Tabla de contenidos para 2023-06-02 en Mercury

EZEMVELO KwaZulu-Natal Wildlife says it has adopted a number of measures in its efforts to deal with rhino poaching in many of its parks. However, opposition parties have questioned the entity’s urgency to deal with the poaching threat. The entity recently made a presentation before the meeting of the economic development portfolio committee in the KZN legislature where members decried the failure to deal with rhino poaching and the declining standards at Ezemvelo-owned facilities. A total of 244 rhino were killed in poaching incidents in KZN last year, according to statistics from the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment. It said the poaching threat has shifted to KZN with the Hluhluwe- iMfolozi Park being specifically targeted. According to Ezemvelo, several steps have been taken to deal with poaching including…

Human rights apply to all human beings. They exist as a practical expression of the ancient “golden rule” common to most religions that sets out the principle of treating others as we would like them to treat us. Uganda’s new anti-gay laws, signed off by President Yoweri Museveni this week, are some of the world’s toughest anti-LGBTQI+ laws, and include the death penalty for so-called aggravated cases involving children or spreading HIV, and 20 years in prison for “promoting” homosexuality. While countries in the global north have led a chorus of outrage and condemnation over the past 24 hours, African nations have been largely, conspicuously, silent. Last week, in response to my parliamentary question on whether South Africa would consider a peacekeeping mission to defend members of the LGBTQI+ community…

Health organisations are calling on the state to put human and financial resources in place to close the treatment gap and deliver on children’s right to mental health services. The call comes as June 1 marked the intersection of Child Protection Week and Youth Month, and organisations shift their attention to the needs of young people in the lead up to June 16 – Youth Day. Organisations such as the Children’s Institute, Centre for Public Mental Health, Centre for Autism Research in Africa, Institute of Life Course Health Research (University of Stellenbosch), and the South African Association of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Allied Professions highlighted that high levels of adversity increase children’s risk of developing mental health problems. “Child and adolescent mental health is the foundation of a strong,…

The MEC for Education in Gauteng has been held liable for the damages suffered by two Grade 1 pupils in 2020. At the time, the new gate at a Soshanguve school fell on them as they went to the portable toilets near the gate. The mothers of the two children turned to the Gauteng High Court, Pretoria, to claim damages from the Gauteng Education Department. The mothers of the children – who were only identified as SHN and BAN – blamed the school and the teachers for allowing the children to go to the toilets unsupervised. The children were aged 5 and 6 respectively at the time, and they suffered severe injuries, including multi- bone breaks. The mothers also blamed the accident on shoddy construction work done on the gate…

An investigator within the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (Ipid) has appeared before the Pretoria Magistrate’s Court after he was arrested on charges of corruption and extortion. Hawks spokesperson Colonel Philani Nkwalase said: “The case against Ipid investigator Khongotela Raymond Mabasa was heard (on Tuesday) by the Pretoria Magistrate’s Court.” He said that apart from Mabasa, two other accomplices had been arrested. The case against the three was postponed for a formal bail application to be held. Nkwalase said the court appearance followed their arrest by the Gauteng-based Hawks Serious Corruption Investigation team on Monday. He said it was alleged that the Ipid officer colluded with two accomplices who are members of the public to demand a bribe of R5m from a businessman. According to the Hawks, the businessman and his…

The multimillion rand statues of Nelson Mandela and Oliver Tambo that are to be installed in the Durban City Hall precinct have arrived in Durban. EThekwini mayor Mxolisi Kaunda said the statues arrived by ship and are being kept in a safe place until they are installed. He said it was important to install statues that reflected the history of African people. Addressing the media at a post budget briefing yesterday, the mayor said it was concerning that around the precinct there were only colonial era or apartheid era statues. “We want to take this opportunity to report that the two statues of OR Tambo and former president Nelson Mandela that will be erected along Church Walk have arrived. “This project started in 2017 when the council took a resolution…

Behind the disturbing figures are human beings THE latest Quarterly Labour Force Survey results are out and the numbers are not looking good at all. The unemployment rate in South Africa stands at a towering 32.9% in the first quarter of 2023. This latest figure shows a 0.2 percentage point increase from the fourth quarter figures of 2022. The unemployment rate, possibly in the subsequent quarter reporting, is predicted to increase again. Given the current energy crisis the country faces, expect more job losses and an increase in unemployment. Behind these figures, though, are human beings. These are men and women from all walks of life facing a common scourge. They are the young, those in the mid-stages of their career, and even those faced with the daunting decision to…

Moscow said yesterday it thwarted a Ukrainian attempt to “invade” its south-western border as Russia pounded Kyiv with missiles, killing three people including a child. The Ukrainian capital has faced nearly nightly air raids last month, including an unusual daytime attack this week that sent residents running for shelter. As Kyiv deployed its air defences against a fresh volley of Russian missiles, Moscow said it thwarted an attempt by Ukrainian troops to invade its south-western Belgorod region. Moscow used jets and artillery to repel the attacks and prevent Ukrainian troops from crossing over into Russia, it added. The Belgorod region, which saw an unprecedented two-day armed incursion last week, has come under intensified fire in the past days. Regional governor Vyacheslav Gladkov said eight people were wounded in “uninterrupted shelling”…

Tesla Inc chief executive Elon Musk departed Shanghai yesterday, wrapping up a two-day trip to China in which he met senior Chinese government officials. On a visit to Tesla’s Shanghai factory, the automaker’s biggest production hub, Musk praised employees for “overcoming so many difficulties and challenges”. Earlier in the trip, Musk met with China’s foreign, commerce and industry ministers in Beijing and dined with the chairman of battery supplier Contemporary Amperex Technology. He also met with Chinese Vice Premier Ding Xuexiang, the sixth highest-ranked leader in the Politburo Standing Committee, the top governing body led by President Xi Jinping. Musk also met with Chen Jining, Shanghai’s party secretary, who welcomed Tesla to increase its investments and expand businesses in the city, the municipal government said yesterday. The US billionaire was…

Washington: While cases of Covid-19 and respiratory syncytial virus were decreasing across the US, infections of another respiratory virus (RSV) human metapneumovirus (HMPV), were on the rise, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The percentage of tests positive for HMPV rose to 17.5% for antigen tests and 9.6% for PCR tests in late March. During the four years before the pandemic, the weekly percentage of HMPV positive tests never reached higher than 7.7%, data revealed. Discovered in 2001, HMPV is in the Pneumoviridae family with RSV. HMPV can cause upper and lower respiratory disease. Symptoms include cough, fever, congestion and breathlessness. | IANS…

Paris: Five French environmental charities are suing the French state for its alleged negligence in regulating the use of pesticides, with a first court audience taking place yesterday. The five organisations have accused the state of being indirectly responsible for the sharp decline in insect, bird and other animal populations which a body of scientific research shows is linked to pesticide use and intensive farming. In its complaint, the five French groups cite figures showing that insect populations have fallen by 75% and wild birds by 30% in France over the last 30 years. The French state said that the EU was responsible for regulating pesticides. | AFP…

IN an article spanning 1 784 words on the World Rugby website this week, in an interview with All Black great Richie McCaw, “South Africa” was mentioned once – in a reference to their shock 2015 Rugby World Cup defeat against Japan. The New Zealand stalwart was asked about a wide range of issues to mark the 100-day countdown to France 2023, including his farewell to the game with victory in the 2015 final against Australia at Twickenham, which saw the Kiwis go back-to-back after the 2011 triumph. “You knew finishing at a World Cup was either going to be extremely happy or extremely disappointing, no middle ground. It was a great way to sign off,” McCaw said. “The final had a bit of everything. I think for the first…

DEFENDING champion Iga Swiatek overcame a minor blip to secure her spot in the third round of the French Open with a 6-4 6-0 victory over American Claire Liu yesterday. The world number one, looking to lift the Suzanne Lenglen Cup for the third time in four years, started strongly before briefly struggling on Court Philippe Chatrier. With several sponsors seats empty in the middle of the afternoon, the Pole picked herself up quickly to end Liu’s campaign in brutal fashion. “It’s not easy when you play with the wind and change sides to play against it. I’m happy I raised my level in the second set,” said Swiatek, who turned 22 on Wednesday. “Patience is important, especially on clay.” Swiatek raced to a 3-0 lead on a sunbathed court…

THE sea has been a bit grumpy along the KZN coast recently for offshore anglers, but seems to be settling down. The Durban coast saw a lot of action last week, mainly due to the easier launch options available, but also for the fish species on the menu. There was a pile of tuna for those who ventured off the central coast. Most methods proved effective, but a live bait produced the bigger fish. Some much-anticipated couta was also finally added to the hatches. Snoek, couta, marlin and tuna. These are a few of the species coming in off the South Coast. The tuna are about as abundant as they are further north and the same methods work just as well in the south. The marlin was hooked and landed…

n Cogta MEC says intervention experts will assist the Metro to address areas that need urgent attention THE experts deployed under the Section 154 intervention in eThekwini Municipality will have 12 months to tackle the challenges plaguing the city. This was revealed by KwaZulu-Natal Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs MEC Bongi Sithole-Moloi during a question-and-answer session at the KZN Legislature yesterday. The city faces general decay and infrastructure challenges, and has failed to spend R322 million it received in grant funding. IFP member of the provincial legislature (MPL) Otto Kunene had sought clarity regarding the intervention, including how long the team would remain in eThekwini. Details around the intervention have been scarce, with the department revealing little information since it was announced a few weeks ago. According to the MEC,…

International Relations and Cooperation Minister Naledi Pandor says BRICS nations must provide leadership in a world fractured by competition and geopolitical tensions. Pandor said BRICS remained a key bloc as it sought to build bridges with the global community. She said their meeting as BRICS foreign ministers would focus on strengthening global governance systems. Pandor, who was making the opening remarks at the start of the BRICS foreign ministers meeting in Cape Town yesterday, had earlier held bilateral meetings with her counterparts. Russia is represented by Foreign Affairs Minister Sergei Lavrov. Pandor had also met with Saudi Arabia’s foreign minister, Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud, on the sidelines of the BRICS meeting. Saudi Arabia is one of the countries that has expressed a desire to join BRICS. She said…

WITH the Heineken Cup and the United Rugby Championship over and the international sides winding up for their coming fixtures as a prelude to the World Cup in Paris, the Currie Cup is gathering full pace. The Sharks are top of the log and fancied for a place in the finals. Tomorrow, they take on the Lions at King’s Park. Will they prevail yet again? It’s there for the taking. It’s an enticing prospect, the Sharks winning the Currie Cup and the Boks winning the World Cup again, in spite of the odds stacked against them by Ireland, France and the All Blacks. It’s worth a flutter with the bookies. The Currie Cup promises to build over time to provide all provinces with reserves of strength to serve the international…

The Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (Hawks) has told Parliament’s portfolio committee on defence and military veterans that allegations that the Department of Defence awarded a R57 million tender to train people to repair potholes was one of four cases it was investigating. The Hawks had been invited by the committee to give a progress report on the status of various investigations regarding the Department of Defence (DOD) and the Department of Military Veterans (DMV). Hawks national head Godfrey Lebeya said that according to the complaint filed with them, the purpose of the tender was to train 900 people on how to repair potholes in all the provinces. The tender also included the procurement of the machines to fix potholes. Lebeya said the complainant told the Hawks during an…

An accountant is facing charges of fraud and money laundering. Jan Jacobus van Niekerk, 38, appeared in the Delareyville Magistrate’s Court in North West. The case was adjourned to July 19, for the matter to be transferred to the Specialised Commercial Crimes Court. He was granted R12 000 bail and the court ordered him to report to his nearest police station once a week between 6am and 6pm, according to North West spokesperson for the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) Henry Mamothame. “Van Niekerk is facing 337 charges of fraud and 20 of money laundering. He, in the company of his attorney, handed himself over to the SAPS provincial commercial crimes unit, on May 30 and he was subsequently charged with fraud and money laundering amounting to over R10 million,” said…

A SENIOR manager in the eThekwini Municipality is facing a probe into her qualifications following allegations that she is unqualified for the post. Deputy city manager Kim Makhathini, who is the head of human resources, will face a probe by an external investigator over the matter, the City announced yesterday. Opposition party councillors that supported the call for an investigation said this was long overdue and would give Makhathini a chance to clear her name. “The council has authorised the city manager to appoint an independent investigator to investigate allegations of misconduct against the deputy city manager (DCM), Ms Makhathini, emanating from an alleged fraudulent diploma and unverified degree,” said mayor Mxolisi Kaunda during a media briefing. He said the appointed investigator would be expected to submit a report.…

MANY wise biblical words also apply to normal human life, irrespective of one’s religious convictions. One such quotation can be found in Revelations 3.15 and 16: “I know all about you: how you are neither cold nor hot, but since you are neither, but only lukewarm I will spit you out of my mouth.” A secular version would refer to a fence-sitter. The general perception is that this would appear to be an apt description of the attitude of President Cyril Ramaphosa. On most occasions, his words and deeds do not match. Because there is a deep split in the so-called “broad church” of the ANC, a split that appears to be irreconcilable, our fence-sitting president seems to be unable to take a clear leadership stance. Therefore, he…

The 16 DStv Premiership clubs will have a two-month long break to huddle up and assess the season that’s just concluded. Mamelodi Sundowns were crowned champions of the land for the sixth time in a row this season, continuing their scary dominance on the domestic front. The Chloorkop-based club steam-rolled their would-be adversaries on their way to claiming the title with a 15 points buffer from their closest rivals Orlando Pirates. The Buccaneers have proven to be the nearest side to Sundowns this season having beaten them in cup competitions on their way to being crowned MTN8 and Nedbank Cup champions. Although Jose Riveiro’s debut season at Pirates is worthy of huge plaudits, his biggest achievement will certainly be laying the groundwork for what is expected to be a campaign…

The heir to Jordan’s throne married amid much fanfare yesterday, in a glittering ceremony that the country’s leaders, long backed by the West as a stabilising influence in a volatile region, hope will reinforce local and global alliances. The 28-year-old Prince Hussein, named as heir by his father, King Abdullah, in 2009, tied the knot with Saudi architect Rajwa Al Saif, 29, who hails from a prominent family with links to her country’s ruling dynasty. Jordan has long relied on Western support to shore up its economy, one of the world’s biggest per capita recipients of US and European aid, and observers hope the wedding will also bring it closer to the regional powerhouse on its southern border. Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman attended the wedding and the banquet…

Geneva: The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) voted yesterday for Argentina’s Celeste Saulo to become its first woman leader and steer the WMO’s global role in tracking climate change. Saulo, 59, a WMO vice-president who has headed Argentina’s weather service since 2014, won a landslide vote at the UN agency’s congress in Geneva. “My ambition is to lead the WMO towards a scenario in which the voice of all members is heard equally, prioritising those most vulnerable,” she said. She will take over from Petteri Taalas in January, when the Finnish meteorologist’s term ends. | AFP…

KHARTOUM: The US yesterday imposed sanctions on companies it accused of fuelling the conflict in Sudan, stepping up pressure on the army and a rival paramilitary force to stop fighting raging in Khartoum and other regions. The US Treasury Department said it targeted two companies linked to Sudan’s army and two companies tied to the rival paramilitary Rapid Support Forces . The conflict has killed hundreds and forced more than 1.6 million to flee. Fighting continued in northern Omdurman and southern Bahri yesterday. The US and Saudi Arabia are leading ceasefire talks, but both sides have breached truces. | Reuters…

BERLIN: German prosecutors said yesterday authorities had secured some items during a search of a reservoir in Portugal in the 16-year-old hunt for missing British girl Madeleine McCann which would be evaluated in coming days and weeks. “Whether some of the items actually relate to the Madeleine McCann case cannot yet be confirmed,” prosecutor said. German authorities, who have named a suspect in the case, last week helped Portuguese crews comb the remote area inland from the Algarve coastal resort where McCann - then aged three - went missing from her bedroom during a family holiday in 2007. | Reuters…

“THIS is absolutely great for South African rugby that we are able to keep the Currie Cup so tight,” was Lions captain Marius Louw’s earnest opinion earlier this week, “until the last two rounds – definitely until the last round – to see who will be in the semi-finals.” Louw and his teammates might enjoy the pressure, but if you are a Lions fan, then it’s not that great. In fact, Saturday’s clash against the Sharks at Hollywoodbets Kings Park (kick-off 7pm) will be quite a stressful affair. It would be better, and much more comfortable, to sit in the Sharks’ dugout on the night. The reason for such anxiety is clear: Should the Lions lose, the permutations will likely see them knocked out of the running for a play-off…

CRISTIANO Ronaldo’s first season in Saudi Arabia ended with a whimper, but with hundreds of millions in wages and unprecedented attention on Saudi football he may not be the last megastar to grace the oil-rich kingdom. The fireworks and euphoria that greeted Ronaldo’s gala unveiling in January were in sharp contrast to the close of Al Nassr’s season, when the Portuguese sat out a 3-0 win against Al Fateh on Wednesday. Despite signing the five-time Ballon d’Or-winner on a two-and-a-half-year deal said to total €400million, Al Nassr finished second in the Saudi Pro League without any silverware, although they qualified for the Asian Champions League as a consolation. Ronaldo scored 14 goals including five penalties but it was a “disappointing season” for the Riyadh club, said Moqbel Al-Zabni, editor-in-chief of…

TWELVE years ago, Manchester City triggered a seismic shift in English football by beating treble-chasing Manchester United at Wembley. Now City’s own treble bid will come under threat from resurgent United in tomorrow’s FA Cup final. With the Premier League wrapped up for a third successive season, City are two victories away from becoming only the second English club – after United in 1999 – to win the English title, the Champions League and the FA Cup in the same campaign. City’s current success and United’s status as hopeful challengers would have been unimaginable when they last met in the FA Cup at Wembley in the 2011 semi-final. Just a few weeks after that showdown at the national stadium, United would clinch the Premier League title for the fourth time…

The DA and IFP in KwaZulu-Natal are expected to sign a new agreement next week that looks to further entrench the parties’ approach to coalition governance ahead of next year’s elections. The service delivery pact looks to build on a co-operation agreement the two parties signed last year and will focus on the uMhlathuze Local Municipality, uThukela District Municipality, Amajuba District Municipality and the Abaqulusi Municipality. Both parties said the dismal picture painted by Auditor-General Tsakani Maluleke in the Consolidated General Report on Local Government Audit Outcomes for the 2021-2022 financial year outlined the need to focus on service delivery. Maluleke’s report found that municipalities had not only regressed in terms of their overall financial health, but 70 of them were also flagged as facing significant risks to continue functioning…

GAUTENG’S cholera outbreak, which has claimed the lives of 24 people, is a wake-up call to every South African citizen eligible to vote. The eruption of the disease is symptomatic of government failure and points to the life-threatening risks our people face under a failed state. The DA’s condolences and prayers go out to those who grieve their losses. Our country lurches from one crisis to another as the primary services of water, energy and transport buckle under the weight of destructive neglect caused by an inept government. How much more damage can this ANC-run government do to our economy, our environment and our people, that held so much promise only 29 years ago? In KwaZulu-Natal, there is widespread neglect of water and wastewater systems, with responsible entities/municipalities unable to…

Family conflicts and business conflicts are common. People “fight” at work. Are you facing conflict with another person and want to face it well? If you are seeking revenge or want to hurt or damage your opponent, you are probably not ready to face the person with whom you say you are seeking resolution. You may be ready when you have no ill-will towards your opponent. You may be ready when you want nothing bad to happen to that person. You may be fully prepared to face your opponent when you are willing to embrace “winning” or “losing” for the sake of salvaging the relationship. Do your preparation. Your preparation is the most important part of your journey to finding a healthy resolution. Prepare your head. Clarify your thinking. Prepare…

An education expert says proposals made in the Basic Education Laws Amendment Bill (Bela Bill) have good intentions, but it remains difficult for the system to create quality when it lacks the means to enforce compliance. Currently, the Portfolio Committee on Basic Education is conducting public hearings on the bill, and some of the proposed changes have come under fire from some sectors. For one, the residents of the Cape Winelands District Municipality recently, during public hearings held at the Montana Community Hall in Wolsely, called for the bill to include a clear clause that would ensure the freedom of curriculum and protect the home schooling environment against what they described as proposed “draconian regulations”. The majority of the parents rejected the bill, especially clause 37 which proposes a process…

Nearly R6 billion has been lost in fruitless and wasteful expenditure by municipalities in just four years, says Auditor-General Tsakani Maluleke. She blamed local governments for their poor decision-making, neglect and inefficiencies for fruitless and wasteful expenditure that amounted to R5.9bn, showing a year-on-year increase since 2019. Maluleke presented her annual audit outcomes of local government and observations and insights from the audits of the financial year ended June 30, 2022. For the year under review, municipalities had an estimated expenditure budget of R487.12bn to operate and deliver services. “Local government is losing billions of rand each year because of poor decisions, neglect or inefficiencies. Fruitless and wasteful expenditure has continued to increase, and in 2021/22 it more than doubled, rising from R2.15bn to R4.74bn. Since 2019, the national audit…

South African consumers are feeling the financial pinch after yet another bruising interest rate increase amid the rising cost of living. Surveys have shown that monthly expenditure items such as gym memberships, pay TV subscriptions and household contents insurance are being cancelled. Consumers are also spending considerably less on alcohol, meat and snacks, as food prices rise. The South African Reserve Bank announced in May that it was increasing the repo rate by 50 basis points, taking the repo rate to 8.25% and the prime rate to 11.75% – now higher than pre-Covid levels of 2020. The rates increases have been bruising, especially those who owe the banks for home and car loans. It was the 10th interest rate hike in a row, since a 25 basis points increase in…

THE BRAZEN attacks by criminals on eThekwini Municipality employees are going to cost the City’s ratepayers who now have to fork out more money to ensure these workers are protected. This was revealed by eThekwini’s chief financial officer Dr Sandile Mnguni during a media briefing yesterday. On Wednesday, in presenting the budget, eThekwini mayor Mxolisi Kaunda explained that water tariff increases remained at 14.9% for residential customers and 15.9% for business because of certain cost factors. Among those he listed were a 5.5% increase imposed by Umgeni Water, a 3% increase related to the construction of the essential Upper Umkhomazi Dam, repairs and maintenance at 4.3% and security around 1%. Asked about the 1% for security, Mnguni said the city had budgeted R100 million for this exercise. “It is the…

IT IS unfortunate that you have men and women who played with the freedom that was hard-earned. Many suffered from sacrificing for the freedom we are “enjoying” today. Yet, the likes of Mama Rahima Moosa never tasted it after paying dearly for it. One of the wonderful people who sacrificed and suffered is Mama Rahima Moosa. Before departing this life, Mama Rahima Moosa made sure that her children would continue to make contributions in our society. The question is, are they doing that? Why? How is the ruling party feeling about it? Do they check on her family and others who made such wonderful contributions to the Struggle that led to the driver’s seat they find themselves in today? As much as she was neither the first nor the only…

US lawmakers voted this week to raise the national borrowing limit as a crucial first step to averting a catastrophic default, greenlighting a pact struck between Washington’s warring parties after weeks of brinkmanship and fraught backroom deal-making. Hammered out between Democratic President Joe Biden and the Republicans in the House of Representatives, the measure suspends the debt ceiling through 2024, slightly cutting government spending next year. “Passing the Fiscal Responsibility Act is a crucial first step for putting America back on track,” said Speaker Kevin McCarthy, the top Republican in Congress. “It does what is responsible for our children, what is possible in divided government, and what is required by our principles and promises.” Biden hailed the 314-117 vote as a “critical step” to protecting the country’s post-pandemic economic recovery…

Riots broke out in Senegal’s capital Dakar yesterday after a court sentenced a leading opposition politician, Ousmane Sonko, to two years in jail for corrupting youth, undermining his chances of running for president next year. Sonko, 48, was accused of raping a woman who worked in a massage parlour in 2021, when she was 20, and making death threats against her. He denies wrongdoing and says the charges are politically motivated. A criminal court cleared Sonko of rape, but found him guilty of a separate criminal offence described in the penal code as immoral behaviour towards individuals younger than 21. This could prevent him from participating in February elections, according to Senegal’s electoral law. The rape case has triggered violent protests in the country since 2021. Sonko’s supporters denounce the…

NEW YORK: A trove of Freddie Mercury’s previously unseen handwritten draft lyrics for some of Queen’s biggest hits went on show yesterday in New York, ahead of their sale in London later this year. The manuscripts include working drafts for Bohemian Rhapsody – which Mercury initially planned to call “Mongolian Rhapsody”– Don’t Stop Me Now and Somebody to Love. “In scope, quality and exceptional provenance, the collection of lyrics together afford an unprecedented glimpse into the creative mind of one of the 20th-century’s most influential songwriters,” said Sotheby’s, which is staging the auctions in September. More than 1 500 items from Mercury’s private collection, including costumes and unique objects as well as the draft lyrics, will feature in the eventual auctions in London and online. Left largely untouched at his…

LEPOSAVIC: Nato said yesterday it was ready to send more troops to an ethically divided region of Kosovo where dozens of people were injured in violence this week, while Pristina and Belgrade accused each other of fuelling tensions there. Unrest intensified in the area after April elections that were boycotted by ethnic Serbs, handing victory in four Serb-majority mayoral districts in the north to ethnic Albanian candidates. Ethnic Albanians make up 90% of Kosovo’s population. Their installation last week despite a 3.5% voter turnout drew criticism from the US. Washington scrapped Pristina’s participation in a Nato exercise as a result. | AFP…

PROTEAS Women’s superstar Laura Wolvaardt has no ambitions just yet to captain the national team, although she admits she will be open to leadership positions in the future. The Proteas have been hit by a string of high-profile retirements over the past 12 months, which includes former long-term captains Dane van Niekerk and Mignon du Preez. Fellow senior players Shabnim Ismail and Trisha Chetty have also called time on their international careers, which has left the Proteas with a vacuum of experience. All-rounder Sune Luus took over the leadership reins from Van Niekerk - initially on a temporary basis - before being installed permanently until the the conclusion of the T20 World Cup in South Africa earlier this year. Cricket SA director of cricket Enoch Nkwe was also non-committal after…

AKANI Simbine just smiled when world champion Fred Kerley was asked about his cap, which sported a picture of a goat, during a press conference yesterday ahead of today’s Diamond League event in Florence, Italy. “I have been wearing this hat this year, and my ultimate goal is to be up there with all the greats before me – the greats of America and the greats of the world. “They left a legacy for all of us, and we are reaching for the stars,” US star Kerley said as South African ace Simbine watched on. But for now, Kerley is looming large in today’s showdown, with the US speedster having beaten Simbine just last week in Rabat in a time of 9.94, with the SA star finishing second in 9.99.…