Innehållsförteckning för 2025-03-28 från Mercury

Caring for others is an art. Be it as informal as helping a friend out through a time of grief or illness or as formal as being a paid care-giver, when the art is perfected, it enhances and empowers both parties and robs none. Helpful care – not all “care” is care or helpful – requires planning, skillful beginnings, and open discussions about how to know when the season of informal or formal care can end. Caring too much, over-functioning, being constantly aware and anxious, when caring depletes the care-giver, may indicate confusion as to who is caring for whom and we can legitimately ask, “Who is this really for?” It gets murky when the carer takes on responsibilities that are not his or her own or when the…

THE launch of the multi-billion-rand Westown Square development in Shongweni, west of Durban, has served as confirmation that Durban’s reputation as a fertile ground for private sector investment is on an upward trajectory. This view was expressed by business and political leaders after the launch of the first phase of this historic development. Fundamentum Property, the developers behind this project, are optimistic about the Durban economy, to the extent that they are planning another multi-billion-rand development in Cornubia. Carlos Correia, developer and CEO of Fundamentum Property, said further details about the new project will be shared in the coming months. The company launched the “city centre”, which will serve as the anchor for other developments, including a hotel, housing, and a hospital. The first phase represents an investment of R1.5…

With the February 2025 consumer inflation rate unchanged at 3.2% – below market expectations – the Monetary Policy Committee’s decision not to reduce the repo rate was disappointing for existing mortgage holders and aspirant home buyers. This means that the SA Reserve Bank repo rate remains 7.5%, while the prime lending rate stays at 11.0%. While economists were divided ahead of the MPC decision, some argued that given the sluggish state of the local economy, real (inflation-adjusted) interest rates are too high, suggesting scope for further interest rate relief. Those analysts who predicted no cut at today’s MPC meeting were generally forecasting further interest rate reductions later in the year when – it is hoped – there is more global economic certainty, and as long as inflation remains contained. Meanwhile,…

THE National End Gender Based Violence and Femicide (GBVF) dashboard has been hailed as a groundbreaking public accountability tool to track South Africa’s progress in ending GBVF. This is according to Sindisiwe Chikunga, Minister in the Presidency for Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities. Chikunga was speaking at the launch of the Roots to Rise: A Movement to End GBVF, in Johannesburg this week. Explaining the use of the dashboard, Chikunga said it will centralise real-time data on service delivery, prevention efforts, and justice outcomes. “This will allow us to identify patterns, gaps, and progress with clarity. It will also enable us to track implementation, offering a bird’s-eye view of how our country is responding. “With this dashboard, we will be able to monitor institutional readiness and hold ourselves accountable…

The Democratic Republic of Congo is working towards a “safe, co-ordinated” exit of troops deployed by the South African Development Community (SADC) to its volatile east, the country’s foreign minister said yesterday. The SADC pulled the plug on the mission this month after a string of losses and announced a phased withdrawal from the area where the M23 armed group has made major advances. “The decision of SADC was totally a legitimate one and we fully respect it,” said DRC Foreign Minister Therese Kayikwamba Wagner during a visit to South Africa. She said her government was aware of the “extremely difficult conditions”. South Africa contributed the bulk of the troops to the SADC mission, which also included deployments from Malawi and Tanzania. Defence officials have refused to say how many…

CHINA has emerged as a global leader in scientific and technological innovation, with significant advancements in artificial intelligence (AI), robotics, and machine learning. The country’s rapid expansion in these fields is driven by extensive government investments, a thriving start-up ecosystem, and the integration of AI and automation across various industries. China’s AI market is growing rapidly, with its potential worth estimated at $600 billion (R10.9 trillion) within the next decade. China's artificial intelligence industry, valued at over $70 billion, thrives within a rapidly expanding ecosystem of more than 4 300 companies. This dynamic environment showcases how strategic alignment, technological innovation, and ecosystem development can drive AI’s transformative impact on a national scale. Chinese AI innovations span several fields, including machine learning, neural networks, and natural language processing. Leading tech giants…

ADDIS ABABA: Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, pictured, has called for public input in choosing a new head of Tigray’s Transitional Government (TG). This comes amid an unstable political situation in the Tigray region and rumours concerning Getachew Reda’s potential resignation from his position as head of the transitional government. Abiy called on residents of Tigray state to participate in the selection of a candidate. In a message delivered in the Tigrinya language, he announced that the two-year term of Tigray’s current TG has expired.…

Sudan’s gold industry has become the lifeblood of its war, with nearly all of the trade channelled through the United Arab Emirates (UAE), enriching the army and paramilitaries, according to official and NGO sources. The two-year conflict has decimated Sudan’s economy, yet last month the army-backed government announced record gold production last year. Demand for the country’s vast gold reserves was “a key factor in prolonging the war,” Sudanese economist Abdelazim al-Amawy said. “To solve the war in Sudan, we have to follow the gold, and we arrive at the UAE,” said Marc Ummel, a researcher with the development organisation Swissaid who tracks African gold smuggling to the Gulf country. In a statement to AFP, a UAE official rejected “any baseless and unfounded allegation regarding the smuggling or profiting of…

Hanoi: Police in Vietnam busted the country’s biggest synthetic drug factory, seizing 1.4 tons of ketamine in the coastal tourist city of Nha Trang, the government said. A six-month operation to uncover the drug ring culminated on Saturday when 200 officers raided three linked facilities and arrested 11 people, including a Taiwanese national who was the alleged mastermind. “This is the largest synthetic drug manufacturing facility ever dismantled in Vietnam,” said Nguyen Van Vien, the director of the department of drug-related crime investigation, according to a statement published on the government’s official news portal on Wednesday.…

GET ready to fish this weekend – the action is off the charts! Offshore fishing has been a wild ride, with bottom fishing keeping things steady when the gamefish go quiet, and then pure CHAOS when those drags start SCREAMING. North Coast: From Umdloti to Sodwana, it’s been HOT! The inshore reefs are delivering MASSIVE couta and snoek, mostly on live bait. Here’s the SECRET: Down rig your live bait – one close to the bottom, one higher in the water column. Start fishing higher, and work your way deeper as the day goes on. Keep those live baits tight and be READY for the BIG HITS! Bottom fishing’s been a bit slow, but there’ve still been some nice reds and daga in the mix. Durban Section: KZN has been…

THE setting is New Zealand’s Parliament in Wellington. Tourists and other visitors are milling about in a basement corridor when a veiled woman bursts screaming from an elevator. Their guide, wearing a trailing white gown, smiles sweetly. “You’re welcome to take the elevator,” she says. Nobody does. Mysterious, unexplained noises and late-night apparitions are not the usual fodder of daily tours offered at the parliament buildings in Wellington. But, according to Associated Press, after hours on Thursdays, guides dress in Victorian-era garb to regale visitors with the precinct’s less savoury history – “mostly factual” tales of real-world tragedy and paranormal lore that have grown established among political staffers through decades of colourful retelling. The history of parliament’s stately gothic library is particularly rich in woe. Constructed in the late 19th…

The Airports Company South Africa (Acsa) acknowledges the recent media coverage and concerns raised by porters at OR Tambo International Airport as reported in the article published by IOL. While we respect the right of porters to express their grievances, Acsa strongly rejects the mischaracterisation of our role and the implications of “harassment,” “victimisation,” and “exploitation” in the article. Firstly, Acsa would like to clarify that the porters working at the airport are not company employees. Instead, they are permitted to operate within the airport premises and primarily earn income through gratuities (tips) from passengers. Acsa is not involved in the hiring, compensation, or organisational structure of the porters. Therefore, claims suggesting that Acsa has direct control over their financial or employment arrangements are inaccurate. Regarding the specific concerns raised…

THE gambling crisis in the country has drawn the attention of political parties and legislators, who are calling for stronger regulation, improved protections for vulnerable groups, and accountability from the gambling industry. With the sharp rise in online gambling, particularly among low-income communities, parties such as Rise Mzansi and the DA are urging swift legislative action. Makashule Gana of Rise Mzansi described the situation as dire, warning that many South Africans, especially social grant recipients, are gambling away essential income. “It is a huge concern to us that many people, especially poor people relying on social grants, are gambling at the rate they are. Many people gamble money they should be using to buy essentials,” said Gana. He accused the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition (dtic) of failing to…

MPs this week voiced significant concerns regarding the potential liquidation of Ithala Bank, an institution regarded as a crucial facilitator of socio-economic development in KwaZulu-Natal. The debate, which was held in the National Council of Provinces (NCOP), highlighted fears that the bank’s closure could exacerbate the financial exclusion of disadvantaged communities. Ithala Bank, which has long operated under regulatory exemptions, is facing possible liquidation following an application from the South African Reserve Bank’s (SARB) Prudential Authority, citing persistent failures to meet essential banking licensing requirements. IFP MP and NCOP deputy chairperson Poobalan Govender said: “If we allow its (Ithala Bank’s) closure we risk plunging many into deeper poverty and reversing hard worn gains in socio-economic transformation and leaving millions of people without crucial financial support to sustain businesses and livelihoods,”…

The eThekwini Municipality has said Mitchell Park and its zoo in Morningside will be temporarily closed to undergo repair work from April 1. It said while internal resources will be used to fund the repairs, revamp work for fencing, paving, and the play area has been sponsored. This decision follows concerns raised about the state of the park and the welfare of the animals in the zoo. The municipality stated that the park, which is over 100 years old, sustained significant damage during the recent floods. “Public safety concerns, including unsafe playground equipment, necessitated the closure. This was exacerbated by the flood damage,” the municipality said. A contractor will commence revamping the park’s fencing, including the zoo, in April, it said. The City said the zoo has 328 birds from…

Deputy President Paul Mashatile said yesterday that the Expropriation Act is going to help the government to fast-track land reform and settle outstanding land claims. Mashatile also said the Expropriation Act will ensure that those previously denied access to land and who had land taken away from them have access to land in a legal manner. “This law is going to help us to ensure that we fast-track land reform, but we do it within the parameters of the constitution and the rule of law,” he said when asked a question in the National Council of Provinces. ANC MP Mapule Dhlamini asked if the government has set a time frame for settling all claims. Mashatile said the finalisation of outstanding land claims remained one of the key priorities of the…

We should all know by now that we shouldn’t get too carried away when Bafana Bafana are doing well. Just when fans started talking about booking flights to the US, Canada and Mexico for the 2026 Fifa World Cup, trouble started brewing. Bafana had just dispatched Lesotho 2-0 in Polokwane last Friday, looking every bit like a team who deserved to qualify for the showpiece event. But as Mzansi’s attention turned to the next game against Benin in the Ivory Coast on Tuesday, there were reports that South Africa could lose the three log points from the Lesotho game. Star midfielder Teboho Mokoena had received two yellow cards in previous qualifiers, so he should've been suspended for the Lesotho encounter. Instead, he still featured in Polokwane, with no-one from the…

The civil war in Sudan, which began in April 2023, has become one of the most devastating conflicts in recent times. Despite the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) reclaiming the presidential palace in the capital Khartoum at the weekend, the conflict continues without any resolution. The recent escalation in Omdurman with Rapid Support Forces (RSF) shelling resulting in civilian casualties, emphasises this ongoing violence. The underlying causes of the conflict remain unaddressed, perpetuating a cycle of violence that neither side appears capable of definitively ending. Although the SAF’s recapture of key state institutions, such as the presidential palace, represent symbolic victories, it is unlikely to advance the cause of peace significantly. The Rapid Support Forces (RSF) maintain control over substantial areas of Sudan, including parts of Khartoum and Darfur, and…

France’s foreign minister Jean-Noel Barrot called for a “powerful Franco- Chinese partnership” in the face of geopolitical crises as he met his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi yesterday. Paris expects the talks will focus on a resolution to Russia’s war in Ukraine as well as the Middle East conflict and trade tensions between China and the EU. Barrot said that “the pace of crises was accelerating and escalating every- where”. “Our two countries must therefore work together to foster... dialogue.” Wang, in turn, warned that “the international situation has changed again, and it will be even more chaotic”. He urged the two countries to “adhere to multilateralism” and “work together for world peace and development”.…

tokyo: Brazil’s President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva said US President Donald Trump risked damaging the US economy with additional tariffs and vowed to lodge a complaint with the World Trade Organization over a trade levy on Brazilian steel. “It will raise the prices of goods and could lead to inflation that he hasn’t yet realised. Protectionism doesn’t help any country in the world,” Lula said yesterday in Tokyo. On Wednesday, Trump unveiled a 25% tariff on imported cars and light trucks starting next week, widening the global trade war he began after becoming president in January. On March 12, his administration also imposed a 25% tariff on all steel and aluminum from Brazil, the second-largest exporter to the American market after Canada. The Brazilian government has so far failed…

Cairo: Six people died yesterday when a tourist submarine carrying dozens of Russian visitors sank off Egypt’s Red Sea coast near a resort town. Egyptian state media put the toll at six, while Russian state news agencies quoted General Consul Viktor Voropaev as saying that five people were confirmed dead, two of them minors. Russia’s consulate in Hurghada said the vessel was carrying “45 tourists, including minors” on an underwater excursion to observe coral reefs when it “crashed one kilometre from the shore” at about 10am. “According to initial data, most of those on board were rescued and taken to their hotels and hospitals in Hurghada,” the consulate said. The website of Egypt’s state-owned Akhbar Al-Youm newspaper gave the toll of six dead and said 29 people were rescued, nine…

The perpetual comedy of hilarious, hair-raising errors began well before Shakespearian times and continue to this day… The US Democrats, under President Joe Biden, messed up in so many areas during their time in power – policies regarding unemployment, homelessness, health and security. Their shenanigans regarding drug lords – local and foreign, the war between Ukraine and Russia, fuelling the engine of Israel’s genocidal mission against Gaza, and their hopeless handling of nearly everything else effectively lost them power. Step in the Republicans who, as per their promises, are now stopping all the leaks in the system but going about it so furiously and unthinkingly that lots of mistakes are predictably occurring. Opposition parties (aka the “dead Democrats”) now have to promptly respond and would love to shout: “Blerry nincompoops!…

Namibia reaffirmed its significant contribution to Africa’s history by inaugurating the country’s first woman President, Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah. This followed the victory of the South West African People’s Organisation (Swapo) in Namibia’s November 2024 elections. Swapo was re-elected with a decisive majority, reflecting continued confidence from the people in its history of liberation struggle and its leadership of the country. The people of Namibia have set an important example, not only for Southern Africa but for the entire continent. The SACP congratulates Swapo and the people of Namibia on this continued electoral victory. Swapo secured 58% of the vote despite concerted efforts by Western imperialist forces to undermine its success. The challenge now for the Namibian people – like all those committed to the continuation of the African Revolution in Southern…

The eThekwini Municipality and the Presidential eThekwini Working Group say they are making progress to tackle water and electricity infrastructure challenges that have an impact on businesses operating in the city. This was revealed at the Southern Area Business Forum meeting at Toyota SA Motors in Isipingo yesterday. Lindokuhle Mkhize, deputy head: Continuous Auditing and Capital Programmes at the municipality, said the City is working on several interventions. “We understand that things like water shortages, sewage and electricity have had an impact on business productivity and efficiency in the south Durban area. We do, however, acknowledge that there have been some unforeseen events such as heavy rains causing flooding.” Speaking on the Prospecton Road Canal project, Mkhize said the 2022 rains had a severe impact on the canal, resulting in…

The National Council of SPCAs (NSPCA) were forced to put down a tiger at a breeding facility in Klerksdorp in the North West. The NSPCA inspectors had visited the facility after receiving reports of a tiger that had sustained severe injuries in an attack by another tiger. Upon returning to the facility to check if the injured animal had received veterinary care, inspectors were confronted with a scene of what they described as “unimaginable suffering”. “The wounded tiger had gnawed, licked, and scratched at her front paws to the extent that she had exposed her bones and tendons,” said the NSPCA spokesperson Jacques Peacock. According to inspectors, the tiger was barely moving and struggled to reach food placed nearby. After determining that the animal’s condition had deteriorated due to lack…

President Cyril Ramaphosa has condemned the intentional destruction of water infrastructure by companies hired to supply water during shortages, stating that “this must stop.” Ramaphosa stressed that the roaming water tankers were meant to be an intervention in the absence of water and not to be treated as an ongoing business opportunity. He condemned “water mafias” who are believed to be company owners or linked to the companies that supply water tankers that sabotage infrastructure so they can gain control of the supply. “They send the henchmen to go and cut the water lines and make sure that there is failure by the local authorities to deliver water, leading to the alternative of relying on them because they make money out of transporting water,” he said. His remarks come after…

Beirut: Lebanon’s cabinet named asset manager Karim Souaid as central bank governor yesterday, official media reported. Souaid appointment is crucial to implementing economic reforms demanded by the international community. He was appointed despite reservations of new reformist prime minister Nawaf Salam, who called on Souaid to commit to the government’s reform agenda in a country enduring a five-year economic collapse blamed on official mismanagement. Souaid takes over after embattled former chief Riad Salameh’s term expired in July 2023 with no designated successor.…

The US has called on South Sudan President Salva Kiir to release his rival First Vice President Riek Machar who was reportedly under house arrest, saying it was time the country’s leaders demonstrated their commitment to peace. Machar’s SPLM-IO party said on Wednesday that the defence minister and chief of national security “forcefully entered” Machar’s residence and delivered an arrest warrant. Machar was being held at his house with his wife and two bodyguards, accused of being implicated in fighting between the military and White Army in Nasir, Upper Nile State this month, Reath Muoch Tang, a senior SPLM-IO official said in a statement yesterday. “We are concerned by reports South Sudan’s First Vice President Machar is under house arrest,” Washington’s Bureau of African Affairs wrote on X. “We urge…

SEOUL: South Korea’s auto sector is expected to face “considerable difficulties” when US import tariffs on cars announced by President Donald Trump take effect next month and the government plans an emergency response, the industry minister said. The government will engage the US to explore measures to minimise the negative impact on the country’s auto companies and suppliers, Industry Minister Ahn Duk-geun told industry officials yesterday. Parts suppliers are expected to be hit particularly hard, he said. Trump unveiled a 25% tariff on imported vehicles, prompting criticism and threats of retaliation from countries affected by the move.…

Golden Arrows are gearing up to complete an impressive league double over Kaizer Chiefs as they prepare to host the Soweto giants at Moses Mabhida Stadium tomorrow at 3.30pm. Abafana Bes’thende, fresh from their earlier triumphs over Chiefs, will be looking to replicate their 2021/22 feat, where they secured back-to-back wins in the league. Under the tactical leadership of coaches Vusumuzi Vilakazi and Mabhuti Khenyeza, Golden Arrows pulled off a stunning 1-0 victory at FNB Stadium in the first round before completing the job with a dramatic 2-1 comeback at their home ground in KwaMashu. In their previous encounter back in January, Arrows managed to edge past Chiefs with a 1-0 win, thanks to a crucial goal from Gladwin Shitolo. This time around, Arrows are brimming with confidence and eager…

Kaizer Chiefs midfielder Thabo Cele believes the time for words is over. With the Amakhosi struggling for consistency this season, he insists that the only way to get back on track is by showing their response on the pitch, not by talking about it. After suffering a 2-0 defeat to Richards Bay in their last match before the Fifa break, Cele and the team are looking to make a real impact in their next games, starting with a clash against Golden Arrows at Moses Mabhida Stadium on Saturday (3.30pm kick-off). “Fans don’t need to hear more talk from us. What they need now is to see a reaction on the field,” Cele said. “In moments like this (Fifa break), the best way to show we care is by putting in…