have experts from PSG to answer these questions for you. ■ For all your…

As the new government seeks economic growth, it is self-evident that it needs to withdraw policies, like the sugar tax, that stymie it. President Cyril Ramaphosa recently said that the drive for inclusive economic growth is at the heart of the Government of National Unity’s agenda. Minister of Agriculture John Steenhuisen similarly said the agricultural sector should work to enable farmers to flourish, and for small farmers to become self-sustainable and productive as fast as possible. SA Canegrowers strongly supports this approach as small-scale growers are at the heart of our industry. SA Canegrowers is an industry association of sugarcane growers that represents over 24 000 small-scale growers and 1 200 commercial growers. But to fully realise this inclusive economic growth, the government will need to create a cohesive, forward-looking…

With the implementation of the two-pot retirement system in September 2024, experts are urging employers to apply a gender-sensitive lens to their employee engagement strategies to ensure equitable outcomes for all employees. “Treating all people equally doesn’t necessarily result in equal outcomes. Traditional gender roles and societal expectations can exacerbate the pressure on women to prioritise family needs over their own financial security,” says Samantha Jagdessi, head of advice and best practice at Old Mutual Corporate Consultants. “Employers have a key responsibility to educate women employees on the new system and to understand the social nuances and potential implications for women.” Reports suggest that women are more likely than men to use their retirement savings to support their families in emergencies. During the Covid-19 pandemic, for example, Australian women were…

Women dominate the South African property market, outnumbering men as property owners. This is according to a recent report by Lightstone, which provides data to the property and vehicle industries. In its latest research, Lightstone found that women-only buyers account for 2 154 000 (38%) properties and that women co-own 1 883 000 (33%) properties. Men-only owners account for 1 694 000 (29%) properties. Ten years ago, Lightstone reports, mixed-gender couples buying property outnumbered both male-only and female-only buyers. In 2016, female-only buyers surpassed male-only buyers and the number of female property owners has steadily increased, while the number of male property owners has remained relatively unchanged. In 2022 female-only buyers surpassed couple buyers too. However, although more women are buying property, the research shows they are doing so at…

The new Disney trailer of Snow White, starring ex-Israeli Defence Forces member Gal Gadot and Rachel Zeglar as an olive-toned Snow White, made me nearly weep with glee. How fabulously appropriate for the times to have an outspoken supporter of the Gaza genocide cast as the evil witch and the antagonist as pro- Palestine. (Zeglar posted a Free Palestine tag alongside the trailer, which just makes the story more tangled than Rapunzel’s hair.) Talk about art imitating life! The casting directors nailed it! Gosh, the articles just write themselves, don’t they? Disney execs are sadistic. They have served poor Gal as a sacrificial lamb in return for box office success. The backlash, gaining momentum and making the movie a hot topic, is going to garner tons of publicity faster…

There is a rare opportunity to right a lot of South Africa’s wrongs in one go. Corruption and unemployment are two major roadblocks. Permit me to explain how they can be simultaneously addressed within the current administration. I suggest an amnesty, largely on the ANC’s past wrongdoing in office, in return for liberalisation of labour laws. This may be for a bit further down the line. Futuristic citations here are hypothetical plays on how the interactions could unfold. Many in the ANC have engaged in acts of corruption during its time as the dominant party. It is risky, then, for the centrist and former opposition parties, including the DA, to now be partnering with the ANC as revelations on past malfeasance continue to trickle out. These risk overwhelming the ANC;…

KZN Premier Thami Ntuli yesterday said Transnet National Port Authority (TNPA) must move swiftly with the revival of the rail network in the province to boost the economy and relieve congestion on the roads. Ntuli was speaking at the christening ceremony at the Port of Durban of five of Transnet’s seven new tugboats which cost R1 billion. Two more tugboats are to be launched in the Eastern Cape in the next few days. Transnet said the tugboats are part of the marine fleet renewal programme which forms parts of its recovery plan to improve efficiency and assist larger vessels to dock at the Port of Durban. TNPA said that the tugboats are equipped with the latest technology and improved bollard bull-capacity. The tugboats were built by Damen Shipyards based in…

THE country’s struggling economy is now a serious threat to the nation’s physical health with the department of health (DoH) in KwaZulu-Natal warning that it is struggling to deliver on its mandate due to severe budget cuts. The department’s budget has been cut by R17 billion in the past five years. The MEC for the department Nomagugu Simelane-Mngadi made these revelations as she tabled her budget for this financial year at the provincial legislature on Wednesday. The department has been allocated R53.8 billion for this financial year, the second biggest budget after the KZN department of education. MPLs raised concerns that the budget is no longer adequate to meet the department’s needs. The department detailed its objectives of bringing quality healthcare closer to the public, and having to balance…

Coaches are thrown in the deep end and do more than what is expected of them AS WE celebrate Women’s Month, we should also reflect on the strides our women rugby players are making and the different challenges they face. Recent achievements such as the Women Boks winning their third Rugby Africa Women’s Cup and the Springbok Women’s Sevens team finishing in 11th place at the Paris Olympics are commendable. Over the past seven years, we’ve witnessed remarkable growth and international development of the sport, signalling a major shift towards recognising women’s voices on the global stage. While this is laudable, there is still a pressing need for continued progress, especially in women’s rugby in South Africa. The ongoing, and somewhat unfair, comparisons of women rugby players and their male…

The Paris 2024 Olympics will help to boost China’s sports economy as it used the global spectacle to expand its market presence through sports-related exports and e-commerce. The Olympic ideal is aimed at uniting nations under the banner of sportsmanship and competition, but it also offers countries a unique platform to showcase their strengths and capabilities to a global audience with China showing its prowess with the amount of gold medals won. Communiqué of the third plenary session of the 20th Central Committee of the CPC at the end of last month reaffirmed China’s long-term vision of deepening reform and pursuing modernisation based on the three key pillars of innovation, green energy, and consumption as growth drivers. A focus on the sports industry will drive the pivot to domestic consumption.…

Mobs vowing to guard Bangladesh’s student-led revolution roamed the site of a planned rally for ousted premier Sheikh Hasina yesterday, beating up some of her suspected supporters with bamboo rods and pipes. Hasina, 76, fled to neighbouring India by helicopter last week as student- led protests flooded Dhaka’s streets in a dramatic end to her iron-fisted rule of 15 years. The interim government replacing her, led by Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus, has invited UN investigators to probe the violent “atrocities” that accompanied her ouster, which saw hundreds killed by security forces. Yesterday, was the anniversary of the 1975 assassination – in the midst of a military coup – of Hasina’s father, independence hero Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, a date her government had declared a national holiday. Huge rallies around Bangladesh…

ATHENS: Investigators suspect a faulty power cable may have caused Greece’s worst wildfire this year, said sources speaking about the blaze that killed one woman and torched 10 000 hectares near Athens, covering an area about the size of Paris. The blaze, which began on Sunday, broke out in a forest outside Varnavas town, 35km from the capital and in Athens’ northern suburbs. The authorities questioned Varnavas residents. A 76-year-old man said a wooden electricity pillar outside his home, which had a loose cable fastened to it with a hanger, could have triggered it, officials said.…

Boulouris-sur-Mer: France commemorated the 1944 Allied landings in Provence yesterday, an event overshadowed by the Normandy landings two months earlier, but key to the WWII endgame in Europe. Six African leaders attended, and President Emmanuel Macron singled out the contribution of soldiers recruited – often forcibly –in French overseas colonies, notably in Africa. It took decades for France to highlight the role of non-white soldiers in the fighting. Macron led the commemorations at the Boulouris necropolis, but much of the event was cancelled because of storm warnings.…

Jason Smith belongs to an elite group of players in South Africa. The Dolphins all-rounder was part of the Aiden Markram-led South African side that raised the ICC Under-19 World Cup trophy in Dubai a decade ago. Markram and fast-bowler Kagiso Rabada, who led the Junior Proteas attack, have enjoyed stellar careers with the senior national team since, and many had expected Smith to follow in similar vein. Blessed with long levers, the Capetonian stands tall at the crease, and seemed to possess all the ability when he struck a maiden List A half-century on his 1-Day Cup debut for the Cape Cobras all those years ago. The expectation proved too much for the former Wynberg Boys’ High School prodigy, as he struggled to live up to the hype and…

THE rock and surf fishing has been interesting. The fish have been around, but the fishing has been tough. Put the time in and you will reap the rewards. The North Coast has seen the bulk of the early summer flatfish and sharks. There have been some decent blackfin and sandies hooked already with the fish leading the scoreboard. Bigger meaty baits have been the trick to get the bite. Look for colder water areas and try to get into the deepest water possible. The edibles have been difficult to catch with not much happening on the North Coast apart from a kob or seven. Please remember to limit your catch and not catch your limit. The central coast has seen a patchy catch report. There have been some spots…

Pension funds play an important role in securing the futures of minor beneficiaries of members who die prematurely. This is the view of Danie Hattingh, principal officer of the Building Industry Bargaining Council’s (BIBC’s) Pension and Provident Fund, who says a pension fund is so much more than saving for retirement; it is also a crucial vehicle for ensuring the minor children of employees who pass away have a solid financial platform able to meet their daily living requirements. However, he says that where pension funds were once viewed as part and parcel of most employment agreements, this is no longer the case for many South Africans. A survey of more than 5 000 employees last year established that only 36% of respondents were able to access a retirement fund.…

HEY, it’s the Boks versus the Wallabies again tomorrow, this time at a reasonable hour, just before noon. Last week, the fans had a difficult adjustment to make, watching rugger to the dawn chorus of birdlife, the continued snoring of bedmates and fighting off cats that think it’s an occasion to take up position on one’s chest. And what a game that was, a walloping for the Aussies despite the three yellow cards our guys picked up at the end, making it 15 versus our 12. Remarkable stuff! Will the Aussies have an answer this time? All will be revealed tomorrow. And at a reasonable time. The damsels of the Pub With No Name in Morningside are strumming at their knickers in anticipation of supplying elastic for a fashioning of…

The DA in KwaZulu-Natal commends the cost-cutting measures implemented by our two DA MECs of finance and public works and infrastructure immediately after taking up office. With KZN drowning in billions of rand debt and lack of efficient services, we are proud that our MECs have set an example from the moment they hit the ground running. One of the first orders of business by MEC of Finance Francois Rodgers was to shut down his department’s secondary Durban office which had cost taxpayers R1 million a year. This translates to a staggering amount of more than R5m saved over the full 5-year term of office. Further, upon delivering his 2024/25 provincial budget last month, MEC Rodgers took the decision to cut out the middleman by printing his speech in-house, saving…

Zulu king Misuzulu kaZwelithini’s Traditional Prime Minister and Cogta MEC, Reverend Thulasizwe Buthelezi, yesterday announced that Prince Mbonisi Bhekithemba kaBhekuzulu will be one of the members of the conflict mediation panel to resolve the succession disputes in areas under amakhosi. Buthelezi called a media briefing yesterday to announce the conflict mediation panel, which consists of Prince Mathubesizwe kaBhekuzulu, who will lead the team, Prince Mbonisi kaBhekuzulu, Prince Vulindlela kaBhekuzulu, Prince Mxolisi kaBhekuzulu, Princess Lindi kaBhekuzulu, Prince Thuthukani ka- Mcwayizeni kaSolomon, Inyosi uBuzetsheni Mdletshe, Reverend Canon Hamilton Mbatha and Reverend Canon Daniel Mthembu. The traditional prime minister did not take any questions from the media on the disputes between Prince Mbonisi and the king or within the royal family. Prince Mbonisi, half-brother of the late king Goodwill Zwelithini kaBhekuzulu, and…

OUTGOING EFF deputy president Floyd Shivambu was “both the brains and the sword in the party”. This is the view expressed by an EFF member in KwaZulu-Natal following the announcement that Shivambu had ditched the EFF he co-founded almost 10 years ago to join the uMkhonto weSizwe Party (MKP). Shivambu and Mzwanele Manyi announced yesterday that they had quit the EFF, raising fears that more members could leave to join the MKP. EFF commander-in-chief Julius Malema said there were many people who were “double parking” (linked to the EFF and another party), adding that fighters (EFF members) should brace for more defections. An EFF member in KZN, speaking on condition of anonymity, said Shivambu’s departure, while a shock to some, was not unexpected. While it was a big loss, it…

Over the 10-year span of 2014 to this year, gender disparity in unemployment rates has persisted across all education levels in South Africa. Women, irrespective of their educational background – whether they have less than a matric certificate, a matric certificate, other tertiary qualifications or a graduate degree – consistently face higher unemployment rates compared to men, according to Statistics SA. “Regrettably, women in South Africa continue to shoulder a disproportionate burden of unemployment, underemployment and lower workforce participation compared to men. “This is partly because women are more likely to take on household duties, child-rearing and other responsibilities that limit their opportunities in the labour market,” StatsSA said in a report released on Tuesday. The trends in labour force participation and absorption rates for men and women from 2014…

A WOMAN who threw a bag of groceries at her father-in-law was vindicated after the KwaZulu-Natal High Court, sitting in Pietermaritzburg, overturned her conviction of assault with intent to do grievous bodily harm (GBH). The court said the incident was so minor that Sadia Rahim should not have even been convicted of common assault, let alone assault GBH. In fact, the judge said, the matter should have never even come to court. Rahim successfully appealed her conviction and subsequent sentence of a R5 000 fine or five months imprisonment, wholly suspended for five years. The basis of the charge was an incident on December 24, 2019, during which her father-in-law sustained an injury: swelling to his right ankle. The evidence was that Rahim lived in a garden cottage adjacent…

THE concept of a green economy, which emphasises sustainability, resource efficiency and social inclusivity, has gained traction globally. In South Africa, transitioning to a green economy is seen as a pathway to sustainable development, addressing environmental challenges while promoting economic growth. However, the gendered dimensions of this transition are often overlooked. The rhetoric surrounding the green economy in South Africa is infused with promises of sustainable development, poverty alleviation and gender equality. Policy frameworks and international agreements emphasise the need for an inclusive approach, recognising women as key stakeholders in environmental management and beneficiaries of green growth. Governments and international bodies frequently highlight the potential of green jobs to empower women, reduce gender disparities and enhance equity. Despite the rhetoric, the reality for many women in South Africa tells a…

A new round of Gaza ceasefire talks was underway in the Qatari capital Doha yesterday, an official briefed on the meeting told Reuters, with Israel’s spy chief joining his US and Egyptian counterparts and Qatar’s prime minister for the closed-door meeting. The talks, an effort to end 10 months of fighting in the Palestinian enclave and bring 115 Israeli and foreign hostages home, were put together as Iran appeared on the point of retaliating against Israel following the assassination of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran on July 31. With US warships, submarines and warplanes dispatched to the region to defend Israel and deter potential attackers, Washington is hoping a ceasefire agreement in Gaza can defuse the risk of a full-out wider regional war. Hamas officials, who have accused Israel…

Moscow: Russia said yesterday its forces had captured Ivanivka, a front-line village about 15km from the Kyiv-held transport hub of Pokrovsk in east Ukraine. The Russian defence ministry said its army had “liberated the village of Ivanovka” in Ukraine’s eastern Donetsk region, using the Russian name for the village. Meanwhile, the UN rights office said yesterday it had asked Moscow to allow it to visit Russian regions affected by a cross-border attack by Ukrainian forces. “I can confirm that the UN Human Rights Office has sent a request to the Russian authorities to facilitate access by the office to areas of the Russian Federation affected by the hostilities, including Belgorod, Bryansk and Kursk regions, further to our human rights monitoring and assessment mandate,” Liz Throssell, a spokesperson for the Office…

Sydney: The Melbourne Symphony Orchestra said yesterday it had made a mistake in cancelling a performance by a celebrated British-Australian pianist over remarks criticising Israel’s military campaign in Gaza. At a Sunday concert, British-Australian pianist Jayson Gillham dedicated a piece to “the journalists of Gaza” – some of whom, he said, had been the victims of “targeted assassinations” by Israeli forces. The Melbourne Symphony Orchestra said the use of their stage “for expressing personal views” was inappropriate. After a fierce public backlash, it apologised for its “error” in “asking Jayson to step back from his performance”.…

Pietermaritzburg has lost one of its most loved sporting institutions after football side Maritzburg United announced their decision to relocate. The Team of Choice now ply their trade in the Motsepe Foundation Championship, following their relegation from the top flight two seasons ago. Since their fall to the second division, they lost the support of the Msunduzi Municipality, and were even kicked out of the Harry Gwala Stadium and replaced by Royal AM. Maritzburg’s ‘Friday nights under lights’ became a thing of the past as the club was forced to play all of its games last season at the Sugar Ray Xulu Stadium in Durban. Along with the relocation, the club is also expected to be renamed, a decision club CEO Younus Kadodia confirmed recently. According to several reports, the…

This is the final article in a series that summarises findings from Just Retirement Insights 2024, a tracking study conducted by retirement income specialist, Just SA. The findings of Just Retirement Insights 2024 indicate a very real need for income certainty in retirement. When asked what they would most like from their retirement income, respondents showed a strong preference for retirement income that will last throughout their lifetime, keep pace with inflation, and be minimally impacted by market volatility. Interestingly, these features are characteristics of most types of life annuities. A life annuity provides a regular monthly income stream in retirement for the rest of your life and doesn’t require you to manage the underlying investments year on year. This steady passive income can protect a retiree from some of…

“What parenting advice could you offer my wife and me? asked the proud dad, “my son is 16 months young.” Above all, love your wife with joy, freedom and courage. This will reduce loads of the anxiety that naturally tries to derail all childhoods. Lavish your baby, then young child, then pre-teen and teenager with affirmation and affection. No matter what you and your wife face, when you come home from work, or he returns after time away, or when he wakes in the morning or in the middle of the night – baby or teenager – be glad to see him, and, say so. Verbally express the joys your son brings you, to each other, and to him. Teach him to talk joy. Regard the ages 5, 8, 12,…

STUPIDITY is a fascinating theme that influences much of human history. Let’s begin by asking: Who or what is a successful or intelligent person? According to the Creator a successful or intelligent person earns or receives Heaven. Thus, God sent Prophets to clarify the correct path. Ironically, some people do not care and do as they please. What am I talking about? Some will do whatever it takes to benefit themselves, regardless of the harm they inflict on others. Though there is nothing wrong with ambition, it is wickedness to purposely harm others to achieve one’s agenda. Thus, the key to a good, decent life is to avoid harming others. For example, as I write this, anarchy grips Britain as working-class white people create chaos. They want foreigners to leave…

EFF LEADER Julius Malema’s dictatorial style of leadership seems to have come back to haunt him after his second-in-command, Floyd Shivambu, in an unprecedented move, quit the Red Berets to join the uMkhonto weSizwe Party (MKP). Shivambu made the revelations at an urgent and sombre press briefing at Winnie Madikizela-Mandela House in Johannesburg yesterday after submitting his resignation letter to Malema, 11 years after forming the party with him. On Monday, former EFF MP Mzwanele (Jimmy) Manyi also left the party for the MKP, with rumours that others loyal to Shivambu would follow. The Mercury’s sister title, The Star, reported that Shivambu’s resignation appeared to be fuelled by in-fighting with Malema over the party’s upcoming elective conference in December. An EFF insider, who is a member of the party’s national…

WOMEN of South Africa, you are the backbone of our country and you are much stronger that you know. Use your strength to take your power. This is the message of former judge Anna-Marie de Vos during Women’s Month. She is a pioneer in the legal world who had hung up her robes in 2006 after being the first female judge in the Gauteng High Court, Pretoria. She swapped her life determining legal disputes on a daily basis for the tranquil southern Cape, where she, among others, farms organic vegetables. She and her wife Suzanne du Toit live on a farm in Harkerville on the Garden Route. “We have a menagerie of animals and try to grow our own vegetables, but not very successfully,” she said. Nowadays she…

Survé Philanthropies is thrilled to announce the opening of applications for the prestigious Dr Iqbal Survé Bursary for the 2025 academic year. Established in 2015 and led by Dr Iqbal Survé and the Survé family, the organisation remains deeply committed to transforming the lives of underprivileged South African communities through education. In a country where poverty often curtails dreams, Survé Philanthropies is driven by a mission to break this cycle and create a future where every individual has the opportunity to rise above their circumstances. Education is not merely a pathway out of poverty; it is a beacon of hope. By providing access to educational opportunities, Survé Philanthropies seeks to ignite potential, inspire critical thinking, and nurture the innovation needed to overcome the myriad challenges faced by those most in…

He is only 18 and in matric, but Bayanda Walaza has been the toast of Mzansi following Team South Africa’s silver-medal performance in the 4x100m relay at the Paris Olympics. The celebrations continued yesterday as Walaza was given a rapturous welcome by his school, Curro Hazeldean in Pretoria, where he was honoured by his fellow pupils. Also present was Walaza’s mother, Tholiwe, as well as Basic Education Minister Siviwe Gwarube, who first placed the silver medal around the mom’s neck before handing it over to the sprinter. Earlier in the week, Sports Minister Gayton McKenzie was also part of a welcome party at OR Tambo International Airport for Walaza, relay teammate Bradley Nkoana and swimming queen Tatjana Smith, who won a gold and silver in the 100m and 200m breaststroke…

The US special envoy for Sudan said he wanted “tangible results” from talks on ending the devastating war in the country despite the Sudanese government staying away. War has raged since April last year between the Sudanese army under the country’s de facto ruler Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), led by his former deputy Mohamed Hamdan Daglo. The RSF delegation is taking part in the talks on securing a ceasefire which began at an undisclosed location in Switzerland on Wednesday. However, the Sudanese armed forces are unhappy with the format arranged by Washington and are not participating. US special envoy for Sudan Tom Perriello said on X yesterday that the second day of the talks was under way. The US again urged Sudan’s army to…

DALLAS: A Texas woman forced to leave the state for an emergency abortion is urging other voters to back Vice President Kamala Harris, the Democratic presidential candidate, and will advocate for her at the party’s national convention next week. After the state of Texas denied Kate Cox the right to an abortion in December, she had to travel to New Mexico to receive the procedure, having learnt her baby had a life-threatening genetic condition. Her doctor warned that if she carried the pregnancy she might not be able to have other children. The 32-year-old Dallas mother of two is now five months pregnant with a healthy baby boy.…

The Hague: Cases of bluetongue, a viral disease affecting sheep and cows, have shot up in the Netherlands according to official figures published yesterday, as the virus spreads also in France and Germany. Bluetongue was registered at 3 807 locations in the Netherlands, a rise of nearly 1 000 since the last report on Monday, according to the Dutch Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Food Security and Nature. That was the fastest half-week rise since the virus was first reported in the country in September. The last time the virus appeared in the Netherlands before that was in 2009. Bluetongue is an insect-borne disease that affects sheep and cows but not pigs or horses.…

IN the world of combat sports, confidence and self-belief are at the core of any athlete’s success. The slightest signs of doubt in the world of mixed martial arts will get exposed inside the octagon. From the moment Dricus du Plessis, the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) middleweight champion, set foot in the octagon, he has displayed the utmost confidence in his skill-set. And now, going into his first title defence at the RAC Arena in Perth on Sunday against the two-time middleweight champion, Israel Adesanya, Du Plessis believes he will come out on top. The South African has adopted a slightly different mental approach to the fight, one he believes will see him emerge victorious this weekend. “In my mind, I’m going to fetch that belt. I’m not going out…