Innehållsförteckning för 2025-02-03 från Mercury

Fairvest REIT’s portfolio of South African retail, office, and industrial properties is strong and stable, CEO Darren Wilder said. Writing in the annual report published Friday, he said the core of the business, consisting of 108 properties valued at R7.6 billion, is well-let with a weighted average vacancy of 2.7%. Nine problematic properties comprise 43.6% of the group’s total vacancy and predominantly reside in the office and retail portfolio. These properties are specifically managed as special projects, he said. The REIT aims to eventually divest its office and industrial portfolios to focus on retail. It has disposed of 17 assets comprising about 56 000 square metres of gross lettable area. These were viewed as either non-core to the portfolio, problematic in terms of filling vacant space, or at the end…

OH BOY, imagine the splash if this asteroid lands in the ocean in seven years’ time. Imagine the devastation if it comes down on land. The asteroid, named 2024 YR4, is estimated to have a one in 83 chance of a direct hit, causing “severe damage to a local region”, according to the European Space Agency (ESA), Sky News reports. The space rock, which measures 100m by 40m, is currently at a distance of around 437 million km and moving away from the planet. But its path will cross the Earth’s orbit on December 22, 2032. Most likely, there would be a near miss, with the asteroid passing within a few thousand km. The Space Mission Planning Advisory Group, which is chaired by the ESA, will discuss the latest observations…

Whilst we slept like old uncle Rip van Winkle for the last 10 months, distracted by Ukraine, Gaza and Hindutwa, little did we suspect that the spores that were hidden beneath the quagmire were silently re-germinating. Resurrecting into that same slimy creepy-crawly son of a snake that would once again wind its toxic reptilian body around our near-dead corpses, already pre-dehydrated by the interminable high noon summer sun. Strangling us again. At the very beginning of a new year. When sugar levels are way down When the economy is just beginning to try to raise its head. When factories attempt to reawaken from a slumber that has lasted already for the last 10 years. When children and parents experience the greatest quantity of stress in trying to handle the usual…

THE South African National Defence Force (SANDF) has said that it’s still unclear when the repatriation of the 14 soldiers who lost their lives in Goma, in the Democratic Republic of Congo, will take place. At the weekend, the SANDF released the names of the soldiers who died in the DRC last week. On Friday, the Southern African Development Community (SADC) said it would dispatch a team to North Kivu in the DRC to facilitate the repatriation of deceased and injured SANDF members, as well as those from Malawian and Tanzanian forces. South African troops have been in the east of the DRC since December 2023 on a peacekeeping mission. The members of the South African team who lost their lives include Staff Sergeant William Eddie Cola, Staff Sergeant Molahlehi…

The Western Cape High Court has ordered the police minister to pay damages of nearly R1 million to the son of a woman who committed suicide while in police custody. This is because the police had not confiscated her shoelaces while she was detained. According to court details, the woman had refused to hand over her shoelaces to the police when she was arrested. There was some confusion because they had to arrange for a female police officer to search her and they locked her up with the very item she used to end her life. Marius Otto, who was 11 years old at the time of his mother’s death, sued the minister of police for loss of support by his mother, for his estimated medical expenses, and for general…

KwaZulu-Natal Premier Thami Ntuli convened a meeting with community stakeholders on Saturday to address escalating crime in the province. This comes in the wake of a spate of gender-based violence (GBV) and femicide incidents that occurred between October and December 2024. The meeting was attended by representatives from Phoenix, Inanda, Ntuzuma, KwaMashu and uMlazi, including SAPS station commanders of affected stations or their Community Policing Forum (CPF) co-ordinators, members from other units including safer cities, spiritual crime prevention, departmental senior management, and eThekwini district departmental officials, among others. The premier, who is the Executive Authority for the Department of Community Safety and Liaison, said there had been an escalation of GBV incidents in Ugu and eThekwini districts in January. As a result, he directed the Department of Community Safety and…

After an extended respite from the chaos of rolling blackouts, South Africans are once again faced with the grim reality of stage 3 load shedding. What was once an unwelcome but familiar routine had seemingly been a thing of the past for over 10 months, allowing citizens to breathe a sigh of relief as they enjoyed uninterrupted electricity supply. This recent decision to reinstate blackouts not only disrupts lives, but also shrouds Eskom's intentions in mystery and raises urgent questions about the power utility's accountability. While Eskom announced that load shedding was suspended at 6am yesterday, the public deserves an in-depth explanation from Eskom regarding the circumstances that precipitated this regression. One cannot help but notice a troubling coincidence: the re-emergence of load shedding followed closely after the National Energy…

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will begin talks on a second phase to the Gaza ceasefire in Washington today, his office said hours after the completion of the fourth hostage-prisoner exchange of the truce. Netanyahu spoke with the US President’s Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff at the weekend and agreed that negotiations would “begin when they meet in Washington”. A date for formal talks involving mediators and delegations from Hamas and Israel has not been set, with the 42-day first phase due to end next month. Netanyahu’s office said Witkoff would talk to Qatar and Egypt, key mediators, before discussing with the Israeli premier “steps to advance the negotiations, including dates for delegations to leave for talks”. The second phase is expected to cover the release of the remaining captives…

Mathias Azonnoudo, a 50-year-old farmer in Benin, was sitting on a large pile of freshly picked cotton, which the government hopes will feed the country’s nascent textile revolution. Azonnoudo and other farmers in the West African country have benefited from a recent uptick in demand for cotton, with the government seeking to launch a “Made in Benin” clothing industry. “I feel like the government has found business leaders that want more, so they are encouraging farmers to produce more,” said Azonnoudo, who has been growing cotton for the past 16 years. Benin has long vied with Mali for the title of Africa’s largest cotton producer, exporting mostly raw fibres for processing abroad to countries like Bangladesh or China, the world’s largest garment exporters. But it now wants to process more…

WINDHOEK: Chinese workers and their local counterparts with Zhong Mei Engineering Group, the Chinese company that had contracted to construct the Phase 2B project of a freeway connecting Windhoek, the Namibian capital, to Hosea Kutako International Airport to the east of Windhoek, at the weekend celebrated the Chinese Spring Festival with style. The Chinese Spring Festival, marking the start of the new year on the lunar Chinese calendar, is the most important cultural holiday for people of Chinese origin. It fell on January 29 this year. Zhong Mei Engineering Group is involved in various rehabilitation works and is often highlighted as a key player in upgrading Namibia’s road networks. Project manager Tu Jinsheng said that due to project schedule requirements, the team continued construction without any suspension during the holiday…

Riyadh: Syria’s interim president Ahmed al-Sharaa arrived in Saudi Arabia yesterday for his first international visit since the toppling of Bashar al-Assad, state media reported. Accompanied by his foreign minister Asaad al-Shaibani, Sharaa was greeted by Saudi officials as he disembarked, images from state television outlet Al-Ekhbariya showed. The broadcaster said Sharaa was expected to meet with de facto Saudi ruler Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, but did not specify when. Syrian state news agency Sana also reported the pair would meet with Prince Mohammed in Riyadh, without providing further details. The Syrian presidency had earlier posted a picture on X of Sharaa and Shaibani aboard what appeared to be a private jet on their way to Saudi Arabia, calling it a “first official visit”. | AFP…

Open doors for others (literally and figuratively). Inspire others to heroic actions (small and large) rather than seek to be regarded as a hero yourself. Offer “with-ness” as a free gift underscoring that those who are suffering are not alone, those who are abandoned or in pain have someone to listen, and those who grieve have a place of safety and comfort. Listen more than you speak and listen without waiting to speak. Desire de-escalation in times of stress and conflict rather than ratcheting things up until unwanted or unconsidered extremes are forced. Be quick to thank others for favours and kindness, acknowledge error when at fault, request forgiveness when mistakes are made, offer forgiveness where and when necessary, and move on in quiet humility. Acknowledge individuals, learn names, look…

Eskom has confirmed, devastatingly, that Stage 3 load shedding will be implemented – less than a week before the president’s State of the Nation Address (Sona). This also comes just a day after Nersa (National Energy Regulator of South Africa) announced a cumulative electricity tariff increase of 16.7%, forcing South Africans to pay even more for a service that Eskom is failing to provide. This is yet another devastating blow to South Africans who endure power cuts despite years of promises that the crisis will be resolved. The DA stands with you. The DA has been clear: the time for half-measures is over. Tariff increases and quick fixes will not solve this crisis – only bold, structural reform will. The government must act immediately to: Recover the billions in municipal…

There have been mixed reactions from ratepayers following the National Energy Regulator of South Africa (Nersa) approving a 12.7% increase in electricity tariffs for the 2025/2026 financial year. A day after the announcement on Thursday, Eskom implemented stage 3 load shedding after it said it had encountered several breakdowns over the past week, necessitating extended repair times and the full use of its emergency reserves. The move came as a surprise after more than 300 days without load shedding. Eskom said yesterday that it had suspended the power cuts at 6am as it had since replenished emergency reserves, with dam levels fully replenished and open-cycle gas turbines adequately recovered, ensuring a stable supply. Explaining its decision, Nersa chairperson Thembani Bukula said that for the 2025/26 financial year, the energy regulator…

Four police officers accused of aiding the escape of alleged illegal mining kingpin James Neo Tshoaeli, also known as “Tiger”, in Stilfontein are waiting to be told their fate. They face suspension and further disciplinary action. This was disclosed by National Police Commissioner Fanie Masemola in Pretoria yesterday, when he gave an update on successes registered by the SAPS during #SaferFestiveSeason operations. The four officers were arrested during Operation Vala Umgodi by the SAPS anti-corruption unit in the North West. They appeared before the Stilfontein Magistrate’s Court on Friday and were granted bail of R1 000 each. They are scheduled to return to court on March 5. A search is under way for Tshoaeli. Masemola said North West police commissioner Lieutenant General Sello Kwena had put together a team of…

THE EFF has put its recent internal upheavals behind it and is looking forward to rebuilding its structures and reconnecting with the people this year as well as fighting the Government of National Unity (GNU). EFF leader Julius Malema said this while addressing the party’s first plenum, which started in Limpopo on Friday. He described the recently promulgated Expropriation Act, which created ructions in the GNU last week, as a cosmetic measure to address the land question. Malema said the Act did not fully address the need for expropriation of land without compensation, and that the question of custodianship must be defended in response to those who opposed even slight steps to return the land to the rightful owners. As a result, he said the EFF would return to its…

As Valentine’s Day approaches, the digital landscape reveals a more sinister side of online connection. The rise of catfishing, the practice of creating an entirely fabricated online persona in order to lure someone into a false relationship, has emerged as a sophisticated form of manipulation that preys on human vulnerabilities and technological naivety. With nearly 5 billion social media users globally, the web has become a hunting ground for people seeking to create false identities. Julie Noizeux Inder, channel manager for South Africa at Fortinet, cautioned that catfishing is far more than just a harmless online prank. “What might start as a simple online prank can quickly escalate into a deeply manipulative experience that exploits human emotions,” Inder said. The motivations behind catfishing are as complex as they are troubling.…

WHETHER it is in the UK, EU or South Africa, governments around the world are scrambling to find the right policies for boosting GDP growth, currently the mother of all macroeconomic metrics to which governments across the political and ideological spectrum seem to aspire to. It is turning the world of traditional right- and left-wing politics upside down, to the extent that Rachel Reeves, the UK Labour Chancellor of the Exchequer, traditionally of a democratic socialist ilk, has embraced growing the economy as a priority seemingly at any cost with a messianic fervour, destroying hitherto sacrosanct policies such as universal winter fuel payments to pensioners, which are now subject to means testing, and adopting measures more akin to creeping austerity, which would have been anathema to her predecessors. With…

THE Democratic Republic of Congo’s foreign minister Therese Kayikwamba Wagner has urged soccer clubs Arsenal, Bayern Munich and Paris St Germain to end their “blood-stained” sponsorship agreements with “Visit Rwanda” following the worsening humanitarian crisis in the country. The DR Congo health ministry said at the weekend there were almost 800 bodies in hospital morgues around Goma following the offensive by Rwanda-backed M23 rebels to seize east Congo’s largest city, home to lucrative gold, coltan and tin mines. The latest escalation has worsened a long-standing humanitarian crisis that has driven hundreds of thousands to seek shelter in Goma after fleeing fighting between M23 and Congolese troops. The fighting has led to human rights violations including summary executions, the bombing of displacement camps, reports of gang rape and other sexual violence,…

Britian’s King Charles III is to feature in a new Amazon documentary, in which he is expected to highlight his environmental charity work and “philosophy of harmony”, the Press Association reported at the weekend. A source from the “The King’s Foundation” said the monarch’s charity was “looking forward to working with Amazon on a one-off documentary to showcase His Majesty’s philosophy of harmony, and the work it has in turn inspired around the world to build sustainable communities. | AFP…

ISLAMABAD: Gunmen killed four members of the Pakistani security forces and their driver in an attack in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, police said yesterday. Their vehicle was “targeted by armed militants” and caught fire during the shoot-out at the weekend. No one has claimed responsibility for the attack yet. Jihadist and separatist groups regularly target the army and police along the mountainous border with Afghanistan. The latest attack came after separatist militants killed 18 paramilitaries in an ambush in volatile southwest Balochistan province overnight at the weekend. The ambush was claimed by the Baloch Liberation Army, which has frequently carried out deadly attacks on security forces or Pakistanis from other provinces. | AFP…

Pregnancy is a life-changing journey, not just for the mother but also for the tiny human growing inside her. It’s a time when the body goes through incredible physical and hormonal transformations to support the baby’s development and to prepare for breastfeeding. Yet, what many mothers may not realise is how much their diet directly impacts their baby’s health - not just during pregnancy but far into the future. With Pregnancy Awareness Week, which runs from today until Friday, shining a spotlight on maternal health, it’s the perfect time to explore how proper nutrition during pregnancy can lead to healthier outcomes for both mother and child. Why nutrition matters during pregnancy What moms-to-be eat is not just about satisfying cravings or staying full; it’s about providing the essential nutrients that…

Besides his scorching pace revoking and reversing Biden’s globalism, DEI (diversity, equity and inclusion) and wokeism while initiating new directives, President Trump has indicated that foreign issues like Greenland, Panama, Canada and Brics are also high up on his agenda. In December he warned Brics nations against replacing the US dollar with a Brics currency and promised to impose 100% tariff charges if that happened, adding that they could also “expect to say good-bye to selling into the US economy”. The key to Trump’s success is his ability to lever commitment in negotiation. An example of this is his request to Saudi Arabia to pump more oil so as to drive down the price. Reduced oil revenues will hobble Iran’s financing of terrorism while weakening Russia’s economy and make Putin…

In response to the letter by C Vorster from Scottburgh, “Trump and prayer won’t undo damage”: Firstly, to expect any human generation to reverse climate change is like asking a grasshopper to save us from a tsunami! Yet still, writers such as Vorster keep repeating the same claims as T Markandan regarding the planet and global warming. Just because Antonio Guterres (UN Secretary-General), Klaus Schwab (World Economic Forum chairperson) and (climate activist) Greta Thunberg keep repeating their climate alarmism tactics, doesn’t mean we have to buy into anything they say! The Earth will keep doing what it needs to do to adapt to the current pressures placed on it from within its own atmosphere and orbit, as well as from outer space sources such as the sun and other planets.…

THE ANC believes it has turned the corner and is on an upward trajectory after suffering heavy losses in the May 29 elections. This was the sentiment expressed by the party’s First Deputy Secretary-General Nomvula Mokonyane following a massive show of support during its rally in Pietermaritzburg yesterday. Thousands of people turned up at the Caluza Stadium as the party celebrated its January 8 birthday. Party leaders estimated that about 25 000 people were in and outside the stadium attending the celebrations. This, combined with the party’s success in recent by-elections, has led ANC leaders to assert that the party has turned the corner from the disappointing national general elections where it lost control of the country and suffered catastrophic electoral losses in KwaZulu-Natal with the uMkhonto weSizwe Party (MKP)…

Gauteng Economic Development MEC Lebogang Maile has revealed that the province has conducted 7 802 inspections of spaza shops with 1 444 shops having been found to be non-compliant with regulations. Maile also confirmed the extension of the deadline of spaza shop registrations to February 28, saying some municipalities are yet to develop electronic registration systems. “As of today, 2 179 applications have been received for the City of Johannesburg with 593 of these being from foreign nationals. The number of applications approved whereby the owner of the shop is a foreign national is eight,” he said yesterday. “In the Sedibeng District Municipality, which comprises the Midvaal, Emfuleni and Lesedi municipalities, 2 688 applications have been received with 1 260 of these being from foreign nationals. A total of 28…

The South African Social Security Agency (Sassa) has announced the payment dates for social grant recipients in February. Sassa, an entity of the Department of Social Development, announced the dates in a post on X (formerly Twitter): Older Person’s Grants, including grants linked to these accounts, will be paid from tomorrow. Disability Grants, including grants linked to these accounts, will be paid from Wednesday. Children’s Grants will be paid from Thursday. Sassa advised grant recipients to avoid rushing to withdraw cash on the first day, as the funds will remain in their accounts until needed. Meanwhile it was recently revealed that the Ithala SOC Limited (bank) accounts of 65 000 social assistance beneficiaries were frozen. This comes after the application by the Prudential Authority of the South African Reserve Bank…

The snow fell steadily over Davos, blanketing the town in an icy stillness, while inside the halls of the World Economic Forum (WEF), the world’s foremost leaders engaged in critical discussions shaping the future of business, governance, and sustainability. Among them was Dr Iqbal Survé, Chairman of Sekunjalo and founding Chairperson of the BRICS Business Council, a seasoned voice in global economic dialogue and a long-standing advocate for Africa’s position in the evolving world order. At Africa House, a key platform within WEF that champions the continent’s role in global affairs, Dr Survé participated in discussions that reinforced the increasing need for Africa to harness technology, data sovereignty, and AI-driven transformation. He highlighted that Africa is not just a participant in the global economy but a contributor to innovation and…

Investors are bracing for a looming hit to US corporate profits and pressure on inflation after President Donald Trump at the weekend signed an executive order imposing tariffs on its largest trading partners, with markets seen as not having fully factored in risks from higher levies on foreign imports. The president’s executive order imposes a 25% tariff on goods entering the country from Mexico and Canada and 10% on imports from China, with what the White House described as “tentative plans” for these to come into effect tomorrow at 12:01am. Trump said nothing could be done by the three countries to forestall the tariffs, although he did raise the prospect of exempting oil from Canada. The tariffs include a 10% levy on all Canadian energy supplies imported by the US.…

BERLIN: Horst Koehler, former German president from 2004 to 2010 and a respected global policymaker with a particular interest in Africa, died at the weekend after a short illness at the age of 81, the federal presidential office said. Born in 1943 in Poland, Koehler spent most of his early years living in refugee camps with his family before settling in Ludwigsburg, Baden-Wuerttemberg. A trained economist, Koehler rose to the position of deputy finance minister under ex-Chancellor Helmut Kohl. | Reuters…

KUALA LUMPUR: Flooding in Malaysia’s northern Borneo states of Sarawak and Sabah worsened yesterday with over 13 000 people displaced, according to local authorities. In Sarawak, 11 840 evacuees were housed in 63 flood relief centres, while Sabah reported 1 453 evacuees as of 4pm local time, according to the country’s social welfare department. Meanwhile, Deputy Prime Minister Fadillah Yusof urged those affected to register their names to receive aid. He said that tackling the disaster this time was challenging, especially the floods in Bintulu district, due to logistical difficulties and limited personnel. The meteorological department has issued warnings of continuous heavy rain until at least tomorrow, particularly in several districts in Sarawak. | Xinhua…