Innehållsförteckning för 2023-01-09 från Mercury

THE eThekwini Municipality is working with Umgeni Water to conducts tests on tap-water quality in a bid to give the city’s residents assurance that the supply is not contaminated and is safe for human consumption. The latest move comes after one of the city’s councillors, Visvin Reddy of African Democratic Change, fell ill, was hospitalised and then tested positive for an E coli infection. Head of Water and Sanitation at eThekwini Ednick Msweli said yesterday that the latest test results conducted by the city had shown the water was safe. He said they were now working with Umgeni Water to get independent confirmation that the water was not polluted. “Our laboratory is accredited and we test our water every day, and we have not picked up anything. “If we…

RENOWNED cleric Bishop Vusi Dube of eThekwini Community Church says churches have played an important role in community-building in South Africa without much support from the government, and it would therefore be a shame if they were to be taxed. Dube was responding to recent remarks from the SA Local Government Association (Salga) in KwaZulu-Natal for a review of the current arrangement in which churches are exempt from paying rates. Dube said churches were getting by without any government support despite playing an important role in the country’s social cohesion project. In November, the KwaZulu-Natal branch of Salga called for a national discussion and review of the tax exemptions allowable to churches. Salga said that, with many churches spread across the country, local authorities were losing potential revenue and land…

THE post-pandemic world has been characterised by social, political and economic instability. Poverty and inequality are increasing globally. While the South African experience is no different, this has been aggravated by rampant corruption, crime, violence and xenophobia. In South Africa, corruption is most prominent and entrenched in the sectors of government tasked with addressing the basic needs of the poor. The poverty-stricken masses are the victims of lack of basic services (welfare, water, sanitation, electricity, housing, education and health care), while political leaders compete for the trappings of power and privilege of high office. According to our scriptures, people turn to the Lord when faced with adversities. Religion promotes the basic values of sharing and caring to uplift the poor and disadvantaged in a severely fractured society. As emphasised by…

For decades the ideology and politics of the ANC have had no resemblance to the organisation called the South African Native National Congress (SANNC) founded 111 years ago. The founders of the SANNC were politically moderate and embraced middle-class values. Their aim was to provide a voice for the voiceless indigenous people who were excluded politically in the newly formed Union of South Africa. In that quest, they did not embrace socialism and their ranks included clergymen, teachers and other professionals. Unfortunately, in the wake of the seizure of power by communists in Russia, the SANNC became a target of communism’s quest for world revolution. From 1928, having abbreviated its name, the ANC began a permanent alliance with the Communist Party of South Africa (CPSA). By 1947 the ANC had…

THE family of 6-year-old Mayville child Anele Sphengane is looking for answers after she was found murdered in eNkanini in the area last week. Police said charges of murder and rape were being investigated. Anele’s aunt said she and the child’s mother last saw her on New Year’s Day and she was with a neighbour’s child. The aunt, Sibusisiwe Mnduna, said they initially thought Anele was still out playing with other children, but as time past and she did not return, they began searching for her. “It was on the 1st when we last saw Anele at about six o’clock in the evening and at about half-past seven we then started to search for her. At 9pm, we panicked and told everyone and asked if they had seen her and…

A PETROL bomb attack on a Mangaung school on Friday has damaged learning material valued at R300 000. Free State Education Department spokesperson Howard Ndaba condemned the attack on Gonyane Primary School. The department said learning material in the school hall was damaged. Petrol bombs were also thrown into the school’s administration block, Ndaba said. The department said burglars operating under the cover of load shedding had vandalised and stolen property at a number of schools. “The motive for torching Gonyane Primary School is not yet known,” said Ndaba. Police were investigating the matter. “A used petrol bomb was found next to the burnt stationery. “School facilities should always be a safe place for every child, where children can learn, play and grow to reach their full potential. “We call…

The University of KwaZulu-Natal has issued a warning to parents and students to be on the lookout for scams at this time of year targeting young adults. UKZN’s executive director of corporate relations Normah Zondo said students and parents should be wary of scams and fraudsters targeting those who had applied for tertiary studies. These scam artists pretended to provide help with regard to acquiring financial assistance, student accommodation, registration and places in academic programmes, she said. “Unknown individuals claiming to belong to the EFFSC (EFF Student Command) are inviting students on to campus to assist them with late applications and walk-in registrations ... They are also threatening to burn some properties of the university as further incentive to lure victims. The EFF SC have confirmed they have no…

Durban businesswoman and socialite Shauwn Mkhize has expressed her gratitude after receiving messages of support from the public after an incident at her Durban North home at the weekend. The incident in which three burglars attempted to break into the La Lucia property left residents shocked, with many expressing their concern over the rise in violent crime in the area. A shoot-out led to one of the suspects being injured. Mkhize, who is the owner of Premier League Football club Royal AM, gave an assurance that she had not been affected by the incident, indicating that the attack happened in a wing of the property which was used by her estranged husband, Sbu Mpisane. “Thank you all for the messages of concern but as you are all aware, I am…

ALTHOUGH South Africa’s history is replete with iniquitous policies that were pursued by the white settler colonial governments through a plethora of discriminatory measures, the Natives Land Act 27 of 1913 was the most notorious as it resulted in more land being made accessible to white farmers and the clear confinement of black people to dwell within the assigned “native” territories (13.5%). Land reform attempts to fight poverty, boost rural economic growth and create jobs. In the rural areas, land symbolises security, identity, history and a favoured home for retirement. Land incorporates everything that characterises black South Africans. The Freedom Charter of 1955 set the goal of sharing the land. Despite South Africa’s reform policies, the promise to redistribute 30% of white farmland (via redistribution and restitution) to black communities…

Dakar: Thirty-eight people died and 87 were injured when two buses collided near the town of Kaffrine in central Senegal yesterday, a fire brigade official said. “It was a serious accident”, said Colonel Cheikh Fall, who is in charge of operations of the National Fire Brigade. “There were 125 victims, of whom 38 have died.” Following the accident on No 1 national road, all the victims were evacuated to a Kaffrine hospital. The wreckage and demolished buses have since been cleared, he said. Road accidents are common in Senegal, largely because of driver indiscipline, poor roads and decrepit vehicles. | AFP…

Kampala: Twenty-one people were killed when a bus headed for the Kenyan capital, Nairobi, crashed shortly after crossing the border from Uganda, police said. The Ugandan government is planning to issue measures to improve road safety after a surge in accidents in the country over the festive period. Ugandan regional police spokesperson Rogers Taitika said 21 people were confirmed dead and 49 injured after the accident on Saturday evening. Those killed were mostly Kenyans but also included eight Ugandans. The bus was travelling from the eastern Ugandan city of Mbale to Nairobi and crashed in the Kenyan town of Lwakhakha. | AFP…

German police have taken into custody an Iranian citizen, 32, suspected of having procured deadly poisons cyanide and ricin to commit an “Islamist-motivated” attack, authorities said yesterday. The residence of the suspect in the city of Castrop-Rauxel was searched, a joint press release from the Duesseldorf public prosecutor’s office and police in Recklinghausen and Muenster said. “The suspect is suspected of having prepared a serious act of endangering the state by allegedly procuring cyanide and ricin to commit an Islamist-motivated attack,” it said. The crime carries a prison sentence of between 6 months and 10 years. Castrop-Rauxel is in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany’s most populous state, whose Interior Minister Herbert Reul said: “We had a serious tip-off that prompted police to act.” A second individual – the suspect’s brother –…

UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has called for “bold and radical” action to reform the crisis-hit state healthcare system as he held emergency talks with health leaders. After years of underfinancing, the NHS state-funded health service is struggling to meet the demand for emergency medical care during a particularly difficult winter with high rates of coronavirus and flu. Hospital and ambulance staff have launched rare strike action – in the case of the nurses, for the first time in 100 years – with many members of the public sympathetic to their cause. Nurses are calling for a salary hike to reflect inflation soaring above 10%. | AFP…

Goals by Motebang Sera and Mxolisi Macuphu helped Royal AM claim the bragging rights in the KZN Derby with a 2-0 victory over AmaZulu at the Chatsworth Stadium yesterday. With the win Royal AM climbed up to fifth in the league standings and revived their hopes of CAF qualification while Usuthu dropped to 11th on the DStv premiership log. Sera, who was making his first start in six matches, grabbed the opener for the home side from a set-piece in the 12th minute. Elias Pelembe, who was also earning a rare start, delivered a pinpoint cross into the box and Sera lost his marker and leaped above everyone to slot into the bottom corner with his head. With AmaZulu bombing forward searching for an equaliser, Royal AM pounced on the…

Kaizer Chiefs title aspirations suffered a huge blow after losing 1-0 to Sekhukhune United on their anniversary on Saturday, but coach Arthur Zwane remains optimistic. Chiefs ended 2022 on a high as they won back-to-back league games, including beating Orlando Pirates, to be fourth on the log. Zwane's men were expected to continue with that purple patch on Saturday night as they hosted Sekhukhune at FNB Stadium on their 53rd birthday but Chiefs came up short. An early second half strike from Vusimuzi Mncube sunk them. A win would have taken them up to third after fellow title competitors Richards Bay and SuperSport United lost. Instead, they remaining fourth on the log, 13 points behind leaders Mamelodi Sundowns, but Zwane is optimistic his side will find consistency in the coming…

ANC President Cyril Ramaphosa has issued a stern warning against party leaders who are involved in corrupt activities and crime. He also warned against racism following the Christmas Day altercation that saw two teenage boys being assaulted at Maselspoort Resort outside Bloemfontein in what appears to be a racial incident. Ramaphosa was speaking at the governing party’s 111th anniversary held in Bloemfontein yesterday where about 10 000 supporters were in attendance. “Corruption is an enemy of the people; it must be combated and defeated. This means our movement must take a tough stance against corruption within its ranks. Any ANC member implicated or involved in corrupt activity must be subjected to the ANC’s rules and the criminal justice system. There can be no exceptions. “To address corruption within its ranks,…

A STARTLING account comes this way from Australia of an encounter with a Tasmanian devil. No, nothing actually satanic but alarming nevertheless. The Tasmanian devil is the world’s largest carnivorous marsupial, about the size of a large house cat. It goes beserk when threatened. Kirsten Lynch, of Hobart, in the Australian island state of Tasmania, actually grappled with this real live devil, according to Huffington Post. Oddly enough, Kirsten had invested in a play-play Tasmanian devil, a stuffed toy for her golden retriever to play with and chew on. The retriever was sent outside for a widdle. Unknown to Kirsten, a real live Tasmanian devil came in through the door which had been left open for the dog. She spotted it and, mistaking it for the toy, reached out to…

I seem to recall that both our previous and current presidents promised to introduce lifestyle audits of high-ranking government office bearers when malfeasance was alleged to have occurred – yet there seems to have been no activity in this regard to date. Even the Zondo Commission seems to have been quiet on the subject. And what happened to the official appointed to the president’s office who was mandated to draw up and be responsible for the existence of a ministerial performance programme, which would monitor agreed performance criteria on a regular basis? Or are these functions actually in progress and we, the public, are not party to the (inconvenient?) truth?…

THE recent incursion into the Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem by Israel’s far- right National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, with the protection of the Israeli regime forces, needs to be strongly condemned. This deliberate provocation has enraged Muslims and it is a glaring violation and abuse of applicable international declarations. The stage-managed invasion undermines the historic and legal status quo of Al-Aqsa Mosque, the third holiest site for Muslims, after Makkah and Medina in Saudi Arabia. It is part of the efforts by the Israeli regime, the occupying forces, to subjugate and seize the historical Al-Aqsa Mosque. Such clear aggression against Al-Aqsa Mosque can inflame tensions which can escalate to increased violence between the Israelis and Palestinians – the indigenous people of the Holy land in Palestine. Over the past…

A JUDGE once said love is blind, but divorce opens your eyes. In yet another application by a divorcing spouse in which he wanted the court to order that his partner forfeit her half of the pension money due to allegations of cheating, a judge ordered against the forfeiture. This was because neither the husband, nor the wife, had a clean record when it came to cheating. The husband received this bad news last week, when the Gauteng High Court, Johannesburg, dismissed his appeal against an earlier finding by the lower court that his wife was entitled to half of his pension as part of their divorce settlement, as the couple were married in community of property. The Regional Court in Vereeniging had earlier found that both parties were to…

POLICE statistics show several thousand women and men aged 60 and above were assaulted in 2021. From January 1, 2021 to December 2021, across the country, 5 554 cases of assault of elderly women were reported, while 3 266 elderly men were reported to have been assaulted. These statistics were presented in the form of replies by Police Minister Bheki Cele, sent last week to parliamentary questions posed by IFP MP Zandile Majozi. She had asked for the number of assault cases opened by the elderly and the number of cases of theft/embezzlement of the elderly’s SA Social Security Agency (Sassa) grants. In the category of assaults of women aged 60 and above, the Eastern Cape recorded 987 cases, Free State 404, Gauteng 1 105, KwaZulu-Natal 783, Limpopo 452,…

Gauteng Traffic Police says it has intensified deployment of officers along major routes as part of an integrated festive season law-enforcement plan after three children were killed when a BMW left the road and crashed into them in Pretoria on Saturday. Gauteng Traffic Police spokesperson Sello Maremane said the accident happened due to the alleged “reckless and negligent behaviour by a BMW driver who was allegedly spinning the car”. The driver of the vehicle fled the scene and is being sought by authorities. At least six other pedestrians were also injured in the crash. City of Tshwane Emergency Services Department spokesperson Thabo Charles Mabaso said the vehicle came to a stop after crashing into a tree. “Emergency services arrived on scene to find multiple patients scattered around the scene with…

University of Fort Hare vice-chancellor Sakhele Buhlungu’s bodyguard was shot dead in Alice in a suspected assassination attempt on Buhlungu. The 52-year-old died when gunmen fired shots at his car on Friday night. “The SAPS was alerted to the shooting by the public. On arrival at the scene, they found the body of the victim in the vehicle. “The driver was arriving at the home of the vice-chancellor, when a vehicle approached. The suspects started firing gunshots at the driver who succumbed to gunshot injuries at the scene,” Eastern Cape provincial commissioner, Lieutenant-General Nomthetheleli Mene said. The gunmen fled the scene in their getaway vehicle. “Police have registered a murder case for investigation. The circumstances surrounding the incident will form part of the investigation. No arrest has been made at…

Outgoing Transport Minister Fikile Mbalula says there are “engagements” on extending drivers’ licences beyond the current five-year expiry period. In a parliamentary question, DA MP Benedicta van Minnen had asked if the department would extend drivers’ licences validity beyond the current five-year period in light of the recent breakdowns in the machine used to print driving licences, resulting in a backlog in issuing licences. Mbalula said: “The decision on whether to extend the validity of driver’s licence cards beyond the current five years period will be made once all engagement processes have been finalised.” The driving licence backlog had been eradicated by July 2022 and the Driving Licence Card Account (DCLA) had now been attending to card orders as they arrived, he said. The machine had been operating since 1998…

SA’s position a vivid response to Russophobic hysteria unleashed by Western countries ON THE eve of the South African BRICS chairmanship scheduled for this year, I would like to point out that the world is now undergoing an irreversible transformation to become multipolar and, as I believe, more equitable and fair. I would like to quote the extracts of the speech of the President of the Russian Federation, Mr Vladimir Putin, which he addressed during the BRICS summit last year: “Only honest and mutually beneficial co-operation will make it possible to look for proper and successful ways out of the crisis situation in the world economy that has arisen out of the selfish actions of individual states that use financial mechanisms to shift responsibility for their own mistakes in macroeconomic…

Cotonou: Benin yesterday voted for a new parliament with opposition candidates authorised to stand in the elections for the first time under President Patrice Talon after a four-year absence. The vote will be a key test for the West African nation, where Talon’s supporters say he has ushered in political and economic development, but critics argue his mandate has eroded democracy. The streets of Cotonou, the economic capital, were calm. The 2019 elections were marked by deadly violence, record abstention, a total internet shutdown and the opposition barred due to a tightening of voting rules. This time, seven political parties – including three claiming to be opposition – were allowed to participate. | AFP…

Russia’s bombing of regions in eastern Ukraine killed at least two people overnight, local officials said yesterday, after Moscow ended a self-declared Christmas ceasefire and vowed to push on with combat until it reaches a victory over its neighbour. President Vladimir Putin ordered a 36-hour ceasefire along the line of contact from Friday at midday to observe Russia and Ukraine’s Orthodox Christmas, which fell on Saturday. Ukraine rejected the truce, and the general staff of Ukraine’s armed forces said Russian troops had shelled dozens of positions and settlements along the front line on Saturday. A 50-year-old man died in the north-eastern region of Kharkiv as a result of Russia’s shelling overnight, Oleh Synehubov, the governor of the region, said on the Telegram messaging app. The news came minutes after midnight…

PARIS: French President Emmanuel Macron’s government will attempt to revive his economic reform drive and score a major political victory this week with a launch of the pension system’s overhaul in the face of vehement trade union opposition. Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne is to detail plans tomorrow to make the French work longer, most likely by raising the retirement age to 64 or 65 from 62 currently. With one of the lowest retirement ages in the industrialised world, France also spends more than most other countries on pensions at nearly 14% of economic output, according to the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development. The reform’s passage through parliament will not be easy. Macron lacks a working majority and will need to win over several dozen conservative lawmakers or use his…

Glasgow Warriors (10) 24 Tries: Cancelliere (2), Steyn, Jones; Conversions: Horne (2) Yellow Card: Bean Stormers (12) 17 Tries: Dweba, Blommetjies, Pokomela; Conversions Libbok The Glasgow Warriors and the Stormers dished up an entertaining United Rugby Championship clash yesterday, one that oscillated between exciting play and physical confrontation. It was indeed a clash of styles, with Glasgow more willing to spread the ball to expose space in the wider channels, while the Stormers used their power game to stay in touch with their hosts. As early as the eighth minute, an industrious Warriors attack cut the Stormers defence open, wing Sebastian Cancelliere and centre Huw Jones interlinking with pleasing play for the No 14 to cross the whitewash. Cancelliere, in particular, was a handful throughout the encounter and…

Wayne Parnell is as far removed from a Pretoria local as you can get. The Proteas all-rounder is a social media influencer of note, often snapped in his funky street gear, dyes his hair all shades of silver, and is married to a Cape Town model. But for the next month Parnell will call the capital of the nation home as he leads the Pretoria Capitals in the upcoming Betway SA20. And he knows that one way to get the locals on his side is to get the team winning from the outset, especially as they are accustomed to success with the Titans in South Africa’s domestic competitions. "Obviously everyone wants to win that beautiful trophy but there is a process that needs to be put in place first and…

THE Department of Health has confirmed that the first case of the XBB.1.5 Covid-19 variant, which some have dubbed “Kraken”, has been detected in South Africa, and that they are meeting the scientific community to gather more information about it. The variant was first detected in America last October and is a descendant of Omicron, the most contagious variant of the virus. The XBB.1.5 variant case in South Africa was detected by gene sequencing carried out by researchers at Stellenbosch University, and internationally was given the nickname“Kraken” (a sea monster in Scandinavian folklore) as it is said to be more transmissible than other variants. However, medical experts said there was no reason to panic over the variant. Professor Tulio de Oliveira, the director of the Centre for Epidemic Response…

“My wife is constantly on her phone – no matter where we are or what we are doing. “Every ‘ping’ has to be obeyed, every time the screen lights up she has to see who and what it is immediately. “I can be talking with her about something important to me and a picture of a stranger’s breakfast – a friend of a friend of a friend, someone we will never meet or know – in Honolulu is suddenly more important than what we are doing on the other side of the world. “And it goes on all night. Every night’s sleep is interrupted with pings and beeps. What can I do?” There are many things you can do, but not all of the choices and options may be kind…

AS WE were saying goodbye to 2022 on New Year’s Eve, I decided with my friend to visit the Coconut Grove at the Blue Lagoon to have a snack. I was taken aback when I saw a board at the entrance stating that it was R5 for the use of the toilets. What an inconvenience. Many businesses, especially in the food industry, are struggling, and with this type of attitude the future is uncertain for these eateries. One of the greatest issues that is encountered within the human species is we don’t respect or care for other people’s feelings. Most malls have free toilets, it is so inhuman and immoral to charge. It is time landlords did away with pay toilets and cleaned up their act. The municipalities should end…

FLYSAFAIR, a local airline in existence since 2013, over the years, has won numerous local and international awards for its supreme managerial skills and airmanship. Effective leadership is the most important ingredient for organisational success and is a pivotal reason why FlySafair has experienced outstanding resilience even during the heights of a raging pandemic. This strategy and vision has enabled FlySafair to achieve outstanding success in the 21st century. Through such imaginary leadership, it is easy to comprehend the way crucial elements such as communication, collaboration, power and politics influence group dynamics in organisations such as FlySafair. This outstanding airline guides its ethical behaviour and builds its vision on four key values, namely success, sincerity, equality and concern for others. The important reason for its success in diverse areas of…

Nearly R6.9 billion will be refunded to Gauteng motorists who have been paying their e-toll bills. However, it is unclear if they will be paid out in cash, or with vouchers and discounts. Speaking to eNCA, Vuyo Mhaga, spokesperson for Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi, said government entities were discussing how and when payments made would be refunded. Mhaga said political teams from the Premier’s office, as well as the Department of Finance, were in talks around modes of payment. He explained that it could be in the form of fuel rebates or discounts on driver’s licence discs. “(With the Treasury) they are hard at work looking at different scenarios that could be used. It might not be hard cash,” he said. Mhaga said there were a few minor issues to…

Police in Mpumalanga have confirmed that Lushka Taljaard, 27, and her 4-year-old son Daniel, who were missing, have been found and reunited with their family. Mpumalanga police spokesperson, Brigadier Selvy Mohlala confirmed that the woman and her son had been found safe. “Indeed, I can confirm to you that the woman and her son have been found and reunited with their family,” Mohlala said. “I am getting additional details over the incident and will give an update. But yes, I do confirm that they have been found,” he said. The two had last been seen on Thursday last week, when Lushka’s husband, identified by police only as Mr Taljaard, left for work in the morning. Police said when he returned home at around 5pm, Taljaard could not find his wife…

Pietermaritzburg and the KwaZulu-Natal Midlands are busy with mop-up operations after heavy rains lashed the province last week. At least one child was killed and several roads and bridges were flooded on Thursday and Friday. At the weekend, Msunduzi Municipality mayor Mzimkhulu Thebolla visited the family of an 8-year-old child who was swept off a bridge in Peace Valley by floodwaters on Friday. In a statement on the mop-up operations, the KZN Department of Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs (Cogta) said disaster management teams were still trying to recover the child’s body. The municipality said the mayor had offered his support to the family as law enforcement continued with the search. “We urge residents to avoid using low-lying bridges and to evacuate areas that are a great danger when there…

Eskom will continue implementing stage 3 load shedding during the day and stage 4 from 4pm until further notice. Stage 3 power cuts will be implemented from 5am until 4pm, with stage 4 from 4pm until 5am the next morning. According to the power utility, current breakdowns amount to 17 035MW while planned maintenance is 6 189MW. This comes after the country experienced stage 3 and stage 4 load shedding just days into the new year. Besides the load shedding crisis, Eskom is due to face a legal challenge this year in a bid to stop it from applying targeted load reduction on numerous feeder lines across the country. According to The Mercury’s sister paper, the Pretoria News, business organisation Sakeliga, in collaboration with Agri North-West, and TLU…

JAKARTA: A boat with 185 Rohingya refugees landed on the shores of Indonesia’s Aceh province yesterday, following hundreds who arrived late last year fleeing desperate conditions in refugee camps in Bangladesh. Over half of those who arrived at 2.30pm yesterday were women and children, said Ridwan Jamil, head of Aceh Besar disaster agency. Hundreds of Rohingya have reached Aceh in the past few months, including a boat that washed ashore carrying 174 in December. The UN refugee agency said 2022 could be one of the deadliest years at sea in almost a decade for the Rohingya, persecuted in Buddhist-majority Myanmar. Nearly 1 million Rohingya live in crowded conditions in Bangladesh. | Reuters…

Bamako: Forty-six Ivorian soldiers detained in Mali since July arrived home this weekend, according to an AFP reporter at the airport, a day after they were pardoned by the neighbouring country’s junta. The troops, whose detention triggered a bitter diplomatic row between the countries, were arrested on July 10, 2022, after arriving in the Malian capital Bamako. Mali accused them of being mercenaries, while Ivory Coast and the United Nations say they were flown in to provide routine backup security for the German contingent of the UN peacekeeping mission. After their plane landed, the uniformed soldiers disembarked one by one. | AFP…

Kenyan police have arrested more suspects over the killing of LGBTQ activist Edwin Chiloba, whose mutilated body was found on a roadside stuffed in a metal trunk, media reports said yesterday. Rights campaigners have issued calls for heightened efforts to protect members of the LGBTQ community after Chiloba’s violent death in the Rift Valley of western Kenya. Police on Friday said they had arrested a freelance photographer said to be a longtime friend of the 25-year-old victim, a leading activist in the LGBTQ community in Kenya as well as a model and fashion designer. On Saturday another three suspects were detained for their alleged role in disposing of his remains, media reports said, quoting police officials. Chiloba’s body was discovered about 40km outside the Rift Valley town of Eldoret after…

Iran has hanged two men tied to anti-government protests, continuing a trend of using capital punishment to suppress dissent. The government has also killed hundreds of people, held thousands of sham trials and sentenced more people to death row, according to rights groups. The men, Mohammad Mehdi Karami, 22, and Seyyed Mohammad Hosseini, 39, were accused of taking part in the killing of a member of the Basij, a volunteer paramilitary force overseen by Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, on November 3 near the city of Karaj, according to the Mizan News Agency, which is tied to Iran’s judiciary. They are the third and fourth protesters to be executed by the government since September and the first time two have been killed on the same day, perhaps indicating a ramping up…