Sommaire pour 2021-12-10 de Mercury

Edward West edward.west@inl.co.za A FULL recovery of the construction sector from the effects of the pandemic would probably only be realised in 2022, with the value of the Afrimat Construction Index (ACI) still more than 5 percent shy of that recorded in the third quarter of 2019, economist Dr Roelof Botha said yesterday. He said at the release of the findings of the ACI for the third quarter, that it had staged a swift recovery from the Covid-19-induced slump in the second quarter of 2020, increasing by 60 percent the very next quarter. Since then, however, progress was muted, with a year-on-year improvement of 4.5 percent. The ACI nevertheless managed to record a quarter-on-quarter rate of increase of 2.8 percent when several sectors of the economy…

Thami Magubane thami.magubane@inl.co.za A LETTER of dismissal alleging that a worker in the Zululand District Municipality had been fired for posting negatively about a “prominent political party” drew a storm of criticism and calls for the mayor, Thulasizwe Buthelezi, to be toppled. The EFF, ANC and NFP said the dismissal amounted to an abuse of power. Buthelezi leads the municipality on behalf of the IFP, with the support of the EFF. Buthelezi distanced himself from the criticism yesterday, saying he was a political office-bearer and had nothing to do with municipal staff matters. The furore has led the EFF to threaten to withhold its single vote which gave the IFP the mayoral chain, while the ANC has called on unions to intervene. According to EFF leader Vusi Khoza, the IFP…

| Reuters Maple syrup producers in the Canadian province of Quebec are releasing more than half of the world’s only strategic reserve of the sweet topping to keep up with soaring demand – avoiding a sticky situation for pancake lovers. Sales of maple syrup have climbed since the pandemic spread last year and led to more people eating at home, according to Quebec Maple Syrup Producers (QMSP), a group that manages the reserve. Adding to the syrup squeeze, Quebec’s harvest this year was the smallest in three years due to unusually warm weather. Maple syrup is made from the sap of maple trees in eastern North America, when alternating freezing and thawing temperatures in spring cause sap to flow. Quebec forests generate nearly three-quarters of the world’s maple syrup under…

MALCOLM MITCHELL | Hillcrest Is the government really serious about land reform? Land ownership is a very emotive issue and is central to a person’s or country’s psyche. I fully support the concept that everyone should own a piece of land which they can call “home”. This issue has been the subject of much discussion in our country, and in a broader context, wars have been fought by countries over land ownership. It is incumbent upon the government to urgently address this matter. However, “party politics” has entered into the debate in our country. The three largest political parties in the country all claim to embrace the concept of unfettered ownership of land by its citizens – the issue is how to go about achieving this laudable aim.…

KUDZAI CHIKOWORE | Human Rights Activist ZIMBABWEANS are living in conditions that prevail in war zones. There are abductions, kidnappings and unlawful arrests. Even though Zimbabweans are not in an official war, there is no peace. It is bewildering for Zimbabweans to celebrate the International Day of Peace. There is widespread violence against opposition party members, activists and those who do not affiliate themselves to the clueless, careless and corrupt Zanu-PF political party. Heartless President Emmerson Mnangagwa has shown that he does not care about the gross human rights abuses. His party members have been violating citizens’ human rights. If the world does not hold the reckless president to account, soon civil war will break out in Zimbabwe and this will create many problems for neighbouring…

| Mercury Correspondent The South African Revenue Service (Sars) says there have been a number of incidents where fraudulent or unauthorised changes to tax practitioners and taxpayers’ eFiling profiles have been made with the sole intention to defraud Sars and affected taxpayers. These fraudulent activities were carried out by individuals who gained access to eFiling profiles through phishing or other nefarious scams to change a legitimate taxpayer’s bank details to divert refunds. These individuals also submit fraudulent tax returns to generate refunds. Sars said it took all necessary steps to mitigate security breaches of its information systems and there was no evidence of the Sars systems being hacked – instead they remained secure. “In the past week, several changes were implemented to augment the integrity of the Sars systems. These…

HIV prevention services were severely impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic, according to Global Fund executive director Peter Sands, who was speaking at a virtual session this week at the International Conference on Aids and STIs in Africa 2021 which was hosted at the Durban ICC. “The HIV/Aids community came together in an extraordinary way during 2020 and 2021 to find imaginative, creative ways of dealing with the disruption from the pandemic and to ensure continuity of antiretroviral (ARV) treatment,” he said. He added that there was an increase in the number of people on ARVs globally in 2020. Sands noted, however, that prevention services were massively disrupted. “In 2020, 11% less people received prevention services, 22% less tests were conducted and in most countries the new enrolment of ARV treatment…

Yogashen Pillay yogashen.pillay@inl.co.za It was a momentous occasion yesterday as Colonel Lennon Marcus Atchanna was handed command of the Air Force Base Durban. Outgoing commander of the base, Colonel Barend Johannes Jurie Fourie handed over command to Colonel Atchanna during the Change of Command parade. Colonel Atchanna, 39, from Phoenix, matriculated from the Greenbury Secondary School in 1999 and joined the South African Air Force (SAAF) in May the next year. He attended the Military Academy in Saldanha and completed his Pilots Wings Course on December 5, 2000. Colonel Atchanna said that while in school in Phoenix, he encountered various armed forces policemen which piqued his interest. “I saw an Air Force helicopter and that’s what got my interest in the air force and from there I started to find…

AUCKLAND: New Zealand plans to ban young people from ever buying cigarettes in their lifetime in one of the world’s toughest crackdowns on the tobacco industry, arguing that other efforts to extinguish smoking were taking too long. People aged 14 and under in 2027 will never be allowed to purchase cigarettes in the Pacific country of five million, part of proposals unveiled yesterday that will also curb the number of retailers authorised to sell tobacco and cut nicotine levels in all products. Currently, 11.6% of all New Zealanders aged over 15 smoke, a proportion that rises to 29% among indigenous Maori adults, according to government figures.…

A controversial redesign of the interior of Notre-Dame cathedral in Paris – including possible street art installations and softer mood lighting – was under consideration by heritage authorities yesterday. Church authorities are adamant the plans – part of a wider rebuilding project following a devastating fire in the cathedral in 2019 – are not revolutionary and will simply offer visitors a warmer welcome. But the prospective changes have sparked criticism, with around 100 public figures putting their names to an opinion piece in right-wing newspaper Le Figaro on Wednesday saying they “entirely undermine the decor and religious space” of the Gothic landmark. Twenty experts were to meet yesterday at the National Heritage and Architecture Commission to hear the presentation by church authorities, with a vote due in the day.…

LONDON: Good Morning Britain anchor Piers Morgan told Hillary Clinton to “let it go” as she broke down in tears while reading what would have been her 2016 victory speech if she had not been blindsided by Donald Trump’s victory in the presidential election that year. The TV host went on Twitter to aim a curt but scathing broadside at the “cringe-making” twice-failed presidential candidate. Morgan posted a retweet of an article about Clinton when she unveiled the speech she would have given to NBC’s new Masterclass streaming platform. In comments under the post, some users weighed in on Clinton’s loss. However, others suggested Morgan “follow his own advice” and revisit his “fixation” with criticising Meghan Markle. Republican Donald Trump’s victory in the US presidential election of 2016 surprised…

THE offshore fishing has been friendly to all facets along the coast. The far north has seen the most action but the entire coast is worth launching at. The far north around Cape Vidal and Sodwana has seen a big influx of boats. This is for good reason as the fishing has been very good. The game fish have been feeding well on most days with plenty of couta, dorado and some billfish making up the catch reports. Live bait is the most successful of the methods mentioned. The offshore fishing off Durban has been very good, the charters and recreational anglers have been getting some good hauls of dorado and tuna. Trolling skirted lures has been the most successful method to target the tuna while drifting likely areas…

Siphelele Dludla siphelele.dludla@inl.co.za SENTIMENT among local manufacturers has remained subdued about the future, due to uncertainty caused by the fourth wave of Covid-19 infections and loadshedding. The fourth quarter Absa Manufacturing Survey released yesterday showed that business confidence in the sector declined for the second quarter in a row, in the three months to December. Absa said overall, business confidence dipped by 3 index points to 38 points during the quarter, remaining firmly in the contractionary territory below the 50-points mark. The quarterly survey, which covers at least 700 businesspeople in the manufacturing sector, was conducted by the Bureau for Economic Research (BER) between October 27 and November 15, 202i. According to the survey, the majority of manufacturers were feeling pessimistic about the future, with expectations regarding business conditions for…

Siphelele Dludla siphelele.dludla@inl.co.za THE MINING industry in South Africa is on course to end the year on a high note after production rebounded more than expected in October. This was driven by higher output in platinum group metals (PGMs), and rising global demand. Statistics South Africa (StatsSA) yesterday said mining production rose by 2.1 percent year-on-year in October, after contracting by an upwardly revised 0.8 percent in September. PGMs output rose by 24 percent in October compared to a contraction of 7.5 percent in September, chromium ore rose by 28.7 percent from 6.1 percent. This large PGMs output was also boosted by the low base from last year, as well as a rise in demand over the same period. Nedbank senior research analyst Reezwana…

GLEN CHRISTIE | Durban North The statement by the auditor-general is the most shocking indictment of the ANC government. This just highlights for the umpteenth time the fact that those appointed by the esteemed ANC to positions of importance have proved to be totally incompetent. This would certainly not have happened in the private sector because there are far more educated and competent people with their finger on the pulse, so to speak, to control budgets. Now one wonders what the bottom of the iceberg is valued at – it’s no wonder we have a government that is bankrupt. This practice of the ANC of rewarding people by putting them into positions of responsibility when they have little or no education to go with the portfolio they are…

DUNCAN DU BOIS | Bluff IN ACKNOWLEDGING that Steve Chatteris and Jill Buys are correct in pointing out that the Italian government did not revise the Covid death rate from 130 000 down to 3 820 (The Mercury, December 7 and 8), nonetheless, scrutiny of the Italian statistics suggests that the impact of Covid was far less than the official narrative claims. According to the Istituto Superiore de Sanita, 77 636 (60%) of the 130 468 deaths ascribed to Covid-19, up to October 5, this year, were of people over the age of 80 and 25 207 of that number were over the age of 90. Comorbidities were rife among the elderly folk: 65% of them had at least three co-morbidities, with heart and diabetes being the most…

| Sam Levenson DO YOU have a goldfish? Have you lately noticed whooping, croaking and growling sounds coming from the goldfish bowl? If so, you’re right up there with the boffins of the University of Exeter, in England. That’s what they’ve been hearing as they lower microphones into the water at a restored coral reef in Indonesia, according to the BBC. Researcher Dr Tim Lamont says there’s a backing track to the recordings. “That sounds like a bit like the static on the radio or frying bacon. Then, through that sound, you’ll occasionally hear little trills, whoops or croaks.” The species responsible for many of these unusual sounds remains a mystery. Dr Lamont says the diversity of the sounds that fish produce is “as much as the diversity of…

Gontse Riet gontse.riet@inl.co.za IN RESPONSE to the devastating impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, consumers had to adapt their buying habits, and a new survey is suggesting that these changes in consumer behaviour is not fleeting, but permanent. PwC’s Global Consumer Insights Pulse bi-annual Survey looks at changing consumer trends. It found that of 9 370 consumers across 26 territories, of which 503 were in South Africa, those who are vaccinated (66%) against Covid-19 are much more positive about the future compared with 43% of unvaccinated respondents. Retail Leader for PwC Africa Anton Hugo said it was positive to note that optimism among consumers was on the rise. “As optimism continues to rise, so consumers are planning to spend more, and they are seeing improvements in their lifestyle as employers…

Thami Magubane thami.magubane@inl.co.za FINANCIAL experts have been deployed to seven struggling municipalities in KwaZulu-Natal. Finance MEC Nomusa Dube-Ncube revealed this week that financial and revenue experts were deployed to the municipalities as part of intervention measures put in place by the provincial department of finance. The interventions were part of measures to assist seven municipalities that were dysfunctional or were under administration. They include Mpofana, Msunduzi, uThukela, uMzinyathi, AbaQulusi, Mtubatuba and uMkhanyakude. At least two of these municipalities were in deep financial crisis. Msunduzi municipal manager Madoda Khathide revealed recently that without improved revenue collection, the municipality could collapse as it owes suppliers of basic services and was struggling to pay wages. He revealed that they owed more than R300 million to Eskom and had just entered into an arrangement…

Robin-Lee Francke robin.francke@inl.co.za A Cape Town-based biotechnologist is beaming with pride after the SA Health Products Regulatory Authority (Sahpra) approved his company’s Covid-19 antigen testing kit. Ashley Uys, 39, from Belhar, the founder of Medical Diagnostech, welcomed the approval by Sahpra after 18 months of working on antigen testing. Medical Diagnostech (Pty) Ltd was established in 2010 as a developer and manufacturer of lateral flow rapid diagnostic test kits. They will be the first Covid-19 testing kits produced in Africa. Uys said the nasal swab test provides results within 15 minutes. He said the test, which will cost $3 (between R30 and R35), is set to save Africa money. “We really do welcome the approval of the testing kit. It has been a tedious process as we first had to…

Colombo: A former Sri Lanka navy chief previously charged over a spate of killings during the island’s long civil war was yesterday named a provincial governor. The probe into Admiral Wasantha Karannagoda cast a spotlight on murders during the 37-year conflict, which ended in 2009. He was one of 14 people accused of abducting the teenaged children of wealthy families and killing them after extorting money. Authorities dropped the charges in October, prompting an outcry from human rights groups. A UN panel has said 40 000 civilians may have been killed in the last stages of the conflict.…

THE Philippines’ Supreme Court declared two parts of a controversial anti-terrorism law unconstitutional yesterday, dismaying activists and rights groups who sought the scrapping of the legislation over fears that it threatened civil liberties. While the Philippines does have legitimate security threats, including Islamist extremism, lawyers and human rights groups challenging the legislation say it could be abused to target government opponents and suppress peaceful dissent. The Supreme Court, which has yet to release a breakdown of the ruling, said in a statement that it struck down a part of the law “for being overbroad and violative of freedom of expression”. It also declared as unconstitutional a provision that allows an anti-terrorism council appointed by the president to adopt requests by other entities, including international organisations, to designate individuals and groups…

Tanzania marked its 60th independence anniversary yesterday, with President Samia Suluhu Hassan hailing the country’s progress even as fears grow over the precarious state of political freedoms there. The former British colony known as Tanganyika won independence in 1961, officially becoming Tanzania after merging with Zanzibar three years later, and adopting a system of multi- party democracy in 1992. But in recent years, threats to basic freedoms have increased in the country, particularly under the rule of Hassan’s late predecessor, John Magufuli, who presided over a crackdown on the media, activists and free speech. In an address to the nation on the eve of the anniversary, Hassan said: “The success we have recorded during the last 60 years of independence was powered by democratic administration and rule of law.” “Our…

The normally very humble Orlando Pirates co-coach Mandla Ncikazi made a bold claim recently by saying that his side is on par with runaway league leaders Mamelodi Sundowns while adding that his side have more supporters than the league title favourites. "We are on the level of Sundowns, but we even have more support than Sundowns. Pirates is a big team in South Africa; you are expected to win every match, every weekend,” said Ncikazi. If anything, Pirates’ form this season has suggested that there is a gulf in class between them and Masandawana. The Sea Robbers enter their game against TS Galaxy tomorrow on the back of two successive draws (against AmaZulu and Baroka FC). They have also won just four games this season compared to…

Bang Showbiz Rihanna, Beyonce and Taylor Swift have made Forbes’ World’s 100 Most Powerful Women list. The Work hitmaker became a billionaire in the summer when the business bible reported that the 33-year-old star was estimated to be worth a whopping $1.7 billion, thanks to her hugely popular music career as well as her Fenty fashion and beauty brands, and she ​is now ranked at number 68. Sitting at number 76, Crazy in Love hitmaker Beyonce’s 2018 On The Run II tour, the R&B superstar’s co-headlining stadium run with her husband Jay-Z, made around $5 million per gig, totalling $250 million for the jaunt. The 40-year-old music star also has a sizeable income from her Ivy Park line with Adidas. Elsewhere, Taylor, 31, is number 78 this year, thanks…

Sibusiso Mboto and Samkelo Mtshali FORMER president Jacob Zuma yesterday told ANC eThekwini councillors of the importance of the ruling party remaining in power as it is the one tool in the hands of the black majority that can be used to liberate them. Less than 100 ANC councillors pitched up for the much-anticipated visit to Nkandla yesterday organised by political office bearers from eThekwini Municipality. An ANC councillor, who was part of the visit, gave a snapshot of the contents of Zuma’s advice to members at his house. “Baba said the ANC should be strengthened at all levels so that in future we do not rely on smaller parties to form a coalition government,” said the member. He added that Zuma had warned them about the dangers of…

NEVILLE MATTHEWS | New Germany On Saturday, November 27 there was a nasty accident outside my home, in which a woman was knocked down. In spite of three calls by myself and several by Blue Security control room, metro police failed to arrive. Eventually, SAPS arrived and did their job for them. They arrested the driver. A mail from me to the head of metro police asking why has never been acknowledged, let alone answered. A letter from the local DA ward councillor to the local superintendent of metro police has received the same silence. But all of a sudden they have 2 000 officers to patrol the beachfront. Amazing how this display is put on for visitors but local residents simply get ignored.…

EBRAHIM ESSA | Durban This piece is not to promote or condemn the vaccine. Who really knows about its real efficacy, its real short-term side effects, its long-term nice and maybe not-so-nice effects? Neither the vaccine nor we have been around long enough to fully assess the end point of this titration exercise. However, it’s other beliefs that are not at all based on any scientific probabilities, but somehow seem to overpower even some medical doctors and other highly academically educated personnel. And for absolutely unexplained reasons. When I was studying for a science degree many years ago in Bombay, there was a sudden appearance of a “Sadhu” (holy man) whose only weapon was a trident and who was terrorising people, especially those in the suburban areas (Andheri…

Subtle and gross common attempts at control... Backseat driving – my way is the best way, no one knows the city like I do and you’re not as safe a driver as I am. Reframing reality – you don’t really feel lonely, you are not unhappy, you’re not hungry, you cannot be. Withholding attention or affection – I am going to wait and watch and see how long it takes for you to beg for my attention. You MUST understand my point of view – I will not tolerate disagreement and we cannot be in a relationship unless we are of one mind, my mind. Threatening about things – don’t forget you own the house, car, phone. The counter offer of freedom and respect: As the passenger in your car…

Zelda Venter zelda.venter@inl.co.za The R111 million allegedly stolen from the Unemployment Insurance Funds’ Covid-19 relief fund by Hammanskraal businessman Thabo Abel Simbini is now in the State’s coffers. It is due to be handed back to the fund after it was forfeited to the State this week. The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA)’s Asset Forfeiture Unit obtained a forfeiture order in the Gauteng High Court, Pretoria. This follows a successful preservation of property order obtained from the court in November last year in terms of the provisions of the Prevention of Organised Crime Act. This relates to property that is believed to be the proceeds of unlawful activities of fraud, theft and money laundering. An amount of R111m that was intended for the relief fund and individual claims not related to…

COPENHAGEN: Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen defended her decision to order a nationwide cull across Denmark’s mink farms a year ago over coronavirus concerns, when she appeared before a commission of inquiry yesterday. The government ordered the cull of some 17 million mink to forestall the uncontrollable spread of a mutated variant of the coronavirus, all but destroying an industry recognised in the fashion industry around the world for its high-quality furs. “We were unfortunately forced to make a decision a year ago about the culling of all mink,” the prime minister said.…

WASHINGTON: More than 30 migrants had their asylum cases processed in El Paso this week and are expected to be transported back to Mexico as part of the resumption of a Trump-era programme that requires asylum-seekers to wait outside US territory while their claims are processed. The programme, formally known as the Migrant Protection Protocols (MPP) and referred to as the “Remain in Mexico” policy, was reinstated after the Biden administration and Mexican government reached a deal earlier this month. Border-crossing migrants from countries in the western hemisphere can now begin the legal process for asylum in the US but must return to Mexico while they await the adjudication of their claims, which can take months. President Joe Biden ended MPP earlier this year, allowing thousands of asylum-seekers in high-crime…

HONG KONG: Jimmy Lai Chee-ying, pictured, an instigator of Hong Kong riots, and two others were convicted yesterday of taking part in an unauthorised assembly in Victoria Park in Hong Kong last year. The District Court of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region found the three guilty of inciting others to participate in an assembly and knowingly participating in an unauthorized assembly. Nathan Law Kwun-chung and Sunny Cheung Kwan-yang, who have fled Hong Kong, were also involved. The court has issued arrest warrants for them.…

The discovery of a mass grave near Croatia’s eastern town of Vukovar with the remains of at least 11 bodies is a painful reminder of how many people are still unaccounted for almost three decades after the country’s independence war ended in 1995. Last month, investigators discovered the grave close to a wood off the road linking the towns of Vukovar and Vinkovci. Work on the site is still going on as two thirds of some 15 000 square metres have yet to be searched through. “We believe we will soon have the identification procedure completed for those 11 people,” said Ivona Paltrinieri, who heads the department for missing people in the war veterans ministry. The site near the village of Bobota is the 151st mass grave found in Croatia.…