Índice para 2023-07-03 em Mercury

It began like any other influencer trip. A carefully curated group of six content creators, representing an array of body types and backgrounds, tucked into their seats on a flight and gleefully documented the perks of business class. But the destination was not a tropical paradise or swanky hotel. “Today’s the day! We are going to China with Shein!” exclaimed Dani Carbonari, a self-described “confidence activist” in a now-deleted video for her nearly half-million Instagram followers. They were headed to Guangzhou to visit a factory that produces clothing for Shein, the fast-fashion giant that has quietly infiltrated the wardrobes of women across the globe, winning them over with shockingly low prices and pervasive TikTok advertising. Over four days, the influencers – Carbonari, Destene Sudduth, Aujené, Fernanda Stephany Campuzano, Kenya Freeman…

Speculation mounted around the health of Zulu King Misuzulu KaZwelithini at the weekend. A suggestion was made that a public appearance may allay fears. This comes after conflicting statements around the matter were issued by Prince Mangosuthu Buthelezi in his capacity as traditional prime minister to the Zulu monarch and nation, and Prince Afrika Zulu, who is the king’s spokesperson. On Saturday, Buthelezi issued a statement stating that he had received news about the king being treated in a hospital in eSwatini after having fallen ill earlier in the day. “I am informed that His Majesty’s senior induna, Mr Douglas Xaba, who stayed with the king, passed on quite suddenly and that there are suspicions that he was poisoned. When His Majesty began to feel unwell, he suspected that he…

Cosatu and the National Education, Health, and Allied Workers Union (Nehawu) have slammed President Cyril Ramaphosa’s decision to boost public office bearers’s compensation by 3%. Ramaphosa signed off a 3% salary increase for all public office bearers with back-pay dated to April 2022. Presidency spokesperson Vincent Magwenya said Ramaphosa made the salary determination following recommendations by the Independent Commission for the Remuneration of Public Office Bearers submitted in April. “The commission recommended a 3.8% salary increment for all public office bearers including members of the Independent Constitutional Institutions, judges, magistrates and traditional leaders for the financial year 2022/23. “Having considered the commission’s recommendations … the President has decided that the salaries of all public office bearers be increased by 3%.” Cosatu’s Matthew Parks said the labour federation noted with…

SO eThekwini rates have increased by the highest amount in comparison to Johannesburg and Cape Town. What do we get in return? Let’s go back in history when the Outer West existed. In those days the rates were at about R1 000 per annum. You bought different colour rubbish bags at the supermarket and put them out on different days. Private collectors would identify their colours and collect on certain days. Then a young man came up with the wheelie bin. I did receive some black bags the other day, but don’t know when I last received recycling bags or garden refuse bags. We know when it hit the fan with DSW. Yet we still await an outcome. When it comes to sanitation, most people in our area have soak…

Abuse exists on a continuum from mild to criminal. It can exist in any relationship, be it with a spouse, with family members, a church, an employer or an employee. It can be physical (violence), emotional (intimidation), psychological (threatening, withholding, playing “mind games”) sexual, and spiritual (speaking for God). It often begins in very subtle ways and is often couched in terms of love, concern and protectiveness. Here are some “red flags” or indications that abuse is occurring or may occur: Your will or voice or preferences are over-ridden and saying so is impossible or is ignored. You are unequal and treated as such, even though you are an adult. You are powerless and treated as such even though you are an adult. Others are benefiting from your contribution to…

Home Affairs Minister Dr Aaron Motsoaledi said his department would appeal the ruling by the Gauteng High Court, Pretoria that found the decision by the Home Affairs Department to summarily terminate the Zimbabwean exemption permit (ZEP) was unlawful, unconstitutional and invalid. Motsoaledi said he would be challenging the high court in Pretoria’s ruling in the case brought by the Helen Suzman Foundation (HSF). Additionally, the minister will also be challenging the court’s ruling in another matter, also related to the ZEP, which was brought by the Zimbabwe Immigration Federation, “The minister has carefully studied the judgments and has taken legal advice. The two judgments cannot go unchallenged as they set a dangerous precedent,” said Motsoaledi’s spokesperson, Siya Qoza. “The finding of the court on the applicability or otherwise of sections…

SOUTH AFRICA’S economic dominance in the region, its long porous border including a 3 000km long shoreline, fronting both the south Atlantic and South Indian Oceans are some of the main reasons the country has over the years become a “paradise for traffickers”. This is one of the conclusions reached by researcher Prof Philip Frankel, the author of a new study titled Human Trafficking in South Africa. The new book, Prof Frankel’s second on the topic since 2017 when he wrote, Long Walk to Nowhere: Human Trafficking in Post-Mandela South Africa, is now available nationwide courtesy of the Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC). The new book explores the various forms of trafficking and has chapters on sex, labour and child trafficking which are supplemented by material on child organ…

ANC secretary-general Fikile Mbalula has welcomed acting Public Protector (PP) Kholeka Gcaleka’s report exonerating President Cyril Ramaphosa of wrongdoing in the Phala Phala farm robbery matter, while opposition parties slammed the “unnecessary delay”. Gcaleka said she found no wrongdoing on the part of the president following the release of her report into Ramaphosa’s alleged violation of the executive ethics code. Gcaleka told journalists the investigation looked at three major issues surrounding the president. These were whether he contravened the executive ethics code; acted in conflict with his oath of office; and abused his powers. On Saturday, Mbalula said the ruling party was happy that Ramaphosa had been cleared. “People are welcome to take the matter on review,” Mbalula said. “Even (the reports of) advocate Busisiwe Mkhwebane were taken on review…

Five people have been killed and 11 injured after suspected jihadists fired a rocket-propelled grenade at a town in north-east Nigeria’s Borno state, two anti-jihadist militia commanders said yesterday. Scores of fighters attempted to invade the town of Damboa late on Friday but met stiff resistance from the anti-jihadist militia, a paramilitary outfit that works alongside the armed forces, the militia said. The attack is the latest in Nigeria’s 14-year jihadist conflict in the northeast, where 40 000 have died and more than 2 million have been displaced by the fighting since 2009. “Out of desperation, the insurgents fired an RPG (rocket-propelled grenade) on the town from a distance, which killed five people and injured 11 others,” said Babakura Kolo, a militia leader. The five dead victims were buried on…

Tel Aviv: Israelis protested again at the weekend against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s proposed judicial reform plans, days after he said he had dropped a key provision in the controversial project. The demonstrators have kept up the pressure with weekly rallies against Netanyahu, who returned to power last December as the head of a coalition with ultra-Orthodox Jewish and extreme-right parties. As they have done every Saturday for months, protesters thronged the heart of Israel’s commercial capital Tel Aviv. The two main opposition leaders, Yair Lapid and Benny Gantz, said they were pulling out of negotiations on the reform plan. | AFP…

Novak Djokovic has Roger Federer's record of eight Wimbledon titles, as well as a 24th Major, in his sights as he closes in on a first calendar Grand Slam in 54 years. Fresh from breaking out of a tie with Rafael Nadal for 23 Slams at the French Open, the 36-year-old Djokovic will comfortably be the overwhelming favourite at the All England Club when he starts his title defence today. With a 10th Australian Open and third Roland Garros already wrapped up this season, an eighth Wimbledon triumph would leave Djokovic needing just the US Open in September to emulate Rod Laver's sweep of all four majors in 1969. "He takes your legs, then he takes your soul, then he digs your grave and you have a funeral and you're…

HUDACO Industries, which imports and distributes branded automotive, industrial and electronic consumer products, reported an 8.1% increase in headline earnings per share to 926 cents in the six months to May 31. The interim dividend was raised 8.3% to 325c. Revenue increased 12.4% to R4.25 billion, and operating profit was up 2.8% to R465 million. Operating profit was “a respectable number” considering the difficult trading conditions, which were impacted by load shedding and include the December, January and April holidays. “Bank borrowings at R1.09bn are up R234m in May 2022, primarily because of the increased cost of inventory from rand weakness and because we have made a more significant investment in inventories in our growth sector businesses,” the group said. Trading generated cash of R581m, of which…

IF COMPANIES can successfully vet their employees and board members, why can a media outfit not do the same? AmaBhungane proudly presents itself as a so-called centre for investigative journalism, but could not uncover the fact that its chairperson, Professor Tawana Kupe, had been found guilty of sexual harassment while acting as deputy vice-chancellor and vice-principal at the University of Witwatersrand in 2016. Of even greater concern is a statement made by Caroline James, Advocacy Co-ordinator at AmaBhungane, during an interview on ChaiFM. She said: “I think it is an example of information that is of public interest beyond being interesting to the public, and I just need to make that distinction. But I think this information has now been brought into the public sphere by other media outlets, and…

The last three races of the Hollywoodbets Durban July horse-racing event had to be abandoned due to a power outage on Saturday. The event, which is a huge tourism drawcard for the City, had been going well up until then. Gold Circle said that despite the incident, the event had been a success, with 45 000 people in attendance. Some patrons claimed there were electricity issues even prior to the outage that caused the premature end to the races, while the City insisted that load shedding was not implemented. Gold Circle blamed the eThekwini Municipality for the disruption, and said the outages were contrary to the arrangement the company had made with the City. In a statement, Gold Circle said: “Gold Circle apologises unreservedly for the inconvenience to racing fans,…

OUR beloved South Africa is blessed with abundant natural beauty of diverse variety in all nine provinces, coupled with immense varied natural resources. Regrettably, it is plagued by numerous evils that tarnish its image, beauty and splendour, such as rampant crime, fraud, grime, disease, poverty, unemployment, water woes and load shedding. Of major concern are teenage pregnancies, which have now been accompanied and exacerbated by “baby pregnancies” where many young girls aged between 10 and 14 are becoming mothers prematurely. Are we now at rock-bottom level being in the lowest echelon for this ridiculous and mind-boggling situation to prevail in a civilised society in this 21st century? Please, heartless depraved men, stop this horror of impregnating innocent young girls who lack maturity and are vulnerable. You are callous criminals and…

The KwaZulu-Natal provincial government has launched an ambitious job creation initiative designed to address the scourge of youth unemployment, with over 6 000 young people already employed, primarily in the transport sector. The campaign, named S’thesha Waya Waya, was unveiled by Premier Nomusa Dube-Ncube on Friday, where thousands of recently hired young people gathered, donning their new work uniforms. These jobs represent the vanguard of an unprecedented employment push in response to South Africa’s youth unemployment rate, currently among the highest globally. According to a report by the International Labour Organisation, the youth unemployment rate in South Africa hovers at around 63.3% as of 2023, substantially higher than the global average of 13%. The provincial government said S’thesha Waya Waya is spearheaded by the Department of Transport as part of…

Gauteng spokesperson for the Hawks, Captain Bonnie Nxumalo, said: “Last Wednesday Christopher David Kimber handed himself in to the Hawks in Kimberley where he was charged with two counts of fraud and two counts of money laundering.” It is alleged that in 2013, Kimber, who owns mines in the Northern Cape, met the UK businessman, who was exploring an investment opportunity and was to buy shares in Kimber’s businesses. “He reportedly paid R147 million into Kimber’s bank account, but the money was transferred into personal bank accounts. “When he realised that no investment has been made, he reported the matter to the police. The Hawks conducted the investigation.” Last month, in an unrelated matter, five people appeared in the Middelburg Specialised Commercial Crime Court on fraud, theft and money laundering…

The public broadcaster is owed a whopping R44.2 billion in television licence fees, Communications and Digital Technology Minister Mondli Gungubele has revealed. Gungubele was replying to parliamentary questions from EFF MP Vuyani Pambo, who asked for the amount owed to the SABC, and the proposals put in place to ensure the television licence model was replaced by a model that worked. “A total of 9.2 million accounts have outstanding balances of R44.2bn. “These balances comprise unpaid invoices and penalties levied for non-payment over several years. “At least 5.6 million accounts have been handed over for external debt collection,” Gungubele said. The Cabinet approved in November 2022 the SABC Bill for submission to Parliament for processing. “The Department of Communications and Digital Technologies (DCDT) is proposing the television licence model be…

THE continued closure of some of Durban’s biggest beaches is a big blow for tourism and a missed opportunity for eThekwini Municipality to showcase its achievements following the April 2022 devastating floods. On Tuesday the municipality announced that uMhlanga Main and Bronze beaches were safe for swimming, only to issue another statement later indicating that both beaches had been closed due to the recent heavy rains. The beaches had been closed the previous week following a pump failure at the Portland Pump Station. While the municipality has been quick to describe the latest situation as “a normal occurrence after heavy rains”, it is clear that the City does not have the situation under control. Is the municipality suggesting that Durban residents should be accepting of a situation where beaches are…

At least two people were killed and 28 wounded in a mass shooting at a street party early yesterday in the US city of Baltimore, police said. Police received multiple calls about a shooting in Brooklyn. One 18-year-old woman was found dead at the scene in the East Coast port city, and a 20-year-old man died after being taken to hospital. The wounded were being treated at area hospitals, with three of them in critical condition. Police said authorities were working to identify a suspect and determine a motive for the shooting. “This is an extensive crime scene, our detectives are going to be here quite a while.” Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott condemned the shooting. “It again highlights the impacts and the need to deal with the over-proliferation of…

KHARTOUM: The Sudan Civil Aviation Authority has extended the closure of the country’s airspace until July 10, the Khartoum International Airport said, amid violent clashes between Sudan’s regular armed forces and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) paramilitary group. The civil aviation authority said that Sudan’s airspace would be closed to all flights, with the exception of humanitarian and evacuation flights, if a relevant permission is obtained from the competent authorities. The warring parties have called for temporary ceasefires, but the conflict has not been settled yet. Sudan has asked for Moscow’s assistance in resolving the conflict in the North African country. | Sputnik…

Zimbabwe fell significantly short in their first shot to qualify for the 2023 World Cup when Sri Lanka inflicted a massive nine-wicket victory over the hosts at the Queens Sports Club in Bulawayo yesterday. It wasn’t to be for Zimbabwe on the day but for Sri Lanka, who were simply brilliant throughout the match, it confirmed their participation at the showpiece event later this year. You wouldn’t have imagined that Sri Lanka would come in hot like they did, especially having been rocked with news that spinner Wanindu Hasaranga was handed a demerit point for his behaviour in a recent match. About two hours before the toss, the ICC announced that the tournament’s leading-wicket-taker had been reprimanded for his violent reaction after his dismissed in Friday’s encounter against the Netherlands.…

INVESTEC, which has committed to end funding for coal, oil and gas as well as thermal coal projects in the next 12 years, is set to ask shareholders to remove a “bonus cap” on executive remuneration after paying CEO Fani Titi up to R175 million for the year to the end of March. Investec’s dirctors are remunerated in Pound and as per the annual report released on Friday, Titi’s remuneration increased from £4.3 million (R102.6m) to £7.5m. This makes Titi the highest paid CEO for a South African financial services company. The higher remuneration for Titi followed on the company’s stronger revenue outturn and profitability after it “successfully navigated a complex macro-economic” backdrop. Investec reported a 21.6% growth in adjusted operating profit which amounted to £835.9m, yielding a…

Do not throw your kitchen scraps away, instead put them to work. The outer skins of fruit and vegetables are filled with flavour and vitamins, and most often have enough matter left in them for another go-round. Whether you are looking to cut down on food waste or simply to make the most of produce, these tips and tricks surely come in handy. Make zest If you have juiced lemons, limes, oranges or grapefruit but do not have an immediate need for zest, make it anyway and dry or freeze it for future use. Zest is a versatile item to have on hand for a bright boost in any number of dishes. If you do not have a microplane or zester, you can use the small side of a…

THE caucus leaders of the DA in eThekwini, that were ousted through a motion of no confidence, have been reinstated after it was found that the process to remove them was flawed. The party’s legal federal commission reversed the decision to remove leader Thabani Mthethwa, deputy caucus leader Mzamo Billy, chief whip Vincent Mkhize and whip Zoe Solomon, reinstating them to their positions with immediate effect. The letter announcing the reversal of the decision arrived minutes before the caucus was set to elect new leadership on Friday. It showed that Billy and councillor Warren Burne had lodged a complaint with the commission about the processes followed in the tabling of the motion of no confidence against the leaders. There have been claims by some members of the caucus that the…

THE ANC must hang its head in shame over the innocent lives that were lost during the recent floods. I want to shed some light on the short-sightedness and weaknesses of our ANC government in the aftermath of the recent devastating floods that wreaked havoc, demolished shacks, and tragically caused loss of lives. It is evident that someone has blood on their hands, and it is high time we hold the present administration accountable. Under the watch of the current government, the proliferation of informal settlements has reached an alarming rate, with shacks haphazardly built next to streams and not an eye blinked by the mayor and his team. They are without proper approvals from town-planning authorities. It should come as no surprise, then, that natural disasters like the recent…

AS the salvage and investigation start after the US Coast guard announced that the five wealthy adventure seekers on board OceanGate’s Titan submers ible are presumed dead after a “catastrophic implosion”, questions in the human rights community are being raised regarding the implosion of the Titan and the sinking of the Adriana. According to reports, the Adriana vessel sank off the coast of Greece just a few thousand miles and days apart from the Titan. The estimated more than 600 who lost their lives on the Adriana were mostly women and children seeking, not expedition, but safety from human rights violations in their respective countries. Sadly, the rescue response provided to these two disasters are obviously disparate. The Titan drew immediate live ongoing reporting and different types of modern recovery…

Parents, whether married or unmarried, should have equal access to the Office of the Family Advocate who has to make decisions in the best interests of children in matters relating to parental rights. The Constitutional Court last week confirmed a Gauteng High Court order that found section 4 of the Mediation in Certain Divorce Matters Act 24 of 1987, to be constitutionally invalid in that it discriminated against parents who were unmarried and not able to access the services of a family advocate. The specific section of the act was declared unconstitutional, in that it excluded permanent life partners as the automatic recipients of parental rights and responsibilities of children born as a result of artificial fertilisation and by so doing unfairly discriminated on the basis of marital status and…

THE key Human Settlements and Infrastructure services committee (HSI) in eThekwini Municipality is facing a crisis with the chairperson of the committee accusing the City’s staff of undermining him. Councillor Themba Mvubu of the EFF, who chairs the committee, made the accusation during a special executive committee (Exco) meeting last week when two reports that were meant to be approved by his committee were presented to Exco without Mvubu being briefed on them. The committee plays an oversight role over close to 70% of the City’s budget, including key service delivery units. The reports had been brought directly to Exco and were not presented at the HSI committee. Mvubu, as the chairperson, should at least have been briefed on their contents prior to them being tabled before Exco. Mvubu was…

DOZENS of Wentworth residents held a peaceful march yesterday to call for an end to violence after the murder of 17-year old Leyton Fynn. The matric pupil was shot dead last week while walking to school to attend holiday classes. Residents, who laid flowers at the murder scene, said the Wentworth Secondary pupil was walking along Richard Winn Road when he was killed. Wentworth police are investigating the murder. Leyton’s mother, Gayle Franks, said the family were devastated. “I was at work on Tuesday, and didn’t even know what took place. My family picked me up from work and I was shocked to come to Richard Winn Road and find my son lying dead on the pavement. “Leyton was a quiet boy who only studied and wanted to complete his…

The French government said yesterday that hundreds more had been arrested in a fifth night of rioting sparked by the police killing of a 17-year-old, as police deployed reinforcements to flashpoint cities around the country. Protesters, mostly minors, have torched cars, damaged infrastructure and clashed with police in an outpouring of rage since an officer shot Nahel M point blank as he allegedly attempted to flee a traffic stop on Tuesday last week. The killing was captured on video, which spread on social media and fuelled anger over police violence against minorities, exposing severe racial tensions in France. A day after Nahel was laid to rest in his home town near Paris, the interior ministry said police had made 719 arrests overnight, after about 1 300 the previous night. About…

A Thai elephant gifted to Sri Lanka two decades ago arrived back in its birth country yesterday, following a diplomatic spat over alleged mistreatment. Thai authorities had gifted the 29-year-old Muthu Raja to Sri Lanka in 2001. But they demanded the elephant back last year after allegations that it was tortured and neglected while kept at a Buddhist temple. The 4 000kg mammal arrived in Thailand, having been transported inside a giant steel crate onboard a cargo plane. The elephant was in pain and covered in abscesses when it was rescued from the Buddhist temple last year, said a Sri Lankan zoo in Colombo, which gave it a temporary home. Animal welfare groups said it had been forced to work with a logging crew and that its wounds, some allegedly…