Innehållsförteckning för 2024-12-17 från Mercury

I get an inordinate amount of mail from men and women about the difficulties of how to treat a former husband or wife. Here are some guidelines: What do you owe your ex? Common courtesy as is offered to all other people – no more, no less. Respectful interactions pertaining to the children. Efficiency and reliability regarding the children and visits. Absolute care and protection of the children whom you co-parent. Respectful return of phone calls, emails and messages regarding shared child concerns. Efficient paying of accounts as prescribed by the terms of the divorce (school fees, medical bills, etc.). Common courtesy expressed toward any new significant other. What you do NOT owe your ex? Sex or intimacy of any kind (conversational, physical, emotional) Financial assistance other than specified by…

In response to Ebrahim Essa’s letter “Your beloved Trump is not a Saint either”...Firstly, let me be very clear, there is absolutely no comparison between Ramaphosa and Trump, just like there is absolutely no comparison between Israel and the brutal regime, Hamas. For almost 15 months now, the rhetoric of Trump being another ‘Hitler’, Israel committing a supposed ‘genocide’ and Netanyahu apparently being found guilty of war crimes against humanity, has become as stale as a muffin left in a cupboard for over a year. By now, many people with half a brain have concluded that Radical Islam is a very dangerous, pro-death movement which is fuelled by hatred for Jews and Christians across the globe. What shocks me the most is that Mr Essa tries to draw a comparison…

Aid organisation, Gift of the Givers has stepped in to provide much-needed relief to those who have been queueing at the Lebombo border post with Mozambique for the past few days. Political unrest in Mozambique after its October elections has led to the processing of vehicles, pedestrians and cargo trucks at the border post being slow or at times it has been suspended. Gift of the Givers founder, Dr Imtiaz Sooliman, said that they have dispatched a team to the Lebombo border with Mozambique to partner with SAPS to provide temporary assistance. “The civil unrest in Mozambique has restricted the border to opening only a few hours a day, causing a huge backlog on the South African side. Working with the SAPS, Gift of the Givers will use one of…

There will be no joy this festive season for a man who raped two young girls after the Supreme Court of Appeal (SCA) overturned his 12-year jail sentence and replaced it with one of life behind bars. Jacob Kwinda was initially sentenced to life imprisonment in the lower court. He turned to the high court to appeal his sentence, as he said that the prosecution did not prove that the children were indeed eight years old. The high court overturned his life sentence and replaced it with an effective 12 years in jail. Unhappy with this, the State turned to the SCA to appeal against this lenient sentence, especially as Kwinda pleaded guilty to raping the two girls. His sentence has again been upped to life imprisonment, after Judge Wendy…

THE year 2024 has been one of the most financially strained years for South Africans, with interest rates being high for most of the year and the cost of living constantly increasing. As a result, over-indebted South Africans, especially those with a greater proportion of expensive, unsecured credit, are likely to become more indebted as their debt servicing costs remain high, alongside soaring living costs, according to Tej Desai, chief executive officer of Alefbet Collections & Recoveries. This has been reflected in how consumers manage their debt and how they continued to take out new credit products in the latter half of 2024. TransUnion’s new insights report found that South Africans are continuing to take more credit in order to fund their lifestyles and meet their obligations. The report found…

THE South African Weather Service (SAWS) has issued severe thunderstorm warnings for parts of KwaZulu-Natal, Gauteng, Mpumalanga and Limpopo, cautioning residents to brace for damaging winds, excessive lightning, heavy downpours and possible hailstorms. SAWS KZN forecaster Ayanda Nsele clarified that the thunderstorms are not linked to Cyclone Chido, which made landfall in Mozambique on Sunday. “The thunderstorms are part of a separate weather system affecting South Africa. “The severe conditions are also expected in the afternoon and evening over Gauteng, the Highveld escarpment of Mpumalanga and the south-western bushveld of Limpopo,” Nsele said. SAWS also highlighted the risk of flash flooding due to heavy rainfall in these areas, urging residents to stay informed and take precautions. Nsele further warned of “large amounts of small hail and strong winds” that could…

The mayor of Nkandla councillor, Mbhekiseni “Bhejane” Biyela has died. Biyela died in the early hours on Sunday according to reports. “We are shocked and saddened by the passing of Cllr Biyela. We extend our condolences to the Biyela family, the residents of Nkandla and the IFP. “The loss of Councillor Biyela is a significant blow to the community, as he was a patriot who prioritised the improvement of their lives,” said KwaZulu-Natal Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs MEC, Reverend Thulasizwe Buthelezi. He said Biyela’s commitment to public service was marked by diligence, humility and dedication to the betterment of rural communities. The IFP said Biyela’s passing marked a significant blow to the IFP, especially due to Nkandla’s importance as highly contested political terrain in South Africa. “He played a…

As we pause to commemorate Reconciliation Day, we are called to reflect deeply on what this day signifies in the ongoing story of our nation. Reconciliation is not a mere observance – it is a profound act of courage, a testament to our shared humanity, and an unyielding commitment to the promise of a better tomorrow for all. Ours is a nation forged in the crucible of struggle and resilience. We have endured the brutality of colonialism, the dehumanising legacy of apartheid, and the inequalities that still challenge our progress. Yet, through these trials, we have shown that unity is not just an ideal but a powerful force capable of transforming pain into progress. Reconciliation Day is a reminder of this truth. It challenges us to confront the injustices of…

Emergency workers sought survivors yesterday and struggled to restore services in Mayotte, France’s poorest overseas territory, where hundreds or even thousands are feared dead from the worst cyclone to hit the Indian Ocean islands in nearly a century. Cyclone Chido devastated large parts of the archipelago off east Africa over the weekend with winds of more than 200km/h strewing homes over hillsides, and cutting phones, power and drinking water. With areas still inaccessible, France’s acting interior minister Bruno Retailleau said on arrival in the disaster zone that it would take days to find the full extent of damage and deaths. Teacher Hamada Ali said that streets were covered in mud and trees, people were sheltering in schools and bottled water was being used for cooking. “I saw someone injured by…

A Church of England bishop yesterday urged its incoming interim leader to quit over his handling of a sexual abuse case, only weeks after his predecessor was forced to resign as archbishop of Canterbury in a similar case. The BBC said Stephen Cottrell, the archbishop of York, had in a previous diocese let a priest keep his job despite knowing that the church had barred him from being alone with children and that he had paid compensation to a sexual abuse victim. Cottrell is due to take over temporarily next month from Justin Welby as archbishop of Canterbury, the spiritual leader of millions of Anglicans worldwide. The bishop of Newcastle, Helen-Ann Hartley, was one of the first senior voices to urge Welby to step down and also called on Cottrell…

Paris: The tariffs that Donald Trump has threatened to impose on Canada would also cause problems to US states if he enacts them, said the head of the Canadian foreign investment promotion. “I think from a business perspective, no one will benefit from a tariff regime,” Laurel Broten, chief executive of Invest in Canada, said. Trump, who takes office in January, has threatened to slap 25% tariffs on imports from Canada and Mexico, accusing both of allowing the US to be flooded with illicit drugs and undocumented migrants. Canada’s largest province, Ontario, said it would be prepared to cut off energy exports to the US if Trump made good on this threat. | AFP…

LONDON: Britain’s online safety regime came into force yesterday, requiring social media companies like Meta’s Facebook and ByteDance’s TikTok to take action to tackle criminal activity on their platforms and make them safer by design. Media regulator Ofcom said it had published its first codes of practice on tackling illegal harms such as child sexual abuse and assisting or encouraging suicide. Sites and apps have until March 16, 2025, to assess the risks illegal content poses to children and adults. The regulator will be able to issue fines of up to $22.3 million (about R399m) or 10% of a company’s annual global turnover if they fail to comply. | Reuters…

What a dramatic Manchester derby it was! Leading 1-0 early in the game, it seemed done and dusted for Premier League champions Man City. They were playing at home and it seemed unthinkable that they would let their great rivals, Man United, beat them in front of their enthusiastic home support. But the unthinkable did happen. Man City gave away a penalty and Man United captain Bruno Fernandes did not miss from the penalty spot and equalised. And then, late in the game, came a dramatic twist in the derby when Man United struck home in the 90th minute from an Amad Diallo strike. Etihad Stadium went silent. The world’s greatest manager could not believe what he saw. He slumped to the ground and covered his face in humiliation. He…

There are some people who hold the view that Palestine activists are hypocrites by arguing that the mobilisation of South Africans around the genocide in Gaza has sidelined support for urgent local crises in South Africa, such as the loss of jobs in the EPWP sector. A genocide that has resulted in the deaths of over 300 000 civilians in Gaza is not a comparable analogy. In any context, death, torture, forced starvation, indiscriminate killing of civilians, and the destruction of health care, schools, residential and agricultural property should and must supersede other causes, be they local or international. The language used is alienating, prejudicial, aggressive, unfair, belittling and patronising in describing these activists. They have been accused of being ‘performative and glamorous’, of being ‘selective’, of ‘morally posturing’ and…

Eskom has reached a milestone of more than 260 consecutive days without load shedding, and no scheduled power cuts are expected in the first quarter of next year. The power utility said its Generation Recovery Plan has resulted in year-on-year diesel savings of R16.46 billion, approximately 67.7% less than the R24.32 billion spent during the same period last year. “In August, Eskom shared its Summer Outlook for the period from 1 September 2024 to 31 March 2025, predicting a likely scenario of a load shedding-free summer due to structural generation improvements. This outlook remains unchanged.” Eskom reported that the Energy Availability Factor (EAF) is 62.7% year-to-date, with top-performing stations—including Camden, Majuba, Medupi, and peaking stations—achieving an average EAF of 70% and above. Two other power stations recorded EAFs above 60%.…

Thirty years after his chant of "Nants' Ingonyama" soared above The Lion King’s memorable opening sequence, the 60-year-old singer, producer and composer Lebohang Morake is back. Morake, who is known as Lebo M, became the voice of the Disney classic with his powerful Zulu cry. He now sings another opener for the prequel “Mufasa: The Lion King”, which tells the story of orphaned lion Mufasa, who grows up to be the king of the Pride Lands and the father of Simba. Lin-Manuel Miranda, who wrote the music for the film—due to be released worldwide December 18-20 —said on the red carpet he would not have done it without Lebo M. “That was the dream. I sort of insisted on that the moment I took the job because I think he…

A TEAM of crash scene investigators has been deployed by the Road Traffic Management Corporation (RTMC) to the Eastern Cape to investigate a major collision that claimed 14 lives yesterday. RTMC said a minibus crashed head-on with an SUV at approximately 5:30am on the N9 between Graaff-Reinet and Middelburg. “Six people who travelled in the SUV and eight occupants from the minibus died instantly on the scene.” According to the RTMC, 11 people were transported to a hospital. “It has been established that the SUV was travelling from Middelburg to Graaff-Reinet and the minibus was travelling in the opposite direction towards Middelburg when they collided head-on,” said the RTMC, adding that the cause of the crash is unknown and is subject to the ongoing investigation. The RTMC appealed to motorists…

As the festive season approaches, we are reminded of both the joy of togetherness and the shocking statistics that come with it. Recently, KwaZulu-Natal has witnessed a series of tragic accidents and yesterday, 15 lives were lost in the Eastern Cape when a minibus taxi collided with a private vehicle. These tragedies prompt the urgent question: what more must we do to prevent the unnecessary loss of lives on our roads? For far too long, South Africa has been synonymous with high levels of road fatalities – that must change. We cannot continue tolerating the deaths of our citizens at the hands of negligent driving, unroadworthy vehicles, and reckless truck drivers who seem to operate as if the rules of the road do not apply to them. Innocent lives are…

Governments worldwide are stepping up efforts to engage with Syria’s new interim rulers, just over a week after Islamist-led rebels ousted president Bashar al-Assad, ending decades of brutal rule and civil war. The lightning offensive that captured the capital Damascus on December 8 led to celebrations across the country and beyond. At Damascus university yesterday, Yasmin Shehab said that she and fellow students felt “optimistic”. “We feel liberated, and the chains have been broken,” she said. But the surprise ouster caught many governments by surprise, and has left them scrambling for a new policy. Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), the Islamist group that led the offensive, is rooted in Al-Qaeda’s Syrian branch, and is still designated a terrorist group by several Western governments. Diplomats, including UN envoy Geir Pedersen who was…

BERLIN: German Chancellor Olaf Scholz lost a parliamentary confidence vote yesterday, paving the way for snap elections in February intended to lead Germany out of a political crisis triggered by the collapse of his coalition. The departure last month of the neoliberal Free Democrats from the three-way coalition left Scholz’s Social Democrats and the Greens governing without a parliamentary majority just when Germany faces its deepest economic crisis in a generation. Scholz remains as caretaker leader until a new government can be formed. The campaign is turning to arguments over which urgent measures he should pass with opposition backing. | Reuters…

KHAN YOUNIS: Relatives of Palestinians killed by Israel in Khan Younis gathered around their white-shrouded bodies yesterday before carrying them to their graves. Palestinian health officials said on Sunday at least 20 people, including children, were killed in the strike at the school sheltering displaced families in the city in the southern Gaza Strip. The Israeli military said yesterday that it had struck Hamas militants operating from a compound that previously served as a UN-run school. It said the compound also served as a training camp to prepare and plan attacks against Israeli forces. | Reuters…

AN illustration comes this way from the Cape, overhead lights welcoming visitors to the town of Hermanus. Except the “m” has gone blank. They need to get in an electrician, pronto. “Welcome to Her … anus” is quite the wrong message. Mother-in-law OVERHEARD in the Pub With No Name: “My mother-in-law came for dinner. She said: ‘Why does the dog keep looking at me like that?’ “I said: ‘Because you’re using his plate!” He winces while gently touching his black eye. “Sigh! She’s got no sense of humour.” Mysteries in verse SOME verse on the mysteries of anatomy comes this way: When can a man buy a cap for his knee, Or a key for a lock of his hair? Can his eyes be called an academy? Because there are…

Before the year recedes, it seems timely to reflect on the historical footprint of the arrival of a small, white settler presence around the Durban Bay area 200 years ago in 1824. Of the three main settlers, the lives of the two ex-officers of the Royal Navy, Francis Farewell and James Saunders King, were short-lived. King died of natural causes in 1828 and was buried on the Bluff. Farewell was murdered in 1829 while returning overland from Port Elizabeth. Henry Francis Fynn, the son of a reputable Cape Town resident, survived to be appointed magistrate on the South Coast between 1853 and 1860. However, referring to the latter years of his life, historian Dan Wylie has described Fynn as a “frontier ruffian” who was dogged by accusations of cattle-rustling and…

The DA in KwaDukuza has vehemently opposed the ANC’s proposal for a 4-day holiday in the Drakensberg, masked as a mid-term lekgotla. It is simply unconscionable that R1.1 million that could have been used for services will be used to fund this breakaway taking place from 21 January 2025. While we recognise the need for a review of the council’s five-year strategic objectives, we cannot agree with public funds being expended in this manner. The DA’s proposal to utilise a local venue for the mid-term review was rejected by the ANC, who want to continue plundering funds for the purposes of this breakaway. In addition to a delegation of councillors and an undisclosed number of close protection officers, the proposal calls for 71 municipal officials to attend the session. Those…

Two alleged Brazilian drug traffickers were arrested after landing at OR Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg on Sunday from São Paulo, Brazil. SAPS’s spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel, Amanda Van Wyk confirmed that the foreign nationals were arrested and would appear before the Kempton Park Magistrate’s Court this week on charges related to drug trafficking. “One of these traffickers was allegedly found in possession of over 4kg of cocaine in his luggage while a medical x-ray confirmed the presence of drug bullets swallowed by the other drug mule,” van Wyk said in a statement. She said 15 “bullets” containing cocaine have been released so far. This is the second drug bust in the past week. On Friday, the police intercepted R6 million worth of crystal meth at OR Tambo, which was found…

Two men accused of sexual grooming and the possession, downloading, manufacturing and distribution of child pornography in separate incidents are expected to make their first appearance in Gauteng courts today. In a statement, the South African Police Service (SAPS) said the arrests were the result of joint operations involving its officers, the US’s Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the US’s Department of Homeland Security. Police spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Amanda van Wyk said in the first operation last Thursday, members from the national and Gauteng provincial Serial and Electronic Crime Investigations Unit (SECI), Forensic Social Work and the FBI acted on information supplied through an international tip line. She said the investigation led the team to an address in Vanderbijlpark, where they arrested a 49-year-old man who allegedly sexually groomed,…

MORE than 300 students who have successfully completed their degrees have been unable to graduate, as universities have withheld their certificates over unpaid fees and other issues. This was according to Higher Education Minister Nobuhle Nkabane in response to parliamentary questions by MK Party MP Mnqobi Prince Msezane, who asked about the number of qualified students whose graduation certificates were withheld due to outstanding fees. "The recent audited data indicates that there are 320 students who have fulfilled requirements for their qualification, but respective universities have deferred awarding the qualification for several admin reasons. These reasons are mainly financial and disciplinary hearings,” Nkabane said. Msezane also questioned why her department had not prioritised clearing the debt to promote fair access to the job market and remove barriers for affected students,…

Tracing the sport’s evolution from colonialism to symbol of national pride and inclusivity THE mind boggles. They say politics and sports don’t or shouldn’t mix. As South Africans we are the living experience that our sport, especially rugby and cricket, has historically been mired in the politics of colonialism, race and white supremacy for over a century, only to be liberated in its transformative non-racial ethos after the onset of democracy in 1994. And in a post-apartheid dispensation, if we are not careful, that ethos of a truly non-racial sporting culture to include access to South Africans of all backgrounds and at all levels could be compromised by the excessive commercialisation of sport steeped in the single-minded pursuit of self-enrichment, wage inflation, excessive profits and corruption, at the expense of…

Britain’s Labour government has pared back an audit of relations with China, four sources with knowledge of the matter said, preparing the way for a less critical report that could help Prime Minister Keir Starmer focus on improving economic ties. The Labour Party said before taking power the audit would be Britain’s first in-depth, potentially year-long appraisal of relations and supply chains with a country considered by the security services as the nation’s biggest long-term threat. The government is now opting for a quicker and less in-depth approach, which will most probably end up being less critical of China, the sources said. Two of the sources pointed to Starmer’s growth agenda and plan to improve relations with an important trading partner for the decision. Asked about Reuters findings, a British…

The European Commission yesterday awarded contracts to push forward delayed plans for a €10.6 billion ($11.13bn) secure European satellite constellation in response to Elon Musk’s Starlink and other fast-growing internet networks. The multi-orbit array of more than 280 satellites known as IRIS² will provide an encrypted backbone for EU governments and public agencies, and develop new commercial services. “In an increasingly complex geopolitical world, ensuring resilient, secure and fast governmental communications is essential,” Josef Aschbacher, director general of the 22-nation European Space Agency, said in a statement, adding it would boost European competitiveness and create jobs. The project is the EU’s third major initiative in space after the Galileo navigation system and the Copernicus Earth observation network, which monitors climate change. It has been beset by differences over industrial work…

Nairobi: Human Rights Watch (HRW) yesterday accused the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and allied militias, at war with the army, of committing widespread sexual violence against women in southern Sudan. It is the latest such report by international monitors alleging sexual violence during Sudan’s 20-month war, which has led to what the US called the world’s worst humanitarian crisis. In its new report, HRW said it had documented dozens of cases since September last year involving women and girls aged between seven and 50 who were subjected to sexual violence, including gang rape and sexual slavery, in South Kordofan state. | AFP…

JAKARTA: Indonesia will transfer Mary Jane Veloso, a Philippine woman sentenced to death in 2010 for drug trafficking, to her home country in the early hours tomorrow, a senior Indonesian official said. Jakarta agreed last month to repatriate Veloso, a former domestic helper and mother of two, who was arrested in Yogyakarta 14 years ago after being found with 2.6kg of heroin concealed in a suitcase. She received a last-minute reprieve from execution in 2015 after the late former President Benigno Aquino appealed to the Indonesian government, arguing she could be a vital witness in prosecuting drug syndicates. | Reuters…

The Proteas’ ICC Champions Trophy campaign begins today at Boland Park. The preliminaries are short and sharp, with three matches here against next year’s hosts, followed only by a Tri-Series in Pakistan before the tournament in February. It hardly seems sufficient, but there’s no place to squeeze in anymore with an all-important two-match Test series, which will ensure qualification for the World Test Championship final, and Betway SA20 on the horizon. It allows little room for experimentation at this stage but coach Rob Walter will just have to find a way – even if it's without captain Temba Bavuma in Paarl today. “I won't be involved in the game (today),” Bavuma confirmed yesterday, with Aiden Markram set to take over the leadership duties. “That's more just from a load management…