Indholdsfortegnelse for 2024-10-21 i Mercury

Shares in Renergen, South Africa’s first onshore helium and liquefied natural gas (LNG) production facility, plummeted by 5.24% on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE) on Friday. This downturn follows the company’s announcement of anticipated interim earnings for the period ended August 2024, which are expected to be at least 43% weaker due to delays in production of helium and LNG. With stocks closing at R9.95, Renergen's decline extends a troubling week, as the company recorded losses of 3.86% over the week and 7.87% over the month. The company has indicated that they expect their half-year losses per share to range between 42.7 cents and 48.7 cents, representing a staggering 43% to 63% increase in losses from the previous period, where they reported a loss of 29.91 cents per share. “The…

The DA in KwaDukuza notes with concern the ineffectiveness of the KwaDukuza Chief Whip, Councillor Humphrey Mbatha, in his deployed role. Despite earning a salary of close to half a million rand a year, having support staff and an undisclosed number of close protection officers, he remains disengaged and unreachable. The role of the Whip of Council is to ensure that the political party whip forum regularly meets and that decorum is upheld in council, amongst multiple other functions. For over a year, the DA has been reaching out to Mbatha to request a meeting of all party whips and has sent countless emails that he has ignored. The current Whip of Council has remained wholly incapable of fulfilling a single one of these functions. He remains committed to his…

To help the South African car industry sell more cars locally, the following strategies could be considered: Have a “Buy South African Car” campaign. Show photos of each type of car currently made locally, giving their names, prices, and other details. Photograph each car in one of the brightest colours in which it is available to attract attention to it. Promote these pictures and information as much as possible. Have a policy that all government and provincial departments, municipalities, state institutions, etc. buy only locally made cars. Trade unions should encourage members who intend to buy cars to buy locally made vehicles. Politicians across all political spectrums could ask their supporters to buy locally-made vehicles. The authorities could give our car industry subsidies, low-interest loans, and tax incentives that could…

EThekwini City Manager Musa Mbhele has come under fire from labour union, Municipal and Allied Trade Union of South Africa (Matusa), for his decision to appeal a court judgment that found the metro liable to pay a service provider R30 million. The appeal was unsuccessful, and the City could now be forced to pay the principal debt of R30m, plus interest and other costs. The union stated that as a result of Mbhele’s actions, the City could incur R20m in fruitless and wasteful expenditure as a result of the interest and costs. Matusa has written to the KwaZulu-Natal MEC of Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs (Cogta), Thulasizwe Buthelezi, expressing concerns that the municipality could now face a total liability of R50m, which includes the fruitless and wasteful expenditure. The court…

A KwaZulu-Natal teacher, who received the national Excellence in Secondary School Teaching award last year, continues to be recognised for his passion for the profession. Usiphatheleni Khanyile, 35, is currently in Shanghai, China, attending a seminar that focuses on education policy and practice in developing countries. The seminar, hosted by the East China Normal University in Shanghai, with other organisers including the International Center for Teaching Education and the UNESCO Chair in Teacher Education, ends on October 24. There are 22 people attending the seminar from Kenya, Ghana, Nigeria, Cambodia, Mauritius, Grenada, and Egypt, including fellow educators and government officials from education ministries, among others. The Mercury last year reported that the Geography teacher, from Sibusisiwe Comp Tech High School in Umbumbulu, won an award at the National Teaching Awards…

THE Road Accident Fund (RAF) has found a new ally in parliamentarians for its plan to exclude illegal foreigners from lodging claims when they are involved in car accidents in the country. This came to light when RAF was grilled by the standing committee on public accounts (Scopa) on its 2023/24 adverse audit outcome and finances. RAF, which paid R45 billion in claims in the period ending in March 2024, is saddled with claims liability totalling R8.2bn that are requested but not paid out and R27.8bn offers not yet requested for payment. Briefing the committee, RAF CEO Collins Letsoalo outlined some of the challenges the fund faced, including revenue constraints, the fuel levy that remained unchanged and having to pay compensation in full. Letsoalo told parliamentarians that the claims against…

Minister of Tourism Patricia de Lille, her department and other partners will travel to India in December to engage with those in the travel industry, the media and airlines in India to encourage more tourists to visit South Africa. India is one of the fastest emerging tourism markets globally and last year over 93 million Indians travelled abroad but less than 100 000 visit South Africa annually. De Lille told The Mercury that the India outreach programme will be conducted with a specific focus on tourism recovery. “Pertinent issues surrounding challenges experienced within the current South African tourism environment will be discussed and special attention will be afforded to issues not limited to air connectivity; E-visa challenges; promoting destination South Africa and sport and culture tourism. “The platform will also…

A team of detectives has launched a manhunt for the suspects who gunned down five members of a family in the OR Tambo District, in the Eastern Cape at the weekend. Two men stormed into a homestead in Ncinjana village, Bityi near Mthatha at about 8.30pm on Friday killing a couple, three children and two others were wounded. Among the dead is a matric pupil. A total of 29 people have been killed in mass shootings in the district recently. Eighteen people were murdered in two homesteads in Lusikisiki last month and six patrollers were shot dead in Qumbu earlier this month. Provincial police spokesperson Siphokazi Mawisa said police were investigating five counts of murder and two counts of attempted murder in the Bityi matter. “Information on hand indicates that…

A VIBRANT press is the lifeblood of any democratic society. Its role is to ensure checks and balances, hold the government accountable for decisions it makes on behalf of its citizens and give a voice to the most marginalised in society. The Constitution is unequivocal in its protection of a free press. The writers of that important document understood a free press came at a great cost with some anti-apartheid activists having paid with their lives fighting for the protection of an independent media. This brief scenario then sets the scene for South Africans to not only appreciate the journey of the country’s free press but to ensure that there is no repeat of Black Wednesday under a democratic dispensation. Saturday marked 47 years since the apartheid government banned the…

Indonesia’s Prabowo Subianto yesterday took over as president of the world’s third-largest democracy, vowing to combat internal issues such as corruption that plague the country and to make it more self-sufficient. The 73-year-old has undergone a remarkable transformation, from being a former military commander facing unproven allegations of rights abuses to sweeping the polls and now leading the country of 280 million people. Wearing a traditional black hat and navy suit with a woven maroon and golden sarong, Prabowo officially became Indonesia’s eighth president yesterday after he was sworn in during a ceremony at Indonesia’s parliament. Prabowo, who unsuccessfully ran for the presidency twice before, said in a fiery speech to lawmakers he would be president for all Indonesians and challenged the nation to help him face down the country’s…

ATLANTA: Democrat Kamala Harris kicked off her 60th birthday yesterday with two church visits in Georgia, where she plans to rally early voters, while her Republican rival, Donald Trump, spent time at a McDonald’s fast food place in Pennsylvania. After being joined on Saturday in Detroit by hometown rapper Lizzo and in Atlanta by pop icon Usher, Harris got a birthday boost from another music legend, Stevie Wonder, when he dropped by one of the churches visited. Harris and Trump, 78, are focusing on Pennsylvania, Michigan and a handful of other states likely to decide the November 5 election, where both parties have strong support and electoral results have been close in past cycles. | Reuters…

DHAKA: Floods in Bangladesh have destroyed an estimated 1.1 million metric tons of rice, prompting the country to ramp up imports amid soaring food prices. The floods, caused by heavy monsoon rains, have claimed at least 75 lives and affected millions, particularly in the eastern and northern regions. The government is moving quickly to import 500 000 tons of rice to stabilise prices. This year’s flooding underscores Bangladesh’s vulnerability to climate change, with experts urging the development of flood- and drought-tolerant crop varieties to ensure food security in the face of increasing climate challenges. | Reuters…

The opening round of the Carling Knockout Cup has provided nothing short of misery for KwaZulu Natal clubs, with defeats left, right and centre. With Richards Bay and AmaZulu making the last four of the competition last season, much was expected from the coastal quadruple of clubs in the province this season. However, it hasn't quite worked out that way, with Usuthu, Golden Arrows, and Royal AM already booted out of contention for the valuable R7 million prize money. Abafana Besthende were hit the hardest, as a 5-0 spanking at the hands of Mamelodi Sundowns left a lasting mark. Having had a tumultuous start to the campaign, Arrows were targeting a remarkable scalp in the Brazilians but were simply outclassed in Pretoria. Speaking after the match, head coach Mabhuti Khenyeza…

As the Proteas go on the hunt for much-needed World Test Championship points, Aiden Markram's leadership and batting duties in the opening Test match against Bangladesh will be crucial. The Proteas last toured Bangladesh in 2015, and a then-uncapped Kagiso Rabada with Temba Bavuma are the only survivors in the current squad. Bavuma will not be taking part in the first Test match and is a doubt for the second due to a left tricep strain, and in his absence, Markram will take over the reins. South Africa are unbeaten in 14 meetings against Bangladesh, but without reading too much into those results, the encounters were against a Tigers side that was on the rise. Since the last meeting in 2022, where the Proteas walked away with a 2-0 series…

Alarm bells should be ringing across government at the real threat the deteriorating state of local government poses to Eskom and thus workers and the economy. Eskom recently reminded the nation of the worrying state of municipal payments for electricity owed to it. This trend is getting worse and if not resolved, will be catastrophic. Government put in place a progressive intervention package to help struggling municipalities settle their Eskom debt on condition that they keep up to date with future payments. This R80 billion relief has helped 72 municipalities. Yet out of these, it has been reported that only 14 municipalities have honoured their agreement. Municipal debt to Eskom is said to be R82bn and projected to reach R100bn by the end of the financial year and R200bn by…

In a decisive blow to Hamas and global terrorism, Yahya Sinwar was eliminated on Thursday. His death marks a critical turning point in the war against Hamas terror and demonstrates Israel’s unwavering commitment to bringing justice to those who wage war on its citizens. As of today, 101 hostages remain in captivity, representing innocent lives that include Jewish Israelis, Arab-Israelis, dual nationals, and international citizens. Hamas terrorists continue to hold these hostages, using them as human shields, while also withholding the bodies of 29 individuals murdered during the attacks or subsequent abductions. Within Gaza, Sinwar was feared as "The Butcher of Khan Younis". Sinwar was not a freedom fighter; he was a war criminal. The suffering endured by Gazans today is a direct result of Sinwar and Hamas’ actions.…

Oh, I belong tae Tekwin,’ Dear old Tekwin’ toon, But somethin’s the matter wi’ Tekwin’ for It’s goin’ roond and roond. I’m only a common old workin’ chap As anyone here can see, But when I’ve had a couple o’ drinks of a Saturday, Tekwin’ belongs tae me… I HOPE the Glasgow Warriors feel comfortable with this adaptation of their home ditty, adapted in recognition of their contribution to one of the most brilliant games of rugby at King’s Park in many a year. What a match this was! The Sharks won 28-14, the Glaswegians ran in two brilliant tries in the closing minutes. Wonderful running, handling and tackling on both sides. A magnificent game of rugby, edge of your seat stuff. Both sides can feel tremendous pride. The damsels…

Cosatu said that public and private health care in the country is in a crisis and that the National Health Insurance (NHI) was the only solution to the country’s medical woes. The union was responding to reports of tensions between ANC and DA ministers at a Cabinet meeting last week over the proposed scrapping of medical aids by 2029 as set out in the medium-term development plan (MTDP) target. The MTDP target calls for the full implementation of the NHI and the dispensing of medical aids – the DA disagrees with the ANC over this target. President Cyril Ramaphosa signed the NHI Bill into law in May this year with Business Unity South Africa, one of many organisations raising concerns that the act in its current form is not a…

In a move aimed at enhancing consumer safety within the vaping industry, the South African Bureau of Standards (SABS) has published its long-anticipated standard for vaping products. This marks a significant milestone for both manufacturers and consumers alike, according to Asanda Gcoyi, CEO of the Vapour Products Association of South Africa (VPASA). The new standard lays out comprehensive guidelines aimed at ensuring consistency, safety, and quality across the market for vaping products. One of the defining features of this standard is the establishment of a nicotine ceiling set at 35%. “Our commitment to consumer safety is paramount. Implementing a nicotine content ceiling will align South Africa’s vaping market with international standards to safeguard consumers from excessively high nicotine concentrations,” said Gcoyi. This ceiling is a pivotal aspect, keeping South African…

A Gauteng couple has been arrested after they were allegedly found with dye-stained cash in Katlehong. Police spokesperson, Colonel Dimakatso Nevhuhulwi, said the couple was arrested last Thursday after police received information about dye-stained money that was deposited into a certain account. “The account holder was traced back to an address in Katlehong and it was discovered that the account was opened on behalf of a foreign national who is renting in that yard,” said Nevhuhulwi. Nevhuhulwi added that investigations led the police to the woman’s husband, who was already a wanted suspect for other cases of ATM bombings. “Both were arrested and dye-stained cash was recovered at a salon owned by the woman.” The couple is expected to appear in court soon. Meanwhile, police warned the public not to…

THIS year’s unprecedented surge in wildfires highlights the escalating conditions driven by climate change and other factors that are making wildfires more frequent and severe. This is according to the Working on Fire-Kishugu Joint Venture (WOF-Kishugu JV) after it emerged that as of October 17, WOF had responded to 2 277 wildland fires across the country, surpassing the 2 270 wildfires recorded in 2017. “This marks a critical moment, underscoring the urgent need for enhanced fire prevention and response strategies, making this our worst wildfire year in 8 years,” said WOF stakeholder relations manager, Linton Rensburg. Rensburg said an analysis from 2017 to 2024 showed a concerning trend - the number of wildland fires has spiked dramatically in recent years, with 2024 setting a new peak. In 2017, the country…

Despite widespread criticism, it shows remarkable efficiency in solving high-profile cases It has become common to criticise the SAPS for its perceived inefficiency. Many South Africans have grown increasingly frustrated with what they perceive as the SAPS’s inability to effectively combat crime and maintain order. The belief that the police are failing in their duties is frequently expressed, especially when crimes remain unsolved or response times fall short of expectations. But before jumping to conclusions, it’s worth examining a critical, yet often overlooked reality, if you were to commit crime, you’d be surprised by how swiftly the SAPS would track you down. The diligence and commitment of the SAPS, especially in high-profile cases, often go unnoticed, but the SAPS is far more effective than it is given credit for. One…

Fighting raged on two fronts yesterday as Israel targeted what it said was a Hezbollah “command centre” in the Lebanese capital, while in Gaza rescuers reported 73 people killed in a single air strike. The strikes on Hezbollah’s south Beirut stronghold came after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu accused the Iran-backed group of attempting to assassinate him by targeting his residence. It also came as Israelis marked the week-long Jewish holiday of Sukkot. Lebanon’s official National News Agency (NNA) said Israel’s strikes on Beirut hit a residential building in Haret Hreik near a mosque and a hospital. The Israeli military said it hit the “command centre of Hezbollah’s intelligence headquarters” and underground weapons facility in Beirut and that it killed three Hezbollah militants in other strikes. It later said about…

More than 70 fake bomb threats have been made against flights operated by multiple Indian airlines this week, Indian media reported yesterday, sparking fear among passengers and global delays. All flights landed safely, but the spate of threats has resulted in planes being diverted to Canada and Germany, and fighter jets scrambled to escort aircraft in the skies above Britain and Singapore. India’s government and civil aviation authorities have warned that “very strict action” will be taken. New Delhi’s civil aviation authorities have not said how many threats have been received in the past week, but the Times of India and broadcaster News18 reported more than 70 hoaxes targeting both domestic and international flights since October 13. At least 30 hoax threats were made on Saturday alone. The global impact…

Madrid: Thousands packed Plaza de Castilla in Madrid yesterday to protest against Socialist Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez’s government, demanding an early election. The rally, backed by right-wing parties, saw protesters shouting “traitor” and calling for Sanchez to resign. Organisers claimed around 400 000 attendees, while officials estimated 25 000. Speakers condemned government policies, including an amnesty for Catalan independence campaigners and corruption probes involving Socialist figures. Inflation and rents have also surged. Sanchez, in office since 2018, leads a fragile minority government reliant on Catalan and Basque separatist votes, which has angered some on the right. | AFP…

Nairobi: A residential building collapsed in the Kenyan capital Nairobi yesterday, leaving several people feared trapped, officials said. Cases of buildings caving in are often a result of shoddy construction and flouted regulations in Kenya. The eight-storey building in Kahawa West, a densely-populated area north of the capital, had been condemned for demolition, Nairobi county officials said. Several families were feared trapped under the rubble, the Kenya Red Cross said. One woman who was standing outside the building when it collapsed was hurt, officials said, and casualties were expected to be minimal. The building had been constructed and occupied without approvals. | AFP…

In a thrilling display of skill and resilience, six-time MotoGP champion Marc Marquez showcased his racing prowess to clinch victory at the Australian MotoGP held at Phillip Island yesterday. The Spanish rider, who started from the second position on the grid, faced a challenging start that saw him plummet down the order, yet he fought back to secure his third win of the season, leaving the crowd in awe. The race began with a bang as polesitter Jorge Martin of Prima Pramac Racing rocketed off the line, displaying blistering speed that had fans excited. Marquez, however, experienced yet another disastrous launch when his tear-off visor got stuck under his rear tyre, causing him to fall outside the top ten in the early laps. Despite this setback, the talented 31-year-old quickly…

There are few examples that illustrate a people’s struggle for emancipation in the 21st century more than that of Palestine and Palestinians. Palestine is one of the final enduring examples of modern-day colonisation over the past hundred years. Therefore, anyone who sacrifices themselves for a cause as noble as the Palestinian struggle for freedom undoubtedly deserves to be immortalised in history as a legend and hero. Of course, I am referring to the late and enigmatic leader of Palestinian resistance group, Hamas, Mr Yahya Sinwar. Over the weekend, footage of his final moments released by the Israeli military would not seem out of place in a movie. In their haste to publish the footage, they underestimated the enormous impact it would have on the world, to their detriment. Indeed, Israeli…

In response to Z Khan’s letter on “Germany’s WW2 guilt has made it blind”. Since when is it a bad thing when one sovereign nation helps another sovereign nation defend itself against terrorists? Oh wait, October 7 does not count, does it? Let me guess Ms Khan, Israel is to blame for its ‘occupation’ since 1948, right? We can go around in circles while you and other pro-Palestinians try to hide the atrocities of October 7, by shifting the blame onto Benjamin Netanyahu’s men. You have painted this highly emotional, dramatic movie scene in which Israel is apparently the aggressor and the poor Gazans are, once again, the oppressed. This is classic Islamo-Marxism. Google the definition, please. As if the massacre of Jews that took place last year by Hamas…

“I am marrying a man with a very close family and he has struggles standing up to his mother and putting me first. This is a problem between us (the only problem), and I am hoping things will change once we are married. She is a very good person, and I have no problems with her, but he has an issue where she gets priority over me. Please help.” (Communication shortened; essence retained.) Consider your own position in the family before you try to challenge or change your husband-to-be and his relationship with his mother. Keep in mind that he is probably deeply bonded with his mother for reasons that pre-date you and are beyond explanation. People are very complex and our loyalties run deep. I question the notion that…

Basic Education Minister Siviwe Gwarube said the department was ready for the start of the 2024 National Senior Certificate (NSC) exams today despite severe weather warnings issued for thunderstorms and flooding in at least seven provinces. Today, over 800 000 matric pupils are expected to commence their final exams with English Paper 3. The South African Weather Services has issued a yellow level 4 warning for severe thunderstorms in parts of Gauteng, Mpumalanga and the southern parts of Limpopo, with similar warnings issued for parts of KwaZulu-Natal, Eastern Cape, the eastern Free State and the eastern North West province. Department of Basic Education spokesperson Elijah Mhlanga said in a written statement that the department was part of the disaster management forum, where planning was undertaken regarding weather-related emergencies that may…

City Power in Johannesburg said it would investigate the cause of the fatal incident that claimed two lives, leaving three others injured at the weekend. On Saturday morning, Johannesburg Emergency Services (EMS) reported that they were attending to an incident where five contract workers from Solid Management were stuck underground in a manhole while working in the Joburg CBD. “Three people were taken to medical facilities, and two died from fumes from a generator,” said City of Joburg EMS spokesperson Nana Radebe-Kgiba. The power utility said it was deeply saddened by the “devastating incident” that resulted in the deaths of two contracted technicians and the injuries of three others. City Power said the incident occurred inside the utility’s underground tunnels along Commissioner and Von Brandis streets in the CBD. City…

President Cyril Ramaphosa has paid tribute to the founding president of the SA Democratic Teachers Union (Sadtu) and former labour minister Membathisi Mdladlana, who died on Friday. Mdladlana died at the age of 72. The former minister became a Member of Parliament in 1994 before he was appointed as Labour Minister in 1998. Mdladlana was a teacher by training and a former school principal and he was the founding president of Sadtu, the largest teacher union in South Africa today. He served as the labour minister in the Cabinets of former presidents Nelson Mandela, Thabo Mbeki, Kgalema Motlanthe and Jacob Zuma. Mdladlana was the founding president of Sadtu between 1990 and 1994, with Sadtu general secretary Mugwena Maluleke describing him as “a revolutionary professional who was a champion for workers’…

An overwhelming and pervasive fear of crime engulfs the lives of ordinary South Africans. This is according to a criminologist who was reacting to the results of the 2024 Violence survey which was compiled by RCS, in partnership with BNP Paribas and the Whitaker Peace and Development Initiative (WPDI). It surveyed individuals from violence-affected communities in Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal, and the Western Cape, as well as South African corporates across a wide range of sectors. Siphathisiwe Dhlamini, Conflict Resolution and Peace Building Expert at WPDI, said while this year saw a decrease in the number of crimes according to the survey, there had been an increase in the severity of violence. “Incidences of being threatened with a weapon rose from 57% in 2023 to 62% in 2024. Incidences of being physically…

CULTURE is history, costumes and traditions, beliefs, symbols, behaviours, and values that define a group of people. While poets and intellectuals might describe it with elaborate words and cryptic messages, for the common eye, culture is identity, heritage, it’s being part of something, it’s being recognised because you belong to a certain group of people. It is true that each culture brings together in itself other cultures that mix as part of the shaping process, but the result is something unique. The shaping process of Cuban culture is not the result of what we generally know has occurred within the linear transit model: gens – tribe – people – nation. As Fernando Ortiz, outstanding Cuban anthropologist, has defined, Cuban culture is an ajiaco, where roots merged and forged the foundations…

A hurricane was bearing down on Cuba yesterday as the island nation’s authorities scrambled to restore power following a massive nationwide outage. The expected arrival of Hurricane Oscar, just days after the failure of Cuba’s largest power plant crippled the national grid, piles more pressure on a country already battling sky-high inflation and shortages of food, medicine, fuel and water. President Miguel Diaz-Canel said Saturday in a post on social media that authorities in the east of the island were “working hard to protect the people and economic resources, given the imminent arrival of Hurricane Oscar”. Packing winds of 140km/h Oscar was forecast to reach eastern Cuba yesterday, where heavy rains are expected, according to the US National Hurricane Center. The Cuban presidency said in another social media post that…

World Health Organisation (WHO) chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus yesterday urged Rwanda to keep up its fight against Marburg, as the country battles an outbreak of one of the world’s deadliest viruses. There have been 62 confirmed cases and 15 deaths in the outbreak, which was first announced in late September. No new cases have been detected in the last six days and 44 people have recovered from infection. Ghebreyesus hailed the country’s handling of the situation. “Enhanced surveillance, contact tracing and infection prevention and control measures must continue,” he said. Marburg is transmitted to humans from fruit bats, and is part of the filovirus family that includes Ebola. With a fatality rate of up to 88% , its haemorrhagic fever is often accompanied by bleeding and organ failure. However, the…

Seoul: North Korea’s top diplomat yesterday criticised a new sanctions monitoring team led by the US as “unlawful and illegitimate”, warning that countries involved in the entity would face a “dear price”. The 11-member team was named earlier this month after Russia in March vetoed the renewal of a panel of UN experts monitoring international sanctions on North Korea, imposed for its banned nuclear and weapons programmes. The criticism comes after a report by the South’s spy agency that North Korea had sent a “large-scale” troop deployment to support Moscow’s war in Ukraine, with 1 500 special forces already training in Russia. | AFP…

Belgrade: Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic spoke by phone with Russian President Vladimir Putin for the first time in two and a half years, discussing Vucic’s participation in the upcoming BRICS summit. Serbia, an EU candidate, has refused to impose sanctions on Russia, despite condemning the invasion of Ukraine. Vucic thanked Putin for ensuring gas supplies for Serbia this winter, highlighting Serbia’s reliance on Russian gas. He faces a dilemma regarding the BRICS summit invitation, stating, “If I say I’m going to Kazan, it will signal the end of Serbia’s European path, which I cannot accept.” | Reuters…

Leinster stands between the Lions and an unbeaten European tour in the United Rugby Championship (URC). Coincidentally, after Saturday's clash in Dublin, one of the two sides will likely be the only team left in the competition without a loss. After two grinding wins away from home – after starting the URC like a house on fire with two good wins at Ellis Park – the Lions find themselves in unknown territory with the early success. While the trip to the Aviva Stadium is daunting, their last two performances should give the Johannesburg side enough confidence to close out tight games. A five-minute stanza of sold defending clinched the 10-9 win over Zebre Parma in terrible weather conditions in Italy and it's that type of dogged tackling that could be…