Innehållsförteckning för 2024-02-09 från Mercury

It’s commonly thought that debt problems are more prevalent among lower earners, but a recent survey shows that people taking home more than R35 000 a month may be in more trouble when it comes to their debts than is generally recognised. Last year, 2023, may have been the worst year financially for South African consumers at least since the 2008 global financial crisis. A combination of interrelated factors created a perfect storm: a stagnant post-Covid economy characterised by crippling load-shedding and crumbling infrastructure, near-zero wage growth, high inflation and high interest rates. One way of telling how well consumers are coping financially is by looking at their debt levels and, more pertinently, their ability to service that debt. In a media presentation this week to coincide with the beginning…

THE Durban High Court has declared that the decision by the ANC Women’s League (ANCWL) to nullify the KwaZulu- Natal elective conference was legally sound. The court on Tuesday said the national body of the ANCWL was within its rights to declare the outcomes of the August conference null and void as it had found that the conference was beset by voter irregularities. In August, the KZN ANCWL elected Social Development MEC Nonhlanhla Khoza as its new provincial chairperson and Education MEC Mbali Frazer as deputy chairperson. Senior ANC councillor Zama Sokhabase was elected secretary, Fikile Masiko, an MP, was elected deputy secretary, and Maphumulo Municipality mayor Matozi Dlamini was elected treasurer. Khoza narrowly beat Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs (Cogta) MEC Bongi Sithole-Moloi to become chairperson. Immediately after…

HEY, another weekend of top-class rugby beckons. Scotland versus France, and England versus Wales tomorrow. Ireland versus Italy on Sunday. After last weekend’s performances we should be in for a treat. France will be eager to reverse their setback against Ireland. Can the Scots keep up their puff into the second half (as they didn’t against Wales)? We’ll watch Italy with interest. They were running riot in extra time against England and never gave up. Here’s a team that has arrived on the scene. Excitement is building. At the Pub With No Name in Morningside the damsels are already strumming at their knickers in anticipation of supplying elastic for a fashioning of catapults for the time-honoured celebratory feu de joie in which the street lights are shot out. Does…

THE news concerning the impending closure of Ithala Bank, a historic financial institution in KwaZulu-Natal, delivers a severe blow to many black-owned businesses, individuals, and emerging enterprises. The demise of the bank follows widespread reports in the media last week, indicating that the Prudential Authority (PA) has appointed Mr Johan Kruger to oversee the affairs of the bank, marking the initiation of a process to wind down its deposit-taking functions. It is important to recall that Ithala Bank (officially known as Ithala Limited) has grappled for years to obtain a banking license, with the South African Reserve Bank (Sarb) outlining specific requirements for its issuance. Unfortunately, due to a lack of political will from government, the bank did not receive the necessary support to meet these requirements and obtain the…

THE Road Accident Fund (RAF) has expressed its disappointment with the R60 000 fine given to an East London man found guilty of submitting a fraudulent RAF claim for R5 million. The RAF was concerned that the lenient sentence sent the wrong message to would-be fraudsters, spokesperson McIntosh Polela said. This week, Tubalomthandazo Butshingi, 32, was convicted and sentenced in the East London Magistrate’s court for misrepresenting information on the claim he submitted to the RAF. He lied that he had fractured his ankle in a hit-and-run in September 2020. On further investigation, the RAF’s Forensic Investigation Department and hospital records revealed he had slipped and fallen, and the case was referred to the Hawks. Butshingi was given the option by the court of paying the fine or serving three…

The Gauteng Department of Health has confirmed yet another incident of alleged food poisoning of children in Tsakane, Ekurhuleni. According to the spokesperson for the Gauteng Health Department, Motalatale Modiba, the four are aged 2, 3, 6, and 9 years old. Modiba said the children are currently in a stable condition and recovering well at the Pholosong Regional Hospital in Tsakane after they were admitted on Tuesday following a suspected food poisoning incident. A fifth child, aged 6, died after she started vomiting. “The Gauteng Health Department can confirm that four children aged 2, 3, 6 and 9 are currently recovering in hospital. Sadly, a Grade 1 learner (girl) at Mandlethu Primary School who started vomiting in class was declared dead upon arrival of the paramedics. “This means that since…

The future of the Westridge Park Tennis Stadium hangs in the balance as the eThekwini Tennis Association, which is facing financial problems, says an application to put up advertising signage that could boost its revenue was rejected by the City. The eThekwini Municipality and the association held a meeting last week to discuss the matter. Gary Brown, the president of the eThekwini Tennis Association, said the Westridge Park Tennis Stadium could close at the end of this month if they are unable to secure funds. “We have had a lease agreement with the municipality since 1959. That’s over 60 years, and we are doing our best for the development of tennis for youth and adults. We have over 60 children from Cato Manor in our development squads. “We have 11…

AN ACTING judge has expressed his concerns over whether it is ever justifiable in a constitutional democracy to “arm” the rich and to disadvantage the poor in their ability to turn to the courts. The issue was sparked by a family feud over land in which several women took on various other family members, mostly men, following the death of the patriarch of the family. In defending the land dispute litigation, the respondents, some of whom are the brothers of the female applicants, wanted the applicants in the matter to first issue security for costs before they were permitted to proceed with their application. That, they said, was just in case the applicants lost their application and would be faced with a costs order against them which they might not…

While we all know Bafana Bafana’s battles with qualifying for the Fifa World Cup over the years, they haven’t always been in attendance at the Africa Cup of Nations either. Even at the greatest heights of South African football, when Mzansi hosted the 2010 World Cup, Bafana didn’t make it to the Afcon tournament in Angola that year and in 2012. The 2013 event was hosted by South Africa, who reached the quarter-finals. They made it to the 2015 Afcon, but weren’t able to qualify for the 2017 affair won by Cameroon, who were coached by Hugo Broos. In 2019 in Egypt, Bafana beat the hosts in the second round, but lost to Nigeria in the quarter-finals – and missed out on qualifying for the 2022 tournament. So, Wednesday night’s…

Glowing lava spewed yesterday from a new fissure on Iceland’s Reykjanes peninsula, the third eruption to hit the area since December, deepening worries about the area’s viability for towns and villages. Live video images of the crack in the Earth’s surface, stretching an estimated three kilometres, showed the fissure illuminating plumes of smoke rising under the dark sky that was visible from the capital of Reykjavik. The site is around 40km south-west of Reykjavik, in the same area as two previous eruptions, the first on December 18 and the second on January 14 – near the fishing village of Grindavik. “At 5.30am this morning an intense seismic activity started north-east of Mt Sylingarfell. Around 30 minutes later, a volcanic eruption started at the site,” the Icelandic Meteorological Office (IMO) said…

Paris: The medals awarded at this year’s Paris Olympics and Paralympics will feature a hexagon-shaped piece of iron taken from the original Eiffel Tower in their centre, organisers said as they unveiled their design yesterday. The medals designed by French jewellery house Chaumet, will feature the six-edged metal medallion which will be set like a gemstone. “The medals were a combination of gold, silver and bronze, with the most precious metal in our country, from this treasure that is the Eiffel Tower, ” said the local organising committee head, Tony Estanguet. |…

President Cyril Ramaphosa last night delivered the last State of the Nation Address (Sona) of the sixth administration, ahead of a crucial national general election, highlighting the challenges and successes of thirty years of democracy. The key challenges raised by Ramaphosa include the crippling effects of the energy crisis, challenges at Transnet that have impacted the country’s ports and the growing unemployment figures, especially amongst the youth. Ramaphosa delivered his address as new rules prohibited the disruption of the event. The EFF chose to boycott Sona after the Western Cape High Court yesterday dismissed an application by the party to set aside the suspension from Parliament of leader Julius Malema and others. Ramaphosa used his address to lay the blame for many of the country’s challenges at the door of…

THIRTY years of corrupt, ruinous rule has transformed a once functioning country into a failed state. Consequently, as the country heads for the general election, the priority of millions of disgruntled voters is to bring about changes. The details of the necessary changes are spelled out by the key opposition parties. But what they also need to spell out is their stance on two global narratives which promise to nullify the virtuous change voters seek and to subvert freedom. Voters need to demand that the political party of their choice rejects the World Health Organization’s (WHO) global accord on pandemic prevention, preparedness and response. By accepting the WHO agenda, a country’s individual sovereignty to determine its own health policies will be rescinded. But that is just the beginning. Once beholden…

THE DA in KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) calls upon Education MEC Mbali Frazer to launch urgent investigations into the tragic deaths of two young learners in the province. The DA is deeply saddened by this premature loss of life and expresses its sincere condolences to the families concerned. One of the learners was stabbed on a Phoenix school’s premises by another learner. The DA has received information that the learner had to be transported to a healthcare facility by an educator after emergency services were unavailable. This learner bled to death. In a separate incident, a young learner from KwaMakhutha, south of Durban, is said to have taken their own life following ongoing bullying, allegedly by a teacher. Too often, school bullies include teachers, who still mete out corporal punishment. Then there…

A THIRD of registered South African voters feel that no political party represents their views and they have apprehensions about the future election outcomes This is according to market research company Ipsos which conducted its latest poll in South Africa from October 23 to December 1, 2023. The poll included 3 600 face-to-face interviews in the homes and home languages of respondents. About 42.3 million South Africans aged 18 years or older are eligible to cast their vote. However, as of yesterday, the Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC) indicated that 27 485 679 South Africans are registered to vote – of whom 55.22% are female and 44.78% male. “The pivotal factor in this election hinges on voter turnout on the day of the election. Several analyses indicate that…

South Africa has recorded 46 suspected cholera cases and five laboratory-confirmed cases between January 1 and February 1. Minister of Health Joe Phaahla said earlier this week that three of these cases were imported from Zimbabwe, which is battling an outbreak of the diarrhoeal disease. “The other two, aged 11 and 13, are siblings with no travel history to cholera outbreak areas, which suggests risk of contact with a known cholera case.” Phaahla said four of the cases were detected in Limpopo hospitals (Musina and Helene Frans hospitals), and the other one was confirmed in Helen Joseph Hospital in Gauteng. “A cluster of 24 diarrhoeal disease cases were also identified during outbreak response activities at a primary and high school in the Blouberg Local Municipality in Limpopo,” Phaahla said. He…

The IFP says it is concerned about the recent murders of its members ahead of this year’s elections, with two killed in this week. An IFP ward councillor Ndukenhle Duma and two pupils were killed in Nongoma, northern KwaZulu-Natal, on Wednesday afternoon prompting national police commissioner General Fannie Masemola to deploy the national task team responsible for investigating political killings to search for those responsible. This was after the IFP interim secretary in Estcourt, Mthokozisi “Nguqunguqu” Sithole, was shot dead in Weenen on Saturday. IFP provincial chairperson Thami Ntuli said the acts were a direct attack on the country’s democratic values. “The IFP in KZN demands that law enforcement agencies leave no stone unturned in decisively dealing with this matter, ensuring that the perpetrators responsible are apprehended and swiftly brought…

Some magistrates asked for a transfer to other courts, for safety reasons OH SOUTH Africa, South Africa, you who continued to kill, harm, threaten and corrupt a third of magistrates in 2021/2022. How often I have longed to see your mobilised community voices working together as advocates of administrative justice rights. As patriotic citizens, you should gather and speak with one voice against crime and corruption in our lower courts but you are not willing. Look, your magistrate’s courts are left desolate. It is the second time since the Democratic Governance and Rights Unit (DGRU) at the University of Cape Town’s law faculty released its magistrates’ perception survey on their work conditions. The survey captured the nature of threats to magistrates by asking about the harm or threats they experienced…

Israel’s reported destruction of all buildings along the border inside Gaza with the aim of creating a “buffer zone” is a war crime, the United Nations rights chief warned yesterday. In a statement, Volker Turk pointed to reports that the Israeli military is working inside the Gaza Strip to destroy all buildings within a kilometre of the border fence with Israel with the objective of creating a “buffer zone”. “I stress to the Israeli authorities that Article 53 of the Fourth Geneva Convention prohibits destruction by the occupying power of property belonging to private persons, except where such destruction is rendered absolutely necessary by military operations’,” he said. Turk warned that the objective of creating a buffer zone for general security purposes did “not appear consistent with the narrow ‘military…

Dakar: A collective of Senegalese civil society groups called for mass mobilisation yesterday against the delay of this month’s presidential poll as the country faces a political crisis. “We invite all citizens concerned by the preservation of democratic gains to mobilise en masse throughout the country and in the diaspora to prevent this seizure of power,” said the newly formed platform Aar Sunu Election (Let’s protect our election), which includes unions, citizens’ and religious groups. President Macky Sall, pictured, is likely to remain in office until 2025. |…

WITH temperatures holding over 30 degrees it is a great time for sellers of ice cream, sunscreen or water. The fishing is pretty great as well. The bigger seas have made fishing a bit tricky, but the fish have been biting if you can keep your bait in the feeding zone. The competition anglers have landed some big numbers this past weekend. The North Coast has seen the bulk of the inedibles. The usual summer spots have been throwing up fish on most days, but there has not been a true smash just yet. The banks have had a lot of Zambezis around with most swim baits being converted. If you are going to practice this form of angling, then please use the appropriate tackle; the fish you are going…

CUSTOMERS of Ithala SOC Limited are fearful of the possible impact the problems faced by the bank could have on their lives after a court ordered that it stop taking deposits. Customers, who spoke to The Mercury yesterday, said they have not received any official communication from the institution on the challenges it is facing. In terms of a court order, granted by the Gauteng High Court, Pretoria, in December, Ithala is not entitled to continue any deposit-taking activities and to deal with any deposits already received other than under the direction of a repayment administrator appointed by the South African Reserve Bank Prudential Authority. Johan Kruger has been appointed as the repayment administrator and is empowered to recover and take possession of all deposits taken by Ithala from depositors…

There’s a tourist group of six or seven people on our flight from the US to Johannesburg. The large Alaskan Travel Group’s name tags are a dead give-away. A couple of advanced age seated a row ahead of me have my attention. They talk a lot and very loudly. The man is gruff and quick-tempered with his replies. The woman shrieks her demands, and not a kind or playful word has been said between them. “Get my meds from my carry-on in the overhead. NOW,” she yells. “I just sat DOWN. Can’t you think ahead?” “I want water. Go back and get it. I can’t wait. Go now,” she says. “When I’m ready.” “Of course they messed up our seats.” And on and on it goes … I have no…

This year marks the 264th anniversary of the arrival of Indian indentured labourers in South Africa and the birth of the Indian community. The community’s struggle to become an integral part of our country has been described honestly and brilliantly by professors Ashwin Desai and Goolam Vahed in their extremely well-written book, Inside Indian Indenture: A South African Story. The struggles started during the second half of the 19th century, when the Indians who came to South Africa fell into two categories: Indentured workers in 1860, and later, “free” or “passenger” Indians. The “free” Indians came at their own expense, from India, Mauritius and elsewhere. Hence we had a fair mix of Indians from India. As time passed, the community became a socially absorbed group in a South African society…

BAFANA’S dream of beating their arch-rivals Nigeria and reaching the Afcon finals ended in tears. The game went into extra time as both sides couldn’t break the 1-1 deadlock. And then the heartbreak as the Eagles soared over Bafana, swooped down and grasped the final spot with a 4-2 win in a dramatic penalty shootout. It was yet another loss for Bafana against Nigeria. In their four meetings in the Afcon, South Africa has never beaten the Eagles, who maintain their dominance over Bafana Bafana. South Africa had high hopes of reaching the Afcon final and achieving some glory, but their arch-enemy stood in their way. They couldn’t break the Nigerian hoodoo. And so another attempt at football glory ended in heartbreak for Bafana Bafana. When will they…

The Special Investigating Unit (SIU) has recovered more than R700 million of National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) funds from various institutions of higher learning across the country. The unit made the announcement when it provided an update to Parliament’s standing committee on public accounts (Scopa) on the progress of investigations into the financial aid scheme. According to the state’s anti-corruption agency, a total of R737 926 351 was recovered, the majority of which came from unallocated funds at R688 220 611. The remaining R49 705 739 was recovered through signed acknowledgement of debt agreements reached with beneficiaries. The unit’s Kaizer Kganyago said investigations into the affairs of the financial aid scheme had so far revealed that the large volume of unallocated funds were as a result of poor control…

SOUTH African small-scale mining companies will soon be able to apply to the Mining Exploration Fund after it was officially launched at the 2024 Mining Indaba conference. Having passed all the regulatory hurdles and approvals, including from the Cabinet, the Department of Mineral Resources and Energy and the Industrial Development Corporation signed a memorandum of agreement marking the establishment of the exploration fund. The first application window for qualifying companies will be announced soon. Funding criteria require applicants to comply with the South African mining regulatory requirements, including “but not limited to” the provisions of the Mineral and Petroleum Resources Development Act, the National Environmental Management Act, and the National Water Act. “We can’t overstate the significance of this industry to our economy. Mining is not only the backbone of…

The National Prosecuting Authority’s (NPA’s) Asset Forfeiture Unit (AFU) has seized cars, homes and money from three foreign nationals and their wives, all of whom are linked to a high profile gold mining syndicate operating in Khutsong and Carletonville. The NPA this week secured another preservation order of more than R3 million to preserve properties belonging to the accused. NPA Gauteng spokesperson Lumka Mahanjana said Bethuel Ngobeni, Lerato Bathebeng, Poppy Mathongwane, Dumisani Moyo, Nhlanhla Leon Magwaca, Neo Susan Duba and Thabo Sechele allegedly acquired the cars and property through unlawful activities. Furthermore, the accused are from Zimbabwe and Mozambique and were found to have fake South African identity documents. “Before this order, the AFU managed to obtain three preservation orders last year. All four orders amount to a total…

PARLIAMENT’S portfolio committee on health is visiting parts of the Western Cape this weekend to conduct public hearings on new legislation that it is planning to introduce. Unfortunately for people in those areas, it’s not legislation that will stop crime, deal with homelessness, create jobs or address poverty. Nor, even though the MPs are members of the health committee, will they be discussing legislation to build clinics, provide primary health care, recruit more doctors or ensure that there are more ambulances for emergencies. No, this group of MPs will be talking about … smoking. To be specific, they’ll be conducting public hearings in Ceres and Paarl over the weekend on the proposed Tobacco Control Bill (TCB). As a member of the board of South Africa’s tobacco industry body, I have…

Millions of Pakistanis voted yesterday in an election marred by rigging allegations, with authorities suspending mobile phone services throughout the day and the country’s most popular politician in jail. Pollsters predicted a low turnout from the 128 million eligible voters following a campaign overshadowed by the jailing of former prime minister Imran Khan, and the hobbling of his Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party by the military-led establishment. The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz is expected to win the most seats in the elections, with analysts saying its 74-year-old founder Nawaz Sharif has won the blessing of the generals. The authorities announced before polls opened that they had suspended mobile telephone services across the country “to maintain law and order” after two blasts on Wednesday that killed 28 people and wounded 30. Nighat Dad, a…

Goma: Civilians facing bombs, thousands forced to flee and lost children – aid organisations have sounded the alarm over the impact of escalating violence in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, where intensified fighting erupted yesterday. Clashes between M23 rebels and pro-government forces that have gone on for more than two years have intensified in particular in North Kivu province. In recent weeks “the increase in civilian casualties and the use of heavy weapons in populated areas, including in camps for displaced people, are alarming”, International NGO Forum in DRC said in a statement. |…