Innehållsförteckning för 2024-04-03 från Mercury

WHILE the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) is remaining mum over the fate of Speaker of Parliament Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula, it is expected that she will hand herself over to the police to be processed before appearing before court on corruption and money laundering charges. The Gauteng High Court, Pretoria, yesterday struck her urgent application to halt her arrest from the roll. This was mainly because the court found that her application was not urgent. Although the NPA urged her two weeks ago to hand herself over to the police so that her case could be processed, this has not yet been done. Judge Sulet Potterill’s judgment, however, left the way open for her to be arrested and brought before court. NPA spokesperson Mthunzi Mhaga, shortly after the judgment, refused to comment…

The practice of visiting various churches by political leaders over the Easter weekend has received mixed reactions, with some criticising parties for being opportunistic ahead of the May general elections. ANC president Cyril Ramaphosa addressed congregants at the Eagle Christian Church in Bloemfontein, while on Sunday EFF president Julius Malema and several Cabinet members joined thousands of congregants in attending the annual Easter pilgrimage to St Engenas Zion Christian Church (ZCC) in Moria, Limpopo. St Engenas ZCC attracts huge crowds from all over the country and from neighbouring southern African countries for its Easter services. Build One South Africa leader Mmusi Maimane, ACDP leader Reverend Kenneth Meshoe, and ActionSA’s Herman Mashaba were at the Grace Bible Church’s Easter celebrations at Orlando Stadium in Soweto on Sunday. In KwaZulu-Natal, ANC chairperson…

AS I watched what was playing out on TV this weekend, with ANC and MK Party supporters said to be pointing spears at each other, I wondered how something that started with the liberation of blacks from colonial dispossession and oppression, could end up turned into black on black violence. A grim reminder of black on black killings that preceded the unbanning of political parties in the early nineties, and the arrival of democracy. What I saw brought back memories of gruesome killings that took place early one morning, of commuters on a train to Pretoria who were attacked with pangas and guns by people wearing red head bands. The injured were rushed to Natalspruit hospital, after getting off at the nearest platform. While we were still shocked, a mother…

Motorists will reach deeper into their pockets to keep up with April’s hefty fuel price increases. Living expenses have become a nightmare for workers who are already bent over backwards to look after their families. The South African Reserve Bank’s decision to keep interest rates unchanged last week brought some relief, but rising fuel prices remain a burden as the ripple effect is felt in the prices of basic needs and services. Workers are also expected to pay more for electricity following Eskom’s more than 12% price increase yesterday. According to the Department of Mineral Resources and Energy, 93 ULP petrol will increase by 65c/l, and 95 ULP petrol grade will cost 67c/l more. Diesel 0.05% (wholesale) will increase by 3c/l, and diesel 0.005% (wholesale) will decrease by 2c/l in…

MORE than 150 000 civil servants have been pocketing social grants, including during the 2022-2023 financial year. This was revealed by Social Development Minister Lindiwe Zulu while responding to questions from IFP MP Liezl van der Merwe. However, she said grant recipients were means-tested for eligibility. Van der Merwe asked Zulu about the number of people who continued to receive monthly grants from the South African Social Security Agency (Sassa) in the 2022-23 financial year, and since April 1, 2023. She also asked about the breakdown of the monies that have been lost by Sassa during the same period, and the number of government employees who received the social grants during the same period. In her response, Zulu said a total of 60 068 civil servants have received social grants…

A Cape Town man has been reunited with his iPad, a decade after it was stolen from him in Paris, France. Frits Bruter took to social media at the weekend and he shared how he received a call from a woman, who works only a kilometre from where he lives. In the post, Buter said in March 2014, he had been travelling with his cousin and later travelled alone through the France capital when he was robbed. “My iPad, passport, train tickets and cash were stolen from my backpack. I had a great struggle and lodged a complaint with the police at Garde de Nord. Fortunately, I quickly forgot about the trauma,” Buter said. He said last week, exactly 10 years to the date, he received a phone call from…

Former president Jacob Zuma’s legal team yesterday was planning on writing to the Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC) to appeal its decision to remove him from its list of candidates for Parliament for the May 29 elections. Last week, the IEC upheld an objection to Zuma’s candidature, essentially disqualifying him from standing for legislative seats in the upcoming general elections. This was due to his criminal conviction for contempt of court. Zuma and the uMkhonto weSizwe Party (MKP) had until yesterday to appeal the decision at the Electoral Court. MKP spokesperson Nhlamulo Ndhlela said Zuma had been briefed by his legal team, who were still finalising their grounds for appeal but the party was confident the IEC would receive the former president’s response ahead of the deadline. “We sent…

The accused, charged with the murders of Kiernan “AKA” Forbes and Tebello “Tibz” Motsoane, have denied that they had any links to the murders and said large payments made to them were business-related. The accused Thabani Mkhwanazi, Siyanda Eddie Myeza and Lindokuhle Ndimande are applying for bail in the Durban Magistrate’s Court. Yesterday the three sought to respond to allegations linking them to the murders which were contained in the affidavit of investigating officer Kumarasan Pillay. Pillay’s affidavit was presented to the court in support of the State’s opposition to bail. In his affidavit, Pillay set out how the men had been linked to the crime through cellphone and banking records. Mkhwanazi and Ndimande said large payments they received from another accused Mziwethemba Gwabeni was for work that they had…

The court case of National Assembly Speaker Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula has elements of “all animals are equal, but some are more equal than others” about it. The theme is at the centre of George Orwell’s novel Animal Farm, an allegory for the events leading up to the Russian Revolution and the early years of the Soviet Union. The phrase highlights the hypocrisy and corruption of the ruling class. Rightfully so, Mapisa-Nqakula, yesterday suffered a legal blow after the Gauteng High Court, Pretoria, dismissed her urgent application to interdict her impending arrest amid a corruption probe. The arrest had not been made, and as Judge Sulet Potterill said, much reliance was placed on the fact that Mapisa-Nqakula “has a right to legal representation”. Clearly, the National Director of Public Prosecutions and the…

The British government said JK Rowling should not be arrested for her transgender views after the Harry Potter author challenged Scotland’s new hate crime law with social media posts asserting that a number of trans women were men. Rowling, a prominent gender critical campaigner, made the comments on Monday, the day that the crime of “stirring up hatred” relating to age, disability, religion, sexual orientation and transgender identity came into effect. Scotland’s First Minister Humza Yousaf said the bill was about “protecting people from a rising tide of hatred”. “Unless your behaviour is threatening or abusive and intends to stir up hatred, then you have nothing to worry about in terms of the new offences being created,” he said. Women are not protected as a group, but the Scottish National…

VATICAN CITY: Pope Francis found an ally in his predecessor Benedict XVI when he spoke in favour of civil partnerships for same-sex couples, the pontiff said in a new book due out in Spain. The work is set for publication today. Francis has confirmed the Catholic church’s opposition to LGBT marriages, but has said same-sex couples have a right to be protected by civil union laws. A greater openness towards the LGBT community has been one of the hallmarks of his 11-year papacy, but the more conservative Benedict was not known as sympathetic to the cause. Nevertheless, Francis said Benedict stood up for him before an unnamed group of cardinals who had gone to him to complain about the pope’s “heresies” on civil partnerships. Benedict XVI “helped them distinguish things”…

Almaty: Kazakhstan said yesterday it had evacuated about 16 000 people after the worst flooding to hit the country in three decades. Waters are set to rise further as snow melts across the vast Kazakh steppe, the country’s meteorological agency has warned. “Rescue operations are continuing and around 16 000 people, including 6 000 children, have already been evacuated,” Kazakhstan’s emergency situations ministry said. It described the situation as “complicated” in five regions on the border with Russia, and said road links had been cut to 50 settlements. The Kazakh president reprimanded officials on Monday for being unprepared for the floods. | AFP…

WINDHOEK: Namibian authorities are investigating a surge in rhino poaching that has seen 28 rhinos poached already this year, two-thirds of them in the Southern African country’s flagship Etosha National Park. It was particularly concerning that 19 rhinos were poached in Etosha this year, given the park is a focus for conservation efforts and a major international tourist attraction, the environment ministry said this week. Of the rhinos poached, 19 were critically-endangered black rhinos and nine near-threatened white rhinos. No suspects have been arrested yet. Sixty-seven rhinos were poached in Namibia in 2023. | Reuters…

The Beleaguered Blitzboks need all the help they can get and they have welcomed Dewald Human back with open arms for this weekend’s Hong Kong Sevens. The experienced playmaker is over his injury and ready to make a difference to the fortunes of his struggling teammates. The popular Far East stop on the World Sevens Series will be special for the fleet-footed 28-year-old as he led the Blitzboks to Hong Kong in 2018 when a young team laden with talent surprised all by claiming third place. With the bulk of the main squad concentrating on the Commonwealth Games that year, a team with a youthful look travelled to Hong Kong. Human was the captain in only his third tournament. The squad included Ryan Oosthuizen, Zain Davids and Selvyn Davids, who…

SPEAR Reit has acquired a portfolio of 13 commercial properties from Emira Property Fund valued at R 1.15 billion. The acquisition by the JSE’s only regionally focused Reit consists of a diversified portfolio in the Western Cape, which is in line with Spear’s strategy of solely investing in the province. Emira said yesterday that the disposal was part of its strategy to recycle capital, and the proceeds would be used to recycle debt and fund new acquisitions. Emira CEO Geoff Jennet said the selling price had been agreed at a small discount to book value, which was expected for this type of portfolio sale. “Emira’s capacity to successfully trade out of assets underscores its astute capital allocation and value creation capabilities,” he said. “The proceeds of the transaction will…

As we accept the end of summer, we also bid farewell to the stone fruit season. This is the perfect time to put on your kitchen apron and make the most of the last fruits by stocking up your pantry for the upcoming winter months. Preserving fruits is actually quite simple, creatively fulfilling, and can be done with just a stove top. Stone fruits, such as plums, nectarines, and peaches, are perfect for creating a variety of jams, conserves, condiments and sweet and savoury sauces that capture their delightful flavours and juicy sweetness. Plums, with their vibrant colours and sweet-and-tart flavour, are especially versatile and pair well with a variety of herbs and spices. Whether it’s a smooth plum jam, a fruity plum conserve, or using them as hero ingredients…

In an unusual turn of events, the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Education is suing the office of the Auditor-General (AG) in connection with its adverse finding on the failed National School Nutrition Programme (NSNP) tender. The department is suing the AG after the country’s audit institution found that there were material irregularities in the appointment of a “new service provider for NSNP”. The department said yesterday that the two arms of the state were still going to discuss the matter and declined to elaborate on the specific nature of the dispute. The revelations about legal action between the department and the AG’s office stunned members of the standing committee on public accounts (Scopa) during a meeting last week. When the representative of the AG’s office told Scopa that the department was…

IF EBRAHIM Essa had concentrated on the significance of the name of the Baltimore bridge, Francis Scott, it might have saved him a great deal of irrelevant conjecture (The Mercury, April 2). Francis Scott was a prominent attorney. In September 1814, he was tasked with negotiating the release of American prisoners from the British who were bombarding Fort McHenry. From his vantage point on the Patapsco River, he was anxious to see if the American flag was still flying, indicating that the Fort had survived the British onslaught which had persisted throughout the night. Scott’s relief at dawn the next day on seeing the Stars and Stripes aloft inspired him to write a poem that became the Star Spangled Banner. At president Herbert Hoover’s request it became America’s national anthem…

BACK to Punxsutawney Phil, the Pennsylvanian groundhog who predicts every February 2 whether or not there will be an early spring in the US. Now the Huffington Post says we’ve discovered what he does on the other 364 days. The Pennsylvania group that handles Phil and his groundhog wife, Phyllis, says the couple have become parents. The Punxsutawney Groundhog Club says in a Facebook post that Phyllis recently gave birth to two healthy babies. It did not specify sex or give names for either. “We’re pleased to announce that Punxsutawney Phil has had his first children; we believe there are two baby groundhogs and that Phil and Phyllis have started a family,” Thomas Dunkel, the president of a tuxedo-clad group, The Inner Circle, that carries on the groundhog tradition each…

I must applaud the decision taken by the Minister of Finance to issue, in the interests of transparency, the VGBE’s Opera Assessment Report on the Operational Situation within Eskom into the public domain. That report, all 614 pages, investigates Eskom’s business processes in three main areas: the coal fleet, all the coal-fired power stations and the grid transmission systems. Each area has its own problems identified with proposed remedial actions. In the power station area, each power station was visited, the problems identified and remedial actions proposed. A review was also carried out assessing the skills of the power station staff employed in various levels. In some instances reference was made to Capacity Constraint Risks (p28) which could threaten the stability of the grid as these risks could simultaneously…

The Democratic Nursing Organisation of South Africa (Denosa) and the Health and Other Services Personnel Trade Union of South Africa (Hospersa) agree with a Unisa study that found that the threat of litigation negatively impacts the quality of patient care offered by theatre nurses to patients living with HIV. The study was conducted at a South African hospital that has 12 operating theatres with different areas of speciality. The objective was to establish how theatre nurses are affected when rendering peri-operative care to patients living with HIV. The study found that these nurses were affected in their professional capacity as they feared making mistakes which could lead to dismissal. Apart from fear of being dismissed, the study revealed that they were also afraid of potential lawsuits from a patient or…

The Southern African Music Rights Organisation (Samro) announced that they have paid out over R33 million in digital royalties in their first quarter to South African musicians, lyricists, composers and publishers. Samro said in a statement that the landmark distribution was a commitment to ensuring its members were properly compensated for use of their musical works by digital platforms. These include Digital Service Providers (DSPs), Video on Demand (VoD) as well as User Generated Content (UGC) such as Apple, Spotify, Netflix and TikTok. The music body added that another distribution is scheduled for June. In 2021, Samro inducted the collection of royalties from digital platforms such as TikTok, Facebook and Netflix in response to the evolving technological landscape. The statement explained that the move marked a fundamental step towards adapting…

The Asset Forfeiture Unit (AFU) of the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) secured a forfeiture order to the value of over R43 million in relation to alleged corruption committed by Brigadier Ngoy Timothee Makwamba. Makwamba was assigned by the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) as a defence attaché to South Africa. NPA spokesperson Lumka Mahanjana yesterday said the orders were granted by the Gauteng High Court in Pretoria last month. Mahanjana stated that the order emanates from a criminal case of fraud and theft opened by the DRC against Makwamba. She further explained that one of the duties assigned to Makwamba was to purchase weapons from South African state-owned company, Denel Group. “The DRC embassy then made a payment of R49.6m to the Denel group. However, the Denel Group could not…

Tension between KwaZulu-Natal ANC chair Siboniso Duma and Zulu traditional prime minister Thulasizwe Buthelezi played out in front of crowds at an event in KwaCeza. Attending the King Dinuzulu commemorations, Zulu King Misuzulu and President Cyril Ramaphosa witnessed the altercation, for which Duma has since apologised, but the story does not end there. The unfolding saga goes far deeper than just a fallout between two individuals. It also occurs at an opportune time when some crucial decisions must be made regarding the mixed masala of politics and the tangled web of tribal issues. The scene in KwaCeza demonstrated that the trio of the ANC, IFP and toxic Zulu nationalism on the same platform spells disaster for Africans in the former Colony of Natal. The incident raises concerns about the potential…

Iran warned its arch foe Israel yesterday that it would retaliate after an air strike that killed seven Revolutionary Guards, two of them generals, and destroyed its consular annex building in the Syrian capital. Israel declined to comment on Monday’s strike in Damascus, which fuelled Middle East tensions already inflamed by the Gaza war and violence involving Iran-backed groups in Lebanon, Syria, Iraq and Yemen. Iranian state media said 13 people were killed in the strike in which, according to Tehran’s ambassador, Israeli F-35 fighter-jets fired six missiles that levelled the five-storey consular building adjacent to the embassy. The building was reduced to a mountain of rubble by the blasts, which blew out windows in nearby buildings and incinerated cars parked on the roadside in a leafy and upscale suburb…

Senegal’s once jailed opposition candidate Bassirou Diomaye Faye was sworn in yesterday as the West African nation’s fifth and youngest president, promising to restore stability and bring economic progress. The 44-year-old former tax inspector defeated Amadou Ba, the candidate of outgoing President Macky Sall’s ruling coalition, by a landslide in the first round of voting, reflecting high hopes for change in the country of around 18 million. Over a dozen heads of state and regional representatives attended the inauguration, including Nigeria’s President Bola Tinubu, Ghana’s President Nana Akufo-Addo and AU Commission chairperson Moussa Faki Mahamat. The military juntas of Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger also sent representatives. The smooth transition was a welcome boost after three years of unprecedented political turmoil in Senegal that had raised concern about democratic backsliding…

CAIRO: Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi was sworn in for his third term yesterday in the country’s new capital, the largest of the mega-projects that have come to symbolise his rule while stretching the country’s finances. Sisi – who swept to victory in an election in December with 89.6% of the vote and no serious challengers –promised continued development, which many Egyptians say they feel excluded from, increased spending on programmes targeting the poor and engagement with the private sector. | Reuters…

Port-Au-Prince: Gangs that control much of Haiti’s capital Port-au-Prince launched an attack on Monday, clashing with police in the city centre. Gunfire broke out in the area of Champ de Mars, a big public park near the National Palace, which is the old presidential residence, local people said. At least four officers were wounded, according to the Miami Herald. Haiti has had no president since the assassination of Jovenel Moise in 2021 and has no sitting parliament. Its last election was in 2016. It has been racked for decades by poverty, natural disasters, instability and gang violence. | AFP…

Cape Town Spurs are trying to shrug off a disappointing defeat as they turn their attention to today’s DStv Premiership clash against hosts Chippa United at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium (kick-off 7.30pm). Embattled Spurs have been going along swimmingly of later until they suffered a setback on Sunday when they allowed visitors Moroka Swallows to score a goal in the dying minutes of their match at Athlone. It happened on a day when the 16th-placed Spurs, with 12 points, were ideally placed to move off the bottom of the Premiership table for the first time this season. The previous day, the 15th-placed Richards Bay, with 14 points, suffered defeat against Golden Arrows, and Spurs needed a win to leapfrog the struggling KwaZulu-Natal side on the log. Spurs coach Ernst…

Relatives of murdered metro police officer Bianca Khuzwayo were at the Durban Magistrate’s Court yesterday for the appearance of the 27-year-old man charged with her murder. Fellow eThekwini metro police officer Constable Sizwe Ngema made a brief court appearance. Khuzwayo, 23, was stabbed to death on Sunday at a Durban CBD flat. Ngema faces charges of murder and theft. The Mercury newspaper reported that Ngema allegedly shared graphic videos of the woman dying on social media. Khuzwayo and Ngema were in a relationship. In court, the State said that it would be opposing bail as it was a serious offence related to domestic violence and gender-based violence. Ngema said that he intended to apply for legal aid. The matter was adjourned to April 9 for further bail investigation with the…

IN less than 60 days, South Africa will be holding national and provincial elections. The elections will be contested by more than 50 political parties nationally. It is without doubt that these will be the most highly contested elections since the dawn of our democracy in 1994. It would be fair to say that all political parties contesting the elections are ready and have a clear leadership that will be contesting, except for the newly formed MKP. The party, which strongly relies on one man and has support in the elections, has yet to be clear on who is its presidential candidate. It will be a misrepresentation of itself if it continues to make people think that Jacob Zuma is eligible, knowing full well that he is not. Many people…

A grateful heart will lighten our load and offer helpful objectivity. It also makes us nicer to be with. A grateful heart will sharpen our vision to see the miracles in the immediate, like the shifts in seasons, the births of a neighbour’s baby and the happiness in a child when they run to be embraced by their daddy. It also helps us embrace day-by-day anticipated hurdles. A grateful heart will alleviate the necessity for sarcasm and cynicism. It removes “the edge” from our tongues. Gratitude will open our eyes to sunsets and sunrises, and help us regard each event as an opportunity to be thankful for a good day ending and the arrival of a new day of fresh starts and new opportunities. It brings us hope and youthfulness.…

It concerns me deeply that lives are lost to drowning, especially among low-income families who struggle to prioritise spare time for children’s swimming lessons. This must change. With climate trends increasing flood risks, the need is pressing. Tragic incidents, even from other children’s silly pranks, underscore this urgency. Governments and local councils have provided leisure centres – essential for teaching swimming. We applaud their efforts but urge sustained prioritisation and adequate safety resources. Parents must recognise swimming’s life-saving significance. Community leaders, religious institutions, and social clubs must amplify the message: the ability to swim gives our children a chance to life and also may save another. Collective action can prevent countless tragedies and spare families immeasurable grief. During holidays, let’s promote swim lessons at recreational centres, safeguarding our loved ones.…

The portfolio committee on justice and correctional services has halted its process to select the next Deputy Public Protector after a legal opinion found EFF member Busisiwe Mkhwebane had failed to declare a conflict of interest with two of the candidates. The committee was expected to select the next deputy public protector when Parliament’s legal adviser Zingisa Zenani tabled the findings of her report into Mkhwebane’s conflict of interest. Members of the committee said Mkhwebane should have declared upfront her relationship with the two candidates. Zenani said Mkhwebane failed to declare that one candidate, Shadrack Tebeile, was representing her in the impeachment case. Mkhwebane has challenged her removal as public protector in the African Court on Human and People’s Rights. Tebeile is representing her on a pro bono basis. Mkhwebane…

WITH World Autism Awareness Day being observed globally yesterday, the national Health Department called on families and communities to support people with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) to help them thrive and reach their full potential. The department also urged people not to discriminate against those with autism. The World Health Organization revealed that one in every 100 children globally has autism. In South Africa, local studies have found the prevalence of autism to be between 0.08% and 2%. The condition is found to be more prevalent in males than females. Autism can be a life-long condition, but through appropriate and tailored support, children and adults with autism can make significant progress and live fulfilling lives. The use of standardised ASD screening and diagnostic tools is well-established in high-income countries. Developmental…

The dispute between bodyguards of uMhlathuze Municipality mayor Xolani Ngwezi and city manager Nkosenye Zulu, which resulted in the deaths of both last week, was over small disagreements that have been described as “petty”. Municipal spokesperson Bongani Gina said the shooting was an unfortunate incident that no one saw coming. Gina described the events that unfolded preceding the shooting as “petty”. He said what started the friction between the bodyguards was a verbal argument in mid-December. “One was complaining that the other walked into the office, while the rest of them were sitting, and never greeted them.” According to Gina, a second incident involved one of the bodyguards bumping into the other. He said the mayor then requested that the deputy city manager, Mpilo Sibiya, who is responsible for VIP…

Its economy remains the ‘propeller’ for win-win co-operation The China Development Forum (CDF) 2024 was held in Beijing from March 24 to 25. On March 27, President Xi Jinping met with representatives of the US business, strategic and academic communities attending the CDF. The theme of the forum, “The Continuous Development of China”, not only describes China’s economic development over the long term, but also reflects the attention and expectations of all sectors for the long-term steady and high-quality development of the Chinese economy. Participants expressed their optimism about China’s economic prospects and their strong commitment to developing the Chinese market and pursuing close and long-term co-operation with China. China’s economy remains the “engine” of global prosperity as new quality productive forces bring strong vitality. The term “new quality productive…

One child was killed and two seriously wounded in a shooting at a school outside the Finnish capital yesterday, police said, with a 12-year-old fellow pupil suspected of the attack taken into custody. The arrest of the boy was made without further violence in the Helsinki suburb of Siltamaki, 4km south of the Viertola school in Vantaa district, police said. Education Minister Anna-Maja Henriksson broke down into tears while speaking to reporters hours after the attack in a country where gun violence among youths is rare. “One 12-year-old child will never again return home from school,” she said. A national day of mourning will be observed today, with government buildings flying the flag at half-mast, the interior ministry said. There were no other suspects, police said. They provided no details…

Kenyan public hospital doctors who have been on strike since last month convened in two major cities yesterday to discuss their grievances against the government. The Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists and Dentists Union, which represents over 7 000 members, went on strike on March 15 to demand payment of their salary arrears and the immediate hiring of trainee doctors. The arrears arose from a 2017 collective bargaining agreement. Doctors are also demanding adequate medical insurance cover for themselves and their dependants. They also want the government to address frequent delays of salaries and to start paying doctors who work in public hospitals as part of their degree courses. Minister of Health Susan Nakhumicha has said the government cannot afford to hire the trainee doctors due to financial pressure on the…

JUBA: Youths attacked a village in eastern South Sudan and shot dead at least 12 people while 15 children are missing, officials said yesterday, as local conflicts continued to increase ahead of elections late this year. A civil war from 2013-18 caused hundreds of thousands of deaths and although the main belligerents have since been at peace, clashes continue among armed groups. Activists believe the recent rise in violence is at least partly connected to the elections to choose leaders to succeed the present transitional government. In the latest incident on Sunday, youths attacked Ajwara village in Pibor’s Pochalla county. | Reuters…

THE HAGUE: Ukrainians can begin filing claims for damages they have suffered in Russia’s invasion at a newly established register based in The Hague, Ukrainian Foreign minister Dmytro Kuleba said yesterday. The register will initially focus on damage to real estate but should be expanded to include other kinds of material and other damage, Kuleba said at a conference organised by the Dutch government to discuss legal accountability. Ukraine wants to use frozen Russian assets to pay for war damages and reparations to victims. The World Bank estimated Kyiv would need $486 billion (R9 trillion) to rebuild the country. | Reuters…

Mikel Arteta said yesterday that Arsenal may have to win all of their nine remaining Premier League games if they are to be crowned champions as he prepares for the “most beautiful part of the season”. The second-placed Gunners are two points behind leaders Liverpool ahead of a busy April schedule following Sunday’s gritty goalless draw at title rivals Manchester City. Arteta, who is also preparing Arsenal for a Champions League quarter-final against Bayern Munich, urged his side to embrace the challenge, starting with today’s game at home to relegation-threatened Luton. “It’s going to have to be really close to that,” he told a pre-match media conference when asked if Arsenal need a 100% record from now on to finish top of the table. “When you see the level and…

The unpredictable 2023/24 Premiership season is expected to endure more twists and turns tonight as the KwaZulu-Natal-based clubs go on the hunt for much-needed points in the league. Golden Arrows, who have found a new lease of life under the returning Steve Komphela, will welcome CAF Champions League-chasing SuperSport United to Hammarsdale. The arrival of Komphela has also seen Arrows captain Nduduzo Sibiya rediscover his form, with the 28-year-old registering two goals and an assist in the last two games. Abafana Bes’thende and Matsatsantsa will kick off at 7.30pm at the Mpumalanga Stadium, at the same time Royal AM begin their crunch battle against TS Galaxy at the Mbombela Stadium. Back-to-back wins against Polokwane City and Richards Bay have revived Arrows’ top-three ambitions as they sit four points off Sekhukhune…