Innehållsförteckning för 2023-10-12 från Mercury

Damage caused by infrastructure bottlenecks, load shedding and poor municipal service SOUTH Africa’s consumer goods industry has warned that the economy can no longer withstand the damage being caused by infrastructure bottlenecks, load shedding and poor municipal service delivery. The Consumer Goods Council of South Africa (CGCSA) yesterday said the government needed to do the right things to fix the economy before the country runs out of runway. CGCSA co-chairpersons Gareth Ackerman and Johann Vorster sepa- rately said the cost of doing business had gone up as companies battle with a tough economic environment, which was affecting their ability to operate profitably, create value and invest for growth and employment creation. Ackerman, who is the chairperson of Pick n Pay Stores, said the government was failing to do…

CHRONIC diseases are common. Many of these diseases are caused by inflammation and metabolic dysfunction such as insulin resistance, which can be traced back to our dietary lifestyles. Research shows our lifestyles, including our sleep, physical activity, and diet, play a crucial role in developing non-communicable diseases. During Nutrition Week, on until October 15, we explore ways to incorporate more fibre into your diet for maximum health benefits. Fibre can be found in everyday affordable foods such as vegetables, fruits, whole grains and legumes. There are two types of fibre: soluble and insoluble. Both types are important for our health. Insoluble fibre does not dissolve in water and adds bulk to our stool, preventing constipation. Soluble fibre absorbs water and forms a gel-like substance in our digestive system. It can…

More than a week-long, 24-hour operation to extinguish a huge fire at the NCT wood chip mill in Richards Bay finally came to an end yesterday with only the monitoring of smaller burning piles continuing. The fire started on September 30 and required a combined effort from public and private entities as well as the surrounding community to bring it under control. NCT general manager Danny Knoesen confirmed the fire had been extinguished. “There are still some smouldering piles and we have guys on standby but the fire is out. We are not throwing any more water on the fire. We have got some product that wasn’t destroyed and it’s still quite hot so there is some flaring up but we have declared the fire (as being) out,” he said.…

Who is right and who is wrong? Can there be any justification for a war, for hurling rockets and bombs and blasting innocent humans? Who is right and who is wrong, Ebrahim Essa or Peter Bachtis? Surely both sides cannot be right. I am not an expert on this age-old lsraeli-Palestinian conflict. All I know is that there are two issues that fuel this deadly conflict which goes on eternally: religion and land. The question of religion is a very emotive one and can often blind us to the truth. Christians will support the Israelis and Muslims will support Palestine and Hamas. Take the world’s big bully, the US. No matter how wrong the Israelis could be, it will faithfully support the Jews. Instead of resolving the problems and easing…

For over 75 years, the world turned a blind eye to events and degradation of human rights in the Holy Land. Today the world reels in shock, condemnation, one-sided resolutions in order to contain let alone control the conflict as it spreads in depth and scope. As a researcher and writer, I have warned about the perils of inaction in every major newspaper in the world. Some talk of escalation, not realising that such a move will bring about mayhem and anarchy that could be the catalyst for WWIII. The dangerous strategy of unrestricted warfare, will ultimately destroy the entire Middle East. The fierce and bloody struggle in Gaza for survival erodes the veneer of civilisation and makes savages of us all. Secret diplomacy, military superiority and political coercion seem…

Parliamentarians poured cold water over the successes Justice and Correctional Services Minister Ronald Lamola recounted of departments and entities reporting to him when he appeared before the justice and correctional service portfolio committee. In his opening remarks, Lamola said tremendous progress had been made despite numerous challenges faced by the Department of Justice and Constitutional Development over the past four financial years. He said strategic interventions had begun to produce results. “This is evident by the improved performance. The department achieved overall performance of 86% in the 2022/23 financial year,” Lamola said, adding that the department last achieved 85% performance in 2014/15. The department managed to secure an elusive unqualified audit opinion during the year under review. Lamola also said the department continued to develop online solutions in phases as…

Police have tracked down one of two prisoners who escaped on Tuesday. The convicted house robbers made a break for it from the Nkandla and Vryheid Correctional Centres, prompting a manhunt. Within 24 hours, Siyabonga Sikhakhane, 34, was re-arrested by the SAPS in Nkandla early yesterday. The Department of Correctional Services said they were still on the hunt for Siphamandla Gift Simelane, 29, who was serving a two-year sentence for housebreaking and theft. Sikhakhane was sentenced in March to 16 years behind bars on charges of housebreaking and theft. Half of the sentence, according to the department, was suspended, and he was effectively serving an eight-year jail term. “Sikhakhane will be appearing in court on the escape charge and be transferred to a different correctional facility,” said department spokesperson Singabakho…

TEACHER unions have called on the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Education to appoint properly qualified officials to deal with cases of misconduct swiftly. The calls follow an admission by Education MEC Mbali Frazer that the department had concluded only 45 of the 168 cases of misconduct against staff, when she appeared before the standing committee on public accounts (Scopa) this week. According to Frazer, the department was determined to deal with any individuals who brought it into disrepute. “I want to assure the committee that the department is actively expediting the conclusion of these cases,” said the MEC. The report by the MEC shows the main cases that have not been dealt with relate to unprofessional conduct, which involves being under the influence of alcohol or drugs (29), assault (23), and…

STANDING committee on public accounts (Scopa) members have given troubled entity Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife three months in which to develop a proper turnaround plan with feasible targets to ensure its financial viability. The entity has been placed on terms to give an explanation on matters raised in the 2022/23 audit which included: Determining the number of assets owned by the entity and their value. Establishing whether any officials or relatives are doing business with the entity. The action taken against individuals fingered for wrongdoing. Ezemvelo was one of the entities that appeared at yesterday’s meeting as part of Scopa activities involving government departments and their entities, and members expressed reservations about the government constantly pumping money in without getting any results. The committee members expressed concern that the problems highlighted…

There is an urgent need to put in place a solid system of health to allow African populations better access to care. But, there are barriers to health-care in Africa. Marginalised groups may experience problems accessing health care. The main barriers are the shortage of health-care professionals, access to transport, underfunded health-care systems, lack of health insurance, financial constraints, language barriers, disabilities, stigma linked to diseases such as tuberculosis and HIV/Aids, high disease burden, high rural density with limited resources, and so on. Limited access to health services impacts the health outcomes of individuals and communities in Africa. Lack of health insurance can impact health outcomes. This method of financing is only accessible to a limited proportion of citizens who can afford it. Chronic illnesses (non-communicable diseases) and disabilities often…

Niger’s post-coup military regime has ordered the UN co-ordinator in the country to leave within 72 hours, blaming “obstacles” by the world body to its international recognition. It comes a day after the US cut off more than $500 million (R9.4 billion) in assistance to Niger and as France begins withdrawing troops after they were also ordered out of the country. The Nigerien foreign ministry said in a statement, seen by AFP yesterday but dated on Tuesday, that the government was expelling Louise Aubin, the UN’s resident and humanitarian co-ordinator, stating she should “take all necessary measures to leave Niamey within 72 hours”. The regime pointed to “obstacles” which it said were presented by UN Secretary-General António Guterres “with a view to thwarting the full and complete participation of Niger”…

NEW DELHI: The Booker prize-winning author Arundhati Roy faced prosecution in India for a speech about Kashmir she gave 13 years ago after a top official approved the move, reports said yesterday. A social activist from Kashmir filed a police complaint in 2010 following speeches by Roy and three others at a conference organised by a rights group, the reports said. Roy, a critic of India’s policy in Kashmir, is accused of saying that the disputed Himalayan territory was not an integral part of India. | Reuters…

Frankfurt: Germany’s federal anti-discrimination agency (Fada) said yesterday that it was quitting X, formerly Twitter, because of “an enormous rise” in hate speech. Hateful comments and disinformation had “increased particularly” since Elon Musk took over ownership of the platform last year, Fada wrote on X. Previously blocked far-right accounts have been reactivated and the option to buy verification ticks has allowed “troll factories” to increase their reach and spread propaganda, Fada added. More than 160 rabbis, artists and leaders of Jewish organisations also recently called out the growing anti-Semitic discourse on X, Fada noted. | AFP…

HOUSTON: Nasa was yesterday to provide a first peek for the public at what scientists found inside a tightly sealed canister that was returned to Earth last month carrying the largest soil sample ever scooped up from the surface of an asteroid. The material collected by the OSRIS-REx spacecraft three years ago from the near-Earth asteroid Bennu was to be unveiled at Nasa’s Johnston Space Center in Houston, a little more than two weeks after it was parachuted into the Utah desert. The landing of the return capsule capped a six-year mission of the US space agency and University of Arizona. It was only the third asteroid sample, and the biggest, ever returned to Earth. | Reuters…

Energy experts say Minister of Public Enterprises Pravin Gordhan needs to urgently address the leadership issues at Eskom so the power utility can tackle the load-shedding crisis in the country. They were commenting after the surprise announcement on Monday that Mpho Makwana, Eskom’s board chairperson, had stepped down. He will officially step down at the annual general meeting at the end of this month after a year on the job. The Department of Public Enterprises announced that Mteto Nyati would be appointed as chairperson. Eskom’s acting CEO Calib Cassim’s term ends in December which would leave the power utility without a permanent CEO. Energy expert Chris Yelland said the fact that there had been so many leadership changes at Eskom meant the power utility had major issues. “Eskom is at…

A delusion is an unshakable belief in something that’s untrue. You could call the Israeli government right-wing and even extremists, and the status quo highly problematic (and take a non-binary approach) but you cannot call the murder of 260 innocent civilians at an outdoor dance party, and the taking of hostages at the Nova Peace Festival, over the weekend, the result of a “just cause”. During apartheid, if there was any doubt as to the modus of our struggle, we could point to a Freedom Charter, a secular document outlining human rights as the basis for our resistance. There is no similar document in existence among any of the opposing parties – neither Fatah nor Hamas. At no point during our struggle did any cleric or religious authority provide a…

It is easier to lead men to combat, stirring up their passion, than to restrain them and direct them towards the patient labours of peace. The person who is willing to tell the truth despite the possibility of fallout or the incurrence of personal cost – a word is a bond. The person who self-edits and chooses truth in the minutia of life rather than expressing half-truths or “little” lies which may make life easier – truth begins within. The person who could legitimately expect to be served by others but who chooses instead to serve others – joy comes from serving. The person who believes in the best of others despite the repeated failings of others – there is gold in all. The teacher or coach who sees talent…

South Africa’s education sector has been thrust into the spotlight recently, with experts calling for a comprehensive approach involving budget allocation, education reforms and strategies to counter learning losses. In a webinar this week, the Centre for Development and Enterprise (CDE) said that issues of corruption and state capture continued to have a significant impact on the basic education sector. It called for new leadership in the Education Department and at ministerial level, better teacher support, teacher unions to step back and stop interfering in the hiring of principals and educators, and heavier public pressure in the demand for better education. Following the release of Census 2022 by Statistics South Africa on Tuesday, political party Build One South Africa (Bosa) called for Education Minister Angie Motshekga to be fired. While…

A 32-year-old man who allegedly tried to defraud the Road of Accident Fund (RAF) of R5 million is expected to apply for bail. Tubalomtandazo Butshingi has been accused of falsifying a claim in September 2020. He was arrested this week and appeared in the East London Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday on charges of fraud. The provincial Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (the Hawks) said Butshingi would appear in court again for legal representation and a formal bail application. Explaining the charges, Hawks spokesperson Lieutenant-Colonel Avele Fumba said it was alleged that Butshingi was involved in a vehicle accident near Muvhango Egoli in East London on September 9, 2020. “The accused allegedly claimed he was a pedestrian standing on the side of the road waiting to cross when an unknown vehicle,…

Deputy Minister of Water and Sanitation David Mahlobo has warned they are tightening the country’s laws to crack down on syndicates destroying water infrastructure in the country. He said President Cyril Ramaphosa had asked the security cluster to make it a serious offence to destroy infrastructure. Mahlobo also called on municipalities to tighten security and use technology to monitor their water infrastructure and protect it from criminal syndicates. The government has said damage to infrastructure is costing the country billions of rand a year. The Minister of Trade and Industry, Ebrahim Patel, said the sale of scrap metals was leading criminals to target copper cables. He said last year they found that cable theft was costing the economy R46 billion a year. Transnet, the Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa…

The way out of chaos is preservation of the rule of law in the face of criminality THE unprotected and violent strike in the City of Tshwane raises an important question for the rest of the country: do democratically elected leaders still have a chance to make the difficult decisions that are necessary in order to turn around troubled institutions? Or will they be vetoed by powerful interest groups such as public sector unions? Seen in this light, the labour dispute in Tshwane, characterised by armed attacks on staff, the burning of refuse trucks, and the sabotage of services and infrastructure, is not simply about salary increases, but is rather about the rule of law and the ability of governments to carry out a democratic mandate. Salary increases are not…

As Israel kept bombing Hamas targets in the Gaza Strip yesterday, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and a political rival announced an emergency government for the duration of the conflict. The veteran right-wing leader was joined by the centrist Benny Gantz, a former defence minister, in the govern- ment and war cabinet as both put aside bitter political divisions that have roiled the country and sparked mass protests. Their joint announcement came after Israeli soldiers sweeping battle- torn southern towns said they had found 1 200 victims five days after the Islamist militants’ onslaught, the worst attack in Israel’s 75-year history. Gaza officials reported more than 1 000 people were killed in Israel’s withering campaign of air and artillery strikes on the crowded Palestinian enclave, where black smoke billowed into the…

BRITISH businesses are seeking government help as shops suffer an unprecedented number of thefts and violence by criminal gangs, addicts and people struggling with a cost-of-living crisis. The British Retail Consortium (BRC) says shoplifting is up 27% this year in 10 of the country’s largest cities, a phenomenon also affecting the US and France, which suffered a 15% rise in 2022. The situation in Britain has caused the BRC to demand that police and local mayors do more to protect retail workers. Following this, 88 bosses of UK retailers, including the heads of supermarket giant Tesco, Boots pharmacy chain and stationery business WHSmith, jointly wrote to the government, demanding measures to tackle the fallout. “We are writing to ask you to take action to support our colleagues, who continue to…

Nairobi: Britain’s King Charles III faced calls yesterday to apologise for colonial-era atrocities in Kenya when he visits the country later this month. Buckingham Palace said Charles and his wife Queen Camilla will visit the East African nation from October 31 to November 3, his first trip to a Commonwealth country since becoming king last year, and his fourth official visit to Kenya. Buckingham Palace said the visit was aimed at celebrating the “warm relationship” between the two countries as Kenya prepares to mark the 60th anniversary of independence from Britain in December. Britain agreed in 2013 to compensate more than 5 000 Kenyans who had suffered abuse during a 1952-1960, revolt, in a deal worth nearly £20 million. | AFP…

BRUSSELS: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy yesterday asked Nato allies for more weapons and air defences to tide his country through another wartime winter as it braces for a barrage of Russian attacks on power stations and other infrastructure. Amid the crisis in Israel, Zelenskiy made comparisons between Russian President Vladimir Putin and the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas, and said Western military aid was crucial. The US announced a new $200 million (about R3.7 billion) defence package for Ukraine. Nato Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said Putin was “preparing once again to use winter as a weapon of war”. | Reuters…

I have been there, I have walked those roads, spied the alleys, seen the signs, felt the chill on cheekbones and nose, smelt the anticipation, heard words of challenge, spoken the rebuttal, experienced the cauldron with goosebumps standing at attention. And let me tell you, Sunday night is going to be extremely difficult. Indeed, I would go so far to argue that on a scale of accomplishments, beating France at the Stade de France might rank higher than the Springboks beating England in the Rugby World Cup final in Japan four years ago. That triumph had the advantage of being on neutral ground, where silencing the opposition’s support was set as a goal and accomplished. There will be no such quickening should the Boks have the upper hand during this…

ONE OF SOUTH Africa’s largest retailers, JSE-listed Pick n Pay, is refusing to get left behind in the market after it announced the launch of the Pick n Pay Smart Shopper app yesterday. The announcement follows the relaunch of Pick n Pay asap! last week. This marks the start of a new era of customer engagement and convenience for Smart Shopper as it aims to become South Africa’s most engaging loyalty programme. The new app enables a completely digital and card-free Smart Shopper membership. The group said customers could seamlessly register and instantly receive a virtual card, which could be used in-store or online. Smart Shoppers can also opt for digital receipts on the app, which will be available to view immediately after each…

There was a solemn gathering outside St George’s Cathedral in Cape Town, as clergy along with religious leaders across faiths, artists, activists and the general public gathered at the cathedral steps for a vigil in solidarity with the people of Palestine, calling for an end to the occupation and lifting of the blockade on Gaza. The church’s dean, Father Michael Weeder, put out the call for members of the public to “bring a poster, flowers, and a commitment for justice for all” and to gather at the steps. Father Weeder said: “We are witnessing the very expeditious unfolding of a humanitarian crisis and if you look at Gaza itself, it is a war on Gaza in the name of attacking forces of resistance that are in Palestine. But for us,…

International World Mental Health Day – held on October 10 – marks a point in our calendar when we must give attention to the way in which we deal with a broad and far-reaching health issue that all too often does not get the recognition and resources it needs. The declaration of this day by the World Health Organization (WHO) is intended to raise awareness of the challenges faced by many people in their daily lives, and to advocate for treatment and support that removes the stigma and provides the correct care. In reflecting on the level and standards of mental health care available to KwaZulu-Natal’s citizens, two large institutions spring to mind, given the number of patients they serve and services they offer. These are the Department of Health’s…

Israel is, at best, the fruit of a poisonous tree and it is this fruit that is both poisonous as well as incestuous in its impact. Legally it’s the product of contrectatio – a Roman Dutch legal principle of grand theft by disguising it as anything but stolen property. This is what has happened under the guise of international law. Follow the jurisprudence underlining its creation and the fraudulent claim that Palestine was a land without a people since the original inhabitants were dispersed or taken captive in Babylon. Given that the Arabs were neutered by the allies during WWI which paved the way for the Balfour Declaration to become a reality, by force and violence (eg, massacre of entire inhabitants of Deir Yassin, a village west of Jerusalem) which…

THE Road Freight Association (RFA) has welcomed the government’s attempt to address traffic congestion at the Lebombo border post. This comes after Transport Minister Sindisiwe Chikunga and her Mozambican counterpart, Mateus Magala, agreed to work together to seek solutions that will reduce traffic congestion at the border post. The engagement was also attended by SA National Roads Agency Ltd (Sanral) CEO Reginald Demana. Gavin Kelly, CEO of the RFA, said the Department of Transport also needed to work with other stakeholders. “It is crucial that the Department of Transport works with Sars Customs and the Road Freight Association (RFA). Both have gone a long way in developing options to address the causes that have led to the situation at the border.” Kelly said that it was important to support the…

The recent murder of Pastor Dwayne Gordon during a church service, and other attacks that have happened in places of worship have raised the concern of the Commission for the Promotion and Protection of the Rights of Cultural, Religious, and Linguistic Communities, also referred to as the CRL Rights Commission. Gordon, was shot dead in Johannesburg on Friday. On Monday morning, police confirmed they were still on the hunt for suspects who stormed the church in Rorich Street in Newlands. In July, a video went viral of a live-streaming church service in Verulam, where a pastor could be seen being held up by a gunman during a night prayer service. According to a report in The Mercury, the robbers took the congregants’ cellphones, wallets and the device on which the…

A Ugandan national has appeared in the Nelspruit Magistrate’s Court in Mpumalanga after he allegedly swindled a former teacher out of her pension payout. Christopher Masereka, 50, also known as Moses Mawaza, is accused of scamming a former teacher whom he became lovers with, out of her pension. Mpumalanga police said information at hand suggests that Masereka told his lover he was in logistics. “He further advised her to resign from work so that after cashing out her pension money she could pump it into the business which they will run as partners,” police said. Her pension savings were paid out in August 2023. All withdrawals were given to Masereka by the victim. After he received the payouts, Masereka is alleged to have disappeared. Masereka is in custody and the…

The State withdrew all charges against three of the accused in the Thabo Bester case in the Bloemfontein Magistrate’s Court yesterday. Initially, 12 suspects were on the charge sheet, including Bester, his girlfriend, Dr Nandipha Magudumana, former G4S prison warder Senohe Matsoara, Zanda Moyo, Zolile Cornelius Sekeleni, former Integritron Integrated Solutions camera technician Teboho Lipholo, suspended G4S employee Tieho Frans Makhotsa, former G4S guard Buti Masukela, suspended G4S employee Natassja Jansen, and G4S employees Joel Makhetha, Moeketsi Ramolula, and Thabang Mier. However, State Prosecutor Amanda Bester told the court yesterday that charges were being withdrawn against Jansen, Ramolula, and Mier. The trio, who were currently out on bail, were allowed to leave the dock immediately; the relief on their faces was visible. There was also some confusion between legal representatives…

THE auditor-general’s work gives South Africans reason to be hopeful, especially when the government of President Cyril Ramaphosa has given us every reason to feel like nothing seems to be functioning. While this may sound like applauding fish for swimming, Auditor-General Tsakani Maluleke’s team deserves recognition for shining the spotlight on how taxpayers’ hard-earned cash is spent. They do this every year without fail and with so much enthusiasm despite the many challenges they encounter in obtaining financial records from various government departments. A quick glance at her reports shows that the usual suspects have performed worse, instead of getting their house in order. Take for example what she had to say about the SABC and South African Post Office (Sapo), starting with the public broadcaster. Its finances were in…

Republicans in the US House of Representatives met yesterday to choose between two candidates – Steve Scalise and Jim Jordan – to lead their narrow majority a week after a small group of dissidents ousted Speaker Kevin McCarthy. As lawmakers gathered for the closed-door vote, neither candidate appeared to hold a clear advantage. Scalise, who is No 2 on the leadership ladder, has drawn the support of many veteran and establishment Republican lawmakers, while Jordan, an outspoken leader of the party’s right wing, had the backing of many conservatives. McCarthy could be in the mix as well, as he has not discouraged talk of a comeback, as could Patrick McHenry, the acting speaker. The secret-ballot vote is the start of what could be a long and messy process to…

The US Coast Guard has said that remaining debris and presumed human remains from the Titan submersible which imploded on an ill-fated trip to the Titanic in June, have been recovered by its engineers. The Coast Guard said that engineers “transferred Titan submersible debris and evidence from the North Atlantic Ocean seafloor on October 4”. “Additional presumed human remains were carefully recovered from within Titan’s debris and transported for analysis by US medical professionals,” a statement said. The Titan submersible and its five passengers began their descent to the 111-year-old wreckage of the Titanic on June 18. But about an hour and 45 minutes into its dive, the cramped vessel lost contact with its mother ship and did not surface as expected, kicking off a massive search and rescue operation.…

KABUL: A strong earthquake rattled Afghanistan’s western province of Herat yesterday, forcing authorities to redeploy relief and rescue teams already in the field following a series of deadly quakes on Saturday. One person has been confirmed dead and 116 injured. Provincial officials said hundreds of homes had been destroyed. The office of Herat’s governor said some areas had suffered “huge losses”. Saturday’s tremors killed at least 2 400 people and injured more than 2 000, the Taliban-run government said. The German Research Centre for Geosciences said the latest quake was a magnitude 6.3, and occurred at a depth of 10km. In the central district of Rubat Sangi, at least 200 homes were destroyed. | Reuters…

Helsinki: It will take at least five months to repair a Finland-Estonia gas pipeline, its operator said yesterday, which will leave Finland totally dependent on liquefied natural gas imports for the winter. The repair estimate came a day after Finnish authorities said they suspected the leak that caused the weekend shutdown of the Balticconnector pipeline was caused by “external” activity, although they added it seemed unlikely that explosives were the cause. Last year a series of underwater blasts ruptured three pipelines that carried natural gas from Russia to Western Europe, at a time of high geopolitical tensions as Moscow cut gas supplies to Europe. | AFP…