Indholdsfortegnelse for 2024-08-30 i Mercury

The INDUSTRIAL Development Corporation (IDC) disbursed R15.9 billion into the economy in the year to March 31, 11% below last year, but a “result we are proud of” considering the tough economic environment and that last year’s result was a record year, interim CEO Andrew Jarvis said yesterday. He said in an online presentation the institution had maintained its liquidity and balance sheet strength through the year, despite headwinds such as loadshedding, logistics issues in the country, a low commodity price and investment environment, and high interest rates. The 2023 result was boosted to record levels by pent-up investment demand following the pandemic. However, they were seeing “green shoots” in the fixed investment space. He said during 2024 the institution had remained true to its mandate to drive and…

“No news is good news” again raises its ugly head as everybody stops watching Al-Jazeera and the carnage in Gaza. And as writers stop pulling on their wigs in a frenzy, just because nobody is reporting on the slaughter, there’s peace and goodwill all over the holy land, like hell, of course. There’s a word for it. “Hysteresis” does not explain it fully. “Overkill”? Now that’s a good possibility. The ratio of 40 000:1 000 is again the proverbial, holy-filled, Biblical, Qur’anic and even Bhagavad Gita’s magic number of 40. That’s a great ratio. For every Israelite touched, there shall be 40 unholy, satanic Palestinians made to pay for the royal, sacred and divine Zionists. “Overkill” might be just the right reason for the world just turning over and going…

Reading about the recent Democratic National Convention in Chicago, a lot of people were left in shock over the atrocities that took place at the event. Kamala Harris and Tim Walz are earmarked to represent the Democratic Party. The central theme of the convention seemed to have been about abortion. Nothing else really had much substance. Instead, what Democrats heard was just a lot of jibber-jabber and a strong focus on how much they apparently love America and want to take back the country, all while every policy put into place by the Biden administration was done to achieve the exact opposite. The Democrats, the elitist bullies of the West, Barack Obama, the Clintons and other socialist, super wealthy fascist individuals want nothing more than to destroy the one man…

THE start of the corruption trial against former President Jacob Zuma has been delayed by another two weeks. Zuma appeared in the Pietermaritzburg High Court yesterday for what was supposed to be a pre-trial hearing on his arms deal corruption case that has dragged on for almost two decades. The parties head back to court on September 11 to receive the reasons why Judge Nkosinathi Chiliza dismissed Zuma’s application for State prosecutor Billy Downer to be recused. Zuma has been fighting for Downer’s removal from the arms deal case, accusing him of bias. This application was dismissed earlier this year. The Mercury understands that, at the time, it was said the reason for the dismissal of the application would be part of the judgment of the case when it is…

The South African Local Government Association (Salga) sanitation conference yesterday addressed the issue of KwaZulu-Natal having abundant groundwater resources, but had challenges in effectively utilising them. KZN chief director for the Department of Water and Sanitation, Ashley Starkey, presented the status of water and sanitation in the province which revealed that the primary challenges in the province lie at the distribution level. Limited investment in groundwater exploration, extraction, and treatment technologies hinders the full potential of groundwater as a reliable water source, Starkey said. He said that there are limitations and risks associated with sanitation in groundwater. “Whatever solutions we bring in, we must be intimately and closely aware if we pollute our groundwater. The Richards Bay area has quite sufficient groundwater, but how much of it is usable? Because…

THE appointment of Roman Cabanac, podcaster and member of the Purple Cow Party, to the position of Chief of Staff to the Minister of Agriculture, John Steenhuisen, has raised numerous eyebrows, with people citing his previous tweets and utterances as proof of his racism. This article won’t deal with that. What I find astonishing about the appointment is that Steenhuisen appears to have no experience in agriculture. He will need to surround himself with people who do have such experience. Cabanac is not such a person. As Chief of Staff, Cabanac’s role will be that of a strategic advisor to Steenhuisen. He will have to formulate strategies, set priorities and ensure that the vision of the Minister is implemented. Yes, he will also have a role in co-ordinating activities and…

US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan met Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing yesterday, wrapping up three days of talks aimed at easing friction between the two world powers ahead of November’s US election. As the pair sat down in the Great Hall of the People, Xi told Sullivan Beijing was committed to a stable relationship with Washington. “In this changing and turbulent world, countries need solidarity and co-ordination ... not exclusion or regress,” Xi said. Sullivan told Xi that US President Joe Biden was committed to managing the relationship to avoid conflict and “looks forward to engaging with you in coming weeks”. The White House said after the meeting that the two sides were planning a call between Xi and Biden soon. Over what he later said were 14…

Blue Origin flew its latest group of six thrill-seekers to the edge of space and back again yesterday, including the youngest woman to complete the feat. Mission NS-26 marked the eighth human spaceflight for the company, founded by Jeff Bezos, as it presses ahead in the emerging suborbital tourism market. Karsen Kitchen, a 21-year-old senior at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, became the youngest woman to cross the Karman Line, the internationally recognised boundary marking the edge of space, 100km above the Earth’s surface. Blue Origin’s small New Shepard rocket blasted off from the company’s Launch Site One base in west Texas. After lift-off, the sleek and spacious capsule separated from its booster, which boasts zero carbon emissions. Total flight time: 10 minutes. | AFP…

Kampala: A Ugandan shrine owner is under investigation for human sacrifice after 24 skulls were discovered at the site on the outskirts of the capital Kampala, police said yesterday. The grisly find comes a month after 17 other skulls, including those of children, were unearthed in a separate case in the country. Officers raided the shrine of Godfrey Ddamulira, who claimed to be a traditional healer, and discovered the skulls on the floor of a building. He was detained and helping with police investigations. He is being probed under anti-human sacrifice laws, which can result in a lengthy jail term or a death sentence. | AFP…

CANBERRA: Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has brushed aside suggestions of US involvement in a new Pacific security accord after he was recorded privately discussing the deal with a senior Biden administration official. In the clip, recorded at a Pacific forum in Tonga, Albanese speaks with Deputy Secretary of State Kurt Campbell about the Pacific Policing Initiative unveiled this week. Under the terms, Australia will spend A$400 million (about R4.8 billion) to help boost security in the island states. Albanese joked with Campbell that “you can go us halvies on the cost if you like”. Albanese denied Campbell had said the US withdrew its initiative at Australia’s request. “It is Pacific led,” he said. | The Washington Post…

BRUSHER continue to top the target list and for good reason. There are still decent numbers of garrick around the river mouths. Spinning along the North Coast has accounted for some good fish recently. Throwing spoons at first light and into the morning off deeper points and bays like Christmas Bay will produce kingies, snoek and some surprises. Distance is important so make sure your tackle is balanced, and your technique is good. The north has seen the first of the summer flatfish/ sharks. The beaches along the Zululand coast have seen big raggies and a few honeycombs and sandies. Big fleshy baits and a throw into the deeper water are required. The central coast has been quiet, other than the basin area. This section is fishable in most water…

Swedish company H&M is expanding its brand and launching H&M Beauty in South Africa. A curated selection of H&M Beauty products will now be available in South Africa as the brand continues its mission to build one of the most fashionable beauty destinations in the world. “We are delighted to introduce H&M Beauty in South Africa. “This launch allows us to offer a well-curated beauty assortment that complements the fashion we are known for. Fashion has always been in H&M’s DNA. With H&M Beauty, we can offer our customers a complete look,” said Caroline Nelson, the brand’s South African country manager. Beauty lovers in South Africa can expect a range of products. This includes nail colours and tools, lip glosses, hair-styling aids, and various beauty tools and accessories. The…

RUGBY, rugby and more rugby, rising to a crescendo tomorrow as the Boks take on the All Blacks in Joburg in what amounts to an early decider about who will be the top dogs in da world. This is high-stakes stuff, right across the board, in every nook and cranny of our lives. Frenzy has taken over in the Pub With No Name, the damsels strumming at their knickers in anticipation of supplying elastic for a fashioning of catapults for the time-honoured celebratory feu de joie in which the street lights are shot out. We are approaching a moment of truth in international rugby. The stakes could not be higher. Komaan die Bokke! ’Erewego, ’erewego, ’erewego! Oldest living man THE world’s oldest living man has turned 112. John Tinniswood was…

GAUTENG Premier Panyaza Lesufi has had a tough time trying to find a mayor that has all the qualities needed to deal with the many challenges and demands of a highly populous city like Johannesburg with its unique challenges. Serious problems have been allowed to take root and continue unattended for years. Where in the world have you heard of foreign nationals coming from all corners of the world, disrespecting all the laws of the country and getting away with it? Where abandoned multi-storey buildings are divided into several small shacks, are overcrowded and have neither a water supply nor illegal electricity connections – an obvious recipe for disaster – and when the buildings catch fire, resulting in the death of people, then the city council is held accountable. Now,…

ActionSA notes the suspension of the Ithala Bank licence by the Financial Sector Conduct Authority, following its determination that the bank does not meet the financial soundness rlequirements for a licence operator. Ithala Bank has been providing access to financial services and insurance to poor and marginalised communities, particularly those in KwaZulu-Natal who have limited access to the services from traditional market players. Importantly, following the salutary lessons learnt from the collapse of VBS Bank, ActionSA concurs with the assessment that it is crucial to ensure there is no risk to the deposits of the poor and marginalised held by Ithala. It is common cause that there is anxiety within Ithala’s customer base about the potential loss of their deposits. As such, ActionSA, represented on the standing committee on finance,…

Tomorrow, Emirates Airline Park (formerly Ellis Park) will hang up the sold-out signs when the world champion Springboks host the All Blacks in the Rugby Championship (5pm kick-off). In an effort to ensure the safety of supporters, and the ease of movement to and from the stadium, the Gautrain will offer train and bus services before and after the game. Security has also been beefed up, while a major clean-up has swept through the precinct. MEC for Sport, Arts, Culture and Recreation, Matome Chiloane, said: “Transport has come forth with trains, and with security, we have beefed up that area. “It has been set up on a 24-hour basis going forward, and we have cleaned up around the stadium. “What I can tell you is this stadium is going to…

A DURBAN judge was fed up with the lawyers of a divorcing woman who launched an application for interim maintenance, and attached dozens of pictures to the application which included a picture of the husband’s lipstick- and semen-stained T-shirt. Judge Robin Mossop, sitting in the high court in Durban, said Rule 43 applications (interim maintenance while a divorce is still pending) are interim in nature and thus speedy and swift procedures. He questioned how the lawyers allowed reams of irrelevant documentation to be handed to court. He said the wife’s sworn statement was “prolix in the extreme”. “It contains irrelevant allegations and has attached to it literally dozens of photographs, the precise relevance of which is not clear.” Judge Mossop said examples of these pictures were a photo of a…

eThekwini Municipality councillors yesterday gave their backing to the adoption of the Wastewater Environmental Management Policy that was developed in response to the June 2021 auditor-general’s report. The City’s human settlements and infrastructure (HSI) committee sought the adoption of the policy, which provides guidelines for the Water and Sanitation Unit and the municipality to prevent environmental risks related to wastewater and manage related incidents in accordance with environment legislation. Auditor-General Tsakani Maluleke’s 2021/22 report said environmental inspections of wastewater treatment plants reported adverse findings at 14 of the 16 selected municipalities in the province, including two municipalities with disclaimed audit opinions. The inspections also confirmed that neglected municipal infrastructure and ineffective environmental management polluted water sources, including underground water, and revealed an unacceptable state of wastewater treatment works. The auditor-general’s…

Rassie Erasmus is the master of mind-games, even when he tries to shy away from it in the media. The Springbok coach did his usual trick on X (formerly Twitter) of following the team that the world champions will be playing next – the All Blacks – before the build-up even started to tomorrow’s massive Rugby Championship clash at Ellis Park in Johannesburg. Asked this week why he only follows one account at a time, Erasmus quipped: “Probably a few beers in! “It’s interesting for me … it’s not mind games. Guys tweet stuff about their team, and you see it and you might learn something there. “You might see this guy is not strapped, but they said he’s injured ... It’s just like I get the newspaper … You…

The death toll climbed yesterday as Israel pressed a large-scale military operation in the occupied West Bank for a second day, despite UN concerns that it is “fuelling an already explosive situation”. The operation was launched as violence raged on in the other main Palestinian territory, the Gaza Strip, which has been devastated by war since Hamas’s unprecedented October 7 attacks. Israel began co-ordinated raids in the northern West Bank cities of Jenin, Tubas and Tulkarem early on Wednesday, in what the military called a “counter-terrorism” operation. Columns of Israeli armoured vehicles backed by troops and warplanes were sent in before soldiers encircled refugee camps in Tubas and Tulkarem, as well as Jenin, and exchanged fire with Palestinian militants. The army said it killed five militants in Tulkarem during the…

Tunis: Around 40 migrants and asylum seekers from sub-Saharan Africa, including children and pregnant women, have been displaced and abandoned near Tunisa’s border with Algeria and needed immediate medical assistance, rights groups said yesterday. The group was expelled from the coastal city of Sfax, Tunisia’s main departure point for Italy, and was taken by authorities to the governorate of Gafsa, which borders Algeria in south-western Tunisia, according to rights groups. “This morning we lost contact with them,” the FTDES rights group, said. “They have no water or anything to eat and are in a very isolated area.” | AFP…

WELLINGTON: Amazon.com Inc has won approval to buy a small piece of land in New Zealand as part of its project to deliver internet from space. Amazon will install and operate telecommunications equipment on the land, the Overseas Investment Office said yesterday in Wellington. The consent was granted in July and is for a 500m2 site at an undisclosed location. Amazon’s Project Kuiper aims to offer broadband internet from a constellation of more than 3 000 satellites in low Earth orbit, providing competition for Elon Musk’s Starlink network. It anticipates launching its first satellites this year. | Bloomberg…

JSE-LISTED Blue Label Telecoms’ bid to increase its shareholding in mobile operator Cell C is moving closer to the finish line, with regulatory hearings set to be completed by the end of the year. Blue Label, which distributes prepaid products as well as virtual merchandise and value-added services, yesterday reported revenue of R89.3 billion in the year to May when PIN-less top-ups – a recent line of offerings – are included. This compares with R76.8bn reported last year. Excluding PIN-less top-ups, revenue would have been R14.6bn. Headline earnings per share came in at 76.08 cents, a year-on-year gain of 40%. However, excluding a positive contri- bution of R66 million in the current year and a negative amount of R523m in the prior year, mostly because of Cell C’s…

On a personal note … My sons are in love, each with a woman who’d make any dad proud. On Father’s Day, I woke to this text from my younger son’s girlfriend and I share it with permission: “Happy Fathers Day, to a man I idolise. You welcomed me into your family with open arms and you single- handedly raised two honest gentlemen that are so lucky and grateful to have you. I hope you enjoy your day!” The young woman had no idea that my most ardent prayer for my sons was always that they learn how to love and they be gentlemen. My first-born son met his girlfriend more than a year ago and has purchased a ring. On his knees, at a favourite spot in Central Park,…

During this year’s South African elections, I saw a Build One South Africa election poster that read: “One Job in Every Home.” The slogan encapsulates the notion that a single breadwinner earning a “living wage” ought to be sufficient to support every household. The reality of South Africa’s economy, with one of the highest unemployment rates in the world, requires us to seriously rethink the idea that there is only one breadwinner in a household. The assumption is outdated and produces negative consequences, particularly when reinforced by minimum wage and other job-killing labour laws. By preventing multiple adults in each household from working, the laws increase unemployment and exacerbate economic stagnation. The notion of a single breadwinner is old-fashioned and harks back to an era when family structures and economic…

Transnet’s managing executive for the eastern region, Moshe Motlohi, said yesterday that a “staging area” to control the flow of trucks into eThekwini is just one of a number of interventions to address truck congestion at the Port of Durban. Transnet faced major challenges last year with truck congestion and container backlogs at the Port of Durban severely impacting the economy, but the state entity has been able to make progress with the truck booking system and an improvement in efficiency at the key harbour. Serious truck traffic congestion, especially in the Bayhead precinct of the Port of Durban, has plagued residents for years, with trucks adding to the peak-hour traffic incidents and worsening traffic jams. Motlohi said that they were looking at having staging areas for trucks to park…

A teaspoon of sugar added in a warm cup of coffee or tea by a baker employed by Shoprite Checkers, was twice the subject of legal scrutiny – once before the CCMA and now before the Labour Court sitting in Gqebera. Shoprite Checkers claimed the spoon of sugar came from their sugar stock for the bakery, “shrinking” their stock. Baker Godfrey Makaloi, who had a clean working record since the early 1990s, claimed it was his sugar. Video footage of the sugar incident showed an unidentified man stirring sugar in a warm drink at work. Makaloi admitted he was the person stirring the drink, but he denied that the sugar came from the 25kg bag of sugar which was also stored in the room. The video footage never depicted…

Remembered through changes that came about through sweat and tears IN THE recent article on “Lessons from African women who reshaped social work” (August 22, 2024), Busi Madikizela-Theu turned the spotlight on African women who, through their social work practice and activism, became recognised leaders in their communities and countries, from South Africa (Winnie Mandela and Charlotte Maxeke), Zimbabwe (Victoria Fikile Chitepo) and Kenya (Priscilla Ingasiano Abwao), to Morocco (Aicha Chenna) and Senegal (Mame Seck Mbacké). Black women across Africa experienced discrimination, oppression and patriarchal subjugation. However, their social work training and experience allowed them to move beyond the clinical case work practice to a more community-focused practice that enabled them to understand and address the challenges, suffering and hardship experienced by poor and marginalised communities. The insights allowed them…

US Democrat Kamala Harris leads Republican Donald Trump 45% to 41% in a Reuters/Ipsos poll published yesterday that showed the vice president sparking new enthusiasm among voters and shaking up the race ahead of the November 5 election. The 4 percentage point advantage among registered voters was wider than a 1 point lead Harris held over the former president in a late July Reuters/Ipsos poll. The new poll, which was conducted in the eight days ended Wednesday and had a 2 percentage point margin of error, showed Harris picking up support among women and Hispanics. Harris led Trump by 49% to 36% – or 13 percentage points – among both women voters and Hispanic voters. Across four Reuters/Ipsos polls conducted in July, Harris had a 9 point lead among…

Millions of people were ordered to evacuate their homes as Typhoon Shanshan lashed southwest Japan with strong winds and torrential rain yesterday, knocking out power, snarling air traffic and forcing major factories to close. At least three people have been killed so far and at least 80 injured in what authorities have warned could be one of the strongest ever storms to hit the region. Toyota suspended operations in all of its domestic plants due to the storm, while other automakers Nissan and Honda, and semiconductor firms Renesas, Tokyo Electron and Rohm, also temporarily halted production at some factories. Bringing gusts of around 180km /h, strong enough to blow over moving trucks, the typhoon was near Unzen city in Nagasaki Prefecture and moving northwards, according to the weather agency. More…

Seoul: South Korea’s Constitutional Court ruled yesterday that much of the country’s climate goals were unconstitutional, handing a landmark victory to young environmental activists. The first such case in Asia was brought by children and teenagers who named an embryo as a lead plaintiff. The court ruled that the government’s limited climate targets violated the constitution as they do “not sufficiently protect the basic rights of the people”. In 2021, South Korea made a legally binding commitment to reduce carbon emissions by 290 million tons by 2030, and to achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2050. | AFP…

LONDON: The British government said yesterday that its agreement to join the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) would enter into force by December 15 this year after it received the final ratification required. CPTPP is a free trade agreement sealed in 2018 between 11 countries – Australia, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore and Vietnam. Britain is the only European member of CPTPP. The British government said more than 99% of UK goods exports to CPTPP members would be tariff-free, boosting the UK economy by up to £2 billion (R45bn) a year. | Reuters…