Tabla de contenidos para 2023-01-16 en Mercury

Increase to pay for utility’s debt, huge wage bill, defaulting municipalities South Africa’s energy crisis has deepened further as public anger grows over lack of power supply amid rising electricity costs for consumers, business and industry. This comes after Eskom was given the green light to hike electricity tariffs by a cumulative 31.4% over the next two consecutive years, beginning on April 1, in spite of the worst ongoing power cuts to date. The National Energy Regulator of South Africa (Nersa) last week granted Eskom a 18.65% electricity tariff increase for the 2023/24 financial year and 12.74% for the 2024/2025 financial year, in a bid to recoup an allowable revenue of more than R318 billion and R352bn for both years, respectively. Nersa said its decision reconsidered capital-related costs for…

THE Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) has issued a massive GHS8.2 billion (about R13bn) assessment including a penalty and interest, on Scancom (MTN Ghana), which the telecoms group has “strongly” disputed. MTN Group – has 285 million subscribers in Africa and the Middle East – and said a third party review of the assessment did not support the GRA’s assessment. MTN Ghana is one of the biggest taxpayers in that country. MTN is not a stranger to hefty fines in Africa, having agreed in 2020 to pay a $53m (R890m) fine to Nigerian authorities who were reportedly unfairly shaking down foreign companies at the time because the country’s oil-reliant economy was ailing due to the falling oil price. MTN also received an initial fine of $5.2bn – later reduced to…

One-quarter of the world’s greenhouse gas emissions result from food and agriculture. The energy in food production can be broken down into four parts: agriculture, transportation, processing, and handling. Electricity is a key agricultural input. According to Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development statistics, agriculture spent about R9 billion on electricity in 2021. This is more than 7% of the sector’s expenditure on intermediate goods and services. A reliable power supply is especially critical for the sector’s irrigation and water treatment. Food production finds itself in a perfect storm. The Ukrainian war has directly led to energy shortages with sanctions imposed by the US and all Nato-affiliated countries importing gas and oil from Russia. On top of that came the initial blockage of Ukraine’s grain export port…

A MAN shot dead an off-duty Durban constable at the weekend in Springfield, after the officer questioned him about a firearm in his possession. Constable Lindokuhle Goba, 41, of the Durban Dog Unit, was travelling in his vehicle in Quarry Road East when the incident occurred. According to an incident report, which The Mercury has seen, the officer, who was travelling with a passenger, saw four men coming out of a shisanyama and one of them was armed. Goba questioned the man about the firearm and the man opened fire on him. He returned fire but was killed. The passenger in the vehicle was injured, while the four men fled the scene, the report said. Another serious crime report, which The Mercury has seen, said a witness reported that…

“I want to be happy,” is often the reason offered when people seek therapy. Some insert a “just” after “I”, adding a twinge of frustration, even desperation. Some clients apparently think most others on the planet are happy and he or she has been dealt an unfair hand. These clients often think happiness is deserved, a right, and the therapist has to do the work to make sure it happens. I try to make the following clear about happiness and would enjoy hearing readers’ further insights: Happiness is a by-product, not an end in itself. Happiness is the result of serving others, finding, investing in an interest greater than oneself. Happiness “hunts” to find no one and is “owed” to none. If you are going to be happy, at least…

It is unacceptable that the world is watching the escalating, gruesome political violence in Zimbabwe without intervening or condemning the beleaguered president of Zimbabwe. Men and women were assaulted and interrogated in Bhunu village in the rural area of Murehwa. The group were attending a political gathering for Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) when they were kicked and beaten, allegedly by Zanu-PF members. A bus carrying 80 citizens mobilised by the CCC from Caledonia, Epworth, to the registration centre was barricaded by Zanu-PF members who allegedly assaulted two people. Armed police have allegedly beaten the wife and daughter of Honourable Machingauta (CCC) and Honourable Chibaya and 24 CCC members were arrested while at the home of Honourable Machingauta. An advocate, who is one of the legal team who had come…

A man who turned to court to stop paying his former wife maintenance as he claimed she made up to R153 000 a month working as an escort has lost his legal bid. The man, only identified as “Mr VW” in a judgment issued by the Gauteng High Court, Johannesburg, argued that the woman was now able to financially look after herself based on findings by a private investigator and internet advertisements where she had offered her services. While it was not in dispute that the woman was an escort, she denied making that much money. According to her, she only makes “a few thousand” a month. The court earlier suspended the maintenance payment following an application in this regard by the husband. This was pending the former wife submitting…

A Swiss woman and her partner were conned out of a substantial amount of money by men posing as security officers in Sidwell, Gqeberha, in the Eastern Cape. A man with a security badge told the woman, 53, and her companion they needed a permit and the two were taken to an ATM where a large amount of money was withdrawn. Eastern Cape police spokesperson Colonel Priscilla Naidu said it was alleged the victims were driving in Sidwell. When they stopped at an intersection, they were approached by a man with a security badge who told them they needed a permit. “They were told to follow him and were taken to an ATM where large sums of money were withdrawn from both of their bank accounts. They were assisted…

One of the underground cables supplying electricity to the Sherwood area, which has been experiencing a series of power outages, dates back to the end of World War II. Warren Burne, the DA councillor for the area, said the party recently discovered that one of the troublesome cables that has caused numerous faults in the area may have been installed in 1945. The revelation came as many parts of Durban have been besieged by power outages that at times have lasted for several days. The challenge of power outages has prompted DA caucus leader Thabani Mthethwa to demand a meeting with the head of electricity, Maxwell Mthembu, after a power outage in Phoenix lasted more than 40 hours at the weekend. “The purpose of this meeting is to find a…

PRESIDENT Cyril Ramaphosa’s January 8 statement gave South Africans a real glimpse into why there is no end in sight to Eskom’s load shedding woes. His speech once again confirmed that no one in his party, himself included, is willing to take the fall for the sorry state at Eskom. That is probably why our country is likely to be in the dark for at least the better part of this year. “The ANC calls for Eskom and the government to immediately focus on restoring additional units to operation as quickly as possible and arresting further decline by undertaking critical maintenance; ensuring power stations have skilled and experienced personnel; tackling sabotage, theft and corruption at power stations; and streamlining procurement processes,” he said. The president needs no reminder that…

Parisians will be invited to vote on whether to allow electric scooter rental services to continue operating in the city as authorities weigh banning the controversial for-hire vehicles, the capital’s mayor has said. The issue is “extremely divisive”, Mayor Anne Hidalgo told the weekend edition of Le Parisien newspaper, with critics saying riders show only cursory respect for the rules of the road. They often defy bans on riding on pavements, or park without consideration, while some abandon the scooters in parks or even toss them into the Seine river. Fans meanwhile praise the zippy fleets as a fast, non-polluting alternative to cars or crowded public transport. | AFP…

Peru’s capital Lima was under a state of emergency yesterday, along with three other regions, as the government responded to weeks-long protests against President Dina Boluarte that have seen at least 42 people killed. The state of emergency, in force for 30 days, authorises the army to intervene to maintain order and suspends freedom of movement and assembly, a decree published in the official gazette stated. Supporters of ousted president Pedro Castillo have taken to the streets and blocked roads across the country since December, demanding fresh elections and the removal of Boluarte, who has refused to step down. Protests are planned for today in Lima for a “takeover of the city”. | AFP…

Shukri Conrad and Rob Walter are set to be named Proteas’ Men’s Test and limited-overs coaches respectively today, succeeding Mark Boucher. Conrad, Walter, Malibongwe Maketa, Adrian Birrell, Richard Pybus and Lance Klusener - who withdrew from the process - were on the shortlist. South Africa have only once before split the national team coaching roles when Gary Kirsten (Test) and Russell Domingo (ODI and T20I) shared the position. Domingo, though, took on the all-format role within six months. Unlike Boucher, neither Conrad nor Walter did not play international cricket, but are vastly experienced domestic coaches. Conrad was a highly-talented all-rounder in his playing days, having represented SA Schools in 1984 along with Daryll Cullinan and Clive Eksteen, with Allan Donald as 12th man. The 55-year-old, though, returned to the South…

The Transvaal Agricultural Union (TLU SA) is calling on the government to exempt farmers from load shedding as the latest extended stages wreak havoc on farming operations, tipping food security to the edge of the precipice. In a statement before a meeting on the invitation of Agriculture Minister Thoko Didiza, where different parties will discuss the energy crisis, TLU SA said the government should consider agriculture as an essential service for the sake of food surety, where no load shedding was applied. It said cold chain farmers and farmers dependent on irrigation should be released from load shedding or load shedding should be applied to them out of peak times. “The government has to realise that the current energy crisis puts food security in question,” Bennie van Zyl, general…

CES 2023, formerly known as the Consumer Electronics Show, was presented in Las Vegas from January 5 to 8, 2023 and is the world’s biggest and most influential technology event as well as the proving ground for breakthrough technologies. It is here that many of the big companies announced or launched their new products for 2023, although it seemed to be less than previous years due to high inflation, the economic downswing, less spending on non-necessities and supply chain constraints. More than 3 200 exhibiting companies (60% Fortune 500 companies), including 1 000 start-ups, featured the latest technologies and next era innovations. CES 2023 was attended by more than 115 000 industry professionals, of which over 40 000 were international attendees from 140 countries. Certain current…

IN a victory for children whose unmarried foreign fathers are either outside the country or illegally here, a court has now declared regulations which barred these fathers from having their names reflect on the child’s unabridged birth certificates as unconstitutional. A judge sitting in an Eastern Cape high court said it was both the child’s and the father’s right to have his identity reflected on the birth certificate. Regulation 12(2)(c) of the Births and Deaths Registration Act bars an unmarried foreign father, who is either outside the country or illegally in South Africa, to have his details added to his child’s birth certificate. As things stand, only unmarried foreign fathers who are legally in South Africa may have their details appear on the unabridged birth certificate. The court…

Tourism Minister Lindiwe Sisulu condemned an incident where tourists were shot at by alleged poachers who were aiming at animals, on the eastern shores of the Jozini Dam in northern KwaZulu-Natal, last week. It is believed that the tourists, identified as five Germans, two Americans, one Australian, and four South Africans, who were staying in a private lodge in the Pongola Dam Reserve, were on a river cruise when the incident took place. Though no one was harmed, Sisulu described the incident as an attack on the economy, as tourism played a significant role in the country’s GDP. “Tourism creates thousands of jobs in the country, and these attacks are a direct attack on our economy,” said Sisulu. “South Africa and KZN is a safe destination for tourists, and incidents…

While reading about Jack Barth (Independent on Saturday, January 7) and his family’s sewer challenges for the second time I feel compelled to enlighten readers to the real waste water challenges facing the whole of the Berea. As possibly Durban’s oldest residential suburb, the problems regarding its ageing infrastructure are much greater than simply carrying out isolated repairs, which is probably the only relief this unfortunate resident can expect. When the Berea was developed in the late 1800s and early 1900s, Vitrified Clay (VC) sewer pipes were imported from the UK and laid with great precision by skilled artisans. While these VC pipes are still in “as new” condition, the jointing methods of yesteryear have not stood the test of time. The pipe joints were carefully caulked using a mixture…

Right on cue, the mass media is extolling the agenda of the 2023 gathering at Davos of the World Economic Forum (WEF) with its slogan: “Co-operation in a fragmented world” (The Mercury, January 13). But there is much that is deceptive about that slogan. Our world is not a fragmented one but a naturally, God-ordained, diverse one. The first proponents of a united human race were defeated by diversity in their attempt to build the tower of Babel. As history records, empires come and go. Whereas peace and the brotherhood of man was the motivation of previous one-world proponents, a utopia John Lennon’s song Imagine neatly epitomised, the WEF uses fear and coercion to motivate its great re-set agenda. According to the WEF and the business, political, academic and scientific…

The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) has appointed 25 prosecutors and 40 investigators within the various divisions to deal specifically with TRC matters, including the 64 new cases that have been registered for investigation. NPA spokesperson Advocate Mthunzi Mhaga said: “The NPA has further enhanced its efforts to deal with and prosecute cases stemming from the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC). “Over the past few years, the NPA has focused on reopening and pursuing priority cases and enhancing its internal capacity and processes, both to ensure effective handling of these cases and to prevent any undue political influence.” As part of the NPA’s efforts, advocate Dumisa Ntsebeza was appointed to review the measures adopted to deal with and prosecute TRC matters and to provide recommendations. The overview of these measures was…

TRANSPORT Minister Fikile Mbalula has for the second consecutive year been found to have ruled the roost in the Twittersphere compared with his fellow Cabinet ministers after he attracted at least 262 000 more followers in 2022. This is according to the 2022 GovCommsSocial report – an initiative of Decode Communications – which is a platform supporting public sector social-media professionals and government communicators by facilitating training, hosting events and organising a community of digital marketers across Africa. In terms of the report, Mbalula is the most followed South African Cabinet minister on Twitter, with 2.89 million followers. Playing second fiddle to Mbalula is President Cyril Ramaphosa, who has recorded an increase of followers from 2.1 million in 2021 to 2.53 million in 2022. While the report celebrated Mbalula’s…

Science gives us a deeper understanding of our world, the human body, living systems and the cosmos. However, it can also be used to exploit natural resources and widen socio-economic disparities such as access to resources. Science can be misused for monetary gain and power. Inconsiderate and thoughtless use of scientific discoveries can lead to unintended consequences, causing climatic impacts and wreaking havoc on biodiversity. This can result in an existential threat to the security of our place on the planet. ReImagine Science was founded in 2008 to focus on how we “do” science; to create a scientific enterprise that is more inclusive of society, more generous to the younger generations of scientists and more responsive to negative impacts on the natural world. We propose a shift in the…

Yangon: A Myanmar-China border crossing vital to trade has partially reopened, an official said yesterday, after years of a pandemic-prompted closure. Covid-19 shuttered the Muse-Ruili checkpoint – among the nation’s busiest – in April 2020. One of Muse town’s border gates opened at 7am local time. Six trucks made the short relay trip at the Mang Wein crossing, said U Min Thein, vice-chairman of the Muse Rice Commodity Exchange. “China only allowed us to export food and drink at the moment,” U Min Thein said yesterday. The Kyinsankyawt checkpoint partially reopened under similar circumstances in May last year, according to state media. | AFP…

Manila: At least 27 people have died in storms across the Philippines this month, authorities said yesterday, as forecasters warned of continued heavy rains in the disaster-prone country. Heavy downpours and flooding have plagued the nation’s southern and central islands since the Christmas weekend, forcing hundreds of thousands to flee their homes. Since the start of the year, at least three storms have killed 27 people across the country. Eleven people were reported injured and three are missing. State weather forecaster Pagasa warned yesterday that “flooding and rain-induced landslides are likely”. More than 83 000 people are sheltering in evacuation centres. | AFP…

SuperSport United have been a breeding ground for Mamelodi Sundowns in recent years, but such is the form that both sides are in, they are each eyeing the title. Having won three titles in a row between 2008 and 2010, SuperSport fell from grace after the departure of coach Gavin Hunt to Bidvest Wits. That opened a new era at crosstown rivals Sundowns, with SuperSport’s former coach Pitso Mosimane awakening the sleeping giant in Chloorkop. The Brazilians haven’t looked back since with Mosimane's successors, Rhulani Mokwena and Manqoba Mngqithi, picking up from where he left off. However, Sundowns’ dominance has been under threat this season as Hunt’s return to Matsatsantsa has worked wonders for the cash-strapped outfit. The Brazilians are top of the league pile, 11 points ahead of second-placed…

Putting one or two new faces on Eskom’s board will not change the severe corruption at Eskom that has filtered down to project level at the utility and a task team needs to be sent in to clean the utility out, energy analyst Ted Blom said on Jacaranda FM online this weekend. Blom, a well known energy industry specialist and commentator, said his estimates were that more than R500 billion has been lost at Eskom due to corruption over the past decade. He said for instance, that in 2008, a crime syndicate in Eskom’s coal operations involving 54 people and a senior government minister “not far from the top” had syphoned off some R8 billion of Eskom in “emergency” spending where there had been no tender. He did not wish…

TRANSNET and the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) have reached an agreement with Liebherr, the German-Swiss multinational heavy equipment-maker to pay R54 million for irregularities in the award of two tenders in 2013 and 2014. In a statement, state-owned Transnet said the two tenders were for supplying cranes to Transnet. Liebherr had supplied all the cranes under the contracts, which are in use and would continue to be used by Transnet Port Terminals, Transnet said. “The SIU found that the decision to award the tenders was irregular. Transnet, the SIU, and Liebherr accordingly agreed that the decision to award the tenders should be reviewed and set aside,” Transnet said. According to Transnet, investigations also found that Liebherr had paid $3.2m (about R54m) to Accurate Investments Limited, a sales agent appointed…

Under-fire power utility Eskom is in a race to fill more than 1 000 crucial vacancies by September, with most of the posts in the critical distribution, transmission and generation units. Last week it introduced indefinite level 6 load shedding to offset capacity constraints due to breakdowns at its power units. While frustration mounts over the power crisis, there was more public outrage after it was announced by the National Energy Regulator of SA that it had approved an 18.65% electricity tariff increase for 2023/2024, while Eskom had requested a 32% hike. Amid these challenges, Public Enterprises Minister Pravin Gordhan has revealed in response to a parliamentary question from the EFF that Eskom wants to fill the vacancies by September. Experts have said that the power utility has suffered a…

The reflections of an older person come this way. They seem to have much validity. I used to do cartwheels outside. Now I do them while putting on my underwear. Whee! I told my wife she should embrace her mistakes. She hugged me. My wife says I have only two faults. I don’t listen … and something else. Scientists say the universe is made up of protons, neurons and electrons. They forget to mention morons. A dog accepts you as the boss. A cat wants to see your résumé. Life is too short to waste time matching socks. Day 12 without chocolate. I’ve lost hearing in my left eye. The officer said: “You drinking?” I said: “You buying?” We just laughed and laughed … I need bail money. The Wi-Fi…

Due to Covid-19 hurdles, pupils had to navigate unmapped waters with no “GPS navigation apps” to follow. Hence, both pupils and teachers had to “build the plane as they were flying”. Teachers had to take risks, come up with innovative ideas to complete the curriculum and to keep pupils motivated to prepare the class of 2022 for the matric exams. Most definitely, the class of 2022 endured high measures of stress, loneliness and uncertainties. Some of the disappointments and challenges of the past three years may still remain with these pupils if not managed professionally. Failing a subject or not achieving the desired marks can make a pupil feel very uncomfortable and unhappy. Therefore, parents, family members and the community should not judge pupils by their non-achievement. Mental wellness…

With the recent announcement of an 18.65% Eskom tariff increase, one needs to look at it in a more serious light, the reasons for it and most importantly who is to blame for it. We all know Eskom is short of money, but the biggest question that should be asked is: who caused or allowed this crisis to happen? One does not have to look very far for the answer, as it is simply: our ANC government. This ANC government was warned way back in Mbeki’s era that we needed more generating systems. Besides that, this strategic entity under the control of the ANC, has since then gone on a down slide through corruption, bribery, looting etc, and now we have landed up having to cope with sabotage at the…

An ANC councillor and two other men died in a hail of bullets in Long Homes, Piet Retief, in Mpumalanga. The councillor, identified by police as Sbonelo Mthembu, 36, his mechanic and a friend were gunned down by three men in Mkhondo on Friday night. “The three were shot in Mkhondo. The councillor and his mechanic were dropped off by a friend driving a bakkie. Suddenly, three armed men appeared in the yard. They fired multiple shots at the councillor and also fatally wounded the friend who was still in his bakkie. The mechanic was shot by the same suspects while still in the yard. Thereafter, the three suspects fled,” said Mpumalanga police spokesperson, Colonel Donald Mdhluli. Piet Retief police and the paramedics were informed about the incident while…

Labour experts have warned that matriculants looking to go straight into the job market will face stiff competition as unemployment figures for school leavers were expected to rise to as high as 80% this year. This comes as Minister of Basic Education Angie Motshekga is expected to release the 2022 National Senior Certificate (NSC) results this week, after approximately 923 460 matric pupils sat for the final exams in 2022. Labour expert Michael Bagraim said he expected the number of school leavers who couldn’t find jobs to rise from the previous year amid stiff competition. “The figures are getting worse. In 2021 about 75% of school leavers couldn’t find jobs. This year, that figure could rise to 80%.“ Following retrenchments in the previous Covid-19 years, the market had shrunk, he…

THE Royal Astronomical Society (RAS) has awarded its 2023 Group Achievement Award to the MeerKAT team. In its citation, the RAS recognised the MeerKAT team “for a series of spectacular observations in radio astronomy, the highlight being the images of the Galactic Centre region and the spectacular radio bubbles. In addition, the MeerKAT team has supported the development of science and technology in Africa and stress-tested technology for the Square Kilometre Array (SKA).” According to the RAS website, the society, which has its headquarters in London, was founded in 1820 and it encourages and promotes the study of astronomy, solar-system science, geophysics and closely related branches of science. The South African Radio Astronomy Observatory (Sarao) expressed gratitude to the RAS for the recognition of the technical and scientific achievement associated…

Seven suspected illegal miners were arrested for mining chrome at Mooihoek Mountain, Driekop in Limpopo. A South African, three Mozambicans and three Zimbabweans were arrested for illegal mining on Saturday. They were found with 17 generators, seven jackhammers and three electric cables. “The fight against illegal mining activities will continue to be intensified across the province ... We warn communities to desist from engaging in these illegal activities as the police will relentlessly arrest all perpetrators and seize their equipment,” said Limpopo provincial commissioner Lieutenant-General Thembi Hadebe. The seven are expected to appear in the Mecklenburg Magistrate’s Court on charges related to illegal mining. Some face additional charges under the Immigration Act. | Mercury Correspondents…

Godongwana’s rushed catchall laws may be a way to appease her before visit THERE is a method in Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana’s rush to fast-track the passing of two key catchall laws on December 15, 2022 in the National Assembly and signed into the statute book a week later by President Cyril Ramaphosa, designed to strengthen South Africa’s system of Anti-Money Laundering and Combating the Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT). These laws, maintain the National Treasury, “will strengthen the fight against corruption, fraud and terrorism, and also assist South Africa in meeting the international standards on AML/CFT, and to reduce the prospect of grey listing by the Financial Action Task Force (FATF), (the intergovernmental organisation mandated by the G7 to develop policies to combat money laundering and terrorism financing).” Importantly, South…

Lahore: The provincial assembly in Pakistan’s most populous province, Punjab, has been dissolved in a move orchestrated by former prime minister Imran Khan as part of a bid to force early general elections. The country has been gripped by political instability since Khan was ousted in a no-confidence vote and replaced last April by a shaky coalition led by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. The South Asian nation is also battling a severe economic crisis. It is drowning in debt, facing galloping inflation and dwindling foreign exchange reserves. This, as the economy tries to claw to recovery from last year’s devastating monsoon floods. | AFP…