Sommaire pour 2023-05-24 de Mercury

ANC COUNCILLORS are considering curtailing media access to eThekwini municipal meetings following a “barrage” of negative media reports about the council. While ANC councillor Thembo Ntuli stopped short of calling for media restrictions to City meetings, he said that it was unacceptable that while there were many other municipalities in the province, eThekwini seemed to be the only one reported on. Council meetings, executive committee meetings and portfolio committee meetings are public meetings that can be attended by the media and members of the public. They are private only when they have been classified as in-committee. The issue of media reporting on the City came up after opposition parties raised concerns that they were receiving critical information about municipal operations through media reports. DA councillor Thabani Mthethwa said it was…

The development of high blood pressure during pregnancy is a warning sign that a woman may be developing a human-specific medical condition commonly called pre-eclampsia. This medical condition of pregnancy not only impacts on the vascular system, causing high blood pressure, but also affects other bodily organ systems such as the liver and blood, and is described as one of the “hypertensive disorders of pregnancy”. So why is it important to bring this to the attention of women, their families and their partners? This is because each year pre-eclampsia take the lives of 76 000 moms and 500 000 babies globally, while affecting millions more. The majority of mom and infant deaths happen in low- and middle-income countries, but we know that it happens in high-income countries…

I seriously do not believe that any of the ANC ministers in Cabinet really fought in our “Struggle”. If they did, it was a pure masquerade where they flattered to deceive the unsuspecting among us. A weekend newspaper report suggesting that “our” government forked out almost R400 000 just to eliminate “pests” at one Cabinet minister’s house in three months and a total of R93 million on adding splendour to the lavish lifestyle and residences of Cabinet ministers’ official residences – our so-called “Struggle stalwarts” – had me gobsmacked and got my goat. An unnamed company – obviously it had to be unnamed, for it might well be a relative or friend or a cadre of someone in government who got the job – billed Public Works just over R79…

A Cape Town mother is pleading for the safe return of her daughter, who was allegedly kidnapped by her father and his mother and confirmed her to be in KwaZulu-Natal. Anesha Adams, 23, from Kraaifontein, said she last saw her 2-year-old daughter, Crystelda Dernice Oliver, on May 14, after she dropped her at her father’s home in Highbury Park in Kuils River. “I took her to see her father. I grew up without my dad, and I didn’t want that for her. “I last spoke to her on Wednesday, May 17, on her second birthday. The plan was for her to spend her birthday with her dad,” Adams said. The young mother had a Barney- themed party planned for her daughter on Saturday, May 20, not knowing she would never…

The Comrades Marathon Association (CMA) has confirmed the road closures for the 2023 Comrades Marathon down run from Pietermaritzburg to Durban on June 11. In a statement yesterday, the CMA said in less than three weeks, runners from around the world will participate in the 96th Comrades Marathon. “The Comrades Marathon Association (CMA) has confirmed the road closures and alert notification which will be effective over Comrades race weekend, starting around midnight on Saturday until 21h30 on Sunday, June 11, 2023.” CMA race director Rowyn James advised motorists to leave extra early. “Due to the massive roadworks on the N3 for the first 30km of the race, from Pietermaritzburg to Cato Ridge, if you are travelling to the start from Durban on the morning of the race, you are advised…

A man who allegedly disseminated fake pornographic images bearing the faces of President Cyril Ramaphosa and Police Minister Bheki Cele has made his first appearance in court. The 35-year-old Scebi Thabiso Nene faces two counts of crimen injuria after he allegedly sent the images via social media. The Hawks said Nene was arrested by the Gauteng Crimes Against the State team together with the Pietermaritzburg-based Serious Organised Crime Investigation team at the weekend. “The investigation about pornographic images of unknown individuals with superimposed faces of the president, his excellency CM Ramaphosa, Minister of Police honourable B Cele and his wife ensued in the beginning of May. The images were distributed to police officers and members of the public on social media platforms,” the Hawks said. Teams traced Nene to Azalea…

Parties represented in Parliament have until next Monday to nominate MPs to serve on the ad hoc committee that will search for Public Protector Busisiwe Mkhwebane’s successor. Earlier this month, chief whips were given an opportunity to consult with their parties on the process to be followed in appointing the new public protector. There were two proposals – an ad hoc committee consisting of 11 voting members, and 11 voting members and 14 non-voting members. Parliament is now planning to have the committee approved during a plenary scheduled for later this week. House chairperson Cedric Frolick said the proposals for a committee consisting of 11 voting and 14 non-voting members was to accommodate smaller parties. Frolick said they could not delay the process to appoint the new public protector any…

Initiatives to improve generation capacity are coming on stream SOUTH Africans are fully justified in their anger over constant power cuts and are understandably eager to see an end to load shedding which impacts every household and business. We all yearn for a return to normality and an end to the endless cycle of load shedding. This is understandable, considering that load shedding inconveniences and affects everyone, at every level of society. Ensuring a speedy end to load shedding remains at the absolute top of the government's priorities, and as part of a holistic response to expedite the implementation of the Energy Action Plan launched last year. President Cyril Ramaphosa appointed Dr Kgosientsho Ramokgopa as Minister in the Presidency for Electricity. His primary responsibility is to reduce the severity and…

THE issue of water quality in Hammanskraal in Gauteng dates back almost two decades. In 2015, while Solly Msimanga was campaigning for the DA before the local government election, he led a group picketing outside the municipal offices and handed over a memorandum demanding the water problems in the area be attended to. The water was brown, foam came out when boiled, according to him during that protest. Msimanga said the municipality had told residents the water was clean and challenged the then ANC-led administration’s officials to drink it. In 2018, while mayor of Tshwane, Msimanga promised the problem would receive attention. From former Gauteng premier David Makhura and ActionSA officials to Cabinet members, City of Tshwane MMCs, to institutions such as the South Africa Human Rights Commission, they have…

Over 100 members of the US Congress and European Parliament called yesterday for Sultan al-Jaber to be removed as the designated head of the upcoming COP28 climate talks, saying the oil exec’s appointment threatened the integrity of negotiations. Jaber, who heads the United Arab Emirates oil giant Abu Dhabi National Oil Company, also serves as the UAE’s ministry of industry and technology.He is also the UAE’s climate envoy. In a letter sent to US President Joe Biden, European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen and the UN, the MPs voiced “profound concern” that private sector polluters would be able to “exert undue influence” on the climate negotiations. The negotiations are to be held in Dubai later this year. Signatories included US Democratic senators Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren. Most EU…

IT is fair to say that the Proteas have never been under this much scrutiny as they prepare to play host to 15 other nations in July during the Netball World Cup in Cape Town. Much will be expected of the team, and there is a general sense that they must improve on their fourth-place finish at the last World Cup in 2019. That year, they narrowly lost to finalists Australia in the semi-finals, before being overwhelmed by England in the bronze-medal match With the 2019 tournament held in Liverpool, however, scrutiny of the South African performance was far-removed from their everyday countrymen. That will not be the case this year, with them playing under the noses of the nation. That brings its own pressures and anticipation, a mental…

THE National Institute for Communicable Diseases has urged provinces such as KwaZulu-Natal, where cholera cases have not been detected, to be vigilant and report any suspected cases to the Department of Health. The national Health Department held a webinar yesterday following the outbreak of cholera in Gauteng where 15 people lost their lives in Hammanskraal. Cholera cases have also been detected in parts of the Free State. The department said that 15 countries in Africa were experiencing an outbreak in cholera, including South Africa, and it would be increasing surveillance of cholera in both imported and locally transmitted cases. “Given the ongoing outbreaks of cholera in the southern African region there is a high possibility of continued imported cases to South Africa. We have detected a rapid increase in the…

Zulu King Misuzulu KaZwelithini will deliver an address this morning at an undisclosed venue, Ingonyama Trust Board chairperson iNkosi Thanduyise Mzimela confirmed last night. Speculation is rife over the contents of the address, with some suggesting that he could speak about the recent announcements that have been made by traditional prime minister Prince Mangosuthu Buthelezi. The king’s address will come just two days before Buthelezi is expected to address amakhosi and mayors on the KwaZulu-Natal North Coast over recent developments in the Ingonyama Trust. “Yes I can confirm that the king will address the nation on Wednesday and then will be live on Ukhozi FM in the afternoon on the same day,” said iNkosi Mzimela who replaced long-serving Judge Jerome Ngwenya at the helm of Ingonyama Trust Board. Buthelezi’s office…

It’s quite obvious and clearly apparent that differences in skin colour, race and religion have done absolutely zilch to bring people together. Racial jibes are ever prevalent even at international sporting events. Skin colour, it seems, will always be a psychological barrier to full acceptance unless and until some sort of virus explodes universally and changes everybody into the same shade, one day. Meanwhile, religion, totally man-made, continues marching along with military zeal, arrogantly, and remorselessly prying apart Christian from Muslim from Hindu from Jew. Fully accepted, in the most modern 21st century, a thousand years from the so-called misnamed “Reinassance” are ridiculous terms like “That is a Muslim/ Christian/ Jewish/ Hindu country”. As if an inanimate piece of ground can actually have a religious doctrine of its own. But…

You think you know. Then you lower you guard and act as if everything is just fine. With the passage of time, you stop paying as much attention to the things you should. You’re confident. You love and are loved. Everything’s fine and you feel blessed and then ... without warning, the sky falls on your head and once you’re flat on your back, which is usually on a hospital bed, you realise that your life, your whole life, with its ups and downs, pains and pleasures and promises and failures, hangs and has always hung by a thread as flimsy as a spider’s web. That’s how 58-year-old billionaire Steve Jobs must have felt when he heard the news of his terminal illness. His last words are nothing but the…

THE number of funded vacant posts in the public service sector has increased tremendously, over just three months, to 15 000 as at March this year. This was revealed by Public Service and Administration Minister Noxolo Kiviet, in reply to parliamentary questions from DA MP Mimmy Gondwe. It was reported last month that 166 365 funded posts were vacant as at December 2022. The total number of funded posts was 181 607 as at March 31, 2023. The number of vacancies in national departments increased from 38 151 in December to 47 642 two months ago, while all nine provinces had a combined total of 133 965 vacant positions as at March, Kiviet said. The Eastern Cape led the pack, with 30 759 funded vacant positions, followed by KwaZulu-Natal with…

The five accused in convicted rapist and murderer, Thabo Bester’s prison escape case, returned for the final stretch of their bail hearing before the Bloemfontein Magistrate’s Court yesterday, with the magistrate expected to make his ruling today. Bester’s partner, Dr Nandipha Magudumana, who has made an urgent application in the High Court in the Free State to have her arrest declared unlawful, has been excluded from the bail hearing. Lawyers for the accused have argued that it was in the interest of justice that Magistrate Mohlolo Khabisi grant the accused bail, despite several allegations by the State witness. The five are accused of aiding and abetting Bester to escape from the Bloemfontein Correctional Centre in May 2022. Their attorneys made their closing remarks yesterday. Attorney Gary Botha, representing former G4S…

Opposition parties have questioned President Cyril Ramaphosa’s decision to withdraw his legal challenge to the Phala Phala Farm Section 89 report compiled by an independent panel. On Monday, Ramaphosa’s spokesperson, Vincent Magwenya, announced that even though the president still maintained that the Section 89 independent panel’s report was flawed, he would no longer file a legal challenge to the report that found he may have a case to answer regarding the Phala Phala saga. Magwenya told the media that the decision came after the National Assembly voted not to proceed with an impeachment inquiry. This is in relation to the 2020 burglary at Ramaphosa’s Limpopo farm, where millions of American dollars were allegedly stolen by Namibian nationals. The EFF said Ramaphosa used the ANC’s dominance in Parliament to squash the…

SOUTH Africa’s fuel price determination comprises different elements, some of which make fuel in the country more expensive than in neighbouring countries to which South Africa exports such products. This is according to the AA, as it released a breakdown of the fuel prices in the country yesterday. The AA said motorists with petrol vehicles across South Africa were paying around R1.50 a litre more for fuel in May 2023 compared to the same time last year. The increases to 93ULP inland and 95ULP at the coast represented increases of around 7% to petrol over a year period. The wholesale price of diesel over the same period decreased from R21.99/litre in May 2022 to R20.15 in May 2023 inland, and from R21.34/l in May 2022 to R19.43/l in May…

DRIVING on the busy R72 road, which links East London and Port Alfred in the Eastern Cape, one cannot ignore the scars left by centuries of exploitation and subjugation by European nations that colonised and conquered African people. The indigenous people residing in the lower areas of the Eastern Cape in South Africa were no exception to this history. Between 1779 and 1879, they suffered from incursions, dispossession, and violence at the hands of determined, all-conquering European nations. Europeans were determined to expand their territorial control and sought to do so by invading people’s lands, seizing their cattle, and forcing them off their lands. In what today is called the Xhosa Wars, the British utilised brute force and barbarism to stamp their authority over the Xhosa people. These wars marked…

Russia said yesterday it had deployed jets and artillery to destroy an armed group that penetrated its border from Ukraine, while the Kremlin demanded the military prevent any repeat attack. The armed incursion was the most serious since the beginning of Moscow’s offensive in Ukraine last year, prompting the Kremlin to express “deep concern” and the evacuation of nine villages in the southern region of Belgorod. The defence ministry’s announcement that it used the air force and artillery on Russian territory represents an unprecedented use of force domestically since the military campaign in Ukraine began last year. Regional authorities said 12 civilians were wounded. “In the course of the counter- terrorist operation, the nationalist formations were blocked and destroyed by air strikes and artillery fire,” the Russian defence ministry said…

As US government attorneys unravel Jeffrey Epstein’s complex finances and sex trafficking ring, officials are focusing on other high-wealth individuals with whom the disgraced financier may have done business. One of the most closely watched cases comes from the US Virgin Islands, where Epstein maintained a residence, as it pursues a lawsuit against JPMorgan Chase, Epstein’s bank of 15 years. The suit alleges that the institution profited from keeping Epstein on as a client and was complicit in funding his long history of abuse and child sex trafficking. Deutsche Bank, where Epstein took much of his wealth after leaving JPMorgan in 2013, has already settled a similar case for $75 million (about R1.4bn). But legal observers say the claims against JPMorgan are far more sweeping than those against Deutsche Bank.…

THE KwaZulu-Natal reshuffle that saw Sipho Caiphas “KK” Nkosi appointed as the new MEC for human settlements and public works yesterday appears to have come after suggestions were made by the ANC’s National Working Committee (NWC) in a recent visit to the province. Yesterday, acting Premier Nomagugu Simelane announced that Nkosi was the new MEC for human settlements and that Dr Ntuthuko Mahlaba, who had previously occupied the post, was the new MEC for sport, arts and culture. The sport, arts and culture portfolio had been vacant following the resignation of Amanda Bani-Mapena from the provincial cabinet on April 12. The swearing-in ceremony was presided over by KZN Deputy Judge President Isaac Madondo. Simelane, who was standing in for Premier Nomusa Dube-Ncube, who is abroad, said the changes were made…

STAND by for a surge of emotion and anger in Old Blighty next month as the House of Lords debates a prospective ban on trophy hunting imports. We’re not talking here about trophies such as the bras and knickers that used to festoon the rafters in places such as Stan’s Bar in Babanango, Zululand. The issue is wild animals that have been shot and killed by hunters – usually in Africa – and their heads – usually just the heads – mounted as wall trophies overseas. Sky News recalls the global uproar back in 2015 when a photo emerged of American dentist Walter Palmer standing over the carcass of an elderly lion, popularly known as Cecil, which he had shot with a bow and arrow in Hwange National Park,…

Diplomat and former spy chief, Mr Billy Masetlha, a staunch friend of the Palestinian people, has passed away. A monumental loss for the entire Palestine community, he was a man utterly devoted to promoting peace and tranquillity among all religious denominations. He was a true patriot of tolerance who fearlessly tackled prejudice and bigotry. There are many across our country who are overwhelmed with grief that this devoted friend of humanity has left our earthly shores. Billy was a man who believed with all of his might that the pursuit of prejudice was ethically and morally wrong, and that Almighty God and the moral weight of the universe were against it. He lived striving for complete harmony. Moral courage was one of his noblest virtues. He now belongs to posterity.…

GREET all people with a smile, even if you’re faking it. It’s not insincerity. It’s being polite. It’s refusing to infect others with your inner discontent. Get rid of your discontent in private, when you’re alone. Be as clear as possible with plans and expectations, so that possible hurdles and misunderstandings are minimised. Most people like straightforwardness and honesty more than they like complex surprises that easily could have been avoided. Clarity now usually means fewer confusions later. Try it. Talk less. Listen more. Ask questions that assist others to talk more. Promote other people’s dreams and desires. Move away from shifting every conversation to focus on you and your interests. Other people are very interesting, perhaps even more interesting than you may be. Do simple things to lessen the…

Pietermaritzburg community members gathered at the Pietermaritzburg Magistrate’s Court yesterday to show support for the family of Delana Cader Rawlins, who was murdered earlier this month. Rawlins was killed on Wally Hayward Drive in Ashburton, outside Pietermaritzburg, on May 13. She was allegedly gunned down by her estranged husband after a quarrel. National Prosecuting Authority spokesperson Natasha Ramkisson-Kara said the accused was still to advise the court about whether he will apply for bail. The matter was adjourned to June 1, and the suspect remanded in custody. Community activist Elton Adkins said the community was happy that the suspect would remain in custody. “The death of Delana robbed her family and the entire community of an amazing human being and we are still hurting from this episode. So we…

The mayor of the DA-run uMngeni Local Municipality in the KwaZulu-Natal Midlands has warned against complacency as they continue to “fix” the municipality they snatched from the ANC in November 2021. Chris Pappas said while a lot had been achieved in the past 17 months they had been in power, more work still needed to be done. He was speaking on Tuesday in Howick while presenting his municipality’s R571-million budget for the 2023–2024 financial year. The speech was a rowdy affair as the ANC and the EFF kept on raising points of order and they alleged that the pre-budget roadshows shunned black areas – a claim that was shot down. In the end, the parties said they disapproved of the budget as it left out formerly black areas and catered…

As load shedding continues to prove increasingly detrimental to South Africans, the latest numbers revealed by Education Minister Angie Motshekga show that only 310 out of almost 25 000 schools have generators. Motshekga shared these numbers in response to a parliamentary question recently. According to Motshekga’s response, there are 24 871 schools nationally, with 22 726 being public schools, however records show that only 310 have installed generators, 13 have UPS (uninterrupted power supply) devices and 19 have both installed at schools. It was noted that some provinces were still in the process of collecting information on schools that have been installing generators, UPS and solar energy systems using school budgets. With the information on hand, the Free State has 1 029 schools, only 24 with generators; Gauteng has 2…

Child and family welfare societies play a pivotal and meaningful role in society in caring for vulnerable children, primarily orphans, who are destitute, abused, neglected and those in foster care. While the government is to be lauded for providing some financial contributions to such benevolent organisations, unfortunately there is always a shortfall due to the institutions’ enormous monetary needs with mounting expenditure that exceeds income. Thus, some prudent institutions host annual charity fairs that play a major role in meeting the shortfalls. Such fairs have three-fold advantages. First, the organisation benefits from the huge financial returns; second, the attending public are provided good diverse family entertainment at a low cost coupled with shopping and dining facilities; last and most importantly needy individuals and families are given a better quality of…

Indians are stepping up purchases of daily essentials, and even premium branded goods, using the soon-to-be-withdrawn 2 000-rupee (about R464) notes as they aim to sidestep the need to exchange or deposit them at banks. The Central Bank of India said the country’s largest denomination note will be withdrawn from circulation by the end of September. This comes ahead of state and general elections in the country when, analysts said, cash usage typically spikes. The currency exchange is expected to be far less disruptive than a 2016 move to demonetise 86% of the country’s currency in circulation overnight. Since the weekend, people have thronged outlets to spend using the 2 000-rupee note to avoid queuing at banks to exchange them or invite scrutiny from the tax department by depositing large…

London: The artist, presenter and musician Rolf Harris, who was one of the UK’s best-loved entertainers before he was convicted of sex crimes in 2014, died earlier this month aged 93, his family said yesterday. He died at his home in Bray, west of London, on May 10 of “metastatic squamous cell carcinoma of the neck” and “frailty of old age”. Harris was found guilty of abuse against young girls between 1969 and 1986. He was jailed in 2014 for five years and nine months, but released in 2017, protesting his innocence. | AFP…

MAMELODI Sundown suffered the cruel fate of being dumped out of the Caf Champions League even though they didn’t lose a match in this season’s competition. It was a bitter pill to swallow when the team were eliminated from the continent’s blue-riband club competition last weekend. Sundowns won the group stage decisively after finishing Group B winners by four points. Even 10-time winners Al Ahly suffered at the hands of Sundowns who were 5-2 runaway winners in March. Eventually, Al Ahly made it to the knock-out stages by the skin of their teeth because of a superior goal difference. Sundowns emerged 6-2 aggregate winners in the quarter-finals against Algeria’s CR Belouzidad. It was a crushing scoreline and the team deserved to reach the semi-finals, which would give them…