Innehållsförteckning för 2022-01-03 från Mercury

Dr Chandni Tugnait As we start a new year, we may feel more aware or confused, more focused or distracted, more poised or ruffled, more driven or more settled, more ambitious or content – all of this is fine. We are often preoccupied with new year resolutions and how to keep them this time. So, despite our best intentions, why is it so difficult to stick to resolutions? It doesn’t matter if the resolution is to start a new habit or to give up an addiction; it all comes down to consistency and dedication. Most people blame their failure to fulfil resolutions on a lack of time, resources, or motivation, or a loss of zeal after starting. Only about 16% of people are able to follow their resolutions, according to…

Thami Magubane thami.magubane@inl.co.za SERVICE providers looking to fleece eThekwini Metro by demanding payments for goods not delivered or for work they are not contracted to do will face an uphill battle to extract payment from the city, as it takes a hard stance against rogue contractors. The municipality plans to defend in court close to R162 million in claims made against it from service providers, where there was suspicion that due process had not been followed. City officials told councillors that the claims related to service providers demanding payment when they had allegedly not delivered the goods or services or where they allegedly did work without a legally binding contract would be vigorously defended. The city had not responded to a request from The Mercury for the details of the…

MAY last year, despite its challenges, losses and griefs, depart with our appreciation so we can roll out the red carpet of grace to welcome 2022. If today you had a meal, took a walk, even if it was only a few steps, may you be filled with gratitude. You are rich! If you have a place to live, a space to call your own, or you live with people who have offered you hospitality, may you be filled with gratitude and joy. You are wealthy! If you have talked with kind people today and been able to return kindness and enjoy shared humour, may you wallow, yes, wallow, in the profound grace you have been afforded. If you have been able to earn your living today or are benefiting…

EBRAHIM ESSA | Durban It is ironic that the very day we lost our beloved Archbishop Desmond Tutu, the once great country that stood for human rights, India, where the likes of Mahatma Gandhi, the prophet of peace were born, allows ruffians to desecrate and vandalise churches. Of course, the government of the day will blame these callous deeds on hooligans over whom they have no control, but within a few days, this very same BJP government outlawed the Mother Teresa Charity Foundation from receiving foreign funds. The reason? “Forced conversions.” Never mind that the BJP takes it upon itself to threaten Muslims who have been born in India, and know no other country, to shout Hindu slogans and maintain that Hinduism is the country’s only religion. Prime…

BEVERLEY T MUTANDIRO | United Kingdom I FIND it disturbing and disheartening for my beloved country Zimbabwe to continue sliding downhill due to poor governance and lack of care. It now depends on other countries or charities for survival. It seems that the Zanu-PF-led government has failed to acknowledge the poverty it continues to cause, which is hindering access to any opportunities of improving people’s livelihoods. People are desperately poor within Zimbabwe, and are living in some of the worst conditions possible. There is poor infrastructure, and a lack of access to clean water, adequate sanitation and medication. The unbelievable unemployment levels are skyrocketing, and there is a lack of basic services. Poor incomes hinder education levels, and there is starvation, malnutrition, violence and child labour … Many…

Robin-Lee Francke robin.francke@inl.co.za Four alleged traffickers are expected to appear in the Pretoria Magistrate’s Court today. The four, who are aged between 19 and 40, are expected to face charges of contravening the Trafficking in Persons Act 7 of 2013, which outlaws trafficking in persons for the purpose of sexual exploitation. On Friday, members of the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation’s (the Hawks) Serious Organised Crime Investigation teams, assisted by the Tshwane K9 unit, arrested the four in Sunnyside, Pretoria. According to Hawks spokesperson Lieutenant-Colonel Philani Nkwalase, the joint team responded to information received from the Human Trafficking Hotline about a 17-year-old victim who reportedly left home in March 2021. “She was allegedly recruited from Hammanskraal by one of the suspects, kept against her will, forced into a life of…

An 8-year-old girl died in hospital after she was found unresponsive in a swimming pool on the KwaZulu-Natal South Coast at the weekend. The National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI) said in statement yesterday that its Port Edward duty crew responded to a call from the Pont swimming pool. NSRI Port Edward station commander Gert du Plessis said: “Bystanders had rescued the female from the water and they initiated CPR and raised the alarm. “On arrival at the scene, NSRI medics, assisted by two bystanders, continued with CPR efforts and were joined by advanced life support paramedics from KwaZulu Private Ambulance Services.” Du Plessis said a heartbeat was restored by paramedics and the child was transported to hospital in critical condition by KwaZulu Private Ambulance Services. “Sadly, the child succumbed to…

Sibusiso Mboto sibusiso.mboto@inl.co.za | Additional Reporting Ntombi Nkosi The decision by the EFF to hold a rally in KwaZulu-Natal on the same day on which the ANC is set to celebrate its birthday indicates that EFF leader Julius Malema is eyeing the province for more growth for his party. This is the view of University of KwaZulu-Natal political analyst Siyabonga Ntombela, which comes in the wake of the EFF’s announcement that it will hold a rally to thank party members and supporters for a successful local government elections campaign in which it made inroads in many parts of KZN. It was announced on social media that the KZN Siyabonga rally would be held on Saturday, January 8, at Durban’s People’s Park and would be addressed by Malema. EFF KZN chairperson…

Countdown to the games begins Fei Mingxing WINTER Olympics Beijing 2022 takes place in 30 days, between February 4 and 20, followed by the Winter Paralympics from March 4 to 13. As the world’s first city to host both the Summer and Winter Olympics, Beijing is ready to welcome athletes and delegations from all over the world, including brothers and sisters from South Africa. To offer a streamlined, safe and splendid Olympic Games is China’s solemn commitment to the world. Preparations are progressing well, as planned. Streamlined Winter Olympics The Beijing Organising Committee for the 2022 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games (Bocog) carries out multiple measures, including streamlining ceremonies, making full use of the 2008 Olympics venues for the Winter Games, and downsizing the venue operation teams to reduce…

KUALA LUMPUR: Seven states in Malaysia were hit by floods yesterday and thousands of people were evacuated, taking the total affected by heavy rain in the last two weeks to over 125 000, the National Disaster Management Agency said. The agency said in a statement that Kelantan, Terengganu, Pahang, Johor, Malacca, Negeri Sembilan and Sabah were all affected by floods, and 8 727 people were taking shelter at 128 relief centres. A total of 125 490 people have been affected by the floods nationwide, it said, of which 117 700 evacuees have returned home. Floods are common on the eastern coast of Malaysia during the annual monsoon season between October and March, but unusually heavy rainfall that started on December 17 displaced thousands and strained emergency services. Fifty people have…

LONDON: More than 100 000 people are against the appointment of former British prime minister Tony Blair as a Knight Companion of the Most Noble Order of the Garter, according to an online petition. After being appointed to the oldest and most senior British Order of Chivalry, as seen in the Queen’s New Year’s honours list, Blair said it was “an immense honour to be appointed Knight Companion of the Most Noble Order of the Garter”. However, an online petition launched by Angus Scott on Change.org calling for the Queen’s decision to be reversed has already been signed by more than 109 000 people. The petition states that Blair was “personally responsible for causing the death of countless innocent, civilian lives and servicemen in various conflicts. “For this alone, he…

BAMAKO: Mali’s interim authorities proposed to its West African neighbours that a transition back to democracy following a 2020 military coup be extended by five years, the foreign minister said in comments broadcast on Saturday. The transitional government initially agreed to hold presidential and legislative elections in February 2022, 18 months after Colonel Assimi Goita led the overthrow of President Boubacar Ibrahim Keita. It has made little progress since then, blaming disorganisation and a rash of Islamist violence. A conference charged with recommending an election timetable said the polls should be delayed by between six months and five years.…

Stuart Hess stuart.hess@inl.co.za Even Rahul Dravid can’t explain why India has such a good record at the Wanderers, a venue where conditions aren’t what Indian players grow up with at home. Currently coach of the Indian men’s team, Dravid, was the first Indian captain to lead a side from that country to a Test win in South Africa, doing so at the Wanderers in 2006. In five Tests at the ‘Bullring’ India, quite incredibly, are unbeaten, winning there twice, while there should have been a third triumph there, were it not for rain in 1997. “We’ve done well, even from the time that I played here,” Dravid said yesterday. “For some reason, the boys have always enjoyed playing at the Wanderers. It’s a quicker pitch, but the bounce maybe hasn’t…

Lutho Pasiya Sticking to a healthy eating routine throughout the holiday season is easier said than done – but it’s not impossible. You can use healthy ingredient substitutions to enjoy your favourite holiday recipes without getting off track. Below, the team at Herbalife share some ideas to help you create lasting holiday memories without constantly worrying about your healthy eating goals. Substitute sugar in desserts with fruit. For anyone on a health journey, sugar can prevent you from reaching your goals. Yet, biting into something sweet at the end of the meal is something most of us look forward to. So, instead of depriving yourself, find a good compromise with fruit. Berries, pineapple, litchis, grapes, watermelon, and pawpaw are great sweet fruits to satisfy your cravings without piling on the…

Mayibongwe Maqhina mayibongwe.maqhina@inl.co.za PRESIDENT Cyril Ramaphosa said one person had been taken in for questioning in connection with the fire that broke out in Parliament yesterday. Speaking outside Parliament after an inspection to assess the damage, Ramaphosa said the cause of the fire was still to be investigated. “I believe somebody is being held right now and they are being questioned. We need to go a lot deeper into how this type of event can take place, and what measures we need to take going forward,” he said. The fire affected both the Old Assembly and the National Assembly of the buildings of Parliament. At midday, firefighters were still trying to control the fire at the National Assembly Chamber. Although the fire was contained in the chambers, part of the…

A MAN was ordered to disembark from an airline flight in America because he was wearing a girl’s knickers as a face mask against Covid. It seems most unreasonable. You spend a torrid night in the lists of Venus and you have to get up early the next day and get to the airport. It’s so easy to grab the wrong item of clothing from what’s scattered about. The test should surely be whether a girl’s knickers, worn on the face to cover the mouth and nose, provide the same safeguards against Covid-19 that the normal face mask does. I can see no reason why not. Yet, according to Sky News, while waiting for take-off from Fort Lauderdale to Washington, Adam Jenne was ordered off the United Airlines flight for…

THYAGARAJ MARKANDAN | Kloof I AM not an admirer of religious leaders, but Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu was an exception. I really admired him. He was an iconic figure respected and loved all over the world. So great was he, that his death was the first news item not only on our local TV channels but on several international ones – the BBC, CNN, Sky News, Euro News and many more. Several world leaders and organisations, chief among them the UN and Amnesty International, have sent their condolences and paid tribute to a man of unwavering integrity, who fought fiercely and tirelessly for the downtrodden. Even Queen Elizabeth II paid tribute to him. Just after she had paid tribute to her late husband Prince Philip in her Christmas…

WASHINGTON: Once upon a time, in December 1955, when the world was anxious about the Cold War, one man’s imagination helped turn fears into a Christmas tradition. US Air Force Colonel Harry Shoup was serving at the Continental Air Defense Command (Conad) Operations Center in Colorado Springs. Several weeks before Christmas, Shoup was on duty when the top secret telephone on his desk rang. The phone could be reached only by top-ranking commanders in very critical situations. “With that top secret phone call, my dad was scared … there were bad Soviets … ” Shoup’s daughter, Terri Shoup van Keuren, said. The colonel picked up the phone and answered in a solemn tone but heard a child saying, “Is this Santa?” “Dad thought his staff was playing a joke on…

| The Washington Post Whenever Betty White was asked if she was afraid of dying, the legendary comic actress pointed to the teachings of her mother and the comfort she had in finding out “the secret”. Death became a popular topic for White, who found new generations of fans on social media that defended her from viral internet hoaxes regarding her alleged passing and worried about her any time her name trended on Twitter in the past decade. But White, who died on Friday at the age of 99, maintained for years to anyone who asked that she was “not at all” afraid of dying. “My mother had the most wonderful outlook on death,” she told Katie Couric on CBS Sunday Morning in 2011. “She would always say, ‘Nobody…

Zelda Venter zelda.venter@inl.co.za GOOD news for workers of the SA Post Office (Sapo) is that the Supreme Court of Appeal has ordered that the postal giant pay its monthly contributions on behalf of employees towards the Post Office Retirement Fund. Judge Clive Plasket said the postal giant was in breach of this obligation in that it had not made the required payments since May last year. While the Post Office cited its dire financial situation and Covid-19 as reasons for not paying its pension contributions, the judge said the Post Office was merely using scare tactics by citing its dire financial position as a reason to escape from its obligations. The SCA judgment, delivered last Thursday, also ordered the already cash-strapped Post Office to pay the legal costs of the…

India is supposedly the largest and most populous democracy in the world. Regrettably, recently, I have seen on videos the horrifying speeches by Hindu nationalists seeking Rohingya-like genocide against minority groups such as Muslims and Christians? Videos showing the public murder and assaulting of Muslims are regularly distributed on social media. Moreover, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the ruling classes of BJP supporters are silent on these atrocious aspects of hate speech and calls for the ethnic cleansing of minorities in India. Modi’s silence gives impetus to these individuals endangering the lives of millions of minorities in India. These hate sentiments pose, not only a grave threat to much-needed unity in India but also to the constitution of India. Stirring the fires of communal violence and hatred is very simple;…

FOR over two years the country was left shell-shocked when witness after witness told the Commission of Inquiry into state capture how key state departments were captured for the benefit of a corrupt few. Chief among those who were accused of capturing the state was the Gupta family, now in a self-imposed exile amid the high towers of Dubai. But they were not working alone; they worked with corrupt state officials and corrupt politicians. Bosasa, the cash cow of several ANC politicians and the governing party, was also fingered. We all heard how they were bankrolling the private ceremonies of certain politicians and lavishing them with gifts in return for lucrative state tenders, mainly from the Department of Correctional Services. After a painstaking process, the chairperson of the commission, Acting…

A HERD of endangered wild elephants have rampaged through a safari park in Bangladesh, with officials warning yesterday that the creatures were acting aggressively and posed a serious safety threat. The herd of at least 13 elephants knocked down a 2m-high concrete wall to break into the Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Safari Park, north of the resort city of Cox’s Bazar, earlier this week. “They are very restless, frightened and acting as if they are cornered. They are now very dangerous for other animals and our visitors,” said park official Mazharul Islam. The reserve is home to over 1 300 animals – including Bengal tigers, hippos and other threatened species – and sees around 5 000 visitors each day in winter. “We are worried for the park’s visitors,” Islam…

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un called for solutions to economic hardships and the development of military prowess in a speech at a major policy meeting this week, state media said on Saturday. Food shortage and other domestic hardships were put in the foreground as Kim laid out plans for 2022 at the plenary meeting of the ruling Worker’s Party’s central committee. He also vowed to build up North Korea’s military in light of the “destabilising” situation on the Korean Peninsula and international politics. His remarks at the meeting, carried by the North’s official Rodong Sinmun on Saturday, appeared to replace his New Year’s Day address, a banner speech that previously served as a vehicle for major diplomatic and policy announcements. Unlike previous years, when Kim issued sharp statements that…

Kingston: Jamaica will deport former Colombian army officer Mario Antonio Palacios, a suspect in the assassination of Haitian President Jovenel Moise, to Colombia, local media reported. “The applicant should depart by January 3 (today),” High Court judge Justice Courtney Daye ordered during a New Year’s Eve court sitting. Haiti twice requested Palacios’ extradition to face trial there, but Jamaican prosecutors denied both. Moise was shot dead at his residence on July 7. His injured wife received medical treatment in the US. Haitian authorities have detained over 40 suspects in Moise’s assassination, including 18 Colombian citizens.…

England opener Zak Crawley said he would be prepared to endure tougher health protocols to ensure the Ashes series is completed, adding that the tourists were determined to push back hard at Australia in this week’s fourth Test. A dominant innings and 14-run victory in the third Test in Melbourne on Tuesday gave Australia an unassailable 3-0 lead in the series, leaving England playing only for pride in the final two matches. The resurgence of Covid-19 in New South Wales has cast a shadow over the Sydney Test, but Crawley said he was willing to accept tighter health protocols to ensure the match went ahead as scheduled on Wednesday. “Personally, I would… I can’t speak for everyone on that, but we’ve only got a couple of weeks left and I…

Bang Showbiz Paris Hilton is loving married life with Carter Reum, after they tied the knot earlier this year. The 40-year-old star has taken to Twitter to reveal she’s loving married life with Carter Reum, after they tied the knot in November. Alongside some behind-the-scenes photos from their honeymoon, Hilton wrote: “Happy #25thMonthiversary my love! “Traveling the world with you for our Honeymoon has been a dream come true. I’m so grateful to be married to my best friend. I can’t wait for this next chapter and all the new memories that await us both. #HiltonReumForever” (sic). Hilton previously admitted that she’s “never been happier” in her life. The socialite loved spending time in lockdown with Reum amid the Covid-19 pandemic. Speaking at the time, she said: “I’m loving…

Greek olive oil farmer Michalis Antonopoulos says farmers are witnessing phenomena and problems they did not see 20 years ago. Standing in his grove in Kalamata, Greece’s best-known olive-producing region, among trees that are hundreds of years old, Antonopoulos, who heads the local olive growers’ co-operative, estimated a 50% drop in regional output. Last year the harvest was not good, he said – his trees did not fully blossom because last winter was not cold or wet enough. In the spring, temperatures soared to 38ºC, damaging the flowers that were to grow into olives. Then the summer brought the worst heat wave in decades, drying up the olives and setting off wildfires that torched hundreds of thousands of trees. Greece is the world’s third biggest producer of olive oil, and…

Farouk Araie | Gauteng THE new novel by Ken Follet, titled: Third World War, is a fictional account of the next world war. As real live events in Europe, Asia and the Middle East spiral out of control, a new world war could erupt in 2022. Mr William Perry, secretary of defence under then-president Bill Clinton, recently issued a stark warning that a nuclear war could erupt and erase humanity if politicians continue with their fiery rhetoric. The volatile and escalating situation between Russia, the US, China, India, Pakistan, Iran and Israel cannot be resolved by military force or political subjugation. Any act of brinkmanship could result in a deadly chain of events that their arrogant leaders would not be able to control or contain. The major powers…

TONY BALL | Gillitts A FLURRY of letters to the media six months ago seemed to galvanise the KwaZulu-Natal transport department to maintain the verges on the M7 in KZN, and improve the safety of motorists. A drive on the same road this weekend sadly reveals that that was the last time the centre median was trimmed, and road signs and steel barrier made visible. Transport Minister Fikile Mbalula needs to spend less time pontificating and more time actually instructing his ineffectual staff to focus on improving our dangerous roads. But we all know that maintenance of roads has the same priority as protecting our railway system: zero priority. Why is it that this government seems incapable of carrying out simple tasks? Surely they cannot be that useless?…

Mwangi Githahu mwangi.githahu@inl.co.za ANGLICAN Archbishop Thabo Makgoba has suggested that Cape Town's airport be renamed the Archbishop Desmond Mpilo Tutu International Airport. He made the call in his sermon during a private family service early yesterday at which Tutu’s ashes were interred in front of the high altar of Cape Town’s St George’s Cathedral. The service was attended by about 20 members of the family, led by Mama Leah Tutu. The ashes are interred under a memorial stone. The stone is inscribed with the words: “Desmond Mpilo Tutu, Oct 1931 – Dec 2021, Archbishop Of Cape Town 1986 – 1996.” In his sermon, Makgoba said South Africans should use Tutu’s death as an opportunity to turn a new page. He said the nation should commit itself to the radical,…

Mushtak Parker THE universal mood music as the world saw in the new year on Friday evening was emphatically subdued. The new Omicron variant of the coronavirus sweeping the world served as the ultimate party pooper. But is it also an omen for the state of the global economy in 2022 – subdued GDP growth with the usual regional disparities and downside risks? Institutions and economists are revelling in their perennial end-of-the-year hype guessing a cornucopia of scenarios for global economy prospects in 2022. The one thing they are all agreed on is that the resurgent Omicron is a stark reminder that the Covid-19 pandemic is far from over. Omicron, says the IMF, has sharply increased uncertainty around global economic prospects and undermines the gains in economic rebound, financial…

The EU has drawn up plans to label some natural gas and nuclear energy projects as “green” investments after a year-long battle between governments over which investments are truly climate-friendly. The European Commission is expected to propose rules in January deciding whether gas and nuclear projects will be included in the EU “sustainable finance taxonomy”. This is a list of economic activities and the environmental criteria they must meet to be labelled as green investments. By restricting the “green” label to truly climate-friendly projects, the system aims to make those investments more attractive to private capital, and stop “greenwashing”, where companies or investors overstate their eco-friendly credentials. Brussels has also made moves to apply the system to some EU funding, meaning the rules could decide which projects are eligible for…

Los Angeles: Singer James Blunt is grateful the coronavirus pandemic forced him to spend more time with his family because he’d spent so long promising his wife he’d take a year off while knowing he wouldn’t do it. Blunt said: “I’ve been on tour for 17 years and I’d been lying to my wife saying I’d take a year out and spend time at home – then the pandemic forced my hand. And it was amazing. I felt very, very fortunate to do that.” The singer, 47, and his wife Sofia have been together for nine years. “The secret to longlasting love? My dad’s advice was, ‘Be kind to each other’.”…

Jerusalem: A Palestinian prisoner languishing in hospital after an extensive hunger strike teetered close to death yesterday, sparking international concern and Palestinian demands that Israel release him from detention without charges. Hisham Abu Hawash, 40, a member of the Islamic Jihad militant movement, began refusing food in August to protest against Israel holding him without charges or trial. The married father of five from Dura in the south of the Israeli-occupied West Bank was being held under administrative detention, a practice of arresting suspects for renewable six-month terms without allowing them to view the charges or evidence against them. “His condition is difficult and complex,” said Liad Aviel, spokesperson of the Shamir Medical Centre in Israel where Abu Hawash is being held. The International Committee of the Red Cross said…

Cairo: Egypt’s Suez Canal Authority said the key waterway netted record revenues last year, despite the coronavirus pandemic and a six-day blockage by giant cargo ship the Ever Given. Connecting the Red Sea and the Mediterranean, the canal accounts for roughly 10% of global maritime trade and is a source of much-needed foreign currency for Egypt. In 2021, some 1.27 billion tons of cargo were shipped through the canal, earning $6.3 billion (about R100.5bn) in transit fees, 13% more than the previous year and the highest figures ever recorded, Suez Canal Authority chief Osama Rabie said.…

Stuart Hess stuart.hess@inl.co.za There is no time for the South African players to feel sorry for themselves. The Indians don’t. They don’t care that South Africa has been dealt a harsh hand by the sport’s schedulers in the last 12 months, nor do they care that South Africa has lost a match winner in Quinton de Kock. The tourists don’t care that there’ll be no crowds allowed at the Wanderers; they don’t care that three potential starters for the Proteas today have played less than five Tests. All India cares about, all Virat Kohli wants, is to win, and with that win, to make history. So, the home team’s players can’t mope. De Kock’s retired, get over it, said Dean Elgar yesterday. The same could go for any ill-feeling any…