Innehållsförteckning för 2023-03-09 från Mercury

THE SPECTRE of load shedding in South Africa led to business confidence continuing to deteriorate in the first quarter of 2023, while the manufacturing sector is on its knees. The RMB/BER Business Confidence Index (BCI), released yesterday, declined further from 38 points in the fourth quarter to 36 points in the first quarter of 2023. Annabel Bishop, the chief economist at Investec, said: “Overall business confidence continued its downward slide as load shedding intensified, with whistleblower reports of the high levels of corruption and sabotage to Eskom’s operations and so electricity producing capacity, not as yet a stated, serious concern of the State, itself depressing confidence for businesses in the future operating environment.” However, at risk are jobs and the de-industrialisation of the country as the index showed manufacturing…

TRUCK driver Sithulile Siyabonga Zulu, whose vehicle allegedly slammed into more than 46 cars on the M41 near uMhlanga, north of Durban, on Monday, appeared in the Durban Magistrate’s Court yesterday. Zulu, 22, has been charged with reckless and negligent driving, and failure to comply with the duties of a driver following the crash that left 16 people injured, including a pregnant woman who had to be airlifted from the scene. The presiding officer told Zulu, who had been behind the wheel of a tipper truck, that when one was in a collision one had to take full responsibility by taking control of the situation, and in this case Zulu failed and fled the scene. The matter was remanded to March 15 for bail consideration. The court said Zulu had…

The Prime Minister of Greece, Kyriakos Mitsotakis, sought forgiveness from his nation for the death of 57 people killed in a train crash. This is an act of monumental magnanimity that no leader in recent history has ever done. Mitsotakis is a man of principle, courage and compassion. In South Africa, hundreds of people die in various mind-boggling incidents without any powerful leader displaying any empathy. Our leaders have lost their sense of kindness, warmth and care for the masses. Their silence on deadly matters is chilling. Mitsotakis is widely considered influential to all with whom he graces his presence. His display of empathy during the deadly rail crash is an act of nobility that other world leaders should try to emulate. Empathy is a crucial part of emotional intelligence…

On many occasions, the state president has expressed the need to accelerate the provision of infrastructure in this country. However, his actions in the appointment of his new ministers seem to decry this intent. For the Justice portfolio, the minister is a professional lawyer, and for Health, the minister is a professional medical doctor. In contradiction to this, professional expertise at the head of the following two departments, the departments of Transport and Public Works, both extensively involved in the provision of infrastructure and where engineering expertise and competence is a necessity, we have, if media reports are accurate, ministers with no engineering background. One reportedly is a qualified nurse, and the other a “party political hack” whose entire adult life has apparently been devoted to politics. What is worse…

Family fundamentals: People develop relationship problems together. Such things don’t develop in isolation. Issues are very seldom one person’s fault or the result of one person’s issues. The healthiest member of the family can appear to be the one with the most problems. He or she may be simply refusing to perpetuate the problems. Listen closely for who the family thinks is the problem. That person may be key to the family’s salvation. Family issues that are ignored in one generation can, and may, surface a generation later. Problems are seldom new to any family. Families can change, anxiety can be managed, and things can get better and healthier. It all takes enduring commitment. This is true for all families. No one escapes, no matter how idyllic a family. Despite…

A PROSPECTIVE attorney who lost his bid to be admitted as such in the high court lost his bid to the Supreme Court of Appeal to enter the profession. There were discrepancies in his application before court, and Supreme Court judges raised their eyebrows at some of his utterances to them. The court agreed with the finding of the high court that Jack Montshiwa should not be allowed to be admitted as a practising attorney. Montshiwa turned to the Supreme Court to ask for leave to appeal against the order of the high court, which refused to admit him as an attorney. The judges said that, apart from the discrepancies relating to his vocational training, Montshiwa’s conduct, as demonstrated throughout his application for admission as a legal practitioner and before…

The growing trend of certain groups of community members interfering with law-enforcement agency officers’ work in executing their duties is seen as a sign of frustration by the crime-ridden communities while some don’t agree, blaming criminals. On Tuesday Cape Town’s metro police officers responding to gunfire in Hanover Park came under fire from certain community members. According to safety and security mayco member, JP Smith, the officers were arresting a suspect in Hanover Park for dealing in drugs when after a while they responded to a gunfire incident around Algoa Court where a group of community members attempted to free the suspect while another tried to fetch his firearm which he had thrown on top of the roof. “It’s so complex that you can’t just bash the community for attacking…

The date February 24th, 2023, will always be remembered as a turning point in history. It will be known as a turning point as China presents its strongest proposition on a peaceful resolution to the conflict between Russia and Ukraine. China is resolute and ceaseless in its call for resuming direct dialogue and negotiation as a means to end the war. China condemns the world divide that has persisted since the beginning of the Russia-Ukraine conflict. The majority of developing nations and members of the south-south co-operation have all opted for a dialogue and negotiated settlement. China condemns the injection of billions of dollars aimed to protract the Russia-Ukraine conflict. Since the beginning of the Russia-Ukraine conflict, China has been steadfast in adhering to “The Five Principles of Peaceful Co-Existence”;…

NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg warned yesterday that the devastated eastern Ukrainian city of Bakhmut may fall into Russian hands in the coming days following months of intense fighting. The head of the Western military alliance, which backs Ukraine, insisted “it is also important to highlight that this does not necessarily reflect any turning point of the war”. Russia’s Wagner mercenary group claimed yesterday to have captured the eastern part of Bakhmut, the industrial town where fighting between Russian and Ukrainian forces has raged for months. The announcement came after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky warned that if Bakhmut fell, Moscow would gain an “open road” for offensives deeper into the country. EU ministers were discussing plans to ramp up defence production and rush ammunition to Ukraine. | AFP…

Paris: Sea ice in Antarctica shrank to the smallest area on record in February for the second year in a row, a decade-long decline, the EU’s climate monitoring service said. On February 16, the ocean surface covered by ice around the frozen continent shrank to 2.09 million square kilometres, the lowest level since satellite records began, said the Copernicus Climate Change Service. Sea-ice concentrations during the southern hemisphere summer were well below average in all sectors of the Southern Ocean. The record lows this year and in 2022 are about 30% below the 1981-2010 average. North and South pole regions have warmed by 3°C compared to late 19th-century levels. | AFP…

ATHENS: Tens of thousands of people marched in Greece yesterday to protest over the country’s deadliest train disaster on record, as workers staged a nationwide, day-long walkout. The crash on February 28 killed 57 people and has stirred public outrage over the crumbling state of the rail network. Striking workers say years of neglect, underinvestment and understaffing are to blame. More than 40 000 people, among them transport workers, students and teachers, marched in central Athens. A group of protesters clashed with police, who fired tear gas. The protests coincided with a 24-hour strike called by workers of different sectors, which disrupted travel across the country. | Reuters…

Proteas captain Bongi Msomi is hoping that 2023 will not just be a year to remember for netball but for women’s sport all around. This year has been dubbed ‘2020-she’ as women’s sport takes centre stage with several tournaments in different codes taking place. Just last month the Proteas Women were in the T20 final against Australia, which meant they became the first ever senior cricket team to reach an ICC World Cup final. Later this year Banyana Banayana will be in action at the World Cup in Australia and New Zealand. Desiree Ellis’ team will be hoping they can replicate the heroics that saw them win the Women’s Afcon last year. Msomi says she is extremely proud to be part of, and leading, the Proteas to the World Cup…

FOLLOWING the death of Richards Bay’s Siphamandla Mtolo who collapsed at training on Tuesday, local clubs must acquaint themselves with the Fifa Sudden Death Registry. The reason for the death of Mtolo remains unknown, but it highlighted the need for clubs and their technical staff to be prepared for eventualities. Data from the Fifa registry shows that many deaths followed sudden heart attacks. The Fifa registry has investigated the underlying causes of the sudden death of football players worldwide, both at professional and amateur levels. It provides up-to-date information basis for prevention strategies and emergency treatment. Following Mtolo's death, football’s ability to deal with medical emergencies has been brought into sharper focus. It would appear football around the world has been prepared to deal with on-field issues effectively. However,…

THE Democratic Nursing Organisation of South Africa (Denosa) is demanding the protection of its nurses following reports of intimidation yesterday, the third day of the National Education, Health and Allied Workers’ Union (Nehawu) strike. In KwaZulu-Natal, Nehawu members blocked nurses and doctors from entering Grey’s Hospital and prevented a private ambulance from transporting a child to Stanger Hospital. Health MEC Nomagugu Simelane-Zulu said hospitals in KZN were running on a skeleton staff and the department was looking at ways to address the situation. The national Department of Health on Monday condemned in the strongest terms any form of violence and intimidation directed at health workers, patients and infrastructure. This followed reports of violence and intimidation at Gauteng hospitals – Chris Hani Baragwanath, Leratong and Tembisa; Pelonomi and Manapo hospitals in…

As some of us advance ever closer towards old age, we often ask ourselves if all the hardships of extreme seniority that we experience daily, with ever-increasing ferocity were “always like this” and if so, why weren’t we fully warned beforehand? Or is it a situation where old age just became much more difficult to cope with only recently? In arguably India’s greatest, timeless commercial film, Mother India, there is a very brief scene, where Mohamed Rafi sings for Sunil Dutt (translates to “I’m neither God nor devil. Perhaps just a human.”). While this song is sung with gusto by Dutt in the foreground, the camera just happens to move “accidentally” around and tries to capture some unimportant, irrelevant inactivities in the proximal rustic environment as an example of India’s…

The fact that President Cyril Ramaphosa didn’t remove any of the underperforming ministers in his Cabinet reshuffle suggests he either lacks the political will to take action or is beholden to certain factions within the party. This is concerning as it means the ANC is willing to sacrifice the welfare of South Africans for the sake of political expediency. Furthermore, the reshuffle did nothing to address the underlying problems facing the country – the economic crisis, unemployment, load shedding and corruption. The president should have used the opportunity to focus on restoring confidence in the government and implementing policies that would bring about real change, instead of rewarding his supporters with Cabinet positions. The ANC needs to take a long hard look at itself and consider whether it is capable…

KwaZulu-Natal Agriculture MEC Super Zuma has called on members of the public to vaccinate their dogs following an increase in rabies cases in the eThekwini Municipality. The Kloof and Highway SPCA and an animal rescue organisation have reported a spike in rabies cases since the beginning of the year. EThekwini Municipality said they had embarked on a vaccination campaign with the KZN Department of Agriculture and Rural Development. The department said it had noted an increase in rabies cases in the metro and confirmed a spike in dogs testing positive for rabies around Durban, particularly the western part of the city. “We are calling all dog and cat owners to make their way to our veterinary offices to vaccinate their dogs and cats to ensure the suppression of rabies,” Zuma…

In a country where children are exploited, abused and hurt daily, the University of Pretoria’s Centre for Child Law stands as a fierce defender of these most vulnerable members of society. Championing the rights of children, they fearlessly take on the state, the media, or anyone who stands in their way as they seek to protect these rights. Every year from the end of November 25 up to early December, the country marks 16 Days of Activism for No Violence Against Women and Children. But for the team at the centre, it is a 365-day task. Their mission is to uphold the best interest of the child, no matter what. Many of the laws in the country pertaining to making life easier and better for children were paved by the…

The investigation into corruption allegations against former eThekwini mayor Zandile Gumede and senior city officials in the multi-million-rand Durban Solid Waste (DSW) tender was so sensitive that the Hawks were brought on board almost immediately, the Durban High Court heard yesterday. Mbuso Ngcobo, head of the City Integrity and Strategic Investigations Unit (CIIU) and the first State witness in the trial, resumed his testimony yesterday and told the court that when the City’s Municipal Public Accounts Committee (MPAC) tried to get an update on the investigation, it received a letter from the Hawks, which said the details of the investigation could not be revealed. Gumede and her co-accused, who include former Durban city manager Sipho Nzuza, former exco member Mondli Mthembu, Robert Abbu, who was DSW deputy head, and Sandile…

PRESIDENT Cyril Ramaphosa’s Cabinet reshuffle on Monday has effectively overlooked the findings of the Zondo Commission of Inquiry after he retained some ministers implicated in state capture. If not, then how does one justify the retention of Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Gwede Mantashe, the appointments of Zizi Kodwa as sports, arts and culture minister and Khumbudzo Ntshavheni as minister in the Presidency, when they are yet to clear their names after state capture commission chairperson Raymond Zondo named them in his report? Ramaphosa’s failure to use or be guided by the recommendations of the lengthy report demonstrates that the president is prepared to sacrifice what’s good for the fight against corruption in order to retain and please his ANC allies who saved his political career over the Phala Phala…

Rallies marking International Women’s Day took place around the world yesterday after a year in which girls in Afghanistan were banned from education, mass women’s rights protests erupted in Iran and a landmark US abortion ruling was overturned. Demonstrations were held in Paris, Berlin, Beirut, Jakarta, and Singapore, with more rallies planned in other cities later in the day. In Manila, activists calling for equal rights and better wages scuffled with police blocking their protest. “Girls just want to have fun...damental rights”, read one poster. Demonstrators in Melbourne demanded equal pay and better safety for women. “Safe, respected, equal,” said one banner at the march. An Iranian contingent was also present. Many protests included calls for solidarity with women in Iran and Afghanistan where their freedoms have faced especially hard…

US officials have seen new intelligence that indicates a “pro-Ukrainian group” was responsible for the sabotage last year of the Nord Stream gas pipelines, the New York Times reported, claims which were dismissed by a senior Ukrainian official. In a cautious report that did not identify the source of the intelligence or the group involved, the Times said the US officials had no evidence implicating Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in the pipeline bombing. But the attack benefited Ukraine by severely damaging Russia’s ability to reap millions by selling natural gas to Western Europe. At the same time, it added to the pressure of high energy prices on key Ukrainian allies, particularly Germany. The intelligence suggested the perpetrators behind the sabotage were “opponents of President Vladimir V Putin of Russia”, the…

LAHORE: Pakistani police lobbed tear-gas shells and baton-charged supporters of former prime minister Imran Khan in clashes which injured several on both sides yesterday, a government minister said. The clashes erupted in Lahore ahead of Khan’s planned rally to kick-start his election campaign, but which the government then banned. The former premier has been demanding snap polls since he was ousted in a parliament vote of confidence last year. His successor has stated that elections would be held as scheduled later this year. Khan is wanted in court to defend charges that he unlawfully sold state gifts, misusing his office from 2018 to 2022. | Reuters…

Herzogenaurach: adidas said yesterday it was still weighing what to do with its huge inventory of Kanye West’s Yeezy products after it ended its partnership with the controversial rapper. Potentially not selling the apparel and shoes linked to West would lead to a revenue loss of €1.2 billion (about R22bn), the group said, announcing its 2022 full-year results. adidas halted its tie-up with West, now known formally as Ye, in October after he made a series of anti-Semitic outbursts. As a result, the group ended production of the highly successful Yeezy line. It would have to write-off the entire inventory, it said. | AFP…

RESIDENTS in the Durban South Basin area could be set for a new future, away from toxic chemicals and fumes, following the announcement by the eThekwini Municipality of plans to transform the area into a hub of clean energy. The municipality has proposed an ambitious plan to transform the area into a hub of clean energy that will be safe for residents, keep the area industrialised and provide jobs for locals. However, environmental organisations that have been at the forefront of fighting against pollution in the area, told The Mercury yesterday that they were in the dark about this plan. Mayor Mxolisi Kaunda revealed recently at the eThekwini Energy Transformation Summit that eThekwini Council had already approved the establishment of the South Durban Energy and Chemicals Park (SDECP). The establishment…

THE ANC has less than 15 months to regain the confidence of voters or it will face annihilation in next year’s general election. This is according to the party’s internal survey that has predicted that the 111-year-old party could lose control of six provinces, including KwaZulu-Natal. ANC NEC member and newly appointed Sports, Arts and Culture Minister Zizi Kodwa delivered the sobering message to ANC members in eThekwini who had gathered for the party’s regional general council. Kodwa was deployed as a national executive committee member to address the delegates. He said the ANC was on the edge of a cliff and it would take members working together to pull it back. “Our internal survey shows that we could lose six provinces. After the next election, we would only govern…

The passing of the National Freedom Party’s (NFP) resolution to downgrade the South African Embassy in Israel, while framed as a human rights motivated gesture, is in reality driven by an obsessive enmity towards the world’s sole Jewish nation state and a desire to undermine and harm South Africa’s own best interests. The virulence of the rhetoric against Israel, with all its multiple misrepresentations, falsifications, omissions and exaggerations, bears this out only too well. Our Parliament was founded on the fundamental values of respectful, constructive and honest discussion, but it has been allowed to become a platform for demonising and defaming the Jewish state. For Israel’s many committed supporters in South Africa, whether Jewish, Christian or from other backgrounds, the discussion and vote was a gratuitous slap in the face.…

There was inclement weather at St. Clement’s this week so we had to all crowd together indoors for the arts soirée. But perhaps that was for the better because we were able to experience music maestro Keith Austin in close-up – a highly entertaining and instructive experience. Keith sings and plays just about every musical instrument there is. He was a close collaborator with my dear old mate, the late Spyker Koekemoer (aka Pat Smythe), Durban’s noted raconteur. In tandem, they must have been awesome. Keith has a wide repertoire of adult contemporary and pop music from the ’60s, ’70s, ’80s, and ’90s, as well as Irish and other sophisticated styles. He performs as a one-man band across the province, accompanying himself on keyboard, guitar, banjo and penny whistle, using…

LITIGATION in the listeriosis class action is set to go ahead later this year while parties continue to build their case against Tiger Brands – with just under 70 more official affidavits added to the matter. Richard Spoor Inc Attorneys, a South African activist and human rights attorney in partnership with LHL Attorneys Inc and Marler Clark, confirmed they awaited a trial date but have urged potential claimants in the meantime to submit affidavits to confirm which foods were consumed before falling ill. RSI attorneys’ Nilesthra Padayachee said both parties had submitted pleadings while Tiger Brands maintained its non-liability for the outbreak. Padayachee said they hoped to secure a trial date in the third or fourth quarter of this year. The outbreak of listeriosis that South Africa experienced in 2018…

The Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on higher education chairperson, Nomphendulo Mkhatshwa, said that she feels there is no need for the presence of private security at institutions of higher learning and education following concerns of brutality and violence against students. This follows student protests at Wits University, which turned violent, and at other universities, including the University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN), in regard to accommodation and historical debt. Parliament’s portfolio committee on higher education met with the South African Union of Students and SA TVET students on Tuesday. Department of Higher Education, Science and Technology Minister Blade Nzimande said on Sunday that the department would establish a task force that would look into the safety and security at institutions of higher learning. Chantel King, DA spokesperson on higher education, said the DA…

Bhungane knew the importance of putting people first Histories of many non-literate societies in Africa have been reconstructed by analysing their oral traditions, by analysing legends, proverbs, songs or clan-praises and praises. AmaHlubi have in their historical background two notable kings, Bhungane and Langalibalele. The clan-praises are not only the record of the past of the society and its kings, but they also have social, cultural, religious and political significance. The poet and historian Two critical role-players act as a source of knowledge passed from one generation to the next orally or through literature; the poet and the historian. While they perform the same function by preserving history, they use different methods when collecting and recording historical data. Bhungane and Langalibalele Much has been written about the amaHlubi tribe by…

Denmark yesterday inaugurated a project to store carbon dioxide 1 800m beneath the North Sea, becoming the first country in the world to bury CO2 imported from abroad. “Today we opened a new green chapter for the North Sea” Denmark’s Crown Prince Frederik said at the ceremony in the town of Esbjerg. The CO2 graveyard, where the carbon is injected to prevent further warming of the atmosphere, is on the site of an old oil field. Led by British chemical giant Ineos and German oil company Wintershall Dea, the “Greensand” project is expected to store up to 8 million tons of CO2 per year by 2030. Still in their infancy and costly, carbon capture and storage (CCS) projects aim to capture and then trap CO2 to mitigate global warming. More…

Nigerians will return to the polls on Saturday to elect state governors, two weeks after a disputed presidential election, with the main focus on the race to lead Lagos, the country’s economic heartbeat and wealthiest state. The election is for 28 of the country’s 36 governors, who are among the most influential politicians in Nigeria, Africa’s biggest economy and largest oil producer. Some states, such as Lagos, control budgets larger than those of small nations. The Ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) party’s Bola Tinubu was declared winner of the presidential election with 39% of the vote. But he lost in his home state of Lagos to opposition candidate Peter Obi of the Labour Party, which is aiming to upset APC again in the state. Lagos is important for Tinubu because…

CAIRO: US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin travelled to Egypt yesterday to tell Cairo it wanted to deepen ties but was concerned about human rights in country. Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, who as army chief led the 2013 ousting of Egypt’s first democratically elected president, has cracked down on political dissent. Rights groups say tens of thousands of people have been detained. Sisi says Egypt promotes human rights by providing basic needs such as jobs and housing. The US has long provided Egypt with aid, since the Arab world’s most populous nation signed a peace deal with Israel in 1979. Cairo has remained a close regional ally of Washington. | Reuters…

SPRINGBOK supporters will have noticed the sharp peak in the performance of Sharks centre Rohan Janse van Rensburg over the last month of the United Rugby Championship and statistics released by the competition organisers confirm his growing influence. After 15 rounds of the United Rugby Championship (URC), nobody has beaten more defenders than the stocky Sharks centre and the statistic is all the more telling given that the 28-year-old has missed much of the action because of suspension and injury. Van Rensburg has beaten 34 opponents thus far in the URC and a good few of those were in last week’s match against the Stormers in Cape Town. He bulldozed through a host of defenders to give the Sharks a good chance of winning that game. Van Rensburg has just…

DILLON Sheppard is an assistant coach personified, fully backing his superior Arthur Zwane to weather the storm amid Kaizer Chiefs’ recent struggles. Zwane and Sheppard were appointed as Chiefs’ head and assistant coaches respectively this season, as they were tasked with reclaiming the club’s glory days and style of play. This was themed as a match made in heaven as the duo had a lot in common, including being classmates for their coaching badges in Ireland. Moreover, they played against each other during their heyday before coaching against each other in the development ranks prior to being Gavin Hunt’s assistants at Chiefs in 2020. But they have since hit a bumpy road as Chiefs’ fully fledged coaches this season due to an inconsistent run, while Zwane felt most…