Innehållsförteckning för 2023-05-05 från Mercury

State is trying to shift the blame of South Africa’s escalating cost of food prices to the retailers, says Pick n Pay boss PICK N PAY chairperson Gareth Acker- man has lambasted the government for apparently shifting the blame of escalating cost of food prices to retailers instead of fixing the energy crisis. This comes as food inflation rose to its highest in 14 years in April, driven by rising irrigation costs for farmers and additional expenditure on diesel by retailers amidst rotational power cuts. Load shedding in South Africa has severely disrupted business activity, with retailers having to trade less hours and risk having their stock getting spoiled if they do not have alternative sources of electricity, which come at a great cost. Speaking at the presentation…

CONFIDENCE in South Africa’s manu- facturing industry has dipped to its lowest in 11 months as private sector businesses remain pessimistic due to capacity constraints from load shedding and supply shortages, in spite of an uptick in demand. The S&P Global Purchasing Managers Index (PMI) yesterday showed that South Africa’s private sector activity contracted for the second consecutive month in April, falling short of market estimates of a near-stabilisation. The PMI posted at 49.6 points in April, dropping fractionally from 49.7 points in March and below the 50 points neutral mark which separates contraction from expansion for the second month running. This reading affirmed Absa’s PMI released earlier in the week, which remained in the contractionary territory at 49.8 points in April, in spite of the…

PACINA Retail, the company at the centre of the National School Nutrition Programme controversy in KwaZulu- Natal, says it will continue to deliver food to schools in the province. The declaration made yesterday comes as the KZN Department of Education and the KZN ANC indicated that the R2 billion contract with the retailer, to supply food to more than 5 000 schools had been terminated as the company failed to honour its contractual obligations. Spokesperson for the service provider, Thobani Zikalala, told a media briefing at a warehouse in Durban yesterday that they had encountered challenges with the delivery of food, but refuted suggestions that they had failed to honour the contractual agreement. He also dismissed rumours that the business owner, Manzini Zungu, had won the contract because of political…

KING Charles gets crowned tomorrow. The “woke” will no doubt find the ceremony offensive, outdated, an entrenchment of non-democracy and unjustified privilege; an attempt to somehow entrench the vanished ethos of Empire. But the ordinary folk will be there and they will cheer. The “woke” must find this inexplicable and discouraging. How can people still be rooted in the values of that other Charles so long ago, Charlemagne? It must be discouraging for the “woke”, but the fact is that the royal houses of Europe are an essential feature of the democracies of which they are a part. They stand aloof from the political struggle between the parties that are also an essential part of democracy. The royal houses provide an over-arching national solidarity. And much the same can be…

Ted Blom, an esteemed energy expert in our industry passed away this week at the age of 64, leaving behind a legacy of significant contributions to the world of energy. Throughout his career, Blom was a passionate advocate for renewable energy, and his expertise helped to facilitate numerous renewable energy projects around the world. His expertise in the field was based on his extensive education and experience, which allowed him to become one of the leading authorities on energy policy and technologies. Blom’s work has played a significant role in shaping the energy sector, and his contributions will be felt for many years to come. His work on increasing the efficiency of renewable energy technology, as well as his advocacy for policies that support renewable energy development, has helped to…

Speaker Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula has called for the speeding up of the process to appoint the new public protector given the time available before her term ends in October. House chairperson Cedric Frolick said yesterday that the constituency period would start in June and the House would have to start the process by the end of May. Frolick said they made a presentation to the chief whips of parties on Wednesday and reminded them of the urgency of the matter. He said the process would require the establishment of the ad hoc committee by May 25, when Parliament goes into recess. Then the committee would start the process of inviting applications, shortlisting of candidates, interviewing them and the vetting of the successful candidate. This would give Parliament time to complete the…

Communications and Digital Technologies Minister Mondli Gungubele has instructed the SA Post Office (Sapo) and the department to do everything possible to prevent the entity from being liquidated and to safeguard the services it offers. Responding to questions in the National Assembly, Gungubele said the provisional liquidation of Sapo had the potential to affect ordinary South Africans who depended on it for services. “If it becomes a final order, not less than 700 SMMEs (small, medium and micro enterprises) that support Sapo will be affected,” Gungubele said. He said 6.9 million beneficiaries who received their grants and 12 000 workers would also be affected. Sapo was placed under provisional liquidation after an application was made by property company Bay City Trading 475 for unpaid rent in the Pretoria High Court…

The Madadeni Magistrate’s Court has ordered that a man’s name be entered into the National Register for Sex Offenders after he was convicted of raping a young girl in September 2020. The 47-year-old man was handed a life sentence, deemed unfit to possess a firearm and will not be allowed to work with children. In 2020, the 12-year-old niece of the man’s friend returned a book she had borrowed. The KwaZulu-Natal spokesperson for the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), Natasha Ramkisson-Kara, said the man spoke to the girl and she revealed that she had been struggling with maths at school. “He told her that he would teach her the subject, and then took her to his home where they went through her homework together. Thereafter, as she was getting up to…

Last year, the minister of justice and correctional services published the draft Constitution Eighteenth Amendment Bill, 2022 (the bill) for comment. The purpose of the bill was to amend Section 6 of the Constitution so as to include SASL as an official language. The bill was passed on Tuesday with 306 votes in favour, no abstentions and no votes against it. Deaf Federation of South Africa director Bruno Druchen said the landmark move would have significant benefits for the deaf community. A few noted by Druchen included legal protections and rights for deaf people, including the right to use SASL in legal proceedings or the right to access SASL interpretation services. It will encourage the provision of SASL interpretation services and other accommodations in settings such as education, health care,…

The global arena has created a market where we can make new friendships There has been a buzz of discussion in the media around the recent visitors from the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The landing of their plane in the Eastern Cape became a talking point, creating a divide across the country. Ostensibly, the sequel to the landing of the plane in Bisho got less pomp and hype than Premier Oscar Mabuyane’s trip to the UAE. The journey to the UAE by the Eastern Cape delegation sought to consolidate bilateral relations in which trade would feature significantly. The two events attest to the temperature of the room in the country. On one side, the plane’s landing in Bisho was interpreted by some as sheer disregard for the country’s laws. The…

KAL GROUP (KAL), previously known as Kaap Agri, saw its diversification strategy bear further fruit in the six months to March 31, with revenue up sharply and in spite of a knock in recurring earnings from load shedding. “Irrespective of poor economic conditions and unrelenting load shedding, and three years where business has had to face disruptions from Covid-19, looting in KwaZulu-Natal and the impact of SOE (State-owned enterprise) failure on agricultural customers, KAL has managed to achieve sustainable growth in recurring headline earnings,” CEO Sean Walsh said in a telephone interview yesterday. Recurring headline earnings grew 18.1%, but if load shedding costs were excluded, recurring headline earnings increased by 27.2%. An interim dividend of 50 cents per share (46c) was declared. Walsh said there were plans to reduce…

More than 6 000 delegates are expected to attend the annual Africa’s Travel Indaba in Durban next week, contributing an estimated R130 million to the city’s coffers. This is according to Economic Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs MEC Siboniso Duma. Tourism KwaZulu-Natal said it would pull out all the stops to ensure a successful event. The Indaba takes place at the Inkosi Albert Luthuli International Convention Centre (ICC) from May 8 to 11. Duma described the Indaba as a key part of KZN’s tourism recovery plan. “KZN is building on its tourism success of last year and the impact of the tourism recovery plan can be seen in KZN’s position as the top domestic destination in 2022.” Over 160 first-time exhibitors will be showcasing their products and 18 African countries…

THE Municipal Public Accounts Committee (Mpac) of eThekwini Municipality says the allegations against city manager Musa Mbhele are serious and that it has referred the matter to the executive committee (exco) to investigate whether any action should be taken. Mpac met yesterday to deliberate on the matter and were presented with the report on the allegations against Mbhele, who is under fire for failing to disclose an ongoing investigation against him during the interview for the top job. The chairperson of Mpac, councillor Thami Xulu, said while they understood that the matter was of public interest, it was a confidential matter. “What I can say at the moment is that the matter is serious and we have referred it to the exco to investigate whether any action should be taken…

The carnage in Sudan is truly shocking. The AU is a powerless institution that has not intervened to stabilise the anarchy in Khartoum. Over the past 100 years, leaders in Africa have clung to power at any cost, and in the process killed more than 30 million people. The UN remains overstretched in Africa, the continent of rebellion and coups. It will be severely and harshly judged, as the brutal slaughter of men, women and children continues unabated in many areas of Khartoum. The abject failure of the UN in halting this carnage has cast a dark shadow over humanity. The whole of mankind has turned a blind eye to the human tragedy unfolding in the world’s conflict areas. Choosing not to respond to their plight, not to relieve their…

To question and probe social norms is vital as it highlights the limits and ironies in the human intellect. For example, two men can marry, dress like and claim to be women. Also, a teen girl can abort as many babies as she wants or have several children from different men and the taxpayer covers the full cost. When anyone says homosexuality is condemned by the Torah, Bible and Qur’an, some are enraged and freedom of opinion and expression is forgotten and hate speech is hastily alleged. When a woman sells intimacy for cash, people rush to judgement, as if a person would willingly subject themselves to such indignity. Please note, I am not arguing for legalised prostitution but simply stressing the conflict within our collective moral consciousness. Since some…

South Africa’s printing machine for driving licences has broken down again, and will be back in service in about three weeks, according to the Department of Transport. Spokesperson for the national Department of Transport, Collen Msibi, said the machine broke down after undergoing routine maintenance last month. “The routine maintenance was from April 5 to April 19. Thereafter the technical team encountered a technical breakdown which requires the replacement of a critical part from the original equipment manufacturer,” Msibi said. “It is anticipated that the resumption of card production shall commence within the next two to three weeks.” However, Msibi said the department urged citizens to continue applying for driving licences. Last October, after the printing machine returned to service after another breakdown, the then minister of transport,…

The case against the five men linked to missing German tourist Nick Frischke has been postponed for further investigation as the director of public prosecutions takes over. Ishaan Fisher, 20, Jason Adonis, 18, Melvin Geunantin, 36, Van Roy Petersen, 21, and 21-year-old Carlo Geunantin appeared on Audio Visual Remand at the Wynberg Magistrate’s Court yesterday morning. The 22-year-old student from Döbern, in Germany, was last seen on Valentine’s Day. During his two-week holiday he stayed at an Airbnb in Pinelands. At the time he went missing, he was seen leaving the premises on foot. His belongings were found in possession of the accused. They face charges of robbery with aggravating circumstances and possession of a firearm. It was revealed that one of the men was allegedly released last year on…

PUBLIC Works and Infrastructure Minister Sihle Zikalala said yesterday the government would embark on a programme to install alternative energy solutions in state-owned buildings. “We have issued the request for expression of interest for those who can assist the government in providing alternative energy to our government buildings. “This is going to take place shortly. This is going to cover all buildings with alternative forms either solar or any other forms,” Zikalala said. “We will be rolling out this year so that it is fully implemented,” he said. He made the remarks while responding to oral questions during a question-and-answer session in the National Council of Provinces (NCOP). Zikalala told delegates they were in engagements with the National Treasury to set aside funds. The minister said his department was…

Recently, debates on a just energy transition have dominated discussions in different disciplines worldwide. Given the energy crisis in the country, which has led to an unstable electricity grid for more than 15 years, talks on a just transition – ensuring that the shift from coal-based to renewable energy generation is socially equitable – are gaining momentum. As the problem persists, wealthy consumers and businesses are turning to renewable energy as an alternative and reliable source, while poor consumers have to rely on an unreliable power grid. Given that municipalities and local government financing depend largely on electricity supply, many have questioned the ideology of a just transition. How will local governments generate revenue to finance their activities if wealthy consumers turn to solar? A transition to renewable energy can…

THE fishing has been fantastic in all facets. The offshore in particular has seen a lot of highlights this past week. The North Coast has been the most consistent spot for those targeting the game fish. Couta and tuna have been the main targets. The couta have been enjoying a frisky live mackerel down rigged with about a 6oz sinker (depending on the depth you are fishing). The bonnies have been around but the sharks have found these too tasty to leave alone. Shore angling, the winter chill is starting to take hold in the early mornings so make sure you have your jacket packed. The North Coast has seen a lot of edible action around the Tugela mouth. The snapper salmon, tripletail and kob have been feeding well…

The auditor-general has slammed the Department of Public Enterprises (DPE) for failing to meet key targets for state-owned entities. (SOEs) Senior officials from the auditor- general’s office said there was also no correlation between what the department had set to achieve and its performance. Bongumusa Thabethe, the senior manager in the office of the auditor- general, told members of the portfolio committee on public enterprises this week that the department must get its house in order. One of the key issues was that the department was saying the state was cracking down on the vandalism of infrastructure, but the situation was getting worse. The Department of Trade and Industry said recently cable theft cost the country more than R40 billion a year. Thabethe also said there were material irregularities in…

“My brother and I are estranged after a childhood of being best friends. I am three years his junior and we are in our fifties. We were as close as helping raise each other’s children. Now we are in a position of not speaking or communicating, over our mother’s will. Our mother wanted everything divided into three – we have an older sister – but he presented a “better idea” which we cannot support. Obviously my sister and I have the law on our side and he now accepts that, but he won’t go back to how the friendships were, with my sister or with me. Please help.” Your entanglement over your mother’s will is not because of the will. The implementation of the will is the provoking event that…

The latest debate is whether a national road from coastal areas to the hinterland would solve the horrible carnage from collisions and costly delays in delivery. Mr Thyagaraj Markandan’s comments, (The Mercury, May 4), are fair. There is no faster land system than slick railways. It’s what’s happening in the normal world. Underline “normal” lest we forget we are a grossly abnormal society. Violence is our game. Our war cry is kill all competition. Plunge all logic to shame. It’s clear we have become rock-hard in our chosen lifestyle and absolutely refuse to allow any object living or inanimate to threaten the status quo. Nobody must attempt to steal our jobs. Eliminate the competition, by mainly foul methods. “Kill the farmer” is now converted to “kill the councillor”. There are…

After many years of unsuccessful attempts to fight terrorists in the Sahel, the French army curtailed its activities and shamefully retreated, as a result of which the north of Burkina Faso and some territories of Mali came under the control of Islamic armed groups.Dozens of victims in the villages of Kourakou and Tondobi, the 40 soldiers who were killed near Aorema, some 15km from Ouahigouya and the capture of a Tidermène settlement by Isis militants in north-eastern Mali are just a few of the crimes committed by terrorists in April alone. It seems as if dozens of American and European military bases on the African continent provide only for their own interests and security, neglecting the needs of the local population for protection. Fortunately, not only former colonial countries and…

Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana has said that the National Treasury was in support of the 18.65% electricity tariff increase for municipal customers that will be effective from July because it was reflective of Eskom’s costs. Godongwana said he supported the tariff in the current economic environment because of Eskom’s debt. “It is quite important that Eskom moving forward becomes viable. “I know it costs the economy, but at the same time there is a need to balance the cost to the economy and the survival of the institution,” he said. Godongwana was responding during an oral question-and-answer session in the National Assembly. “The position I occupy suggests that I take a particular view precisely because of the financial sustainability I need to protect,” he said. Godongwana also confirmed that…

Senzo Meyiwa’s friend said yesterday that he opened assault charges against police officers he said had “tortured” and told him to confess to the murder of Bafana Bafana’s captain. Mthokozisi Thwala was testifying this week in the murder trial. He was one of the people in the house when the soccer star was shot dead during an alleged robbery at the Vosloorus, Gauteng home of his girlfriend, singer Kelly Khumalo. Bongani Ntanzi, Sifisokuhle Ntuli, Muzikawukhulelwa Sthemba Sibiya, Mthobisi Prince Ncube and Mthokoziseni Ziphozonke Maphisa have pleaded not guilty to the October 2014 murder. In his testimony, Thwala said in 2019, two police officers came to his home unannounced and told him they had made some arrests and needed him to identify the arrested suspects. Thwala identified one of the…

Former president Jacob Zuma has written a letter through his legal team to President Cyril Ramaphosa seeking the removal of Chief Justice Raymond Zondo. Zuma has claimed that Ramaphosa was irrational when he appointed Zondo to the position of chief justice. Ramaphosa appointed Justice Zondo in April last year after consultation with the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) and leaders of parties in the National Assembly on four nominees, Justice Mbuyiseli Madlanga, Justice Mandisa Maya, Justice Dunstan Mlambo and Justice Zondo. Zuma, through Ntanga Nkuhlu Inc Attorneys, said during the JSC interviews, one of the pertinent issues raised and which should have disqualified Justice Zondo was his alleged “untruthful and dishonest” account of meetings privately held with him. “Among several other disqualifying factors is that Zondo had at the time and…

The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) has confirmed that it will no longer proffer a charge of murder against the accused in the Thabo Bester case after further evidence was presented by the investigating team. Free State NPA spokesperson Phaladi Shuping said: “At this early stage, prosecutors can only bring charges based on the evidence presented by the investigators.” The current investigation by the team reveals that a post-mortem that was performed on the body found in cell 35 at Mangaung Correctional Centre registered the cause of death as unnatural death. The charred remains that were found in Bester’s cell at the Mangaung Correctional Centre have since been identified as those of 32-year-old Katlego Bereng-Mpholo through DNA testing with Bereng-Mpholo’s mother, Monica Matsie. According to his family, Bereng-Mpholo went missing around…

Ten years is a lifetime in rugby, and John Plumtree says that the incarnation of himself that returns to Kings Park on July 1 is very different from the 47-year-old that departed in 2013. “I have changed quite a lot,” the 57-year-old New Zealander said from his home in Wellington yesterday. “The way I coach is way different. I have learned so much over the last decade. I have changed the way I coach and manage people … I have changed much of the detail and simplified what I do.” Older, wiser and certainly enriched by coaching stints with Ireland, the All Blacks and the Hurricanes, Plumtree said that he has returned to Durban to win trophies. “These days expectations are high anywhere you go. There is more pressure in…

AFTER being cancelled in 2020, due to Covid-19, and fewer entries in 2021and 2022, the Bowls South Africa Men’s Open Nationals, once again, has a strong entry of over 600 bowlers and returns to the Port Natal district from tomorrow until May 14. Bowlers from the 20 district associations affiliated to Bowls South Africa will travel to Durban to participate in the three disciplines in contention – fours, pairs and singles. Bowls South Africa President, Heather Boucher, explained that the format for the team events has been revolutionised this year. Players may join together in teams regardless of which club, district or province they are affiliated. This opens the door for bowlers to team up with friends across the borders of their clubs or districts. Stella Park Bowling Club…