Indholdsfortegnelse for 2024-08-26 i Mercury

Go counter… When times are tough, as hard as it may be, try to do the counter-intuitive thing. Open your hand; don’t close it. If you hold onto what you already have, clutching your resources, as if your very life depended upon them, it will. Your life will be dependent on what you are preserving – your diminishing resources. You will miss the new resources that are trying to get your attention. When your heart is broken, as hard is it may be, try to do the counter-intuitive thing. Open your heart; don’t shut it. Of course the impulse to protect can be overwhelming, but shutting down, refusing to feel, refusing vulnerability to opportunities is costly. A closed heart will struggle to heal and to let go. An open heart,…

Ebrahim Essa’s letter, Fed lie upon lie that don’t help in the least, published in Mercury (August 22) refers: If he really believed the hijacking of the Indian platform for three decades by members of a particular ideological group to leap into our religious, cultural space and proclaim to be the “voice of the Indian community” is “insignificant” or was “bringing communities together”, he is living in cloud cuckoo land. The letter questions over a “fully unique voice”, in the POST (July 17, 2024) exposed the arrogance and presumptuousness of Ebrahim Essa: “Akin to the physical attacks and land grabs in Bharat by invaders, have been the invasion of our sacred space and the appropriating of our voice to repudiate our right to existence and right to our own voice…

ANDRE Gregory Mahomed, 54, is a serial rapist who brazenly raped 43 women in Durban and Tshwane. In the early 2000s he was found guilty and sentenced for an indefinite period. He has made a fresh application for parole this month. On other occasions when he made an application for parole previously, he was deemed to be a dangerous criminal. Unbelievably, the Department of Correctional Services supports Mahomed’s parole – what an insult and utter nonsense. Over a year ago, I called for a review of the parole system and asked that some or all members of the parole boards be fired, as parolees at that time had committed crimes while on parole, primarily murders and rapes. Obviously, such delinquents need to remain behind bars as they are a…

Emerging businesses and the Zulu king have pleaded with the KwaZulu-Natal government to intervene in the crisis faced by Ithala Bank and prevent the development bank from being “closed down”. They warned that the move will have catastrophic consequences for emerging businesses and the lives of those trying to be integrated into the mainstream economy. Ithala Bank’s licence was recently suspended. Among the business people who have raised concerns are the members of the National School Nutrition Programme (NSNP) Service Providers Association. The organisation said about 15% of their members are reliant on the relationship with Ithala to be able to deliver essential meals to schools. King Misuzulu kaZwelithini said the suspension of the banking licence will have devastating consequences for the livelihood of thousands of people who depend on…

Minister in the Presidency Khumbudzo Ntshavheni said the Cabinet would have to engage not only the National Energy Regulator of South Africa’s (Nersa) tariffs, but also the cost of electricity. Addressing a Cabinet post-briefing, Ntshavheni said it was not ideal to have exorbitant tariffs in the current environment. Eskom has submitted to Nersa a revenue application asking for a 36.15% price hike in electricity for 2025/26. “In this current environment, it is not ideal to have exorbitant tariffs. It is not just Cabinet supporting municipalities,” she said. “There are ministers who are working on the cost of living adjustment. We started on the fuel, but part of the extension of that work is to cover electricity and other areas of impact,” she said. Professor Mark Swilling of Stellenbosch University’s School…

Deeply rooted social issues cannot be addressed by the justice system alone PROFOUND social, political, and legal transformations mark South Africa’s journey from apartheid to democracy. The end of apartheid in 1994 was not merely a political shift but a significant reconfiguration of the nation’s legal and social structures. Central to this transformation was the drafting of a new constitution, which is widely regarded as one of the most progressive in the world. The South African Constitution enshrines a broad spectrum of human rights, including gender equality and sexual and reproductive rights (SRR). The inclusion of these rights in the Bill of Rights was a ground-breaking step, signalling the country’s commitment to addressing the deep-seated gender inequalities that had been exacerbated by decades of apartheid. Under apartheid, women, particularly black…

Israel launched air strikes into Lebanon yesterday, saying it had thwarted a large-scale Hezbollah attack, while the Lebanese group announced its own cross-border raids to avenge a top commander’s killing. The Israeli military said its fighter jets had destroyed “thousands” of Hezbollah rocket launchers “aimed towards northern Israel, and some were aimed towards central Israel”. Hezbollah, the powerful Iran-backed Lebanese armed group, countered that Israel was making “empty claims” of having thwarted a larger attack, and said its own operation for yesterday “was completed and accomplished”. Hezbollah said its leader, Hassan Nasrallah, was due to speak on the “latest developments”. The group has traded near-daily cross-border fire with Israeli forces throughout the Gaza war, in a campaign Hezbollah says is in support of Palestinian ally Hamas. But fears of a…

Ten people were killed in a landslide in northern Ethiopia’s Amhara region, according to local state media. The Amhara Media Corporation (AMC) reported on Saturday that “10 people have died in the disaster”, quoting local administrator Tesfaye Workneh who said four bodies had been pulled from the mud. The report did not indicate what time the landslide occurred on Saturday in the North Gondar zone in Amhara region. Eight people were seriously hurt in the incident and were receiving treatment, the AMC said. As many as 2 400 people had been displaced and were being sheltered in local social institutions, it added. The landslide is the latest of a series that have occurred in Ethiopia as a result of heavy seasonal rains. A UN humanitarian affairs report, citing the Ethiopian…

PARIS: The French capital yesterday celebrated the 80th anniversary of its liberation from German troops in World War II with tributes, military marches and the hoisting of a flag at the Eiffel Tower. On August 25, 1944, the 2nd French Armoured Division entered the capital under the command of General Philippe Leclerc de Hautecloque, ending 1 500 days of German occupation. Yesterday a parade, which organisers said was both “military and popular”, was to follow one of the itineraries of the French division from the south of the capital to its centre. A torch for the Paris Paralympics, which opens on Wednesday, was lit, followed by a flyover by the Patrouille de France, a unit of French fighter jets. | AFP…

Kabul: The UN mission in Afghanistan said yesterday it was “concerned” about a morality law recently ratified by the Taliban authorities, criticising in particular restrictions on women. The Taliban authorities last week announced the codification of a law with 35 articles detailing behaviour and lifestyle restrictions based on their strict interpretation of Islamic sharia law. The law sets out punishments for non-compliance enforced by the morality police under the Ministry for the Propagation of Virtue and the Prevention of Vice. Women have borne the brunt of restrictions the UN has labelled “gender apartheid”; criticism the Taliban dismissed. | AFP…

While Ellis Park has always been an ally for the Springboks, they will want to avoid going down to New Zealand for a third straight time at the iconic stadium in the Rugby Championship on Saturday afternoon. With 10 points from their first two matches, the world champions head to a venue in Johannesburg where they last won in 2014 against the All Blacks. The Kiwis won the last two clashes, in 2015 and 2022, and could get a rare three victories in a row at Ellis Park over their biggest rivals in world rugby should they win the 2024 showdown (5pm start). It will be the first of two Tests on South African soil between the sides, the second is the next weekend in Cape Town, and after grabbing…

AN ALARMING account comes this way to suggest that Artificial Intelligence has already taken over our world This fellow phones Pizza Hut to place an order. “Is this Pizza Hut?” Google: “No sir, it’s Google Pizza.” “I must have dialled a wrong number, sorry.” Google: “No sir, Google bought Pizza Hut last month.” “OK, I would like to order a pizza.” Google. “Do you want your usual, sir? “My usual? You know me?” Google: “According to your caller ID data sheet, the last 12 times you called you ordered an extra-large pizza with three cheeses, sausage, peperoni, mushrooms and meatballs on a thick crust.” “Super! That’s what I’ll have!” Google: “May I suggest that this time you order a pizza with ricotta, arugula, sun-dried tomatoes and olives on a whole-wheat…

Following a long, relentless and sustained campaign by the DA for the rationalisation of fuel prices, the Government of National Unity (GNU), through Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana, has announced that a Fuel Price Intervention Plan will soon be tabled in Cabinet. The plan is a significant step towards alleviating the financial burden that South Africans have been shouldering due to the ever-increasing cost of fuel. It is expected to be anchored on “measures to tackle high fuel prices… (and) ensure that South Africans can afford the fuel and the ability to transport”. The announcement is in line with the DA’s long-standing concerns that high fuel prices are exacerbating the cost of living crisis in the country. The soaring fuel costs have been driving up mobility costs for millions of South…

Calls have been made for policy, laws and procedures to be amended to address the construction mafia, which poses a huge burden on the South African economy and hampers foreign investment. The call to action was made by Professor Irrshad Kaseeram, from the University of Zululand’s Economics Department, in reaction to the joint decision announced on Friday by Public Works and Infrastructure Minister Dean Macpherson and his provincial counterpart, Public Works MEC Martin Meyer, to hold an urgent meeting. The department is set to convene a national summit in KwaZulu-Natal to address the ongoing challenge posed by the construction mafia and to formulate a comprehensive plan that will safeguard the business sector from significant financial losses and stimulate economic growth. Kaseeram said recent calculations indicate the significant financial burden…

Transnet says it will fully comply with a Special Investigating Unit (SIU) probe into property lease agreements dating back to the state capture administration. The SIU has been galvanised into action by President Cyril Ramaphosa’s signing of a proclamation giving the investigation the green light. The probe involves some of Transnet’s prime property leases and includes several high-value agreements, such as long-term leases for bulk fuel storage facilities at Transnet’s Ambrose Park Precinct in Durban, and the lease for the old Durban International Airport premises as well as properties at Jukskei Park. Transnet national spokesperson Ayanda Shezi said they would comply fully with the investigation. SIU spokesperson Kaizer Kganyago said the investigation covered allegations of misconduct dating from January 1, 2014, to August 23, 2024, and would include any related…

Aidan David, the eThekwini district chairperson for the SAPS Board and member of the Isipingo CPF, said that the growth of informal settlements and the lack of infrastructure contribute to the problem. “With regards to response times in the informal settlements, it is very difficult because there are no road names, there are no direction points and it is very difficult for the police to get to anybody in need. This delay causes more harm to the victim,” said David. He urged people living in informal settlements to join their local CPF and neighbourhood watch groups “As a CPF in the Isipingo area, we have formalised a neighbourhood patrol watch and we also have a CPF sub-forum running from the area in informal settlements.” David said the issue of…

THE recently concluded third plenary session of the 20th Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee marks a critical juncture in China’s ongoing efforts to deepen reforms and further open its economy. As global economic growth slows and geopolitical tensions rise, China’s steadfast commitment to reform, openness, and modernisation not only serves its own development goals but also offers much-needed stability and opportunities to the world. During the session, the CPC Central Committee adopted a resolution that outlines a comprehensive approach to reforms, ranging from economic liberalisation to institutional strengthening. This roadmap reflects China’s determination to continue fostering a high-standard socialist market economy by 2035, laying the groundwork for China’s transformation into a great modern socialist country by mid-century. Crucially, the session highlighted China’s dedication to opening up its markets…

Pavel Durov, the Russian-born billionaire founder and owner of the Telegram messaging app, was arrested at Le Bourget airport outside Paris after landing on a private jet late on Saturday and placed in custody, a police source said. The arrest of the 39-year-old technology billionaire prompted a warning yesterday from Moscow to Paris that he should be accorded his rights and criticism from X owner Elon Musk who said that free speech in Europe was under attack. There was no official confirmation from France of the arrest, which French and Russian media have also reported, saying that Durov was arrested shortly after arriving at Le Bourget airport on a private jet from Azerbaijan. France’s BFM and TF1 said that Durov, who has dual French and United Arab Emirates citizenship, was…

Vatican City: Pope Francis yesterday condemned the Ukraine government’s move to ban a Russia-linked branch of the country’s Orthodox Church. “Do not touch churches,” the pope said in his weekly prayers, one day after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy signed the ban into law. “In thinking of the law recently adopted in Ukraine, I fear for the liberty of those who pray,” he said. Zelenskiy signed the law on Saturday. Ukraine has been seeking to distance itself from the Russian church since 2014. The Ukrainian Orthodox Church broke away from Moscow in 2022, but Ukrainian officials accuse its clerics of staying loyal to Russia. | AFP…

Bangkok: Thai authorities raided an illegal bitcoin mine west of Bangkok after residents complained of frequent blackouts in the area for more than a month, local authorities said yesterday. Police and officials from the Provincial Electricity Authorities (PEA) raided the house in Ratchaburi town on Friday. “We found bitcoin mining rigs, pointing to people using this house to operate a mine and using power they didn’t fully pay for,” said Jamnong Chanwong, a chief district security officer. He said records showed that electricity consumption in the house was large, but they had paid for very little of it. | AFP…

KARACHI: Two bus accidents in northeast and southwest Pakistan killed at least 34 people yesterday, the authorities said. Twelve pilgrims died on the Makran Coastal Highway in the southwest, the interior ministry said, while a rescue official said 22 had died when their passenger bus plunged into a deep ravine in Pakistan-ruled Kashmir. Rescue co-ordinator Rawalpindi Muhammad Usman said the second bus had 25 passengers, including six women and a child, of whom 22 had died and one was critically injured. All the bodies have been recovered from the ravine, he said. The interior ministry, however, said 29 had died in that crash. | Reuters…

Stellenbosch FC were in cruise control as they rode roughshod over the hapless eSwatini visitors Nsingizini Hotspurs, who bowed out of the CAF Confederation Cup preliminaries with a 5-0 second leg thrashing in Durban on Saturday. Last week, the teams were in action for the first leg, and Stellenbosch ran out 3-0 winners. After Saturday’s clash, Stellenbosch advanced to the second preliminary round 8-0 on aggregate. They will play Confed Cup 2018 finalists AS Vita, the Congolese giants, on September 13 at home and a week later away. Stellenbosch put in an emphatic performance, with successive clean sheets, despite playing without Ivorian defender Ismail Toure, who is linked with an exit from the club. The defender, who has been a rock in the Stellenbosch rear guard, is desperate to secure…

A Reuters report summing up the closure of the Democratic Party’s Chicago congress by claiming Kamala Harris’s “racial roots as best suited” to America’s future, totally evades the actual issues at stake in the 2024 US election (The Mercury, August 23). Of course, trying to divine what Harris stood for was impossible. She failed to present any policy direction in her closing address. Instead, she confined herself to the vacuous slogan “charting a new way forward”, yelling “we are not going back” and repeating untruths about Trump. As RF Kennedy jr opined, “who needs a policy when you have Trump to hate”. Nonetheless, there are some significant outcomes from the Democrats’ congress. First, the object lesson by “the party of democracy” was the disenfranchisement of Democrat voters. Harris was…

Recent reports highlight the considerable financial pressure South Africans are under. Domestic workers, 83% of whom are the sole breadwinners in their households, have seen their incomes rise by a paltry 5% over the past year, while their expenses have increased by 15%. The study says that there are about 850 000 domestic workers in South Africa – and that number is still 15% lower than it was before the Covid-19 lockdowns. 21% of survey respondents lost their jobs last year, while 36% said they had lost some work because employers could no longer afford to pay them. Among the middle class, a study by PayProp, a company selling rental management and rental payment software, found that renters earning under R40 000 a month were spending 50% of their income…

THE KwaZulu-Natal spokesperson for the National School Nutrition Programme (NSNP) supplier, Thabang Mncwabe, has confirmed that from today about 60% of schools will not be supplied with food for the school meal scheme owing to non-payment by the Department of Education. Mncwabe said several service providers had not received payment for three months, leading to dire financial situations for them. He said the ongoing delay in payments posed a significant challenge, with some providers facing property repossession because of insurmountable debts. “I can confirm that there are some schools that will be affected (starting from today) because the department has not paid and did not communicate with us or let us know what their challenges were. We only heard on the news that the department was planning to pay service…

ACTIONSA leader Herman Mashaba appears to have finally grasped the adage “there are no permanent friends or enemies, only permanent interests in politics”, judging by his newfound enthusiasm to work with the ANC and unseat the DA in some key metros. He is moving so fast that ActionSA has already secured a position of a Council speaker in the troubled City of Joburg and has already hinted at the possibility of removing the DA-led government in Tshwane and forming some partnership with the ANC in Ekurhuleni. How did we get to this point, especially with Mashaba’s firm objective to remove “the corrupt” ANC from public office? His party’s campaign before the May 2029 elections and the 2021 local government elections hinged on the ticket of not only slashing the…

A suspect in German police custody following a stabbing rampage in the city of Solingen that killed three people and injured eight is a 26-year-old Syrian man, authorities said yesterday. They were looking into his possible links with Islamic State. The incident, along with the militant group’s claim of responsibility, sparked concern among some politicians who urged enhanced security, tighter curbs on weapons, stiffer punishment for violent crimes and limits to immigration. The attack occurred during a festival on Friday evening in the Fronhof, a market square, where live bands were playing to celebrate Solingen’s 650-year history. Mourners have made a makeshift memorial near the scene. The suspect turned himself in late on Saturday and admitted to the crime, Duesseldorf police and prosecutors said. Friedrich Merz, a prominent politician who…

In the red zone of the awakening Phlegraean Fields, the most dangerous volcano in Europe, 2 000-year-old ruins are rising from the earth, thrust upward by hydrothermal force. The water line is receding at the docks as the ground rises. Thousands of earthquakes, including one that drove 1 500 people into temporary shelter, are sending shock waves of fear through coastal communities. Residents are now keeping emergency bags packed, preparing for larger quakes, or worse, an eruption some experts fear could prove devastating. Nearly 80 000 people blithely inhabit the sulfureous caldera, playing soccer in the streets and cooking rich ragus in apartments with majestic views of Capri and Ischia, the emerald isles across the Gulf of Naples. In total, an estimated 485 000 people live in the designated danger…

Brazzaville: Twenty-one cases of mpox have been recorded in Congo-Brazzaville, the country’s health minister said yesterday. Gilbert Mokoki said the country had “registered 158 suspect cases” since the beginning of the year, “21 of which we have confirmed”. Cases of the infectious disease have been surging in eastern and central Africa, but the virus has also been detected in Asia and Europe, with the World Health Organization declaring an international emergency. The virus has been reported in five of Congo-Brazzaville’s 15 regions. A new variant of mpox has swept across neighbouring DR Congo, killing more than 570 people this year. | AFP…

As the fairytale of football would have it, the prestigious CAF Champions League has served up a storyline worthy of the competition’s rich history. Last season, Botswana Premier League champions Jwaneng Galaxy defied the odds to eliminate a hugely fancied Orlando Pirates outfit from the tournament, announcing their arrival on the continental stage. Fast forward nearly 12 months later and the two teams will renew their rivalry once more at the same stage with a spot in the group stages of Africa’s biggest club competition on the line. The Buccaneers kicked off their Champions League ambitions by overcoming Madagascar’s Disciples FC over two legs, producing a masterclass in the home leg to ensure passage to the next round. Galaxy, on the other hand, overturned a first-leg defeat to beat African…