Innehållsförteckning för 2024-12-10 från Mercury

How now, Syria? So many happy faces on TV screens. Celebrations not unlike when Madiba’s release from prison signalled hope for freedom, release from oppression from an inhuman regime and hope that the clutches of colonialism were finally weakened. A hope for a New Dawn, one that can signal change, rebuilding and People Power. Perhaps we can dream...The sacrifice that the poor Israelis suffered on 10/7 and the price more than 100 000 Palestinians are paying may have initiated a domino effect. A realisation that obscene wealth and power, and the sins associated with imperialism, colonialism and even slavery ultimately can see the day of reckoning. The cascade that followed 10/7 with the unleashing of power on a relatively defenceless population besieged and virtually imprisoned has met the eyes of…

Ding-dong! The witch is dead! The song, composed for the film The Wizard of Oz, comes to mind following the spectacular collapse of Bashar Al- Assad’s quarter of a century dictatorship in Syria after the Hayat Tahrir al Shams opposition group captured Damascus this weekend. The jubilation expressed by millions of Syrian refugees across the world was, for a brief moment, a bright spot of hope in an otherwise dark era in the Middle East. There are still numerous questions swirling around the events. Questions like: Why did the rebels/revolutionists/jihadists choose this moment, after the Hezbollah ceasefire, to make their move? Who are they backed by? What are the implications for Gaza and regional stability in the Middle East? Will the rebels/revolutionists/jihadists replace Assad’s dictatorship with a far more formidable…

A FINANCE company has warned that the reduction in energy demand in the country may not indicate energy excess but could be a sign of severe economic problems, with many businesses potentially closing down permanently. Robert Futter, executive director of Cresco Group, expressed concerns based on data provided by Eskom regarding the energy profiles of its customers. The company fears not only is the country’s economy stagnating, but that more businesses are shutting down, leading to an excess energy supply that has allowed load shedding to be suspended for nearly 200 days. Futter spoke to The Mercury yesterday after Cresco Group, in collaboration with Standard Bank, published a report examining the state of the country’s energy supply and demand. The report, titled South Africa’s Current and Future Energy Demands: Risks…

A total of 1457 children under the age of five died of acute malnutrition in the past two years in South Africa, the majority were due to severe acute malnutrition (SAM). KwaZulu-Natal, Limpopo, the Eastern Cape and Gauteng were the hardest hit, with 265, 230, 190, and 172 deaths, respectively, from January 1, 2023, to November 8, 2024. This was according to Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi’s response to a parliamentary question from DA MP Michele Clarke. “As part of efforts to reduce deaths in young children, the Department of Health monitors the number of deaths in children under five years of age in all public health facilities. Aggregated data on common causes of deaths in children under five years of age lists diarrhoea and pneumonia as well as underlying causes…

A 52-year-old Free State farmer was murdered and his wife was kidnapped during an attack on their farm, provincial police said. Police acted swiftly on Sunday, intercepting the suspects, arresting four individuals and wounding one suspect, who later succumbed to his injuries. Officers from the Goedemoed policing precinct were alerted to the crime at approximately 7am on Sunday, by concerned members of the farming community. “Upon arrival, officers discovered the body of the farmer, who had been shot in the head. It was later determined that his wife had been kidnapped during the attack,” said police spokesperson, Captain Loraine Earle. A police effort, involving collaboration with the E2 project stakeholders and the Bloemfontein Flying Squad, followed. According to Earle, the stolen vehicle used in the crime was traced to a…

KwaZulu-Natal’s amakhosi are set to benefit from a new leadership and governance programme, aimed at empowering traditional leaders with essential skills for modern governance. The NQF Level 6 programme was introduced through a partnership between the Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (Cogta) and the University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN). Announcing the initiative, Cogta MEC Reverend Thulasizwe Buthelezi described the programme as a significant step in strengthening the institution of traditional leadership. The five-year programme will enrol 50 traditional leaders annually, offering training in governance, leadership, and rural development. “The programme goes beyond academic instruction; it integrates African philosophies and global governance principles to empower leaders with a comprehensive understanding of their roles,” Buthelezi added. The initiative also prepares participants to interpret legislative frameworks, including the Traditional Courts Bill, and…

Scores of students across the country who depend on the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) to support their academic pursuits are crying foul after their allowances, critical for covering tuition, travel and living expenses, has not been paid for months. The recent delays in NSFAS payments have caused stress with the students, especially from some of the country’s Technical Vocational Education and Training (TVET) colleges, stating they have not been paid their monthly stipends for months on end. The Mercury’s sister newspaper The Star uncovered that over 200 affected students from colleges across the country have yet to receive their monthly stipends. Students from colleges—including Capricorn College, Umgungundlovu College, Lovedale College, Sedibeng College, Mopani College, Vhembe Colleges and Ekurhuleni College — are reporting severe discrepancies in their payment details.…

As the world makes strides toward inclusive economic development, South Africa’s selection as the host of the G20 Summit in 2025 represents a pivotal opportunity not just for the nation, but for the African continent and the Global South. This summit is more than a high-profile gathering; it is a chance to reshape narratives, address pressing issues and foster economic growth. One of the primary benefits for South Africa lies in the economic opportunities that emerge from hosting such a prestigious international event. The influx of thousands of delegates and media personnel will spur significant short-term economic activity, from hotel bookings and transport to local businesses. However, the long-term benefits are even more critical. Infrastructure developed in preparation for the summit – such as improved roads and communication networks –…

Billie Fusto is not after a fat pay cheque: he is training to be an archivist and wants nothing more than “a quiet life” at home in Italy. But like tens of thousands of other young Italian graduates, the 24-year-old fears he has little choice but to emigrate. More than a million Italians have left in the past 10 years – a third of them aged 25 to 34 – national data shows. Those leaving blame low salaries and little recognition for their skills. The proportion of graduates leaving in particular is on the rise. “I’m not looking for wealth … or big responsibilities,” said Fusto, who comes from Calabria in southern Italy, and is studying for a masters in Rome. “I want a quiet life, in which I don’t…

BERLIN: A mystery disease in the Democratic Republic of Congo is spreading, mainly among children, and putting severely malnourished people at risk, according to the World Health Organization, which sent experts to the region to investigate the outbreak. The WHO said 406 cases of the undiagnosed disease were recorded between October 24 and December 5, 31 of which were deaths. The symptoms are fever, headache, cough, runny nose and body aches. It is spreading in the Panzi health zone in Congo’s south-western Kwango Province. | Reuters…

Oh, how much would white-ball coach Rob Walter and stand-in T20 captain Heinrich Klaasen bottle up that magic potion the Proteas Test side are drinking from at the moment. Whereas the Proteas Test side just completed their fifth Test victory on the bounce yesterday at St George’s Park to place them at the summit of the World Test Championship (WTC) table, the T20I team are still seeking their first bilateral series victory under Walter since his appointment last February. Klaasen was certainly trying to get off that feel-good factor of the Test side to rub off on the white-ball team. “They must be super happy. We’re very happy for them. We are all shouting for them for two more wins to go directly into the WTC final. They have been…

OH BOY! If we thought the world was complicated, suddenly it’s a Chinese puzzle that’s got all shook up. The world was waiting with bated breath to see what Donald Trump would make of the Ukraine imbroglio. His statements that he would resolve it in no time were surely a little over the top. Then – just overnight, presto! – the Syrian government that has been bullying its people for decades, is overthrown after just a few days by an alliance of “rebels” who, er, don’t exactly have a record of democracy and human rights. What will emerge from this revolution? Nobody can say. What does emerge, according to the fundis, is that the rebellion succeeded only because the Russian allies of the regime were so distracted by their involvement…

Despite its crucial role as part of KwaZulu-Natal’s (KZN) Government of Provincial Unity (GPU), the DA continues to ensure accountability, with the party submitting 122 written parliamentary questions to the provincial executive since taking office in June 2024. The figure includes questions to our own DA executive members, KZN Finance MEC, Francois Rodgers, and KZN Public Works and Infrastructure MEC, Martin Meyer. The DA’s performance stands in stark contrast to KZN’s two opposition parties, which recorded a meagre combined total of 36 written parliamentary questions during the past six months. These are not just numbers, they reflect the political will and commitment of the DA to ensure full transparency on behalf of KZN’s people. Questions to the executive are a power ful mechanism within the rules of the Legislature. They…

Funerals are sad occasions. But there is a tendency nowadays to celebrate rather than mourn the departed soul in the belief that the dead person is now free of the rigours of life on earth and, according to Greek mythology, is enjoying life in the Elysian Fields in the underworld or living a life of serenity and bliss up in heaven, as Christians believe. But no matter how much we try to glorify death, it remains a traumatic and painful experience for the deceased’s family. So it was with one of my wife’s relatives from Havenside, who possibly died from a massive heart attack. Siva had just celebrated his 63rd when death cruelly struck him down in the early hours of Saturday morning. What makes this rather poignant is that…

The Road Freight Association (RFA) has called for political intervention by South Africa in the post-electoral conflict in Mozambique. The RFA yesterday estimated that the full closure or suspension of Port of Maputo operations and the ceasing of any road freight logistics within Mozambique costs around R10 million a day to the local economy. The association said direct losses to freight logistics was around R6m, which includes damage and loss of vehicles, injury, loss of drivers, looting of loads, inability to retrieve vehicles, disruptions of exports and imports, as well as the loss of business due to consignment loads not being fulfilled. In a statement RFA CEO Gavin Kelly said the remaining R4m a day was lost in other sectors including servicing, manufacturing, tourism, retail, mining and agriculture, some of…

A North West man has been sentenced to 15 years in jail after he attempted to rob a police station. North West police spokesperson, Colonel Adéle Myburgh, said Mncedisi Mvumbi, 46, and his two friends entered the police station pretending to open a criminal case. “Two police members were on duty and assisted them when Mvumbi asked to use the bathroom, situated behind the counter of the community service centre,” said Myburgh. She said after being allowed behind the counter, he pointed a firearm at the police officers and ordered the police officers to hand over their service pistols. “The brave police officers fought back and overpowered Mvumbi, whilst his two friends ran off.” It was then discovered that the firearm used by Mvumbi to threaten the police officers was…

Residents of the Koelwaters housing complex and surrounding Trust communities in Mtwalume on the KwaZulu-Natal South Coast have been without water for over three weeks, with dire consequences for the community, particularly the elderly and families with young children. The Ugu District Municipality yesterday said the matter was being attended to with water restoration expected soon. Sharon Peetz, a representative of the residents of Koelwaters and the surrounding Trust Communities, said residents at the complex have been without water for more than three weeks. In addition, Peetz said the neighbouring Trust communities have been worse off, having not had water for over seven weeks. She said residents had been calling Ugu District Municipality several times a day since November 16 and received the same response that the matter has been…

A car chase through the streets of Laudium, west of Pretoria, and a shootout involving police during which the passenger of the car was hit in the back and later died in hospital, was the subject of a damages claim in the Gauteng High Court, Pretoria. The widow of the deceased claimed loss of support on her behalf and her children from the Tshwane Metro Police Department. Rebecca Ranoto turned to court as she said her husband supported the family financially and the Metro police must thus now compensate her for this loss. Frans Ranoto, who was a passenger in the car, also claimed damages as he said the police shot him in the hand during the incident. The police, on the other hand, said they had no choice but…

First chapter should be an ethical stocktake encompassing transparency, accountability YESTERDAY marked International Anti-Corruption Day 2024, designated by the United Nations Convention against Corruption (UNCAC), the only legally binding universal anti-corruption instrument. UNCAC, which comes under the purview of the UN Office on Drugs and Crime, is only 21 years old, having been founded in 2003. This reflects the neglect and lack of urgency in the fight against corruption and the huge task every country is faced with in containing, let alone, eradicating an insidious, pervasive and corrosive practice that is as old as humanity itself. The problem is that corruption can be a very opaque phenomenon which thrives in countries where justice and the rule of law are lacking, ineffective, poorly enforced or perverted. The fact that UNCAC has…

After 13 years of civil war, Syria’s opposition militias sensed an opportunity to loosen President Bashar al-Assad’s grip on power when, about six months ago, they communicated to Türkiye plans for a major offensive and felt they had received its tacit approval, two sources said. Launched barely two weeks ago, the operation’s speedy success in achieving its initial goal, seizing Syria’s second city, Aleppo, took almost everybody by surprise. From there, in a little more than a week, the rebel alliance reached Damascus and on Sunday put an end to five decades of Assad family rule. The lightning advance relied on an almost perfect alignment of stars for the forces opposed to Assad: his army was demoralised and exhausted; his main allies, Iran and Lebanon’s Hezbollah, were severely weakened by…

Mexico City: A 31-year-old man was arrested after he attempted to redirect a domestic flight in Mexico to the US while it was en route, according to authorities. The Airbus A320 plane was bound for the north-west city of Tijuana on Sunday from the central city of Leon, Guanajuato, but had to make an emergency landing at Guadalajara International Airport about 45 minutes into the flight. “A subject assaulted a flight attendant and attempted to enter the cockpit,” said the Secretariat of Security and Civilian Protection. Crew members subdued the man, who was travelling with family. | AFP…

New York: Musician and producer Jay-Z was accused in a lawsuit submitted on Sunday of raping a 13-year-old with hip hop star Sean Combs in 2000, court documents show, claims denied by Jay-Z. An updated complaint in a civil case against Combs alleges that Jay-Z, whose name is Shawn Carter, and Combs raped the girl at an after party following the MTV Video Music Awards in September 2000. The lawsuit accuses Carter of filing a “frivolous” counter-suit. Jay-Z hit back: “These allegations are so heinous … that I implore you to file a criminal complaint, not a civil one!!” | AFP…

With South Africa’s operating environment projected to improve, analysts from Moody’s Investors Services are expecting stability for the country’s budget retailers. Moody’s yesterday also said gold miners such as Pan African Resources, Harmony Gold, and others would continue benefiting from elevated bullion prices next year. Lowering interest rates, receding inflationary pressures, reduced electricity load shedding and movements to fix the logistics sector, including ports and rail, have all provided a strong bedrock for firmer business confidence in South Africa. Moody’s analysts, however, said they believed that despite the improved electricity supply situation under Eskom in the past few months, energy availability remained a constraint for South African companies. The Minerals Council and other business groupings have recently voiced out against the high costs of electricity. “Energy availability, while improving, remains…

British American Tobacco (BAT) announced yesterday that it will pay the last instalment of its interim dividend at the beginning of February next year while it has intensified a share purchase program. On February 3 next year, BAT will pay out the fourth and final instalment of 58.88 pence for its interim dividend. BAT has already paid three instalments of similar amounts after it declared a 235.52 pence interim dividend in February this year. The company also announced that it bought back 69 132 ordinary shares from Merrill Lynch International as part of its buy back programme. This was in accordance with the authority granted by shareholders at the company's annual general meeting in April this year. The authority enabled the company to purchase its own ordinary shares. “Following…

When I’m feeling overwhelmed by the pressures of making a living and trying to be a helpful member of my community, I try to pre-empt any feelings of self-pity by counting my blessings “one by one”. There is great wisdom in the Sunday School standard, “Count your blessings.” Gratitude can change everything. Dark moments can lose their tenacious hold when placed under the warming lamp of gratitude. As a young child, my Sunday School teachers at Greenwood Park Methodist Church, Mrs Eileen Cresswell and Mrs Cynthia Lawrence (nee Reardon), taught me this powerful truth. Of course I did not then know of the life-long impact their life-lessons would have upon me. It was under their tutelage that I learned that there is always something for which to be grateful. These…

Turkiye is next. That’s the message behind the inevitable collapse of the Bashar Al Assad government in Syria. I repeat that it was inevitable. His tory always repeats itself. Betray your sponsor and you're gone. No rational objective person, especially Muslims, should lament the inevitably sudden collapse of the Baathist government of an evil proxy dictator, Bashar Al Assad, in Syria. You can't win when, like Dr Faustus, you strike a deal with the big satan, the US. Betray him and you're toast. Like his father, Bashar Al Assad, his brutality was condoned by the US until he courted Iran and Russia to shore up his regime, especially after he threatened Israel and had grandiose delusions of grandeur over recapturing the Golan Heights from Israel. Did you know that the…

The MK Party said while it is doing good work in debates in the KwaZulu-Natal Legislature, there is room for improvement in its use of parliamentary questions to hold the Government of Provincial Unity (GPU) and the provincial executive to account. The party secured more than 45% of the votes in the May 29 national and general election, but it failed to secure an outright majority in KZN, and a coalition with the ANC, DA, IFP and National Freedom Party (NFP) formed the GPU. The party is set to mark its first anniversary with a celebration at Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban on Sunday. MKP Member of the Provincial Legislature (MPL) Dr Kwazi Mbanjwa said while the party was doing good work in holding the executive to account, there was…

A 5-YEAR-OLD child who has spent their entire life inside a prison in the Republic of Mauritius will soon be repatriated to South Africa. Yesterday, a delegation from the Department of Social Development (DSD) departed for Mauritius to collect the child. They are expected to return to South Africa on Friday. The biological mother of the child was incarcerated in Mauritius for drug trafficking and was pregnant at the time of her arrest in May 2019. DSD spokesperson, Bathembu Futshane, said the department was not able to confirm when the mother is expected to be released from prison. “We will only find out upon meeting with officials from the Republic of Mauritius. Our primary interest as a department is to ensure we protect the child and ensure we act in…

The three-person panel appointed to review the Anglican Church of Southern Africa (ACSA)’s handling of reports of abuse allegedly committed by the late John Smyth in South Africa has called for input from the public. The panel, appointed by the Archbishop of Cape Town, Thabo Makgoba, has requested the public to assist with information relevant to its inquiries where Smyth is accused of having committed sexual abuse and “abuse in England and Zimbabwe” in incidents involving at least 85 boy victims. The panel consists of SA civil society leader Dr Mamphela Ramphele, SA and British barrister Advocate Jeremy Gauntlett SC KC and retired judge of the Supreme Court of Appeal Ian Farlam, who will conduct the review and make recommendations to Makgoba. On Friday, the panel announced the terms of…

The Department of Home Affairs has taken a step toward digital transformation with the launch of its new eRecruitment platform. Minister of Home Affairs, Dr Leon Schreiber, hailed this development as a milestone in the department’s drive to modernise its operations. “Online recruitment has long been a standard practice in the private sector, and it is high time that the government catches up,” said Schreiber. “Since day one, I have said that digital transformation is the apex priority for Home Affairs. The launch of our very own eRecruitment platform takes us closer towards achieving that goal.” The portal allows prospective job applicants to view and apply for departmental vacancies online, eliminating the need for cumbersome paperwork and enhancing efficiency for both applicants and the department. The eRecruitment platform is part…

The South African Communist Party (SACP), which recently announced that it would be participating in the upcoming 2026 Local Government Elections independently, maintains that it is not in opposition to the African National Congress (ANC) but is “an ally”. The statement was made as the party of Chris Hani heads to its national congress this week, which will start tomorrow and end on December 14. SACP general secretary, Solly Mapaila, said that the organisation has decided to contest the upcoming local government elections independently. Mapaila said the organisation will finalise the specifics of its independent campaign plan at the much-anticipated conference. SACP central committee member and national spokesperson Dr Alex Mashilo emphasised that the organisation had no intention to break away from the tripartite alliance, which includes the ANC and…

IS THERE a way we can know and honour all the wonderful people who gave their time, resources, talent, skills and risked their lives for the freedom, democracy, and liberation of our country? Dennis Brutus is just one among them. He played a significant role in the first (mass mobilisation) and the last pillar (international solidarity) of the Struggle. As a reporter and an educator, he was very much relevant at the time. This is because the basis of the Struggle is awareness, knowledge, and information. Therefore, it is not surprising that he was banned from teaching, writing, speaking in public and attending social or political meetings. But that was after he also played his role as an organiser with the Teacher’s League and the Congress Movement. He was a…

Taiwan’s military was on high alert yesterday after detecting Chinese warships near the island, Taipei said, as it prepared for likely drills by Beijing in response to President Lai Ching-te’s US visits. The Taiwanese defence ministry said it also spotted Chinese coastguard vessels and that Beijing’s People’s Liberation Army (PLA) had restricted the airspace off the Chinese coast. There has been intense speculation about the possibility of China launching military exercises in response to Lai’s trip to the Pacific last week which included stopovers in Hawaii and Guam. “In response to these actions by the PLA, the MND has initiated combat readiness drills, factoring in enemy threats, weather conditions, and tactical positioning,” the Ministry of National Defense in Taipei said. It added that military units were on “high” alert and…

Manila: A volcano briefly erupted in the central Philippines yesterday, sending a huge ash column high into the sky as the government ordered the evacuation of surrounding villages. Rising more than 2 400m above sea level on the central island of Negros, Kanlaon is one of 24 active volcanoes in the Philippines. Officials warned that more explosive eruptions could follow. Authorities said flights to and from the Bacolod-Silay international airport, nearest the volcano, remained normal, but carriers were warned from flying below 3 000m near the volcano. | AFP…

India's second Test drubbing in Adelaide showed that captain Rohit Sharma was failing to bring the aggression needed to beat Australia on their own turf, leading cricket luminaries said. The tourists were thrashed by 10 wickets inside three days of the pink ball match on Sunday, as Australia levelled the series 1-1. Rohit, 37, returned to lead the team after missing India's opening win in Perth due to the birth of his second child, but crashed out with scores of three and six. He had dropped down to No 6 in the batting order from his usual opening slot in favour of KL Rahul, who played a key part in the Perth Test victory. Former India all-rounder Ravi Shastri said Rohit should revert to the top to allow him to…

Girona will need to be more aggressive and outwork Liverpool when the two teams meet in a Uefa Champions League clash at the Montilivi Stadium, the Spanish club's coach Michel said yesterday. Girona, who finished third in LaLiga last season, currently sit in ninth place in the Spanish top-flight and are on a four-game winless streak across all competitions. They have also won just one of their five matches in Europe as opposed to today's in-form opponents Liverpool, who have a perfect record in the competition and top both the Champions League and Premier League standings. "We want to see an aggressive Girona with and without the ball. They dominate the game. I prefer to have the mentality of winning the ball back as quickly as possible, we have to…